The Council's Debate

The Hunter Association Council Chamber was a stark contrast to the sleek halls of the association's headquarters. It was an old room, its wood-paneled walls and high ceiling giving it a sense of gravitas and history.

A long oval table dominated the center, surrounded by twelve seats.

Eleven of them were filled.

Director Kim Seung-Ho sat at the head of the table, his expression calm but watchful.

"This meeting is now in session," Seung-Ho said, his voice steady.

The council members murmured their acknowledgments, their faces a mix of curiosity, caution, and suspicion.

.

.

"Let's get to the point," said Jung Min-Jae, the representative from South Korea's Defense Ministry. He was a broad-shouldered man in his fifties, with sharp eyes that missed nothing. "This… man. Kael Ardyn. What do we know about him?"

Seung-Ho leaned back in his chair. "We know that he's not from our world. His power readings are… unlike anything we've seen before."

"And that makes him dangerous," said Yoon Hye-Rim, a wealthy guild leader representing the Korean Hunter Guild Federation. She was a woman in her forties, with piercing eyes and an air of authority.

"We don't know his intentions," Hye-Rim continued. "For all we know, he could be a threat to national security."

"Or he could be an asset," countered Park Do-Yun, the youngest council member, representing the World Hunter Association's research division. He adjusted his glasses, his tone calm but firm.

"Let's not forget that our world faces constant threats from gates and ruins," Do-Yun said. "If this Kael Ardyn is as powerful as the readings suggest, he could be a valuable ally."

"An ally?" Hye-Rim scoffed. "You're willing to trust a man who claims to be from another world? Who talks about gods and divine powers?"

"Trust is earned," Do-Yun replied. "But we should at least explore the possibility."

.

.

The room fell into tense silence.

Seung-Ho's gaze swept across the table. "We need to decide how we'll handle him. Caution is advisable, but so is diplomacy."

Jung Min-Jae nodded. "Agreed. We can't afford to act recklessly."

"And what if he turns against us?" Hye-Rim pressed. "Are we prepared to deal with someone of his power?"

Do-Yun adjusted his glasses again. "If he wanted to harm us, he would have done so already."

Seung-Ho glanced at Ji-Eun, who stood quietly by the door, observing the meeting.

"Ji-Eun," Seung-Ho said. "You've spent time with him. What's your assessment?"

Ji-Eun stepped forward, her expression thoughtful.

"He's… an enigma," Ji-Eun said. "He speaks of gods and divine power with absolute conviction. He doesn't seem to be lying. But… I don't think he's telling us everything."

"Of course he's not," Hye-Rim said. "No one ever does."

Seung-Ho sighed. "For now, we'll keep him under observation. We'll run more tests, gather more data."

"And if he proves to be a threat?" Min-Jae asked.

Seung-Ho's eyes hardened. "We'll deal with him accordingly."

.

.

The Hunter Association Council Chamber remained tense, the air charged with unspoken tension.

Director Kim Seung-Ho sat at the head of the oval table, his expression composed but watchful. Across from him sat Jung Min-Jae, Yoon Hye-Rim, and Park Do-Yun, their postures reflecting their personal stakes in the discussion.

Kael Ardyn stood near the entrance, his steel-gray gaze scanning the room.

"Thank you for joining us," Seung-Ho said, gesturing for Kael to take a seat.

Kael inclined his head and took his place at the table with measured grace. His movements, though restrained, held the presence of a man accustomed to command.

As Kael settled, Min-Jae leaned forward, folding his hands on the table.

"You understand why you're here," Min-Jae began. His voice was calm but firm, the tone of a man used to military discipline. "We need to know your intentions."

Kael's gaze shifted to Min-Jae, studying him carefully.

"I assumed as much," Kael replied, his tone even. "You see me as an anomaly. A potential threat."

Min-Jae didn't flinch. "You're not wrong."

Yoon Hye-Rim tapped her fingers against the table, her eyes narrowed in calculated scrutiny.

"Let's not dance around the issue," Hye-Rim said. "You claim to be a king from another world. You speak of gods and divine power. But we have no way to verify any of it."

Kael's lips curled into a faint smile. "You do not trust what you do not understand."

Hye-Rim's gaze hardened. "Trust is earned, not given."

Kael inclined his head slightly. "A sentiment I understand well."

Park Do-Yun adjusted his glasses, leaning forward with genuine curiosity.

"Tell me about your world," Do-Yun said. "Eredhyn, you called it? What was it like?"

Kael's expression softened, his gaze distant.

"Eredhyn was a kingdom of light and faith," he said. "A land blessed by the Pantheon of gods. For centuries, we thrived under their guidance."

Do-Yun nodded thoughtfully. "And you ruled for three centuries?"

"Yes," Kael replied. "I was chosen by the gods to carry their will. To protect my people."

.

.

The council chamber remained heavy with silence.

Director Kim Seung-Ho tapped his fingers on the table, his expression thoughtful. Across from him, Jung Min-Jae, Yoon Hye-Rim, and Park Do-Yun sat with varying degrees of skepticism and curiosity.

Kael Ardyn stood calm and composed, his steel-gray gaze scanning the room.

"You've spoken of Chaos," Min-Jae said finally. "But you haven't explained what it is. What are we dealing with?"

Kael's gaze shifted to Min-Jae, his expression grim.

"Chaos is not a force that can be easily explained," Kael said. "It is... destruction made manifest. It seeks to unmake all that exists."

"And where did it come from?" Seung-Ho asked.

Kael's gaze darkened. "We do not know."

The council members exchanged uneasy glances.

"You don't know?" Hye-Rim repeated, her tone skeptical. "You've fought this thing for decades, and you don't know where it came from?"

Kael met her gaze steadily. "Even the gods themselves do not know. Chaos is unlike anything they have encountered before."

"That's convenient," Hye-Rim muttered.

Kael ignored the remark, his expression calm but firm.

"Chaos appeared after a ritual sacrifice performed by an empire in my world," Kael explained. "They sought power beyond the gods, and they paid the price."

Do-Yun leaned forward, intrigued. "A ritual sacrifice?"

Kael nodded. "They sacrificed millions of souls to open a rift into the unknown. But they did not understand what they were calling forth."

"And what happened to them?" Min-Jae asked.

Kael's eyes darkened further. "Their cities burned. Their people were consumed. Chaos spared no one."

.

.

The room fell into uneasy silence.

Ji-Eun tapped her tablet, glancing at the data logs. "You said you've never encountered anything like Chaos before. But are there any records of its appearance? Anything your people left behind?"

Kael frowned slightly. "We preserved knowledge through scrolls and divine relics. But most of our records were lost when the kingdom fell."

Ji-Eun nodded slowly. "We've encountered something... similar."

Kael's gaze sharpened. "Explain."

Do-Yun adjusted his glasses. "We call them memory stones."

Kael's brows furrowed. "Memory stones?"

"They've appeared in some of the highest-ranked gates since the first gate opened," Ji-Eun explained. "They're extremely rare. Only a handful have ever been found."

"And what are they?" Kael asked.

Ji-Eun tapped on her tablet, pulling up an image of a memory stone. It was a smooth, black crystal, its surface etched with glowing runes.

"They're recordings of the past," Ji-Eun said. "Or at least, that's what we thought at first."

Kael's gaze remained fixed on the image.

"What do you mean, 'thought at first'?" he asked.

Ji-Eun sighed. "The stones aren't simple recordings. They're... interactive."

"Interactive?" Kael repeated.

Do-Yun nodded. "Each stone presents a task or objective that must be completed to unlock its full contents. Some are simple—solve a puzzle or defeat a specific monster. Others... are more complicated."

"And if the objective isn't completed?" Kael asked.

Ji-Eun shook her head. "Then the stone remains sealed."

Mirae folded her arms. "We've only managed to unlock a couple of them. The rest are... frustrating."

Do-Yun chuckled softly. "Frustrating is putting it lightly. We've had entire raid teams fail to unlock a single stone."

Kael's expression remained thoughtful.

"And you believe these stones contain knowledge of the past?"

Ji-Eun nodded. "Yes. But they're unpredictable. And dangerous."

Kael's gaze lingered on the image of the memory stone.

'Fragments of the past... Could they hold the answers I seek?'

He glanced at Seung-Ho. "And how many of these stones have you found?"

Seung-Ho's expression hardened. "Not many. And the ones we've found have been... difficult to retrieve."

Kael nodded slowly. "Perhaps they hold more value than you realize."

Do-Yun leaned forward again. "You think they could hold answers about your world?"

"Perhaps," Kael said. "Or perhaps they hold the fate of those I left behind."

Mirae's gaze softened slightly.

"You still hope to find them," she said quietly. "The Grail Knights."

Kael nodded once.

"Hope is all I have."

The room fell into heavy silence once more.

Seung-Ho leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful.

"You've lost much," Seung-Ho said quietly. "And yet you still endure."

Kael's steel-gray eyes remained steady.

"Because faith endures," Kael replied. "Even in the face of the unknown."

.

.

The council chamber remained silent after Kael's departure.

Director Kim Seung-Ho sat at the head of the table, his expression calm but pensive. Around him, the other council members wore varying expressions of curiosity, doubt, and unease.

Jung Min-Jae broke the silence, leaning back in his chair.

"Well," Min-Jae said, his tone dry. "That was… enlightening."

Yoon Hye-Rim scoffed, crossing her arms. "Enlightening? He just told us a fairy tale about gods and Chaos. Are we really going to take him at his word?"

Park Do-Yun adjusted his glasses, his gaze thoughtful. "Whether we believe him or not, we can't ignore the facts. His mana signature is unlike anything we've seen before. And his story—if true—raises serious concerns."

"Concerns?" Min-Jae repeated. "Try existential threats. If Chaos is real, and if gates are connected to it…"

Hye-Rim's eyes narrowed. "And what if he's lying? What if he's playing us? He's clearly intelligent and experienced. He could be manipulating us to gain our trust."

Do-Yun shook his head. "What would he gain from that? He's a stranger in this world. He has no allies, no resources."

Hye-Rim's lips twisted into a smirk. "You underestimate people like him. Kings don't survive for centuries without learning how to manipulate others."

Min-Jae sighed. "Regardless of his intentions, we need to control the narrative. If word gets out that we're harboring someone claiming to be a king from another world…"

He didn't finish the thought, but everyone understood.

The public reaction would be chaotic.

Seung-Ho leaned forward, his gaze sharp. "Which is why we keep this contained. No one outside this room hears about Kael Ardyn. Not until we have more information."

The council members nodded in agreement, but the tension in the room remained palpable.

After a moment, Do-Yun spoke again.

"There's one more thing we need to consider," he said quietly.

The others turned to him.

"Kael's story about the empire's ritual sacrifice. What if… something similar happens here?"

Hye-Rim frowned. "Are you suggesting that someone might intentionally open a gate to Chaos?"

"It's possible," Do-Yun said. "We've seen organized syndicates use gates for their own purposes. We've encountered cults and rogue hunters who worship the monsters inside. If someone figured out how to trigger a higher-ranked gate…"

The room fell into uneasy silence.

Min-Jae exhaled slowly. "We can't ignore that possibility. If Kael's right, and if gates are connected to something beyond our understanding…"

He glanced at Seung-Ho.

"Then we need to be prepared."

Seung-Ho nodded. "Agreed. We'll increase gate monitoring and investigate any suspicious activity. And we'll keep Kael close. He may be our best chance at understanding what we're dealing with."

Hye-Rim's eyes gleamed with calculated interest. "And what happens if he becomes a threat?"

Seung-Ho's gaze hardened.

"Then we deal with him."

.

.

Kael stood just outside the chamber, his steel-gray eyes unreadable.

He had heard everything.

.

.

Kael stood in the dimly lit corridor, his steel-gray eyes fixed on the closed doors of the council chamber.

He had heard enough.

The voices of the council members still echoed in his mind—their fears, their suspicions, their ambitions. They were not so different from the rulers and nobles he had dealt with in his own world.

'They see me as both a tool and a threat,' Kael thought. 'That much is clear.'

His expression remained calm, but his mind raced.

Kael's world had been one of constant political maneuvering. As king of Eredhyn, he had learned that every word spoken in council chambers carried weight. Every glance, every pause in conversation could reveal hidden motives.

And here, in this strange new world, nothing had changed.

'Fear drives them,' Kael mused. 'Fear of the unknown. Fear of what I represent.'

He had seen it before—leaders driven to desperation, making reckless decisions to protect their power.

.

.

As Kael walked down the corridor, his cloak trailing behind him, he passed rows of monitors displaying gate activity across the world. The screens flickered with readouts and energy signatures, showing the ever-present threat of gates and monsters.

He paused for a moment, studying the glowing maps.

'Gates,' he thought. 'Portals between worlds. The people of this world do not know their origin, nor do they fully understand their danger.'

His gaze lingered on one of the screens showing a classified report on a high-rank gate in Europe.

'And neither do I,' Kael admitted to himself.

Kael's thoughts drifted back to the council meeting.

The council members' words had revealed much.

Jung Min-Jae was a man of military pragmatism. He viewed Kael as a potential weapon—something to be controlled or eliminated if it became a threat.

Yoon Hye-Rim was self-serving and cunning. She saw Kael's presence as an opportunity to gain more influence within the Hunter Association.

Park Do-Yun was curious and idealistic, driven by a thirst for knowledge. He seemed to view Kael as a puzzle to be solved.

And Kim Seung-Ho—the Director—was the most dangerous of them all. Seung-Ho was a man who kept his thoughts to himself, revealing only what he wanted others to see.

'He's a strategist,' Kael thought. 'A man who knows how to balance power and diplomacy.'

Kael resumed walking, his boots echoing softly against the polished floor.

Despite their differences, the council members shared one common trait.

'They all fear me.'

And that fear would drive them to make decisions that could either benefit or destroy them.

Kael's mind drifted back to a memory from Eredhyn—a conversation he once had with Grail Knight Sir Ardyn Thalos, a man who had served the Pantheon faithfully.

"Your Majesty," Thalos had said, "fear is the most dangerous force in the world. It drives men to commit acts of unthinkable cruelty. It also makes them predictable."

Kael's lips twitched into a faint smile.

'Fear makes men predictable.'

As Kael approached the observation deck, he gazed out at the modern cityscape below. The city lights shimmered in the night, reflecting off the glass panels.

'This world is both familiar and foreign.'

He had seen cities fall. He had witnessed kingdoms crumble beneath the weight of fear and greed.

'They will make their move soon,' Kael thought. 'But so will I.'

.

.

The soft sound of footsteps echoed behind him.

Kael turned slowly, his gaze landing on Seo Mirae.

She stood a few feet away, her expression neutral, but her eyes betrayed a hint of curiosity and caution.

"You're quite the mystery," Mirae said, crossing her arms. "You know that, right?"

Kael chuckled softly. "I've been told that before."

Mirae approached the observation deck, standing beside Kael. The two stood in silence for a moment, watching the city below.

"What did you think of the council's discussion?" Mirae asked.

Kael's gaze remained on the city lights. "They fear me."

Mirae nodded. "Yes. But they also see potential in you."

Kael turned to face her. "And what do you see?"

Mirae's lips curved into a faint smile. "I see a man who's lost everything, but still carries himself like a king."

Kael remained silent, studying her.

Mirae tilted her head slightly. "You've dealt with people like them before, haven't you? Politicians. Leaders. People who speak in circles."

Kael nodded. "For centuries."

"And what's your conclusion?" Mirae asked.

Kael's expression grew thoughtful.

"They will make their move," he said quietly. "And I will be ready."