Rama immediately headed to the Veil Guards guild headquarters after leaving the Hunter Training Center. Upon arriving, he went straight to the reception desk.
The receptionist on duty today was not the brown-haired woman he usually encountered. Instead, there was a petite woman with shoulder-length hair. As soon as she saw Rama approaching, she smiled, a far cry from the usual scowl the brown-haired woman often greeted him with.
"What can I help you with?" the receptionist asked in a friendly tone. Rama couldn't help but return her smile.
"I'd like to inquire if there are any missions in the eastern part of the city," Rama said.
"Let me check for you," the receptionist said, then began searching through the files scattered around her desk.
Rama observed her. This is how a receptionist should work. He didn't mind even if the brown-haired receptionist didn't return.
While waiting, Rama looked around. He had no idea what had happened after the mission with Donovan and Alexa. How did they explain the Sacred Tomb and the people they sacrificed to Rudy?
Unfortunately, Rama didn't see any of the people who had been on that mission, except for the five D-Rank Hunters who had died. So he couldn't inquire further.
"You seem to have recovered," a familiar voice said.
Rama turned to see Rudy walking toward him, scrutinizing him with his eyes.
"Ah, yes. I couldn't keep feeling sad and depressed, could I?" Rama replied, flashing a thin smile. "I didn't know he was there."
Rudy nodded. "I see. Well, it's a shame we lost more members. Especially D-Rank Hunters."
"Hmm, yeah. It was so sad," Rama said with a sad expression.
Rudy turned to him. "Are you sure you don't want to tell me anything?"
Rama also looked at him and blinked a few times. "What do you mean?"
"Well, you survived the mission that day, didn't you?"
Rudy's statement made Rama tense slightly, but he managed to maintain his composure so as not to appear more suspicious.
"Uhh, yes. I... I don't really want to talk about it."
"Why?" Rudy asked. "You should talk about it. Maybe something happened down there that I need to know."
Rama, maintaining his calm facade, turned his face away. He knew Rudy was only curious about how he had survived. He knew that Donovan and Alexa must have told him everything and instructed him to keep quiet.
"Tell me. How did you survive?" Rudy approached Rama and whispered in a commanding tone.
Rama, who had previously been anxious, now turned his face towards him and stared at him with a flat gaze. "I got lucky," he said.
Rudy furrowed his brow. Then he sighed and smiled. "Good for you."
Rama nodded.
"I hope you won't say anything about what happened that day to outsiders. If you do, you understand who you'll be dealing with, right? Donovan and Alexa," Rudy said.
Rama continued to give him the same blank look. He tried to restrain himself from saying something that would harm him, as Rudy was a guild master.
"Of course," Rama said curtly a few moments later.
Rudy observed him for a few moments, then nodded and walked away, leaving him behind.
"Donovan and Alexa. How could I forget about them?" Rama clenched his fist unconsciously.
"I found it!" The receptionist's voice startled Rama. He turned to her and smiled again.
"You found it?" Rama asked.
"Yes. Here you go." She placed a poster and a registration form on the table.
Rama glanced briefly at the poster. Coincidentally, the mission also involved scouting the eastern region, which was infested by Ghosts. Rama wondered if it was really a coincidence when his power had also given him a Quest in the same place.
Rama filled out the form and handed it back to the receptionist. "Thanks."
"Do you want to undertake this mission alone?" the receptionist asked, looking surprised.
"Yes." Before the receptionist could express her concerns, Rama turned and walked away.
~~~
Alysia was practicing as usual when Zane came to meet her. He, as usual, wore a stern expression and emitted a commanding aura that could make anyone who saw him go silent.
"Father," Alysia said with a start. "Is something wrong?"
"There's something I want you to check," Zane said, getting straight to the point as he always did.
Alysia approached him. "What is it?"
"There have been unusual Ghost sightings in several places. But the other guild masters have already sent their Hunters to investigate. And now, the only remaining area is the eastern part." Zane handed Alysia files containing information.
Alysia accepted them and said, "I'll leave soon."
"Be careful. Some say that the Ghosts have become more dangerous now. I heard of a group of D-Rank Hunters being slaughtered while handling a Ghost-infested mine. Only one survived."
Alysia furrowed her brow, looking at Zane. She had never heard of a group of D-Rank Hunters being slaughtered by Ghosts before. Ghosts were low-ranked Supernaturals, after all.
But what her adoptive father said couldn't be a lie. What had actually happened?
"Prepare yourself well and go there. For now, you only need to go alone for scouting. If the situation gets worse, you must return immediately."
Alysia nodded. Zane then left after finishing his simple briefing.
It was one o'clock in the afternoon after Alysia had finished her preparations and had lunch. She went riding her bike, and no police officers would stop her even though she was still underage. They knew Alysia was a member of the Larkspur family.
She left Twilight City and immediately accelerated her bike. After a few kilometers from the gate, she saw someone else riding a bike. He seemed to be heading in the same direction as her.
Alysia sped up her bike and honked the horn. The man turned when he heard her.
Rama wasn't wearing a helmet, so Alysia could recognize his face clearly.
~~~