Chapter 186
With her exceptional feline hearing, there was no way Anna could have missed a single word.
However, the statement was so shocking that she naturally responded with a question.
"What are you saying, meow?"
"Exactly what you heard. Currently, the Guardians are no different from a ragtag group. If a crisis comes, they won't be able to function properly. There's no need to struggle to maintain this force as it is now."
"...I admit we're still lacking, meow, but there's no other group like the Guardians, meow."
"That's right, there's no replacement for now. But there will be soon."
Anna's eyes widened like full moons, as she could predict what Seong-jun was about to say.
Indeed, Anna's prediction was spot on.
"I'll gather qualified individuals under the name 'Overload'."
The Guardians, while not entirely satisfactory, at least had a clear purpose.
They met the minimum conditions for cooperation.
But simply working together had no meaning.
'They need to be brought under my command.'
Seong-jun, once called the Demon God, had never considered working under someone else.
Of course, it wasn't just about pride.
He had reached the pinnacle in matters of war and combat, and to fully utilize the knowledge in his head, he needed to be the head, not the tail or the body.
Disbanding the Guardians and absorbing them was an extremely rational decision and natural approach for Seong-jun.
However, for the Guardians members who took pride in their work and positions, it was utterly shocking.
"..."
As it was something they had never even imagined, they couldn't even react.
To be completely honest, it still didn't feel real.
Normally, they would have scoffed, telling him not to make such absurd jokes.
But if the person who just spoke was none other than Seong-jun Lee?
'He could actually make it happen...'
Indeed, Seong-jun was someone with the ability and drive to follow through on his words.
Therefore, they couldn't dismiss it as a mere joke.
As the future scenarios naturally unfolded in their minds, Anna Ferris and the other Guardians members gulped dryly.
"One week... I'll give you a chance during my stay in America. Those who want to join me as members of Overload should come find me."
Leaving behind these words that sounded more like a notification, Seong-jun turned around without hesitation and left the conference room.
* * *
"Surely... you're not thinking of accepting Seong-jun's proposal?"
In the Guardians' conference room, Nicholas, who had been maintaining a heavy silence, posed a question.
Although it was somewhat disjointed, there was only one thing Nicholas could ask in this situation.
A bitter smile spread across Anna Ferris's lips.
"If a real war breaks out... the Guardians won't be able to exert much power or influence, meow."
If it were simply a lack of manpower, they could employ various methods to recruit and reinforce.
But what the Guardians lacked now wasn't just manpower.
Perhaps because the era of peace had lasted too long?
Compared to when the Guardians were first established, their sense of purpose had faded.
In fact, even national hunters like Daniel Graham, who only sought personal gain, were active in the Guardians.
Moreover, two members weren't even present at the current meeting.
"We're together under the name of Guardians, but we're all looking in different directions, meow. A major overhaul was needed anyway, meow."
It couldn't be denied.
Nicholas, too, had felt that the recent actions and goals of the Guardians members were clearly different from the past.
However, he couldn't readily accept Anna Ferris's opinion.
"...Seong-jun is too dangerous."
In terms of skill and talent, he was overwhelming.
Not just himself, Nicholas, but anyone in the world couldn't compare.
But that's precisely why they shouldn't accept Seong-jun's proposal.
Overwhelmingly strong power tends to fascinate and influence those around it.
"You've seen it yourself, he's not just fierce, but downright brutal. It means he'll do anything to achieve his goals... He's not suitable as a leader to guide a group. No, it's too dangerous to even keep him close."
Seong-jun was like an endless darkness, reminiscent of pitch black.
If they joined forces with him, everyone would be tainted by that same darkness and brutality.
Nicholas wasn't the only one thinking this way.
"Considering his past record of gathering and absorbing forces, I also think he's more than capable in terms of ability, but Seong-jun... his temperament is too dangerous."
Renart, who had been pondering deeply, also expressed his opposition.
However, not all Guardians members were opposed.
"It would certainly be much better if Hunter Seong-jun Lee was a perfect human with everything, but... I think it's better to discuss achievable reality rather than ideals with insufficient abilities."
"That's right, we need to look at reality. Gaia is continuously weakening, and monster invasions will become more intense. We won't be able to stop them with our current power that exists only in name."
Nicholas and Renart, Victor and David.
As their opinions clashed, it seemed to be following the same pattern as last night's meeting, but the result was clearly different.
This was because Anna, who had been silent and just listening, finally expressed her opinion.
"I also think disbanding is the right choice, meow."
At Anna's firm words, Nicholas closed his eyes tightly and spoke.
"Please... reconsider one more time."
"As Seong-jun said, meow, the current Guardians lack ability, meow. If war breaks out, we won't be able to function properly, meow. There's no need to maintain it meaninglessly, meow."
Even at the plea of Nicholas, who could be called a long-time comrade, Anna's mind didn't change.
Fortunately, Anna wasn't taking a forceful attitude.
"But I don't intend to push my opinion blindly, meow."
It would be more accurate to say that she shouldn't push it.
If she tried to forcibly disband the group relying solely on her position as the leader, Nicholas and the other opposing members could take over and maintain the Guardians.
With the forces already lacking, dividing them further wasn't good.
"I have a proposal for you all. That is, for those who oppose, meow."
As the gazes of the members gathered in the conference room converged, Anna, her blue eyes glowing, spoke again.
"As Nicholas said, he does have a somewhat brutal temperament, meow, but that's only limited to those who threaten him, meow."
It wasn't wrong. So far, Seong-jun's actions hadn't been that brutal.
Rather, he could be seen as a hunter and hero on the side of humanity.
"In the end, if there are no enemies, he won't show his violent tendencies, meow. So, we show the world Seong-jun's overwhelming power to deter anyone from even thinking of challenging him, meow!"
For the first time, Nicholas, who had only been expressing opposition, nodded.
However, he still had doubts.
"How?"
The method itself wasn't bad, but it wasn't as easy as it sounded.
To deter anyone from even thinking of challenging him, they needed to show an achievement that the whole world could recognize.
It wasn't something that could be easily thought up.
But as if she had anticipated this question, Anna immediately spoke.
"We show the world him subjugating Zeratu, meow."
The Monster Emperor, Zeratu.
As a monster that had destroyed Canada, one of the world's great powers, in a single night, it was a disaster and a source of terror for humanity.
"Indeed... after seeing the feat of subjugating Zeratu, no one with any sense would dare to challenge him."
It meant that Seong-jun's brutal temperament and power, which they had seen earlier, wouldn't be directed at humanity.
Seeing Nicholas's somewhat relaxed expression, Anna turned her head and posed a question to Renart.
"What will you do, meow? Will you accept my proposal, meow?"
Renart couldn't easily answer Anna's question.
His expression was still dissatisfied.
However, he couldn't stubbornly oppose.
Even he thought there was no better proposal than this.
No, he wasn't in a position to oppose in the first place.
Nicholas, who could have been a strong ally, was nodding and accepting Anna's proposal.
In the end, Renart had only one choice.
"...Yes, I'll accept the proposal."
* * *
The opinion reached by the Guardians through their meeting was immediately conveyed to Seong-jun.
Although it could be seen as a proposal with some annoying conditions attached, Seong-jun readily accepted it.
'This is rather the situation I wanted.'
If the Guardians, who had established themselves as the world's protectors, were suddenly disbanded, it would become a global issue.
Villains who had been lying low might start causing chaos, or the World Returnee Association might seize the opportunity to solidify their influence, potentially causing various problems.
To prevent such unnecessary issues and noise, it was necessary to clearly show the world that the force to be created, Overload, would surpass the current Guardians.
'If that happens... I'll be able to absorb the Guardians more smoothly than the methods I had originally considered.'
His eyes gleaming, Seong-jun recalled the information about the subjugation target in his mind.
'The Monster Emperor, Zeratu.'
Given its numerous legendary tales, there was no need to mention its level of danger.
In terms of rank, it was Black. No, it would be more accurate to call it Unknown.
'It's clearly different from the Black Gate monsters I've faced so far.'
Eclipse, Arabis. They were all monsters with top-tier abilities.
But if asked whether they could destroy Canada, a country with one of the largest territories in the world, in a single night, one could immediately answer no.
'Even among Blacks, there are clear differences.'
Originally, the term "Black" itself was a rank given when measurement was impossible with human technology.
'...At least one level above the Black Gates I've faced. No, it should be even higher than that.'
Considering that it had been decades since the first Black Gate, Zeratu, appeared, the possibilities were more than sufficient.
It meant that Zeratu's current power was two levels above the Black Gates he had faced before, reaching the extreme of life and death realms.