And I wanted to be there.
"What if I do?" I asked.
Leon sighed. "Not gonna lie, Ryzen… It won't be easy for you to get in."
I raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"This isn't a regular Association raid where anyone can sign up. The teams are being formed by the biggest guilds, and the Hunter Association is only approving elite forces. If you were officially part of a guild, they might consider letting you in."
A pause.
I immediately caught the unspoken message.
I smirked. "And let me guess—you just so happen to have a guild looking for members?"
Leon chuckled. "Took you long enough to figure it out."
Black Valor. One of the strongest guilds in Velmora.
And led by Leon Vael himself.
I exhaled, glancing down at the city lights below.
"You're asking me to join your guild?"
"More like offering you a shortcut." His tone was light, but there was a weight behind his words. "You could try to get in on your own, but without a guild backing you, they'll overlook you. That's just how it is. But if you were a part of Black Valor… you'd be on that strike team without question."
I tapped my fingers against the railing, thinking.
Joining a guild.
It wasn't a bad offer. In fact, under normal circumstances, most hunters would kill for an invitation to a top-tier guild like Black Valor.
But I wasn't most hunters.
I had always moved alone. The Abyss didn't follow the rules of the world—I carved my own path.
Leon must have sensed my hesitation because he spoke again, his tone serious.
"Look, I know you're used to working solo. And I'm not saying you have to stick around after the raid. But I need people I can trust on this one, Ryzen."
That made me pause. It wasn't just about the dungeon anymore.
Leon wasn't recruiting just anyone. He wanted me there.
I sighed. "You really think I'd make a difference?"
"I know you would."
Leon scoffed. "Of course you aren't."
I continued, "So how about this—I join Black Valor under a temporary contract. It lasts until the SS-rank dungeon raid is completed. After that, I walk away. No obligations, no strings attached."
There was silence on the other end of the line.
I could tell he didn't like it. Leon wasn't the type to recruit half-heartedly. If he brought someone into his guild, it was because he expected them to stay and grow with the team.
Finally, he sighed. "You really don't like making things easy, do you?"
"Never."
Another pause.
"…Fine." His voice was reluctant. "I'll draft up a temporary contract. You'll be an official member of Black Valor until the SS-rank raid is over. But after that, if you change your mind—"
"I won't."
Leon clicked his tongue. "Figures."
I could practically hear him shaking his head on the other end. "Alright, you stubborn bastard. I'll send the contract first thing tomorrow. Once you sign, you'll be part of Black Valor—for now."
I smirked. "Pleasure doing business with you, Guildmaster Vael."
He groaned. "Don't call me that. It sounds weird coming from you."
I chuckled. "Then get used to it. For now."
Leon sighed, but I could hear the amusement in his voice. "You better not hold back in this raid. I'll be watching."
"I'd be insulted if you didn't."
With that, the call ended.
For the first time in a long while, I was officially part of a guild even if it was temporary.
Just as I was about to pocket my phone, I hesitated. There was one more thing I wanted to ask.
I tapped the screen and called Leon back.
He picked up almost instantly. "What now? Regretting your decision already?"
I ignored the jab. "Do you know Christa Vaughn?"
There was a short pause on the other end. Then, Leon let out a low chuckle. "That's random. Yeah, I know her. She's Darius Vaughn's daughter. Why?"
"I ran into her earlier," I said vaguely.
Leon whistled. "Hah. Now that's interesting. Didn't expect you two to cross paths."
I leaned against the railing. "She said she's an A-rank hunter. Didn't know the president's daughter was in the field."
"Oh, she's not just any A-rank." Leon's tone shifted slightly. "She's one of the youngest to reach that rank, and she's got skill to back it up. Some people say she could reach S-rank in a few years if she keeps pushing herself."
That wasn't surprising. She carried herself differently—someone who had experience, not just privilege.
"She's also got a reputation," Leon continued. "Not the type to throw her name around for favors. In fact, from what I've heard, she doesn't really get along with her old man."
That explained a lot.
Leon clicked his tongue. "But still… you, of all people, running into her?"
I smirked. "Coincidence."
"Sure it is." He sounded unconvinced. "Well, whatever. Just don't get on her bad side. Vaughn might be an old bastard, but he's still the president of the Association."
"I'll keep that in mind," I said casually.
Leon sighed. "Alright, if that's all, I'm actually going to get some sleep now. You should do the same. Big things are coming, Ryzen."
I nodded, even though he couldn't see me. "Yeah."
The call ended, leaving me alone once more.
I glanced at the night sky, the cold wind brushing against my skin.
Christa Vaughn. A major raid. A temporary place in one of the strongest guilds.
Things were moving fast. And I had a feeling they were only going to get crazier from here.