(Jinzhou City, UHO Branch.)
Inside a dark meeting room, holograms of people occupied all the seats except for the middle one, which was taken by a man with a robust figure and an intimidating aura.
These holograms represented the UHO Branch Leaders from other cities, while the man in the middle, Luo Yan, was the UHO Branch Leader of Jinzhou City.
"Mr. Luo Yan, what's the current status of Jinzhou City?" asked one of the holograms, named Peng Hai, with a slight worrisome expression on his face. "I've heard that your LAN situation had some problems and was nearing an SAN-level crisis."
"There were some minor inconveniences with the LAN situation, but there's nothing to worry about, Mr. Peng Hai," Luo Yan replied. "The situation has been dealt with. Despite considerable property damage, casualties are relatively fewer than in most 'Gate Irregularities' cases."
"The reason for that is your recently recruited Hunter," another hologram interjected. "Gabriel, if I remember correctly."
"Gabriel... are you talking about the recent addition to the List of Exceptional Talents, Mr. Shen Mu?" asked one of the other holograms.
"Yes," replied the previous hologram, Shen Mu. "This... Gabriel is someone we should be a little wary of."
Luo Yan looked at Shen Mu, an eyebrow raised in curiosity.
"Sigh. Where are you going with this, Mr. Shen Mu?" Luo Yan asked with a cold gaze.
"Well... when I learned about the new addition to the List of Exceptional Talents, I did some background checks on him," Shen Mu explained.
"A man of great talent and power who 'apparently' came to Jinzhou City from the mountains after his grandfather's death,"
Shen Mu continued. "I think everyone here knows he's lying and hiding his origins."
"And so?" asked Luo Yan. "Are people not allowed to have secrets?"
"I'm not saying that, Mr. Luo Yan," Shen Mu countered. "What I am trying to say is that we shouldn't blindly trust him."
"Why do you care so much about him?" asked one of the holograms, named Tang Hao. "Isn't he just a Peak C-Rank Talent?"
Shen Mu turned his head toward the speaker. "Mr. Tang Hao, I am merely sharing my thoughts."
"All of us here know the importance of the List of Exceptional Talents."
"They are our hope, our salvation, and the ones who will pave the way for Celestria to rise above our mundanity and become a
recognized power among the other worlds."
"We must ensure that the List of Exceptional Talents is not compromised, especially by an individual about whom we know nothing."
The other holograms nodded at Shen Mu, seemingly agreeing with his words. Luo Yan, on the other hand, looked at Shen Mu, suspecting him of scheming something.
"Mr. Shen Mu, you and the other branch leaders here don't need to worry about Gabriel," Luo Yan said with a cold and serious tone. "He is a registered Hunter under my jurisdiction in Jinzhou City."
"Therefore, I shall handle him myself, should he try to do anything that harms the interests of the UHO and the aspirations of Celestria."
The other branch leaders nodded at Luo Yan's affirmation of responsibility. Shen Mu, however, looked at Luo Yan with a smile, clearly impressed that his intentions had been suspected.
("Hmm... I haven't even said anything that could expose my true intentions, and Luo Yan already suspects me of foul play?" Shen Mu mused with a slightly troubled tone. "Humph. It appears I have to be a little wary of Luo Yan for my future plans.")
After half an hour of discussions between the branch leaders regarding Jinzhou City's LAN situation and matters concerning other cities, the hologram branch leaders disconnected, leaving Luo Yan by himself in the meeting room.
Now alone, Luo Yan took out his phone and called the vice-leader of the UHO Jinzhou City Branch, Liu Yufei.
"Are you there, Lulu?" Luo Yan asked.
There was silence... then a voice came from the phone.
"...I told you to stop calling me that, Luo Yan!" Liu Yufei said with an annoyed tone.
"Come on, we've known each other for almost a decade now," Luo Yan said. "We're already in our late 30s; isn't our friendship old enough for such a thing?"
"...Are you... calling me... old!?" Liu Yufei said with a livid tone, which slightly shook Luo Yan with fear.
"...No..." Luo Yan said with a scared tone. "I didn't say such a thing, I was just—"
"Just what do you want?" Liu Yufei asked, her tone displeased.
Luo Yan was relieved that Liu Yufei didn't take what he said seriously and got back on track with his call. "Have you heard of Hunter Gabriel?"
"The newly recruited Peak C-Rank Hunter who was listed on the List of Exceptional Talents a few days ago, and recently stopped the Gate Irregularity at Jinzhou City Square?" Liu Yufei replied. "Of course I know about him....what of it?"
"I want you to use some of our resources to check up on him from time to time," Luo Yan said.
"...So you want me to spy on him?" Liu Yufei asked.
"Well.....yeah," Luo Yan confirmed.
"May I ask why?" Liu Yufei inquired.
"Surely you've read the reason why he came to Jinzhou City," Luo Yan said.
"I know, it's to apply to become a Hunter, right?" Liu Yufei said.
"Yes, but that is the only thing we know about him," Luo Yan said.
Excluding his suspicion of Shen Mu's intentions back in the meeting, he continued, "Due to being listed on the List of Exceptional Talents, he's already being eyed by the other branch leaders of the UHO."
"Background checks have been made, and in conclusion, his origins are unknown, and his claims are highly suspected to be lies to hide his identity, origins, or true intentions."
"Therefore, we need to be wary of him, should he try to do something malicious."
"Should such a thing happen, we must not let our branch be the cause for the compromise of Celestria's interests."
"I, and surely everyone in our branch, does not want to be branded as sinners to Celestria."
"...Very well," Liu Yufei said with a serious tone. "I will watch him from the shadows... should he harm our interests....he will die."
"...Good," Luo Yan said as he ended the call.
End of Chapter