Chapter 59: Meeting
A faint whooshing echoed through the air, and moments later, Levi arrived before the butcher.
Staring at the mask, he didn’t know why, but he subconsciously felt a chill crawl down his spine.
His heart began beating erratically as he struggled to steady it.
Inwardly, he was shocked and alarmed.
One had to know that even the president had barely given him such a feeling, yet Amon was already making him feel this way.
Taking a deep breath, he spoke in a respectful tone.
"Greetings, butcher."
Seeing that the butcher continued staring at him, he pressed on.
"As I said previously, my master sent me to invite you to become a hunter of our country, Neverland."
’Neverland?’
Amon had never heard of such a country before, so he couldn’t help but feel curious.
As though sensing his confusion, Levi quickly explained.
"You must not have heard about it. Basically, Neverland is a country far larger than this one. The president is an S-rank hunter, and he, along with a few others, has been stuck clearing Aleron, an S-rank dungeon, for a few weeks now. He gave me a call some days ago to recruit so as to deter other forces from attacking."
Amon had a few questions in mind.
Aleron? Did they name the dungeon?
Also, he had been sent by the president to protect Amon?
Amon furrowed his brows ever so slightly.
He didn’t think there was anyone particularly kind in this world.
Calmly, he began asking his questions one after another.
His voice came out cold and gruff.
"Why did your president want to recruit me?"
Levi forced a weak laugh.
"The president does weird things at times. Even I don’t know his reason for asking me to seek you out."
Hearing his words, Amon narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
Not sensing that the other party was lying, he asked the most important question on his mind.
"Your country should be one of the strongest in the world, right?"
Levi nodded.
"In that case, you should have obtained a soul treasure or skill, right?"
Levi’s expression shifted slightly.
It seemed Amon had designs on his country.
He had thought that by mentioning their president’s S-rank status, Amon would be fazed, but that didn’t seem to be the case.
Thinking for a moment, he nodded lightly, uncertainty flashing across his face.
"If I’m to guess, the president would likely possess a soul skill."
Hearing his words, Amon let out a relieved smile.
"We’re going to meet your president now."
His voice was filled with confidence and certainty.
Levi looked up at the infamous butcher and laughed lightly.
"Alright, I’ll arrange the plane to take us. The journey would last a bit of so..."
"Do you have an image of Neverland with you? A place where you work or anything?"
Hearing his words, Levi was stunned, but he still nodded and quickly took out his phone.
It was an image of their headquarters back in Neverland.
Seeing how grand the place was, Amon was slightly taken aback, though only for an instant.
Levi continued, sensing no change in him.
"As I stated, the journey would tak..."
His words stopped abruptly.
Before he could react, a hand settled on his shoulder.
The world twisted.
Space folded inward before abruptly snapping back into place.
Only an instant passed before they arrived at Neverland.
Amon felt weakened internally.
More than half of his mana reserves had depleted the moment he used Close Yet So Far.
One had to know that Amon was now at S-rank. However, with the Supreme Divine Physique, he possessed more than five times the energy reserves of ordinary S-rank hunters, rivaling high-ranking SS-rank hunters and even some weaker SSS-rank hunters.
Yet, almost all of that energy had been drained by a single teleportation.
That alone was enough to show just how vast the distance between both countries truly was.
His gaze slowly lifted.
Towering silver spires stretched into the heavens before him, their reflective surfaces gleaming beneath streams of artificial light that drifted across the sky like luminous rivers.
Countless floating vehicles moved through the air in orderly lanes, crossing between structures that seemed decades ahead of anything he had seen before.
The air itself felt different. It was cleaner and sharper.
Every building possessed smooth geometric lines and metallic surfaces that shimmered beneath the sunlight.
Standing at the center of it all was a colossal structure.
Neverland Headquarters.
The building rose like a metallic mountain.
Layer upon layer of crystal-like architecture spiraled upward around a central tower that disappeared into the clouds themselves.
Transparent bridges connected various sections of the structure, while streams of drones traveled between them with machine-like precision.
Even from a distance, the headquarters radiated authority.
Meanwhile, Levi felt a dizzying sensation wash through his mind due to the teleportation.
Gradually recovering, he glanced around, his thoughts becoming clearer with each passing second.
"Wha... how is this possible?"
Levi’s eyes widened dramatically in shock, his heart and mind thrown into turmoil.
Weren’t they just at Cold Moon District?
How were they suddenly at Neverland?
His gaze drifted toward the butcher standing casually nearby, and a chill ran down his spine.
The butcher was as calm as ever.
If his guess wasn’t wrong, the last thing that had happened in Cold Moon District was the butcher gently touching his shoulder.
The next instant, they had arrived in Neverland.
That seemed to be the only explanation.
The realization filled his heart with alarm.
’He possesses a teleportation skill?’
Watching the butcher quietly observe everything around Neverland, Levi’s heart skipped a beat.
It seemed he might have...
Brought the devil himself to Neverland.
He could only pray that nothing transpired while the butcher was around.
Finally regaining himself, he cleared his throat.
"Please follow me. I’ll lead you inside."
There was no need for guards at Neverland Headquarters.
After all, the ten strongest people in the country lived here.
With that, the pair continued forward at an even pace.
Their footsteps landed softly against transparent, glass-like pathways suspended above flowing streams of glowing blue energy.
The closer they approached, the more imposing the headquarters became.
Massive crystalline pillars supported sections of the structure, while entire platforms floated independently around the central tower.
The technology powering everything remained invisible, making the sight even more surreal.
Amon followed Levi into the building.
The moment he stepped inside, his eyes narrowed slightly.
An enormous atrium stretched before him.
Transparent walls rose dozens of floors into the air, allowing sunlight to pour into the structure unobstructed.
Suspended waterways flowed throughout the building, carrying glowing streams of liquid that wound through the architecture like luminous veins.
Holographic displays floated throughout the lobby, constantly updating information.
Elevators moved both vertically and horizontally through invisible tracks.
Hundreds of people carried out their duties, yet the atmosphere remained orderly and efficient.
Everything operated with near mechanical precision.
Neverland was technologically advanced to a remarkable extent.
For a brief moment, Amon felt as though he had stepped into the future.
Floating vehicles drifted beyond the transparent walls, while distant skyscrapers illuminated the horizon.
Even he couldn’t deny that the sight was impressive.
Ding!
The elevator came to a stop.
The doors slid open.
Immediately, Amon felt an oppressive pressure emanating from within the room.
Turning toward it, he noticed a group of people seated around a circular table.
Nine figures.
Each possessed a presence powerful enough to overwhelm ordinary hunters.
Closest to the entrance sat a bald man with a broad frame.
His exposed arms were covered in old scars, while his body looked as though it had been carved from solid stone.
Beside him sat a silver-haired woman.
Her posture was perfectly straight, and her sharp eyes resembled drawn blades capable of cutting through anything standing before them.
A casually dressed man lounged in his seat nearby.
His dark hair partially covered one eye, and although he appeared relaxed, there was an unmistakable sharpness hidden beneath his lazy demeanor.
Next sat a giant of a man whose tattoo-covered muscles stretched tightly beneath his clothing.
His sheer size made the reinforced chair beneath him appear almost fragile.
Across from him sat a young woman wearing round glasses.
Unlike the others, she appeared scholarly and refined, yet the calm confidence in her eyes suggested she was anything but weak.
A white-haired old man quietly sipped tea beside her.
Age had softened his appearance, but the aura surrounding him remained steady and dangerous.
Not far away sat a beautiful woman draped in a dark coat.
Her expression remained indifferent, as though very little in the world could hold her interest.
Another hunter leaned back comfortably with a perpetual grin on his face.
His appearance resembled that of a gambler more than a warrior.
Finally, seated at the far end of the table was a stern middle-aged man.
His neatly combed hair and piercing gaze gave him the natural air of someone accustomed to giving orders.
Together, their auras pressed against the room like an invisible tide.
Unfortunately for them, Amon quickly realized they were merely A-rank hunters.
His interest immediately faded.
His Danger Sense spread throughout the entirety of Neverland.
Now that it had reached God-rank, it was capable of such feats.
However, he still sensed nothing that could threaten him.
With that realization, the pressure he felt earlier disappeared completely.
He relaxed.
"Hey everyone, meet the butcher."
Levi gestured toward Amon as he introduced him, drawing the attention of the entire group toward the two of them.
Instantly, it was as though the tension in the room had increased to an unimaginable extent.
They knew... they could all sense it.
The bottomless strength the butcher seemed to possess.
