Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 513 115.11 - First Mission

Chapter 513 115.11 - First Mission

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." U//ppTodated fr/o/m

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.

'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.