Chapter 717: Hunter Association
After hearing Lyra speak so grandly about the Hundred Battle Regions, painting them as a chaotic land filled with hidden fortunes and deadly opportunities, and especially after the warnings she carefully laced between her explanations, Max finally let out a long breath and sighed.
He knew she wasn’t exaggerating. A place where countless geniuses gathered, fought, and fell... it was bound to be dangerous beyond reason. But Max had always sought places like that—places where strength was the only currency, and progress could be made through sheer will and power.
Still, he had his concerns. His gaze slowly drifted toward the five geniuses seated at the opposite side of the room—each of them radiating pride, confidence, and the kind of arrogance only the powerful could afford.
"Alright," Max finally said, his voice calm but firm. "I’ll team up. But would they?" he added, glancing directly at the group with a faint, almost indifferent smile.
Lyra caught the meaning in his eyes and smiled faintly in return, her arms crossing behind her back in a relaxed posture. "You don’t have to worry about them," she said confidently.
Just as she opened her mouth to elaborate, one of the five geniuses, a young man with short silver hair and a sharp jawline, leaned forward from his seat. He wore a dark blue robe lined with lightning-shaped embroidery, and a thin, amused smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"What tasks does Leader Lyra have for us this time?" he asked, a faint mocking tone beneath the surface of his question. He was Arlen, known for being quick-witted and unpredictable, but also fiercely loyal to Lyra’s faction.
Max caught a flicker of amusement in his eyes—he was intrigued, perhaps even excited, and certainly not hostile.
Lyra turned her smile to Arlen now, acknowledging his willingness to cooperate with a satisfied nod. She had known Arlen would be the first to speak. He was always the one to break the silence and test the waters when things got tense.
"There are basically two tasks I want you five—including Max—to complete during your time in the Hundred Battle Regions," she began, her tone now more formal and composed.
At her words, even Max leaned forward slightly, his curiosity piqued. He hadn’t expected her to assign missions so soon, but it made sense. If they were to work together, they needed a shared goal.
"What?" he asked, his voice firm but attentive, his eyes now locked on Lyra. He could feel the atmosphere in the room shift slightly—the five geniuses, who had previously been skeptical and dismissive, were now paying full attention.