Everyone except Konrad carries one large bag filled with their proof of the mission, namely, 5 bloody heads, and follows after Auren, who confidently walks towards the government building right in front of them.
Auren briefly looks at the structure itself. It's strangely luxurious, with countless engravings on the walls and statues placed on the premises, all tied to the Clan rather than the United States of Saherta. As he admires some of the impressive displays of craftsmanship, he can't help but question the reasoning behind it. He turns to Konrad and asks:
"So the Clan is also in charge of international business? Seems like a little conflict to me," Auren then notes, thinking about the potential ramifications. "This building looks like just another Clan building! Is the central government really in such a weak position here?"
"It is," Konrad replies confidently. "The Clan's hostility and unwillingness to open up to the United States is perfectly symbolized in this building. It's no wonder the United States has taken steps to forcefully gain a foothold here using Corporations. They are clearly helpless and unable to take over things by force. Even their own offices are not run by themselves, but by the clan. This is indeed Glam Gas Land."
"Let's get inside already!" Vanessa complains, while Neffi is already moving ahead, ready to enter.
"Ignore them," Konrad says. "You know, Auren, I'm actually quite impressed. You're not only the genius Nen user I knew you to be, but you're also pretty informed about the state of things, pay close attention, and make careful decisions that benefit us. As a Hunter, it's not enough to be a violent brute like my sist—"
Before Konrad can finish his sentence, Vanessa swings her heavy, head-filled bag at him. The blow lands square on his face, making Konrad shriek in shock and disgust.
Eren watches the scene unfold and rubs his head, unsure if he should comment or intervene.
"Let's go..." Auren says, sounding slightly resigned. "Neffi is already inside."
Despite the comedic display, Konrad is right. I need to work harder at judging situations. I've clearly made avoidable mistakes in the past. It's important that I improve my decision-making and keep myself informed about local and international politics. I'll never be a schemer like Pariston, but I at least need to understand how the game is played, so I don't get dragged into battles that aren't mine. That's the bare minimum of what I need to do. Nen, body and mind. I need to improve all of them.
The group follows after Neffi, while the driver calls from behind.
"We'll be waiting and drive you back once you're done."
Auren simply raises his arm, signaling that he heard him.
Inside, the building looks more like a museum than a government office. Decorative plants and statues fill the lobby, turning it into a display of wealth and influence. As soon as they step in, two male employees in black suits approach.
Neffi, walking a little ahead, turns back to Auren with a lost expression.
Auren flashes his Hunter license without hesitation.
"Welcome, Hunter. What is the reason for your visit?" one of them asks politely.
"Cashing in some bounties..." Auren says flatly.
"Please go ahead, then. The receptionist at the front desk will help you," the man explains, pointing towards the large and luxurious reception area.
Not bothering to respond, Auren moves forward. At the desk, he places his license down and says, "I'm a Hunter. If you need more information, speak with Jasoof of the Clan. I'm here to claim a few bounties. Exactly twenty, to be precise! Call the one in charge."
The people behind the front desk stare at Auren in shock, then glance toward one of their own—a middle-aged woman who seems to be a senior member. After a brief pause, she finally speaks up.
"Please follow me! I'm in charge of bounties and will gladly process things for you." She states and calls over several more staff members and urges them to follow her.
Auren nods and silently trails after her.
"..."
In a large, spacious backroom, twenty severed heads are lined up neatly on a long table.
Multiple workers with cameras and thick lists of issued bounties begin analyzing and documenting Auren's targets one by one.
One of them, a younger male employee, picks up a head to turn it around, but as soon as he does, he drops it quickly, inadvertently splashing blood across his uniform. He freezes, pale, and then finally breaks, collapsing backwards and vomiting all over himself. Several female staff members, clearly shaken by the sight, begin to cry and rush out of the room.
Only a handful of senior employees remain, their faces filled with irritation at their younger coworkers. They continue the work with a calm demeanor, but look annoyed. After nearly an hour, they finally complete the documentation and verification, while Auren, Neffi, Konrad, Vanessa, and Eren wait patiently, practicing their Nen techniques.
"I am sorry for that," the senior employee says at last, looking visibly uncomfortable. "This is a scene that's quite rare... even for us."
"It's fine..." Auren says with a shrug. "It's a dirty job, but I believe this is for the betterment of society."
"Indeed," the employee replies. "You have done a great deed for Glam Gas Land and for other countries as well. I only wish you could also catch the Wit—no, forget it! It's best you just mind your own business."
Auren blatantly ignores her, despite her obvious attempt to manipulate him, unwilling to reveal his intentions, though he knows for sure what she wanted to say.
The woman looks a little surprised that Auren does not ask any questions, and then continues: "Let's talk about the payment then....!"
Exactly two hours later, the group leaves the building. Auren's bank account is now more than three hundred million Jenny richer, their total reward for twenty successful hunts. While many of the targets were relatively minor criminals, some—like the drug dealer whose defective batch killed hundreds—were classified as high-class criminals, boosting Auren's record in bounty hunting significantly.
He formally registers himself as the leader and Neffi as the vice-leader of their hunting group, making sure to stress that the credit belongs to everyone.
Outside the building, he immediately wires fifty million Jenny each to Neffi, Konrad, Vanessa, Eren, and even Goreinu—who wasn't present for their hunt, but was not at fault for missing out, as it was his turn to guard the others. With 5 people paid, Auren is left with fifty million for himself.
"Not like me and my sister need the money..." Konrad mutters, looking a little embarrassed.
"It's about principle," Auren states. "We are professionals and this is how we'll conduct our business."
"Thank you so much!" Eren says, his voice trembling. "This is a dream for me. My siblings and I can finally live a comfortable life. I'll never forget what you did for me."
"It's fine... and this is just the start, Eren," Auren replies. "If you or your siblings ever need something, you can talk to me. Money will become less and less important from now on, and you'll be able to focus on your own goals and ambitions. I'd say your financial future is secured, so you should consider showing a bit more interest in things."
Eren stares at Auren, looking more than just a little lost as he hears his words.
The group then heads back into the same car provided by the Mafia community, where the same members are still waiting.
After a quick drive to where they left their own SUV, they switch vehicles and return to the Royal Glam Hotel.
Finally, they gather in one of their hotel rooms, where Goreinu joins them.
Auren briefly explains to Goreinu what happened, again stressing the importance of protecting the others. "We may have made some enemies. Truthfully, I want to leave... maybe we'll leave a little sooner."
"You guys really had an adventure, huh? That sounds like a rough day. In any case, good job," Goreinu comments, looking baffled.
"After all that bloody work, I'm in dire need of a shower!" Konrad complains.
"I want to shower as well. I smell like blood and other, more disgusting things. I hate that filthy place!" Neffi grumbles. "I'm going to wash my clothes right now, and once we're back, I'll throw them away."
Well, it was a tough day, I'll give her that. But there are still three more tasks I want to accomplish here... The others have gotten some experience, and we'll keep up the missions for another two weeks. With that part covered, I want to challenge myself and finally succeed in creating my new Hatsu. I won't need much longer... I want to test it here. For that, the Nen user Jasoof mentioned is the perfect target.
Aside from that, there is the issue of the so-called Witch. It's best if I bring her down as well. The bounty itself doesn't matter much, but taking down someone like her is exactly the sort of thing Pariston expects me to do. If I succeed, I'll have strong grounds to demand a promotion to 1-Star later down the road. Aside from that... anyone who cooks humans deserves to lose their head.
"Auren..." Vanessa says suddenly, for once, not complaining about the situation.
What?
"I want to learn a Hatsu!" she finally declares.
"I see... we can talk about it. But you shouldn't rush. You seemed pretty content with your weapons. You liked using both Emission and Enhancement to strengthen your bullets, didn't you? Why do you want a Hatsu now? Strictly speaking, a Hatsu is also a burden and it takes quite a while to get it ready for practical use. Also, if you pick the wrong one, you'll regret it for a long time. So tell me—why do you suddenly want to learn one, and do you have an idea in mind?"
"I just want to learn one. I saw you use yours today, and I realized I really can't be called a proper Nen user. I might be strong, but I clearly lack an ability."
"No. That's a terrible reason. Enhancers—and even Emitters—don't necessarily need a Hatsu. If you keep combining Enhancement and Emission with firearms, you'll be a fearsome Hunter. Sniper rifles, pistols—you can take down almost anyone. And you're talented enough to make it work," Auren argues.
"I... maybe you're right..." Vanessa admits, looking downcast.
"Still, it's not a bad idea to talk about it and make some preparations. You can try some Emission, Manipulation, and Enhancement exercises. We can also discuss possible Hatsus. I've seen quite a few by now, so maybe I can give you some inspiration."
"Perfect! Thank you!" she says, hugging Auren tightly.
"You smell like blood... take a shower first!" Auren complains, pushing her away.
"What about you, Eren? You've trained Ten for a long time. Longer than Konrad," Auren points out.
"I don't feel ready... it's a tough decision," Eren admits. "But I'll gladly do some specialized Transmutation exercises as well. And... it can't hurt to talk things through."
Looks like things will get busy!
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