Aftermath

Less than a minute.

Three figures, swift as lightning, sliced through the sea's surface, arriving almost simultaneously. They hovered over the water, their expressions grave as they gazed down.

One was powerfully built, his short red hair standing on end. This was Bai Luhao, the president of the White Tiger Guild, who had just been toyed with by Xu Feng.

He was bare-chested, wearing only tactical trousers. His bronze skin gleamed like metal under the sun, but his brow was furrowed, his gaze sharp as he scanned the sea.

Another figure was slender and graceful, clad in a form-fitting dark purple combat suit that accentuated her stunning curves. She was Che Huiyi, the female powerhouse among Country H's S-class Hunters, a physical type.

Her face was delicate, but now her pretty features were frosty, her eyes icy as she observed intently.

The third figure wore a sharp, neat black suit and gold-rimmed glasses. He looked more like a refined scholar or a business elite than a renowned S-class Hunter.

He was Choi Joong-in, the fire elementalist mage known as the "Ultimate Weapon"!

He adjusted his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses deep and calm. His spiritual power, like invisible tentacles, meticulously probed the surroundings for any trace of residual energy.

The three of them surged with magic power, forming an invisible barrier that isolated them from the chaotic energy flow below.

Their gazes converged on the white cruise ship, still rocking in the waves with its hull heavily damaged, and the surrounding sea, now tinged a faint crimson, dotted with debris and the feeding marks of fish.

"Rescue, then interrogate," Choi Joong-in said concisely.

Bai Luhao and Che Huiyi nodded.

The three acted in unison, their immense power stabilizing the cruise ship. They quickly gathered and began treating the passengers and crew who were injured from the turbulence and shock.

For S-class Hunters, dealing with ordinary people was a simple matter.

Soon, by questioning the terrified survivors and combining their findings with the residual combat energy each had sensed, an unbelievable yet undeniable truth was laid bare before the three S-class Hunters.

"Huang Dongshu... is dead?!"

Upon hearing the description, even Choi Joong-in's usually calm face showed unconcealed strangeness and gravity. He frowned deeply, his eyes behind the gold-rimmed glasses flickering with complex light.

Huang Dongshu, once Country H's eighth S-class Hunter.

Although his reputation among Country H's Hunters was abysmal due to his violent nature and subsequent defection, his low-tier S-class strength was undeniable.

Such a powerhouse, standing at the apex of the world's Hunters, had been killed by some creature in the open sea not far from Country H's coastline, leaving no trace of his remains?!

Che Huiyi's delicate brows furrowed slightly, a hint of confusion and wariness on her cold, beautiful face.

"According to these people's descriptions, the attacker was an... incredibly huge, humanoid creature covered in red armor?

Over fifty meters tall? Capable of generating hundred-meter tidal waves and breaking the sound barrier in flight?

And in the end, it transformed into a humanoid figure over two meters tall, wearing armor, and left?"

She looked at Choi Joong-in and Bai Luhao.

"Have you heard of any S-class Hunters or Monsters with such a form?

A Dungeon leader? Or some kind of... unknown mutant? Or perhaps... a new type of biological weapon from another country?"

Choi Joong-in slowly shook his head, his voice low.

"Never heard of it. To be able to kill Huang Dongshu so cleanly, its strength... would likely be at least close to high-tier S-class, or even... possibly touching the threshold of 'National Power Level'.

But an existence with such strength, whether Hunter or Monster, should be world-renowned. It's impossible for it to be so obscure.

Moreover, that final humanoid form... sounds more like a transformation or mimicry ability."

He paused, his eyes clouding with greater worry.

"The key is, Huang Dongshu's identity is special.

He wasn't just an S-class Hunter; he was also a core member of Country M's 'Cleaners' Guild.

His return to our country this time was likely for personal revenge, but his death near our Country H's waters... the Cleaners, especially Andre, will absolutely not let this go."

Che Huiyi also realized the gravity of the situation, her pretty face growing colder.

"This is a huge problem. With Huang Dongshu dead here, Country H cannot escape responsibility.

The Cleaners Guild has always been overbearing, and Andre is fiercely protective of his own... If this isn't handled properly, it could trigger an international Hunter dispute, or even..."

She didn't finish, but all three understood the danger.

Country H currently had no publicly recognized "National Power Level" Hunter to anchor them. Facing the Cleaners Guild, which possessed top-tier powerhouses like Andre, the pressure was immense.

As the two discussed and analyzed the possible identities of the attacker, and debated how to deal with the Cleaners Guild's potential accusations and retaliation, their expressions were quite grim.

Meanwhile, Bai Luhao, who had been standing by, felt his heart leap when he heard the survivors describe the giant creature finally "transforming into a humanoid figure over two meters tall, wearing red armor, and leaving"!

Red armor?

Humanoid?

Weird energy fluctuations?

That S-class level burst of power at the last moment?

These characteristics instantly overlapped with the deeply etched image of the "Wind Hidden One" in his mind!

"Could it be... him?!"

A tempest raged within Bai Luhao.

That mysterious guy not only possessed bizarre invisibility and burst abilities, but could also transform into that... terrifying beast form like a mythical creature?!

He easily crushed even Huang Dongshu, a mid-tier S-class Hunter?!

The thought filled him with extreme shock, yet also a faint trace of... inexplicable excitement?

If it really was that "Wind Hidden One," then his strength was likely far beyond Bai Luhao's previous estimations!

Such an ability, capable of changing forms with such a vast span in power, was simply unheard of!

But he quickly calmed down.

This matter involved too much. Huang Dongshu's death was linked to Country M's Cleaners Guild and Andre.

If people knew the "Wind Hidden One" might be involved, he would face pursuit from the world's top powers. And if Bai Luhao knew but didn't report it, or was even implicated, it would bring immense trouble to the White Tiger Guild.

However...

His eyes flickered slightly, and he swiftly suppressed the turmoil in his heart, revealing a solemn and confused expression identical to the other two.

"Could it be some high-level Monster that emerged from an S-class underground city in the deep sea, one that we don't know about?"

Bai Luhao interjected at the opportune moment, proposing another possibility with a seemingly normal tone.

"After all, there's still so much unknown in the open and deep sea regions.

Huang Dongshu had enemies everywhere; perhaps he provoked something he shouldn't have."

Che Huiyi and Choi Joong-in found his words reasonable as well.

Compared to an unknown S-class Hunter who could transform into a giant beast, a terrifying Monster from the unknown deep sea seemed more plausible.

"Regardless of what it is, we must report this to the Hunter Association headquarters immediately, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must intervene."

Choi Joong-in made the final decision with a stern tone.

"Huang Dongshu's death near our waters is a fact.

We need to collect all evidence immediately and prepare to deal with inquiries from the Cleaners Guild and the International Hunter Association.

At the same time, we must strengthen surveillance of our coastlines and airspace to prevent the unknown creature from reappearing, or... to prevent the Cleaners Guild from using this as an excuse to cause trouble."

Che Huiyi nodded.

"Agreed. We'll leave the follow-up to the Association's handling team.

We'll head back immediately to report to the Hunter Association and our superiors."

Bai Luhao also chimed in:

"Alright, I'll have people from my Guild help keep an eye out for any abnormalities in the sea area."

The three exchanged a few more brief words, confirming the subsequent procedures, and then departed.

Huang Dongshu's death would undoubtedly stir up huge waves.

The Hunter world of Country H, and even the entire international Hunter community, would likely experience a series of unpredictable chain reactions because of today's events.

Before leaving, Bai Luhao took one last deep look at the sea area where the bloodstains had not yet completely faded.

Deep within his eyes, an indescribable glint flashed and vanished.

"Wind Hidden One... Interesting, very interesting."

Three powerful presences rapidly moved away, leaving behind the damaged cruise ship and the gradually calming waves.