Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 732 Chapter 166.4 - Interrogation

One of the offices - Emberheart Estate

The room was dim, lit only by the faint flicker of the flames in the grand hearth. The warmth did little to soften the atmosphere, which felt heavy with unspoken intent. The Matriarch of the Emberheart family sat at her desk, her fingers steepled, her crimson robes glowing faintly like embers in the dim light. The papers before her lay untouched, her sharp eyes fixed instead on the dancing flames in the fireplace.

Esme entered quietly, her steps measured, her expression calm but with a trace of concern visible in her furrowed brow, She bowed her head slightly as she approached, waiting for acknowledgment before speaking.

"Matriarch," Esme began, her voice as steady as ever, though her words carried a weight of uncertainty. "Will it really be okay? The measures you've set in motion-they are harsh, even for Young Lady. You've always tested her, but this... this feels different."

The Matriarch did not respond immediately, her gaze lingering on the fire as though it held the answer to some unspoken question. When she finally spoke, her voice was calm, deliberate, and laced with the authority that defined her every word.

"Esme," she began, her tone cool and measured, "a lion raised in captivity may grow strong, but it will never be prepared for the true wilderness. Irina has chosen her own path, one far removed from the controlled environment I meticulously crafted for her. She wishes to make her own decisions, to walk freely as she claims. But freedom is not without its cost."

Esme's lips pressed into a thin line. "But Matriarch, Irina has already shown strength. Surely, she has proven herself capable?"

The Matriarch's gaze shifted to Esme, her sharp amber eyes glinting with a mixture of curiosity and resolve. "Strength is not simply the ability to act, Esme. It is the wisdom to temper that action, the foresight to see beyond the immediate, and the resilience to endure the consequences. Irina is strong, yes. But she lacks understanding of the depth and scope of the game she has stepped into."

The Matriarch's sharp gaze softened briefly, an almost imperceptible flicker of something resembling regret. But as she raised her hand, the faint crimson glow surrounding her fingertips chased the moment away. With a graceful motion, she waved toward the hearth.

The fire surged. Its light expanded, casting long, dancing shadows against the dimly lit walls. As the flames roared to life, the office was illuminated, revealing a figure suspended from the ceiling.

The young woman hung limply, her wrists bound above her head by enchanted chains

that glowed faintly with Emberheart mana. Her body was a map of pain-countless burn marks marred her skin, and fresh welts painted her arms and legs. The tattered remains of her clothes clung to her frame, offering no protection from the cool draft of the room. Her head lolled forward, and her matted hair clung to her sweat-slick face. Though her lips were bound with a gag, her terrified, hollow eyes darted toward the Matriarch as the room came alive with the fire's glow.

Esme's breath hitched, but she maintained her composure. "Matriarch," she said quietly, a faint note of unease slipping into her tone. "Is this truly necessary? She has already suffered greatly."

The Matriarch's response was as cold as the flickering flames were hot. "It is not the suffering that matters, Esme. It is the lesson learned from it. And right now, this girl's purpose is to teach."

With that, the Matriarch extended her hand once more. A single ember floated toward the young woman, hovering just beneath her fingertips. The girl's body tensed as though sensing the imminent agony, her muffled cries turning frantic.

The ember descended, slipping beneath the nail of her forefinger. A sharp hiss sounded, followed by the smell of seared flesh. The girl's muffled screams tore through the room, her back arching as her entire body convulsed in pain.

The Matriarch's expression did not change. Her gaze remained steady, cold, and calculating as the ember lingered for a few agonizing seconds before she extinguished it with a flick of her wrist. The girl slumped forward again, her body trembling uncontrollably.

"Esme," the Matriarch began, her tone still calm but carrying an edge of warning, "Irina believes she understands control. She believes her fire is a tool she wields effortlessly, that her strength is enough to protect her from the consequences of her actions."

Esme inclined her head slightly, though her gaze flickered toward the young woman. "The Young Lady has shown extraordinary resolve, Matriarch. Surely-"

"Resolve is not enough," the Matriarch interjected, her voice sharp and commanding. She turned toward Esme, her amber eyes burning with intensity. "There is no information in this world that can remain hidden forever. Not from enemies. Not from allies. Not even from the Emberhearts."

She gestured toward the young woman with a flick of her fingers. "This one thought she could deceive me. She believed that her affiliations, her resources, and her secrets would protect her. But look where that belief has brought her."

The Matriarch leaned forward slightly, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Even Irina must understand this: there is always a possibility of a leak. No matter how well-guarded her plans, how meticulous her preparations, she is not infallible. She must learn that the Emberheart name does not grant immunity from the world's cruelties. It only makes the stakes higher."

The Matriarch's voice cut through the heavy silence, her tone colder than the Emberheart flames that illuminated the room. "And now," she said, her eyes narrowing as they fixed on the trembling form of the suspended young woman, "Irina has chosen to take that boy into her fold. To trust him, to shield him. But trust is a dangerous commodity, Esme. One must be certain it is earned."

She stood, the folds of her crimson robe catching the light as the faint flicker of the fire reflected the power she wielded. "This is not only Irina's lesson but his as well. That boy... Astron. He is hiding far more than he reveals." Her voice carried a note of intrigue, a rare softness betraying the depth of her thoughts. "I do not acknowledge him lightly, Esme. I dislike that he has forced me to even consider the possibility... but I cannot deny it. He is not a normal child."

Esme watched her Matriarch carefully, her expression unreadable though her hands were folded neatly before her. "And you intend to test him further?"

"Of course," the Matriarch replied, her tone leaving no room for doubt. "It is not enough to see him act. It is how he acts when there is no safety net-no shield but his own will. Irina's attachment to him will drive her decisions, and if he is to remain by her side, I must know if he is worthy. Can he protect her when I am not there? Can he withstand the fire of this family's legacy?"

Her gaze returned to the flickering fire, her thoughts briefly clouded with irritation. "I have set this event to teach Irina, but it has become more than that. I will test Astron, whether he knows it or not. His composure, his strength, his motives. They will all be laid bare. And if he fails..."

She trailed off, her lips pressing into a thin line. The Matriarch's silence was weightier than her words, a promise that failure would not be tolerated.

Esme shifted slightly, her calm demeanor never wavering. "And what if he does not fail, Matriarch? If he proves himself capable?"

The Matriarch's lips twitched into a faint smile, though her amber eyes remained as sharp as ever. "Then Irina's decision to place her trust in him may not be as misguided as I once thought. But do not mistake my curiosity for leniency, Esme. Trusting him will not come easily. He must prove himself in every way possible-his strength, his loyalty, his intentions."

Just as the Matriarch fell silent, a soft notification came from Esme's smartwatch. "Lady Esme, we've just received word. The Young Lady and her companion have dealt with an ambush at the Stellamare Museum. They are both unharmed." Esme's head tilted slightly, and her eyes flicked to the Matriarch. "It seems Irina and Astron have already passed one test."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The Matriarch's lips curled into a rare smile, faint but tinged with approval. "Apparently, that boy is indeed quite skilled," she mused, her tone soft but laden with intent. "Perhaps more so than even Irina realizes. For now, this is enough." Her gaze lingered on the flickering flames as she stepped closer to the fire.

Her gaze lingered on the flickering flames as she stepped closer to the fire. "But this is only the beginning. If Astron truly wishes to stand beside Irina, then he will face trials far greater than this. And if he falters..."

The smile disappeared, replaced by a cold, calculating expression. "I will ensure he never becomes a liability to this family."

The suspended girl groaned faintly, her muffled sobs a haunting backdrop to the crackling fire. The Matriarch barely spared her a glance, extinguishing the flames with a flick of her wrist, plunging the room back into its dim shadows. The Matriarch's gaze darkened as she turned from the extinguished flames, her

silhouette outlined by the faint ember glow that still clung to the room. Her tone sharpened, carrying the weight of unyielding authority.

"Esme," she said, her voice calm yet seething with quiet intensity, "prepare our forces.

It seems the time has come to deal with the cockroaches that have dared to skitter

into the lion's den."

Esme inclined her head, her expression steady, though her lips tightened as if in silent acknowledgment of the gravity of the command. "As you wish, Matriarch."

The Matriarch stepped away from the fire, her movements deliberate and measured as she paced to the window. Her gaze swept across the sprawling estate, her mind already formulating the steps ahead. "The Hawkins family," she continued, her voice low but carrying a feral edge, "has forgotten their place. To strike at an Emberheart... to bare their fangs so openly... it is an insult I will not tolerate."

She turned to Esme, her amber eyes blazing with a fire that seemed to fill the room despite the extinguished flames. "The world has grown complacent, Esme. They have forgotten who we are. It is time they are reminded."

Esme's voice remained steady, though her gaze flickered with a hint of apprehension.

"What would you have us do, Matriarch?"

The Matriarch's lips curved into a cold smile, devoid of warmth yet filled with purpose. "Heh....What else.....Fire of course..."