Monster Hunter: This Dragon's Built Different-Chapter 416: The Sapphire Star!!

Since they could not clearly see the current situation, and could not be certain whether that "signal source" was truly important to the New World, then they would find a "Sapphire Star" capable of pointing them in the right direction—to guide them toward the correct path.

And among those the Research Commission could contact, and who would also be the most convincing and most suitable existence in everyone's eyes, there was only one: that miraculous Sunblaze Dragon!

There was not even a vote. The Commander directly issued the corresponding orders.

He ordered Darren's squad and Aiden's squad to set out, following the positional information Logan had left behind during the Great Ravine incident, and head toward that area where energy was accumulating.

As for the remaining personnel, they were to stay behind and closely monitor Zorah Magdaros's movements, ensuring that it would fall into slumber within the Rotten Vale.

At the very least, they absolutely could not allow it to die within the Everstream.

Recalling Logan's instructions before he departed, although the Commander did not know what would happen if Zorah Magdaros were to die within the Everstream, anything Logan had specifically warned about was certainly not going to be something good.

Just as Darren's and Aiden's two squads finished resupplying and were preparing to depart, they suddenly saw, upon lifting their eyes, a humanoid Rajang carrying a travel pack on its back and wearing a dust-covered Gold Rathian armor set. It bounded in powerful leaps across the uneven Coral Highlands platforms, charging rapidly toward the camp.

"That is—! A Rajang wearing armor!!"

Mia covered her small mouth. Although what she said sounded a bit strange, after seeing so many unprecedented things in the New World during this period—even Fire Wyverns developing their own civilization—then a Rajang capable of communicating with humans and even wearing a Gold Rathian armor set did not seem entirely incomprehensible.

Under the guarded gazes of Darren and the others, the humanoid Rajang successfully reached the camp entrance.

As its broad palms slapped repeatedly against its armor, various unknown substances clinging to it were shaken loose, scattering to the ground along with a cloud of dust.

"Yo! Hello there—lots of unfamiliar faces, huh."

The Admiral casually tossed aside a small pouch filled with Bioenergy Crystal, then looked toward Darren and the others, his gaze settling on the emblems engraved on their armor.

"Looking at this emblem, could it be that you're from the Fifth Fleet?" The Admiral's tone carried a bit of surprise, and then a bit of realization.

"That's right—if you do the math, the Fifth Fleet really has been in the New World for quite some time now."

Looking at this "odd person" in front of them, the group exchanged glances. In the end, Mia was still the one who took the initiative to speak up.

"Um… uncle, who are you?"

"Uncle?" Hearing a form of address he had not heard in many years, the Admiral froze for a moment, and then laughed heartily. "That's right—I'm still very young!"

As he spoke, he stretched out his thumb and pointed at himself.

"I'm a member of the First Fleet. Call me—"

"Admiral! You're back!" An aged voice, carrying a trace of delight, came from the side.

"Admiral!!" *4

Seeing these young people show surprised expressions, the Admiral's face split into a signature grin.

"That's right. I am the Fleet Master of the First Fleet, and also the Admiral of the New World Elder Dragon Research Commission!"

Perhaps the Admiral's smile dispelled the grim, killing aura he carried from years of field investigation work. The group, who had been somewhat restrained, quickly relaxed.

Especially Mia—who already faintly had the nickname "Little Deviljho"—became particularly outgoing as she chatted with the Admiral, because—

"My grandfather has really missed you! He's always been down about having to leave the New World back then."

"Oh, oh! I didn't expect you to be the Glutton's granddaughter. That fellow really did what he said he would back then." The Admiral looked at the descendant of an old acquaintance, and his gaze also softened quite a bit.

Back then, when the First Fleet arrived in the New World, it was truly hard.

There were few people, and every one of them was a friendship proven between blood and fire—a partner worth remembering for a lifetime.

"Hehehe~"

Hearing the Admiral call her grandfather by his nickname, Mia also grew a little embarrassed.

After the pleasantries, just as they were preparing to bid farewell to the Admiral and set out—after hearing from the aged scholar what had happened recently, as well as Darren and the others' mission—the Admiral's eyes lit up. He did not even bother to rest. He took the replenished logistical supplies from the logistics Felyne, casually tore off a large piece of bone-in roast meat from the serving tray—easily five pounds—and after quickly giving a few instructions, he headed after Darren and the others.

…

Inside the temporary camp in the Rotten Vale, Darren's Felyne diligently grilled meat, its resentful little eyes constantly darting toward the group chatting off to the side. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

These people had absolutely no intention of coming over to give the cat a hand! One cat was actually responsible for three hunters, plus a "Little Deviljho" whose appetite was even more exaggerated than a hunter's, and one reserve hunter who had failed the hunter assessment and switched careers to become a Compiler—plus the meals for the one Felyne itself.

The Palico blinked its slightly sore eyes, its face dark as it extended its empty left paw, popped out its sharp claws, and slashed down hard!

The seasoning fruit was instantly separated from its skin and flesh, falling neatly onto the already prepared plate.

This was the only way it could vent its frustration~~

"So that's how it is—entering the Everstream from the Rotten Vale, and then reaching the Elder's Recess? All these years… Admiral, how did you manage to endure it?"

Aiden's Compiler, Lea, said with a sigh of admiration.

"Elder's Recess" was the name the Admiral had given to that region. Since it would very likely become the Research Commission's standard designation for the area in the future, Lea naturally followed the Admiral's wording.

The Everstream branched in all directions. Aside from magma, there was nothing but stone. To explore within it, one not only had to endure that extreme environment, but also withstand the corresponding loneliness, and bear the danger of possibly encountering powerful monsters—forcing life-or-death struggles within cramped confines.

And yet the Admiral had lived such a life for several consecutive years before finally finding a hidden path.

That kind of perseverance left the group with no choice but to admire him.

Even Darren felt genuine respect from the bottom of his heart.

Faced with Lea's praise, the Admiral merely smiled faintly and let the matter pass, then turned to ask them in more detail about what had happened during this period.

"I never expected Boss Fire Wyvern to be in the Elder's Recess. Quite a lot has happened recently."

When the Admiral mentioned that old friend, everyone naturally knew who he was referring to. Each of them felt a bit envious of the relationship between the Admiral and Logan.

And for some reason, when Darren heard the Admiral's way of addressing Logan, what surfaced in his mind instead was that figure interwoven with silver and ice-blue patterns. He could not help but wonder whether, in the future, they might form a bond like that between the Admiral and the Sunblaze Dragon.

Darren's momentary distraction did not attract the others' attention. The group remained immersed in the Admiral's descriptions of the Elder's Recess, until the Palico called them to eat, and only then did they reluctantly stop.

As he took big bites of the Palico's grilled meat, the Admiral nodded repeatedly.

"Very good flavor. You little one have solid cooking skills. When we return to Astera in the future, I can recommend you go learn some cooking techniques from Sita."

"Sita?"

"Oh—he's the head chef of the Smithy and Cat Canteen, my Felyne partner."

As the Palico listened to the Admiral's words, the parchment in its claws slipped and fell onto the plate.

No, no, meow! I already know enough—I can't take on another profession, meow!!

Just imagining a future where, after mastering even more cooking techniques, all of its master's meals—and that woman's meals too—would inevitably be handled entirely by it, the Palico felt as though its life was about to plunge into total darkness!

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