Chapter 23: The Hunter’s Guild and the Looming Conflict

In Italy, the world’s largest and most central Hunter’s Guild was currently mobilizing a vast number of its members.

Remarkably, the world’s most renowned mystical organizations—the Holy See and the Hunter’s Guild—both operated within the confines of a single nation.

According to ancient historical accounts, the Hunter’s Guild had splintered off from the Holy See.

Their divergence stemmed from a fundamental difference in their philosophies.

The Hunter’s Guild’s core tenet was the eradication of all dark-series spiritual cores, even those whose wielders had not yet succumbed to a rampage.

Historically, during eras when the system of mystical powers was less refined, dark-series spiritual cores proved the most challenging to control and cultivate.

Once a person possessing a dark-series spiritual core underwent a rampage, they would transform into an entity akin to a Shadow Beast, losing all sanity and gaining a dramatic surge in combat prowess.

It was virtually impossible for an Arcanist of the same tier to defeat them.

Such individuals were collectively termed Dominators, signifying those utterly controlled by their spiritual cores.

This grim reality led to countless horrific incidents, compelling many hunters of that era to embark on their path of slaughter after their loved ones were mercilessly killed by these deranged Dominators.

The Holy See, however, adopted an entirely different approach.

Their chosen method involved subduing these Dominators and then striving to purify them, thereby restoring them to their original state of normalcy.

Ultimately, the Holy See succeeded, yet even this triumph failed to sway those who harbored deep-seated grievances.

From that moment onward, the foundational principles of the entire Holy See clashed irrevocably.

Decades later, this schism led to the formation of two distinct factions, eventually culminating in the modern-day establishment of the specialized organization known as the Hunter’s Guild.

The Hunter’s Guild’s methods were both cruel and extremist, extending even to the hunting down of individuals who possessed dark cores but had not yet rampaged into Dominators.

Consequently, the Hunter’s Guild garnered a notoriously poor reputation across the globe.

Nevertheless, despite this, their formidable power allowed them to persist under such circumstances, taking root and flourishing in nations worldwide.

For hatred, an emotion never in short supply, ensured that those who loathed Dominators would never vanish.

“Tianyu, what are you hesitating for?”

Inside the Hunter’s Guild headquarters, Stella addressed the woman leaning against the wall.

The woman possessed an East Asian countenance, her exquisite features bearing a striking resemblance to Bai Yu’s after her transformation into a witch.

It was indeed Bai Yu’s Mother, and as she gazed at the photograph on her phone, a flicker of emotion stirred in her eyes.

Observing Tianyu’s demeanor, Stella shook her head with a sigh of resignation.

“Are you looking at your son again? When do you plan to tell him about your work?”

Stella decided against pressing the matter further, knowing full well that the woman’s greatest vulnerability lay with her child.

Beyond that, her husband, slain by a Dominator, was another deep wound.

“No, I intend to never tell him.”

Tianyu’s voice remained calm as she closed her phone, her gaze meeting Stella’s with unwavering resolve.

“Hmph, so you’ll just let him remain an ordinary person forever?”

Stella let out a sigh, tinged with apparent dissatisfaction; she detested nothing more than seeing a gifted Arcanist’s potential squandered.

“What’s wrong with being ordinary? Am I to simply let him inherit my hatred?”

Tianyu sighed, a sense of resignation in her.

She believed hatred should end with her generation; after all, she had already killed the one who had conspired against Bai Yu’s father.

Her continued presence in the Hunter’s Guild was merely a means of livelihood.

“Hatred? What’s wrong with hatred? Hatred is motivation, it’s power! Isn’t the strength you possess today also a result of—”

“Stop talking!”

Tianyu, seemingly incensed, vehemently cut Stella off.

“Alright, alright, I won’t say another word.

By the way, what was your son’s spiritual core called again? Something related to stars, wasn’t it?”

‘[The Stars]. It’s the first time I’ve ever encountered a spiritual core like that; it seems to have no historical precedent.’

Tianyu took a deep breath.

She was indeed prone to impulsiveness, and whenever Bai Yu was involved, her emotions inevitably became turbulent.

“Never appeared in history? If this child becomes an Arcanist, they are bound to reach a high tier.”

A hint of loneliness flickered in Stella’s eyes.

Power was the one thing she had coveted her entire life, and she always felt a profound regret whenever she witnessed talent going unutilized.

“Never mind, there’s no use dwelling on it.

But for this operation, Tianyu, you absolutely must participate.

You’re well aware that those individuals from the Source of Dreams have completely seized control of Xian City, and an Outer God’s projection has even manifested there once already!”

Stella’s tone was edged with anxiety; the current incident appeared exceptionally perilous.

“Yes, I know, but isn’t the Dragon Summer Investigation Bureau there?

They’re one of the largest mystical organizations in the world; logically, there should be no need for our deployment.”

Stella furrowed her brow, ultimately revealing the truth.

“Ah, the truth is, the leader of the Source of Dreams—their ancestor fled from Italy to the United States.

This fact has become a consensus among all mystical organizations.

If we don’t intervene to resolve this, a severe conflict will erupt between the two nations, an outcome none of us wish to witness.”

Stella explained.

“So then, the spiritual core of that vampire, those artifacts from the Source of Dreams, and, most importantly, the newly awakened witch?”

Tianyu’s tone was dismissive as she glanced at Stella from the corner of her eye.

“You… you know all this?”

“How could I not?

I overlook no changes in that city.

Even if you hadn’t called upon me this time, I would still have returned.”

“Hmm, why?”

“Bai Yu’s condition is somewhat peculiar.

Although the arcane spell I placed on him hasn’t been triggered, I can’t shake the feeling that something is amiss.”

“Is he in danger?”

“Impossible.

I went to great lengths back then; should his life ever be in peril, I would instantly teleport to him.”

“Good heavens, you managed to acquire an arcane spell or artifact of that caliber?”

“Hmph, otherwise, I wouldn’t be here in the first place.”

Tianyu disregarded Stella, walking directly past her.

“Let’s depart.

How will we get there?”

Tianyu turned her head.

“A specialized aircraft will pick us up.

Don’t worry, it’s an artifact; we’ll arrive in mere minutes.”

“It seems the Guild has truly spared no expense.”

“Of course.

After all, it’s a newly born witch.

Everyone desires her spiritual core, and under no circumstances can we allow her to mature.”

“Furthermore, the Guild has tasked you personally with eliminating that witch, ensuring absolute certainty.”

“Me, personally? Are you certain you’re not jesting?

That witch was born only a few days ago; it’s impossible for her to have even advanced to the second tier.

Even the fastest advancements in the world don’t happen this quickly, and no matter how swift she is, she can’t possibly surpass a Hunter, can she?”

Tianyu was somewhat taken aback.

It was well known that everyone at the Hunter’s Guild headquarters was a high-tier Arcanist, meaning Fourth Tier and above.

“Precisely.

It’s all to ensure absolute certainty.

Who knows what unknown abilities this newly emerged witch might possess?”