Arthur stepped out of the hotel, the cool air of Arcania's capital brushing against his face.
He pulled his black hood a little lower, hiding most of his features, and walked toward the curb.
A line of cabs was parked across the streets, engine humming softly beneath their chassis. One stopped as he raised his hand.
The glass window slid down.
"Where to?" the driver asked.
"Take me to the Hunter Association," Arthur said.
The driver nodded.
"Got it. Hop in."
Arthur slid into the back seat.
In about ten minutes, the cab slowed down.
"We're here," the driver said.
Arthur looked out the window.
The Hunter Association towered above the surrounding buildings.
He paid the fare, stepped out, and took a deep breath.
The branch in Arcania was not just another office.
It was the beating heart of the Association itself.
Every country in the world had at least one Hunter Association branch—a place where Awakeners registered, took missions, sold loot, and found parties. But the main headquarters—the true core—was here, in Arcania's capital, rising like a monument to power and ambition.
The building was massive.
A wide set of stairs led up to huge doors framed by obsidian pillars carved with scenes of Awakeners fighting monsters, and eldritch beasts.
Lights lined the stairway.
High windows of glass reflected the city like polished mirrors.
Arthur exhaled slowly.
'Second home of every poor Awakener chasing power…'
He climbed the steps and entered.
The interior was bright and spacious.
The ceiling arched high overhead, threaded with glowing lines of mana that flowed like rivers of light. To the right, boards and crystal screens displayed missions, bounties, dungeon requests, and urgent notices.
Hunters moved everywhere.
He could feel the difference in each step they took.
Some radiated crushing power.
B-ranks and C-ranks—predators among predators.
Others felt weaker—freshly awakened, still tentative in their movement, gripping weapons with the stiff awkwardness of inexperience.
Arthur watched a group of rough-looking C-rankers laugh loudly as they dropped a bag of monster carcass on a counter.
He made his way toward one of the reception counters.
Behind the desk sat a young woman in a fitted Association uniform, busy tapping on a tablet.
As Arthur approached, she looked up.
Her eyes widened just slightly.
'Whoa… what a cutie pie…' she thought instinctively, taking in his sharp features and red eyes beneath the hood.
She blinked once, then quickly forced herself back into professional mode.
"Welcome to the Hunter Association," she said politely. "How can I help you today?"
Arthur placed both hands lightly on the counter.
"I want to sign up as a Hunter," he said. "This will be my first registration."
"I see," she replied, nodding. "In that case, we'll need to run a standard check and assign you a rank."
After asking for his name and few other details she typed a few things into her tablet and then gestured to the side.
"Please follow me."
Arthur walked with her to a small section of the hall where several mana-measuring orbs were mounted on pedestals, each circle marked for registration.
She stood beside one.
"Place your hand on the orb," she instructed. "It will assess your current potential and base rank."
Arthur pressed his palm against the cool surface.
Mana pulsed.
The orb lit up.
Text appeared above it in glowing letters.
[ Mana Level: F-Rank ]
[ Potential: F Rank ]
[Talent : F Rank ]
The receptionist glanced at the reading as a dissapointed expression marred her face but she masked it quickly and nodded.
"Alright," she said. "You will be registered as an F-rank Hunter."
She typed a few more things into her tablet.
A moment later, a small card slid out of a crystal slot near the orb.
She picked it up and handed it to him.
It was a metal-backed license, with his name, rank, and a faint mana seal etched into it.
"Here is your Hunter License," she said. "Please keep this with you at all times. It is proof of your status and required for taking missions, selling loot, and entering Association-controlled dungeons."
Arthur accepted it.
The card felt slightly warm in his fingers.
"Thank you," he said.
She continued, tone shifting into a more formal rhythm.
"As an F-rank Hunter," she explained, "you are allowed to participate in missions and dungeons up to D-rank difficulty."
She glanced at her screen.
"However, for D-rank dungeons," she added, "you must be part of a registered party of at least six members. Among them, at least two must be D-rank Hunters of tier-three or higher."
Arthur frowned slightly.
"So I can't go into a D-rank dungeon alone?" he asked.
"No," she said. "Not with your strength. It's a safety regulation.Also you will need to have a party if three too take on E-rank dugeon gates too."
Arthur paused as he took a deep sight...
Then asked the question he really wanted to know.
"What about higher-rank dungeons?" Arthur said quietly. "Like C-rank or B-rank. Will I ever be able to take those on?"
The receptionist hesitated.
Then shook her head.
"Not as an F-rank with F potential and talent," she said honestly. "Unless your situation changes."
"How?" Arthur pressed. "What needs to change?"
"To access higher-rank dungeons and raids," she said, "you would need one of two things."
"First: a second awakening that raises your rank and potential significantly."
"Second: to be personally recommended or sponsored by an A-rank or S-rank Hunter or a big guild who is recognized by the Association."
She met his eyes.
"Without that," she said, "you will not be permitted to join higher-rank raids—for your safety and for the safety of the parties involved."
Arthur was silent for a moment.
Then he nodded.
"I understand," he said.
He slipped the license into his pocket.
The receptionist smiled faintly.
"If you have any other questions," she said, "you can ask at any time."
Arthur turned away, eyes scanning the hall again.
'Second awakening… sponsorship by an A or S-rank…' he thought.
Just as he was thinking about it...
Suddenly a voice came saying would you like to join our party...
As arthur looked towards the direction where the came from a smile appeared on his face.