Ren pushed through the heavy doors of the skill room, the weight of his decision still settling in his mind. The corridor beyond felt different now—brighter, more alive with possibility.
As he stepped into the main hallway, he spotted a familiar figure leaning against the wall with casual confidence.
Lu Changcheng straightened as Ren approached, his expression curious but patient.
"Hello, Brother Ren. How did the skill selection go?"
Ren paused for a moment, studying the man who had become something of a mentor to him. There was genuine interest in Lu Changcheng's eyes, not the calculating gaze of someone fishing for information. Something about that openness made Ren's decision easier.
"I chose one," Ren said, meeting his gaze directly.
"The Veil of False Reality."
Lu Changcheng's eyebrows rose slightly. "Huh. Why do you tell me that?"
The question caught Ren off guard, but he answered honestly.
"Well, I trust you, and you could easily check if you wanted to, Brother Lu. I don't want to hide anything unnecessarily."
A slow smile spread across Lu Changcheng's face, and he shook his head with what looked like genuine fondness.
"Brother Ren, thank you for your trust, but you must never reveal all of your skills to anyone."
He stepped closer, his voice taking on a more serious tone.
"If it's a skill that gets revealed when you register, that can't be helped. But if it's a skill that you acquire later, you have to keep it secret. You need some sort of trump card, after all."
Lu Changcheng paused, then added with a lighter tone,
"And you don't have to tell me, either."
Ren couldn't help but smile at that. This guy really did have a good nature. Kind, even.
Lu Changcheng could have pressed him for more information, could have used his position to dig deeper, but instead he was actively reminding Ren to be more careful. Of course, Ren had kept the real prize hidden; the Dominion of the Crawling Madness skill would remain his true trump card.
"Thank you for the reminder, Brother Lu," Ren said.
"Good." Lu Changcheng nodded approvingly, then his expression shifted to something more business-like.
"Now I have a question for you, Brother Ren."
"Please, ask away."
"Do you want to experience an S rank gate?"
The words hung in the air between them. Ren felt his pulse quicken slightly, though he kept his expression neutral.
Lu Changcheng continued,
"It pays well, and it will give you valuable experience. You can decline, of course you're loaded, after all."
If only he knew I'm penniless, Ren thought, suppressing a bitter laugh. Aloud, he asked, "What kind of gate is it, Brother Lu?"
"It's a new one that just appeared in the south of Qintara. We just acquired the rights to it"
Lu Changcheng's tone became more professional as he explained.
"The scouts we sent in report that it's winter-themed with beast-type monsters."
He paused, considering Ren carefully.
"It's not the best fit for your power set, but you'll go in with another S rank hunter, so it should be manageable."
Ren's mind immediately began calculating risks and rewards. An S-rank gate meant serious danger, but also serious money and experience. The winter theme with beast monsters would indeed be challenging for his current skill set, but having another S-rank hunter as backup changed the equation significantly. The potential rewards—both financial and in terms of growth—far exceeded the risks.
"Sure, I'll go," he said.
Lu Changcheng's smile returned, warmer this time.
"I knew I could count on you, Brother Ren."
"When do we leave?"
"You'll depart in a week. That gives you time to prepare."
Lu Changcheng straightened, his demeanor becoming more instructional.
"I recommend you go to the archive and study some basic information about hunters and monsters. Knowledge can be just as valuable as raw power in situations like this."
"Thanks, Brother Lu. I appreciate the opportunity"
As Lu Changcheng walked away, Ren released a long sigh. He still knew far too little about this world, about how things really worked beyond the surface level. Every conversation revealed new gaps in his understanding, new areas where his ignorance could get him killed.
But at least he had a roof over his head and three meals a day for now. That was more stability than he'd had in longer than he cared to remember. The archive would help fill in some of those dangerous knowledge gaps, and the upcoming mission would provide both funds and real-world experience.
At least let's go to the archive for now, he thought, turning toward what he hoped was the right direction.
The hallways of the Hunter Association building were busier than when he'd first arrived. Hunters of various ranks moved with purpose, their equipment and bearing telling stories of countless battles. Some moved with the fluid grace of veterans, while others still carried the eager tension of newcomers. Ren found himself studying them, trying to read the subtle signs that might help him understand the unwritten rules of this world.
A group of B-rank hunters passed him, their conversation catching his attention.
"—heard the Crimson Fang Guild lost three people in that A-rank gate near Heidel. Turns out the monster classification was completely wrong—"
"—should have seen it coming. Those government scouts never—"
Their voices faded as they moved past, but the snippet was enough to reinforce what Lu Changcheng had just told him. Knowledge wasn't just useful in this business; it was survival. Misidentified monsters, incorrect threat assessments, outdated information—any of these could turn a routine mission into a death sentence.
The archive, when he finally found it after asking directions twice, was larger than he'd expected. Rows of shelves stretched toward a high ceiling, filled with books, scrolls, and what looked like magical recording devices. The air smelled of old paper and something else—something that reminded him of ozone after lightning.
A middle-aged woman with steel-gray hair looked up from a desk near the entrance. Her eyes were sharp behind wire-rimmed glasses, and she had the look of someone who had catalogued more dangerous knowledge than most people would encounter in a lifetime.
"New hunter?" she asked without preamble.
"That obvious?"
She smiled, and it transformed her stern features completely. "You have that look—equal parts eagerness and terror. Plus, Lu Changcheng sent word you'd be coming. I'm Librarian Chen."
"Ren. Pleased to meet you."
"Likewise. So, S-rank gate in a week, winter theme with beast monsters. You'll want to start with basic monster classification and environmental effects." She stood and gestured for him to follow. "Beast-types are tricky because they're often more intelligent than they appear, and winter environments can mask sounds and scents that might otherwise give you advance warning."
As she led him deeper into the archive, Ren felt some of his anxiety ease. Here was someone who understood the practical side of survival, who could help him fill in the crucial gaps in his knowledge.
"How long have you been the librarian here?" he asked.
"Fifteen years. Before that, I was a B-rank hunter for twelve years until a hydra decided my left leg looked tasty." She tapped what he now realized was a prosthetic limb. "Turns out I was better at organizing information than dodging monster attacks anyway."
Her matter-of-fact tone about what must have been a traumatic injury impressed him. This world seemed to breed a particular kind of resilience in its people.
She pulled several thick volumes from the shelf and set them on a nearby reading table. "Take your time, ask questions if you need to, and remember—in our business, ignorance isn't just expensive. It's usually fatal."