Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 518

Chapter 518 116.2 - Faceless Woman

"Astron," Shanks stood before me with a greeting. "What are you doing here? You should be resting."

"I need to speak with Varnis," I replied, my tone resolute.

"Why?"

"There's something I want to ask of him."

"Can you promise to make it quick?"

"It will not take more than five minutes."

Shanks studied me for a moment before nodding, a trace of understanding in his eyes. "You're thinking there's more to this than what we've uncovered."

"Indeed," I confirmed. However, revealing the source of my concerns was clearly impossible for now, as how could I say I suspected this because of a game? freёwebnovel.com

Well, not that I need to reveal this anyway. It is not like I have any responsibility, and I should have earned at least this much right to probe a little.

Shanks gave me a final, scrutinizing look before he stepped aside, allowing me to enter the room. I nodded in acknowledgment and walked past him, pushing the door open to the interrogation chamber where Varnis was being held.

The room was dimly lit, a single overhead light casting harsh shadows across the cold, sterile walls. Varnis sat slumped in a metal chair, his hands shackled to the table in front of him. His appearance was haggard, his eyes bloodshot and tired, a far cry from the once-imposing figure he had been. With his mana sealed, he was nothing more than a normal human—vulnerable and powerless.

As I stepped into the room, Varnis slowly lifted his head, his gaze locking onto mine. For a brief moment, there was a flicker of recognition in his eyes, followed by a deep, simmering resentment. He knew exactly who I was—the one who had caught him just as he was about to escape, who had thwarted his plans in the final moments.

"You…" Varnis rasped, his voice rough from exhaustion and defeat. "You should have killed me when you had the chance."

His words were laced with bitterness, but they didn't faze me. I remained calm, my expression unreadable as I regarded him. "If you wanted to die, you wouldn't have fought so hard to escape."

Varnis sneered, though the effort seemed to drain what little strength he had left. "Escape was the only option I had left. But now… now I'm just a prisoner, awaiting whatever fate your organization deems fit. Death would have been a mercy compared to this."

I didn't respond to his self-pity. Instead, I pulled out the chair across from him and sat down, my eyes never leaving his.

Varnis chuckled, though it was laced with bitterness. "So, now you're here to play the interrogator, huh? Fine, ask your questions, but don't think for a second that a kid like you can do anything to me."

I didn't rise to his taunts. Instead, I remained calm, my expression neutral. "How did you first realize that your Trait had a special quality?"

Varnis barked out a laugh, his voice dripping with contempt. "Oh, I see what this is. You're hoping to find some hidden potential in yourself, aren't you? Hoping to use the same method I did to get stronger? How pathetic."

His words were meant to cut, to provoke a reaction, but I didn't give him the satisfaction. I simply repeated the question, my tone steady. "How did you notice that your Trait had a special quality?"

Varnis sneered, leaning back in his chair as he stared at me with disdain. "Even if I told you, it wouldn't matter. It's not something that just anyone can do, even if you wished for it with all your heart."

I nodded slightly, acknowledging his response. "That must be correct," I agreed, my voice calm. "After all, not everyone can swallow such a seed from an eyeless woman."

The moment the words left my mouth, Varnis' demeanor changed. His eyes widened in shock, his breath hitching as if he had been struck. The confident, sneering expression he had worn moments before vanished, replaced by a look of utter disbelief.

'As expected.' I thought to myself.

'That thing was involved.' Such a discovery of a trait. While it was something that was not impossible, its direction was slightly strange.

I leaned forward slightly, my voice calm but firm as I pressed him for more information. "Did she give you a name, Varnis? What did she call herself?"

For a brief moment, Varnis hesitated as if weighing the consequences of speaking further. His lips parted, and it seemed as though he was about to reveal something, the name lingering on the tip of his tongue.

But before he could utter a word, his body convulsed violently. His hands shot to his throat, his eyes bulging as he struggled to breathe. A choking, gurgling sound escaped his lips as he gasped for air, his face contorted in agony.

I stood up quickly, my eyes narrowing as I watched him. It was clear that something—or someone—was preventing him from speaking, and I knew what it was.

'The psychic mana in his mind. It is a 'Placate'.' It was just as expected.

That thing would not leave any loose ends.

Within moments, Varnis' struggles began to subside, his body going limp as the last of his strength faded. His eyes, once so full of terror, now stared blankly ahead, his chest rising and falling in shallow, ragged breaths.

Just then, the door to the room burst open, and Shanks rushed in, his expression one of urgency. He took one look at Varnis' condition and immediately moved to assess the situation.

Shanks knelt beside Varnis, his fingers checking for a pulse even as he shot a questioning look at me. "What happened here, Astron?"

"A 'Placate,'" I replied, my voice steady but filled with the gravity of the situation.