*****The moment Augustus made the offer, Hunter’s entire body stiffened.His expression became unusually tense, his hands unconsciously tightened into fists, and his heart thumped wildly in his chest.'Will they accept...?' That single question repeatedly echoed through his mind.And as it did, his breathing became uneven unconsciously.Although he knew the people from the Guild possessed an extraordinary background, the Scoan Family's offer was undeniably generous.Honored Elder, unlimited access to resources, status, and authority… almost anyone in Riverton City would lose their mind upon hearing such an invitation.'What if...' His heartbeat pounded even more violently in his chest. 'What if they actually agree?'His thoughts spiraled into chaos, realizing the implicationsNot only would his revenge end even before it truly began, but he would most likely even lose his life.The silence that followed seemed endless.Every passing second only made Hunter's anxiety grow heavier.The

*****Augustus simply stood there with his head held high, staring arrogantly into the empty space before him as though he had already forced the hidden expert into silence.Meanwhile, Lucius suddenly let out an arrogant chuckle.“Hehehe...” His earlier fear seemed to have evaporated after hearing his father's confident declaration.“In fact, Father,” he said with an excited grin as he turned toward Augustus, “I think this fellow arrived at exactly the right time.”He casually pointed toward the empty air, completely ignoring the fact that he still had no idea where the mysterious expert actually was.“Didn't we just discuss needing a scapegoat? Honestly, I think this E-rank fellow would make a far better example than this worthless low-life.”He gestured dismissively toward Hunter as though shooing away an insignificant insect.“Just imagine it,” Lucius continued, his grin widening with every word.“People throughout Riverton City are already wondering whether we're weak after losing

*****'Dead...?'The single word echoed endlessly inside Augustus's and Lucius's minds, repeating itself over and over again until it almost lost its meaning.Neither of them could believe it.No.Neither of them wanted to believe it.But when they looked around at the kneeling guards and servants, they found no trace of deception.Several guards were trembling so violently that sweat dripped steadily onto the stone pavement beneath them, while others looked utterly traumatized.These weren't the expressions of people fabricating a lie.They were the faces of people who had watched a nightmare unfold with their own eyes.Finally...“But... but how?” Lucius's raspy voice broke the silence.Even he barely recognized the uncontrollably shaky sound that left his own throat.His lips felt dry, and his heartbeat pounded painfully against his ribs.“How...” he muttered again, almost speaking to himself. “How could the Grand Elder possibly be killed by another E-rank fighter?”His eyes became

*****At this moment, Hunter stood with his arms folded, a faint smile playing across his lips as he calmly observed Augustus.There was something deeply ironic about the scene.Only moments ago, Augustus and Lucius had looked at Hunter the way a hunter examines trapped prey.Now... the roles had quietly reversed.Hunter's relaxed smile made it feel as though Augustus had unknowingly walked into a cage whose door had already slammed shut.Yet despite that realization, neither Augustus nor Lucius had any pride left to be offended by Hunter's expression.Instead, their hearts skipped violently."What..." Lucius stammered, staring blankly at Hunter. "What... what are you talking about?"His voice no longer contained even a trace of the arrogance he usually displays.The once-smug young master now sounded frightened, confused, and almost pleading, as though desperately hoping Hunter's words concealed some miraculous path to survival.Hunter, however, did not answer immediately.Instead, h

*****For a brief period, the father and son acted as though the entire situation had completely reversed.Their fear vanished, the anxiety disappeared, and the despair evaporated.Eventually, they turned back toward Hunter.The change in their expressions was immediate.Every trace of terror and helplessness disappeared so thoroughly that it was as though those emotions had never existed.“Hehehe...” Lucius chuckled, the sound full of renewed arrogance. “A low-life will always remain a low-life.”The moment those words left his mouth, Augustus immediately shot him a glare.“Idiot!” he snapped. “What if he changes his mind?”Lucius flinched.However, the panic from earlier didn't return.Instead, both father and son looked at Hunter the way wealthy nobles might look at a beggar trying to challenge an army.Their confidence was rapidly returning.'He wants revenge personally?' Augustus thought inwardly.The idea almost made him laugh.‘What kind of foolish pride was this?’ He wondered