The amateur Hunters gathered in Slohe's rented house just outside the reserve. The place smelled like instant coffee and desperation. Slohe sat at a folding table, papers scattered in front of him, looking more stressed than usual. His hairline had receded another inch since this morning.
"So," Slohe said, rubbing his bald head nervously. "Ghosts. You're telling me there are actual ghosts."
Liam nodded, face perfectly serious. "We're Hunters. We don't lie to our employers."
"Of course, of course. I'm not doubting your professionalism." Slohe's hand kept moving to his head, like touching it would somehow summon hair back into existence. "It's just... ghosts."
Kanzai stood in the corner, arms crossed and frowning. The Tiger Zodiac was wound tight like a coiled spring, looking as miserable as if he were stuck in a classroom
Ghost? he thought. More like some kind of Nen construct.
He had professional ethics. When civilians, ordinary people, whatever you wanted to call them, were present, you didn't talk about Nen. You didn't explain that the "supernatural" was actually just weaponized life energy and that half the scary stories in the world had mundane explanations involving Conjurers with self-esteem issues.
Kanzai made eye contact with Liam, Menchi, and Shizuku. They understood. Dago and his crew, standing awkwardly by the wall, also understood.
What they didn't understand was whether Liam was running a scam.
Dago's crew looked deeply suspicious. The ghost could easily be some kind of illusion, a Nen beast Liam had conjured to fake results and secure the bonus before the contract expired. It was exactly the kind of thing a clever, morally flexible Hunter would do.
Not that they'd complain. Everyone got paid if it worked.
Shizuku, unbothered by subtext, asked bluntly, "Does this count as a result?"
Cough. Dago shifted uncomfortably. The others avoided eye contact.
Slohe grimaced. "The Blanchett staff who accompanied you claimed they didn't see or hear anything. I'm afraid I can't submit 'ghost sighting' as evidence without... well, evidence. I need something tangible. Something I can photograph. Document. Show my superiors."
He spread his hands apologetically. "Keep working. Find something concrete, and you'll all get double pay. I'll get to keep my job. Everyone wins."
There wasn't much to say to that. Dago and his crew nodded silently and filed out into the night.
Shizuku stood and left with Liam and Menchi. Outside, under the glow of a single streetlamp, the amateur Hunters exchanged glances. Then, as one, they turned and marched back toward the forest.
The Blanchett guards sighed, lit cigarettes, and trudged after them once the shift change was complete.
Liam looked left. Menchi. Looked right. Shizuku. A beautiful woman on each side.
He grinned. "If there are ghosts, they're more active at night, right? Let's go."
Shizuku followed immediately. Menchi shook her head, muttered something about child labor laws, and caught up.
Nearby, hidden in the tree line, a man with a distinctive cauliflower hairstyle stepped into view. Babimyna. He watched the trio head into the forest, considered his options, then gestured to a few subordinates and followed at a leisurely pace, trailing the Blanchett guards.
"If Kakin wronged you..."
"Come out and tell us..."
"If you have a grudge..."
Liam, Menchi, and Shizuku walked through the forest, moonlight filtering through the canopy. Distant voices echoed through the trees. Familiar phrases. Shouted with varying levels of conviction.
Menchi laughed. "That's Dago's crew."
"They're just copying my method," Liam said, amused.
"It worked once," Shizuku observed.
"It won't work again," Liam said. "That pale kid showed up, said his piece, then vanished. Shouting into the woods isn't going to summon him like a genie. And finding anything in this forest at night? Without En? Near impossible."
Menchi frowned. "Then why are we out here?"
"Didn't you want to search at night?" Shizuku asked.
Liam stopped walking. Turned. Looked past the Blanchett guards to the figure trailing behind them.
"We don't know En," Liam said, raising his voice slightly. "But someone here does."
Babimyna stepped forward, expression neutral. "How are you certain I know En?"
"You look like a professional," Liam said. "When I threatened Dago's crew with my spirit-gun, you didn't even blink. A normal person seeing that kind of 'supernatural' power would've reacted like Slohe just did. Shocked. Confused. Skeptical. You? You looked bored."
He grinned. "So. Can you use En or not?"
Babimyna's face remained impassive. "I don't know what you're calling a 'ghost.' Even if my En covers it, I'm not certain it'll register."
Menchi tilted her head. "Does Kakin really not know what's happening on this island?"
Babimyna's gaze was steady. "This place has been here for thirty years."
The implication was clear. Whatever Kakin knew about the island's origins had been buried in bureaucracy and time. Institutional memory didn't last that long, not when people retired, died, or were reassigned.
"So you're willing to help us," Shizuku said.
Babimyna didn't answer. He glanced at Menchi, then Shizuku, then settled his gaze on Liam.
Liam met his eyes. "The thing I want you to find isn't a ghost."
"Then what is it?"
"Nen script."
Babimyna raised an eyebrow. "The Hunter Association is the world's leading authority on Nen research."
Liam caught the meaning. You're not an expert. Why should I take your word for it?
"Nen script is a special kind of symbol infused with Nen," Liam said, half-truthful. "I'm not an Association expert, so I don't know all the details. But I've seen it a few times." He started counting on his fingers. "Once, someone carved script onto a knot. When it came into contact with aura stronger than Ten, the rope broke automatically. Another time, someone wrote script on a wooden box, and it became indestructible. I also saw someone on an island carve script onto a ring to enhance their Hatsu."
Babimyna nodded slowly, processing.
Menchi blinked. Liam's been to an island with Nen script? How old is he, really?
Liam smiled, pointing toward the amusement park in the distance. "The most recent time was over there. Shizuku and I found Nen script in the Elf Playground. In a Ferris wheel cabin."
He didn't need to spell it out. Babimyna connected the dots.
Blanchett Company's founder was a Professional Hunter. There was Nen script in his amusement park. His company had managed the reserve for four years. If something was hidden on this island, Nen script would be involved.
"What does this script look like?" Babimyna asked.
Menchi waved a hand. "Don't look at me. I haven't seen it."
Shizuku frowned. "I forgot."
Liam shrugged. "Weird symbols. Hard to read. But Slohe mentioned you arrived with Ochima's team over two weeks ago. You're telling me Kakin sent you here with no leads? No direction?"
Babimyna's expression didn't change, but Liam grinned.
"The places you think are important," Liam continued, "are probably where Blanchett left Nen script."
Silence. The forest creaked. Insects chirped. Somewhere distant, a Misery Moon Tiger growled.
Babimyna turned and started walking. "Follow me."
The moon hung fat and pale in the sky, nearly full. The forest floor was a patchwork of silver light and shadow. Frost crunched underfoot. The air was cold enough to sting the lungs.
They walked deeper into the core zone. Sparse trees gave way to open grassland. Jagged rocks jutted from the earth like broken teeth.
And everywhere, glowing eyes.
Dozens of Misery Moon Tigers lounged in the grass, their sapphire markings shimmering like living gemstones. When Liam and the others approached, the tigers lifted their heads in unison, eyes locking onto the intruders. It was like walking into a room full of lamps that suddenly turned on all at once.
Babimyna stopped, staring at the cluster of tigers ahead.
The Blanchett guards raised their tranquilizer pistols, fingers hovering over triggers.
Menchi nudged Liam, pointing. Two tigers stood apart from the rest. Lumos and another familiar blue-furred beast, the one Liam had saved from poachers.
Liam waved at Lumos. Stay back. Not yet.
Lumos rumbled, confused, but obeyed. He and his companion prowled in a loose circle nearby, keeping their distance.
Babimyna's gaze swept across the grassland. His aura flared, invisible to the Blanchett guards but clear to everyone else. En. A sphere of Nen expanding outward, scanning everything within range.
"Found it," Babimyna said.
He walked forward, directly toward the cluster of tigers.
The Misery Moon Tigers scattered like startled birds, their glowing forms dispersing into the shadows. Within seconds, the clearing was empty except for moonlight and frost.