Ren walked out of the temporary surgery zone with the five patients in a loose line behind him. The difference in them was obvious to anyone watching. Their steps were steady, their breathing even, and their eyes—though still a little glazed from the ordeal—followed their surroundings with alertness. They looked less like victims and more like people who had just finished an unforgiving training regimen and were still riding the aftershock.
Behind them, the makeshift curtains of the field operating area swayed gently in the filtered airflow. The chemical bite of antiseptic still clung to Ren's clothes, mixing with the faint tang of blood that the ventilation system hadn't yet scrubbed from the air. The floor underfoot gleamed where the medics had scrubbed it clean, though scuffed boot marks and faint scratches from surgical carts showed how chaotic it had been minutes earlier.
The moment they crossed into open space, the mood in the evaluation hall shifted. Conversations broke off. Hunters who had been watching from a distance now moved toward them, some striding briskly, others outright jogging from the far end. The titanium panels of the floor sent their footfalls echoing in sharp, metallic bursts, bouncing off the tall walls and the far ceiling. The sound layered over itself as more boots joined in, building into a steady, approaching rhythm.
The air was different now—curiosity and unease mingled in a way that made people's eyes sharper and their voices quieter.
At the front of the approaching group stood Master Lu, Veyra, Elias, and Evan. All four had their attention fixed on him the moment he emerged. Master Lu's expression was calm but attentive, his hands clasped loosely behind his back. Veyra's golden eyes tracked him with open interest, the corners of her mouth twitching upward. Elias's posture was relaxed on the surface, though his gaze held a measuring quality that hadn't been there before. Evan's face was harder to read, his eyes narrowed slightly in thought.
Evan spoke first, his voice carrying easily over the distance. "What's going on, Hector? I heard the patients went into a state of body shock."
Ren kept walking, his tone flat, almost businesslike. "It's just the process of curing. My skill is… special."
Evan studied him for a moment longer before responding. "So it's a skill, then. That's… fitting. Quietly terrifying, in a way that matches your class."
Ren didn't answer right away. He could feel the eyes on him—not just from the guild masters in front of him, but from the other Hunters scattered around the hall, all of them gauging him against whatever stories they'd heard since he'd arrived.
Before he could speak again, Veyra stepped forward. The faint scratch down her left arm was still visible against her skin, a thin red line that hadn't yet healed despite her rank. The mark was small, but its presence was a reminder that even Myth-ranks didn't always walk away untouched. Her smile was small but sharp, the kind that promised trouble rather than peace.
"Hmm, How curious. How perplexing"
Ren's voice dropped into something colder. "Shut the fuck up, bitch. You're going to pay for attacking me."
Veyra laughed outright, the sound bright and without the slightest hint of offense. "You're interesting. I suppose my curiosity got the better of me." She let a sheepish smile slip onto her face, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I am truly sorry."
Ren held her gaze for a moment longer. This bitch is so shameless.
From the side, Elias spoke up. He was still moving a little slower than normal, the sedative from earlier clearly lingering in his system. "Hey—when we fought, Veyra's shadows and my chimeras were destroyed far too easily. How?"
Ren tilted his head slightly, his voice carrying a faint edge of amusement. "Wouldn't you like to know, alchemist boy?"
Elias let out a short, bitter laugh. "You're hard to deal with, my friend."
Evan stepped in again, steering the exchange back toward his own focus. "Hector, it's not that we don't want to trust you. And it's not that we don't want to give you a license. But we can't read your skills, and that means we have to stay cautious."
Joseph, who had been leaning casually against a wall for most of the scene, shifted his weight forward and straightened. His voice cut through the background noise just enough to draw attention without having to raise it. "Everyone, I have an idea."
The words were enough to pull the eyes of more than just the guild masters. A few of the Hunters who had been standing further back turned toward him.
"Why don't we just give Mr. Hector a Truth Tablet," Joseph continued, "and have him list his skills?"
The suggestion landed with a mix of surprise and consideration. Several Hunters frowned, their expressions tightening. Others exchanged sidelong glances as if wondering why that hadn't been the first thing suggested.
Even Veyra's eyes flicked briefly toward Joseph, her smile settling into something more thoughtful. Elias looked between Joseph and Ren, clearly running the idea through his head. Master Lu didn't move, but his gaze shifted just enough to show he was listening.
Joseph, noticing the shift in attention, blinked and looked toward Evan. "Eh? Director, did you forget we have the Truth Tablet?"
Evan's pause was short but noticeable. Then he gave a small, almost sheepish smile and rubbed the back of his head. "My bad, Hector. I forgot."
Ren stopped walking for the first time since he'd left the surgery area. He looked straight at Evan, his expression unreadable except for the faint tightening around his eyes. "You high-rank Hunter bastards are all fucking crazy."