"What's wrong?" Ronnel asked, his brows furrowing slightly.
"Did you forget something?" he added, a touch of exasperation in his voice.
"Ah, right," Ging replied, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "I guess I forgot to mention our destination, didn't I?"
Ronnel sighed. "You think? At least tell me where we're heading."
"Our goal this time is the Braga Canyon," Ging said. "According to legend, there's a passage to another world hidden in that canyon. It's a place where strange creatures and phenomena are said to exist."
He paused, his tone growing more serious. "Many have sought its secrets and gained immense treasures, but the price is steep. Countless people have perished there. Even skilled Hunters have gone in and never come out. I once tried to explore its depths, but I barely made it beyond the surface. It's dangerous—far more than it seems."
Ronnel nodded thoughtfully. "So, this canyon might have ties to the Dark Continent. The sheer number of deaths has probably left behind a dangerous amount of residual Nen or malice, right?"
Ging's eyes widened slightly. "You've heard of the Dark Continent?"
"Of course," Ronnel said, crossing his arms. "But this so-called 'passage to another world' sounds more like a fairytale."
Ging laughed. "Ahahaha! Well, since you already know about the Dark Continent, it saves me some time explaining."
He grinned, clearly pleased by Ronnel's curiosity. "There's no adventurer who wouldn't be intrigued by the Dark Continent once they've learned of its existence. No exceptions!"
Ronnel raised an eyebrow but said nothing. The Braga Canyon's delicate location intrigued him. A place like that—dangerous, mysterious, and linked to the Dark Continent—was bound to be downplayed by organizations like the V5. Its reputation paled compared to the infamous Cruise Cemetery, but that was likely intentional.
Ging continued, "The V5 has tried exploring the canyon multiple times, but even their elite Nen users and strongest Hunters couldn't crack its secrets. Sure, they uncovered some treasures, but nothing of value. After a few failed expeditions and wasted resources, they decided it wasn't worth their effort."
"So, your goal is to investigate the canyon's connection to the Dark Continent?" Ronnel asked.
Ging shrugged. "That's part of it, but it's not my main reason. V5 already explored it thoroughly. I'm not expecting any groundbreaking discoveries."
"Then what's your purpose?" Ronnel pressed.
Ging leaned back, his expression turning reflective. "Two months ago, I stumbled across a dusty old biography in the corner of a bookstore. It contained a peculiar passage about Braga Canyon: 'In the canyon, the devil's symphony echoes, like the voices of the dead rising from hell, sending chills down your spine.'"
Ging's voice lowered as he recounted the eerie tale. "The book's publisher said the bard who wrote it was a hollow shell of a person—his eyes vacant, like a walking corpse. The publisher himself confessed to feeling compelled to obey the bard's every word while typesetting the book. When the work was done, the bard vanished without a trace."
Ronnel's expression darkened as a possibility occurred to him.
"Are you talking about the Sonata of Darkness?"
Ging nodded gravely. "That's my theory. The Sonata of Darkness—a cursed composition said to be created by the devil. It's played on four instruments: the piano, violin, flute, and harp. Anyone who plays or hears it is doomed to unimaginable disasters."
He continued, "It's a mystery deeply intertwined with the Dark Continent. There's no reliable information about it, even on Hunter-exclusive websites. Most mentions are dismissed as superstition or urban legend."
Ronnel frowned. "And yet, you're chasing it?"
"Not for myself," Ging said quickly. "A friend of mine, a renowned Music Hunter, became obsessed with the Sonata of Darkness. I owe him a massive favor, so I thought this might be a way to repay him."
Ronnel smirked. "So, if I help you explore this canyon, does that mean you'll owe me a favor too?"
Ging chuckled. "Fair enough. Let's see if you survive first."
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