Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 522

Chapter 522 117.4 - Second Mission

I walked back to the town, my thoughts swirling with the implications of what I had just learned—or rather, what I had not been told. Something had happened here, something that the mother and son were keeping to themselves.

The pieces of the puzzle were slowly falling into place, but there were still too many missing for me to see the full picture.

When I arrived at the mayor's office, I found him pacing near his desk, his fingers tapping nervously against the wood. He looked up as I entered, his eyes searching mine for any sign of hope.

"Did you find anything?" the mayor asked, his voice tinged with a mix of anxiety and expectation.

I kept my expression neutral, my face a practiced mask of calm. "Nothing conclusive," I replied evenly. "There's no logical explanation that I can see at the moment. The blight doesn't seem to have a natural cause."

The mayor's face fell slightly, the hope draining from his eyes. He ran a hand through his thinning hair, clearly frustrated by the lack of answers.

"And what about them?" he asked, his tone shifting slightly as he referred to the mother and son. There was a subtle edge to his voice, a hint of something more than just concern. "Did they tell you anything useful?"

I shook my head, maintaining my composure. "No, they didn't have any information that could help," I said, my voice steady. I had long since mastered the art of controlling my expressions, and the mayor wouldn't detect any hint of deception.

The mayor studied me for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to gauge whether I was telling the truth. But he found nothing in my demeanor to suggest otherwise. Instead, he seemed to relax slightly, as if relieved that the young operative before him wasn't as sharp as he had feared.

I caught the subtle shift in his posture, the way his shoulders eased, and his gaze lost some of its intensity. He was underestimating me, dismissing my capabilities because of my age. It was a common reaction, one that I had encountered many times before. But in this case, it worked to my advantage.

As I watched him closely, I noticed something else—a flicker of restlessness in his eyes, a tension in his jaw that hadn't been there before. The mayor wasn't just worried about the blight; there was something specific about the mother and son that was bothering him. His questions, though carefully worded, revealed a deeper concern.

'This is quite a reaction, huh?' I thought, storing the observation away for later. The way he had pressed for information, the subtle anxiety when I mentioned that I hadn't found anything—it all pointed to something more than just a passing interest. He was worried, and that worry wasn't just about the blight.

But I gave no sign that I had noticed. Instead, I kept my tone casual as I spoke. "I'll continue to investigate, but it might take some time. These things are rarely straightforward."

The mayor nodded, though I could see the disappointment in his eyes. "I understand," he said, though his voice was strained. "Just… do what you can. The town is counting on you."

CREAK! "Hey, Father….Give me some money!"

Just as I was about to leave the mayor's office, the door swung open, and a young girl stepped inside. She was slightly tall, with striking features that immediately caught my attention. Her resemblance to the mayor was unmistakable—same sharp eyes, the same shape of the jaw. It didn't take much to conclude that she was most likely his daughter.

She was well-dressed, in clothes that spoke of both quality and taste, and she carried herself with the kind of confidence that comes from being accustomed to having her way. There was a slight haughtiness in the way she walked as if she owned the place and everyone in it.

"I will meet with some friends from the city."

As she entered, her gaze swept the room, initially ignoring my presence as if I were just another piece of furniture. But then her eyes landed on me, and her expression changed in an instant.

Her eyes widened, and she froze in place, staring at me as if she had just seen something—or someone—unexpected.

Without warning, she blurted out, "What a handsome guy!"

The words hung in the air, and for a moment, there was a stunned silence in the room. The mayor, who had been lost in his thoughts, looked up sharply, his eyes flicking between his daughter and me with a mixture of surprise and mild annoyance.

Sometimes, I forget that I was also quite good-looking. Considering there were guys like Ethan, Victor, and Lucas in the academy, I did not think much of my looks, but outside, I would get a lot of gazes when walking.

"Ah, this is my daughter, Celia," the mayor said, recovering quickly and clearing his throat. "Celia, this is Mr. Natusalune, who has been sent to help us with the situation in town."

Celia, still staring at me, blinked a few times as if snapping out of a trance. She quickly composed herself, her haughty demeanor returning as she gave me a smile that was equal parts charming and confident.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Natusalune," she said, her voice suddenly taking on a more measured tone, though her eyes still held a hint of that initial surprise. "I didn't realize we had such... capable-looking help on the way."

The girl's gaze remained fixed on me, her initial surprise quickly morphing into a more calculated expression. It was clear that she was used to getting what she wanted, and the townsfolk likely found themselves at the receiving end of her haughty demeanor more often than not.

As she continued to speak, there was a subtle condescension in her tone, as if she viewed herself as being above the rest of the town's inhabitants.

"I must say, it's refreshing to see someone of your... caliber here in Shange Town," Celia continued, her smile a touch too perfect. "The people here can be so... simple. It must be a nice change for you to deal with someone who can actually appreciate your skills."