An emergency meeting was immediately held at the national hunter association's headquarters. This time, it was not just the hunter council—association president Park Minho was also summoned to the conference room to hear the latest report. The situation had escalated beyond the usual scale, and Linggis' data had left everyone at the highest levels of the association stunned.
On the large screen in the meeting room, the data provided by Linggis was displayed clearly. President Park Minho sat in the main chair with a serious expression. Everyone present could feel the tension in the air, especially after learning that the international hunter association had also been informed of these predictions.
Dr. Vaughn began his explanation in a firm tone. "Mr. President, this data comes from former hunter Linggis. As you can see, these dungeon break predictions include a total of 200 incidents across three major countries, including 50 cases of dungeon errors, the potential for two Rank SS dungeons, and even one categorized as SSS. This has already exceeded our current operational capacity."
Park Minho tapped his finger on the table, his voice low but full of authority. "I understand the level of this threat. What is the international response?"
A staff member of the association answered, "The hunter associations of Japan and China have received this report. They have also confirmed that magical energy at several locations matches Linggis' predictions. However, for Rank SSS, there are no concrete reports yet."
Minho nodded slowly, then looked at the screen displaying an additional section of Linggis' report. There was a list of demons he had encountered, including a special column that caught everyone's attention:
"Good Demons: Do Not Engage."
Dr. Vaughn pointed to that section and continued his explanation. "Linggis included an additional note that not all demons are a threat. Some have human-like characteristics—some are good, some are bad. However, unlike humans, demons have a more violent basic instinct. Linggis concluded that there is a high possibility that some of these demons have different interests from the Demon King's grand plan."
A veteran hunter in the room immediately spoke up. "Nonsense! A demon is a demon. There is nothing good about them."
Park Minho raised his hand, signaling everyone to remain calm. "Dr. Vaughn, is there a specific example of Linggis interacting with a so-called 'good' demon?"
Dr. Vaughn nodded. "There is one interesting report in this data. Linggis encountered a high-rank demon known as Azarel, who did not attack him or any other humans. Instead, Azarel provided information about a small-scale invasion plan, which Linggis and his team were able to prevent. Azarel even mentioned that some demons disagreed with the Demon King's leadership because it was considered too destructive—even for their own world."
"Azarel," Minho muttered. He stared at the data with a sharp gaze. "So, Linggis wants us to treat some of these demons as potential allies?"
"That seems to be his conclusion," Vaughn replied. "But Linggis also emphasized that this does not mean we can fully trust them. Most demons still prioritize their instincts, and the risk of betrayal is always present."
A brief silence filled the room before one of the senior association members spoke. "If Linggis' predictions are correct, we're not just facing large-scale dungeon breaks—we also have to deal with the morality of handling demons. This is more complicated than we expected."
Minho let out a long sigh. "We have no choice but to consider all options. If there are demons we can communicate with, we must take that into account—especially if it means reducing casualties on our side. But remember, this is a last resort."
He looked around the room, his tone shifting into a command. "Send a message to the international hunter association. The main focus is preventing as many dungeon breaks as possible. And regarding the demons mentioned by Linggis... form a special team to investigate them. We must ensure that no one makes a fatal mistake by provoking them."
"Understood, Mr. President!" the staff responded in unison.
As the meeting ended, Park Minho stared at the screen with deep concern. This data was not just a threat—it was also the greatest moral test hunters had ever faced. Could they accept the reality that the enemies they had fought for so long might have a side they had never understood?