Chapter 145: The Decision

At this moment, inside the Council of the Fantasy Metropolis.

Vladimir angrily swept the documents off his desk, causing his secretary, who had just entered, to turn pale with fright.

"Councilor, there is a communication request for you," the beautiful young secretary said cautiously, keeping a close watch on the expression of the man before her.

In her memory, her superior rarely lost his temper. To her, Vladimir had always been the type of man who remained unshakable even if Mount Tai were to crumble before him. This lapse in his composure caught her off guard.

Seemingly aware of his loss of control, Vladimir reined in his anger and asked coldly, "Whose communication is it?"

Seeing Vladimir regain his calm, the secretary breathed a slight sigh of relief and replied, "It is Councilor Hagen from the military. He seems to have something he wishes to discuss with you."

Vladimir’s expression shifted, and he sighed, "So, what must come has finally arrived?" After smoothing out his clothes, which had become disheveled from his outburst, he added, "Put him through."

No sooner had he spoken than a faint mist appeared in the room, gradually coalescing into the figure of a middle-aged man. He wore a white suit and stood before Vladimir.

This was the city's remote simulation technology, designed to make long-distance interactions feel as if they were face-to-face.

"Councilor Hagen, what can I do for you?" Vladimir’s expression remained grim. Hagen, conversely, wore a smile. Without answering immediately, he walked over to the sofa in front of Vladimir’s desk and sat down uninvited.

The secretary tactfully withdrew. Once seated, Hagen laughed heartily. "Come now, Vladimir, can’t I come by just to catch up with an old friend?"

"With the heavy responsibilities you carry in the military, I find it hard to believe you have time to reminisce," Vladimir said, dismissing the pleasantries. "Let’s get straight to the point. Why are you really here?"

"Nothing much. I just received a report from the Disaster Legion under my command, claiming that a hunter from your Hunting Team obstructed their mission. I’ve come to ask the supreme commander of the Hunting Team for an explanation." Hagen smiled, but his eyes remained cold.

"A matter involving a single hunter shouldn't require a visit from a Councilor of your standing, surely?" Vladimir sat back in his chair. Hagen glanced at the files scattered on the floor and remarked calmly, "Is it really as simple as just one hunter? If he were truly just an ordinary hunter, I doubt you would have been angry enough to throw your files on the floor, Councilor."

Vladimir’s fingers tightened against the edge of his desk. It was clear that his momentary loss of control had not escaped the old man’s sharp eyes.

Hagen was the representative of the military council in the Fantasy Metropolis. As the sole Councilor for the military, he held immense power. He was also the supreme commander of the Joint Combat Forces, making him Vladimir’s equal in status.

"I investigated. The hunter is Dead Eye, a member of your direct subordinate unit, the Doom Squad, isn't he? Their performance at the last Hunter’s Convention certainly surprised us." Hagen’s smile didn't reach his eyes. At that convention, Xie Liu and his team’s victory had turned the military into a laughingstock, causing the entire high command to grit their teeth at the mention of the Doom Squad. Yet, since they had won fairly, the military had no retort.

The fact that Hagen had arrived the moment Xie Liu caused trouble showed just how much importance the military had placed on him.

"Damn fool, causing trouble for me again," Vladimir cursed to himself, though he knew he had to defend Xie Liu on the surface.

"Just a reckless subordinate. I apologize for the trouble, Councilor. May I ask what exactly this 'Dead Eye' did to warrant a personal visit from the military’s Councilor?" Vladimir’s implication was clear: he felt Hagen was making a mountain out of a molehill.

Hagen understood perfectly, but he chose to play dumb. "Oh, this matter is quite complicated. Normally, I wouldn't interfere in the squabbles of the rank and file, but this has escalated. It involves the Councilors, so I am forced to intervene."

*Old fox,* Vladimir cursed silently. In just a few sentences, the man had elevated the issue to the level of the Councilors. It was clearly aimed at him; Xie Liu was merely a pretext. Hagen’s true target was Vladimir himself. Realizing this, Vladimir forced a smile. "What could have possibly escalated to such a degree?"

"My reports state that a hunter was colluding with a cyborg from the Alliance to obstruct the soldiers of the Joint Combat Force. You are a sensible man, Vladimir—you know the gravity of colluding with Alliance cyborgs. This is no small matter!" Hagen drew out his words. Vladimir rolled his eyes. "You only spent a few years in the Huaxia branch; there’s no need to mimic their way of speaking. No need for hidden meanings—just say it directly."

The smile vanished from Hagen’s face as he straightened up. "You understand my meaning. My people claim that orders came from the top not to harm that cyborg. I checked the previous mission reports and found no such order. So, I am here to ask you: did you issue that command?"

Vladimir was silent for a moment before shaking his head. "Although I did not issue that specific order, it was the hunter’s wish that I do so. You may consider it as having been done."

"Oh?" Hagen looked at Vladimir with surprise. He had expected Vladimir to deny it or perhaps sacrifice an insignificant hunter, but the answer caught him off guard.

"Is there something special about that hunter?" Hagen asked instinctively. Vladimir shook his head. "That question falls outside the scope of this discussion. As for the previous matter, yes, you may interpret it as me having issued the order to protect that cyborg."

"This is strange. Why would that hunter want to protect an Alliance cyborg? No, rather, why would *you* agree to protect this cyborg?" Hagen pressed. Vladimir, now on the defensive, interlaced his fingers and sighed. "Because that cyborg gave birth to a daughter."

"What?" Hagen couldn't believe his ears. "A daughter? What kind of reason is that? You don't strike me as someone with a soft spot for children. Even if she had a daughter, she is still a cyborg. Better to just kill them both."

Vladimir shook his head. "That is not the issue. The issue is that the father of that daughter is one of our city’s own super-powered individuals."

"What did you say!" Hagen’s expression shifted instantly. He stood up from the sofa, staring at Vladimir in shock. "That’s impossible!"

"And yet, it is the truth." Vladimir gave a bitter smile. "The problem is that my hunter has decided to protect this child, and I find myself in a difficult position."

"Vladimir! You’ve lost your mind! How can you hesitate over something like this?" Hagen pointed at him, shouting. "Can that mother and daughter be allowed to live? They must be killed!"

"That is why I have been waiting for you," Vladimir said, his voice grave, hands still clasped before him.

Hagen’s expression changed instantly. "You mean to use my hands to finish them off?"

"I am glad you understand," Vladimir replied with a cold smirk.

Hagen was silent for a moment before speaking. "You owe me a favor, Vladimir."

"I know. But I had no choice," Vladimir said flatly. Lost in his own thoughts, he didn't see Hagen nod.

"Fine. I will take care of this for you," Hagen said.

"One more thing," Vladimir added. "Try not to harm the hunter."

Hagen paused, then shook his head. "I cannot guarantee that. You had better pray that the boy has enough luck to survive."

"By the way, Vladimir," Hagen said, preparing to depart, "do not let the other Councilors find out about this. Not everyone shares the deep history we have."

"I am aware," Vladimir said, his figure becoming somewhat indistinct, though his voice remained crystal clear. "That is why I only told you."

Hagen paused, then chuckled. "So be it." With that, his body dissipated like a gust of wind.

Vladimir’s gaze remained severe until Hagen had completely vanished. "Come in."

The secretary entered, trembling. The pressure Hagen had exerted was immense; as the head of the military and a powerful Level 10 super-powered individual in his youth, Hagen commanded an overwhelming presence wherever he went.

"Councilor, is there anything you need?" she asked timidly. Vladimir looked terrible and did not respond. The secretary, feeling helpless, silently began to clean up the documents he had thrown on the floor.

"Contact the members of the Doom Squad. Tell them if they don't report to me immediately, they might as well prepare to collect Dead Eye's corpse," Vladimir said sternly. The secretary shuddered, and the documents she had gathered fell to the floor once more.

"What are you standing there for? Go!"

The secretary scurried out in a panic. Vladimir’s expression grew increasingly grave. A few minutes later, the secretary sent the messages out, though she failed to notice that four of them were directed to the same location, while only one was sent to S City.

"What on earth did that guy Xie Liu do to force Vladimir to send out so many messages?" Ye Ling set down her phone, pondered for a moment, and then opened her desk drawer to take out a photograph she had cherished throughout the winter break.

It was a photo taken in the City of Rainbows after the Hunter’s Convention, featuring Ye Ling and her comrades from the Doom Squad upon their return to the Huaxia branch. She stared at the image for a long time before nodding resolutely. "Just wait for me to come and save you."