Chapter 566 - Fixing The Problem-Makers

Ten minutes later, in the Chief Mechanist's office...

A thin grey carpet covered the floor while two black-and-white striped sofas sat beside the window. Several potted plants in the corners lent a touch of soothing green to the otherwise solemn room. Deeper in stood a hardwood desk surrounded by smaller tables. It was stacked with documents. Files also filled the nearby cabinets, arranged in neat rows.

The faint scent of incense, indistinguishable from a floral fragrance, drifted through the air with a calming effect. Even superhumans found it soothing. A white curtain was tied to one side of the open window, swaying gently in the breeze. Cassius rested one hand on the wooden sill, quietly watching the scene below.

Roof tiles shimmered like mirrors under the afternoon sun. Outside the main doors, specialists had arrived to deal with the badly damaged ground and roadside fixtures. Repairs had begun in full swing.

The Dark Hunter Organization employed many arcane energy users, and their progress went quickly. It took only ten minutes for half the job to be done. Of course, this was mainly due to the fact that Salong and Kaiser's fight had spared the buildings. Only the ground and a few ornamental trees had been ruined. Those were obviously simpler to mend.

Cassius slowly turned and surveyed the office. At the moment, a good dozen figures filled the room. Each radiated a formidable presence, exuding a faint yet palpable pressure. Out in the world, every one of them was a heavyweight. Gathered here together, they clearly had important business.

The office space was roughly split into two zones. First was the window side where Cassius stood; four elders from the Hongli Empire's Covert Martial Arts community were seated on the two sofas facing each other .

Second was the interior area by the black desk where the Chief Mechanist sat Number One Shadow Hunter Colossus Kaiser, Number Three Shadow Hunter Phantom Louis, Number Four Shadow Hunter Jin, and Number Five Dark Hunter Aaron were all present. Radiant Hunter Thunder Prison Deleshart had yet to arrive since his current mission was rather distant.

Inside, everyone remained silent, their mood faintly grave. The four elders held their tongues out of courtesy as guests—and also because Salong had just thrashed Colossus Kaiser.

The Shadow Hunters, having learned Kaiser had been beaten by Demon Mountain Salong, likewise kept a wary silence. Who was Colossus Kaiser? The Hunters' Association's Number One Shadow Hunter, heir apparent to the Hunters' Association president and the Radiant Hunter.

The Chief Mechanist had once remarked that Kaiser's talent was extraordinary, since he was able to briefly duel Radiant Hunter Deleshart at full power. Yet, he had fallen behind the earlier spar. He had been overpowered head-on by the small, stooped, white-haired elder now sipping tea on the sofa. Not only that, he had been beaten at his own specialty, raw strength.

That fact set everyone thinking. Was this so-called Demon Mountain elder perhaps on the same level as Radiant Hunter Deleshart? And did the other three elders possess comparable power as well?

After all, the four had whispered among themselves as equals, with no sign of hierarchy. Only when looking at Cassius did they inadvertently reveal a hint of deference.

Knock, knock, knock...

A sudden knocking sounded at the office door.

"Come in," said the Chief Mechanist, lifting his head.

A gentleman in a suit slowly walked in. It was Radiant Hunter Deleshart. His clothes were slightly disheveled, showing his hurry. Deleshart closed the door behind him and turned. His gaze swept the room, resting especially on the sofas by the window. He studied the four Covert Martial elders, lingered on Cassius, and finally walked toward the Chief Mechanist.

𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Low murmurs soon rose from the desk area. Glances kept darting toward the window side while they talked. Deleshart looked at Salong, still calmly tasting his tea, then fixed his eyes once more on Cassius.

Cassius met his gaze and the two exchanged a look. Deleshart nodded and smiled in greeting. Cassius also nodded slightly and looked away.

By now, he knew Deleshart would offer no resistance to transferring the Radiant Hunter title. Since both the current Radiant Hunter and the Chief Mechanist agreed, other opinions in the organization scarcely mattered. Even opposition would not change the outcome.

Three minutes later, the hushed discussion wound down. Behind the black desk, the Chief Mechanist rose and leisurely poured warm black tea into two white porcelain cups. Lifting one cup, he walked to the window and offered it to Cassius.

"Congratulations, new Radiant Hunter."

Cassius smiled faintly and accepted the tea.

"As agreed, you will be Radiant Hunter, and Deleshart will continue as Hunters' Association president," the Chief Mechanist said.[1]

"Of course," Cassius replied, taking a sip.

The Radiant Hunter and the association president were not the same role. The title of Radiant Hunter denoted status and was one of the Dark Hunter Organization's top five. It ranked beside the Chief Mechanist, Head Butler, Sacred Spring High Priest, and the Workshop Chief.

On the other hand, the association president was a post that signified authority. He could command the Hunters' Association, deploy Dark Gold Hunters, and even command Shadow Hunters.

To be honest, Cassius cared little for the association with the vast Covert Martial Arts community awaiting his command. The Treatment Ward and the Golem Sect were enough. Taking on more would drain energy and slow his martial path. Excess was as bad as shortage; taking what was needed sufficed.

By the window, warmed by sun and breeze, Cassius savoured the rich tea blended with hot milk. He lifted his eyes to the upper-right of his field of vision. Sure enough, the antique's original owner's first Lingering Attachment had been fulfilled. The mask icon symbolizing a Shadow Hunter had lit up with a pale gold glow.

"At last, the problem of duration is solved..." Cassius slowly lowered his gaze.

Had that first attachment remained, he could have only stayed for one year in the time-travel. After it was completed, his stay extended to three years. Thus, Cassius could personally witness the Hongli Empire's fall. Finishing the second attachment would grant a crucial safeguard.

In the office, Cassius and the Chief Mechanist spoke a few words. Gradually, the topic turned to the world of Covert Martial Arts. They repeatedly mentioned that the Covert Martial Arts realm and the supernatural realm were isolated by a mysterious power. When the two touched, all kinds of accidents occurred.

The way Colossus Kaiser and Demon Mountain Salong's clash escalated moments ago was one example. The Shadow Hunters and the elders exchanged thoughtful looks. They found it believable, especially the principals, Kaiser and Salong.

They had noticed nothing during the heat of battle. Now calm, they saw many oddities. When Kaiser met the four elders, wariness was natural, yet instant violent hostility was not. The Dark Hunter Organization stronghold was tightly guarded; no matter their power, the elders could not have penetrated the building unseen.

Since they had entered openly, there had to be a reason. At minimum, they were neither enemies nor assassins. When Kaiser flared with hostility, Elder Salong had sneered a sarcastic comment. Whether by chance or not, that remark mocked his build, claiming Kaiser looked strong yet was actually weak.

The word "weak" had jabbed Kaiser's sore spot, and he lost control at once. He had charged straight in to punch Salong. Salong, unwilling to yield, answered in kind. After lying low for over twenty years, he had just gained a Secret Technique that greatly eased his side-effects and was itching to try it. Someone challenging him felt unwise to his mind, yet his body thrilled and trembled with delight.

So they fought.

One grew angrier by the blow, the other more exhilarated. Had Cassius not intervened at the last moment, Colossus Kaiser might have been gravely injured or even killed by Demon Mountain Salong.

Subsequently, the arriving Shadow Hunters would have seen it and leaped in, sparking a full-out brawl. Escalation would then have set the two forces at deadly odds, never to meet again.

At first glance, all the coincidences seemed natural. Yet so many well-timed and precise coincidences were suspicious.

As Cassius and the Chief Mechanist explained, the Shadow Hunters and elders sank into contemplation. Soon, the elders accepted the seemingly absurd conclusion. Some had followed Cassius to the Eternal Archipelago and seen Pale Origin which looked like some kind of world-tree. If such terrifying anomalies existed, what was impossible?

The Shadow Hunters likewise began to accept it. As an official supernatural force, the Dark Hunter Organization had glimpsed many hidden truths across history. Though seldom confirmed, the pieces close at hand still let one glimpse at the larger picture.

For instance, the Black Rain Manor existed between reality and illusion. It appeared, vanished, then resurfaced and vanished again. Even when utterly destroyed, it would re-emerge in some future era.

Another example was the sacred spring of the organization itself, whose water had flowed for a millennium as the origin of its power. No one knew where that energy came from or why it endured. Not to mention, the enigmatic Gate Organization and its elusive leader.

Some things lay within fog, their outlines only faintly seen. Once someone pointed them out, they became easy to accept.

Silence stretched on as the Chief Mechanist poured himself another cup of black tea. He spoke, "Cassius, how have matters progressed this past month? What of the Eclipse Society's partnership with the Gate Organization regarding the serums? You went to the empire's southeast, I believe..."

Cassius set down his cup, only now recalling that affair. He had attended the Covert Martial Arts international exchange tournament and visited the Eternal Archipelago to acquire the Southern Dipper Waterbird Fist, but he had nearly forgotten that matter.

Back in East Sea City, he had indeed planned to teach the Totem Temple and the Eclipse Society a lesson with the Treatment Ward. However, the exchange tournament had derailed that plan. Even after he brought the Covert Martial Arts delegation back to Florence, no chance arose to trouble the Eclipse Society. Truly, plans never kept pace with change.

Cassius pondered silently, then something struck him. "I didn't go after the Eclipse Society this past month..."

The Chief Mechanist looked over, eyes showing surprise.

"However," Cassius continued, "I did hunt down the Gate Organization in the southeast. I wiped out dozens of core members, the Seven General Kings, and the deputy leader Holy Fist Demon Phoenix."

After speaking, he gave the Chief Mechanist a faint smile. It carried an undercurrent of well-concealed bloodlust.

"Since the Gate Organization has been crippled, its partnership with the Eclipse Society cannot proceed. A roundabout solution, you might say..." Cassius's logic was tight, flawless, and convincing.

"Ah?!"

"What?"

"You crippled the Gate Organization!"

The Chief Mechanist and Deleshart cried out almost in alarm, while the other four Shadow Hunters reacted less. Since the Chief Mechanist and Deleshart stood higher, they better understood what the vast Gate Organization represented.

It was an entity that was perhaps even stronger than the Dark Hunter Organization itself. Leaving aside its enigmatic leader Xiadu, the deputy leader Holy Fist Demon Phoenix alone rivaled the Chief Mechanist. Even the First General King had reportedly broken through in the Southern Reef Continent and faintly stepped onto that same tier.

They were two pinnacle figures!

Furthermore, the remaining six General Kings were all top-tier masters. Only Deleshart and Colossus Kaiser could compare to them. Perhaps the royal family and Hongli council hid a few experts, yet they were few and still outnumbered.

The Gate Organization's core members were also scattered worldwide, and were often at Shadow Hunter level. It was an overwhelming force compared to the Dark Hunter Organization.

And now he was saying that such a power had been destroyed! For a moment, the Chief Mechanist and Deleshart were stunned.

The Chief Mechanist recalled that before Cassius left, he had been instructed simply to disrupt the serum partnership in the southeast. Cassius had only needed to sever that cooperation...

Yet he had taken the unconventional route and solved the problem at its root. He had even dug up the soil around the root. Instead of hitting the Eclipse Society, he had crippled the Gate Organization.

If a nation sent a spy to steal information and grease wheels in an enemy state, they might expect the spy to score a vital dossier or assassinate a key figure. But never that he would storm the political center with explosives and blow up hundreds of legislators, including the heads of politics, military, and finance!

Cassius never fixed the problem. He only fixed the problem-makers!

It was simple, brutal, and effective...

1. In the previous chapter, it was mentioned that Cassius would be both Radiant Hunter and president but it seems to have changed this chapter. ☜