Kang bade farewell to Jonathan and then boarded one of the two military helicopters that had brought the reinforcement group to the base. A few moments later, the helicopters took off, heading toward the base on the outskirts of Ashford, which appeared to be one of the sites powering the slightly transparent blue dome. This wasn't Kang's first time passing through one of these domes.
The dome's primary function was to prevent corrupted mana from entering civilian cities. It seemed to extend across the horizon, somehow connected to other countries under Paradise. He wondered what would happen if one of those cities fell into the hands of the beasts—would the entire dome collapse?
"Most likely not," he thought, "They've probably considered that possibility. They aren't careless enough to leave such an issue unaddressed. Still, this is not much of a solution." Kang nodded to himself, viewing the dome as a temporary fix at best. While it prevented corrupted mana from entering, it couldn't affect what was already inside.
"Welcome to Ashford's central base, Sir Shepherd." Yuna's voice pulled him from his thoughts. Kang looked out the window, surprised to find they were already on the ground, where he could see more helicopters and jets stationed in the distance. Given that the flight had only taken half an hour, Kang figured the distance wasn't significant.
"Now that I think about it, what is your role here, Yuna? Aren't all military personnel supposed to wear the same uniform?" Unable to contain his curiosity, Kang asked, noticing she was the only one in casual attire compared to the rest of the crew.
"I'm not directly under the military, Sir. I'm affiliated through volunteering, so I don't have a uniform. I only participate when one of the bases is short on soldiers. In this instance, I was here at my uncle's request."
"That makes sense. Lead the way, then." Kang nodded, gesturing for Yuna to take him to one of the higher-up offices, where he could discuss the weapons pricing. To his surprise, the man he was expecting to meet was already outside, waiting.
[Human(S)]
Noticing the suit and slightly tilted peaked cap the man was wearing, Kang activated his detection ability. As he expected, the man was an S-rank hunter. Soon enough, everyone except Kang was on their knees due to the pressure this man released, likely testing Kang.
"Incredible. You are indeed an S-rank hunter. Welcome to Paradise, Mr. Shepherd!" The man's words confused Kang for a moment, but he quickly shrugged it off. Unknowingly, he had passed a test he wasn't even aware of, as he didn't feel the pressure at all.
"Nice to meet you. What should I call you?" Kang stepped forward, offering his hand for a handshake, which was accepted immediately.
"You may call me James, and likewise, it's nice to meet you." With that, James led Kang to his office, leaving the others behind. Yuna went to handle some of Kang's requests, and the rest returned to their military duties. A few minutes later, both men were seated across from each other in James' office.
"Let's get straight to the point. May I see one of those weapons? Preferably a heavy sword, if possible." Hearing James' request, Kang didn't hesitate, forming the weapon in front of him while deliberately showing signs of fatigue as the process continued.
"That's all I can do for now since it takes all my energy. You may test it and have me create more if it meets your standards. I've ensured the hilt is safe to hold, but be careful—the blade is extremely dangerous to touch." Kang offered James the sword, warning him of the potential danger.
Still, James chose to ignore the warning and ran his hand along the bright blade. Surprisingly, it didn't harm him much, but it left a burning mark on his hand, which told him all he needed to know.
"I can't imagine this weapon's effectiveness against horrors, and I can't express my gratitude enough. So, how should I compensate you, Mr. Shepherd? I'll be honest—two billion coins are the bare minimum considering its rarity. We'll take all ten weapons for 50 billion. Does that sound fair?"
"Thank you. There's no need to compensate me, and if that's the case, you can have all of them. Just keep in mind that the weapons shouldn't clash with each other under any circumstances, or they will explode." Kang agreed to the offer, nodding before continuing.
"It will take me four days to complete the remaining nine and three days to rest between each. You can send someone to retrieve them from my guild once they're ready. I'll leave that to Jonathan or Yuna to coordinate, though you're welcome to visit me in person if you prefer."
"It's settled, then. I'll pay you a visit in 15 days." With the discussion concluded, James stood up, followed by Kang, and they shook hands once more.
"I wish you the best of luck with your guild's establishment. Oh, may I keep this weapon? I plan to test it further until the time comes. Naturally, I'll send payment for this one to your bank account right away." Glancing at the massive sword on the desk, James made his intentions clear.
"It's alright, you can keep it for free if you'd like. But joking aside, I'll take my leave now as I have other matters to attend to. It was a pleasure meeting you." Waving goodbye, Kang waited for James to guide him out before following. Soon enough, Kang found Yuna waiting for him outside.
"Everything ready?" Kang asked immediately upon approaching Yuna, curious about the progress of his requests.
"Yes, sir. Here's the phone you requested, with my uncle's and my contact numbers saved. For the identity, hunter certificate, and guild registration, you'll need to follow me to the city." Yuna handed Kang his new phone before turning and gesturing toward the car waiting a short distance away.
"Lead the way, then. But how long will it take to reach the capital?" Kang asked as he followed Yuna.
"About twenty minutes, assuming traffic isn't too heavy, sir."
"Good, let's go." Kang nodded, ordering her to proceed, then rested his head on the back seat as Yuna began driving.