The registration process at the Qintara Hunter Bureau had been a whirlwind of bureaucracy and barely contained chaos. Evan had escorted Ren through the marble corridors, past security checkpoints that scanned for everything from concealed weapons to anomalous energy signatures. The moment they'd announced an S-rank registration, the building had erupted into controlled pandemonium.
Staff members who rarely saw anything more exciting than B-rank upgrades suddenly found themselves processing paperwork for someone who could theoretically level city blocks. Department heads emerged from their offices, drawn by curiosity and the need to witness history in the making. Security protocols that hadn't been activated in months suddenly came online.
Ren had changed into a crisp black suit that Lu Changcheng had somehow procured within an hour of their meeting. The fabric was expensive, tailored to fit his frame perfectly, and when combined with the plague doctor mask, it created an image that was both professional and deeply unsettling. The torn formal wear from earlier had been discarded, replaced by this uniform that spoke of wealth, power, and medical authority.
The plague doctor mask remained the centerpiece of his appearance. The black surface reflected the bureau's fluorescent lighting, while the dark eye holes revealed nothing of the man beneath. The long beak curved downward, giving him an avian quality that was both elegant and predatory.
But news of an S-rank registration had spread through the building like wildfire, and from there to the city's information networks with the speed that only truly significant events achieved. Within thirty minutes, the first reporters had arrived. Within an hour, the front plaza of the Hunter Bureau resembled a media circus.
News vans lined the street, their satellite dishes extended toward the sky like metallic flowers seeking sunlight. Camera crews established positions at strategic points, testing angles and lighting. Journalists clutched notebooks and tablets, ready to capture every word and gesture. The crowd had grown beyond just the media, curious civilians gathered at the edges, held back by temporary barriers and security personnel.
Lu Changcheng observed the chaos from a window on the third floor, his expression thoughtful. He turned to Ren, who stood beside him watching the crowd below.
"Are you ready, Brother Ren?"
"Ready for what?"
"To make a grand appearance."
Before Ren could protest or ask for clarification, Lu Changcheng had taken his hand and was leading him toward the elevator. The descent felt longer than it actually was, giving Ren time to process what was about to happen. He'd gone from being a relatively anonymous figure to someone about to face the scrutiny of the entire nation's media.
The elevator doors opened onto the ground floor lobby, and Ren could already hear the commotion outside. Through the glass walls, he could see the sea of cameras and reporters, all focused on the building's entrance like predators waiting for prey to emerge.
Lu Changcheng's grip on his hand was firm, confident. "Just follow my lead. Remember, you're Dr. Nox now."
They approached the automatic front doors, which slid open with a soft pneumatic hiss. The moment they stepped through the threshold, the world exploded into light and sound.
Camera flashes erupted like a strobe light storm, each burst bright enough to leave afterimages on Ren's retinas. The plague doctor mask's eye holes provided some protection, but the sheer volume of flashes was overwhelming. Questions came from every direction, a cacophony of voices that blended into an incomprehensible wall of sound.
"What are your powers?"
"Why do you wear a mask?"
"What's your real name?"
"How did you achieve S-rank?"
"Are you related to the recent monster attacks?"
The questions poured in like a flood, each reporter trying to shout over their colleagues. Microphones were thrust toward him from every angle, some attached to boom poles that swayed overhead like mechanical trees. The crowd pressed forward against the barriers, creating a sense of barely controlled chaos.
For the first time since arriving in this world, Ren felt genuinely nervous. The physical confrontations, the political maneuvering, even the life or death battles, none of them had prepared him for this kind of exposure. His heart rate increased, and he could feel sweat beginning to form beneath the mask's padding.
Okay, let's handle this in character.
Ren took a deep breath and deliberately activated the mask's unsettling effect. He didn't transform or reveal his tentacles that would cause a panic but he allowed the subtle wrongness of his presence to emanate outward.
The change was immediate and dramatic. The feeling of unease rolled over the crowd like a tide, touching every person present with the same primitive fear that had affected the hunters in the conference room. It was the sensation of standing too close to a cliff edge, of hearing footsteps in an empty house, of glimpsing movement in peripheral vision that disappeared when looked at directly.
Every reporter fell silent instantly. Cameras continued to flash, but the operators behind them had gone quiet, suddenly uncertain whether they wanted to draw the attention of whatever was standing before them. The crowd of civilians at the back began to shift uncomfortably, some taking unconscious steps backward.
The silence stretched for several seconds, heavy with tension and unspoken fear.
Lu Changcheng stepped forward, his voice cutting through the quiet with practiced authority. "Everyone, may I have your attention please."
The cameras swiveled toward him like flowers following the sun. His presence was a relief after the unsettling aura Ren projected familiar, human, comprehensible.
"This is our new S-rank hunter, Mr. Nox. His class designation is Hollow Doctor."
Lu's voice carried the weight of his position, commanding respect and attention.
"Mr. Nox, please introduce yourself."
Ren straightened, drawing on every bit of professionalism he'd learned during his medical career. He had to give face to Master Lu, especially in front of such a large audience.
"Yes, Guildmaster."
His tone shifted to formal register, the words emerging from the mask's beak with mechanical precision. The voice modulator Lu had provided added subtle distortions that made him sound both authoritative and otherworldly.
"My name is Nox. My class is Hollow Doctor. My power is healing through surgery, although my methods are unconventional."
He paused, allowing the cameras to capture his words.
"I also possess abilities of intimidation and fear that prevent monsters from attacking me directly. My class designation is support type."
One brave reporter managed to overcome the lingering unease enough to ask a question. "Mr. Nox, can you cure incurable diseases like cancer and dementia?"
The question hung in the air. Ren considered his response carefully. In his original world, these diseases were indeed incurable by conventional means. But his abilities here operated on different principles entirely.
"Yes, I can."
The simple statement sent ripples through the crowd. Gasps, murmurs, and the rapid clicking of camera shutters filled the air. Even Lu Changcheng looked surprised, his eyebrows rising slightly at the bold claim.
"Hah!"
"For real?"
"Is he serious?"
The revelation had significant implications. Normal healer class hunters could mend injuries, accelerate natural healing processes, and cure some ailments. High level healers could restore lost non large limbs and even cure blindness. But diseases that infected humanity at the cellular or neurological level had remained beyond their reach.
If Nox could truly cure cancer and dementia, his value had just increased exponentially.
Another reporter found their voice.
"What about plagues? Can you cure those as well?"
"Yes, I can."
"What did you do before becoming a hunter?"
"I was a doctor in the surgery department. Now I'm just a humble doctor serving the Dao Guild."
The questions came faster now, the reporters emboldened by his straightforward answers.
"What kind of trial did you face during your awakening?"
Ren's tone grew colder. "I won't answer that question."
"What's your opinion on the current state of humanity? Will the monster threat cause our extinction?"
This was the kind of question that could make or break public perception.
Ren chose his words carefully, projecting confidence without arrogance.
"If the world still has us, that will not happen."
"Wow, such confidence!"
From the side, Lu Changcheng smiled as he watched Ren handle the press conference.
The younger man was displaying exactly the right combination of authority and mystery.
His short, direct answers built character while avoiding potential controversies. The tone of righteous confidence made the Dao Guild look good by association.
The way Ren carried himself, the measured responses, the subtle implications of vast power held in check it was perfect public relations. He was creating a legend in real time, establishing himself as someone both feared and respected.
I'm proud of you, brother, He thought, though he kept the sentiment to himself for now.