Chapter 76: War
Where there are people, there are Nen users.
Judging from the footage shown by the Bozwa tribe in the video, it was highly likely that there was a Manipulator-type Nen user among them although… it was also possible they possessed other Nen abilities.
But Haze had a feeling things weren't that simple…
They had traveled from the Republic of Batokia all the way to Eastern Gothor, crossing nearly the entire Yubian continent. It took them two weeks to reach the borders of this small, isolated nation.
Looking outside, a few old buildings and other facilities stood at the foot of a somewhat desolate mountain range.
A long line of barbed wire and fencing surrounded the area for dozens of miles, with soldiers patrolling the perimeter. The landscape was modest not beautiful, but livable.
There were mountains and rivers…
but not a single trace of modern technology —
only a few computers and scanners inside the checkpoint.
The checkpoint itself looked particularly deserted…
outside, no vehicles, no people.
The seven of them had first settled in a hidden microbase at a distance, prepared themselves, and then approached on foot.
At the immigration gate, soldiers stopped and questioned them.
After handing over the required documents and forms, they were taken into a small, dark room for inspection.
The soldiers wanted to make sure they weren't smuggling anything.
Apparently, the seven were on a business trip —
supposedly there to purchase a large number of resources from Eastern Gothia.
After a long day of procedures and repeated warnings that even as foreigners, breaking Gothia's laws would mean death a soldier finally escorted them along the mountain road, stopping at a designated location. He told them someone would come to pick them up, then left.
The soldier wasn't worried about them wandering off. There were plenty of security zones nearby, and anyone caught straying would be shot on sight.
Certain rules had been set in advance.
In short, the entry process took an extremely long time.
Getting in was far from easy.
"This inspection's even stricter than last time… Think it's because of the Bozwa tribe?"
Dangeri muttered as the soldiers' vehicle drove away.
"Something must have happened in this little country,"
Haze replied.
Even if a nation is isolated from the outside world, basic trade is still necessary otherwise, how could its economy survive?
Just like Meteor City… they still do business with the mafia.
So these border points shouldn't have been this heavily guarded before… otherwise someone like Dangeri would never have gotten in.
The king of Eastern Gothor was known for his indulgence recklessly selling the nation's resources just to fund his lavish lifestyle.
After saying this, Haze turned to Hisoka, who was smiling.
"What did you find?"
He caught a faint whiff of blood.
At the checkpoint, Hisoka had disappeared for a moment and no one but Haze had noticed.
He knew Hisoka had killed someone…
not on orders, but of his own accord.
Compared to outsiders like them, locals would surely know more about the internal situation.
"The Sawtooth Mountains,"
Hisoka murmured, naming a place. "That's probably where the Bozwas live… but it looks like the military has it sealed off. The war isn't over yet."
"War?"
Haze raised an eyebrow.
Judging by the previous video, the Bozwas were a bit strange but the battle had still been a one-sided massacre by the army. The difference in firepower between the two sides wasn't even comparable. Besides, the recording was from a while ago… logically, even if it hadn't ended, it should've been nearing its conclusion by now.
A small tribe trying to fight a national army… impossible.
No matter how weak Eastern Gothor might be, the Bozwas couldn't stand against it.
"Well… it's a war in the literal sense. That group was quite strong… The royal army not only failed to wipe them out, they seem to have taken heavy losses. The battlefield's expanded several times since the start total chaos. And it's not just the Bozwas; several frontline cities have fallen too… No survivors."
"Not a single one…?"
Haze confirmed.
"That's what he told me. We'll know more once we get there," Hisoka grinned.
The others exchanged uneasy looks some nervous, some tense.
A war…? The ruler of Eastern Gothor must have deployed a considerable force, yet they couldn't annihilate a small tribe?
And the scale of the conflict… it was too vast.
Just how large was this battlefield?
"You…"
Haze glared at Hisoka.
"Don't worry, I hid the body well. No one will find it…"
Hisoka said teasingly, knowing what Haze was about to ask.
The three ordinary men Dangeri included paled at his words. They hadn't expected Hisoka to act so recklessly.
If other soldiers discovered the corpse, they'd all be doomed.
During their time aboard the spacecraft, the three had had little contact with Hisoka, yet they always felt a strange sense of dread around him. Even when Hisoka smiled kindly or spoke gently, they couldn't help but feel uneasy.
Not just them even the burly Kanji and the other two avoided Hisoka. They too considered him dangerous.
The only one who spoke to him directly was Captain Haze.
However, the captain didn't seem to have any intention of restraining him.
"I've heard of the Sawtooth Mountains… Not sure exactly where they are. We should find a local to guide us," Dangeri suggested.
"Let's head to the nearest residential area first,"
Haze instructed.
"Yes,"
Dangeri replied immediately, leading the way. After a while, they reached a narrow side path.
At the same time, they spotted several dark figures moving ahead armed soldiers.
There had to be a sentry post nearby.
Haze glanced at Hisoka, who understood instantly. He shot forward like a swift leopard, accelerating moving like a ghost. The cards in his hand turned into razor-sharp blades, cutting down targets a hundred meters away with ease.
Not a single sound was heard…
Each kill swift, clean, efficient.
Everyone except Haze swallowed hard.
Such power was beyond imagination.
As an ally, it was reassuring… but as an enemy… terrifying.
"His physical strength…"
Haze's pupils narrowed slightly.
In Nen cultivation, Hisoka's talent was only slightly above his own but physically, Haze had always believed Hisoka couldn't match him.
Now… the man seemed unnaturally strong.
Was it due to his own reaction chain?
Hisoka was deliberately showing off his strength perhaps just to prove a point.
As the six approached, Hisoka flicked the blood-stained card from his fingers and vanished in an instant.
After disposing of the bodies, the group continued forward.
By nightfall, they had broken through several layers of military defense lines and finally found a small village.
The homes and living conditions were extremely simple every household still relied on the most primitive farming tools.
Haze randomly captured a grown man, threatened him, and the terrified man agreed to guide them to the Sawtooth Mountains.
Bound by harsh national laws, the people of Eastern Gothor avoided outsiders especially those who so obviously didn't belong.
The authorities forbade civilians from trading; anyone caught was imprisoned.
So bribery was impossible money and benefits meant nothing here.
(End of Chapter)