Rega's family was enjoying dinner in a warm, cozy atmosphere.
"Big Brother Rega, how was your adventure today?" Siri asked curiously, gazing at him with her large, innocent eyes.
"It went great! Even better than I expected, actually."
"Really?" Siri blinked, her curiosity clearly piqued.
"Mm-hmm." Rega gave a gentle nod, then looked at his family with a sudden air of seriousness.
"Son, what's on your mind? Don't hesitate to tell us if you're facing any trouble." Perhaps due to her maternal instinct, Sekar could sense a hint of hesitation in Rega's heart.
"Dad, Mom, Sis Sarah, Siri..."
"It's rare to hear you address everyone all at once," Deno remarked with a playful smile.
"Dad, I signed a contract with a guild today. I'm officially a member now."
"Oh? That sounds wonderful. It's much safer to be part of a guild than to navigate things alone as a solo hunter." Deno smiled, looking relieved.
Rega nodded in agreement.
"So, which guild did you join?" Sekar asked tentatively.
Sarah and Siri both perked up, leaning in as they waited for his answer.
"The Keris Guild."
"!"
Everyone bolted upright in shock.
"The Keris Guild?! Are you sure it was the Keris Guild?!" Deno asked, his voice thick with disbelief.
"Yes. I met with the founder of the Keris Guild personally to sign the contract. After that, I received my first salary from them."
Gulp...
Deno swallowed hard, asking hesitantly, "Just how much was the salary?"
Rega raised his hand, showing five fingers.
"Fifty thousand?"
Rega shook his head.
"Five hundred thousand?"
Again, Rega shook his head.
"Five million?"
Rega still shook his head.
Gulp...
"Fifty... fifty million?"
This time, Rega nodded.
Everyone swallowed hard, their throats suddenly feeling bone-dry.
Sekar's hands began to tremble. She asked worriedly, "Rega, are you sure you aren't being scammed?"
"Don't worry, Mom. This isn't a scam. I have my own reasons for joining the Keris Guild," Rega replied reassuringly, trying to put his mother's mind at ease.
His efforts paid off; Sekar calmed down, though a small seed of doubt still lingered in the back of her mind.
"Fifty million! Brother Rega, buy me a new phone!" Siri immediately switched into "spoiled little sister" mode, acting cute for her big brother.
Rega gave a faint smile and nodded casually.
"We'll go to the phone store this weekend."
"Yay! I love you, Brother Rega!" Siri cheered, jumping up and down like an energetic little bunny.
Rega found himself genuinely amused by his sister's antics. He then felt Sarah's gaze on him and turned to her tentatively.
"Do you want a new phone too, Sis Sarah?"
Sarah's face brightened instantly.
"I do... but is it really okay? That's the money you earned through so much hard work."
Rega offered a generous smile.
"You're overthinking it, Sis. You're my family; there's no need to be formal when it comes to money."
"Rega..." Sarah's eyes welled up, looking as if she might burst into tears at any moment.
Rega let out a light laugh, then turned to his parents.
"I'm also going to transfer some of the money to your accounts. Dad, Mom—you can use it whenever you need without having to ask me."
Deno and Sekar exchanged happy glances.
"We're happy to hear that, but you don't need to trouble yourself. As long as I can still work, you don't need to send us money."
"Your father is right. You should use that money to buy hunter equipment. I've heard it takes a fortune to buy high-end gear," Sekar added.
Rega was deeply moved by his parents' selflessness. However, he didn't want them to refuse, so he insisted they accept the funds. He used his ultimate tactic to persuade them: the concept of "safekeeping" the money with them indefinitely. If he hadn't put it that way, his parents surely would have stood their ground and refused.
"Little brother, don't let yourself be ruined just because you have a lot of money, okay? Specifically, don't let yourself get entangled with the wrong kind of women out there," Sarah warned him sternly.
Rega nodded lightly, accepting her advice.
"Sis Sarah sounds so serious," Siri chimed in.
"Of course! I know about some wicked women who make a habit of draining a hunter's finances. Because of them, some hunters have met with 'unexplained misfortunes' right at the dinner table."
Siri covered her small mouth, even though she didn't fully grasp Sarah's explanation.
"Sis, thanks for the warning. I promise I'll be very careful," Rega said with a gentle, reassuring smile.
To be continued...