Emily laughed.
"That is why I told you before that you should have learned more about the guild and hunters," she said.
"Alex, the world now does not just move with money. There are many things you do not know.
For example, there is the wizard guild.
They found a power system that lets them enhance their superpowers with mana crystals.
I do not know the details, but the method must be incomplete. Otherwise, they would not bow to the Hunter Association."
"What do you mean, bow?" Alex asked.
"Why else do you think a two star hunter like me would know this?" Emily said.
"The entire mage guild has been taken over by the Hunter Association.
The association gave us some information on purpose. They are using it as bait for hunters who might know more.
Since there is one power system, why would there not be others?
I am sure there are many, and the higher ups must know about them.
That is why no hunter above three stars is weak, no matter what their superpower rank is.
They probably got their power system through some agreement with the association."
"So that means all three star hunters are under the Hunter Association?" Alex asked.
"Does that not mean they will not be loyal?"
"Why do you think we need the approval of a three star hunter to open a guild?" Emily replied.
"Do you think the association will let superpower organizations do whatever they want? The world is already chaotic.
I do not agree with all their methods, brother, but their existence is necessary."
Alex sighed.
"Doesn't that mean it will be a problem?" he said.
"You want a three star hunter in our guild, but if I introduce this power system to our members, he will get suspicious.
No matter what, we are not strong enough to go against the Hunter Association."
"We do not have a choice," Emily said. "But honestly, you really do not understand how the world is now, Alex."
She turned her eyes to the coffee table.
"Al, show the holographic projection of our current situation," she said.
A holographic map of their planet appeared and hovered above the coffee table.
Many areas on the map were marked red, and more than half of it was black.
Alex's eyes widened.
"What the hell?" he said. "Emily, this kind of technology exists now?
Why did you not tell me?"
Emily laughed.
"Because I knew you are a tech nerd and you would want one," she said. "This is one of the perks of being a hunter.
Look, Alex, almost twenty five percent of the world is now red. That means those areas are uninhabitable."
She pointed her finger at the middle of the red zone. Her expression turned serious.
"Do you see that? That is where we used to live," she said.
"Some people in peaceful areas like this think the world is stable now. In fact, the situation is getting worse, Alex.
The Category Five dungeon was only the first. Then more appeared around it and quickly swallowed many locations.
As you can see, that region now covers more than a quarter of our planet."
"Forget that for a moment, Emily," Alex said. "What is the dark zone?
It covers more than half."
He tilted his head and stared at the holographic globe.
"Is this not larger than normal?" he asked. "I am sure this is not our planet, Ainode."
The map looked almost twice as big as the planet Alex remembered.
"As I said, you do not know many things, Alex," Emily replied. "You are living in a bubble.
The black zone is a new area. Since the Category Five dungeons started appearing, this planet began expanding.
I do not have more information about that, but I am sure whatever is out there is worse.
You need to understand that humanity as a whole is in danger now. Hiding the power system is stupid.
We should make a deal with the association and gain benefits from it."
Alex stayed silent for a moment and thought about it.
"Will they not just take us over like the mage guild?" he asked.
"You say it is stupid to hide it, but they still keep the information away from the public."
"What do you think will happen if they release it?" Emily asked. "Panic.
There is a reason they only tell three star hunters, Alex. Have you seen those Dark Hunters?
They are a menace to society. As for the takeover, that depends on our information.
Like I said, their power system is incomplete. They need the association more so they can complete it."
Alex then started explaining the cultivation technique to her.
He talked about the Foundation Stage and continued all the way up to the Immortal Stage.
Emily stared at him with a strange look.
"Alex, that is very complete," she said. "Where did you get it?
And what is this about becoming immortal? You are not kidding, right?"
"Do you think I would joke about this?" Alex said. "I already got money from Mom to set everything up.
I also called you here for that. What more proof do you need?"
Emily already knew their mother had given him money, but she still struggled to believe it.
Her brother was an introvert who almost never went out. She could not imagine how he had obtained such a thing.
She narrowed her eyes.
"Can you really not tell me where it came from?" she asked. "You are not involved in something shady, are you?"
Alex sighed.
"Where did my little sister who always followed me around and trusted me go?" he asked. "Is she still there?
Can you not just believe me this time? I cannot explain it right now.
You will only end up with more questions."
Memories of their childhood rose in Emily's mind.
She used to be a gentle, innocent girl who only followed her brother everywhere.
"That kind of person would not survive in this world, brother," she said quietly.
"If I had focused on training my abilities back then, maybe Father would still be..."
Seeing the guilt on her face, Alex shook his head.
"Forget it," he said. "Will the association force me to reveal where I got it?"
Emily knew he was trying to change the subject. They had argued about the past many times.
She always carried that guilt.
Compared to Alex, her superpower was perfectly suited for combat.