Chapter 111: Threat?

[Next Day]

[The Association Headquarters]

It was unusual for the Chief of the Hunter Association to remain within the nation for more than a day, let alone stay at its headquarters.

Many considered him a free-spirited man who preferred wandering the world to sitting behind a desk. Others went so far as to claim that he served as a sentinel for humanity, keeping greater threats at bay while the rest of the world remained blissfully unaware.

Regardless of what people believed, the Head of the Hunter Association staying at his headquarters for another day was certainly an unusual occurrence.

Yet here he was, seated in his office with two guests.

On the left sat a timid-looking man with a balding head and a slight paunch concealed beneath his grey shirt. His name was Sandera Vancroft, the patriarch of one of the families recently recognized by the nation thanks to Sandera’s elder son’s achievements.

He was the father of Daniel and Drake, and the man currently responsible for leading the Vancroft family.

Being summoned by the Head of the Association had left him nervous. After all, it had been quite some time since they last met, yet Daniel had assured him that the summons came from an "old friend."

That explanation had only left Sandera wondering what could possibly have prompted the meeting. His mind had been occupied with one possibility after another ever since he received the invitation.

Moving to the right sat a man who couldn’t have been more different from him.

The red-haired man possessed a powerful build, and even his expression carried the same fiery confidence as his hair. A patch covered one eye, with a deep scar running beneath it. His remaining green eye was fixed on the man across the table.

He was the first to break the silence.

"Why have I been summoned here when my men have been dispatched elsewhere?"

The Association Head hummed and leaned back in his chair.

"You can’t be with your men all the time, can you, Xavier?"

Xavier Scarlette narrowed his visible eye.

"Not always, no. But whenever I can, I make sure to be there."

The Chairman nodded.

"Then consider this meeting more important than being with your men."

Those words only made Sandera more nervous. He glanced at Xavier before finally gathering the courage to speak.

"W-What could this be about, Sir?"

The Chairman turned toward him, his expression softening into a smile.

"Just a friendly chat and an exchange of advice."

Xavier rested his hands on the table, interlacing his fingers.

"Then you should start explaining, because I have no idea why I’ve been..."

"Jean Scarlette."

The Chairman spoke the name, silencing Xavier at once.

His visible eye widened, and for a moment, the fiery confidence that had defined his expression seemed to falter.

The old man continued, seemingly unbothered by the reaction.

"I believe that despite your hatred toward the child, you haven’t forgotten her."

Xavier’s expression twisted into a scowl.

"How could I?" he replied, his voice carrying the weight of a long-standing disappointment.

The Chairman nodded before asking, "I believe you both know where she is currently and who she’s with. Am I right?"

The question caught Sandera by surprise. He hadn’t expected the meeting to concern that matter at all.

Meanwhile, Xavier frowned.

"What about it? I’ve heard about the boy’s involvement in yesterday’s incident. Have you called us here to warn us against approaching them?"

"No, you’ve misunderstood, Xavier."

The Chairman shook his head slightly.

His expression relaxed, and although his eyes remained as vacant as ever, something unmistakably commanding settled into his gaze.

In a domineering voice the Chairman stated, "I am telling you to leave that family alone."

Silence descended upon the room as the Chairman’s words settled over the two men.

Sandera was sweating profusely by now, finally realizing just how serious the matter had become. The boy his wife had been pursuing had somehow become important enough for the Chairman himself to intervene, and rather than beating around the bush, the man had summoned them personally to make his intentions clear.

The look in his eyes alone spoke volumes about the consequences they would face if they dared to disregard his warning.

"You are crossing your boundaries here, Gillion," Xavier warned, his voice carrying a hint of indignation. "This has nothing to do with you. It’s my personal affair to deal with."

The Chairman shook his head.

"This matter has become my concern as well, Xavier. And from this moment onward, any move you make against that boy or his family will be considered a direct attack on me."

"!!"

Xavier flinched in his seat, while Sandera nearly melted under the weight of his anxiety. The latter could only thank his lucky stars that his wife had merely uncovered the evidence and hadn’t taken any action yet. Had she gone a step further, their situation might have become considerably more troublesome.

Xavier, meanwhile, fell completely silent.

He was a proud hunter and a leader who had earned his position through strength and determination. Yet every time he found himself sitting across from those cold, unfeeling eyes, he was reminded of the day he had learned that no one in this world was truly invincible.

Even now, whenever he recalled the day his convictions had brought him into conflict with the man sitting before him, a cold shiver ran down his spine.

The memory alone was enough to remind him of the gulf that separated them.

After allowing the silence to linger for a while longer, Gillion finally raised both hands in a casual gesture, as though the conversation they’d just had was nothing more than an ordinary exchange between old acquaintances.

"Now that the important business is out of the way, shall we have some tea?"

°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading. Now maybe you might understand why I continued from one action filled arc to another with so less Chapters to cool down in between.

Knowing Scarlette family influence keeping Jean and Kai out of trouble would have been impossible. The Void situation just gave them the ultimate shield.