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Chapter 36 - THE DELIVERER 36

Qing Eena stood outside the rundown apartment complex where the two Hunter washouts were supposed to be living. He checked his weapons and signaled to the homunculi to get ready.

"Remember, we're only here to give them the news," he said sternly. "We don't want any unnecessary violence."

The homunculi nodded in agreement, but Qing could see the glint in their eyes. They were eager to show their skills and prove themselves worthy of being a part of the Hunter Association.

Qing led the way as they entered the building and made their way up to the fourth floor. As they approached the door of the washouts' apartment, Qing could hear muffled sounds of arguing and shouting coming from inside.

He raised a hand, signaling the homunculi to get into position. They fanned out, each taking a strategic spot around the door, weapons at the ready.

Qing knocked on the door and waited. There was a moment of silence, and then the door creaked open a crack.

"What do you want?" a gruff voice growled from inside.

Qing pushed the door open and stepped inside, followed closely by the homunculi.

"We've been sent by the Hunter Association to deliver some news to you," he said calmly.

The two washouts, a man and a woman, looked at him suspiciously.

"What kind of news?" the woman asked.

Qing glanced at the homunculi, and they stepped forward, flanking the washouts.

"Your services are no longer required by the Hunter Association. You have failed to meet your quota missions, and you have not been able to create your Mana Circulation Circuits after a year of training. Your Hunter licenses have been revoked and your freeloading days using the generosity of the Association...are over."

The two washouts looked stunned, and then angry.

"You can't do this!" the man shouted. "We're Hunters! We have rights!"

Qing remained calm, but his hand tightened on the hilt of his sword.

"Your rights do not supersede the safety of the public. You have failed in your duties, and we cannot risk the lives of innocent people by allowing you to continue as Hunters."

The homunculi stepped forward, their weapons gleaming in the dim light of the apartment.

"I suggest you leave quietly," Qing said, his voice cold and commanding.

The washouts glared at him for a moment, and then stormed past him, slamming the door behind them.

Qing watched them go, and then turned to the homunculi. "Good job. Let's go."

As they left the building, Qing couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. He knew that he had done the right thing, even if it meant delivering bad news to those who had once been his colleagues.

But he also knew that there were always more challenges ahead, more missions to complete, and more people to help. And he and the homunculi were more than ready to tackle any kind of mission coming their way.

---

Qing Eena and the homunculi had completed their mission to deliver the bad news to the washout Hunters, but they had more work to do. As they made their way through the bustling city, they discussed their next targets.

"So, who's next on the list?" asked Toon, one of the homunculi.

Qing Eena consulted his tablet, scrolling through a list of names and mission reports. "Let's see... Ah, here we go. We're headed to meet with a Hunter named Kiera. Apparently she's been falling behind on her missions and not meeting her quotas."

Juan, another homunculus, raised an eyebrow. "Isn't Kiera supposed to be one of the best Hunters out there? What's going on with her?"

Qing Eena shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe she's been distracted by something, or maybe she's just lost her touch. Whatever the reason, we're here to remind her of her responsibilities as a Hunter and make sure she gets back on track."

The group made their way to Kiera's apartment complex, a sleek, modern building in the heart of the city. They took the elevator up to the top floor and knocked on Kiera's door.

"Who is it?" came a muffled voice from inside.

"It's Qing Eena, from the Hunter Association. I'm here with some colleagues to discuss your recent performance."

There was a long pause, and the homunculi shifted nervously. Finally, the door opened and Kiera stood before them, a scowl on her face.

"What do you want?" she snapped.

Qing Eena remained calm and composed. "We're here to discuss your recent missions, Kiera. We've noticed that you've been falling behind on your quotas and not performing up to your usual standards. We're concerned about your commitment to the Hunter Association."

Kiera rolled her eyes. "Oh please, spare me the lecture. I've been a Hunter for years, I know what I'm doing. I just have some personal stuff going on right now, okay?"

Qing Eena raised an eyebrow. "Personal stuff? That's not an excuse to neglect your duties as a Hunter. We have a responsibility to protect the citizens of this city, and we need all Hunters to be pulling their weight."

Kiera crossed her arms. "I know that, but I can handle my own problems. I don't need you or anyone else telling me how to do my job."

Qing Eena sighed. This wasn't going as smoothly as he had hoped. "Look, Kiera, we're not here to tell you how to do your job. We just want to make sure that you're fulfilling your duties as a Hunter. If you need help or support, we're here for you. But we can't let you continue falling behind on your missions."

Kiera glared at him for a long moment, then finally relented. "Fine, whatever. I'll step up my game. Just leave me alone."

Qing Eena nodded. "Good. We'll be checking in on your progress, Kiera. Don't let us down."

With that, he and the homunculi turned and left, heading back to their headquarters to report on their progress. As they walked, Juan turned to Qing Eena.

"That didn't go so well, did it?"

Qing Eena shook his head. "No, it didn't. But sometimes, you have to be tough with these Hunters. They have a job to do, and they need to do it well. We can't afford to have any weak links in the chain."

Toon chimed in. "But what about Kiera's personal problems? Shouldn't we..."

Qing Eena raised a hand to stop Toon from speaking. "Kiera's personal issues are her own. We're here to assess her performance as a Hunter, not to interfere in her personal life."

Juan nodded in agreement. "Qing is right. We have a job to do, and we can't let personal biases cloud our judgment. We need to be fair and impartial in our assessments."

Trey spoke up next. "But what if someone is struggling because of a lack of resources or support? Shouldn't we try to help them instead of just punishing them?"

Qing Eena paused to consider Trey's question. "That's a valid point. We should take those factors into consideration when evaluating their performance. But at the end of the day, they still need to meet the minimum standards set by the Association. We can offer support and resources, but ultimately it's up to them to improve their performance."

Frye spoke up for the first time. "But what if they can't improve? What if they're just not cut out for the job?"

Qing Eena sighed. "Then we'll have to let them go. It's not easy, but sometimes it's necessary for the greater good. The Hunter Association needs the best of the best, and we can't let anyone hold us back."

The group fell silent for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Toon spoke up. "I know this is tough, but we're doing important work. We're helping to ensure that the Hunter Association remains strong and effective. And if we have to deliver some bad news along the way, so be it."

The others nodded in agreement, and the group set off towards their next destination, ready to continue their mission of assessing and improving the performance of the Hunter Association.

---

Qing Eena and his group had received their final mission from the Hunter Association. This was the most dangerous one yet, as the target Hunters had not only been causing trouble but had now crossed into the realm of criminal activity. It was clear that they had no intention of stopping their actions, and the Association had deemed it necessary to use lethal force if necessary.

Qing Eena knew that this was not going to be an easy mission. He and his group had trained extensively for this kind of situation, but they had never actually been in a real-life scenario where they had to use lethal force. They all knew the consequences of their actions, but they also knew that it was necessary to stop these rogue Hunters before they hurt anyone else.

As they made their way to the target area, the Hunter Tablet blaring with instructions, they could feel the tension in the air. They knew that they were about to face a serious challenge, and they were ready for it.

When they arrived at the scene, they saw that the situation was worse than they had anticipated. The target Hunters had barricaded themselves inside a building, and they were heavily armed. The police had also arrived, but they were hesitant to act without the help of the Hunters.

Qing Eena and his group approached the building cautiously, taking cover behind nearby vehicles. They could hear shouting and gunshots coming from inside. The Homunculi looked at Qing Eena with nervous expressions, but he gave them a reassuring nod. They knew what they had to do.

"Alright, everyone," Qing Eena said, his voice firm. "We have to take them down before they cause any more harm. Remember, lethal force is authorized if necessary. Stay alert and stay safe."

They all nodded, their expressions serious. They knew that this was their most dangerous mission yet, and they were ready to face it.

Qing Eena led the charge, charging towards the building with his guns drawn. The other Homunculi followed close behind, their weapons at the ready. As they breached the barricades, they were met with heavy resistance from the rogue Hunters.

The Homunculi quickly split up, each taking a different route through the building. They moved quickly and efficiently, taking down any Hunter they encountered. Qing Eena could hear gunshots and shouting from all around him, but he stayed focused on his task.

Suddenly, he heard a loud explosion coming from one of the other rooms. He quickly made his way towards the sound, his heart racing. When he arrived, he saw that one of the Homunculi, Frye, had been caught in an explosion.

Qing Eena rushed to Frye's side, but it was too late. The Homunculus had been killed instantly. Qing Eena felt a pang of guilt in his chest. He knew that this mission was risky, but he had never expected to lose one of his comrades.

He took a deep breath and pushed his emotions aside. He had to focus on the task at hand. The rogue Hunters were still out there, and they had to be stopped.

Qing Eena led his group through the building, taking down any resistance they encountered. As they moved closer to their targets, the gunfire grew more intense. The Homunculi were taking down the rogue Hunters one by one, but it was clear that they were running out of time.

Suddenly, Qing Eena saw movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned quickly, his gun at the ready. But it was too late. One of the rogue Hunters had gotten the jump on him and fired a shot.

Qing Eena felt a searing pain in his chest as the bullet hit him. He stumbled back, his vision blurring. He could hear the Homunculi shouting his name in panic, but their voices were distant and muffled. He felt his body falling to the ground, and he closed his eyes, thinking that this was it. This was the end.

But then something strange happened. Qing Eena felt a strange sensation, as if his body was being pulled backwards. The pain in his chest receded, and he felt himself rising back up. He opened his eyes, and was surprised to see that he was standing upright, as if nothing had happened.

He looked around, trying to make sense of what had just occurred. The Homunculi were staring at him in shock, their weapons still drawn. The rogue Hunters were frozen in place, their faces twisted in confusion.

Qing Eena realized that he had used his Spacetime power without even thinking about it. His power had acted independently, rewinding time back before Frye got killed and long before he was shot. He had managed to shoot the grenade thrower aiming for Frye, making the perp explode and shoot the perp dead who was supposed to shoot Qing.

He took a deep breath, feeling the rush of adrenaline pumping through his veins. "Alright, let's get back to business," he said, his voice steady despite the adrenaline rush.

The Homunculi looked at him, still stunned. Juan was the first to speak. "Boss, what the hell just happened?"

Qing Eena shook his head. "I don't know. My power acted independently. But we don't have time to worry about that now. We still have a job to do."

The Homunculi nodded, their expressions determined. They knew what was at stake. They had to take down these rogue Hunters, who were now involved in criminal activities that threatened the safety of the people they had sworn to protect.

Qing Eena signaled to the police, who were waiting nearby. "Let's move in," he said.

The group advanced towards the rogue Hunters, who had regained their composure and were now aiming their weapons at the Homunculi. Qing Eena could see the fear in their eyes, but he knew that they were dangerous and desperate. They were not going to give up without a fight.

Qing Eena and the Homunculi moved quickly, their weapons firing in unison. The sound of gunfire echoed through the narrow alleyway, punctuated by the explosions of grenades and the screams of the rogue Hunters.

Qing Eena felt the heat of the explosions and the impact of the bullets even though he's covered in and invisible Spacetime Barrier, but he kept moving forward, his mind focused on the task at hand. He could hear the Homunculi shouting to each other, coordinating their movements and their attacks.

The police arrived, providing backup and taking down the remaining rogue Hunters. Qing Eena breathed a sigh of relief, feeling the tension in his body release. It was over. They had succeeded in their mission, and the people of the city were safe once again.

He turned to the Homunculi, who were panting and sweating, but grinning with satisfaction. "Good job, everyone," he said, nodding his head in approval.

Juan laughed. "That was insane, boss! We really kicked their asses!"

Qing Eena smiled. "Yes, we did. But we couldn't have done it without each other. We're a team, and we have to stick together, no matter what."

The Homunculi nodded, their expressions serious. They knew that this was just the beginning of their journey as Hunters, and that there would be more challenges and dangers ahead. But they were ready for whatever came their way, as long as they had each other.