SILENCE ENSUED the room after the announcement of the start of the meeting. Obviously, no one wanted to start speaking with how everyone was looking at each other, like waiting for a signal who would take the lead to start.
This staring contest then lasted for three minutes before Elder Anna decided to break the silence with a sigh.
"This people, let's not take other people's time wasted by dilly-dallying. Aren't you all curious about Mr. Adams? Now that you all have seen the man, why not start speaking out the reasons for your attendance at this meeting? I'm too old for this, you know?"
It has only been a few minutes since Wren met Elder Anna yet he already likes her character. He might as well talk with her than stay in this meeting room waiting for someone to be the bait.
Wren subconsciously shook his head, which was seen by the heads and everyone had their own depictions of that reaction of his.
"Then, I'll go ahead," Hunin started. "Since the prophecy came from me, I guess it was me who must start this meeting."
"As it should be," Mr. Richard interrupted.
Hunin ignored him and proceeded with his prepared speech. His back was straight as his pretty face looked ahead in a lazy manner that added to his feminine charm, especially when he started speaking.
"This meeting is bound to happen because of what my summon had prophesied. And everyone here had already read the content, right? So I don't have to show it again. What I will share with you instead is a little reminder that whatever everyone decides in the end will either grant the success of the prophecy or the doom not only to humanity but to all parts of this universe."
"I actually didn't come here to have a share in the discussion but I just want to relay the reminder that the venerable gods had relayed to my summon. They wanted to remind us that this will be their last help to us and after this, whatever the final outcome of this, they will have nothing to do about it."
His last words were enough to garner different reactions from everyone who heard him. Some of the heads had worried faces, while some were contemplative. As for Wren, who was the only ignorant in the group, he still had that indifferent expression on his face but inside his head, he had been questioning his existence.
True that, he didn't understand anything of what Hunin said or why they reacted strongly like that. Yes, he could still remember the content of the prophecy but what was the use of it when he still doesn't understand the very content of that?
In short, he can't relate to these people. Wren wanted to join yet he couldn't when he couldn't understand what was happening. So to completely erase his presence, he kept his mouth shut despite how hard he wanted to ask what was going on.
And it's working since the elder and the heads became more focused on the content of what Hunin had said rather than himself, which Wren had expected.
"What do the venerable gods mean with that, Master Hunin? Last help? How about the god system and our summons? If the prophecy will be their last assistance to humanity, then will the system become useless after?" Mr. Richard asked, full of apprehension both in his tone and action.
He might really feel so anxious that he even used the 'master' when he called out Hunin in question. Others were also feeling the same that it was only Wren who noticed it.
"We all know that the current system is no longer a direct blessing from the venerable lords. Just like how we are destined to die, our awakening is also a fate that even the gods can no longer control," Mr. Donald Campbell answered Mr. Richard's question.
The silence after that was like their agreement with his statement. Which greatly astonished Wren. Because doesn't that mean that the common people's view about these systems is wrong? Even the original also believed in that but now it was the same as them telling the original that all his life had been a lie.
It was a natural thought within the common people that awakening is a blessing bestowed to them by the gods. And the summon was also these venerable beings' way of showing that they were still alive and were always around.
That was why, until now, the offering ritual when a child reached eight was still an important ceremony that one must experience. Because it was what they believed was their key to awakening.
But now, through those words of Mr. Campbell, that tradition was like a haux in front of Wren's eyes.
He wanted to interject and ask for them to clarify that but Wren also knew that there were more important matters that everyone must finish discussing than clarifying his confusions. As per his question, he can just ask Hunin or Lucy after the meeting.
"Did they tell the reason, Master Hunin?" Elder Anna asked.
"They did not. But I tried to ask my summon if I could still hear from him and his answer was very vague. I can at least have had a fifty-fifty take that they wouldn't completely disappear but might be restricted more by the law. That was also the explanation behind that 'last help' that Navaros was talking about."
A collective sigh echoed in the room and not long after, a loud gasp was heard, followed by a 'bang'.
"You should have told me so from the start! Why did you let us suffer from almost having a heart attack?!" Mr. Richard angrily shouted.
Wren frowned when he saw how the guy was rudely pointing a finger at Hunin. Growing up in a mixed-blood family with his mother as Asian and his father as a Westerner, Wren also knows mixed culture.
While his father taught him how to mature like a real man, his mother taught him to become an upright gentleman. And her mother taught him about how it was rude to point your finger at someone.
If he were closer to the rude man, Wren would have probably held the other's hand that was pointing and broken it in front of everyone. Lucky for Mr. Richard that that wasn't the case. Wren could only clench his hands as he intently stared at Mr. Richard's way.
"Please put your finger down, Mr. Cooper. You are in the East so you must follow what we Easterners do. That rude behavior may be tolerated in your country but here in our territory, we can't tolerate that," Dr. Noah seriously reprimanded the other.
It was what Wren wanted to do but he knew he still had no rights to do the same as Dr. Noah. But Wren couldn't help but regret a little because the way the doctor reprimanded Mr. Richard was still too kind.
Mr. Richard might be a head in their country but towards a national treasure such as the young genius Dr. Noah, the former had no choice but to acquiesce.
"In other words, Master Hunin thinks that what the venerable gods meant in their reminder was how they could no longer extend their hands once the great phenomenon mentioned in the great prophecy appeared. And that only through this last help can we be able to succeed in this catastrophe?" Mrs. Ivanov butted in after contemplating Hunin's words in silence.
"That, or maybe not. That's why the venerable gods had been emphasizing the importance of your decision in this meeting. Everything is at stake in this meeting so let's think about it before finalizing. And with that, I will let the elders and the heads take the stage."
Hunin really didn't talk or join the discussion anymore after that. Not only him but Wren and Lucy also decided to keep their mouths from butting in and let the adults solve the problem.
"So, are you following, Wren Adams?" Hunin asked Wren while his eyes and attention seemed to be on the adults.
"What do you want to hear? An honest answer or not?" Wren asked back, his eyes also directed at the talking adults.
"Honest?" Hunin answered in question.
"Then not," he answered, looking at Hunin.
That as well as his answer made Hunin look back at him. "Seriously?"
Wren did not answer and just stared back at Hunin with seriousness. It was his own version of telling the other how serious his answer was.
"That's damned," Lucy butted in with a chuckle.
The two may be talking in whispers, but Lucy still heard them. Hunin nodded his head in agreement with Lucy's comment, shaking his head even then he reverted his eyes back to the adults.
Wren did the same as a small smile grazed his lips. They can't blame him for his ignorance, as no one was willing to clear everything before him. They just keep on talking that he thinks it was all riddles.
"We can only be sure if we play it safe. Think of it twice, Mr. Cooper. Favoring a hunter that wasn't under your headquarters doesn't mean that you can't be graced with the benefits that a hunter will bring. As long as we ask for his assistance, it won't be a problem for the east headquarters to let us borrow the hunter temporarily, right, Dr. Noah?" Mrs. Ivanov asked with her beautiful, gentle smile.
Oh, how cunning for the woman to actually hide how sly she could be through her silence. Even Wren, who had been watching everyone since the beginning, was fooled. He had forgotten how she was able to get the head position despite her young age.
Unlike the other heads and the elder that was with them, only Mrs. Natalia Ivanov was still at the two-digit age. The rest aside from them and Dr. Noah were more than a hundred years old.
"That's correct. Mr. Adams may be a citizen of Orientale, but now that he has become the chosen one, it is only the right of all the other countries to take a hold of him on the note that they are also willing to help him quickly improve his skills. The faster Mr. Adams upgraded his skills, the faster he became stronger. We can't be leisurely now that we are not sure when the great phenomenon will occur. So let us be at peace in this situation and become one, honing the only key that the venerable gods left for our salvation," Dr. Noah seriously said.
Wren wanted to nod his head in agreement but he realized just how he was made as the world's treasure with how they talk about him without thinking that he was there and listening.
But thanks to that, he could actually get the gist of what the great prophecy now means. To make it shorter and easier to understand, he may or may not be the chosen one that the prophecy talks about, whom the gods had given to this world to help when the great phenomenon started.
In another and shorter version, he became a hero that still needs to be honed through this people's assistance so that he can defeat the enemy.
Okay, the pressure that Wren didn't know before became visible now. He was still too ignorant to have that great dream of becoming a national treasure. Wren might have a dream to become famous but that doesn't mean that he wanted to shoulder this great responsibility.
Yes, he wanted them to help him easily level up, but the heavy burden that comes up for every help they will provide was obviously too cumbersome. Just look at how sly these people are!
It was only them before him yet Wren was already getting anxious as he couldn't see how far their slyness could be. What more if you add up all these heads from each country?
Can he take the burden? No, that wasn't it! He should be asking the venerable gods who brought him here to return him back to his world, where he can peacefully and leisurely live without carrying any responsibility he doesn't want to shoulder!
Please ask his opinion as well!
"Then that settles it, right? We will just send to your headquarters whatever Mr. Adams may need in his training. As for now, let's just let Mr. Adams have his own way in his training and keep him from feeling pressured. If you can think of anything that is helpful in Mr. Adams' leveling up, just inform us and we will just inform Mr. Adams to ask for his opinion."
Then ask me for his opinion now!
Dr. Noah, who had been looking at the elders and heads shift before him. "How about we see what improvements our little hero here has accomplished in a span of a week? Maybe through this, everyone can also help with ease. Is that fine with you, Mr. Adams?"
This is not what he's talking about, asking his opinion but oh well, Wren could only nod his head as he activated his SPIA, letting everyone see his current status.
Whatever. He might as well enjoy this special treatment in the meantime. As for the responsibility after that? Who cares?