The Damned Demon
chapter-604

The next week,

Near the outskirts of Estonia, a massive protest was unfolding. The local houses and shops stood deserted, their usual bustle replaced by a sea of agitated citizens filling the streets. They waved signboards high, the bold text screaming their discontent: "DON'T STEAL OUR HOMES!", "WHA CAN GO FUCK THEMSELVES", "WE DON'T NEED YOUR PROTECTION", "PROTECT MOTHER NATURE!"

The air was thick with shouts and chants, a tangible cloud of defiance and anger.

Amidst the tumult, police officers were visibly struggling to contain the crowd, their efforts seeming almost futile against the wave of public outrage. Government officials lingered at the edges, exchanging helpless glances, their usual composure replaced by uncertainty and concern. They were busy on their phones, as if trying to ring all the help they could get.

In stark contrast to this chaos, a helicopter touched down a safe distance away, its blades slicing through the tension as it landed. As the helicopter blades slowed to a gentle whirl, a palpable sense of calm began to spread through the agitated crowd. Heads turned, and whispers swept through the air as a graceful woman, clad in a flowing bright blue gown that hugged her voluptuous curves elegantly, gracefully stepped out onto the dusty ground.

Her bobbed blue hair shimmering under the morning sun and her bright blue eyes carried a warm light, and exuded an air of composed confidence.

The serene aura that seemed to accompany her muted the clamor of protests and drew all eyes toward her.

Even the children, who had been restless and noisy, now stood quietly, their gazes locked on the figure that approached with an effortless dignity. How could they all not recognize the wife of the President of the WHA, Cecilia Sterling!

The police, previously tense and ready to intervene, visibly relaxed under her calming presence, stepping back to give her space as she neared the barricade that separated her from the crowd.

Cecilia paused a few feet away, her gentle smile contrasting sharply with the charged atmosphere.

She raised her hands slightly, signaling for peace, and began to address the gathering. "I am not sure if you all know me, but I am Cecilia Sterling. I am here on behalf of the World Hunter Association to manage—"

"We don't want you people here!" Her introduction was cut short by an outburst from an elderly woman in the crowd, her voice harsh and laden with defiance, though her expression faltered the moment Cecilia's gaze landed on her.

Her words acted as a catalyst, stirring others to join in with their own cries of protest, "You heard her! We won't let go of our homes!"

"Yeah! This is our land, and we aren't leaving!"

The police made a move to advance, but with a swift gesture, Cecilia signaled them to hold back. Turning back to face the crowd, she continued with a calm authority, "Please, let me speak."

Her voice, soft yet clear, carried over the crowd, quelling the rising shouts and drawing them back into a reluctant silence, "We are not going to take away your homes or lands until everyone is satisfied with whatever outcome we can come to an agreement on. So please give me some time to ask around and understand every concern you might have, and then come up with a solution. But until then... I request you all to be peaceful and not inconvenience these officers. They are only doing their jobs."

Her plea resonated with the crowd, a mixture of skepticism and curiosity in their eyes. A young woman's voice cut through the momentary quiet, her tone defiant yet less harsh, "Fine! But we aren't going anywhere!" Her proclamation seemed to resonate with the others, who, following her lead, sat down in a collective, albeit tense, show of protest.

Cecilia nodded, her smile returning briefly as a sign of appreciation for their willingness to listen. As she turned away from the crowd, her smile faded, replaced by a look of contemplation.

She was approached by a man in a neatly tailored suit, his face etched with anxiety, "Good morning, Mrs. Sterling," he greeted, "I am Robin Hein, the mayor of this town."

Cecilia nodded, her brow furrowed with concern, "Mayor Hein, I came as soon as I heard about the protest. However, I'm puzzled. Your government already approved the allocation of this town for Project Guardian. The World Hunter Association has government clearance. I thought everything would have been discussed and settled with your citizens. Today is the day we are supposed to start implementing the project."

Robin grimaced, the lines on his face deepening, "I apologize, Mrs. Sterling. While the relocation compensation was being arranged, fears and concerns started to surface. At first, we thought it was just the usual commotion for these kinds of things. But only now have we realized how serious things are. This isn't isolated; similar protests are erupting globally. People are rallying against the WHA's project, driven by ecological, sentimental, and civil concerns. Even specific groups have been created to rally more people like the Anti-WHA squad and so on."

Cecilia's expression tightened, a mix of frustration and disbelief crossing her features, "Our project isn't meant to disrupt or destroy our environment or peace. Why can't they see that any lost homes will be compensated more than fairly? Aren't they aware that this project is meant for their own safety?"

The mayor looked towards the irked crowd, his voice low, "Mrs. Sterling, many here believe that no monetary compensation can replace the legacy of their homes or their connection to the land. It's not just about the physical space—it's about their heritage, their history. They fear that our global project will overshadow their local lives and that this will not be the end of it. Some even claim that the WHA will again come after their lands even if they relocate and interfere in their affairs."

Cecilia pondered for a moment, her gaze sweeping over the protestors, "We need a new strategy," she decided, "If fear of the unknown is driving this, we need transparency, community engagement. Let's involve local leaders in the planning. They need to see themselves as partners, not just subjects, in this initiative."

"An excellent approach," Robin agreed but his expression remained grim as he added, "But the problem is…even they are part of these protests."

"What?"

"I am afraid…you will have to talk with the President about this situation," Robin said with a serious look while Cecilia took a deep breath.

—

The president's office in the WHA HQ was steeped in a somber ambiance, shadowed by the brooding, tumultuous skies outside the large windows. Derek stood there, his silhouette stark against the graying backdrop, as if deeply reflecting on something.

"They pulled a fast one on us, Derek," echoed the aged voice of a man from behind.

"They did. Didn't they, Albert?" Derek's voice was low, a blend of coldness and foreboding, as he turned from the window to face the old man.

Albert sat comfortably, his age evident in his white beard and bald head, yet his eyes sparkled with a sharp, calculative light.

His gaze met Derek's, unflinching and piercing, "You don't seem surprised, but you shouldn't feel disappointed. We both knew that most of those countries agreed to our project that day just to appear commendable before the world and because we sprung it upon them unexpectedly. They wouldn't want to bear unnecessary repercussions."

Derek narrowed his eye as Albert went on, "But now, given time to ponder, they're pulling the same stunt on us. They know better than to confront us directly. Instead, they manipulated their citizens into doing their dirty work, ensuring we cannot retaliate without appearing to infringe on basic human rights. They aim to make us back off or tarnish our reputation. Countries like Russia, China, Germany, and all those who were completely against our plans must be secretly scheming together with the other countries to fight us back."

Albert gave a passive, cold smirk as he added, "Other than a few countries who will stick to us for all the benefits, the rest might gang up and try to stomp our influence. I heard they are even using the families of their Hunters to make them leave us and go back to their own countries to serve them. I bet they won't hesitate to use every trick in the book."

Derek gave a low tired sigh, resting his hands on the back of his chair, his posture rigid with cold frustration, "Why do they force us to take the hard path? I offered them the path of least resistance, yet they fail to grasp it. It's always the weak that do not seem to get it."

Albert narrowed his eyes, his voice carrying a note of sly wisdom, "You've already anticipated their folly. Whatever unfolds now rests on their shoulders, not ours. We are this close to our goals."

"What would you have me do?" Derek turned fully, facing Albert with a gaze that didn't seem to seek guidance but an understanding.

Albert paused, setting his teacup down with a gentle clink, "Why ask when you already know the answer? I wager, even as we speak, you've set things in motion. Whatever it is, I know it will work in our favor."

Derek's eyes gleamed with a cold resolution, "Since these lesser ones seem to underestimate the terror and destruction that demons can unleash, isn't it our responsibility to enlighten them? To show them what true peril the demons could bring?"

"Indeed. With time not on our side, we do need a speedy measure," Albert replied, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards ever so slightly in a grim semblance of a smile.