CHAPTER 270: SCHEMING BEHIND THE BACK

Once Logan entered the hall, he found all the important people he needed were already seated inside. Kings and queens from all five kingdoms, at least two S-class fighters from each kingdom, and several important officials, like the court mages of all five kingdoms, were present.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Logan walked in and took the seat reserved for him.

Nobody said anything, as they were waiting for him to start. Then Logan began, slowly.

"Everyone, I know you have many questions. I’m here today not only to answer them but also to inform you about many things... and to ask for your help as well," Logan said.

"What kind of help are we speaking about?" asked Velkar’s King Malrik.

Logan looked at him and replied calmly, as if he had expected the question. "First, let me explain everything. Then I’ll tell you what kind of help I need."

After saying that, Logan took a deep breath before beginning from the start. He recounted everything... why the monsters were acting strange, the existence of other major species in other worlds, the fact that the magic they were currently using wasn’t natural, and finally, his cultivation technique.

Everything he said sounded like an impossible myth pulled straight out of a storybook. They could hardly believe any of it, yet many things matched, many unanswered mysteries suddenly made sense. And his cultivation technique... that was the biggest shock of all.

"So, you really weren’t using any magic?" King Arsalan asked.

"No," Logan replied. "It was all thanks to cultivation. It grants strength beyond imagination."

Arsalan gasped. Although he had already suspected it, hearing the confirmation still left him stunned.

"And that’s not all." Logan meanwhile continued. "This internal energy can also be used to cast magic."

"What?! Really?" one S-class hunter from Solmyr exclaimed in disbelief.

"Yes," Logan said calmly. "I had been experimenting with casting magic without manipulating the artificial mana we normally rely on. Instead, I used my own internal energy. It was difficult at first... but eventually, it became possible."

A heavy silence spread across the hall once more. This time, it wasn’t just the other kingdoms that were stunned. Even Arcadia’s representatives sat frozen. Until now, Logan had never shared this information with anyone. Not Ali Arkman, not Noah, not even his parents or Rowan. After all, he had learned about this recently himself.

Rowan leaned forward, his brows furrowed in disbelief. "Logan, are you sure about what you’re saying?" he asked, his voice unsteady. "Earlier, I thought that once the dungeons disappear, when we are done with raiding them all, we’d lose our ability to use magic altogether. But you’re saying we won’t?"

"Yes," Logan replied, smiling faintly.

"That’s..." Rowan started but trailed off midway, unable to find the right words.

"So this cultivation technique of yours," Queen Adriana of Solmyr interjected, her tone both cautious and curious. "Since you’re openly sharing it, I assume you intend to teach this... technique to the other kingdoms as well, correct?"

"Yes," Logan nodded. "But I also have a request, the help I mentioned earlier."

King Malrik of Velkar spoke again, leaning back in his seat. "Then tell us, Logan. What is this request of yours? You said you’d explain it after sharing everything. I believe that time has come."

Logan’s expression grew solemn as the air in the hall thickened once again. He slowly rose from his seat and looked around at the gathered monarchs and their representatives.

"What I’m about to say now is the most important part of this meeting," he said, his calm yet firm voice echoing through the hall. "From this moment onward, I request that every kingdom immediately halt all dungeon raids."

"What?!" King Arsalan’s brows furrowed. "You’re asking us to stop raiding dungeons? You know what that means, right? It means we will stop spreading our territory. And that’s not all. It’s not just the hunters who earn their livelihood through dungeon raids. Many businessmen also rely on buying and selling monster corpses and other dungeon materials to make a living. Stopping dungeon raids would be the same as kicking away the very source of their survival."

Everyone else began murmuring among themselves.

Logan didn’t respond right away. He let them speak, their voices rising in disbelief and confusion, until the room once again fell quiet. Then, he spoke. "I know what it sounds like. But you need to hear the reason before rejecting it outright."

He stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over each of the rulers. "The monsters we’re fighting inside those dungeons... many of them aren’t monsters at all."

"What do you mean?" asked Queen Adriana, her tone half incredulous, half alarmed.

Logan’s eyes darkened. "Many of them were once humans."

Gasps echoed throughout the room.

"Yes," Logan continued. "As I’ve already mentioned, those monsters came from another planet but not all of them. When they invaded our world, their main goal was to steal the cultivation technique. But they failed. After that, they began conducting experiments, turning many humans into hybrid monsters in the hope of recreating that power. They failed at that, too. Yet one fact remains unchanged. Many of those so-called monsters, the hybrid ones were once human."

He paused, letting the horror of his words settle. "So when we raid dungeons, we’re not just killing monsters. We’re killing people, people who were turned against their will. That’s why I’m asking you all to stop."

The kings exchanged glances, still struggling to comprehend.

"That’s... that’s insane," King Clive of Caelondor muttered. "You’re saying those creatures have human origins?"

"Yes," Logan said quietly.

Nobody spoke. Even the S-class fighters who had earlier shown disbelief now sat frozen, the reality sinking in.

Logan continued, "I’m not saying we should do nothing. Dungeon breaks will still happen. When they do, fight back, but try not to kill unless absolutely necessary. Capture them if you can. There might still be a way to restore them to their human forms."

A long silence followed. Only the faint hum of magic in the lamps above filled the air.

After what felt like minutes, Queen Adriana was the first to speak. "If what you say is true, then killing them would indeed be unforgivable."

King Arsalan, though hesitant, nodded slowly. "Our people have fought monsters for centuries. But if they were once human... then perhaps it’s time we rethink what we’ve been doing."

One by one, the others followed. The resistance in their eyes softened, replaced by grim understanding.

"Alright," said Malrik finally, exhaling a long breath. "We’ll halt all raids for now. But you’d better think of a solution fast."

"I will," Logan said.

With that, the meeting drew to a close. The kings and their entourages stood, their minds heavy with new revelations.

As the rulers began leaving the hall, whispers rippled through their escorts. The air, though calm, carried an undercurrent of unease.

Outside the palace gates, King Malrik stood beside his carriage, deep in thought. Behind him, one of Velkar’s S-class fighters leaned closer.

"My King," the man whispered, his tone sharp and calculating. "We can’t allow everyone else to have access to that cultivation technique. It’s too powerful. If we could claim it for ourselves, Velkar could rule over every other kingdom."

Malrik’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t respond right away, but the faint curl of a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. He turned slightly toward the man and whispered something back, too softly for anyone else to hear.

The S-class fighter’s expression darkened. "Understood."

And just like that, a plan was set in motion.

But Velkar wasn’t the only one scheming.

In another corner of the courtyard, King Arsalan of Drahzul was having a quiet conversation with his advisors. "We cannot let Arcadia hold this advantage," he muttered. "A power like that must belong to the strongest. We must seize it anyway possible."

His advisors bowed. "Understood, Your Majesty."

Similar thoughts were brewing in the minds of others. Even in Caelondor and Solmyr, kingdoms that had maintained friendly ties with Arcadia, doubt and greed quietly took root. Unlike Velkar and Drahzul, they had no intention of harming Logan, but neither were they eager to see the cultivation technique spread equally among all.

By the time the royal procession began dispersing, smiles had vanished from every face. Each monarch left with their own thoughts, some burdened by guilt, others driven by ambition.

When everything finally settled, Logan took a moment to gather himself. He hadn’t expected the meeting to go perfectly, but at least they had agreed to stop the raids... for now.

He stepped outside, where his parents and Rowan were waiting.

Alice smiled faintly as she saw him. "You handled that well," she said softly.

Logan exhaled and nodded. "I hope they meant whatever they said."

Rowan walked toward him. "What now? What are your next plans?"

"I have to become stronger," Logan replied, his tone steady. "And deal with the main monster who’s controlling everything."

He clenched his fist and stared at it, his eyes filled with unshakable resolve.