Chapter 430: the True Golden Lion
On Magic Mine Gula Island, the renowned hunter group Iron Sun had its headquarters stationed.
At that moment, inside the Iron Sun's base, in a simple yet elegant office room, Kong held a freshly issued decision document from the Holy Hunter Council in his hand and appeared deep in thought.
"Sōsuke Aizen." he murmured, gazing out the window at the gray mountains.
"That is fine. If we can invite this man to join Iron Sun, this land will become more stable," he said to himself.
He noticed some black shadows flashing across the distant mountains, accompanied by roars echoing through the sky.
Kong continued to think quietly.
Magic Mine Gula Island, once known as Gulaseng, was a large island rich in minerals, spanning dozens of kilometers in diameter.
Originally, this island was controlled by the World Government, and a vast amount of minerals were extracted from it every year.
However, more than two years ago, after a battle between two gods, the minerals on the island began to change, and the environment was also affected.
Magical beasts, hidden in the mountains and forests, started to appear in large numbers.
Some monsters claimed territories following the mutated minerals.
The mining workers who once worked on the island suffered heavy losses, and the changes here drew the attention of the World Government.
Later, the mineral, now called Magic Stone Mine, became a focal point of study for the major forces in the sea.
The island contained a large quantity of magic stone mines and even purer magic crystals.
So far, through step-by-step research, these magic stone mines and magic crystals with special properties were increasingly valued by the major forces.
The island, rich in magic stone ore, was renamed Magic Mine Island.
Around the time the Hunter Association was established, due to the island's importance and the growing strength of the monsters lurking in its mountains and forests, the headquarters of the Iron Sun hunter group was established here.
Kong was assigned to guard the Iron Sun's headquarters.
This man, once qualified to be a Marine Fleet-Admiral, had been promoted by the Five Elders to the commander-in-chief of the World Government's forces.
However, with the initial establishment of the Hunter Association, the hunter system was set up, and all major forces, besides providing personnel for the Holy Hunter Council, needed sufficient combat power to support the formation of the Holy Hunt Council, the official structure of the Hunter Association.
While most other major forces sent more than one gem-level hunter, the World Government faced difficulties.
Gem-level hunters typically possessed strength comparable to an Admiral or nearly equivalent power.
Even the World Government could not easily produce such formidable individuals.
There was no way the Five Elders themselves could form a hunter group and fight!
Or perhaps they could allocate the Marines' combat power to form a hunter group?
Then, they turned their attention to Kong, a man who had been promoted to commander-in-chief of the entire army and had entered the World Government's system.
In addition to Kong, they also sent Saint Figarland Garling, the commander of the God's Knights, to join Kong in creating a new hunter group.
Clatter!
Kong slapped the resolution document onto his desk and sighed.
Truly, he was already an old man, yet he still had to shine for the World Government.
In this magical era, even old men like him struggled to keep up.
Moreover, though he was the leader, the vice leader, Saint Figarland Garling, was currently doing nothing.
Tch! As expected of a Celestial Dragon, Kong thought with a slight hint of dissatisfaction toward Saint Figarland Garling.
To be honest, at the very beginning, when the Five Elders asked Kong to join the Hunter Association, his goal was one of the two seats assigned to the World Government in the Holy Hunt Council.
However, for the Five Elders, Kong, a former Marine Fleet-Admiral who had caused them trouble, could not be allowed to serve as a Holy Hunt Councilor, the highest authority in the Hunter Association.
Back then, let alone a councilor position, the Five Elders had not even planned to give him the role of leader of the hunter group, intending instead to assign it to Saint Figarland Garling.
Unfortunately for them, Kong was no pushover.
At the time, he leveraged the World Government's embarrassing lack of top-tier combat power in the Hunter Association and made it clear from the start that he aimed for a Holy Hunt Councilor seat.
Only then did the Five Elders reluctantly back down.
Click!
After opening the drawer and placing the document inside, Kong stood up, ready to take action.
Boom, boom, boom!
Just as Kong stood, an urgent knock sounded at his office door.
"Come in!" Kong said casually, putting on the distinctive robe of the Iron Sun's captain.
A steady-looking man with short black hair walked in.
"Doc, what is the emergency?" Kong asked, looking at the man curiously.
Doc was part of the Sun Class of the Iron Sun hunter group.
The Iron Sun hunter group was divided into two parts: ordinary staff who handled various tasks and required little combat power, and official members.
Official members were the true members of the Iron Sun hunter group.
Ordinary hunters who wished to join Iron Sun and become official members needed to be at least silver-level hunters.
Official members of Iron Sun were divided into four classes: Early Sun, Scorching Sun, Blazing Sun, and Iron Fierce Sun, corresponding to silver-level to gem-level hunters.
Kong himself belonged to the Iron Fierce Sun class.
In truth, Kong disliked using the term "class" to describe himself. He preferred terms like "position" or "will."
However, with the presence of the Celestial Dragon Saint Figarland Garling in the group, these levels felt somewhat skewed.
Over time, though, more and more members sided with Kong.
He hoped the members could find the sun in their hearts, like a newborn sun, and grow step by step into a steely sun, illuminating the world with their iron will.
This was a new aspiration born from watching the changes brought by King, or perhaps, as he grew older, Kong had learned to speak more eloquently.
"Captain, I have received very important and urgent information," Doc said, his usually steady expression showing a hint of unease.
"Oh?" Kong said, growing curious upon seeing Doc's still-shocked expression.
What could unsettle this typically composed assistant?
Noticing Kong's curiosity, Doc did not hold back.
"The Yamata Sect, under the Yamata god Orochimaru, and the Flying Pirates of the Four Emperors' Shiki the Golden Lion have jointly sent invitations to all major forces in the sea," Doc said and paused and then he added, "The Mythical Beast Island will open in one month, and the world's first Mythical Beast Conference will be held."
The information in Doc's words left Kong momentarily stunned.
Noticing Kong's dazed look, Doc continued, "It will not be long before this news spreads across the world."
"Besides the major forces receiving invitations, even unrelated individuals can participate as long as they pass the test on Mythical Beast Island," he explained.
"I am afraid the New World will fall into a great vortex this time," he concluded.
Hearing Doc's analysis, Kong snapped back to his senses.
With a solemn expression, he took the information handed over by Doc and quickly read through it, his face growing even heavier.
Da da da!
The sound of Kong's pacing footsteps echoed through the room.
The Yamata god Orochimaru's Mythical Beast Conference.
Even without any interests at stake, such a conference would draw nearly all major forces due to the Yamata God Orochimaru's reputation.
Moreover, the joint announcement by the Yamata Sect and the Flying Pirates promised immense benefits.
Even the major forces would be thrilled by such prospects.
After all, Shiki the Golden Lion, the leader of the Four Emperors, had achieved demigod-level combat power through the upgrade of Yamata God Orochimaru, becoming the True Golden Lion.
This fact alone excited everyone.
"The Mythical Beast Conference? What a troubled event!" Kong sighed.
Then, he began arranging his schedule for a month later.
( End of this Chapter )