Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 795: Chapter 184.1 - Understanding

Chapter 795: Chapter 184.1 - Understanding

The faint glow of my desk lamp illuminated the room as I leaned back in my chair, holding the sleek tablet displaying the latest report from [Horde]. The digital interface hummed softly, a subtle reminder of the effort it took to obtain this information. My gaze moved over the words, my fingers swiping occasionally to scroll through the concise but detailed summaries. 
The first section immediately captured my attention. 
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Emberheart Family vs Hawkins Family 
The Emberheart Family and Hawkins Family had started clashing, and the Emberhearts had begun showing their fangs already. 
However, the Hawkins Family isn't fighting alone—they didn't enter this conflict unprepared. 
The Ventorien Family (Wind Pillar) has started supporting the Hawkins Family, bringing their influence into play. 
Additionally, the Frostborne Family has shown signs of being on the Hawkins' side, at least from the surface. 
---------------------- 
I frowned slightly, my fingers tapping lightly against the desk as I processed the information. 
'Ventorien and Frostborne,' I thought, narrowing my eyes. 'That complicates things.' 
The Hawkins weren't known for taking direct actions without strong backup, and the report confirmed what I'd suspected. Their move against the Emberhearts wasn't just about vengeance or a power grab—it was strategic, supported by allies with substantial resources and influence. 
I tapped my fingers lightly against the desk, my eyes narrowing as I reread the report. The involvement of the Ventorien Family didn't surprise me. It fit perfectly with the events in the game—one of the key factors that made Irina's scenario so challenging. 
In the game, the Hawkins and Ventorien Families had been working together behind the scenes for years, a covert alliance driven by shared ambition and mutual grudge against the Emberhearts. Their objective had been clear: weaken the Emberheart Family and carve out a piece of their influence for themselves. For the Hawkins, it was about expanding their power, but for the Ventoriens, it was personal. 
'The Ventoriens' grudge against the Emberhearts is still well known,' I thought, my fingers stilling for a moment. That grudge stemmed from an event in the past, a bitter rivalry that had left deep scars. 
But the Frostborne Family? That was another matter entirely. 
I leaned back in my chair, letting out a slow breath as I considered the implications. Unlike the Ventoriens, the Frostborne Family had no history of overt hostility toward the Emberhearts. If anything, they had a reputation for neutrality, focusing inward rather than getting involved in external conflicts. 
'And that's not just a facade,' I thought, my eyes narrowing further. Contrary to the perception of the outside world, the Frostborne Family wasn't as cohesive as it appeared. Beneath the surface, there were fractures—internal struggles that even their Matriarch couldn't fully control. 
In fact, the Frostbornes' strongest power, the protectors who formed the cornerstone of their family's might, were no longer present. They had been absent for years, a secret kept well-hidden even from those closest to the family. Only two people in this academy likely knew about it: Seraphina and me. 
And yet, this report suggested the Frostbornes were now siding with the Hawkins. That didn't make sense. 
'Unless…' I thought, my mind piecing together possibilities. 'Unless this involvement isn't coming from the Frostborne Family as a whole. Unless this information is misleading—deliberately so.' 
The faint glow of my desk lamp illuminated the room as I continued scrolling down the report. 
Philips Family vs Hartley Family 
I straightened in my chair, my fingers brushing lightly against my chin as I read the detailed summary. 
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The conflict between the Philips and Hartley Families has begun to destabilize the already fragile balance in the Hunter Sector. The fight has had a significant impact on the economy, particularly on the allocation of gate rights. Several critical zones have become unstable as disputes over ownership and profit distribution intensify. 
The Philips Family has demonstrated surprising resilience and aggression, consistently pushing the Hartley Family back. Sources suggest this newfound strength comes from an alliance with several smaller guilds, whose combined forces have tipped the scales in their favor. 
Additionally, there are signs of Demon Contractors operating in the shadows. While none of the captured individuals have been directly linked to the Philips Family on the surface, circumstantial evidence strongly suggests their involvement. The Contractors' actions have been notably aligned with the Philips Family's objectives, leaving little doubt about where their loyalties lie. 
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The faint glow of my desk lamp cast long shadows across the room as my eyes skimmed the report. When they landed on the line— 
"newfound strength comes from an alliance with several smaller guilds, whose combined forces have tipped the scales in their favor"— 
my fingers stilled, ceasing their rhythmic tapping on the desk. 
For a moment, the room felt quieter, the soft hum of the tablet the only sound breaking the stillness. I leaned back slightly, my gaze lifting from the screen to the window. Beyond the glass, the dark sky stretched endlessly, stars scattered like distant embers flickering against the void. 
'So, you're finally moving,' I thought, the faintest trace of a smile tugging at the corner of my lips. 
It wasn't a surprise that crossed my mind, but a quiet sense of validation. This—this exact moment—was what I had been waiting for. The Philips Family could never have pushed back the Hartleys on their own. It didn't align with their resources, their strategy, or their known capabilities. But now, with the involvement of smaller guilds and the unmistakable hand of Demon Contractors, the pieces began to fall into place. 
'There's no way the Philips Family could manage this alone,' I thought, narrowing my eyes as my reflection faintly glimmered on the windowpane. The timing, the alliances, and the method of their newfound aggression—it all pointed to one thing. Or rather, one person. 
The air in the room felt heavier as my thoughts sharpened. This wasn't a random escalation. This was deliberate. Methodical. A move orchestrated not by the Philips Family, but by the shadow I had been waiting for months. The one I had been quietly luring out of hiding. 
'And now, you're finally starting to show yourself,' I thought, leaning forward slightly. 
The report in my hands was more than a summary of shifting alliances and destabilized economies. It was a signal—a declaration that the gears of the world were beginning to turn, and with them, the intricate machinery I had spent so long preparing. 
'Let's start working.'  
Now, with the shadows finally stirring, the stage was set for the next act. 
Outside, the dark sky loomed vast and silent, unaware of the storm about to unfold. Inside, the faint glow of the desk lamp flickered, casting light over the words that had set everything into motion. My fingers rested lightly on the tablet, poised and ready, as if waiting for the moment to strike. 
And strike I would. 
******* 
Sylvie collapsed onto the training mat, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. Sweat clung to her skin, her muscles aching from the relentless pace of the Headmaster's drills. The usual clarity and focus she found during these sessions had been absent today, replaced by a swirl of thoughts she couldn't seem to escape. 
"Enough for today," Headmaster Jonathan Arcwright said, his voice calm but edged with its usual authority. He stood nearby, his piercing gaze fixed on her. "But you were not as focused as you normally are." 
Sylvie winced slightly, sitting up and wiping the sweat from her brow. "I'm sorry, Headmaster," she said quickly, though she avoided meeting his eyes. She knew how perceptive he was and how easily he could see through her. 
"Is something on your mind?" he asked, his tone firm but not unkind. It wasn't a casual question—it was a direct probe, meant to uncover whatever was holding her back. 
Sylvie hesitated, her fingers clenching slightly against the mat. For a moment, she considered telling him the truth, laying out all the thoughts that had been plaguing her since her encounter in the infirmary. But the words stuck in her throat, and instead, she shook her head. 
"It's nothing," she said, her voice steady but faintly strained. "I'm just… a little distracted today." 
Jonathan's sharp blue eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze weighing her words. "You're lying," he said bluntly, his tone carrying the weight of absolute certainty. "But I won't force the truth from you. If you can't confront what's on your mind, you won't be able to move past it." 
Sylvie's heart sank at his words, the truth of them striking a chord deep within her. She looked away, her thoughts swirling. 'It's not nothing,' she admitted inwardly, though she didn't dare say it aloud. 'I've been thinking about Maya. About Astron. About what I should do.' 
The memory of Maya's unstable emotions, the clash of her two palettes, and the dangerous pulsing red that felt so wrong—it all haunted her. And then there was Astron, standing there with his cold, knowing gaze, as if he had already pieced together the puzzle she was still struggling to understand. 
Sylvie clenched her fists, frustration and uncertainty bubbling up inside her. 'I want to talk to him. I need to. But what do I even say? And what if… what if I'm wrong?' 
The Headmaster's voice cut through her spiraling thoughts. "Sylvie," he said, his tone gentler now. "If you don't address what's clouding your mind, it will continue to hold you back. Whatever it is, face it—before it becomes something you can't control." 
She nodded slowly, her chest tightening as she absorbed his words. "I understand, Headmaster," she said quietly, though she wasn't sure if she truly did. The weight of her thoughts felt heavier than ever, but she knew he was right. Ignoring them wouldn't make them go away. 
As she stood, her legs trembling slightly from the exertion of their training, she resolved to do what she had been avoiding all day. 
'I'll talk to him. No more excuses.' 
That is why she sent the message.