Chapter 151: In A Cafe
Chapter 151: In A Cafe
Stanley raised an eyebrow, a flicker of interest crossing his face. "Oh? And may I ask what you need it for?"
"Nothing serious." Leon shrugged. "I just want to learn where my limits are. If I know my own strength, I’ll know when I need to be cautious against stronger enemies in the future. I would’ve gone to a regular high-end gym, but..." He scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile. "I don’t exactly have that kind of money right now."
’That kind of money?’ Jessica thought. ’He’s talking as if renting a training room costs a fortune.’
Someone like her had never truly experienced financial hardship. To Jessica, paying for a private training facility wasn’t even something worth thinking about.
Stanley, however, understood immediately. He had seen enough of life to recognize what Leon meant. Instead, his interest only deepened. He wanted to know just what kind of power was hidden inside that 1.83-meter frame before him.
"Of course," Stanley said with a grin. "I’ll take you there myself."
"T-That won’t be necessary, Mr. Cooper. If you just give me permission, I can find my own—"
Before Leon could finish, Stanley casually hooked an arm around his neck and practically dragged him toward the exit.
"Don’t worry." He laughed. "It’s no trouble at all."
Jessica was shocked. It was rare to see her grandfather so worked up and so friendly to anyone other than her. Normally, he was a reserved type of person, calm, composed, decisive.
Rather than heading toward the first floor, Stanley led Leon and Jessica up to the third floor — a place where ordinary staff and hunters were strictly prohibited from entering without permission.
Leon had no idea what was located there.
Jessica quietly followed behind them. Just like her grandfather, she, too, was eager to witness Leon’s true capabilities. Far too many questions about him remained unanswered.
Soon, they stopped before a massive steel door. There were no handles, only a biometric scanner embedded in the wall.
Stanley placed his thumb against it.
Beep.
With a soft mechanical chime, the heavy door slowly slid open.
Stanley stepped inside first as rows of ceiling lights automatically illuminated one after another.
Leon entered behind him.
Jessica followed last.
The moment Leon looked around, his eyes widened.
The training hall was enormous. It resembled an ancient colosseum, except every surface was constructed from pristine white alloy capable of enduring unimaginable impacts.
The ceiling stretched dozens of meters overhead, leaving enough room for awakeners who specialized in aerial combat or extraordinary jumping ability.
Along the left wall stood an impressive weapon rack displaying nearly every weapon imaginable — sabers, longswords, claymores, spears, halberds, battle axes, war hammers, bows, crossbows, staffs, shields, and countless others.
The opposite wall was lined with advanced testing equipment.
There were reinforced combat dummies of varying durability, each designed to withstand different ranks of attacks. Beside them stood a series of force-measuring pillars capable of recording the exact destructive power behind every strike.
One corner housed multiple gravity chambers with adjustable gravitational pressure.
Another contained a speed-testing lane fitted with motion sensors and high-speed cameras that could accurately measure acceleration, reaction time, and top speed.
There was also an agility course filled with moving obstacles, rotating blades, and automated projectile launchers designed to test reflexes under real combat conditions.
At the center of the hall lay a vast circular sparring arena surrounded by a transparent energy barrier that would allow battles to take place without damaging the rest of the facility.
The entire room radiated one unmistakable impression. This wasn’t merely a training room. It was a place built to push the strongest hunters beyond their limits.
"You wanted to test the gravity chamber, right?" Stanley asked.
"Yes." Leon nodded absentmindedly, his eyes still wandering around the enormous training hall.
"Come." Stanley smiled. "Let’s see how much you can endure."
He walked toward one of the gravity chambers, with Leon and Jessica following close behind.
Meanwhile, in a quiet corner of the same city...
A young woman sat alone inside a cozy coffee shop, gently blowing across the surface of a steaming cup of coffee.
It was none other than Snow.
A few moments later, the entrance door opened.
A stern-looking man stepped inside.
He appeared to be in his early forties, his body lean yet powerfully built. Every muscle seemed forged through years of hardship rather than training alone. A long scar ran from his left ear to the corner of his left eye, adding to his intimidating presence.
His sharp gaze swept across the cafe before finally settling on Snow.
Without another word, he walked over and sat across from her.
"You little brat," he grumbled. "Calling me out of nowhere. Do you think I’m an unemployed old man?"
Snow puffed out her cheeks. "Uncle, how often do I ask to meet you? Can’t you spare a little time for your niece?"
"Fine, fine." He waved a hand impatiently. "Get to the point."
Snow took a small sip of her coffee before placing the cup back on the table. "I have a favor to ask." Her expression turned unusually serious.
The man’s eyes narrowed as he looked directly at her. "I’m listening."
"I want to join the military training camp."
His brows shot up. "What? Why all of a sudden? Did you get tired of being a hunter?"
"No." She shook her head. "I think I’ve found someone who can help me."
"Help you?" His expression immediately hardened. "Don’t tell me this has something to do with your mother’s incident."
Snow silently nodded.
"Snow." His voice grew stern. "Don’t do anything reckless. And don’t drag someone else into this. Your mother would never have wanted you to walk such a dangerous path."
"How would you know?" Snow replied quietly. "She isn’t even alive."
The man’s expression stiffened. "Yes. And my sister gave her life so that you could live."
His voice was calm, but every word carried immense weight. "Don’t ever forget that."
"I couldn’t forget even if I wanted to."
Snow lowered her gaze. "But please trust me. I won’t act recklessly. Promise. I know exactly what I’m doing."
Silence settled between them.
The man leaned back in his chair, deep in thought.
Finally, he spoke. "And who is this person you believe can help?"
"A college student. He’s applying to join the military training camp."
"What’s so special about him?"
"I think he’s a cultivator. Just like Mom. And..."
The man’s eyes narrowed. "And?"
"I think he possesses an extremely powerful regeneration ability. His recovery speed is unbelievable."
She clenched her hands together. "If anyone can reach the bottom of that place...
It’s him."
Another long silence followed. This time, the man didn’t question her judgment. Instead, he simply asked, "What do you need me to do?"
"I want him and me assigned to the same platoon. If possible... the same squad as well."
The man didn’t hesitate.
"Done."