Chapter 846

“This is?”

Except for Shamash, the eyes of everyone there instantly flew wide as they stared at Dragonhawk. “You… this, you…”

“It’s been half a year since I stepped foot into [S] class.” Looking at the shocked expression on everyone’s faces, Dragonhawk laughed loudly. There was a highly smug look on his face. “How could I have made this decision to summon you all here otherwise?”

“In other words… you plan on taking the responsibility of facing Aderick on your own?” The tattooed man nodded leisurely. “If that’s the case, our Australian branch will participate.”

Although the European branch had been trying its best to conceal the news about Dimitri’s death, the other branches were also part of Starfall Guild. It was impossible for the others to not find out.

The tattooed man had been wondering how Dragonhawk could still possess the confidence to summon everyone after the death of Dimitri – their only [S] class expert – and have them pool their strength to fight Zero City. And now, he finally understood.

“With greater power comes greater responsibilities. Since I am the only [S] class, it is only natural for me to bear this responsibility alone.” Dragonhawk retracted the power that he had been radiating. “Of course, this does not mean that you guys do not need to contribute.”

“Of course.” The woman with the piercings nodded. “We, the South American branch, will participate.”

“The African branch will participate.”

“The Central Asia branch will also participate.”

“What about you two?” Dragonhawk turned to the last two men who had yet to state their positions.

Shamash remained hunched, looking down at the cup of coffee before him. The coffee had already turned cold and was no longer releasing steam. Even so, his head remained lowered while his eyes remained staring at the coffee. It was as though there was a peerless beauty hidden within the coffee cup. Not once did his gaze move away.

The other person was the manager for the China branch. This person was a rustic-looking young man named Nightmare. He was someone who only just became the manager for the China branch not too long ago, after the death of Jiang Long.

And while Dragonhawk knew his name, that was all. It was said that Shen had only chosen to bring Nightmare into Thorned Flower Guild and feed him because his skill was simply too exotic. He was just a mascot. His true strength was so low that he was comparable to trash.

Back when they first split up from Thorned Flower Guild, Dragonhawk seemed to recall Nightmare trying to compete for the position of manager for the China branch. Later, however, for some unknown reason, he disappeared without a trace. Dragonhawk simply did not understand how Nightmare managed to take over Jiang Long’s position and become the new manager.

“I… need to think about it some more.”

Nightmare frowned. Then, with a constipated look on his face, he said, “What does the European branch has to say?”

𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

“Shamash, we are all waiting for you.” Dragonhawk nodded and turned towards Shamash again.

When it came to the strength of their Awakened ones, the China branch had always been the weakest amongst the seven branches. And now, those guys actually allowed a piece of trash like Nightmare to become their leader. It would appear that they were truly on the decline. As such, their opinion was of little importance.

The European branch, on the other hand, had always had one of the best teams around. That was especially so when Dimitri was still alive. At present, even though that [S] class fellow had died, the power they possessed was still something that cannot be neglected.

Shamash’s opinion was very important.

“I fear… it won’t be possible for you guys to succeed.” Shamash stayed silent for a moment. Finally, for the first time ever, he raised his head and cast an apathetic look at Dragonhawk. “Due to that, our European branch has no intentions of participating.”

“Shamash, if you are not confident in my strength, I don’t mind showing it to you.” First stunned, Dragonhawk then snorted. “It is not as though we have never encountered Aderick in instance dungeons in the past. You can see for yourself whether or not my strength has already risen to the same level as his.”

“No need for that.” Shamash waved his hand lightly. A hint of weariness appeared on his face. “It doesn’t matter if you plan on threatening me or if you truly want to just show off your strength. All of that is pointless. You fellows… you still do not know how Dimitri died, right?”

“You guys have been hiding it all this time and not officially announce his death. How are we supposed to know?” Dragonhawk sneered. “Which instance dungeon did he die in?”

“It wasn’t an instance dungeon.” Shamash shook his head. “He, someone broke into our headquarters and killed him, in a one versus one battle.”

“What?”

Everyone there let out a low cry of surprise.

An [S] class expert was… killed in a one versus one battle?

“Aderick… has grown so strong?” Dragonhawk’s face turned grim. “Dimitri was someone ranked second among the Inspectors. How did he do it?”

“Unfortunately, the one who took action was not Aderick.” Shamash let out a soft sigh.

“Nonsense! How could Zero City still have another [S] class expert? Moreover, this person can kill Dimitri in a one-on-one fight?” Dragonhawk slammed the table furiously. “Do you think [S] class experts are like pies that can fall from sky?”

“Wait!”

The woman with the piercings seemingly remembered something and her face took on a highly terrified look. “Could… could it be him… is Guild Leader Shen still alive?”

The moment those words left her mouth, the conference room fell into a deathly state of silence.

“Bella, what nonsense are you spouting?”

After a lengthy moment of silence, Dragonhawk finally took a deep breath and said, “Shen has already gone missing for so long now. To this day, he has not been seen even once. How could he still be alive? He must be dead! He has to be!”

“But Zero City has reappeared once more. If Zero City can, then Guild Leader Shen too…” The tattooed white man from the Australian branch furrowed his brows tightly and there was a highly hesitant tone in his voice.

“It’s been two months since Zero City reappeared. If Shen is truly still alive, he should have reappeared long ago!” Dragonhawk spat out angrily.

“Do you guys really want him to be alive that much? If he is truly still alive, we, the traitors, will all die! Do you understand?”

As they were arguing fiercely, Shamash simply watched them coolly. There was a faint, cynical smile on his face and he did not utter a single word.

He waited for Dragonhawk to finish shouting before coolly speaking up.

“Did I ever say… Dimitri was killed by Guild Leader Shen or Aderick?”

Silence.

“Then… who was it?” The tattooed white man swiftly turned towards Shamash.

“I do not know.” Shamash sighed softly. “It was a youngster. At the very least, his appearance is that of a youngster. However, from the start to end, he never gave his name. All we know is that… he appeared together with Tian Lie and used only one move to kill off Dimitri.”

The conference room once against fell into a deathly state of silence.

“As he was leaving, he told us to get ready to join Zero City,” Shamash continued softly. “Although I do not know just who he is, it is an indubitable fact that this peerless expert has suddenly emerged from Zero City. Dragonhawk, you have indeed stepped past the threshold of the [S] class, but I don’t think your strength has surpassed Dimitri. Even more so, I don’t think… that mysterious youngster will need to make a second move if he wants to kill you.”

Dragonhawk’s face alternated between red and blue and he clenched his teeth so hard that a sound could be heard coming from them. Even so, he could not utter a single word.

He knew that Shamash was not someone who would exaggerate matters. For him to say something like this, it had to be true.

As far as he knew, there was only one person who could have killed Dimitri in a single move.

Their former Guild Leader… Shen!

“Could he… be stronger than Shen?” Bella’s body trembled slightly.

“I think… maybe.” Shamash nodded lightly. “Among us here, I am the only one who has witnessed his strength. Thus, I am very clear that, if he decides to attack, there would be no possibility for us to fight back. Truth be told, I have already made up my mind before coming to Washington for this meeting.

“Starting today, we will leave Starfall Guild and all of us will join Zero City.”

“Are you for real? Shamash?” Dragonhawk stared at Shamash. “Just because you were scared by him a little, you are going to obediently run towards him while wagging your tail and beg for mercy?”

“There’s no helping it. I want to live.” There was a very calm look on Shamash’s face.

“You guys have never met that youngster, let alone feel that terrifying atmosphere of coercion when standing before him. Before him, we are as helpless and pitiful as three-year-olds.”

As Shamash spoke, he slowly got up and walked towards the door. “Today, I just wanted to tell you guys, given our friendship from being in the same guild before. In fact, I have already sent someone to contact Zero City. We have also obtained a verbal promise from them, agreeing to accept all of us into Zero City. In three days, we will officially become one of their peripheral guilds.”

Standing at the door, Shamash turned to once again glance at the other managers behind him. His eyes were filled with sympathy and pity. “The only advice I can give you all is to quickly join. Else… who knows if the mysterious eastern youngster would go after your heads too?”

Opening the door, he was about to walk out when his whole body suddenly froze in place.

After hearing Shamash’s final words, the remaining six people inside the conference room had been looking at one another. They were still in the state of shock from earlier and had yet to recollect themselves. But when they noticed Shamash halting his steps, they all turned their gazes towards the door of the conference room.

The door was only slightly opened. Furthermore, Shamash’s body was also blocking the way. Due to that, they could not see what was outside.

However, looking at Shamash from the side, they could see that his face had turned pale, like a frozen corpse in a morgue.

“Shamash.”

Dragonhawk’s heart skipped a beat and he called out.

But Shamash completely ignored him. He did not move, not even half a step. Even his gaze had not shifted away, focused only on whatever was resting beyond the slightly opened door. Gurgling sounds kept coming out from his throat and his face brimmed with both dread and despair.

The remaining six people slowly stood up. Their rate of breathing too, slowly grew faster.

Beyond the door… just what kind of thing could scare Shamash this much?

“It’s been a while, Shamash.”

A magnetic, baritone voice came from beyond the door, carrying within it a gentle and relaxed tone.

But to the ears of the six people within the conference room, it sounded like a call from Hell.