Chapter 42: Hell hole

Walking down the corridor on the third floor, Adam made his way toward the elevator, his footsteps silent despite the corridor was particularly quite wide and vacant.

He had hoped to make a quiet exit, but that wish was extinguished the moment he sensed someone rushing toward him from behind.

Work demanded that he turn around, and so he did. His junior came into view a moment later, visibly panicked as he hurried to Adam’s side.

"It has been located."

Adam’s eyes sharpened. "Where?"

Dave took a few hurried breaths before answering. "Snake Island. We have already deployed the troops."

Adam removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out a weary sigh. "This is getting hectic."

Dave couldn’t help but ask, "How long does this continue?"

"As long as the one empowering the Void remains alive."

Dave frowned. "And where is it? Inside the Void?"

Adam simply stared at him.

Dave’s eyes widened as understanding slowly dawned on him. "Really? Inside that hellhole?"

Adam nodded. "A place where reality distorts, a destination that offers no return."

The Void was nothing more than a legend to those disconnected from the Hunting World. The Association had deliberately kept the matter tightly sealed, refusing to let the truth spread among the public and risk triggering widespread panic.

Dave hesitated before asking, "So we need to keep fighting this until the source finally tires out and stops jumping the Void from one place to another?"

"As helpless as it might sound, yes. That’s the only way."

Adam put his glasses back on, his expression unchanged.

"Five years ago, we adopted the same method to deal with it. Several S-rank hunters died back then, and it seems history is preparing to repeat itself."

Dave fell silent, his expression turning grim.

What had happened five years ago still remained vivid in the minds of every officer and hunter who had been involved in that incident.

The Void had not opened in their own backyard back then, unlike this time, but several countries had still been dragged into the crisis. The Void was a naturally occurring disaster, one that followed no discernible pattern and could manifest wherever it pleased.

And the most horrifying part was that it grew stronger and larger with time.

"By now, it has already made its third jump," Adam continued. "We’ve lost four S-rank hunters and countless lower-grade warriors. Norvane has extended a helping hand, and so has Arden."

Dave looked at him. "Will we be accepting their assistance, especially considering our recent history with them?"

Adam stared at his junior for a moment before slowly shaking his head.

"It’s not a choice anymore, Dave. It’s either compromise or sacrifice."

Dave fell silent at those words.

The fact that his senior could deliver something so grim with such utter indifference never ceased to amaze him. Perhaps after years of watching hunters die and disasters unfold, a person eventually learned to bury every emotion that could get in the way of making a decision.

Adam turned and resumed walking toward the elevator.

Dave followed for a few steps before calling out, "Won’t you at least check the status of the operation, sir?"

To him, there was nothing more important at that moment.

Adam stopped just before the elevator doors and glanced back.

"I have an important meeting to attend."

...

"It won’t take longer than twelve hours for the transfer to be completed, sir. I can send the papers over as soon as they’re prepared," Benjamin said after they had driven out of Blue Mountain.

Kai shook his head. "There’s no need. I’ll come and collect them the day after tomorrow. Just confirm whether we can move in within two days."

Benjamin nodded. "I spoke with the authorities, and they urged the new owner to move in by tomorrow. However, I’m taking another day as a precaution. It should give us enough time to make sure everything is in order."

Kai nodded in understanding before turning his attention toward the surroundings. "What about the security system around the perimeter? I didn’t sense any barrier surrounding the area."

Benjamin immediately understood his concern. The property could be equipped with high-resolution, motion-sensing cameras, alarms, and even several types of traps if the owner wished to install them. However, Kai wasn’t concerned about the security of the building alone. He wanted to know how well the entire community was protected.

"Only Kreacher Block has the resources to spend several Mana Crystals every single day just to maintain a barrier around the entire area," Benjamin explained. "Blue Mountain doesn’t have anything quite that extravagant, but it does have fencing, regular patrols, and thermal-sensing cameras. There’s also another layer of security provided by magic sensors, which can detect and track any unusual movement around the premises."

He offered Kai a reassuring smile.

"So you can rest assured, sir. This place is highly secure. I’ve barely received any negative reports regarding its security."

Kai nodded in understanding. At last, he had the assurance he needed to bring his family here.

’Someone like Drake would never dare appear before them.’

The thought of Drake immediately reminded him of the meeting he had arranged with Adam.

He checked his phone and realized he had barely half an hour left.

Raising a hand, Kai said, "I can’t thank you enough for your assistance, Ben. You really are the best counsellor I could have asked for."

Benjamin shook his head with a modest smile. "It was a pleasure assisting you as well, sir."

He dealt with all kinds of clients on a daily basis, many of whom seemed to believe that silence was an inconvenience and would continue talking even when there was nothing left to discuss. In comparison, Kai was a welcome change, and assisting him had been surprisingly pleasant.

Soon, the two parted ways, and Kai boarded a taxi toward his destination.

As the vehicle pulled away, his expression grew slightly tense.

He couldn’t help wondering what Adam might ask of him in exchange for the assistance he had provided.

’Surely, he wouldn’t ask for my weapons, right?’