Chapter 414 - White Aster Becomes Great Soss?

It was the headquarters of the Dark Hunter Organization, known as the Hunters' Association. It was an oval building shaped somewhat like an onion, its gray-white tiles reflecting light ever so faintly as they were stacked tightly together. The entire structure stood only three stories tall, yet it covered a vast area, with multiple sections inside.

On the street, Cassius had looked up at it and then stepped inside. Behind him, Herb, Kames and Krog, along with one more person, had followed as well. Aside from Herb, the other two had come to the Hunters' Association to submit their assignments.

They had served as branch leaders of the Dark Hunter Organization and would return to headquarters occasionally every year or two. They had also accompanied Cassius here for a short stroll. Since they happened to be here, they had decided to submit this year's task a little earlier.

Two minutes passed, and Cassius and the others were taken to a waiting room. After handing in the badge, someone went to inform the relevant department.

In a certain area of the oval building lay the department in charge of resource management.

Inside a spacious and well-lit room, two figures were sitting on a sofa, sipping tea as they conversed. Closer to the window sat a middle-aged man who was slightly balding. He wore an outfit resembling that of nobility, yet he remained rather portly.

Farther from the window sat someone who was very easy to identify. He had handsome, striking features and an aura that felt wild and aggressive. His physique was tall and powerful, carrying a faint but undeniable dominance. Combined with his medium-length blond hair, it was clear from afar that this man was Soss.

"George, I was pleased to cooperate."

"I was pleased as well."

They shook hands with smiles, appearing to be on particularly good terms.

They had just reached a few agreements, mainly concerning the sacred spring water. The royal family had traded other resources and goodwill with George in exchange for an equivalent amount of sacred spring water.

It was important to note that the sacred spring water had long remained in the hands of the Dark Hunter Organization.

Even the imperial royalty or the so-called Hongli Council could not intervene, as there was a balance maintained among the three parties.

Within the Dark Hunter Organization, the Sacred Bath Grand Cathedral undoubtedly possessed the most sacred spring water, but those priests were unyielding, adhering strictly to the organization's protocols.

Aside from the Sacred Bath Grand Cathedral, the resource management department of the Hunters' Association certainly ranked second. As a militant body, the Hunters' Association consumed vast amounts of sacred spring water daily, so it naturally kept a reserve.

The middle-aged man named George was the second-in-command of the resource management department, holding a certain degree of extra authority. He was able to covertly bring out some surplus reserves for trade. That had been the reason Lion King Soss had come.

After two or three days of rest, the reattached arm he had lost was finally stable once more.

Originally, Lion King Soss had been a strong contender for the Shadow Hunter seat, perhaps the most promising among the three competitors. However, everything had been destroyed by that assassination attempt several days prior.

Soss still possessed some relevance to the competition, yet he was no longer the frontrunner. He now had, at best, the same odds as the other two. With his injuries, his advantage might be even lower.

Soss could not accept such a turn of events and was looking for a way to salvage the situation. The best solution, without doubt, was to increase his own power. For instance, by drinking large amounts of sacred spring water in a short time, he could push the number of his sacred marks to a new threshold. He intended to return to his former strength and possibly go even further beyond.

Of course, this did not come without a cost. Frequent use of sacred spring water in a short period would severely affect a hunter's personality and sanity. This would lead to numerous negative effects and might even impede future growth. The source of the sacred spring water was an exception. Within its encompassing radius existed a mysterious power that minimized negative effects.

Soss knew there would be severe side effects, but his proud heart refused to let him lag behind the other two. If he could become a Shadow Hunter, any price paid would be worthwhile.

After all, everything Lion King Soss owned at that moment—The princess's favor, the adoration of noble youths, and the esteem of the royal family—depended on his potential to become a Shadow Hunter.

Should he fail, all such things would fade away. Such a loss would be far more painful than a mere side effect.

Therefore, he had sent his subordinates yesterday to seek out George, the second-in-command of the Hunters' Association resource management. Although George was a cadre within the Hunters' Association, he was a nobleman in real life.

He naturally leaned toward the royal family and had collaborated with them many times before. Thus, Soss had not worried about George refusing his deal.

He had come in person today to negotiate and pick up the goods, and indeed, the conversation had been pleasant.

"I've troubled you, George." Soss had smiled while taking a sip of strong tea.

"It is my honor to serve a future Shadow Hunter..." George had joked in that manner, and the two of them ended up laughing heartily.

"Since it's two in the afternoon, let me take you to fetch that batch of sacred spring water." George stood up as he spoke.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in..." George had not turned around. He simply put down his teacup.

With a

click

, a hunter dressed in a gray uniform walked in.

He glanced at Lion King Soss by the window and then walked over to George and whispered a few words into George's ear. George's expression changed slightly, and he immediately told the man to wait outside.

He stood and said to Soss, "Mister Soss, please wait for me here for a moment. I have something I need to handle first. Sorry, excuse me."

After speaking, he left the sofa area and walked out the door. Beneath the sunlight, Soss furrowed his brow, sensing that something was off.

Outside, at the far end of the corridor, in a secluded corner. George's subordinate produced a badge about half the size of a palm, shaped like a shield.

In the center was a sword of judgment, with olive branches and ears of grain entwined around its edges. The blade's surface featured finely carved thorn motifs.

George took it and realized at a glance that it was genuine. It was an honorary badge personally issued by the Chief Mechanist, impossible to forge and something no one dared to falsify.

He instantly recalled the upheavals of recent times. "Was it that Black Copper Hunter called White Aster? The one recently taken on as a disciple by Shadow Hunter Blood Axe Herb? The fourth contender for the Shadow Hunter seat, the one with the least presence...?" A flood of information had flashed through George's mind.

He recalled that the honorary badge could be exchanged for eight hundred units of sacred spring water within the Hunters' Association!

It amounted to about six or seven years' worth of mission rewards for a Dark Gold Hunter, which was by no means a small figure. It was only slightly less than the resource management department's total reserve.

Once paid out, it would take at least two or three weeks to replenish their supply of sacred spring water bit by bit. If that were the case, the sacred spring water he had just promised Soss might...

George showed a troubled look, for the royal family's face was truly valuable. He rubbed the uneven surface of the badge with his fingertips for a while.

After contemplating briefly, he spoke to his subordinate. "Where is he?"

Five minutes later, George walked past the stairs and arrived at the second-floor corridor. That waiting room was at the end of the corridor.

He mulled over his words in his mind and nodded in satisfaction. Indeed, George intended to follow through on his deal with Soss.

After all, he was a noble, and some matters were beyond his control. It would do no good to offend Soss, backed by the royal family. Not to mention that Lion King Soss might become a Shadow Hunter in the near future.

As for White Aster, it was not that he would not be given anything. It would just be delayed.

Handing it over in half a month or a month would be the same, right...? After all, what did a Black Copper Hunter need so much sacred spring water for?

George thought about it clearly. White Aster was undoubtedly the softer target. He was a Black Copper Hunter, and his older hunter mentor had likewise fallen to Black Copper-level strength.

Reason and persuasion would probably be enough to sway them.

"

Cough, cough...

" He coughed twice and practiced a smile at the door.

He still had to keep up appearances, considering it was an honorary badge issued by the Chief Mechanist. Since the door was unlocked, George straightened his hair and pushed his way in.

"Mister White Aster? I'm sorry... the resource department's reserves might...

Ah

..." His smooth and fluent words got stuck halfway through. George gripped the doorknob, frozen where he stood, feeling as though ants were crawling up his back.

Ahead, the waiting room was somewhat dim, with the curtains blocking two-thirds of the sunlight. On the sofa, an older man with a rugged build was hidden in the darkness. He was missing his left arm, yet his right arm remained powerful. His face was exceptionally fierce in its contours, and his dark eyes radiated a sense of oppressive power.

With just a faint glance, it felt like a razor-sharp blade was aimed at him. George's neck and heart area spontaneously prickled with goosebumps.

Beside the sofa, a burly older man stood with his back turned, like a savage, powerful brown bear. Upon hearing the door open, the man turned around, revealing a rough and unrestrained face.

He wore a shirt with two or three buttons popped open by his full and solid pectoral muscles, exposing a black patch on his chest. It was not chest hair but an extremely dangerous metallic fluid.

It throbbed outside his body like some eerie, pulsating heart. A formidable aura rushed forth, mixed with faint, irrepressible killing intent. George felt as if he had been locked onto by a bear.

"This..." He instinctively wanted to back out of the room.

However, his eyes suddenly caught sight of the badges on the two men's chests, which depicted a hand gripping the sword of judgment, colored in silver. It was clearly the badge worn only by branch leaders of the Dark Hunter Organization.

These two older men were both branch leaders?!

"Come on in and don't just stand there in the doorway." The older man, as sturdy as a bear, spoke with an irresistible air of authority.

George complied without thinking, shutting the door. He regretted it immediately afterward. With the door closed, the confined space heightened the intensity of their presence and intimidation.

It was not just the two older men on the left. More than that, there was a domineering aura occupying most of the room on the right.

That aura came from a young, brawny man in a white shirt, wearing a belt and trousers. He stood almost one meter ninety in height, with a frame two sizes larger than that of the older man before. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing two pairs of forearms packed with granite-like muscle. The top half of his shirt was open, and the muscular region around his back and neck formed a triangular shape.

He, like Soss, had blond hair. Except, his was even longer.

Combined with his ruggedly handsome features, there was a roving domineering air between his brows. The two shared a somewhat similar aura, but honestly speaking, Soss seemed like a child who had not yet grown up in comparison.

George was willing to call him Great Soss!

The man looked over, imparting a tangible sense of oppression. He stood with his back to the sunlight, his dark silhouette emphasizing his imposing, muscular build.

"What were you just saying about the resource department? Speak clearly." His low, resonant voice carried over to George's ears.

George quickly replied, "N-nothing... really nothing..." He did not know who this person was, nor what he intended. However, George's instincts made him abandon the explanation he had prepared earlier.

"Is it really nothing?" The Great Soss in George's eyes stood up with heavy, slow footsteps. "I am White Aster. I came to collect the resources for my honorary badge..."

"White Aster?!" George was stunned. He could not see any resemblance between the domineering giant before him and White Aster.

Five minutes ago, George had just looked at a full-body image of White Aster's file. It had clearly shown a slender young man. How could he have turned into this polar opposite appearance?

Wasn't White Aster supposed to be an illusionist? Was this an illusion?!

"You... are you really White Aster?" George could not help asking.

Cassius frowned slightly and answered. "Yes, I was much thinner when I first joined the association."

Receiving that confirmation, George's shock receded a bit, though his mind still churned with turbulence. The aura of this young man before him was far beyond Black Copper-level, at least on par with a top-tier Dark Gold Hunter!

George himself possessed White Dazzling Hunter strength, so basic comparisons were within his grasp. White Aster's displayed presence was even more formidable than that of Lion King Soss, whom George had just met.

He just did not know whether the other was deliberately releasing that aura to intimidate him or, like Soss, merely letting his normal state show. If it were the latter, then the Shadow Hunter seat would likely be in for another twist!

That was how George thought, but in reality, Cassius was doing neither of those. On the contrary, he was actively suppressing the raging aura within his body.

If he instantly raised himself to the level of a veteran combat artist, his body's life magnetic field would overwhelm and intimidate everyone nearby. In a certain sense, it could even be considered a form of attack. Thus, Cassius had been restraining his aura to a normal level all along.

"White Aster..." George mumbled. "Well... alright... you..." He coughed twice and abruptly switched to a warm and friendly tone.

𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"Mister White Aster, please wait here in the lounge a little while longer. I've already sent my men to fetch it, and it will be delivered in twenty—no, ten minutes!" George spoke with conviction, yet his gaze slowly swept across the entire room.

White Aster, who seemed to be hiding his true power, and veteran hunters serving as branch leaders in various counties of the empire, had returned to the headquarters to support him. They were absolutely no pushovers!

After weighing the pros and cons, George made the right decision. He withdrew from the lounge with a smile, exhaling a heavy breath.

Two subordinates happened to pass by, so George immediately called them over. He told them to hurry off to the warehouse to retrieve eight hundred units of sacred spring water. They were to bring it swiftly into the waiting room for those inside. George himself left in a hurry.

Ten minutes later, in a spacious, office-like chamber, Lion King Soss had grown somewhat impatient. Nearly twenty minutes had passed. He held a teacup in his right hand with a profound gaze.

He seemed to be pondering how to use the overwhelming power that would come from absorbing the sacred spring water to swiftly crush Claire and Solomon. Becoming a Shadow Hunter would soon be in the bag!

Oh, and there was also White Aster, whom the Shadow Thorn Organization had failed to assassinate... Once he became a Shadow Hunter, an ant like that would be easily manipulated.

While Soss was envisioning the bright future ahead, the door was pushed open from outside. His expression instantly switched to a smile, and he turned to greet the visitor.

However, he found that George, who had been all smiles earlier, now wore a grim face. "I was sorry, Mister Soss, but it seems our sacred spring water reserves are insufficient. Our transaction would have to be postponed for about two or three weeks..."

The smile on Soss's face froze.