Archbishop Spencer had begun considering how to deal with the Hunter as soon as he received the first letter.
The Hunter was still operating far from him, but who knew whether the man might come to Holy Silver Town? If he did, how should Spencer respond? Hide his identity? Fake his death and escape? Or mobilize all of Holy Silver Town and send the army to surround and kill him?
As far as Spencer was concerned, the best outcome would be to send in the army, chop that meddling bastard into seventeen or eighteen pieces, and feed him to the dogs. But he knew that was the least likely outcome.
The man was too cunning to fight head-on. Otherwise, he would have died long ago. Thomas and William could command armies too. Holy Salt Town's army was weaker than Holy Silver Town's, but however weak it was, it was still an army.
Even Thor Guda, once hailed as the Ameli Kingdom's greatest fighter, could not have defeated an army head-on.
For one thing, how could anyone withstand a volley from dozens of crossbows, let alone cannon fire? Even a man of iron would be shot into a hedgehog!
A few days later, Spencer received word that the man had killed the researchers in another Shelter.
He examined the details carefully, then made his decision.
He buried a powerful Synthetic Beast, one that had been repeatedly adjusted and tested, beneath his room. Then he fused the core essential to controlling it into his own body.
The process was painful, but necessary.
Only then could he have some measure of confidence.
The main reason he had rambled on while chatting with Pan Long was to buy time for the Synthetic Beast to return to an active state.
Once it had recovered, he