Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
"I still really want to know what happened to you. Can you tell us? We are companions now, and everyone here will definitely keep your secret safe, so don't worry," Freyr replied straightforwardly, as if he had been holding back for a long time and had wanted to know about his situation for quite some time.
Everyone has a spirit of curiosity, but there are some things that, given the urgency of the situation at the time, made it impossible to keep asking him about what had happened in the past. Even if one were to inquire about the results, it could lead to being deceived or being seen as annoying and gossipy, which might result in others targeting you later on.
"Uh, you want to know?" Ross looked calmly at everyone, his emotions showing no signs of fluctuation as he responded quite composedly.
If he were to have any thoughts about it, although he didn't want to admit it, he said, "Yes, I am your Commander. I want to know about your past because I have a reason to know—I must be responsible for you all. I observe everything about you, including every action. This is behavioral psychology; I need to understand your psychological activities to assess whether you are mentally healthy. If that's the case, I will adjust my management approach accordingly to ensure that each of you is at least mentally sound." Others probably didn’t understand what behavioral psychology was, but Freyr had studied this subject and was now applying what he learned in management. Despite this, not everyone in front of him found his behavior off-putting; sometimes he would engage them in conversation. Although he often came across as somewhat nagging and serious, they realized that his intentions were ultimately beneficial.
Hearing these words warmed their hearts, but could such a statement really lead someone to indiscriminately reveal their past?
That seemed impossible; however, nothing in life is absolute. Freyr's character was the best in the team—his credibility was a model of keeping promises. While this approach sometimes led others to view him with skepticism, it indeed established a standard for virtuous leadership and showcased his rare talent as a commander.
It seemed that refusing was not an option anymore; after all, the Commander had spoken. Moreover, those around him would not let him off easily and would continue pressing for answers—making it awkward for him. Although maintaining personal privacy was not wrong, it would likely provoke others' annoyance if he remained silent.
Ross's emotions calmed down slightly; he clearly had come to terms with some things. Lowering his head and pondering for a long time before slowly speaking up, he said, "If you all want to know, then fine. I can tell you anything you wish to know. But first, let me share a story from my past. At that time, I partnered with a Commander who led a Military-Level Hunter Team. This Commander was nicknamed 'Destroyer,' and he was fearless. Back then, we had some reputation—similar to where you are now—having completed many missions and faced numerous dangers. Ultimately, we met our demise in a battle that was incredibly brutal. Do you remember the battle from ten years ago?"
That battle from ten years ago was most notorious at the Evil Path City Gate. Even now, things there hadn't changed much; primarily because insects launched surprise attacks from underground, resulting in most soldiers perishing at that time. Although there were indications of large life forms approaching underground detected by technology back then—which was somewhat advanced—the drilling machines were not cutting-edge enough. With maximum power forward and no significant weaponry available, self-destruction became the only option.
While self-destruction could be employed, its effectiveness was limited in terms of the area it could target. In the end, warriors resorted to strapping explosives onto themselves to fight against the Swarm and confront their underground foes. Ten years ago was indeed that brutal; without modern weaponry like today’s advancements—if they had access to subsonic sonar bombardments back then—it could have at least delayed those insect attacks. Unfortunately, sonar technology back then was only capable of detecting large fish.
The battle was incredibly fierce; Ross had likely just joined the Hunter Association at that time and never expected his past days would be so tumultuous—similar to Freyr's experiences—being selected as a hunter only to encounter terrifying warfare right away.
His commanding leader 'Destroyer' died in his arms during that battle—not from excessive blood loss due to attacks from behind but rather because Ross himself had to eliminate him. This was due to parasitic insects invading directly towards the brain; if they succeeded in parasitizing him, it would mean that even high-ranking officials could be controlled by them—manipulating humanity's civilization into decline for thousands of years or possibly leading directly to its extinction.
If that were the case, the war had ended, but a large number of reinforcements arrived. Ross was captured by the military and brought to a court-martial for killing the acting Administrator, the Destroyer. The Destroyer's Heart was pierced by an Alchemical longsword provided by the association, a weapon that was extremely sharp and lethal. Given that the Heart was struck, survival was clearly impossible.
Although it was said that Brain had been invaded by parasites, the autopsy revealed that there were no parasites at all, and the person's brain was in perfect condition. This was undoubtedly significant under the circumstances.
However, it couldn't be ruled out that some parasites were adept at invisibility or had escaped. Science could not explain it; indeed, those parasites did not harm the Brain but instead formed a mental link to control remotely.
At that time, no one likely anticipated such an outcome. Although he was sentenced to death, execution was postponed after a commutation. It wasn't until two years later that scientists discovered these so-called mental-linking parasites could be a type known as Gu, which had a very strong execution capability and high mental destructiveness. Once infected, individuals could be controlled without easy detection, and humans could not be controlled by ordinary means. Just touching the contaminated skin could lead to extensive necrosis, followed by mental control.
This scientific explanation allowed him to escape the death penalty, and Ross was released. However, within the association, it seemed unlikely that any team would accept a hunter with a criminal record.
After all, even if there were reports stating he did not intentionally kill his superior back then, under current circumstances, they still could not accept him. He had indeed killed his superior, which meant he bore an indelible mark—a hat that could not be removed—for four or five years.
Only one or two new teams were willing to take him in, but before long, they were all wiped out.
Comment 0 Comment Count