Frank Lee was at the construction site, carrying a 2-inch slab of cement on his shoulder as he walked among other workers busy with a building project. He was focused on his work when suddenly, a panicked cry pierced the air. "Help, help me!" Frank Lee looked up and saw a man, a fellow construction worker, hanging precariously by a rope on the construction lift.
The man was desperately clutching the sides of the lift and was clearly about to fall. They were on the fourth story of the building, and a fall from that height could be fatal. One of the other workers began rushing toward him, but before he could reach the man due to the distance, the man fell and began to plummet rapidly toward the ground.
The cement dropped from Frank Lee's shoulders as he watched in anguish, feeling utterly helpless. He couldn't move his feet at first, but then a sudden surge of power coursed through him. It felt like he had broken through some kind of barrier as an incredible strength filled his body. In an instant, he found himself directly below the falling man.
Frank Lee instinctively stretched out his arms, and the man crashed into them with significant force. For someone of Frank Lee's slim build and average height, catching a grown man would normally have caused serious injury. But aside from the pain in his knee and a numbing sensation in his hands, he was unharmed. He had successfully saved the man from severe injury or death. Everyone around them stood in stunned disbelief.
After this incident, Frank Lee immediately went to the Hunters Association branch to test his newfound power. It was confirmed that he had broken through the barrier that restrained ordinary humans, becoming a D-rank hunter. While D-rank wasn't extraordinary, Frank Lee was thrilled. The ranks ranged from E to S, with E being the lowest but still stronger than most unawakened humans.
After awakening, Frank Lee quickly applied to college and underwent basic training at the Hunters Association. By the end of his first year, he had completed his training and earned an official hunter's license. Although he had only been a licensed hunter for about a year, he had already started taking low-class missions that earned him just enough to sustain himself.
Frank Lee opened his eyes as the bus stopped at his destination. Jolting awake, he realized the driver had been calling out to him for some time. Exiting the bus, he took out a 30-yen note to pay, but the driver, an oddly dressed man in black attire and a cap that cast shadows over his eyes, refused the money with a wave of his hand.
"Don't worry," the man said with a faint, almost imperceptible smile. Despite the driver's peculiar appearance, Frank Lee didn't think much of it and turned his attention to the building in front of him.
It was a towering skyscraper with a sleek glass exterior, strong enough to withstand significant force. This was the Hunter Trade Center, where hunters like him could trade equipment, potions, and other essentials. It was a smaller trade center, offering items mostly in the 5th to 7th grade range. In the hunter world, items were graded from 7th grade up to super-special grade, with super-special being the highest.
Frank Lee pulled out his ID card and entered the building after his identity was confirmed and scanned. The cool interior was a welcome relief from the heat outside. He walked past people dressed in various styles, from casual to formal, and even those wearing full battle armor.
He headed straight to the exchange center, which was centrally located, while other sections lined the left and right sides of the building. The blue lights of the exchange center shone brightly as he entered, marking the start of another day in the life of a hunter.
The circular exchange center was filled with counters on each side, allowing hunters to trade or collect items efficiently. Frank Lee surveyed the lines at each counter and chose the shortest one. After waiting for his turn, he approached the counter, where a petite woman sat behind a computer, her gaze fixed on the screen.
"What do you want? Are you here for an exchange, or do you have an appointment?" she asked curtly without looking up.
Frank Lee pulled a card from his pocket and handed it to her. She scanned it, then handed him a white token slip. He took the slip and made his way toward Oldman Jung's section on the upper floors.
Climbing the stairs, Frank Lee navigated the familiar halls with ease. Room 407 was his destination. Passing by the blacksmiths' area, he noticed several people standing around. Inside, weapons of various designs and styles adorned the walls and display cases, each piece uniquely engraved and expertly crafted.
Oldman Jung sat at a metal chair near a large glass table, writing something down. He was a towering man with long, dark hair streaked with white, and a thick, grey beard tied neatly at the bottom. His spectacles rested on his nose as he worked, but he looked up as Frank Lee entered.
Upon seeing Frank, Oldman Jung's stern face softened. "Ah, Frank Lee," he greeted, rubbing his grey mustache. "What brings you here today?"
Frank Lee smiled warmly, rubbing the back of his head. "I, uh, need a dagger... and a new set of armor," he said, slightly embarrassed.
Oldman Jung chuckled. "I figured as much," he said knowingly. "Ever since you first became a hunter, you've been coming to me for your gear. Remember when I gave you your first armor for free?"
Frank Lee nodded, his expression full of gratitude. Back then, as a novice hunter, he had no family wealth or sponsors to support him. Unlike the privileged aristocrats who awakened to high-ranking powers and immediately garnered attention, Frank was just an ordinary D-rank hunter with no one to back him. Oldman Jung's kindness had been a lifeline, providing him with his first armor and covering the cost himself, despite the structured accounting system of the hunter industry.
"Yeah, I remember," Frank Lee said sincerely. "I'll never forget it."
Oldman Jung waved off the sentiment. "Don't get sentimental on me, kid. I'll fetch what you need."
As Oldman Jung stood up, Frank added, "Oh, and I need a storage ring, too."
Oldman Jung paused. "A Storage Ring? What happened to yours?"
Frank rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "Well, you see... it's a long story."
Oldman Jung raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. "Fine, I'll grab one for you too."