THE ASSOCIATION HALL BUZZED WITH NOISE AS RYUJIN AND KAI SUBMITTED THEIR MISSION REPORT.
THE MINOTAUR DUNGEON HAD DRAWN ATTENTION FROM HIGHER-UPS, AND THE TWO WERE ALREADY A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION.
KAI SLUMPED IN HIS CHAIR, RELIEVED.
"FINALLY DONE. MAN, WE'VE BEEN GETTING SOME CRAZY MISSIONS LATELY."
RYUJIN LEANED AGAINST THE WALL, ARMS CROSSED, SILENT AS ALWAYS.
THE S-RANK PRESENCE
SUDDENLY THE ROOM FELL QUIET.
A WOMAN WITH LONG SILVER HAIR AND PIERCING BLUE EYES WALKED IN, WEARING THE EMBLEM OF VALKYRION – THE STRONGEST S-RANK GUILD IN THE COUNTRY.
HER PRESENCE WAS DOMINATING, COMMANDING RESPECT.
HUNTERS IN THE ROOM WHISPERED IN AWE.
"THAT'S ARIANA VALE… THE S-RANK GUILD LEADER!"
"SHE'S ONE OF THE STRONGEST IN THE WORLD. WHAT IS SHE DOING HERE?"
ARIANA'S EYES SCANNED THE ROOM… AND STOPPED ON RYUJIN.
THE OFFER
SHE WALKED STRAIGHT TOWARD HIM.
"RYUJIN KAZURO," SHE SAID, VOICE CALM YET AUTHORITATIVE.
RYUJIN MET HER GAZE BUT DIDN'T SPEAK.
"I SAW THE FOOTAGE OF YOUR LAST MISSION. YOUR SKILL, YOUR INSTINCTS… THEY'RE NOT ORDINARY.
VALKYRION NEEDS HUNTERS LIKE YOU.
I WANT YOU TO JOIN MY GUILD."
THE ROOM ERUPTED IN GASPS.
AN S-RANK GUILD LEADER PERSONALLY OFFERING A RECRUITMENT? IT WAS UNHEARD OF.
RYUJIN'S REACTION
RYUJIN'S EXPRESSION DIDN'T CHANGE.
"I'M NOT INTERESTED."
THE HALL WENT SILENT AGAIN.
ARIANA'S EYES NARROWED SLIGHTLY, CURIOUS RATHER THAN OFFENDED.
"WHY? DO YOU THINK YOU DON'T BELONG WITH ELITE HUNTERS?"
"I WORK ALONE," RYUJIN REPLIED.
KAI STEPS IN
KAI QUICKLY MOVED TO HIS SIDE.
"WAIT, RYUJIN. THINK ABOUT THIS!
VALKYRION HAS THE BEST TRAINING, THE BEST RESOURCES… YOU'LL GET STRONGER FASTER."
RYUJIN GLANCED AT HIM BUT SAID NOTHING.
"LOOK, I KNOW YOU WANT TO STAY LOW-KEY, BUT THIS IS OUR CHANCE.
YOU WANT REVENGE? YOU WANT TO WIPE OUT EVERY MONSTER THAT EXISTS?
THEN JOIN. FOR NOW, AT LEAST."
THE DECISION
RYUJIN CLOSED HIS EYES FOR A MOMENT, THINKING.
FINALLY, HE SPOKE:
"…FINE. BUT ONLY BECAUSE YOU'RE ASKING, KAI."
KAI GRINNED.
"HELL YEAH. YOU WON'T REGRET THIS."
ARIANA SMILED SLIGHTLY.
"GOOD.
WELCOME TO VALKYRION, RYUJIN KAZURO."
SHE EXTENDED HER HAND.
RYUJIN SHOOK IT, HIS EYES COLD AS EVER.
"S-RANK GUILD… LET'S SEE WHAT THIS PLACE CAN OFFER ME."