Lloyd couldn't let Jack act strangely again in front of one of the noblest women in the world, Lloyd immediately made a polite gesture to invite Lory and Zhao Li Xin to sit down."Please, have a sea Miss Jane - Mr.Zhao"
Lory didn't feel offended at all by Jack's attitude but because of the anxiety in Lloyd's eyes, Lory didn't speak any longer she tactfully pulled Zhao Li Xin with her and then took a seat.
Garrof could understand Lloyd's feelings right now because he was also uncomfortable with Jack's casual attitude towards Lory but he couldn't rebuke his stupid friend because he had to keep Lory's identity a secret.
on the other hand, Jack felt there was nothing strange about Lloyd's formality because that person was always too serious while Garrof always seemed annoyed when he met him for some reason so Jack didn't feel there was anything strange about their attitude.
"What important matter do you guys want to talk about?" Lory asked after everyone took a seat.
"Take a look at this report" Lloyd handed a stack of papers to Lory.
Lory received the stack of papers and began to examine them carefully because the more she read, the more furrowed her brows became.
From the reports Lory read that many hunters died in their mission related to dealing with high-level targets, but strangely when the guild sent out an inspection team, they found irregularities in their battle marks that didn't match the behavior or habitat of the intended target.
There is also a peculiarity in the Beast's behavior and habitat that is not in accordance with previously available information, although this can be ignored because it might caused by the changes in the ecosystem after the previous great war.
However, the inspection team found strange signs such as vines or tree roots at the scene of the incident that did not come from any type of plant they have ever known and the biologist's team has confirmed this new-odd discovery.
"Actually, we were lucky to find this strange organism because in most cases there were traces of fire or explosion so it was difficult to know what happened," said Lloyd with a serious face.
"The same thing when we hunted Maren" Lory muttered then she showed the report to Zhao Li Xin and explained it to him.
"No one wants to bother with this matter since everyone is already having a hard time maintaining their Guild so they are sending what they know to the Guild association to deal with further. Surprisingly, the Guild Association didn't do anything they were all as quiet as a mouse"
Jack took a cigar from his pocket "I wouldn't have known about this either if Lloyd hadn't contacted me to look into this matter, thankfully I have 'friends' that owed me in the association so I can 'ask' for some information but he becomes so anxious and refused to contact with me anymore, so from there I know this problem is bigger than I thought" Jack click his tongue then lighting his cigar.
"Friend?" Lory raised her eyebrows.
Jack puffed out the white smoke "In this job, it's important to know people who 'know' people"
'True..." Lory stifled a smile knowing well what Jack meant, therefore Lory did not ask further because it was common courtesy not to spill their informant's identity. Lory turned to Zhao Li Xin and then continued to explain what Jack had said.
[There's a high chance it was done by the same group] Zhao Li Xin's eyes remained steady as he spoke.
[I can't think of anything else...] Lory tilts her head.
[So we can assume that we are not the first hunters they try to blow up, based on this information we can predict the extent to which they are trying to cover up this matter.]
Lory pursed her lips she felt this was very strange, [If that so, then who submitted requests to the various Guilds to hunt down this target if this target's existence was hidden? this doesn't make sense Someone should have already taken down the request from the Guild…could there be a traitor among them?]
Zhao Li Xin disagrees [If that's true then this traitor is most likely an idiot, cause not only was his effort wasted, but he most likely will blow his cover, so my guess is this is all part of elaborated plans from someone, and if we want to know the reasons we first have to know what their motives are]
Garrof suddenly chimed in "Ehm, sorry to interrupt, my first guess is the SA.I.N.T. organization based on the situation with the Hamilton family but I don't think they have this amount of resources to blow up the half mountain moreover killed all these hunters...so perhaps there are other group or organization involved?"
"That's right, even though the S.A.I.N.T. organization is one of the largest organizations they are still a humanitarian and a nonprofit organization that operates based on donations so people would question them if they get fighter jets and soldiers at their disposal?" Lloyd added to his doubts.
"And for what?" Jack muttered confused.
The three of them were confused while Lory rubbed her forehead as she was in a dilemma about whether she should tell them or not. Obviously, this will put their lives in danger and maybe the people around them as well.
Even though without explanation Zhao Li Xin could guess Lory's thoughts but unlike Lory Zhao Li Xin didn't feel that there was a problem involving these people considering the line of work they do, Moreover, after interacting with them some time ago, Zhao Li Xin thought they weren't so useless that they can't take care of themselves.
Zhao Li Xin then held Lory's hand then said: [There's no harm in involving them after all we need all the help we can If we want to know what is really happening in this world and you know yourself that we cannot do this alone]
Lory bit her lips while weighing her options Lory then looked at Zhao Li Xin and said with resignation [I think you're right...]
Inwardly Zhao Li Xin was happy that Lory would ask for help because of his situation right now Zhao Li Xin couldn't provide support like he used to in the past and Zhao Li Xin didn't want Lory to struggle on her own therefore why not used their help.
[You don't have to worry for them since this matter more or less affects them since it seems these people targeting hunters] Zhao Li Xin reassured her again soon after the hesitation in Lory's heart dissipated.
[Yes, you are absolutely right, Garrof and Lloyd already know my identity, and the S.A.I.N.T. organization's involvement so why not tell them everything and see what happens] Lory smiled confidently as she thought this was the best decision for the situation right now.
[No matter what happens, I will always be with you] he threw a flirtatious smile but Lory knew it was not an empty word cause Zhao Li Xin had proven it many times.
The three men forced to eat dog food felt very full and very sad right now but they were too embarrassed to say anything they could only complain in their hearts.
'We're still here, you know!'
The glaring stare snapped her back from her pink bubble, Lory awkwardly cleared her throat and said: "Um actually there was something I didn't tell you when we were hunting Zhyger in Riverblade that time"
Garrof and Lloyd exchanged looks, actually, they knew there was something odd about the hunt but they didn't try to find out because they owed their lives to Lory.
Judging from Lory's face, they could feel that what was about to be conveyed was very serious, all of them subconsciously leaned forward.
Lory then explained what happened during the Zhyger hunt. Lory tells them about the mysterious vines growing from Zhyger's body that are similar to Maren's and the apparitions of soldiers with no flag markings on their uniforms.
"The Ghost soldier" Jack stunned, "Wait a minute, you guys also have to face the ghost soldier on the Quiet mountain peak right!"
"Yes, that's why I'm sure they are from Luxemborough, Though at first I wasn't sure but after seeing Dragna's fight I was sure they were from Luxemborough," said Lory.
"So the people who attacked us and the soldiers we met at the plane rental are the same groups, though I know that ghost soldier from Luxemborough but I thought they're target was…" Garrof felt that this matter was more complicated than he thought.
Lloyd sighed heavily "Yeah, we should know this isn't a coincidence, I think we got rusty from old age..." There's a hint of disappointment in his words.
Who are we talking about?" Jack furrowed his brows as he seemed lost from the conversation.
Garrof quickly said "Samuel Albrecht"
'CRANK!'
Everyone turned at the sound and found Maddy dropping the tray from her hands causing all the glass to crash on the floor.
"Maddy, are you okay!" Lory jumped from the sofa after she saw Maddy drop the entire contents of her tray.
Jack immediately ran toward her with a worried look, Jack then pulled Maddy away from the shattered glass. "Why are you so clumsy!" he scolded but his eyes were filled with worry.
"Sorry... I think I tripped myself" The smile on Maddy's face came out unnatural she suddenly rushed out of the room while shouting "I'll get the broom!"
"Hey. go get the vacuum instead!" Jack screamed but Maddy had already left the room. Jack clicked his tongue in annoyance then he picked up the glass shard with his own hands.
From the couch, Lory made a simple movement with his hand and the water from the floor lifted into the air then Lory waved her hands and the water droplet floated above the pot plant, with a single click of her finger and the next second the water fall like rain to the plant afterward Lory back to her sitting position as if nothing happens.
"Your gift control is impeccable" Jack gives sincere praise.
"Yeah, I practice a lot" Lory replied perfunctorily.
However, everyone in this room were professional hunters and ex-soldiers so they knew exactly how hard it was for a Gifted to control their strength.
Some people are blessed with great mana from birth, but only a few people are able to control their Mana, and the greater the power, the more difficult it is to control, so it is not uncommon for people with great mana to fail to control their mana and end up devoured by their own power.
This is also the biggest contributor to the death of the Gifted people in the world before the Mana controller was invented, therefore quite a few people choose to use mana controllers to seal their power forever.
But Lory controlled her powers as naturally as breathing, therefore Jack and the others couldn't imagine what kind of strenuous training this young girl had to undergo to reach this stage.
Garrof and Lloyd looked at Lory with a mixture of admiration and pity. With the status Lory has and the thousands of Loyal soldiers protecting her, why does Lory have to be trained so hard, why doesn't she sit pretty at home, playing with her friends, shopping, and enjoying the privileged life like any other members of the royal family in the world?
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