I hesitated. On one hand, staying with Leon meant fewer unknowns. The Hunter Association keeping me under 'direct oversight' sounded a lot like surveillance, and I didn't like the idea of being monitored too closely. On the other hand… I wasn't exactly sure if staying with Leon was much better.
But between the two? I'd rather take my chances with someone I knew.
I nodded. "Yeah. That works."
ust as the President was about to finalize the arrangement, a sudden knock echoed through the office.
Hale turned, opening the door without hesitation. A Hunter Association staff member stepped in, holding a tablet, their expression tense.
"Sir, we have an issue with Ryzen Kael's mana evaluation."
Silence filled the room.
The President's gaze sharpened. "Explain."
The staff member glanced at me before turning back to the President. "His mana output readings are inconsistent. The initial evaluation suggests he should be ranked higher than D… but the system refuses to recognize it."
Hale furrowed his brows, taking the tablet and scanning the data. "His readings fluctuate. Some scans place him around C-rank, others even higher—but officially, the results still classify him as D-rank."
The President exhaled, fingers steepled. "A malfunction?"
"We're not sure," the staff member admitted. "But we can't ignore the discrepancy. We'll need to recalibrate the equipment and re-evaluate him."
Leon let out a low whistle. "Well, that's a pain."
I kept my expression neutral, but my mind raced.
Was this the system's way of protecting me? Making sure I stayed under the radar? Or was it a flaw—something that could eventually get me exposed?
The President's gaze flicked toward me again, scrutinizing. "For now, you will be officially classified as D-rank until the issue is resolved. However, you will be placed on standby for a second evaluation."
Hale handed the tablet back to the staff member, who bowed slightly before stepping out.
The President leaned back in his chair. "Regardless, you will still relocate to City A. When the re-evaluation is scheduled, you'll return." His tone left no room for argument.
I nodded slowly. "Understood."
Leon clapped his hands together. "Well, that settles it. Time to head out."
I exhaled, stealing a glance at the President. His piercing gaze remained locked onto me, as if studying something beneath the surface.
"Thank you for your time, sir," I said, keeping my voice neutral. "I appreciate the opportunity."
The President gave a slow nod. "Make good use of it, Mr. Kael." His tone was calm, but there was an unmistakable weight behind his words.
Hale, who had been standing silently, finally spoke. "We'll contact you when the re-evaluation is scheduled. Until then, focus on adapting to your new environment."
Leon grinned, giving Hale a lazy salute. "Don't worry, we'll take good care of him."
Hale simply adjusted his cuffs. "I'll hold you to that."
Leon turned toward the door, hands in his pockets. I followed, feeling the subtle tension ease as we stepped out of the President's office.
The moment the door closed behind us, I let out a slow breath.
Leon chuckled. "You always this stiff around authority figures?"
I shot him a look. "I was being respectful."
"Yeah, yeah," he teased, leading the way toward the elevator. "Come on, let's get out of here. I'm starving."
As the elevator doors slid open, I cast one last glance down the hallway—where Hale still stood outside the office, watching us leave.
There was something unreadable in his expression.
Then, the doors closed, and we were gone.
The ride was smoother than I expected. The moment we stepped outside the Association headquarters, a black luxury car was already waiting for us—Leon's personal vehicle, if the custom plates were anything to go by.
"Fancy," I muttered as I slid into the passenger seat.
Leon smirked as he started the car. "Perks of being an S-rank."
I shook my head, watching the city blur past as we pulled onto the main road.
I was leaving behind everything I knew—again. But this time, I wasn't alone. And I wasn't powerless.
***
The hum of the engine filled the silence between us as we drove through the city. Towering skyscrapers and neon-lit streets passed by, a stark contrast to the slums I had grown used to.
Leon drove with one hand on the wheel, his posture relaxed, but his sharp gaze occasionally flicked toward me.
"So," he finally spoke, breaking the silence. "How's it feel? You're officially a Hunter now—well, kind of."
I scoffed. "A D-rank with a broken evaluation. Doesn't feel much different."
Leon chuckled. "Yeah, that was a mess." He drummed his fingers against the wheel. "They're definitely gonna keep an eye on you. Mana readings higher than a D-rank, but a system saying otherwise? That's the kind of thing that gets people asking questions."
The city slowly transitioned into quieter districts—less commercial chaos, more high-end residential areas. It wasn't long before we reached a gated community, security tight enough to make even A-rank Hunters hesitate.
Leon pulled up to the checkpoint, rolling down his window. The guard stationed there barely glanced at him before pressing a button, the reinforced gate sliding open.
"Welcome home, Mr. Vael," the guard greeted.
Leon nodded in acknowledgment before driving through.
I raised an eyebrow. "You live in a damn fortress?"
Leon smirked. "Can't be too careful. S-rank status paints a target on your back."
I didn't argue. The moment we entered, I could tell this wasn't just some rich man's estate—it was a stronghold. The perimeter was lined with security drones, hidden turrets, and mana-sensitive barriers.
If someone tried to break in, they'd be dead before they even touched the front door.
Leon pulled up to a sleek, modern house that was almost too large for one person. The design was clean, minimalist, but unmistakably expensive. He killed the engine and stepped out, stretching.
"Alright, welcome to Casa Vael." He gestured toward the house. "Make yourself at home."
I followed him inside, taking in the massive open-concept living room. Floor-to-ceiling windows, high-end furniture, a kitchen that looked untouched—it was the kind of place only someone with too much money and too little time would own.
"Pick any guest room," Leon said, tossing his jacket onto the couch. "Just don't touch my liquor stash."
I rolled my eyes. "I'll manage."
I was still processing everything—going from barely surviving in the slums to staying in a damn luxury mansion. It didn't feel real.
Leon flopped onto the couch, grabbing the remote. "Gonna order food. You good with takeout?"
I shrugged. "Yeah."
As he started scrolling through options, I took a deep breath, letting it all sink in.
For now, this was my new reality.
And soon enough, I'd have to figure out my next move.