"What's the result?" Veyra asked, her voice cool but carrying that faint metallic ring of curiosity that made people listen.
They were still in the Bureau's high-ceilinged meeting room, the light from the arched windows spilling across the polished black stone table. Her gloved fingers tapped the surface in an unhurried rhythm.
"Wait a bit. I have to make sure first," Evan replied. The man's broad frame and three-meter height made his simple movement of turning toward Hector feel like the room shifted with him. His sharp eyes locked on Hector, steady and measuring. "Hector, is what you wrote true?"
"Yes. It's real." Hector's voice was as flat as the expression on his face.
Evan's gaze narrowed. His skill as an interrogator was almost a physical force, but Hector didn't even blink. "He's speaking the truth," Evan said at last, leaning back slightly. "Wow."
Veyra let out a short, amused laugh, the sound low and deliberate. "Well then."
"Okay, Hector," Evan said, straightening the cuff of his dark suit. "Congratulations on becoming an S-Rank Hunter."
"So I pass?" Hector asked, tone as casual as if he'd just been told the weather.
"Yes, of course."
Evan didn't look away, as though cataloging every movement. Then his mouth twitched into something that wasn't quite a smile.
"When I saw this, I almost wanted to put you at Mythic Rank. You're close to qualifying, but your stats and skills aren't at the requirement yet."
"Well you could fight two Myth Rank Hunters as you are now. If their skills are similar to Veyra and Elias, though, your abilities give you a huge advantage."
Hector tilted his head. "Huh. Well, at least the license is coming. Will you issue a citizen ID as well?"
"Sure. You'll now be an official citizen of Qintara."
"And I want a medical license too," Hector added without pause, as though it was already decided.
Evan raised one thick eyebrow. "What are you going to use that for?"
"I have my own plans."
"Alright, alright," Evan said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Since you're a healer class and can perform what's basically a miracle surgery, you'll get the medical license as well."
A new voice cut into the exchange. "Hey."
All eyes turned. Elias stepped forward from where he had been leaning against the far wall, the hem of his long coat brushing softly against the floor. His green eyes locked on Hector with calm precision. "May I know your skill? At least the one that destroyed my chimera."
Veyra moved closer, her presence shifting the air around her. The faint scent of cold metal and shadows seemed to follow. "I can even pay for the information if you insist—or," she paused briefly, "we can form an alliance. We can do an official Hunter contract, witnessed by the goddess."
"Oh, count me in as well," Elias said immediately, his eyes flicking briefly toward her before returning to Hector. His tone was polite, but his interest was unmistakable.
"So you're willing to go that far, huh?" Veyra murmured, a hint of approval or perhaps challenge in her voice.
Elias's gaze moved between the three of them. "Well, I simply don't want a hidden threat. If we proceed as the contract says, at least it becomes a visible one."
"What do you say, Hector?" Evan asked.
Hector crossed his arms. "First of all, what are the contract conditions and the consequences? I need to know that much before I sign anything, don't I?"
"Fair enough." Evan's deep voice filled the room as he explained. "First, the contract will be witnessed by a High Priest of the Loren Church, hired by the Hunter Bureau. It's an oath that both parties must abide by. The consequence of breaking it is mental damage severe enough to turn your brain into soup."
Hector blinked once. "Mental damage?"
"Yes. Normally, mental damage is already hard to defend against, but the kind from the contract can even kill a Legendary Rank Hunter."
Hector's brow furrowed slightly. "Legendary Rank Hunter?"
"Oh, right. You lost all your memories." Evan's tone shifted, less formal. "Legendary Rank is the tier above Myth. It's the strongest rank in the entire world. The number of people at that level can be counted on one hand."
"Huh," Hector muttered, his face unreadable.
The room fell quiet for a moment, the only sound the faint hum of the overhead mana lights. Veyra's gaze stayed fixed on Hector, her eyes like pits of polished obsidian. She was weighing something—how dangerous he really was, perhaps.
Hector smirked faintly. "Alright, sure. I'll do the contract. Why not? Tell me what conditions you want."
They moved to the table, papers sliding into place as they spoke in low, measured tones. The discussion stretched on, each party pressing for wording that wouldn't leave them vulnerable. Hector insisted on clear definitions for "reasonable cause," while Veyra pushed for the assistance clause to be flexible enough to cover emergencies. Elias, ever meticulous, wanted an explicit limit—one assistance request per party, no loopholes.
At last, the terms settled into shape:
Veyra Mornveil – Class: Shadow Queen of Null Domain (Myth Rank)
Elias Thorne – Class: Bio Alchemist (Myth Rank)
Ren Hector – Class: Abomination Doctor
The agreement: they would not harm each other without reasonable cause, and each would agree to assist the others one time, provided the request was not unreasonable.
Hector leaned back in his chair, scanning the draft. "Well, the contract's simple enough."
"Sure. Let's sign it," Elias said, his pen already in hand.
"Wait."
The quiet, steady voice of Armand cut through the air, stopping everyone mid-motion. The knight had been silent for most of the meeting, his armored form almost blending into the wall behind him.
"I want in."