As Rachel's unwavering decree resonated through the hall, a palpable tension clung to the air, a test of resolve and morality laid bare before the assembled Hunters.
Everyone glanced at each other to see if anybody was bold enough to walk out while being bolder enough to stay.
They didn't know when she got this strict, but they had no doubt that if the daughter of the President wanted it, she could blacklist them forever.
The rumors that something about her definitely changed after the quest was really true.
Those who didn't want to take the risk and wanted to walk out hesitated since they didn't know if she would still get pissed and blacklist them anyway.
And so, despite the nervousness in the air, nobody walked out.
Rachel's eyes scanned across them as she gave an approving nod, "I am glad to see that all of you have chosen to honor your vows. But even if there are any of you who are unsure of yourselves, then make sure you are never too late to correct yourselves. All of you are strong and experienced enough to give our people hope, and it should stay that way," she stated, her voice firm yet encouraging.
"That's a very admirable speech, Prefect Rachel."
Suddenly, a new presence made itself known, the silence shattered by the confident stride and authoritative voice of a late middle-aged man walking in.
Dressed in a classy yellow suit, the man exuded an air of sophistication and strength, his thick white beard and neatly combed short white hair reflecting a man of distinction.
His entrance garnered the room's attention, his name whispered with reverence and awe by those who recognized him—Bernard Oliver, a prestigious figure from a High Class Family and the Master of the late and infamous Victor Hart.
They couldn't believe he still had the face to show up here after what happened with Victor, even though they knew he couldn't be fully blamed.
If the Corrupted Prince managed to stay hidden as a corrupted hunter for so long among the strongest powerhouses, then blaming Victor's master for not knowing anything seemed pointless.
And so even the WHA couldn't blame him for what happened.
But nobody noticed the subtle frown that fell on Rachel's face as she turned to meet Bernard's gaze, "Thank you, Professor Bernard."
Bernard chuckled with a brief mocking light in his eyes before he said, "I just have this one doubt nagging my mind for a long time."
Before Rachel could even ask if they could talk about this later in private, Bernard went on, "Since you mentioned how some Hunters commit dishonorable acts, especially during the Quest of the Worthy, why did Victor spare you and the rest of your team if he was corrupt enough to commit even unthinkable acts? I have always felt regret and shame for not knowing what he truly was despite being his mentor. But since you were his fiancee and you spent so much time with him, perhaps you can shed some light on this?"
Rachel stood her ground despite Bernard's probing and responded in a firm yet respectful tone, "I am sorry, but I don't see how this is important to what we are trying to do here."
The people could sense the tense air between the two, and they weren't surprised since they knew Bernard had also taken the examination to get the prestigious position of Legion Prefect and had been preparing for it for years.
The only reason he didn't get it earlier was because he was busy grooming Victor to reach the top.
But who would have known that someone way younger and less experienced than him, who joined WHA less than a couple of months earlier, managed to grab the position under his very nose?
And to make things worse Bernard couldn't even challenge the outcome or even accuse Rachel of using her father's influence since the Judge himself selected her.
Nobody in their right mind would ever dare to challenge any judgment of the Judge.
Bernard's chuckle, laced with bitterness, did little to ease the tension.
He inquired in a seemingly harmless way, "Please don't get me wrong, Prefect Rachel. I am only asking so that I could understand where I went wrong about Victor and also so that others here and I can make sure we won't remain blind to the corrupted ones hiding among us like the Corrupted Prince did for so many years," he explained, his smile failing to mask the unkind light in his eyes.
The mention of Golden Prince elicited a visible reaction from Rachel, a brief shadow passing over her features as memories of her past encounters weighed heavily on her heart.
Yet, with remarkable poise, she addressed Bernard's so-called concerns, "The others and myself were lucky enough to escape Victor's bloodlust. Everyone knows that we managed to escape only because Hellbringer attacked Victor, and we took advantage of that window of opportunity while both of them were busy," Rachel explained, her voice steady despite the turmoil that the memory stirred within her, especially when she mentioned the name 'Hellbringer'.
Even now, she didn't know what to think or feel about him, considering everything he did to her, but at the same time, he opened her eyes to things she was blind to before.
That day during the quest, she learned things she would never forget for the rest of her life.
Bernard, unsatisfied, pressed further, his eyes narrowing as he sought to extract more, "Of course I know that," he conceded before adding, "But what baffles me is that we all know Hellbringer can become a potential Doomsday Level Threat. Then how did you people escape from him as well? If you could share with us what strategy you and your team used, it could be helpful for all of us here. After all...Isn't this the second time you escaped from Hellbringer after that first regrettable incident?"
Rachel felt tensed upon feeling all the gazes on her.
Does this cunning professor suspect her of anything?
"Are we at the right place?"
Suddenly, a man's confident and charming voice echoed in the hall, turning everyone's attention to the entrance.
In strode a figure who seemed to command the very air around him—a tall, devilishly handsome man with silver hair that brushed his neck, casually styled yet framing a face that held a captivating allure.
His half-sleeved white shirt, provocatively unbuttoned at the top, offered a tantalizing glimpse of a well-defined, muscular chest, while his black pants accentuated his athletic build.
His golden eyes, a rare and mesmerizing trait, echoed the legendary allure of the infamous Corrupted Prince, sending a wave of hushed whispers and stolen glances among the women throughout the room.
They had never seen anybody else with such mesmerizing eyes.
Accompanying him, a presence alluring and impossible to ignore, was a woman whose beauty and elegance were as undeniable as they were intimidating.
Dressed in a tight black pencil skirt that artfully showcased her long, shapely legs and a blazer paired with a white v-neck top that revealed a hint of her deep cleavage, she radiated a dangerous charm.
Her long silver hair cascaded down her back, a perfect complement to her piercing red eyes, which, with just a glance, made even the bravest of men in the hall feel a shiver down their spine.
Yet some couldn't even take their eyes off the huge bosom resting on her chest. Despite being so big, they weren't even drooping much.
"We must be...sir," Rebecca mumbled in response as she walked behind him with a cold expression.
As Rachel, previously the focus of all eyes, absorbed the sight of Asher in his human avatar, a tumult of emotions surged within her.
The sight of his radiant golden eyes, so reminiscent of another she had once known, stirred memories and feelings she thought long buried.
A fleeting image of Cedric flashed through her mind, leaving her momentarily disoriented by the unexpected intrusion of the past into the present.
Just how in the world does his eyes look so similar to him?
The serene yet charged atmosphere was abruptly pierced by Bernard's authoritative voice, his irritation at the interruption evident, "Excuse me. This isn't a place for students. Please leave. We have an important meeting going on here," he declared, his posture rigid with displeasure.
All the Hunters gathered in the hall wondered who this strikingly attractive duo was and even had the confidence to barge into this hall.
Asher's voice, light and tinged with amusement, effortlessly cut through the thick atmosphere, "Isn't it proper to first introduce yourself when you talk to someone? Obviously, my assistant and I aren't here to learn," The tension that had been simmering beneath the surface suddenly boiled over, sparked by Asher's confident retort.
Bernard, taken aback by his audacity, could scarcely conceal his irritation.
His response, laced with scorn, sought to reassert his authority, "I am Professor Bernard Oliver, and I am the new Combat Advisor for the Starfire Cadre assembled here. Now stop wasting our time and leave."
The Starfire Cadre was one of the most Elite units of the WHA and he wasn't going to entertain some silver-haired punk trying to steal his only ladder to climb up in the hierarchy.
However, Asher, unfazed by Bernard's attempt to belittle him, turned the situation on its head with a casual ease that left the room hanging on his every word, "Rachel, why don't you let this good old professor correct his misunderstanding regarding who the new Combat Advisor is?" he suggested while everyone was shocked to see him casually addressing the Legion Prefect.
Bernard, visibly annoyed and skeptical of this nobody's claim, could hardly contain his exasperation, "What bullshit are you trying to pull here, brat?"
Rachel stepped into the fray, her calm demeanor belying the gravity of what she was about to say.
Addressing Bernard with a regretful tone, she revealed, "I am sorry, Professor Bernard. I thought you got the memo, but this is Ash, the new combat advisor for the Starfire Cadre."
"W-What??" The revelation struck like lightning, leaving Bernard visibly staggered, his disbelief manifesting in widened eyes and a slack jaw.
The hall, already electric with anticipation, buzzed with whispers and gasps as the gathered Hunters processed the unexpected twist.
