Chapter 69: Federation General Assembly (5)
The grand conference hall on the first floor of Kaesong’s Victory Memorial Hall.
Modeled after the structure of a national assembly chamber, it seated approximately 200 people.
The hall quickly filled with hunters from around the world.
Not only the presidents of each national association, but also the directors of various organizations under the International Awakener Federation.
Since the Great Cataclysm, this was the first time so many key figures had gathered in one place.
While news of Yoon Soo-ho reaching Zero-grade and subjugating a disaster played a major role,
The biggest factor was undoubtedly the appearance of Prophet Michelle Graham, who had officially retired.
As proof, a crowd of hunters swarmed around Michelle like clouds.
“The general assembly will begin soon, so please return to your seats.”
Hannah Adams, seated beside Michelle, spoke up.
No hunter dared argue with the words of the Chairwoman and the world’s strongest hunter.
As everyone began returning to their seats—
“Ahem. Greetings, everyone.”
A man’s voice echoed through the microphone. Since it was in Korean, few understood at first, but translation soon followed, resolving the issue.
Everyone turned toward the source of the voice.
They spotted a man in a black suit standing on the podium—a face most had never seen before.
A few hunters, including Hannah and Marc, recognized him.
He was the hero who had eliminated GODS’s Prophet in Taiwan and destroyed the Devil’s Flower.
Yet he had never revealed his identity—the enigmatic hunter.
“Our Association President is currently occupied, so I’ll handle the proceedings for now.”
“······.”
Most of the hunters listened more out of suspicion than interest.
He seemed to be Korean, but no one knew who he was.
Of course, no one yet dared to interrupt.
Most came from nations with less national power than Korea, so they remained cautious.
But the next words hardened every face in the room.
“I know there are GODS spies hiding among us right now. I have an uncanny nose for GODS—I can smell them from a mile away.”
***
Murmurs erupted throughout the conference hall at Jin-young’s statement.
Then a hunter in the front row spoke up directly.
“Are you certain?”
It was France’s Zero-grade hunter, Marc Diaby.
As a close friend of Korean Association President Yoon Soo-ho and the leader of the European Union’s hunters, he had no qualms about speaking out.
“Of course. Do not leave your seats until the assembly ends. You’re in for quite a show.”
When Jin-young smiled, Marc suddenly felt a wave of unease.
Just like in Taiwan, and even now—on the surface, Jin-young didn’t appear particularly strong.
Yet hunters with sharp instincts vaguely sensed something unusual.
Once Marc fell silent, Jin-young continued.
“I could root out the GODS agents right this instant, but let’s save the main course for later. First, let’s talk about the disasters. Which countries are directly threatened by them? Feel free to speak up.”
Chairwoman Hannah Adams responded.
“The United States and Canada. India and Pakistan. Russia and Ukraine, roughly.”
“Exactly. The U.S., Canada, Pakistan, and Ukraine are present, but the others…”
At that moment, the doors opened, and a thin man stepped inside.
India’s Zero-grade hunter—Prasad Bachchan.
“Ah, perfect timing. You all probably gave up on subjugating the disasters and just left them alone, right? They weren’t moving anyway. But what if they started moving to destroy your homelands?”
At those words, hunters from disaster-adjacent nations swallowed hard.
Even countries farther away couldn’t relax completely—if a neighboring nation fell, they would likely be next.
As tension filled the room, Prasad spoke with a cynical expression.
“No matter how powerful GODS may be, do you really think it’s possible for them to move a disaster?”
Instead of replying, Jin-young took an artifact out of his subspace.
Shhh—
A large incense burner made of skulls.
It was the very artifact Prophet Talida had used to summon the Black Knight.
He enlarged it with Enlargement and floated it in midair with psychokinesis.
A few hunters swallowed nervously at the sight of the ominous artifact radiating menace.
“This is the artifact used by a Prophet. The Black Knight was drawn to its smoke.”
Of course, almost no one believed it just because of one artifact.
But since Hannah and Michelle—part of the American side—raised no objections, everyone simply stayed quiet.
“GODS planned to move the Black Knight using this to turn Korea’s capital, Seoul, into ruins. Well, they failed because they ran into me first.”
Some hunters let out hollow laughs at Jin-young’s words.
It sounded like an unknown hunter bragging about subjugating a disaster-grade monster instead of Yoon Soo-ho.
Meanwhile, the doors opened again, and the Japanese delegation entered.
Tachibana Yutaro and the others naturally took seats in the back rows.
“So before GODS moves the disasters to destroy your homelands, we’ll clean them up for you—nice and tidy.”
“You’re saying Korea will hunt the disasters? For free?”
Canada’s Association President asked with an incredulous expression.
Jin-young wagged his index finger.
“Of course not. In exchange for cleaning up the disasters, there are a few conditions. First: private jets and full room and board are mandatory. Success fee: ten 1st-grade manastones and 500 billion won. Paid in advance.”
Murmurs rippled through the room.
Ten 1st-grade manastones and 500 billion won drew mixed reactions.
Even for a disaster, wasn’t that an absurdly high price?
For nations whose survival was at stake, 500 billion might actually be a bargain. And countries like the U.S., India, and Russia could afford ten 1st-grade manastones.
But the advance payment was the sticking point. What if they took the money and disappeared?
Even amid the buzzing, Jin-young’s words continued.
“And all byproducts from the hunts belong entirely to Korea.”
“That’s outrageous.”
Prasad snorted derisively.
Normally, even when providing raid support to another country, no one ever monopolized the rewards.
Whether it was a dungeon or a contaminated zone, ownership belonged to the host nation.
It was customary to share at least a portion with the host country.
Now Korea was declaring it would break that custom entirely.
Not only Prasad, but hunters from nations not directly threatened by disasters also wore displeased expressions.
“You’re dissatisfied even with this? I thought I was being quite generous.”
Jin-young recalled his days as a mercenary in Renard.
He had traveled between the Sindra Empire and various other nations, taking on commissions.
Back then, kings had offered him not only money as compensation, but titles, land, castles—even princesses.
There was good reason for it.
He was solving problems no one else could.
A talent of that caliber deserved commensurate rewards.
“Looks like they’re not desperate enough.”
As Jin-young clicked his tongue—
“I can’t listen to this any longer.”
U.S. Association President Kyle Anderson rose from his seat and spoke.
Not only Jin-young, but every gaze in the room turned toward him.
Until now, no one in the Federation had dared openly refute or challenge Jin-young.
Even India’s Prasad had only snorted without mounting a real response.
There were several reasons, but one was certain.
The world’s strongest nation—the United States—had remained silent until now.
Kyle, who had stayed quiet due to Michelle’s warning, decided he could no longer hold back.
Of course, considering the prophecy, his fate was obvious.
But to restore the prestige of the United States—which had long positioned itself as the leader of the Federation—
And to verify whether Jin-young’s claims were true—he had no choice but to step forward.
He was, after all, the president of the Association representing the world’s leading superpower.
“India, Russia—even our United States—failed to subjugate the disaster-grade knights. Yet you claim to have done it with far fewer hunters and only just now producing a Zero-grade? And there’s still no proof whatsoever that Yoon Soo-ho has actually reached Zero-grade.”
“······.”
Beside him, Michelle squeezed her eyes shut.
She had clearly warned him not to act rashly.
Whatever tragedy was about to unfold was entirely his own fault.
She had expected to see Kyle slammed into the floor, just as in her vision.
“If it’s reasonable doubt, then yes.”
Surprisingly, Jin-young responded calmly.
“That’s all you have to say? Disappointing. Don’t you have any proof you actually subjugated a disaster?”
In response, Jin-young took an artifact from his subspace.
The golden scale once wielded by the Black Knight.
Sssss…
Dark crimson demonic energy coiled around it, radiating an evil aura.
Thanks to the tentacles having stabilized its power over several days, it no longer affected the hunters.
Because of that, the wary hunters soon shifted to looks of disbelief.
For an artifact belonging to the Black Knight, it didn’t seem particularly threatening.
“Well, you could just call this fake too.”
At Jin-young’s words, Kyle’s lips curled upward.
“You know it well. Trying to pull off a scam with something so crude. In any case, there’s no way anyone would accept such absurd conditions.”
At that, hunters who had been silent began to speak up one by one.
“He’s right.”
“They seem overly arrogant just because they claim to have gotten lucky with a disaster.”
“Clearly trying to make a quick fortune by flaunting a supposed victory.”
Emboldened by the backing of the superpower United States, they finally voiced complaints they had held back until now.
Watching this, Kyle gave a faint smile. He had never intended to shoulder everything alone.
His role was simply to step forward when the moment called for it and provide justification.
That was all.
Especially if they wanted to properly test Jin-young’s strength, a Zero-grade needed to take action.
But he couldn’t put the Chairwoman—his close friend Hannah—in that position.
“Marc, as the representative of the European Union, do you have nothing to say?”
“Hm… Let me organize my thoughts for a moment.”
Marc didn’t give in easily.
But Kyle wasn’t ready to give up.
“Emperor Bachchan, as India’s representative, would you care to comment?”
“What a pathetic spectacle. I shouldn’t have come to this farce of an assembly.”
Prasad spoke in a dry voice.
“Association President Yutaro?”
“I have questions for both Association President Yoon Soo-ho and this unknown hunter. But since this is the most important agenda of today’s assembly, I’ll save them for later.”
Yutaro spoke with a meaningful smile.
Kyle nodded and turned to Jin-young.
“It looks like everything’s been exposed. Even India’s emperor and Japan’s association president have turned against you. There’s no way out now.”
“There is one.”
Jin-young replied in a calm voice.
“What’s that…?”
The moment Kyle opened his mouth—
His body suddenly floated upward.
Boooong— Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-boom!
In an instant, Kyle was hurled into the wall with a thunderous crash.
“······!”
Every hunter in the hall froze in shock.
At that moment, Yoon Soo-ho entered the conference hall—but no one paid him any attention.
It was only natural.
Kyle—one of the top-tier 1st-grade hunters—had been subdued without even a chance to resist.
Aside from Zero-grades, almost no one in this room was stronger than him.
Even someone slightly stronger wouldn’t have been able to do this.
“Anyone else got complaints?”
“······.”
As everyone held their breath—
Clang-clang-clang!
A metallic clash rang out from behind Jin-young.
It was Prasad, who had approached while concealing his presence.
He had blocked the demonic sword with two daggers gripped in both hands.
“The emperor’s sneak attack was blocked?”
“That sword… what the hell is it…?”
Hunters exclaimed in astonishment.
This wasn’t just any hunter—it was Prasad Bachchan.
The world’s strongest, constantly vying with Liu Qinglong for second place.
One of the most famous anecdotes about Prasad was his assassination of a 1st-grade boss monster.
Even though it was a humanoid boss with exceptional sensitivity to mana flow and mobility, he had slipped behind it unnoticed. Its head had been severed in a single strike before it even realized.
Yet Jin-young hadn’t just blocked the surprise attack—he was overpowering Prasad with sheer force.
“You shouldn’t be the one complaining. Are you planning to abandon India?”
“······.”
Prasad couldn’t respond.
He gritted his teeth and poured everything into blocking the demonic sword aimed at his throat.
“Do you know what I hate the most?”
“······.”
“Emperors. When a human grabs power beyond their station, they go completely insane.”
Jin-young recalled the emperor of Sindra—the mightiest empire in Renard.
The man who had deceived him with promises of teaching royal dimensional magic, only to exploit him relentlessly.
The Sindra emperor had been so drunk on absolute power that he believed no one could oppose him.
Because of that, Jin-young had massacred the entire imperial family—except for Princess Rienne.
“You get one chance from me. Abandon that pathetic emperor title and rehabilitate yourself.”
Crack!
“Guh…!”
Both of Prasad’s hands, gripping the daggers, were twisted violently.
Jin-young withdrew the demonic sword and slammed Prasad’s head into the floor.
BOOM!
Of course, a Zero-grade’s durability wouldn’t end there.
Prasad lifted his still-intact face and glared at Jin-young.
BOOM! BOOM! Kwa-kwa-boom!
Again and again, his head was smashed into the ground.
His tough forehead began to tear, blood trickling down.
But Jin-young didn’t stop—he kept slamming Prasad’s head down.
Kwaaaaang!
Finally, after his entire head was buried in the floor, Jin-young stopped.
“······.”
Hunters who had only been bewildered when Kyle was taken down now began to feel outright terror.
Just who had this kind of hunter been hiding in Korea all this time?
Hannah, Marc, Yutaro, and the others who had met him in Taiwan now wore grave expressions.
Back then, they hadn’t been able to gauge his full strength and had let suspicion slide.
Now it was clear.
Just as Michelle had prophesied—he was a hunter no one could oppose.
“Next.”
Despite having subdued a Zero-grade hunter, Jin-young’s face remained perfectly calm.
After scanning the room, he locked eyes with one man.
“Tachibana Yutaro. You said you had something to say.”
“W-Wait…”
Yutaro panicked.
Jin-young beckoned with an innocent smile.
“Why are you holding back? Come on up and speak.”
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