Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

As Shanks stood up, all eyes were on him, waiting for the next move, the plan that would determine the course of their actions in the coming days.

I remained seated, my expression calm, but my mind was racing. The information I had uncovered, the connections I had made—all of it was crucial.

But now, it was up to Shanks to guide us forward, to take this tangled web of deceit and transform it into a strategy that could save Veilcroft from whatever dark force was lurking beneath its surface.

'It was a really coolly crafted plan. Considering the fact that this place was in shadows for a long time, it seems that the investigation team was not successful at unveiling things before.'

There was no information that I could obtain from the game aside from the fact that the investigation team was going in the wrong direction. And even that could not be directly confirmed.

Shanks began to speak, his voice carrying the authority and clarity that had made sense as he was the leader of this operation. He threw a look at me for a split second.

"Adept Astron's findings have provided us with the missing pieces of the puzzle. It's clear that we're dealing with a highly organized and intelligent force, one that's using fear and despair as tools to amass power. This isn't just a matter of stopping random attacks—we're facing a coordinated effort to destabilize Veilcroft and empower a hidden entity."

He was able to get a grasp of what was happening quite well. Now that the enemy has been discovered, the only thing that we need to do is to get rid of them.

"Astron's discovery of the underground structure is a crucial breakthrough, but we're still operating with limited information," he began, glancing at the holographic map that displayed the known hotspots. "We don't have a complete map of the tunnels, nor do we know the full extent of the enemy's defenses. Charging in blindly could be disastrous. We could walk right into a trap, and the consequences would be severe—not just for us, but for the entire city."

He paused, letting his words sink in. The reality of the situation was grim, and it was clear that Shanks was considering every angle. "The safest option," he continued, "is to gather more intelligence before we make our move. We need to know what we're up against—where the key points are, how the enemy is organized, and what kind of defenses they have in place. Only then can we plan a precise strike that will dismantle their operation without unnecessary risk."

The room was silent for a moment, the weight of Shanks' words hanging in the air. But the tension quickly rose as one of the team members, a burly man with a stern expression, spoke up.

"Waiting could cost us valuable time," he argued, his voice laced with urgency. "Every moment we delay, more people in the city are suffering. If we cut the energy flow now, we could disrupt their operations and force them to react. Yes, it might alert them, but it would also buy us time to figure out their next move."

There were murmurs of agreement from a few others around the table. The idea of taking immediate action was tempting—after all, the longer they waited, the more the city would be drained by the enemy's insidious plan.

"If we wait too long, they might accelerate their plans. They could be close to achieving their goal, and if we're not quick enough, we could miss our chance to stop them."

Shanks listened carefully to the objections, his expression thoughtful. He understood the urgency, the desire to act swiftly and decisively. But he also knew that rushing in without the necessary knowledge could lead to disaster.

There, he needed to balance it. That is what I could see within his eyes: the conflict that he was experiencing.

That is the hard part of being a leader. Decisions need to be made, and responsibilities need to be taken.

But, is it that risky, really?

The situation was precarious, yes, but the enemy's reluctance to confront us head-on suggested something crucial—they were likely not strong enough to withstand a direct assault from a well-prepared force.

If they were truly as powerful as everyone suggested, they wouldn't be hiding in the shadows, manipulating events from behind the scenes. They'd be out in the open, exerting their dominance.

Shanks seemed to come to the same conclusion, his thoughtful expression hardening into one of resolve. He straightened, his voice cutting through the murmurs of the team as he made his decision. "It seems we are on the same page—we can't afford to wait too long, or we risk letting them complete whatever it is they're planning. But rushing in without a plan isn't the answer either. That's why we're going to move forward but with calculated steps."

He turned to face the entire team, his gaze sweeping over us with the authority of someone who understood the stakes and was ready to shoulder the responsibility. "Here's how we're going to proceed. We'll start our operation tomorrow at dawn. This gives us enough time to finalize our preparations and ensure that we're as ready as we can be. In the meantime, we will prepare a plan….."

With that, he turned his attention to Elysia.

"Elysia."

"Ready," Elysia responded, her tone sharp and focused.

"Good," Shanks nodded. "Since you're our strategist, I need you to develop a plan that accounts for every possibility. We'll be dealing with an unpredictable enemy in unfamiliar terrain. Make sure we're prepared for anything they throw at us."

Elysia nodded her mind already at work. She was known for her ability to think several steps ahead, and this mission would require every bit of that skill.

Shanks then turned to Ren, his expression serious. "Ren, make sure all the gear is in top condition. We'll need surveillance equipment, communication devices, and any specialized tools we might require to navigate the underground tunnels. I want everything ready by the time we move out."

Ren gave a quick nod, his fingers already tapping on his smartwatch as he began coordinating the preparations. "I'll have everything prepped and double-checked. We'll be ready."

Finally, Shanks faced Jim, who had been silently absorbing the details of the plan. Since he was the combat specialist, it was understandable why he was not that helpful in terms of investigating. He was more of a fighter, after all.

'The teams will be divided, most likely.'

With the key roles assigned, Shanks looked around the room one last time, his eyes landing on each team member as he delivered his final words. "This mission is critical. Now that everything has been assessed and assigned, we are ready. We also have the advantage of surprise. Tomorrow, at dawn, we'll execute our plan and put an end to this threat. Be prepared, stay focused, and remember—this city is counting on us."

The room fell into a heavy silence as everyone absorbed the gravity of Shanks' words. Each member knew what was at stake and understood the importance of their role in the operation.

"Dismissed," Shanks said, signaling the end of the meeting.

*******

As Astron stepped out of the meeting room, he noticed a familiar figure waiting for him in the dimly lit corridor. Lira leaned against the wall, her arms crossed and a faint smile playing on her lips.

"Impressive work in there," she said, her tone genuine. "You've found something that I wouldn't have easily uncovered. You fulfilled your promise."

Astron nodded, acknowledging the compliment. "That's correct. While you're excellent at observing the details, there's something that you couldn't detect, no matter how thorough your investigation."

Lira's eyes narrowed slightly, her curiosity piqued. "Those energy flows, right?"

"Indeed," Astron confirmed, his voice calm but carrying a hint of satisfaction. He could see the realization dawning in Lira's eyes as she began to piece together the significance of what he had just revealed.

She straightened up, her gaze more focused now. "So that's why you were sent here, even as a newbie. You've got special [Eyes], don't you? And on top of that, you can think outside the box in ways that even seasoned investigators might miss."

Astron met her gaze, his expression unreadable. "You're not wrong."

'This kid likes to act cool.'

Lira thought, though she inwardly even doubted that. There was also a chance that he was inherently like this, as she did not see him talking more than he would.

Lira nodded thoughtfully, clearly impressed by Astron's insight. "That explains why you were able to leave training after just three weeks. You've got the tools and the mindset to handle this."

"Seems like your trust in the organization has been restored."

"It was my own fault for doubting them."

"That could be the case."

"Sigh…." Lira released a sigh as she smiled. "It will be an honor to be someone who has worked with someone like you in the future."

"Why do you think so?"

"Well, I am not blind, at least."

"Is that so?"

"Anyway, I'm not going to keep you here, as you'll be busy from now on," Lira said with a light smile, stepping aside to give Astron room to leave.

As she spoke, a shadowy silhouette emerged from the corner of the room. It was Elysia, her presence commanding attention even before she spoke. Her gaze was sharp and focused as she addressed Astron.

"Astron," she called out, her voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of urgency. "I need you to follow me. We're discussing strategies, and your input is required."

Astron glanced briefly at Lira, who gave him a knowing nod before turning his attention to Elysia. Without a word, he fell into step beside her as she led the way out of the room. The atmosphere between them was serious, the weight of the mission pressing down on both of them as they moved through the dimly lit corridors.

As they walked, Elysia spoke without turning to face him. "You've proven yourself capable, young adept. At first, everyone was skeptical, but now that they have seen your capabilities, no one will doubt you anymore."

"I understand."

"That is a good mindset. Having such petty grudges would mostly ruin your future."

Astron was not narrow-minded as he could easily think from their perspective. That was why he did not think much of their treatment; if he had been there, he would have done the same.

"Understood."

"Good. Let's start then."

Elysia said as she entered her office.

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