บท 64: The Council
Earth, back in the days, around the year 2052, when its resources showed apparent signs of depletion, a war broke out that became known as World War V.
At the time, there were already two previously staged World Wars meant to cull the numbers of people on the planet. These two World Wars claimed the lives of millions, and for a time, resources were bountiful, alas, time could not heal the world, and eventually, World War V happened.
But that event was erased in the history books, and what took center stage was the thing known as the cataclysm or the great upheaval.
"The world used to have seven continents and seven oceans, but then the great upheaval happened, and the seven continents crumbled.
"Australia, Africa, and a part of Antarctica.
"Three of the continents survived but in name alone, these three continents lasted for a while, until 200 years later the eventuality occurred.
"The three turned to rubbles and everyone who failed to escape, then with the completion of the past order, a new one was established. Loosely basing it on the old system, the seven strongholds were born.
"The previous era ended at 2279 AD, and the current one became now known as 458 AU (After Upheaval)."
Such are the teachings of the Association to the common populace. With a hundred years to bury what happened in the past, the people were blinded from the truth.
The harsh reality of the culling and the past mistakes crumbled with history like always. But somethings remained an instinctual thought.
The excavation and usage of harmful items like oil stopped, and today's technology uses renewable energy like sunlight, the wind, or even mana.
The mana that made the world flourish gave birth to Mana Generators that replaced electricity. Mana current was much easier to control and look after, so most technologies use it as an energy source. But most importantly, its usage did not cause any degradation to the world.
And in the wake of all these changes, a new government was created to govern the people. The World Government became the ruling power that takes care of the non-Hunter professions, and then the Hunter Association became the sword and shield of humanity.
These two were different powers and shouldn't have anything to do with one another, but when an S-rank problem occurs, they will work together and complete their mission for existing.
At first, there was no one to regulate the two powers, so no one could decide what to do as their goals differ too much from one another.
Should they focus on serving ordinary people or revolve the laws to better suit hunters.
The two were always in conflict, that was until a third power was created.
A secretive group consisting of people nurtured to ensure that their decision was the best possible action humankind could take, making the government agree to their words and have a high enough level to make the Hunter Association bend.
This secret Association has three members, and despite their tiny number, they became the most important and most influential power of them all. They became known as the Moderators, or better yet, the Council.
In a room where darkness prevails, a podium where a man wearing a suit and tie faced three holographic images.
The man's name who stood on the podium was Lorenz Ferian. Stronghold 3's Hunter Association Head.
Lorenz was the man overseeing the most important of all missions and also the one who sent out the expedition force to the Forest of Beast. He was a man of a square face and a well-maintained beard. He had a muscular body, and his eyes shone with valiance.
Facing the three monitors, there were three people on the side. Each hologram signified one person, from left to right, Heaven, Earth, and Hell.
Heaven was the woman standing on top of a field of water; Earth was a man with a muscular build seated on a misty mountain top; Hell was a male with a much slimmer body; he rested atop forest.
These three journeys the world observing the current events without meddling with its affairs. They walk or run; they travel in a manner no one ever knows, for none accompany them in their journey.
This was not the first time Lorenz Ferian stood before the council, but he still felt the pressure even from beyond the monitor.
"Are you once again seeking our guidance? But did you not reject our proposition? I assume your mission was a success considering how confident you were."
Heaven was the first to speak. She spoke of the fact that they had met before, and despite Lorenz being the one who asked for their guidance, he ignored them and did what he wanted.
Lorenz silently cursed as he stared at Heaven, whose face, like the others, was darkened.
"I thought the new energy may provide us a breakthrough in our current technology. You may have known that the ones we sent to the other Worlds are currently showing great difficulty in proceeding forward on their endeavor. Having a breakthrough would lead to a much high rate of success.
"I also wanted to confirm the Supreme Roc's Domain, Hunter Regen left us in his note. Also, Hunter Kristina's life must be ascertained."
Lorenz refers to the Hunter Regen who ventured to the Forest of Beast 30 years ago in the hope of unearthing a lost civilization after picking up an energy spike. He found nothing but ruins from another world carried by the large-scale Dungeon Break that happened 50 years ago in the Forest of Beast
Hunter Regen's note says about a world underneath the Forest of Beast untouched by the world, and he speculated that there's a World Treasure hidden deep within.
Earth grumbled as he rested his head on his fist.
"You mean to say that your greed had blinded you of what must be done."
"Urk, I…" Lorenz wanted to defend himself, but Earth wouldn't let him.
"You what? You nothing that's what it is. You sent 200 C-rank Hunters, 100 B-rank Hunters, and 40 B+ rank Hunters. Not to mention their supports that stayed in the warships, add that up, and you sent no less than 400 people to die on the island to satisfy your curiosity and greed.
"You didn't want to help humanity; you wanted to empower your ranks. We of the Council do not hold that against you if you could have succeeded. Like you said, a breakthrough will indeed help, but because of your greed, you didn't send out any A-rank Hunters to ensure none of the other Strongholds would notice your movement, so if the Forest of Beast is conquered, you will be able to reap the benefits, didn't you?"
Earth was very upfront, but none of his words missed its marks. Lorenz's expression alone was enough to ascertain that what he had uttered was true.
Lorenz was at a loss for word and merely lowered his head, "I was in the wrong. My mistake led to the death of hundreds of people who has a family of their own. Please, appoint me a punishment."
"Do what we told you to do." It was Hell who spoke this time around, "Abandon the thought of excavating the Island."
"Wait, but that would undermine the-"
Hell cut him off but continuing his words.
"The power that surged out of the island can be dangerous to the World balance. Destroy the source together with the island, ensure that none of it will remain, and then admit your mistakes to the world. Step down from your position and have someone take over; considering your achievement and your willingness to send your Stronghold's SS+ Hunter when needed, that is the lightest punishment we can give you. Do you have anything to ask?"
Every word uttered by Hell was a mere suggestion, but that suggestion must become a reality. If not, Lorenz would be deemed someone who might endanger the world and have his head fly.
The only reason the current human world could function without any person holding a high position doing anything that can doom the world was because of the Council's interference. When they give guidance, it can be taken seriously or as passing wind.
But once they give you a punishment, one must comply, or else not only will your head fly, but your family will shortly follow.
This had been proven in the past. When the second-generation Council came to power after the first disappeared like a puff of smoke, the Government Leader of Stronghold 5 did something stupid that resulted in the death of 10,000 people.
The Council delivered his punishment, and he didn't comply; thus, the Council came out of hiding, and that Government Leader's and his family down to the ninth generation died of beheading. The public knows of this as a Daemon slaughtering the family, but those in power know it's the truth.
The Council saw Lorenz's reaction and grief and then nodded their heads.
The three of them then said the same thing at the same time;
"May this Guidance lead you to light."
The Council turned off their communication devices, and Lorenz stepped clicked his tongue before cursing nonstop. Having his heart settle down, he called one of his people and issued the command…
"The destruction of the Forest of Beast has been determined. Let one of the birds take flight."
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