Return Of The SSS-Class Hunter-Chapter 140: Derek In A Cell

A wave of whispers immediately spread.

"Where is that boy?"

"Why isn't he already in the arena? The trial is about to start."

"What happened?"

"Is he injured?"

Even the instructors frowned. Up in the gallery, several important figures stood up.

Including the headmistress from where she was. Her expression turned cold.

"Where is Derek Hale?" she asked slowly.

No one answered. Because no one knew.

But Derek's teammates? They looked at each other, puzzled.

"What's that supposed to mean? Didn't the headmistress herself call for Derek? Then why is she asking where Derek is?" Eva whispered.

Emma walked toward the announcer, Daniel, and bowed slightly in respect. After that, she started elaborating. "Sir, just before we were getting ready for this trial, one of the instructors approached us and said the headmistress is calling for Derek. That's why he had left with the instructor to meet the headmistress."

At that, Daniel frowned. 'Why would the headmistress call Derek at a time like this? I know she wants to learn more about him, but she is not the kind of person who would show concern or favoritism publicly. What's going on?' Different thoughts circled in his mind. Finding no answer, he turned toward where the headmistress was seated.

Noticing something was wrong, the headmistress ordered the instructor beside him to go down and investigate.

The instructor flew down toward Daniel.

When he got close to Daniel, he asked, "What's going on? Where is that boy from earlier, Derek Hale?"

At that, Daniel repeated what Emma had told her.

"What? The headmistress called for him? Nonsense! I was beside her the whole time. I don't remember her calling for Derek. The instructor said.

Hearing that Daniel was put in a difficult position.

Emma could also hear what the instructor just said. She approached him and said in a worried expression. "But, sir, it was clearly an instructor who came and said that Derek was called by the headmistress. Or else, why would he leave at such a crucial moment?" Emma panicked because if Derek wasn't here soon and didn't have a valid reason for being late, he would be disqualified for sure.

Somewhere else at the same time.....

In a dark, unknown place…

Derek slowly regained consciousness. His head felt heavy. His body felt weak. And the first thing he realized was…

He couldn't move.

His arms and legs were bound by some kind of special restraints that suppressed internal energy.

"Tch!" He tried to circulate his energy. But nothing responded.

His heart sank. Then a voice sounded in the darkness. "So you're awake."

Derek's eyes narrowed as he looked toward the source. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

A tall man stepped forward. He wore a black robe. His face was hidden behind a strange mask.

Behind him, several other figures stood quietly.

"Who are you?" Derek asked coldly.

The man chuckled. "Didn't expect what was coming for you, did you?" He paused a little before speaking again. "What did you think? Will you get away unscathed after killing a Nelson heir? And worst, it was none but Fredrick Nelson, the prodigy, the hope of the future for the Nelsons."

Hearing that, Derek's mind raced. 'Kidnapped… inside the academy. But how could this happen? Didn't house master Yami see this coming?'

This wasn't a small matter.

"You know," the man continued, "you're quite famous right now. A genius cultivator. A monster among monsters. Many people want you."

Derek stared at him. "And you think you can kill me just like this? Without anyone noticing?"

The man laughed. "Brat, I am impressed that you still have the nerve to speak. Anyone else would be peeing their pants by now. And you are talented for sure. But too bad you committed a grave sin, and no one can save you now."

Derek's eyes turned icy. "Don't you feel ashamed of ganging on a kid? If you have guts, then release me and then try to kill me."

The man didn't answer. Instead, he turned around. "Keep him here. I will talk with Mr. Nelson first, and then we will work according to his new orders."

"Understood."

Then he left.

Leaving Derek under watch in the darkness.

Derek closed his eyes.

Then slowly…

A cold, dangerous smile appeared on his lips. 'You chose the wrong person to play with.'

Back in the arena…..

The headmistress's aura was already pressing down like a mountain. "Find him," she said coldly.

"If someone dares to touch a student under my protection…" Her eyes gleamed with killing intent. "I will make them regret being born."

Vansel, the instructor beside her, had already explained the situation to her.

In the fighting arena below, Derek's teammates were already in a state of panic.

"Derek was kidnapped? The headmistress didn't call for him? But how is that possible? That instructor clearly told us the headmistress was calling for Derek!" Art said, his voice filled with disbelief.

"Don't you get it yet?" Henry said through gritted teeth. "That instructor was an impostor. How could we have failed to see through it?"

"What should we do now? Is Derek going to be disqualified?" Eva asked anxiously.

"I think there's still hope," Emma said after a brief pause. "The headmistress has already ordered them to find Derek first. After seeing what he's capable of, I don't think she'll care more about finishing the Half-Yearly Ranker's Test than about Derek himself."

In the gallery, the young man from earlier approached the Nelson family head, Willy Nelson, and leaned closer.

"Sir, it's done. We have him locked in an underground cell outside the academy."

Willy's lips curled into a sinister grin. "Good. Now we just wait until this useless show is over."

If Frederick were still around, this Ranker's Test would have been a perfect stage for him to display the Nelson family's supremacy. But now that Frederick was gone, this Half-Yearly Ranker's Test meant nothing to him.

Meanwhile, in that dark, sealed room…

Derek lay bound, with two guards standing watch.

His eyes were closed, as if he were concentrating on something.

Both guards were B-class Hunters.

As they were standing leisurely....

Suddenly....

A violent surge of energy suddenly erupted from Derek's body.

Boom!

The restraints shattered into pieces.

And then…