Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 512

Chapter 512 115.10 - First Mission

"I have something to report."

The room fell silent as all eyes turned to Astron, their attention captured by the unexpected interruption. Shanks, his curiosity piqued, leaned slightly forward. "What is it you want to report, Astron?"

Astron remained calm, his expression composed as he glanced at the faces around the table. He took a moment before speaking, his tone measured but carrying an underlying intensity. "Before I present my findings, I have a question for Mikhail."

Mikhail's gaze sharpened, intrigued by the shift in focus. "Go ahead," he said, his voice steady.

"Why do you believe there is a monster behind this whole ordeal?" Astron asked directly, his eyes locked onto Mikhail's.

Mikhail didn't hesitate, and his response was firm and confident. "Because the evidence corresponds to that conclusion. The disturbances, the strange phenomena—everything points to the presence of an ancient being, something far beyond our current understanding."

Astron nodded thoughtfully, his expression unreadable. "What evidence, specifically, leads you to that conclusion?" he pressed, his tone more probing now.

Mikhail leaned back slightly, his demeanor still composed. "The patterns of the disturbances, their frequency, and the areas they affect are consistent with what we know about ancient entities. These creatures leave behind certain signatures—whispers that echo through time, disturbances that seem to follow no logical pattern but are actually the byproduct of a creature's reawakening. The data we've gathered aligns with historical accounts of such beings. Especially the history and the past records of Veilcroft City."

Astron listened carefully, waiting for Mikhail to finish his words. The room remained tense, the weight of the conversation pressing down on everyone present.

Astron nodded again, his gaze unwavering as he processed Mikhail's words. "That indeed aligns with the past records of Veilcroft City," he acknowledged. The tension in the room seemed to thicken as everyone awaited his next words.

"But," Astron continued, his tone becoming sharper, "which records exactly have you been talking about?"

A flicker of confusion crossed Mikhail's face before he quickly composed himself. His brow furrowed slightly as he responded, "Is it not obvious? These are the records uncovered by historians and academics. I've even obtained an official permit to access them."

Astron's expression remained neutral, but there was a subtle shift in his demeanor, a hint of something more inquisitive beneath the surface. "When exactly were those records made public?" he asked, his voice calm but carrying an edge of curiosity.

Mikhail's frown deepened, sensing the underlying implication in Astron's question. "They were released to the public only recently, during the last major excavation of the ancient sites around Veilcroft," he replied, his tone now more guarded. "The records were thoroughly examined and authenticated by reputable scholars. Why do you ask?"

Astron paused, allowing the weight of his next words to settle in the room. "Because," he began slowly, "if those records were only recently uncovered, there's a possibility they might not be as reliable as we think. What if the information within them was altered or fabricated to mislead us? After all, the timing of their release coincides suspiciously with the onset of these disturbances."

"That is not possible. When I say 'recently,' I mean it is recent compared to other types of historical information. It was published ten years ago, and there are also many other referrals to the history of the Veilcroft and the folk stories."

Astron leaned slightly forward, his expression intent as he responded, "The thing with folktales is that they're easily manipulated. With the right resources, planting spies or individuals with specific [Traits] to convince others could easily accelerate the process of spreading these stories. If someone were to craft a legend, make it pseudo-academic with a few well-placed articles and records, it would create a perfect veil to hide their true intentions, wouldn't it?"

The room was thick with tension as Astron's words lingered, the implications clear to everyone present. Mikhail's frown deepened, though his eyes showed a flicker of acknowledgment. "That can indeed happen," he admitted, his tone measured. "But it's also a very difficult thing to do, especially on such a scale. The probability of successfully executing something like that is low."

"Low, but not impossible," Astron countered. "Especially if the thing or organization behind these disturbances is cunning, as we suspect. It might have had centuries, if not millennia, to plan and prepare for something like this. The very fact that it seems improbable could be the reason it's been so effective. Who would question a well-documented history, especially when it's been validated by scholars and academics?"

Mikhail remained silent for a moment, contemplating Astron's reasoning. The rest of the team watched the exchange closely, the weight of the discussion pressing down on them.

Finally, Mikhail spoke, his voice more subdued but still firm. "You're right to bring this up. The possibility of fabricated history is something we should consider. But let me ask you this, Astron—what about the people who were attacked by these monsters? If there isn't an ancient entity or monster behind it all, how do you explain the very real attacks? What force is controlling these creatures?"

Astron didn't hesitate. "There are indeed monsters attacking the people, and they're dangerous—no one is disputing that. But I don't believe they are the main perpetrators. Instead, they're being used as tools by someone—or something—with a much more deliberate agenda."

He paused, allowing his words to sink in before continuing. "Last night, I encountered a rank-3 [Umbral Wraith] in one of the southern districts, guarding a concealed passage. The creature was clearly stationed there to deter intruders. But what struck me was the method in which it was deployed."

Following that, he brought the monster out of his spatial storage.

"Here is the body."

There lay a monster with clean cuts all over the place. It was evident that the monster was handled with precision, as no body parts were missing. That alone showed the skill of this newcomer, who somehow changed the entire scene.