Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 914

Chapter 914 210.2 - News Spread

"The Hartley Guild was hit hard. Twelve of their dungeons were attacked yesterday. Twelve."

Julia's eyes widened slightly, but it was Irina who reacted first. "Wait, what?"

Ethan exhaled, letting his gaze drift across the room before speaking again.

"Marin Kont. Royce Grant. Valencia Marlowe." He said their names one by one, letting the weight of them settle. "All three are gone."

Julia leaned back slightly, crossing her arms, trying to absorb the information. "Damn…"

Irina frowned, deep in thought. "I know those names. They weren't just strong—they were pillars in your guild's leadership."

Lilia, who had been quiet, finally spoke. "I met them," she said, her voice subdued. "During the joint operations between the military and Hartley's guild. Marin was in charge of coordination for high-risk dungeons. Royce handled strategic security, and Valencia… she was an iron wall. No nonsense, no hesitation."

Carl, who had remained his usual unreadable self, finally gave a small nod. "I met them too," he said simply.

Olympus Vanguard, Lilia's guild, was a direct ally of the Hartleys. They had worked together before, in large-scale operations where the military and elite guilds needed to coordinate efforts. Losing three executives of that caliber wasn't just a loss—it was a statement.

"I hope everything's under control," Lilia murmured. "If things are escalating this quickly, the capital might not stay safe for long."

Ethan ran a hand through his hair. "It's worse than that."

Julia raised an eyebrow. "There's more?"

"Yeah." Ethan leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "Emily's guild was attacked too. Azure Crest."

That got their attention.

Emily wasn't close with anyone in this group—except for Ethan—but they all knew her.

As if on instinct, their gazes shifted toward the chestnut-haired girl sitting a few rows ahead.

Emily's posture was stiff, her fingers curled tightly around the edges of her book. She wasn't part of the conversation, but she had clearly heard them.

Even from this distance, it was obvious—she was stressed.

Her shoulders were tense, her focus absent.

Lilia sighed softly. "Figures."

Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair before continuing. "It was a full-scale ambush. Azure Crest sent a team into a dungeon, but the whole thing was a setup. Three rank-8 demonic humans were waiting for them—completely wiped out Team 3. Harin Anderson barely made it out alive."

Julia let out a low whistle, shaking her head. "Three rank-8s? For a mid-tier guild?"

"It wasn't just an attack," Ethan said, his voice quieter now. "It was an extermination attempt."

Lilia exhaled through her nose, her arms crossed. "So they were trying to wipe out Azure Crest completely."

Ethan gave a small nod. "Yeah. And it almost worked."

"This doesn't make sense. Didn't you say, Azure Crest isn't small, but it's not exactly a major player either. They don't warrant this kind of aggression. Unless—"

Ethan's eyes flickered toward Emily again. She still hadn't moved. Hadn't spoken.

She was holding everything in.

Lilia followed his gaze, her expression softening slightly. "She's not gonna talk about it," she said.

"Yeah," Ethan muttered. "I know."

And then—

The door to the lecture hall swung open.

The shift in atmosphere was immediate. Conversations quieted, postures straightened, and the weight of the topic hanging between them was pushed aside—for now.

A tall man in formal attire strode in, carrying a sleek tablet in one hand. His presence alone commanded attention, the room settling into place as he approached the podium.

"Good morning," the professor said, his voice crisp as he tapped something on his tablet. The screens at the front of the room flickered to life, displaying a series of diagrams.

"Today, we'll be discussing strategic combat formations in high-risk dungeon environments. I trust you've all reviewed the required readings?"

Ethan leaned back in his chair, exhaling quietly.

For now, the conversation was over.

But the tension?

It wasn't going anywhere.

*****

I had been listening.

From the moment Ethan walked in, from the moment his tone didn't quite match his usual demeanor, I had been listening. Every word, every shift in body language, every flicker of unspoken tension between them.

And as I processed what I had just heard, one thought settled in my mind.

'So it has started.'

The Conflict Escalates.

This was one of the defining moments in the game—a sequence that marked the beginning of one of the most dangerous storylines. The guild wars were no longer just isolated skirmishes or political maneuvers behind closed doors.

It was becoming a full-scale war.

'Indeed.'