REINCARNATION OF THE STRONGEST WAR HERO - Chapter 227: A PLOY

Logan and Ali returned to the Guildmaster’s private chamber. Ali settled into his chair and gestured for Logan to take the seat opposite him.

“So, what’s the plan?” Logan finally asked after a brief silence.

“I’ve already tracked down their location,” Ali replied. “It’s in the mountains. Even if we drive the wagon at full speed, it will take us around fourteen to fifteen hours to reach there.”

He paused for a moment, his expression hardening before he continued. “I’ve already chosen a team. They’ve been informed and briefed beforehand. Noah knows all of them. He’ll bring everyone here shortly. Once they arrive, we’ll set out immediately. We can’t afford to delay. Now that you have come back and also without the mask, it won’t take long for the news to spread.”

______

Meanwhile, in the main hall at Gideon’s table, after Lilith dropped the bombshell, everyone froze, stunned to the core.

Specially Zephyr. He was new and didn’t know about this earlier party member named Aiden that well. But the name that just left Lilith’s mouth dumbfounded him. His body stiffened. But then a wide smile spread across his face. “I am glad, Logan Smith. I am glad, that we can meet again. Though I don’t think I will ever have the chance to be your sparing partner.” He whispered to himself.

Many hunters at the surrounding tables also didn’t miss a word. Then came a low murmur… and slowly it spread through the entire hall like wildfire.

“For real? He was actually Aiden? Damn! That explains all the tremors we had felt since he went inside. He must have been fighting the Guildmaster himself.”

“Exactly! Think about it. What that kid did two years ago would’ve been difficult even for an S-class hunter. Surely the Guildmaster dragged him straight into the arena, unable to control his excitement.”

Different voices rose here and there, comments flying from every direction.

And at Vanessa’s table…

“Well, so he’s alive after all. Then why did he use to wear the mask all the time? I thought maybe he wore it because he was ugly.” The female hunter sitting beside Vanessa, who had expressed regret earlier, said, “But to look that hot and still hide his face? What was he thinking?”

Vanessa chuckled and replied, “Calling a fifteen-year-old kid hot? You’re brain-damaged, Juliana.”

Both of them burst into laughter.

But many of the female hunters in the hall shared the same opinion. Even in simple clothes, Logan looked striking, imposing, impossible to ignore. None of them could understand why he would ever hide behind a mask.

Meanwhile, hearing all these comments lit a fire of jealousy inside several of the young male hunters. But none of them dared to voice it aloud. One wrong word, and they’d immediately be painted as petty villains. After all, Logan was the boy who had saved countless lives just two years ago.

And at Gideon’s table, the moment Luna heard it, she had quickly covered her mouth in surprise. She was utterly stunned.

“He really looks that amazing? If only he were a little older…” she sighed softly.

Now that she had grown into a fine young lady, she realized how reckless her earlier thoughts had been. After all, she was at least three years older than Logan. Something like that could never truly be possible between them.

Sensing her thoughts, Melissa gave a quiet chuckle. But this time, she didn’t tease.

But one person was missing in Gideon’s table. Nobody paid attention to that though. They were all busy expressing their own thoughts.

“Now that he’s back, our party will be even stronger. That Leonard guy won’t dare show off in front of us ever again,” Ronald said with a smug grin.

But Gideon’s reply instantly dampened his mood. “Why would he still join our party? Don’t you see it, Ronald? He’s already surpassed the level of a party captain. He may have even reached the level of our Guildmaster… an S-class hunter.” Gideon spoke calmly, but his words felt almost unbelievable.

“No way that’s possible! He’s only fifteen. Fifteen! How could he already be an S-class?” Ronald protested.

“You idiot. Why don’t you ever use your head?” Jessi smacked him lightly on the back of the head. “He defeated an A-class dungeon boss with a single hit—and that was two years ago. What level do you think his strength has reached since then?”

Murmurs, stunned and teasing expressions, amidst all that, almost twenty minutes passed. And just then…

The wooden door creaked open and Noah Starwind walked in, followed by Emily and four more unknown people, all clad in hunter dress. Nobody could recognize those new four who came along with the Starwind couple..

Many eyes were locked on them as they walked in and strode toward the Guildmaster’s chamber. Elizabeth didn’t even need any words. She had already started showing them the way. But just when Noah was about to step inside the hallway, Lilith came rushing.

“Father, I need to talk with you,” She said.

Noah looked at her and said seriously, “Lilith darling, your mother and I are really busy right now. So unless it’s life-threatening, we’ll talk about it later.” Without waiting for a reply, he walked inside.

Lilith’s rage flared, and she was about to snap back, but Emily stepped forward first. Placing a gentle hand on her daughter’s head, she said softly, “Lilith, don’t be upset by your father’s words. We really are busy. And this… this is related to someone’s life and death. Do you honestly think what you want to say is more important than that?”

Lilith froze, taken aback by the gravity in her mother’s voice. After a moment, she lowered her gaze and muttered, “No, Mom.”

Emily gave her a faint smile, stroking her head affectionately one last time before hurrying inside after Noah.

Lilith stood there, staring at the path they had taken, her thoughts swirling. “What’s really going on? I’ve never seen the two of them so tense before,” she whispered under her breath.

—

Meanwhile, a short distance away from the Hunter Guild, in a secluded, quiet spot, a young man stood alone. There was no one else around.

He pulled out a communication scroll, unfurled it, and wrote swiftly across its surface:

“He has arrived. Do what you have to.”