Free Web NovelChapter 61: Soul Skill
The president studied him carefully.
"You came all this way solely because of a soul skill?"
"Yes."
The answer came without hesitation.
The president’s smile slowly faded.
His expression became thoughtful.
"So that’s your goal."
His fingers lightly tapped against his arm.
"Then I assume you’re interested in making a deal."
Amon’s eyes narrowed slightly.
The president was far more intelligent than the others.
He immediately understood the purpose behind his visit.
"I am."
The room once again fell silent.
Every hunter present focused their attention on the two men.
One was the strongest hunter in Neverland.
The other was the mysterious butcher whose strength had become the subject of countless rumors.
Neither was willing to waste words.
Neither was interested in meaningless formalities.
The president eventually pulled out a chair and sat down.
"Then let’s discuss it."
Amon sat opposite him.
For the first time since arriving in Neverland, his full attention settled upon the man before him.
The soul skill.
The very reason he had crossed countries in a single step.
Everything would depend on the next few minutes.
The room fell silent once more.
Every gaze remained fixed on the two men seated opposite one another.
The president rested his clasped hands on the table and studied Amon carefully.
Unlike the others, there was no shock in his eyes.
Only curiosity.
Amon met his gaze calmly.
Neither side looked away.
Several moments passed before the president finally spoke.
"I do possess one."
The words immediately caused several hunters around the table to tense.
Although they already knew this fact, hearing it spoken so openly still felt unusual.
A soul skill was one of the greatest secrets any nation could possess. After all, it could directly target the soul, an aspect of a hunter that could hardly be defended against.
Yet the president appeared completely unconcerned.
Amon’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"Can I see it?"
The president laughed.
"You really are straightforward."
His fingers lightly tapped the armrest.
"Before that, I’d like to ask a question."
Amon remained silent.
Taking that as permission, the president continued.
"What exactly are you?"
The room became noticeably quieter.
Even Levi’s expression stiffened.
The president’s gaze never left Amon.
"A week ago, you were D-rank."
"Now you’re S-rank."
"Moreover, you sensed my arrival before anyone else."
His eyes sharpened.
"Even I can’t understand how that’s possible."
The other hunters unconsciously held their breath.
Truthfully, they wanted the answer as well.
Amon thought for a moment, then his calm voice echoed softly.
"I simply become stronger. That’s all you need to know."
The answer sounded absurd.
Yet nobody laughed.
Because standing before them was living proof of that absurdity.
The president stared at him for several moments.
Then he unexpectedly smiled.
"I see."
Amon looked at him.
"You believe me?"
The president shrugged.
"Not particularly."
Several hunters nearly choked.
"But I do believe you aren’t lying."
Amon fell silent.
The distinction was subtle.
Yet important.
The president wasn’t accepting the explanation.
He simply believed that Amon didn’t want to reveal the true secrets behind his strength.
And he could understand that much.
The atmosphere relaxed slightly.
The president continued.
"Now then."
His gaze sharpened.
"What exactly do you want from my soul skill?" ƒгeewebnovёl.com
Amon answered immediately.
"To copy it."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Several hunters froze.
The old man’s teacup stopped halfway to his lips.
Levi’s face twitched violently.
The silver-haired woman stared at Amon as though he had gone insane.
Copy it?
A soul skill?
Did he think soul skills were vegetables being sold at a market?
Even the president looked genuinely stunned this time.
For the first time since entering the room, he seemed speechless.
Amon frowned slightly.
"Is that impossible?"
The president slowly exhaled.
"Under normal circumstances?"
"Yes."
"Then under abnormal circumstances?"
The president looked at him for several seconds.
Then he suddenly began laughing again.
The hunters around the table stared blankly.
Today, their president had laughed more than he had during the previous year.
Finally calming down, he rubbed his forehead.
"You know, most people would try to negotiate first."
"I don’t see the point."
The president nodded.
Fair enough.
His expression gradually became serious once more.
"Let’s assume for a moment that I allow you to see my soul skill."
"What do I gain?"
Amon became thoughtful.
This was indeed a problem.
He had become accustomed to taking what he wanted through strength.
Negotiation wasn’t exactly his specialty.
The room quietly watched him think.
A few seconds later, Amon finally spoke.
"What do you need?"
The president’s eyes flickered.
Interesting.
Most powerful hunters attempted to impose conditions.
Amon had instead asked what Neverland lacked.
The president leaned back in his chair.
His fingers tapped rhythmically against the armrest.
Then a faint smile appeared on his face.
"Coincidentally."
"There is something I need."
The room suddenly became serious.
Even the nine hunters straightened.
Amon noticed the shift immediately.
"What is it?"
The president’s smile slowly faded.
"Aleron."
The name echoed through the room.
A heavy atmosphere descended.
Amon’s eyes narrowed.
The S-rank dungeon.
The one that had trapped several S-rank hunters for weeks.
The president slowly stood up.
His gaze drifted toward the massive city visible beyond the glass walls.
"For nearly a month, we’ve been fighting inside that dungeon."
"Every day, more monsters appear."
"Every day, we advance."
"Every day, we lose ground again."
His voice grew quieter.
"Aleron is unlike any dungeon we’ve ever encountered."
Amon listened silently.
The president turned around.
For the first time since entering the room, genuine exhaustion could be seen in his eyes.
"We’ve reached the final region three times."
"Three times, we’ve failed."
The room became deathly still.
The nine hunters lowered their gazes.
Some clenched their fists.
Others remained expressionless.
Yet all of them understood the weight behind those words.
They had lost comrades there.
Strong comrades.
The president stared directly at Amon.
"If you’re truly as strong as I think you are."
"Then come with me into Aleron."
His voice echoed through the room.
"Help us clear the dungeon."
The atmosphere immediately tightened.
Every hunter present looked toward Amon.
Waiting.
Watching.
The president met his gaze without flinching.
"In return."
A faint pulse of energy spread from his body.
Ancient.
Mysterious.
Unlike ordinary mana.
The moment Amon sensed it, his eyes narrowed.
His heart skipped a beat.
Soul energy.
The president smiled.
"In return, I’ll show you my soul skill."
For the first time since entering Neverland, genuine excitement surged through Amon’s chest.
The opportunity had arrived.
Amon’s eyes remained fixed on the president.
The faint traces of soul energy lingering around him were unlike anything he had ever sensed before.
They felt ancient.
Mysterious.
As though they didn’t belong to this world.
For a brief moment, he entertained the thought of killing the president there and then and snatching it from him, but he quickly brushed it aside.
Several moments passed.
Then Amon nodded.
"I accept."
The answer came without hesitation.
The president wasn’t surprised.
In truth, he would have been more surprised if Amon had refused.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Good."
Levi finally released the breath he had been holding.
The atmosphere around the table eased considerably.
The silver-haired woman crossed her arms.
"So we’re heading back to Aleron?"
The president nodded.
"In a few hours."
Several hunters immediately frowned.
The tattooed giant spoke first.
"You should rest."
"I already did."
The president’s response was immediate.
The giant’s expression darkened.
Everyone knew he was lying.
The president had likely spent the last several weeks fighting without proper sleep.
However, nobody continued arguing.
There was little point.
Once he made a decision, changing his mind was nearly impossible.
The old man placed his teacup down.
"Will he be enough?"
The question immediately drew everyone’s attention.
The president looked toward Amon.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Then he answered calmly.
"I don’t know."
The room fell silent.
The answer surprised many of them.
The president rarely admitted uncertainty.
"But."
His gaze remained fixed on Amon.
"He’s the first person who’s given me hope since this dungeon appeared."
Several hunters froze.
Even Levi’s pupils contracted.
Such praise was unprecedented.
The president wasn’t someone who handed out compliments casually.
For him to say something like that...
It was enough to show how highly he regarded Amon.
Amon himself remained unmoved.
His thoughts were elsewhere.
Aleron.
And most importantly...
The soul skill.
