Meanwhile, in Tokyo, a quiet courtyard had been arranged by Dragon Country.
Luna sat on a bamboo chair, his tablet displaying the latest intelligence summary.
His face was calm, and though his breathing was steady, just by sitting there, he naturally became the center of the entire courtyard, as if even the air had thickened.
Able to reach the second seat on the global hunter leaderboard, Luna exuded an aura originating from the same source as Lilith's.
This aura, even if not intentionally released, could intimidate everyone.
Of course, Lilith's Mimicry was clearly a counter-example.
"In this operation for the priority purchasing rights of the Trading Platform land, Dragon Country lost two hundred million Points."
Luna continued to look at the intelligence and news, his voice flat, revealing neither joy nor anger, yet it caused the others in the courtyard to instantly feel an invisible pressure spreading.
Jun, the Tang Blade Man from the previous Xenomorph incident, was currently standing quietly to the side, waiting for Luna's next words.
Beside Jun was a sturdy man with a restrained and steady aura; the aura he emanated was on par with Luna's, clearly another SSS-Rank Hunter from Dragon Country.
Nearby, there were also several other Hunters, all elites of Dragon Country, but in the current atmosphere, they all remained silent.
"According to the follow-up investigation, these two hundred million Points, along with the equipment and supplies from the deceased, were all extracted within the rules by that [Lilith] from Britain."
Luna put down the tablet, his purple eyes scanning the crowd.
"This priority purchasing right concerns Dragon Country's strategic layout in the new Trading Platform."
"The state explicitly requested in advance to dispatch professional land assessment personnel and diplomatic negotiators with diplomatic literacy."
"Why were those eventually sent all useless trash who only know how to boast and fight for power and profit?"
His tone was steady, devoid of any emotion, but no one present dared to speak.
Finally, Luna's gaze fell on Jun.
Jun took a deep breath, stepped forward half a pace, and spoke clearly and directly.
"Reporting, because those professionals have no competitiveness in the face of [connections] and [backgrounds]."
"In the eyes of some, this project without direct danger is an excellent opportunity to install cronies, rake in capital, and gain future say."
"Whether one is professional or not is irrelevant to these Factions and financial magnates."
The words were blunt and harsh, but they pointed out the deep-rooted chronic illness currently entwined within Dragon Country.
The drinking culture, personal relationships, and exchange of interests from the old era had not been purged by the life-and-death crisis after the Main God Game descended; instead, they had intensified under personal strength and influence, eroding the newborn order.
Luna closed his eyes.
The courtyard was so quiet that a pin drop could be heard, with only the faint noise of the City in the distance.
After a moment, he reopened his eyes, and in those deep pupils, there was now a cold, murderous resolve.
"It seems it's time to clean house."
His voice remained steady, but it carried a heart-shaking chill.
"Two hundred million Points is enough to delay several key plans and set back Dragon Country's current layout. If this continues, before external enemies press in, internal parasites will completely destroy Dragon Country."
The others felt a shiver in their hearts.
They understood that this number one person of Dragon Country was truly enraged this time.
Purging the interior would inevitably touch countless interest groups, and a bloodbath would likely be unavoidable.
But no one spoke out to dissuade him; a flash of satisfaction even crossed Jun's eyes.
What he disliked most were those financial magnate Factions who still sought to monopolize everything for their own benefit.
If Dragon Country wanted to truly stand up again in this post-apocalyptic world and even dominate a region, they had to clear out these internal troubles.
Even if they couldn't be eliminated, at least they had to be severely suppressed to make them restrain themselves.
Just then, the communicator on Luna's wrist vibrated slightly.
He glanced at it and slowly stood up.
"Let's go."
Straightening his wrinkle-free collar, Luna looked at everyone and continued.
"The people from America have arrived, and the Factions from other countries have also all gathered. It's time to proceed with the next agreement."
Everyone rose and followed Luna out of the courtyard.
As Jun passed through the shadow of a pillar, his gaze inadvertently swept across a corner of the courtyard.
There, [Kong] stood alone, staring blankly at the rockery in the courtyard, his profile looking exceptionally gloomy in the shadows.
[Kong] sensed Jun's gaze but didn't look back, merely pulling his lips into a sarcastic smile.
When Luna had personally named him to participate in this operation, he had sensed something was wrong.
It was too coincidental.
Especially after he learned that in the last "Aliens vs. Predator," the final Xenomorph Embryo had failed to kill that Hunter with the SSS-Level Talent.
This meeting, even if it didn't gather all the SSS-Rank Hunter in the world, he was certain that Hunter would definitely be in this operation.
Based on the information he had currently gathered, that Hunter most likely came from America.
He just didn't know if it was [Eye of God], [Ares], or the one ranked first, [Ye]!
"Is he trying to kill with a borrowed knife and clean house? Or is it really just a mission requirement?"
Thoughts spun in [Kong]'s mind, and a chill gradually grew.
He knew Luna; that man's mind was as deep as the sea and difficult to fathom.
But regardless, this trip to Tokyo was full of fatal danger for him.
Because once he encountered that SSS-Rank Hunter, the other party would have absolutely no reason to let him go.
"I must be extremely careful. I must stay close to Luna and Xuanwu. With these two SSS-Rank Hunter present, I don't believe the other party would dare risk offending Dragon Country and kill me right in front of two of Dragon Country's SSS-Rank Hunter!"
[Kong]'s eyes flickered as various sinister schemes and life-saving measures rapidly brewed in his mind.
He didn't want to die, especially not at the hands of a monster he had plotted against but failed to kill... The hotel where Lilith and her group were staying had been booked in advance by the Sentinel Alliance.
On the upper floors of the hotel, outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, was a Tokyo street scene that was prosperous yet hinted at a slight tension.
Forti had just finished an encrypted communication with the Sentinel Alliance headquarters and walked over to Lilith.
"The meeting location is confirmed. In one hour, at a special safe house near Tokyo Tower. Representatives from all sides will be present."
Pausing, Forti continued.
"Besides clarifying the rules, it might also be an opportunity to test each other and evaluate opponents."
Listening to Forti's report, Lilith stood by the window, her crimson pupils reflecting the ant-like flow of traffic and pedestrians below.
She could feel that beneath the calm surface of this City, terrifying energy from the world's top powerhouses was accumulating.
Ambition, greed, calculation, fear, hatred... various emotions were like undercurrents, surging and colliding beneath this island.
And her target, [Kong], was hiding within this murky undercurrent.
The temptation of strange artifacts, the constraints of rules, the traces of old enemies, the maneuvering of multiple Factions... all clues would interweave into a dangerous web of negative energy in the upcoming meeting and subsequent struggle.
"These chaotic negative energies..."
Lilith murmured softly, looking towards the most prosperous part of Tokyo, and licked her lips.
"They seem to be being absorbed."
At this time, behind Lilith, compared to before, her spread-out dragon wings were now covered with densely packed crimson vertical pupils.