On the table was a standard world map, with the most prominent features being the Six Continents.
To describe it in terms of a plane diagram, there are six conspicuous continents above the vast ocean, three on the left and three on the right, facing each other across the sea.
The continent where Heavens Arena was located sat in the upper left corner of the map, while the lower left corner was occupied by the Yorbian Continent. Sandwiched between these two was the continent where the Hunter Association was based.
The upper right corner of the map was occupied by the largest of the six continents, the Azian Continent, which was also home to the Kakin Empire.
It was worth noting that although the Azian Continent was the largest of the Six Continents, Kakin Empire was not a member of the V5.
The so-called V5 is an international organization composed of the five strongest nations spread across the five continents. They held a leadership position in the world, and even the Hunter Association had to act according to their directives. In terms of status, the Hunter Association was essentially a subordinate to the V5.
Although the Hunter Association has many powerful and outstanding people in various fields, in the face of national institutions, the Hunter Association was like a university's club, while the V5 was the school administration, with the power to disband the club at any time.
The Hunter Association had to obey the V5's orders, and its status was far inferior to any of the V5 nations.
Of these six continents, Law had only been to three of them.
The first was the Yorbian Continent, where Meteor City was located. This was also the continent where Law had spent the most time.
The second was the Pita Continent, home to the Amaromi Forest, which faced the Yorbian Continent across the sea. It is located in the lower right corner of the world map, and is the smallest of the Six Continents.
The third continent is the Chetoa Continent, where the Heavens Arena is located, and it is also the continent where the Zoldyck Family's estate is located.
At this time, Sanbica and more than a dozen highly knowledgeable virologists and bacteriologists were gathered in a tent. They had all come to address the highly contagious virus… or rather, bacterial outbreak.
Viruses and bacteria were different, but what was initially thought to be a highly contagious virus turned out to be far more complicated upon closer investigation.
At the same time, instead of discussing the virus or bacteria, the group was focused on an island marked on the world map. For those caught in the midst of this crisis, this was itself an extraordinary situation.
The island circled in red was located in the sea between the Chetoa Continent and the Azian Continent. In the direct sea route between these two continents, there were no other islands besides this one.
From the map's depiction, it was a massive circular island in the middle of the vast ocean, with another circular island within its central waters.
This island was called 'Alcatraz Island', and it had a fitting alias: Demon Island.
If the area of the central waters within Demon Island was included, the total area of the island was 1.795 million square kilometers, equivalent to four times the size of Japan.
What kind of place was Alcatraz Island, and why was it called Demon Island?
Sanbica knew very little about it, but the crisis that had started in Amber City not only bore the shadow of G2, but also had an undeniable connection to Alcatraz Island.
"The access rights should be approved within two days."
"In that case, including travel time, it will take at least half a month. If the team responsible for retrieving the 'sample' is inefficient, we might have to wait a month for results."
"Waiting is inevitable, unless you have a better solution."
A person, fully clad in a protective suit, looked at another person across the table.
Seventeen people were inside the tent, three of whom were Hunters hired for the task. Sanbica was one of them.
Before coming, Sanbica had thought the task wouldn't be too difficult. However, upon getting involved, she realized she had been gravely mistaken.
As she became aware of the complexity of the situation, she couldn't help but think of the 'number' email she had received.
Sanbica knew very well who had sent her that email and what that number represented... a warning!
Perhaps it was a warning that this mission was anything but ordinary. But now that she was already involved, there was no turning back.
"It's fine if the efficiency is low, but the team must complete the mission because we don't have any extra time to waste."
"In any case, before we retrieve the 'sample', all we can do is wait."
"Perhaps we should be grateful that the culprit behind this is relatively gentle, and the fatality rate is low. Otherwise, we wouldn't have the luxury of waiting."
After these words were spoken, everyone fell silent.
The first patient was admitted to the hospital fourteen days ago. Now, some of the severely ill patients had completely lost consciousness, progressing from initial symptoms like heightened mental excitement, moderate hallucinations, high fever, short-term bleeding, and fatigue to a vegetative state.
If the culprit were the 'G2' virus, the corresponding treatment should have eradicated it within five days. However, in this place, it only slowed the progression.
As time went on, it was foreseeable that a large number of patients would fall into a vegetative state, which was a dire situation.
For the local government, they would rather see patients die from lack of effective treatment than have so many people become vegetative.
…
Two days after Biscuit left, Netero was also taken back to the Hunter Association by Beans to handle the backlog of work.
With his hands injured, Law had no choice but to rest and recover.
A day later, Law sent a message to Sanbica, asking about her recent situation.
Not long after sending the message, his phone rang. It was Sanbica's number.
Using his Nen Ability, Law made the phone hover near his ear and answered the call.
How serious are the injuries to your hands?" Sanbica asked quickly as soon as the call connected.
Law answered calmly: "They're manageable. It'll probably take a little over a month to recover."
"Mm." Sanbica responded softly before falling silent.
After a pause, Law asked, "How's the situation over there?"
"It won't be resolved anytime soon." Sanbica said.
"Is that so..." Law was somewhat surprised and asked curiously, "Even with your Nen ability, you find it challenging?"
Sanbica sighed lightly, "It's hard to explain in a few words. By the way, the day after tomorrow, I'll be joining a team for a mission. We're going to a place where no one is allowed to carry personal communication devices during the mission. So, for half a month, or even a month, I might not be able to contact you."
"Going somewhere? Is it related to this mission?" Law asked in doubts.
"Un."
"Where are you going?" Law pressed.
"Alcatraz Island," Sanbica replied.
Law asked curiously, "Alcatraz Island?"
"It's a poisonous island and also a prison. Many criminals are held there. It's a very dangerous place."
"Do you need help?" Law instinctively asked, forgetting about his injured hands.
"No need. With the Association's support, completing this mission shouldn't be too difficult." Sanbica actually wanted Law to help, but when she thought of Law's hand injuries, she gave up the idea.
She knew that if she asked, Law would probably help her even if he couldn't use his hands.