"There's no time like the present," Hao Ren said. "Let's get things done today."
Hasse had been running around fixing the terrible situation in Coldpath. He had not gotten any rest for the past few days.
Besides, he had to fight his own screwed up brain.
Though the dark power of the Godslayer had dissipated, its whisper had affected the demon hunters who were once trapped in this space-time crack. Hasse was one of them. Space and time distortion as a result of the abnormal state of the Netherrealm Clock Tower had also damaged the minds of those who were trapped in the tower. Hasse and other demon hunters who came out of the Netherrealm Clock Tower had been plagued by a sequela called somnambulism.
But compared to the just-ended chaos in Coldpath, this sequela was pale in comparison.
Hao Ren and Lanina left the platform and came up to Hasse. The two of them called out at Hasse, but the old demon hunter only heard them after they had called him repeatedly. Seeing his condition, Hao Ren asked, "Hasse, is your somnambulism condition still serious?"
Hasse quickly sorted himself and became composed as he always was. He smiled apologetically. "It is getting better. The hallucinations have almost gone. Sorry, I was in thought just now."
Hao Ren scratched his chin. If somnambulism could cause such a severe condition to demon hunters like Hasse, the situation of other weaker demon hunters would be worse. It was not easy for these guys to carry out the reconstruction work with such a chaotic state of mind.
Somnambulism was the common sequela of those who were trapped in the tower. It could be a result of being confined in the space-time crack for a long time, where their senses were degraded, and they were mentally exhausted. Besides, there were various symptoms of distorted perceptions of time-lapse and reality, short-term memory disorder, etc. Fortunately, after a careful examination, Y'zaks told them that the signs were just temporary and they would go away entirely within a few days to a month, depending on individual physique. Hasse had the fastest recovery rate.
"I was thinking to wait until you completely recover from somnambulism before we discuss the matter, but I'm short of time," Hao Ren said, scratching his chin. "It seems that your somnambulism is not serious enough to affect your judgment. So it's almost time..."
Hasse could sense the seriousness in Hao Ren's tone of voice. He could not help but become nervous. "Is there anything important?" he asked.
Hao Ren glanced at Hasse with a strange look on his face. "Why are you so nervous suddenly?"
Hasse could not help it. He said, "The last time you spoke in this tone of voice, you told me about the Sin of the Divine Blood, and Coldpath plunged into chaos a few days after I returned. Later, I heard from the Countess that you're a harbinger of bad luck, what you say always turns into reality. So I was wondering what you're up to this time."
Hao Ren was speechless.
Lanina, who was always calm and steady, almost could not help bursting out in laughter. The succubus was trying too hard to suppress his laughter until her face was utterly twisted, her tail was waving in the air, and the demon wings on her back were shaking as if she had a cramp. Hao Ren could not help but said, "Y'zaks is not here, you can laugh out loud if you want."
Lanina's tail was almost twisted into Fried Dough Twist. "Oh… no… I am the strategist of my king… I shouldn't show my emotion…" she said though she was already half laughing.
"Alright, I got it. Now, go and find Y'zaks. Tell him that I'm going to make an announcement. Also, don't forget to find Lily. Most likely, she's not with anyone. You would probably be able to find her in the kitchen."
After Hao Ren finished giving the instructions, Lanina, who used to have a poker face, stretched her wings, fluttered and flew into the distance with her twisted face from a suppressed laughter. Looking at her from behind, Hao Ren said, "I didn't know the succubus was so risible before this… Hey, Lanina! You're going in the wrong direction! The army camp is on the left!"
After Lanina adjusted her course and flew toward the army camp, Hao Ren turned to Hasse and said, "I have something to announce. It is about the historical inheritance of the demon hunters and the truth of the sages. These matters could subvert your worldview. It's going to have a huge impact on the demon hunters of the middle and lowest rung of the ladder. You must not tell everyone directly."
Hasse had smelled it. "Is it about the setting up of a new Council of Elders?
After the collapse of the original ruling structure, Hasse and those who were highly respected among the demon hunters urgently organized a new leadership team. This ad hoc team included the Council of Elders' survivors, the elders who were not sitting in the Council of Elders, and the masters who had demonstrated their outstanding leadership and organizational quality in the civil war. White Flame and Teuton were among them.
As all the sages had died, and with less than one in ten members of the Council of Elders remained, even young people like White Flame had become a part of the leadership.
"Summon only the elders, the people you trust, and the most mature and rational," Hao Ren said. He then thought for a moment. "White Flame and Teuton are also included. They are already informed of this."
Hasse's brows suddenly knit together and said, "Is it about the first sage?"
"White Flame has already told you?" Hao Ren's eyebrows arched. "Well, I knew she was going to tell you. That's right. That is the matter."
Hasse took a deep breath and said, "She didn't reveal too much. I found some changes when I read ancient books. Well, I have already known the nature of the matter, I am going to call everyone to gather," he said.
An hour later, Hasse had assembled those who were qualified to participate in the meeting. Lanina had also gathered those were on Hao Ren's side. They came to a room in the great shrine, ready for the truth that would subvert the worldview of all demon hunters.
The room was as spacious as a hall. Dozens of demon hunters, some looked solemn, some looked tired, and some seemed confused sat at the long table in the center of the room—there were all the elder-class leaders that Hasse could find.
Meanwhile, Hao Ren and his men were sitting on the other end of the table. Vivian was sorting out the information at hand, the Nangong family sat straight and still as if a static background, Y'zaks, and Lanina were talking in a low voice about the situation in Helcrown. Y'lisabet, who liked to ask questions, was sitting quietly at the side holding a small radio that had been half dissembled in her hand, which was enough to keep her occupied for hours.
Lily, the main character of the meeting, had dozed off at the table with drool flowing all over the table.
"What happened to her again?" Hao Ren frowned, whispering to Vivian.
Vivian sighed. "She overate barbecue last night and too bloated to sleep at night, ending up sleeping like a pig during the day."
Hao Ren was dumbfounded.
"Ahem, I think everyone is here," Hasse said, getting to his feet. "Shall we begin?"
Hao Ren shot Lily a sideways glance and ignored the husky temporarily, letting sleeping dogs lie, literally. Then he got to his feet, and his eyes swept across the room and said, "So, those of you who are present here are the top leaders of the demon hunters. I think there is no introduction needed now and I believe that Hasse has already given everyone a heads-up. What I'm about to tell you today is of great importance. I hope that all of you could look at it calmly, objectively and with an open mind."
If it were before the civil war, the demon hunters would have hardly bothered with the warning given by the alien race. They might have even picked a fight. But after the chaos of Coldpath, the surviving elders had changed. They had shown seriousness and attention to every word Hao Ren said.
Hao Ren gestured with his hand, and immediately a few demonic guards came up and placed large boxes on the long conference table.
When the boxes were opened, the elders found that articles such as ancient scrolls, stationery, and divine artifacts of the demon hunters were inside the boxes. Though these articles were old and not used anymore in the present time, they all had the insignia of a demon hunter.
Nangong Wudi, Nangong Sanba, Claude, White Flame, and Teuton got to their feet, put the articles in front of the elders so that the elders could circulate among themselves and take a look.
"These are…" Gregowen was one of the most knowledgeable and most senior elders at the scene. He quickly knew the value of these articles from the features and remnant aura of these antiques. "These are the stuff of the early days of the Council of Elders. Where did you find them?" he asked.
"Just take a look first," Hao Ren said, telling the elders not to harp on how he got the things. "This is only a part—the most typical part. I think a few people among you must have already got wind of it: about your sages, the early society of the demon hunters, and the curse of the black sword—all that you want to know is in these ancient books."