CHAPTER 220: WHISPERS OF THE MISSING

Two days later....

Inside the Hunter’s guild, the main hall was as noisy as ever, lively, crowded, yet a strange heaviness lingered. A number of hunters filled the seats, clinking mugs and trading stories. But one topic never left their lips.

"Still no sign of him?"

"Nope. No one’s seen him since the break."

"I heard he had jumped into a space rift while following a monster. Maybe he didn’t survive that."

"Don’t talk like that. If anyone could come back alive, it’s him."

Whispers moved from table to table, some hopeful, some doubtful. Many faces carried unease. Logan’s name, or rather, Aiden Ferith, had become a storm that refused to calm. He had done what no one thought possible. Killing an A-class dungeon boss in one strike, reaching the level of a party captain, A-class hunter, just at the age of thirteen! Even in myths, these would sound unbelievable. But now he was gone. Who knew for how long? Or was he even alive?

At the reception desk, Elizabeth stood, her face calm but her hands restless as they shuffled papers. She could clearly hear every rumor, every word. She too wanted answers.

Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed. A hunter strode straight toward her. "Elizabeth, the Guildmaster is waiting for you. He wants you in his chamber."

Elizabeth paused, then nodded. Her boots clicked against the wooden floor as she left the reception behind.

Inside the guildmaster’s chamber....

He sat waiting in a chair. His arms were crossed, his sharp eyes dark with irritation. When Elizabeth entered, he wasted no time. "Tell me. Has Aiden returned? Or any news?" He was desperately waiting for Logan.

Elizabeth shook her head slowly. "No, Guildmaster. Not yet."

Ali exhaled, leaning back in his chair. "The moment he shows up, you come to me. Immediately. I don’t care what you’re doing, you drop it and tell me."

"Yes, Guildmaster." Elizabeth bowed her head and left. But even as she walked out, her chest felt heavy. Deep inside, she too wondered... was he alive?

_______

Elsewhere, inside a private inn room.

Noah sat on a chair, his usual calm face more serious than ever. Emily sat across from him. A small lantern lit the room, shadows dancing against the walls.

"At least your magic has returned," Emily said softly. "We were so worried. About you.. about the guild master."

Noah nodded. "Yes. But Logan... he hasn’t returned. If he hadn’t been there that day, I don’t know if you, me, or even guild master would still be breathing."

Emily’s lips tightened. "You’re right. Just when we felt relief that he was still alive, fate throws us into uncertainty again. It feels like a cruel joke."

Silence filled the room. Both of them thought the same thing. "what if he never comes back? What if he is dead for good this time?"

But outside the door, someone else was listening.

Lilith stood frozen, her back against the wall. Her sharp ears had caught every word.

"Logan?! So it was him all along. I swear, many a time, I also suspected that. But for it to be actually true...." Her breath caught, her heart racing. For a moment, her cheeks turned faintly red. "That shameless habit of throwing off his clothes... he’s still the same, pervert! Maybe a bit strong." She paused then whispered. "Nope. Not just a bit. It’s huge."

A smile crept across her lips, but it didn’t last. Reality returned like a blade. "He was alive, but missing again."

______

Far away, in a desolate stretch of land.

Two figures stood together. One was an old man, his back slightly hunched but his presence sharp like a blade. The other was a younger man, his eyes glinting with loyalty.

"Master," the old one said, "that hunter uniform suits you. You look just like you did back then, sixty or seventy years ago." He hesitated, then asked, "About that brat... were you able to obtain his secret training method?" It was Lucas. The sect master of the Third Eye Sect.

The young man’s face darkened. "No. I thought it would be simple, to win his trust and then manipulate him to hand it over."

He paused for a bit before continuing, "But I didn’t get that chance. I didn’t have much time for that. And... what we thought about him, that he is strong. We were mistaken."

Hearing that, Lucas looked utterly confused. "We were wrong?! How? Are you saying he isn’t strong? Maybe compared to you, no one isn’t. But that doesn’t make him any less of a threat."

"No. You didn’t get me. He isn’t just strong. He is monstrous. That brat took down an A-class dungeon boss with just one fucking hit. Yeah, I could do that too. But at that age? Never! He is still far from me. But it won’t take much time for him to cross that gap. There is only one path left now. We must take his family hostage. We must get our hands on that technique. The sooner the better."

Lucas was dumbfounded. He clenched his fists. "Then when do we act?"

The young man’s voice was cold. "When I give the signal. Not before. For now, vanish. If anyone sees you here, it will bring trouble."

Lucas bowed. "Understood, Master." With that, he turned and disappeared into the shadows.

The young hunter remained standing alone, his eyes fixed on the horizon.

______

Somewhere else at the same time....

Far down a lonely road, a wagon creaked as it rolled forward, its wheels grinding against stone. Traders shouted to one another as they guided their horses. The air was heavy with dust.

And at the back, a person lay as if he was without a care of the world. His body was wrapped in a plain cloak, his face hidden beneath a mask. In his right hand, resting carefully, was a faintly glowing orb.

It was Logan.

The same kid whose name was now being whispered in every corner of Arcadia. Maybe even outside of Arcadia.