A meeting with an Executive Director was not something a newly-minted tamer could refuse. Lin Ke, intrigued and cautious, gave Silas a simple nod. "I am available now."
Silas smiled, a look of professional approval on his face. "Excellent. Please, follow me."
Lin Ke was guided away from the bustling public areas of the Guild, into a restricted elevator that ascended silently to the uppermost floors of the tower. The hallway here was quiet, carpeted, and lined with impressive works of art depicting legendary battle pets. It was a world away from the grit and noise of the Mission Hall.
Silas stopped before a large, mahogany door and knocked softly. A deep, clear voice from within said, "Enter."
The office was vast and modern, with a floor-to-ceiling window that offered a breathtaking panoramic view of Mo City. A large, minimalist desk sat in the center of the room, behind which sat a man in his late forties. He had sharp, intelligent eyes, immaculately styled graying hair, and the focused, no-nonsense air of a powerful corporate executive. This was Executive Director Thorne.
"Director Thorne," Silas announced. "This is Lin Ke."
"Thank you, Silas. You may leave us," Thorne said, his sharp gaze fixed on Lin Ke. Silas bowed and exited the room, closing the door silently behind him. Thorne gestured to a chair opposite his desk. "Please, sit."
Lin Ke sat, his posture calm, his mind already analyzing the man before him. Thorne was not like the academic Magnus. This man radiated an aura of efficiency and pragmatism.
"I will not waste your time, Mr. Lin Ke," Thorne began, steepling his fingers. "I am the head of Resource Management. My job is to solve problems for the Guild in the most efficient way possible. And you, it seems, are a very efficient problem solver."
He tapped a command into his desk's integrated terminal, and a holographic screen appeared between them, displaying Lin Ke's recent mission history. "Seven C-Rank missions. All solo. All completed in less than a week. A one-hundred percent success rate. Your performance as 'The Sweeper,' as they've started calling you, is unprecedented."
Thorne leaned forward. "I have also reviewed the data from your qualification exam. Your pet is registered as a Rock Vole. The creature that completed these missions is not a Rock Vole. I am not interested in your secrets, Mr. Lin Ke. I am interested in your results."
He swiped the screen, and it changed to a map dotted with angry red icons. "The Guild has a problem. Small pockets of Abyssal Corruption are flaring up in the D and C-Rank wilderness zones around the city. They are too numerous and too small to justify deploying our elite Alpha-rank teams, but they are proving too dangerous for standard C-Rank teams, who often suffer casualties. It is an inefficient drain on our resources."
His eyes locked onto Lin Ke's. "I need a specialist. A 'sweeper'. Someone who can enter these minor corruption zones alone, eliminate the primary threats, and get out cleanly. Someone like you."
Thorne made his offer. "I want to offer you a long-term, independent contractor's contract with the Resource Management Division. We provide you with priority intelligence on these corruption zones and official access. You enter the zones and neutralize the alpha-level corrupted threats. We pay you a flat fee of 50,000 credits per successful mission."
Lin Ke's heart began to beat faster. It was a staggering amount of money. But the next part of the offer was the true prize.
"Furthermore," Thorne added, "any 'unusual' biological materials you recover from the corrupted creatures are yours to keep, on one condition: you submit a small sample of each unique material and a detailed field report to my research division. Your work will not only protect the city but will also aid our understanding of the corruption."
It was the perfect deal, tailor-made for his goals. It gave him legitimate access to a steady supply of Corrupted Gene Essence, an incredible income to fund his projects and bid at the auction, and the official backing of a powerful Guild director.
Lin Ke didn't need to feign consideration. The opportunity was too perfect to refuse. "Director Thorne," he said, his voice clear and steady. "I accept your offer."
A pleased, business-like smile touched Thorne's lips. "Excellent. I had a feeling you were a man who recognized an opportunity."
He tapped his terminal again. "Your new contract and status as a 'Purification Specialist' have been added to your profile. Silas will brief you on the full details. Here is your first assignment."
A new file appeared on Lin Ke's personal terminal. It was a map of a C-Rank zone known as the 'Weeping Woods,' with a high concentration of corrupted plant and insect-type creatures. He had just been handed the key to his future, not just as a tamer, but as the world's foremost, and perhaps only, researcher into the true nature of Abyssal Corruption. The real work was about to begin.