Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

The aftermath of the battle settled into an uneasy silence, broken only by the murmurs of frightened civilians and the distant wail of approaching sirens. Irina stood beside Astron, her arms crossed tightly as she surveyed the scene with a mix of frustration and resignation. The operatives had escaped, leaving behind only the chaos and destruction they'd wrought within the museum.

A few minutes later, the heavy sound of boots and wheels reached their cars. A group of Hunters from the City Government and members of the local security team poured into the museum, their weapons drawn and their expressions tense. It was clear from the way they moved-hurried yet slightly disorganized-that they hadn't been prepared for what had transpired.

Irina's amber eyes narrowed as she turned to Astron. "Took them long enough," she muttered, her tone laced with irritation.

Astron, ever calm, simply nodded. "It's not surprising. The assailants were thorough in their preparations. This wasn't a random attack."

As the Hunters fanned out, one of them, a middle-aged man wearing the standard black-and-red armor of the City Bureau, approached Irina and Astron. His expression was grim, his brow furrowed as he took in the damage and the frightened civilians still huddled near the walls.

"I'm Captain Orwin," the man said, his voice steady despite the tension in his eyes. "We got the emergency alert, but..." He trailed off, glancing around the room. "It seems we arrived too late."

Irina crossed her arms tighter, her flames sparking faintly at her fingertips as her frustration boiled over. "You think?" she snapped, earning a sharp glance from Astron. She sighed, reigning in her temper as she continued, "What happened? Why did it take so long for anyone to show up?"

Orwin's jaw tightened, his shoulders sagging slightly as he responded. "The assailants sabotaged us. They disabled the museum's security team before the attack started. We didn't even get a distress call until it was too late. And when we tried to mobilize, we found several of our vehicles sabotaged. Our response was delayed while we secured alternate transport."

Irina's eyes widened slightly, her irritation giving way to reluctant understanding. "They sabotaged your vehicles too?"

The captain nodded grimly. "This city's not that big, and our resources are limited. We weren't prepared for something this coordinated. The operatives knew exactly what they were doing"

Astron's sharp purple eyes flicked toward the captain, his expression unreadable.

"Were there casualties among your team?"

Orwin hesitated before nodding. "Several members of the museum's security staff were incapacitated, but they'll recover. As for our Hunters... we had a few injuries, but no fatalities, thankfully."

Irina frowned, her amber eyes scanning the faces of the arriving Hunters and security personnel. The weight of the situation settled heavily on her shoulders. The attack hadn't just been a random act of chaos-it had been meticulously planned, a deliberate strike against the city's limited defenses.

"They knew exactly how to exploit your weaknesses."

Captain Orwin's voice dropped, heavy with unease. "There's more," he said, glancing warily around the wreckage. "Some of our members are missing. We suspect they were working with the assailants."

Irina's flames flickered faintly at her fingertips again, her frustration rekindled. "So, you're saying this was an inside job? They knew exactly what they were doing because someone from your side helped them."

Orwin gave a grim nod. "It seems likely. Their coordination, the sabotage... none of this would have been possible without inside information. And considering how targeted this attack was-"

"They were after me," Irina cut in, her tone sharp.

Astron, standing silently beside her, turned his sharp purple gaze toward the captain. "She's right. Their tactics were too specific. The fire-magic suppression formation they used-it wasn't random. It was designed to counter Irina."

Irina clenched her fists, her frustration mingling with a faint sense of unease. "If they knew I'd be here, then this wasn't just an attack on the museum. It was a trap." Captain Orwin's jaw tightened. "A trap that failed, thanks to both of you." He gestured to the wreckage, his voice softer but no less serious. "But now that your identities are exposed, you'll need to cooperate with the investigation. The city will want answers, and we'll need all the information you can give us."

Irina exchanged a glance with Astron. His expression remained calm, but she could sense the weight of the situation settling on his shoulders. "Fine," she said, her tone firm. "We'll cooperate. But if this was a trap, we need to find out who set it and why" Astron nodded slightly, his gaze scanning the room as if already piecing together the

Answers.

The museum was in shambles. The central section, once adorned with intricate carvings and artifacts, was now a gaping void where a pillar had collapsed. Rubble and debris littered the floor, and the air still carried the faint tang of scorched mana. Despite the destruction, the outcome was unexpectedly fortunate. Several civilians who had been caught near the falling debris spoke up during the investigation. "I thought I was done for," one man said, his voice trembling. "But then... it was like something shielded us. The debris-it never hit us. It just stopped."

"Stopped?" Orwin repeated, his brow furrowing.

Another woman nodded, clutching her young daughter tightly. "Yes, it was like a barrier or... or some kind of force protected us. None of us were hurt, not seriously anyway. It was... miraculous."

Irina's sharp gaze flicked to Astron for a moment, but neither of them said a word. The investigators continued their work, documenting the damage and collecting accounts from the survivors. While some civilians had sustained minor injuries-cuts and bruises from flying debris or the volatile mana resonances of the battle-there were no major casualties.

As the investigation continued, Captain Orwin moved aside to converse with a group of his team. Their hushed voices carried faintly over the wreckage, though the words were difficult to make out. The captain's expression shifted from grim focus to something closer to shock, then alarm. Finally, with a visible effort, he composed himself and turned back toward Irina and Astron.

He approached them quickly, clearing his throat awkwardly as he stopped a few paces away. "Cough... I apologize for the interruption," he began, his voice careful but tinged with hesitation. "But... by any chance, are you Irina Emberheart?"

Irina's amber eyes narrowed slightly, her lips curving into a smirk. "Took you long enough to figure that out," she said, her tone sharp with amusement.

Orwin's face reddened slightly, though he quickly masked it with a cough. "I-I see. That certainly explains their strategy... and why this attack was so meticulously

Planned."

Astron's sharp purple eyes flicked to the captain, his expression unreadable. "You've identified her, but that doesn't answer the real question. Who leaked her presence here to the assailants?"

Orwin's face tightened, and he shifted uncomfortably. "We're still working to

Determine that. But if they knew enough to plan this level of countermeasure, it's likely their informant had direct access to sensitive information. That narrows down the

Possibilities."

Irina crossed her arms, her smirk fading into a more serious expression. "Well, Captain, I suggest you figure it out quickly. If someone's selling information about me, they'll do it again. And next time, they might not stop at sabotaging a city's defenses." Orwin nodded sharply. "Understood. We'll prioritize identifying the mole. In the meantime..." He hesitated again, his gaze shifting between Irina and Astron. "Given your identities and the nature of this attack, I'll need to report this to the Bureau's

Central office. They may send reinforcements or additional investigators." Irina rolled her eyes, though her tone remained composed. "Do what you have to, Captain. Just don't expect us to sit around and wait for answers to fall into our laps." Irina exhaled sharply, her frustration simmering beneath a carefully controlled expression. She had been through situations like this enough times to know how it would unfold. The investigation would drag on, the assailants would remain several steps ahead, and nothing truly substantial would come from it—not quickly, at least. Crossing her arms, she leveled a piercing gaze at Captain Orwin. "We're done here," she said curtly. "We've given you enough to work with. My partner and I need rest, and frankly, I'm not in the mood to cooperate with a drawn-out investigation that won't yield results anytime soon."

Orwin blinked, momentarily caught off guard by her directness. He glanced at Astron, whose calm, unreadable expression did nothing to offer any reprieve. "Miss Emberheart, he began hesitantly, "I assure you, we're doing everything in our power

_"

"And I'm sure you are," Irina cut him off, her tone firm. "But let's not pretend this isn't going to take weeks of chasing leads that might not even exist. The fact that they escaped this easily tells me they've prepared for every contingency, including this

One."

Orwin's jaw tightened, but he nodded reluctantly, clearly aware of the truth in her words. "Very well," he said, his tone formal. "You're free to go. However, given the nature of this attack, we'd be willing to provide a security detail to ensure your safety

While you're in the city.

Irina shook her head, already turning away. "Don't bother. Your resources are limited, and you need them here. Astron and I can handle ourselves."

Astron offered a small nod of agreement, his sharp purple eyes briefly meeting

Orwin's before shifting toward the exit.

"Understood," Orwin said, his voice resigned. "But please, if you need assistance, don't

Hesitate to contact us."

Irina didn't respond, already striding toward the exit with Astron following silently at

Her side. The chaos of the museum faded behind them, replaced by the muted hum of the city streets as they stepped outside.

But before they could make it far, a sudden commotion erupted ahead of them. Irina's eyes narrowed as a crowd surged into view-reporters, their cameras flashing and microphones thrust forward as they clamored for attention.

"Miss Emberheart! Is it true you were the target of the attack?"

"Who were the assailants? Do you know why they were after you?" "Was anyone seriously injured in the museum? Are you planning to retaliate?"

The barrage of questions was relentless, the reporters pushing closer with every step. Irina halted, her expression darkening as she realized there would be no easy way past them.

Astron's sharp gaze swept over the crowd, his posture steady but subtly shifting as if preparing for anything. "This is going to be inconvenient," he murmured quietly. Irina rolled her eyes, her frustration simmering beneath the surface. "No kidding." One reporter pushed forward, their voice rising above the others. "Miss Emberheart,

Do you believe this attack is connected to your family's prominence in the Federation?

Were these political enemies?"

Irina's ember eyes glinted dangerously, but she managed to keep her tone calm. "No comment," she said firmly, her voice cutting through the clamor.

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