After acquiring the money no matter how questionable the method they made their way to one of the city's finest hotels. The
Crystal Veil Grand
, an establishment reserved for the wealthy and powerful, loomed before them, its entrance adorned with golden embellishments and marble pillars.
Lucas felt out of place. It had been years since he had stepped into a place this luxurious.
Or ever, really.
Siman, however, seemed unfazed. He strutted into the lobby like he
owned
the place, exuding an effortless confidence. Andre followed, his expression neutral but his shoulders tense.
At the reception desk, Siman flashed an easy smile.
"We'll take a suite. Three bedrooms."
The receptionist, an older man in a pristine suit, eyed them briefly before nodding. The money spoke louder than their appearances.
Minutes later, they stepped into an elevator that
whispered
as it ascended. Floor after floor passed until they reached their destination
a top-floor suite with a panoramic view of the city.
The moment they entered, Siman stretched his arms lazily and
grinned
.
"Alright, let's rest for now. We'll continue our conversation tomorrow."
Lucas agreed without hesitation. His body was already
aching for sleep
. He glanced at Andre.
"Go get some rest."
Without another word, everyone retreated to their separate rooms.
Lucas lay down, staring at the ceiling for a moment. He could hear the faint hum of the city beyond the glass walls. For the first time in what felt like
forever
, he had a real bed, a real place to sleep.
Sleep took him quickly.
The Next Morning
Siman was the first to wake.
He stretched, his muscles loosening, then strode toward Lucas's room. Without hesitation, he
shoved open the door
and nudged Lucas's shoulder.
"Wake up, you lazy bum. I want to try this world's food."
Lucas groaned, burying his face in the pillow.
"God... Do you always wake people up like this?"
"Yes. Now move."
Lucas sighed and sat up, rubbing his eyes.
"Alright, alright... I'll go get something."
Still half-asleep, he left the hotel, stepping into the crisp morning air. The city was already alive cars rushed past, people bustled along the sidewalks, and the scent of fresh coffee and baked goods drifted through the air.
He found a nearby restaurant and bought the simplest thing he could think of: a
hot, fresh pizza
.
When he returned, Siman was waiting impatiently, arms crossed. The moment the
pizza box opened
, Siman grabbed a slice and took a bite.
His
eyes widened
in shock.
"Amazing... This taste is incredible!"
Lucas chuckled, amused.
"It's just regular pizza, but yeah, it's good, right?"
Siman didn't even respond. He just kept
devouring slice after slice
, clearly entranced by the flavor.
Andre, who had just woken up, sat nearby, watching the scene unfold with a mix of amusement and concern.
After they finished eating, Siman leaned back, wiping his hands with a napkin. Then
"Alright,"
Siman said, locking eyes with him.
"Now that we've eaten, there's something I want to tell you."
Lucas raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Go on."
Siman's gaze didn't waver.
"I want you as an ally."
Lucas's expression remained unreadable, but inside, his mind raced.
Ally?
Siman continued,
"Honestly, your ability is far stronger than mine. I've seen enough to know that. You might not realize it now, but one day, you'll surpass me. That's why I'll help you become stronger... but in return, when I need your help, you'll be there."
Lucas stared at him for a long moment, weighing his words carefully.
Siman wasn't just some
random
ally. He was
dangerous
. He was unpredictable, powerful, and perhaps a little insane.
But he was
right
.
Lucas's ability his connection to Andre had the potential to grow into something terrifying. Something that could reshape everything.
He smirked.
"I accept."
Siman's lips curled into a grin,
mischievous and knowing
.
"A wise decision."
Lucas
pushed himself up from his chair
, his sharp gaze locked on Siman.
"Alright, to help me, we need to head to a dungeon. Andre needs to evolve, and the only way for that to happen is for him to kill creatures. Of course, you'll assist him in that."
Siman leaned back slightly, arms crossed, considering Lucas's words. Then, with a simple nod, he agreed.
"Sounds simple enough."
Lucas wasn't done. He lifted a finger.
"But before we even think about entering a dungeon, two things need to be handled first. One, you need to suppress your power. Two, You must have a hunter's card of a certain rank."
Siman arched an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Suppress my power? To what level?"
Lucas smirked.
"Rank A should do."
A brief pause.
Then, without hesitation, Siman lifted a single hand.
"Activate."
The change was
instant
.
A pulse of invisible energy rippled through the air, and within seconds, Siman's overwhelming presence
shrunk
, like a dying ember losing its glow. His
towering, suffocating aura dissipated
, leaving behind a perfectly
contained
Rank A energy signature.
Lucas observed him carefully.
Siman tilted his head and grinned.
"Done. Anything else?"
Lucas exhaled through his nose, impressed despite himself.
"No. That was clean."
With the first step handled, they left immediately for the
Hunter's Center
, the organization responsible for monitoring, ranking, and licensing individuals who hunted monsters.
The
Hunter's Center
was a towering complex,
a sleek blend of technology and magic
. The moment Lucas, Siman, and Andre stepped inside, they were met with a massive
lobby filled with armored hunters, government officials, and staff dressed in formal uniforms
. The walls were lined with digital displays showcasing recent dungeon clearances and the highest-ranked hunters in the city.
Siman looked around, his eyes scanning the place with mild curiosity.
"Tch. Flashy."
Lucas ignored him and walked straight to the reception desk. A woman in her mid-thirties, dressed in a clean-cut black uniform, looked up at him.
"How can I help you?"
she asked in a professional tone.
Lucas jerked his thumb toward Siman.
"I wants to take the ranking test."
The woman glanced at Siman, assessing him in a single practiced motion. She gave a small nod before typing something on her tablet.
"Understood. Follow me."
The group followed her down a series of
sterile white hallways
, passing multiple testing rooms along the way. Some rooms contained hunters going through
strength evaluations
, while others tested agility, magical potential, or tactical combat skills.
After a minute of walking, they arrived at
Testing Room 7
.
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