The air in our guild room was thick with a new kind of energy, a palpable hum of anticipation and shock. The introduction of Kenji Satao—my unbreakable mountain—had sent ripples through the inner circle. I watched as they processed the raw power and unwavering loyalty that radiated from him, each of them reacting in a way that was perfectly, predictably them.
"Woah, a mountain," Padro said, his voice a low whistle of appreciation. A wide, predatory grin split his face, and he slammed a hand on the table. "That's amazing! We definitely need more powerful people on our side. Leader, you are seriously amazing. This guy gets it." He looked Kenji up and down, sizing him up not as a stranger, but as a new, heavy-duty weapon in our arsenal.
Jack, ever my anchor to reality, looked from Kenji to me, his brow furrowed with a familiar, deep-seated confusion. He looked completely unsettled. "When did you even meet this guy?" he asked, his voice low, shaking his head in disbelief. He knew my history better than anyone; I was a loner. For me to suddenly produce a follower this powerful and fanatically loyal out of thin air was a massive red flag. He then turned to Kenji, forcing a smile and offering a friendly hand. "By the way, congratulations on joining the inner circle of the Hunter's Guild."
"Thank you," Kenji replied, his voice a respectful rumble as he shook Jack's hand, his grip firm and steady.
Tiffany stood up, her gaze sweeping over Kenji with a cold, analytical precision. She gave a single, respectful nod. "I have to appreciate it, Leader. You are a very resourceful person." She then fixed Kenji with her piercing green eyes, her expression unreadable. "Kenji, words don't show strength. When the time comes, you will have to prove yourself. Don't disappoint us."
Kenji met her gaze without flinching, his own expression one of fierce, unshakeable determination. "I will not give you a chance to scold me, Vice-Leader," he said, his voice ringing with conviction.
Isabel, who had been watching the exchange with a sharp, calculating look, finally spoke, her tone a clear message: I'm watching you. "I am expecting you to work for the guild with honesty," she said, her eyes narrowed slightly. A swell of pride filled her chest seeing me command such loyalty, but a flicker of protective jealousy was ignited by this new, powerful figure.
Chloe, however, was less concerned with guild politics and more with the aesthetics of power. "Leader, you're really handsome," she sighed, her crimson eyes sparkling as she looked from me to Kenji. "For finding such a powerful man."
"Then whose leader are we talking about?" Maya chimed in, fanning herself dramatically. "We are talking about the Hunter's Guild's leader, Adam Wilson. Of course he'd have strong followers."
Ken Pots, my first and most eccentric devotee, practically vibrated with excitement. He clapped Kenji on the shoulder, his eyes shining with a fanatical light. "Then it means we are brothers in the royal guard, my fellow friend! Our only purpose is to serve our leader!" Kenji just gave a solemn nod in response, accepting this new, bizarre reality without question.
Anna, who had been quiet through all of this, was visibly happy. A small, genuine smile touched her lips, and I could feel a sense of relief radiating from her. In her mind, the guild had just gained a guardian, another powerful wall standing between her and the monsters of her past. She felt that the guild was now growing stronger.
Finally, Stacy, who had been observing the scene with a cool, detached amusement, spoke up. "Dear, you are really working hard," she said, her voice a low purr directed at me. "Creating a company, fighting bullies, managing your women… so many things. If you need help, you can always come to me." Her words were a subtle power play, a reminder of our own complex alliance, and I could feel the temperature in the room drop a few degrees as the other girls shot her furious glares.
"Okay," I said, my voice cutting through the rising tension. "Enough with the introductions. Everyone, take your seats."
When the room had settled, I looked around the table. "First of all, please give a round of applause to Anna and Tiffany for helping me in a crisis last night."
Isabel immediately started clapping, her earlier jealousy forgotten in a moment of genuine gratitude. "Thank you both so much," she said, her voice filled with a sincere warmth. "We were so worried."
"You're a master hacker," I said, giving Anna a nod of deep appreciation. "You saved us a lot of trouble." I then turned to Tiffany. "And Tiffany, thank you for being so cooperative. Your mother's help was crucial."
Tiffany, for the first time since I'd met her, actually blushed, a faint pink dusting her cheeks that made her look surprisingly human. "Just consider it a favor," she mumbled, looking away quickly.
"I'm just doing what I can to help," Anna added, her own voice a timid whisper, though her eyes shone with a quiet pride.
"Okay, guys, enough with the chit-chat," I said, my tone shifting to one of serious business. "Now, Anna. The report."
"The report is prepared," she said, her voice gaining a new confidence. She stood up and began to hand out a thick file to each member of the inner circle. The pages were filled with dense text, charts, and photographs.
"I will start with the weakest link in their chain," she began, her amber eyes scanning the room, a new, professional light in them.
"You mean Lina," Stacy said, her voice laced with a cool disdain.
"Exactly," Anna confirmed. "Lina Richard. She is the daughter of the Commanding Head of Police, Mrs. Melissa Richard, and Inspector Mr. Steve Richard."
The moment she said their names, my head shot up. "Are you sure?"
"Yes," she replied.
"I met her parents yesterday," I said, the memory of the hotel room, of the two officers, still fresh in my mind. "They were the ones who came to take my report."
"That's a coincidence," Anna said, unfazed. "But it also gives us an advantage. She also has an elder sister named Natasha Richard, who is a tutor in the Versatile class and teaches Biochemistry."
Padro looked confused, scratching his head. "How is any of this going to help us? So she has a sister. Big deal."
Tiffany cut him off, her voice sharp and impatient. "Listen, the thinking work is for the Leader, me, and a few other members. Your work is to follow orders. This information is necessary. Every connection is a potential weakness. We are trying to find a loophole."
"Anna, you can continue," I said, giving Tiffany a grateful nod.
"I also found a few possible rumors about her father," Anna went on. "That he is involved in corruption and is cheating on his wife."
"What are the chances that this rumor is true?" I asked, my own strategic mind already churning. A corrupt cop was a powerful lever.
She looked a little down. "The chances are very high. I found records of several internal investigations that were quietly shut down. But I don't have any hard proof. Not yet."
"It's okay," I said, reassuring her. "That's a start. Any other information?"
"Lina uses her family background to warn people and protect the workings of the Ruthless Animals. Mostly, her father helps her by making evidence disappear and intimidating victims."
"Okay, that's very crucial information," Isabel said, her own eyes narrowed in thought. "A dirty cop is a huge liability for them."
Jack nodded. "We can use a lot of this as leverage. But for now, we should hear about the others."
"Okay, team, let's move on," Anna said, flipping to the next page in her file. "Now, we are talking about Friedrich Colson. He is the only son of Mamao Colson, and his mother's name is Elise Colson."
"It means he's the only heir," I said.
"No," Anna corrected me. "Friedrich has two sisters. Natalia, the eldest, and Scarlet, who is also older than him."
Jack looked surprised. "So he has two older sisters. He's the baby of the family."
Anna nodded. "And there is also one more thing. His father was kept on as a son-in-law."
Stacy's eyes widened slightly. She let out a soft, knowing sound. "It means the whole Colson group is under Elise Colson's control. Mamao is just a figurehead, a pretty face she keeps around."
"Yeah, absolutely right," Anna confirmed. "He was a spouse adopted into the Colson family. The real power is in the hands of Elise. She loves her husband very much, but he is a well-known playboy. Elise doesn't believe the rumors because Mamao never leaves any trace of his affairs."
"Quite strategic," Tiffany commented dryly. "Because if Elise found out, he would be kicked out of the Colson group with nothing but the clothes on his back."
"Yes, absolutely," Anna agreed. "Then, there is also the fact that Friedrich has an aunt named Katherina and her two twin daughters, Caroline and Madison. And… he has a fiancée named Giselle Arnault."
"Are you serious?" Tiffany asked, genuinely shocked. This was the first piece of information that seemed to surprise her.
Stacy let out a low whistle. "Oh my God. He is having elephant meat on his plate. The Arnaults are on a whole other level."
"The heiress of the Arnault group," Maya breathed, her eyes wide.
"The Arnault group which is the major producer of gold, silver, diamonds, and Crystellium," Chloe added, the name of the mythical element hanging in the air.
Jack leaned forward, his voice hushed. "You mean the only existing mine of Crystellium?"
"The Arnaults are not regulars," Isabel said, her voice filled with a new seriousness. "Their monopoly on Crystellium in the whole world is commendable. They could buy and sell the Colson group a hundred times over."
"Yeah," Anna said, her voice grim. "That same Giselle Arnault."
"But the question is, how?" I asked, leaning back in my chair, the pieces not fitting together. "Because I don't think the Arnaults would be willing to marry their only daughter to some scumbag from a much smaller family in comparison to them. It doesn't make sense."
"I am also amazed," Stacy admitted. "There has to be something else going on. A deal, a debt… something hidden."
"There is no information about that," Anna said, looking frustrated. She continued, "Now, one last person. Serena Stone. She is the secretary of Elise Colson, but she has a very close connection to Mamao Colson. That's all for Friedrich Colson. Any questions?"
"You mean Mamao is cheating on Elise with Serena, who is Elise's own secretary?" I asked, the sheer audacity of it almost impressive.
"There might be a chance," she replied. "Because she was newly appointed, only three months ago. Her rise was unusually fast."
Anna moved on. "Now, Charles Patrick. The boxing champ of Northwood. Ex-fiancé of Stacy Brooklyn."
My eyes shot up. I looked at Stacy. "Is this true?"
She met my gaze, her expression unreadable, a flicker of a painful memory in her eyes. "Yeah. His father is a close friend of my father, so they fixed my marriage to him. It was a political marriage, a merger of assets. But due to… someone… the engagement was broken. Charles can't look me straight in the eye anymore. He feels inferior to me. After a very weird incident, he was broken." I knew exactly where she was indicating, and a small, cruel smile touched my lips.
Anna continued, "Next, he was red-flagged from boxing because he was caught using drugs during a fight."
Stacy let out a cold, humorless laugh. "Yeah. He's nothing but a spendthrift, flexing his parents' money. He's into drugs, narcotics, and he even has some police charges against him, but his father erases everything. He also has… erectile dysfunction." She added with a dismissive wave of her hand, "I had my doubts, of course. He never dared to touch me, not once, even when we were alone. He'd always make excuses. So, I used my own sources to look into it. Turns out, he's impotent. In simple terms, a limp dick."
The room fell silent for a second, and then Padro burst out laughing, a loud, unrestrained sound. "Seriously? The right-hand of Kevin is a limp dick?"
Jack grinned. "It suits him. That's why he got NTR'd."
"A perfect candidate for a green hat," Ken added with a solemn nod, as if this were a serious tactical assessment.
Stacy was laughing now, too, a genuine, cutting sound. "Yeah, that's true," she said, giving me a seductive glint. I could feel Isabel's eyes on me, a sharp, warning glare, so I coughed and said, "Anna, you should continue."
Anna nervously cleared her throat. "His mother left his father and ran away with her lover."
Stacy couldn't resist. "Because his father couldn't satisfy her."
Jack and Padro, and even I, were trying to hold back our laughter, but we failed. I said, "I really did feel bad for Charles." Stacy looked at me. "Don't. You are the one responsible for this."
Isabel slammed her hand on the table, her patience finally snapping. "Anna, move on."
"Next is Hughes Jackson," Anna said, her voice turning serious, the mood in the room shifting instantly. "He's an orphan, no family. But he met Kevin when they were young. Hughes has a connection with a girl he calls his girlfriend. Her name is… Louis Blossom."
I was shocked. My mind reeled, the memory of Louis's Soul Ledger—Love for Adam—clashing violently with this new information. Anna looked at me, noticing my reaction. "Do you know her?"
"No, nothing," I said, a little too quickly. "You can continue."
"I couldn't find much more about Hughes," Anna said, her expression turning somber. "He's a ghost. But… I want to mention my story to the guild now. So you all understand why he is my primary target."
She then recounted the story of her bullying, of her friend Rio, of the suicide. When she finished, the room was heavy with a profound, angry silence. The earlier laughter was a distant, bitter memory.
Tiffany's reaction was unbelievable. Her usual coldness was gone, replaced by a genuine, heartfelt sympathy that softened the sharp edges of her face. "I am really sorry for you," she said, her voice soft.
Jack and Padro were furious. "We will do everything to give her justice," they said in unison, their voices a low, dangerous growl.
"That bastard!" Ken spat, his fists clenched. "What does he think? Does a human life mean nothing to him?"
Maya and Chloe rushed to Anna's side, their earlier playfulness gone, replaced by a fierce protectiveness. "Don't worry, Anna," they said, their voices full of a shared anger. "We might not be able to understand your pain, but we will not leave you alone."
Isabel hugged her, consoling her. "You are so brave, Anna, for telling all of us about this," she whispered.
Kenji, who had been silent until now, spoke, his voice a low, rumbling promise that seemed to vibrate with a barely contained power. "We are a family. And we will definitely fight for justice."
Stacy looked at Anna with a newfound respect, a silent acknowledgment from one strong woman to another. "Your bravery is commendable, Miss Brown."
Anna looked at everyone, her eyes filled with tears, but this time, they were tears of gratitude, not despair. "Thank you, everyone, for helping me," she said. "Now, let's continue."
"Yeah," I said, my own voice thick with a barely suppressed rage. "The last one. The final boss. Kevin Lucas."
She took a deep breath, turning to the final page of her report. "Kevin belongs to a poor family. I investigated and found that his mother was a popular whore in her time. After getting settled with a drunk man, she gave birth to Kevin Lucas and his younger sister, Karen Lucas, who is one year younger. In our first year of school, there was a rumor that Kevin killed his father because he was beating his sister. He is very protective of her. And there is another woman who is always with him. Her name is Hailey Banner. She is his light in the darkness, his only childhood friend. Hailey definitely loves him, but Kevin has never cleared anything up. He always looks at her with a cold expression. But she believes she can change him."
"The Vice-President of the school council?" Tiffany asked, the pieces clicking into place.
"Yes," Anna confirmed. "And mostly, she covers for Kevin. She uses her position to erase his disciplinary records and smooth over any issues he causes."
"Hailey is a simp for Kevin," Isabel said with a scoff.
"That's all for my report," Anna finished, closing her file.
The room was quiet for a long moment as we all processed the mountain of information she had just given us.
Tiffany was the first to speak. "You are a brilliant asset for this guild," she said, her voice filled with a genuine respect that I had never heard from her before.
Stacy nodded in agreement. "Adam really picked some real diamonds in the rough."
"Anna is more accurate and detailed than the daily news channel," Isabel said, a genuine awe in her voice.
Every other member was looking at Anna with a mixture of respect and admiration. She was no longer just the timid girl in the corner; she was our master intelligence officer, our secret weapon.
I stood up, and the room fell silent. "Well done, Anna," I said, my voice ringing with a pride that was both for her and for the guild we were building. "You have truly amazed me. You gave us more information than we could have ever hoped for. You did an amazing job."
When I said those words, I could see that she was overwhelmed, a look of pure, unadulterated joy on her face, her cheeks flushing with a happy, confident blush.
"We will work together to destroy the Ruthless Animals," she said, her voice full of a new, unshakeable resolve.
"Because what are we?" I roared, my own voice a battle cry, a promise of the storm to come.
And every single person in that room roared back, their voices united, a single, thunderous promise that shook the very foundations of the old building.
"HUNTERS!"