Chapter 54 Government System
Axel sat in the large waiting room, his entire body rigid with tension. Even though he knew Annie was safe, he struggled to keep his composure from fracturing into a thousand jagged pieces. The image of the cloaked man, crumpled beneath his fists, haunted him. The satisfaction he'd felt as he broke bone after bone—treasuring each snap—terrified him.
There had been a part of him that enjoyed it far more than he should have. And that, more than anything, disturbed him.
But now wasn't the time to think about it. He had more pressing matters to focus on.
Annie had passed out shortly after surviving the explosion—likely due to the remnants of Cell's influence—and was in the hospital receiving treatment. Her survival was nothing short of a miracle, but Axel couldn't help but wonder what toll it had taken on her. He let out a shaky breath.
And then there was Noel. Axel's thoughts darkened further. She was in the hunters' hospital—far from civilians—because of the injuries she'd sustained. There had been no updates, but given the state she was in when he last saw her... she was probably dead.
A voice interrupted his spiraling thoughts. "Mr. Teras, the leaders are ready to see you now."
Axel turned to see an attendant standing at the far end of the hall. The young man's expression was unreadable as he spoke. "The board of heads has requested your presence."
Axel rose slowly to his feet, his body tense with the weight of everything. He nodded in acknowledgment and followed the attendant down the long corridor.
The news of his attack had spread faster than wildfire. The association heads of Kyota's five hunter groups had summoned him almost immediately after he had left Annie in the hospital's care. The mere fact that they wanted to see him still didn't sit right with him. It wasn't like he was looking for fame or recognition—especially not from them.
'The board of heads,' Axel thought grimly as he walked. His mind flashed back to the days when he'd dreamt of being summoned by the most powerful hunters in Kyota. It had once felt like a distant dream, a goal that every young hunter aspired to.
The board governed all hunter activity in Kyota as they were the leaders of each hunters association.
The leaders of the five associations were second only to the president in power. To be called before them was akin to being summoned by the president himself.
But Axel's chest was heavy with resentment, not anticipation. The only reason he was here was because his life and the lives of those close to him had been attacked. He wasn't here to prove his strength or rise in the ranks. This was personal.
They stopped in front of an imposing wooden door. It towered at the end of the hall, almost seeming to stare down at Axel as if it knew the weight it bore. The attendant bowed and motioned for him to enter.
"This is it," Axel muttered to himself. He placed his hand on the door, feeling the cool wood beneath his palm. With a fair amount of force, he pushed it open. The hinges groaned, and the door swung wide, revealing a circular chamber lit by dim, sterile lights.
The heads of the five associations sat around a grand table, their eyes immediately locking onto Axel as he entered. Their presence was suffocating, and Axel could feel the tension in the room like static in the air. Despite this, he didn't falter. He strode in with purpose, standing tall in the center of the room, his gaze unwavering.
At the round table sat the five association heads: Seo Jihnyuk of the Tiger, Vicky Shaw of the Storm, Racheal Jarvis of the Dragon, Hendricks Black of the Shadow, and Wukong Tens of the Monkey.
Axel kept his composure, his left hand sliding casually into his pocket as he took in the room. Despite the weight of their combined presence, he remained calm. He'd always dreamt of being here, but now that he was, the taste was bitter. **I don't have time for this,** he thought. **There are more urgent matters to deal with.**
Wukong, the head of the Monkey association, spoke first. "Axel Teras, it's good to finally meet you in person." His voice was calm, but there was no time for pleasantries. "We'll cut right to the chase. The group that attacked you and your family is known as the Hangi group."
Axel's brows furrowed as the name sank in. **The Hangi group?** He repeated the name to himself, committing it to memory. Explore more stories at m-vl_em,pyr
"The Hangi group is a criminal organization," Seo Jihnyuk added, his tone somber. "They've been a thorn in our side for a long time, opposing not only the hunter system but both sides of this war. Their goal is simple: chaos. They want their own way, their own rule."
Axel's fists clenched at his sides. "Why would a criminal group like that target me? My family? I don't hold any sway in this country. I'm not a political figure, and I've never contributed anything significant!" His voice rose, and he slammed his fist on the table, the wood creaking under the pressure.
Hendricks Black, the head of the Shadow association, shook his head slowly, seemingly unfazed by Axel's outburst. "Don't be so tense," he said coolly. "Other S-rank hunters were attacked as well. They managed to fend off the threats, but unlike you, they couldn't capture any of the.
So we'll be putting up a security of a few A-ranks around Kyota, our main objective is still to defend against the alien thre—"
Axel's fist slammed down on the table again, this time with more force, 'It's the same as always... This is the tiniest care they can show a few A-ranks to handle a group that can match a S-rank with ease, a group that will target the civilians... They give such little protection to the people whike they secure the S-rank for themselves'.
A large section of the table splintered under his hand, and the room fell silent. The wood creaked ominously, hanging by mere fibers.
"You don't get it, do you?" Axel's voice was low, but it carried the weight of barely contained fury. "You're all the same. You sit up here in your towers, claiming to protect us. But all you care about is maintaining a dumb order and lining your pockets. You don't care about the hunters beneath you, the civilians, the ones out there fighting every day for everyone's safety."
The tension in the room spiked. The heads, who had once regarded him with calm authority, now shifted uncomfortably in their seats.
Axel's eyes darkened as he glared at each of them in turn. "I didn't come here to listen to your excuses. I came here for one thing: information. I want a full dossier on the Hangi group—names, locations, everything. If you don't give it to me…" He paused, letting his words sink in, "I'll bring this whole damn association to its knees, no matter the consequences."
The room erupted into a chorus of growls and outraged whispers. Hendricks was the first to snap, slamming his hand down on the table. "How dare you speak to us like that? A mere B-rank hunter! You're no better than your father—"
Before Hendricks could finish, Axel was suddenly standing right in front of him, faster than anyone in the room could react. His hand was wrapped tightly around Hendricks' collar, pulling him forward until their faces were inches apart.
"Say another word about my father," Axel whispered, his voice dripping with venom, "and I'll make sure your last moments on this earth are spent in agony."
The room fell into a tense, suffocating silence. The air crackled with the threat of violence.
***Author's note***
It's the judging phase, please gift me magic castle! Or maybe dragon or race car... Or massage chair, any is good.