After confirming the target, the second step of the Hunt was planning and preparation.
For Altaïr's trio, Lagiacrus was not a completely unfamiliar opponent. Several months ago, during their first encounter with Nymera, they had briefly clashed with one.
Lagiacrus have thick shell plating and very strong defenses; only their head and chest are relatively vulnerable, and they fear the high temperatures of flame. That much intelligence was readily available.
"So that means we should prepare Fire Element weapons, right?" Isis said, actively discussing it with her companions while stuffing melt-in-your-mouth Gobul liver into her mouth.
"Isn't that convenient? Although weapon element isn't critical for Gunlances, my Glavenus Gunlance just happens to be Fire Element.
"Nymera also has the Rathalos Cannon, and its Rapid Fire Flaming Ammo has astonishing firepower. The only downside is that you don't have a Fire Element weapon, Altaïr, but the destructive power and Sharpness of your Khanga Rebellion are more than sufficient."
"Don't think the problem is that simple." Jara waved his hand. "None of you three have any experience with underwater combat, right?"
"Right." Altaïr nodded. "Swimming and short dives are no problem, but we haven't actually been exposed to underwater combat."
"Good thing I have some experience." Jara chuckled and pointed at himself. "There are plenty of tasty things underwater. Royal Ludroth, Gobul, Plesioth... Even Epioth meat is more tender and fatty than land Aptonoth.
"So I specifically sought out a Sea People Hunter for training for a while. I wouldn't call myself proficient, but I've picked up some insight."
As Jara spoke, he stuffed a large mouthful of food into his mouth and continued without even pausing, "I won't beat around the bush. I'll give you my conclusion straight.
"Isis, Nymera, you two should stay out of the water."
"Why is that?" Nymera tilted her head and asked.
"Underwater combat relies almost entirely on melee weapons. Conventional Bowguns can't even fire normally underwater.
"If Gunners want to participate in underwater combat, their weapons must undergo special modifications. Even so, the power of Bowgun Ammo and arrows fired underwater will be greatly reduced by water resistance.
"And modified weapons can't be used on land afterward. So, apart from a very small number of Gunners who frequently engage in underwater combat and prepare one or two specialized underwater weapons, Gunners basically don't participate in underwater combat."
"I see." Nymera nodded slowly.
"What about me? Is the Gunlance also unsuitable for underwater combat?" Isis pressed for an answer.
"That's the question..." Jara put down his utensils for the moment. "Like Bowguns, a Gunlance needs special modifications to be used underwater; otherwise, it won't fire or might even backfire.
"Actually, the Gunlance is a very suitable weapon for underwater combat. The Sea People Hunter who taught me underwater combat was a Gunlance user. He would use shelling recoil to accelerate and maneuver underwater, and he was surprisingly agile.
"But according to him, that fighting style is completely different from standard Gunlance use; you'd need to adapt and learn it from scratch.
"And that Basarios Armor of yours is far too heavy and bulky. Even with floats added so it won't sink straight to the bottom, you'd drift in the sea like a stone coffin, barely able to move at all."
"Alright."
"There's another important reason: if you two use Fire Element weapons and Ammo, they'd be completely useless underwater.
"So you're better off staying on shore and taking on Lagiacrus in the way you're best at."
Everyone accepted Jara's reasoning. That was what experience was worth.
In standard Hunts, they could already be considered seasoned veterans, but when it came to underwater combat, they weren't even rookies.
"As for you." Jara turned his round face toward Altaïr, sizing him up for a few moments. A smile spread across his features. "I recall your coordination is excellent, right? Once we reach Moga Village, let's see if we can ask the local Sea People Hunters to give you a couple of days of intensive training. I imagine you'll pick it up very quickly.
"When the time comes, if Lagiacrus goes into the water, it'll be up to the two of us to force it back onto land."
"Understood." Altaïr nodded. "Is there anything else we need to prepare in advance? Hunting items and the like?"
"Of course. Bring Flash Pods, Pitfall Traps, Shock Traps, all of them, and bring extras. They'll mainly be used to stop Lagiacrus from returning to the water.
"And don't forget Nulberries and similar items; they can be used to treat the paralysis caused by Lagiacrus's electric shocks."
Altaïr took out his memo and jotted everything down.
"The main course is here, meow! Braised Gobul Liver, meow! Enjoy, meow!" The Felyne Chef and Clawdia arrived together carrying a large platter.
The sight of the richly sauced Gobul liver on the plate made Isis and Jara swallow hard. In an instant, they lost any further desire to chat, raising their utensils with looks of eager anticipation, ready to dig in.
Clawdia, having finished helping out in the kitchen, sat back down at the table, speared a small piece of Gobul liver into her mouth, and closed her eyes in bliss.
Altaïr shifted his chair closer to Clawdia. "Clawdia, are you familiar with Moga Village?"
From her earlier words, he realized that Clawdia, or at least her mother, likely had some ties to Moga Village.
Otherwise, how could she be so familiar with its local specialties?
"I was born in Moga Village, meow."
At this, Altaïr perked up.
"But I was taken away to live in the mountains of the Schrade Forest and Hills when I was very young, meow. I only settled in Dundorma after I'd grown a bit, meow." Clawdia added casually, "So I don't really have any memory of Moga Village anymore, meow."
"Ah, I see..." Altaïr replied, a little disappointed.
Moga Village was a rather insular fishing village. Strangers like them arriving for the first time would inevitably face some inconveniences.
He had hoped that if Clawdia knew the place well or had some acquaintances there, the trip would go a lot more smoothly.
Unfortunately, it seemed there was no such shortcut to be had.
The feast left Isis and Jara burping contentedly. Their satisfaction had soared past ten out of ten, no, twelve out of ten, even twenty out of ten.
Altaïr, too, was completely satisfied, though not because of the food.
For him, good food was a pleasure, but not a pursuit. What truly satisfied him was the act of "finding a target."
Determine the objective, plan and prepare thoroughly around it, then execute step by step until the goal was smoothly achieved.
He deeply enjoyed that entire process.
The departure for Moga Village was set for sometime in the next few days, with the exact timing depending on when their transport would leave.
After the grand meal, the group split up to make their own preparations.
Nymera needed to fine-tune her Bowgun and craft a large quantity of Ammo; a Gunner's preparations were always more complicated than a Blademaster's.
Jara was responsible for securing transport. The best way from Val Habar to Moga Village was by Airship, and luckily, Val Habar had no shortage of Airships, so he was confident he could find one.
Altaïr, meanwhile, was the busiest. Procuring all sorts of supplies and hunting items was always his responsibility, and Isis followed him to lend her strength.
Once the various supplies were mostly gathered, Altaïr had Isis bring them back first and went alone to Teacher Naziya's caravan to inform Sajji about the mission.
According to his original plan, if Sajji's research had reached a critical stage, there was no need to forcibly drag him away from Teacher Naziya's mechanical smithy.
But upon learning of the matter, Sajji firmly declared that he would accompany them.
"I haven't even finished the improved design for the Monoblos Model-2 yet, meow. I can just pick it back up after we get back, meow." Sajji jumped down from the workbench, his face and claws smudged with charcoal-pencil ash.
He folded his arms and declared, "If you guys go without me, I won't have any peace of mind, meow."
"What's there to worry about?" Altaïr chuckled, ruffling the top of Sajji's head.
Sajji began counting on his claws. "Boss, you're an attacker, meow. Nymera is an attacker, meow. Isis is becoming more and more attack-focused, meow. Clawdia is an attacker by nature, meow. And Hibiki doesn't even have hands, meow.
"If I don't go, who's going to handle support work, like setting traps, throwing Flash Pods, and stopping Lagiacrus from escaping into the sea, meow?"
The smile on Altaïr's face stiffened awkwardly. "It's mainly because I left my Nerscylla Sword and Shield back in Metapetatto, otherwise I could have acted as support.
"Ahem, isn't Jara still with us? He excels at guerrilla tactics; surely he can handle those tasks too?"
"I don't trust that gluttonous fatty, meow." Sajji expressed his distrust of Jara bluntly and without hesitation.
Altaïr was initially puzzled as to why Sajji had such little faith in Jara, but seeing Teacher Naziya beside them, cracking a strange heh-heh grin, he more or less understood.
Those two were childhood friends and mutual pests; taking digs at each other was a habit. Having spent so much time with Teacher Naziya, Sajji was bound to have been influenced.
"So what tools are you planning to bring this time?" Altaïr asked out of curiosity.
"A Rakna-Kadaki, meow!" Sajji suddenly lit up. "Teacher Naziya just helped me modify the base's fixed structure based on the Rakna-Kadaki Model-3, meow! I'm going to use this chance to test it out, meow!
"Gotta let that Lagiacrus get a load of my Rakna-Kadaki Model-4, meow!"
(Translated by yourtl.app)