The Damned Demon

Upon hearing Grace's words, Asher nodded, "Of course, you are completely right. That's why we are going to destroy them from within," he declared, his smile laced with cold determination.

Emiko and Yui had their eyes widen and glanced at each other, silently wondering if their Master was talking about infiltrating WHA like spies do in the movies they saw with Grace.

Grace, her interest piqued, leaned in slightly, her voice a whisper of intrigue, "You mean..."

Asher's plan unfolded with each word, "We are going to integrate ourselves with the WHA no matter where we have to start. And once we have established enough influence and learn what makes them tick, then we can begin to break them apart," he explained, the precision in his gaze signaling the depth of his conviction.

Rebecca, taken aback, struggled to mask her astonishment.

The idea of delving into the heart of the world's most powerful Hunter establishment that had been in existence for centuries was nothing short of lunacy in her eyes.

She already knew of the stories of the fools who tried to take down even just a fraction of WHA's power, hoping for some exclusive rewards or perks, only to get destroyed before anybody could even know what happened.

The proof wasn't even too far from home, starting from the Devourer's descendants to Rowena's father who foolishly died trying to conquer Earth.

Her thoughts raced with the dangers of such a move, the irreversible consequences of getting exposed, which would result in her never being able to return home.

What will happen to her son if she gets trapped here because of this bastard?

Who would care for him in her absence, especially when he was half-crippled now?

Grace, reflecting on her own bitter experiences, shared her skepticism and insights, "Getting into WHA? How do you plan to do that when they don't even select veterans who haven't been recommended by one of their own?"

Her voice was heavy with the memories of the past, "Back in my old days, I thought I had a few friends in the WHA, but only when things fell apart for me did I realize I had no friends at all...only snakes who gleefully watched as my family fell. That is why I believe you when you said that such snakes are hiding within the most elite and prestigious organization in this world," Grace acknowledged.

Emiko and Yui, listening intently, found their perceptions of the WHA being reshaped by the conversation.

They already knew bad Hunters existed, but they didn't expect the WHA to be this bad on the inside compared to the virtuous image everyone believed.

The revered image they held crumbled, revealing a darker, more complex reality that had been hidden from public view.

Asher, unfazed by the doubts and the magnitude of their task, said with a confident smile, "I know the right person for that, and I have already discussed things with that person," he announced, Grace, Emiko, and Yui nod with realization upon having an idea of who it was while Rebecca furrowed her brows.

Does he know someone within the WHA? Is he conspiring with them? She felt she should learn as much as he could about his connections here since she might be able to use it against him one day.

Nestled in the serene, lush landscapes of Scotland, where the mists of morning gently kissed the earth, and the air was pleasantly cool, stood the Von Haughton Mansion.

This abode, modest in its elegance yet unmistakably befitting of a family of High-Class Hunters, was an epitome of quiet dignity and strength.

Everyone knew that for a family to belong in the High Class league, there should at least be an army of B Rank Hunters at their disposal, dozens of A Rank Hunters to support them and S Rank Hunters to lead and protect the family.

This was a frightening level of strength for families that belonged to this class, and only few such families existed around the world.

The people nearby knew their town's untold guardian was the Von Haughton Family, who had looked after them for generations, and the present generation in this family were the most generous and kind ones they had ever seen, looking after them without asking anything in return.

Any other family with their power and status would demand compensation in terms of labor or manpower or payment in the form of rare and expensive mana shards.

And so the people here felt lucky to have such a Hunter family as their guardian and revered them with all their hearts.

The mansion, with its tasteful architecture that harmonized with the surrounding nature, was a haven of tranquility and power.

Servants and gardeners moved around, going about their duties. Each footstep and trimmed hedge spoke of a legacy steeped in honor and the unspoken vows of their protectors.

In the midst of this idyllic setting, a middle-aged man stood on the lawn, embodying the grace and authority that the Von Haughton name commanded.

With neatly combed brown hair that hinted at the wisdom of his years and a thick beard that spoke of rugged experience, he held an air of effortless nobility.

In his hand, an elegant cup of tea, from which he sipped with a contemplative demeanor, as if each drop were infused with the depth of his thoughts.

Around him, servants and maids maintained a respectful distance, and were ready to serve their patriarch, Logan Von Haughton, at a moment's notice.

*Woosh!*

The serene atmosphere of the grounds was suddenly pierced by a phenomenon as unexpected as it was spectacular.

A woman, embodying grace and power, descended from the sky, her descent as majestic as a falcon's stoop, yet as gentle as a leaf carried by the breeze.

Her piercing brown eyes, reflecting a spirit both fierce and kind, had her gaze land on the man before her.

Waves of chestnut brown hair framed her face, cascading down to her shoulders, while her tall, statuesque figure exuded an aura of unwavering confidence and nobility.

Logan was momentarily startled by this sudden presence, his tea-sipping halted by the delightful intrusion.

His expression quickly transformed from surprise to sheer joy, his eyes lighting up as he pushed away his thoughts and turned around.

With a boisterous tone that belied his previous composure, he greeted her, his voice filled with affection and warmth, "Hoho! My cute little one. What is with this surprise visit, not that I am complaining, hoho," Saying so, he excitedly extended one of his arms for a bear hug.

"Dad..." Amelia, dressed in her signature silver with shades of blue and brown Hunter suit, responded to her father's welcome with an equally vibrant energy.

Her lips arched into a bright and warm smile as she lunged forward to embrace her father.

After the tender embrace with her father, Amelia took a step back, her expression turning earnest, her voice slightly heavy with her thoughts, "I did come here to see you and mom, but also because I need your help, dad," she confessed.

Logan, taken aback by the request, responded with a mixture of surprise and intrigue, his eyes widening as he teased, "Ho? Did I hear you right? My capable daughter, who has always refused any kind of favors or help from me, is asking me for one, now? Of course, except during that time."

Amelia's eyes glinted with a complicated light as the days that followed Cedric's death flashed in her eyes.

It was the time when she tried to indirectly ask for her father's help to investigate some things while trying her best to make sure her family didn't get dragged into anything.

But it all ended up being in vain, and she was powerless to do anything, the guilt of which still gnawed at her even if she knew he was still alive in another form.

"Amelia? Oh, my lovely daughter!" A woman's voice echoed from behind as Amelia and Logan turned around to see a graceful woman looking in her forties rushing towards Amelia with a bright smile and having the same brown eyes as that of Amelia.

The servants respectfully gave way to their matriarch, Isla Von Haughton who was rushing towards her daughter with open arms and a bright smile,

"Mom," Amelia greeted, her voice warm as she embraced her mother, a hug so tight it elicited a slight grimace from Amelia.

"Mom...you are squeezing t-the air out of my lungs..." she managed, her words muffled in the embrace.

Logan's playful chide, "Are you trying to choke our only daughter, Isla?" was met with Isla's apologetic yet joyous laughter, "Oh, oh, I am so sorry dear. I was just excited since we barely see you these days, even if we have a teleportation chamber installed here. You barely visit us these days," she explained with a look of longing.

Amelia smiled and said as she held her mother's hands, "I missed you too, mom."

"Aww, I know you did. So what brings you here? Did you finally find a man you want to marry?" Isla excitedly asked, her enthusiasm and anticipation palpable.

"Mom!" Amelia chided, a mix of playful rebuke and embarrassment coloring her tone while a certain demon's face kept flashing in her mind.

Logan cleared his throat and said, "Our daughter came here to ask her old man for a favor. So stop dreaming."

Isla pouted with a disappointed look while Logan shifted his gaze towards his daughter and said with a wide smile, "Go ahead and tell me, and I will get it done even if I have to go to the moon."

Amelia, gathering her resolve, took a deep breath as she didn't know how exactly to explain this to her parents.