El Capitan, standing beside El Padre, crossed his arms. "That place is dangerous for outsiders. All martial arts practitioners, even those of the dark arts, have long used it as a sanctuary — to recover, hide, and strengthen themselves. If Solaris is wounded, he'll certainly seek out rituals to accelerate his recovery."

Ling Li's gaze remained firm. "That's why we need to act fast. If he regains his strength, he'll become even harder to find… and nearly impossible to defeat."

Shi Min exhaled again, his mind racing. "Then we need to prepare for the worst. The Hidden Valley is not a place we can storm into recklessly."

The Russian President leaned forward, his face tight with urgency. "Madam Ling Li, what will it take to enter? We need to stop him before it's too late."

Ling Li considered this for a moment before speaking. "First, we need to understand what we're up against. Ancient barriers protect the Hidden Valley. Only martial arts cultivators can enter."

Her tone was pointed.

"We can enter," she said calmly, "but you cannot."

The Russian President froze for a beat. Then he blinked once, twice.

"…."

'Who said I wanted to go?'

Ling Li continued without pause. "The news of the evil practitioner has already reached the Hidden Valley. The residents, those who have lost loved ones, are causing turmoil outside the constabulary."

A new wave of tension settled.

"Let me speak to Otako," Ling Li said. "He is the head of the constabulary of the Hidden Valley.

Once I relay the news about Solaris, we will hear what he has to say."

Shi Min's gaze sharpened. "Then it's decided. We wait for Otako's advice. Then we infiltrate the Hidden Valley. Solaris cannot be given the chance to recover."

The weight of his words shifted the air around them.

Anticipation morphed into action.

This was no longer just a pursuit.

It was a hunt.

The Russian President had been sitting silently, absorbing every chilling detail of Solaris' escape. His fingers were steepled against his lips, concealing the weight of his thoughts as he listened.

When Shi Min revealed the gruesome truth — that Solaris had eaten the brains and hearts of his own servants — a flash of sheer horror crossed the Russian President's face. His controlled demeanor faltered, just for a fraction of a second. He had witnessed brutality before, but this — this was something else. Something primal. Something monstrous.

Ling Li caught the slight twitch in his brow, the tightening of his jaw. Though a man of unshakable authority, she could see the flicker of unease beneath his diplomatic mask.

"This is beyond political maneuvering," The Russian President finally said, his voice low, measured — but unmistakably troubled. "This is no longer just a crisis. It's a nightmare walking among us."

He leaned forward, his gaze searching Ling Li's face as if willing an explanation. He was a man accustomed to dealing with threats — assassins, insurgents, covert operations — but this was different. This was an enemy that defied the very rules of reality as he knew them.

"This… this is your domain, Madam Li." The Russian President's tone was not skeptical but rather cautious. "I understand war, power struggles, and diplomacy. I do not understand the world of martial artists."

His words hung in the air — neither an admission of weakness nor an attempt to distance himself.

Just honesty.

He exhaled sharply, pressing his fingers together again. "But I know one thing: monsters like Solaris don't stop. And from what you've told me, he is wounded, desperate, but still dangerous."

He turned to Shi Min, his voice laced with determination. "You say he's fled to the Hidden Valley?"

Shi Min nodded once, his expression unreadable.

The Russian President sat back, considering this. His knowledge of the Hidden Valley was limited, but he had heard whispers — stories of an untouchable sanctuary, a place where the laws of

ordinary men held no power.

"El Capitan said it is off limits and dangerous for outsiders." The Russian President's eyes sharpened slightly. "Then tell me — if I cannot step foot into this place, what can I do? Because I refuse to sit idly while something like this festers within my borders."

Ling Li regarded him carefully. The Russian President wasn't afraid — he was frustrated. A leader accustomed to taking direct action was now faced with an enemy he could neither see nor understand.

"You cannot go," Ling Li said smoothly, "but you can still command influence."

The Russian President held her gaze, waiting.

"The chaos outside the constabulary — it will grow," Ling Li continued. "Families of the victims. Those who fear Solaris' return. If this spreads beyond the Hidden Valley, it will become your problem. You must keep the fear contained."

The Russian President's fingers curled slightly over the armrest of his chair. "You mean to keep my people from panicking."

Ling Li nodded. "A frightened public is dangerous. Rumors will spread, civilians will begin to see shadows where there are none, and soon, fear will birth problems that even martial artists cannot control."

He exhaled through his nose, his mind already working through the implications. The thought of a frightened nation trembling at an enemy they could not comprehend was deeply unsettling.

Ling Li pressed forward, unwavering. "Otako leads the constabulary. I will speak to Otako personally. Once I know his assessment, I will share it with you so you can prepare accordingly."

The Russian President's jaw tightened, but he nodded. "Then do it quickly. If Solaris is allowed to recover, I have no doubt he will strike again." His fingers tapped once against the table. "And when he does, I refuse to have my people caught unaware."

He turned his gaze back to Shi Min. "You said this is a hunt." His lips pressed into a firm line. "Then let's make sure it's one where Solaris does not escape."

The tension in the room was no longer simply that of unease — it had shifted. This was now a war room. A battleground of strategizing, assessing, preparing for what lay ahead. Every movement was measured, and every decision weighed with careful calculation. But then, the soft knock on the door broke the air like a pebble rippling through still water.

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