This mission is very exciting...
Though it's classified as a C-level task, the reward is unusually generous.
A bounty of one million Dollars—practically on par with an A-level mission.
Adam's lips twisted into a half-smile. The offer was tempting, but something about it smelled off. Even with his desperate need for funds, he wasn't about to leap headfirst into a trap.
"A million for a C-level? That's either a blessing or a curse," Adam muttered, eyes narrowing. "Why hasn't anyone snatched it up yet?"
Suspicious, he clicked on the task details page, reading every word with a hunter's caution.
It didn't take long to see the problem.
Half a year ago, the Divine Metal Smelting Company's flagship factory, located over 500 kilometers north of Crypta City, fell victim to an unexpected disaster: a tide of monster beasts.
The beast tide struck with the fury of a storm, leaving the factory and its surroundings in chaos. Though the Warfare Department's Fighting Division managed to subdue the attack, the maglev viaduct connecting Crypta to the factory was critically damaged during the battle.
With the maglev viaduct out of commission, the factory was stranded, an industrial island cut off from the rest of the city. Robert Rays, the company's CEO, had no choice but to abandon the site, pouring resources into building a new smelting base elsewhere.
However, not everyone made it out.
A group of employees had been trapped within the factory walls when the beast tide struck. Left behind during the evacuation, they were presumed dead—until reports began surfacing of human activity in the abandoned complex.
Now, Robert Rays was scrambling to mount a rescue effort. The mission? To eliminate the monsters infesting the area and retrieve any survivors.
According to the Global Association's official description, the old factory site was crawling with low-level monsters. Most were Scout-level Lv1 and Marauder-level Lv2, with the occasional Ravager-level Lv3 lurking around.
The Association had classified the mission as C-level difficulty, and on paper, it seemed… manageable.
Adam frowned. "Scout-level and Marauder-level monsters? They're nothing but warm-up practice at this point," he muttered to himself. With Rose by his side, even a Ravager-level monster—a supposedly more dangerous Lv3 threat—would be obliterated in seconds.
Still, something didn't add up.
The mission had been sitting untouched on the website for six months. No takers. No one willing—or able—to complete it.
Adam leaned back in his chair, the faint hum of his smart computer filling the silence. What was he missing?
The bright red bounty stared back at him like a taunt: 1,000,000 Dollars.
He drummed his fingers against the desk, weighing his options. On one hand, the reward was too tempting to ignore. On the other, the lack of takers after all this time hinted at a trap. Something beyond the official description.
"Well," Adam said finally, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his lips, "if no one else is willing to take the risk, I might as well step up."
The old saying echoed in his mind: Fortune and honor are achieved through risk.
"Fuck it," he growled, his resolve hardening. "What the hell am I afraid of?"
With a swift motion, he clicked the Accept button.
Done.
The screen confirmed his selection with a soft chime, and Adam felt a surge of adrenaline. Whether it was courage, recklessness, or sheer desperation, he had committed. There was no turning back now.
His gaze shifted to Rose, who stood silently nearby, her expression unreadable. She would be the trump card, the ace up his sleeve against whatever dangers lay ahead.
"Get ready, Rose," he said, his voice low but steady. "We're about to earn that million."
---
[New Tasks Detected...]
[Mission Content: Complete the C-level demon-killing mission issued by the Global Association, and you will receive a reward: 30,000 points.]
The system's prompt echoed in my ears again.
Not bad.
A bounty for slaying demons and bonus experience points from the system? This was fame and fortune delivered on a silver platter.
Adam's lips curled into a faint smile of satisfaction.
Just then, a sharp ringtone broke the stillness. His phone, perched precariously on the edge of the bed, vibrated insistently. Adam grabbed it, glancing at the screen to see an unfamiliar number flashing.
After a brief hesitation, he answered.
"Hello, is this Mr. Adam?" a sweet, professional voice inquired.
"That's me. Who's calling?"
"This is Eliana Lopez, secretary to the president of Divine Metal Smelting Company," she said, her tone polished and courteous.
Adam paused for a moment before the connection clicked in his mind.
Ah, the Demon-Hunting Mission Website's value-added service.
The Global Association had a streamlined system for these missions: as soon as a Doom-Breaker accepted a task, the mission issuer and the hunter would automatically receive each other's contact details. The dual purpose was to prevent fraudulent task claims and to simplify bounty settlements.
"Oh, I see. How can I help you?" Adam asked, keeping his tone calm.
Eliana hesitated briefly before speaking again. "Mr. Adam, I just wanted to confirm—did you recently accept the demon-killing mission our company issued?"
"That's correct," Adam confirmed. "Don't worry, I'll handle it. I plan to visit the old factory tomorrow."
"Wonderful, that's reassuring," she replied, her voice carrying a hint of relief. Then, as if gathering courage, she continued, "Actually, Mr. Adam, I have a slightly unusual request. Our company's president, Mr. Robert Rays, would like to meet with you in person. Would you be willing to spare some time for that?"
Adam arched a brow. The Robert Rays? The tycoon of Divine Metal Smelting Company wants to see me? What's this about?
He hesitated, mulling it over. While Rays was certainly a powerful figure, at the end of the day, he was just an ordinary human. As a Doom-Breaker with a Warrior Level-4 Tamed Alienor under his belt, Adam had no reason to be intimidated.
Still, this C-level mission was laced with oddities, and meeting someone like Rays could offer an edge. High-level Doom-Breakers often had access to networks of wealthy sponsors like him, opportunities that didn't come around every day.
"Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to meet him," Adam replied evenly. "I'm free now."
"Excellent! Thank you so much. I'll arrange for a car to pick you up immediately. Could you please provide your current address?"
Adam shared the name of his hotel, then ended the call.
---
After a short wait, the phone rang again.
It was still that Sweet voice.
"Mr. Adam? I've just arrived downstairs at your hotel,"Eliana informed him politely.
"Got it. I'll be right down," Adam replied before ending the call.
He changed into a clean hoodie—one of his few decent pieces of clothing—and hastily packed what little he needed. With a quick glance in the mirror, he shrugged. Good enough.
When he stepped into the hotel lobby, he was immediately met by a striking figure approaching him.
The woman walking toward him exuded a blend of professionalism and allure. Dressed in a fitted business suit that emphasized her curvaceous, mature figure, Eliana carried herself with effortless confidence. Her ear-length hair framed her sharp features, adding to her poised and capable demeanor.
"You must be Mr. Adam?" she asked, a note of surprise coloring her voice as her sharp eyes quickly scanned him.
"That's right. Is something wrong?" Adam responded, his tone calm but direct.
"Oh, no, not at all…" Eliana said with a slight laugh, though her astonishment lingered. "I just didn't expect you to be so young."
Adam arched a brow. At the moment, he was wearing an inexpensive hoodie, the fabric showing signs of wear, and his unkempt hair added to his slightly disheveled look.
Not exactly the image of a Doom-Breaker that inspires awe, he thought dryly. But then again, appearances didn't win battles—skills did.
"It was a last-minute thing," he said, his tone light. "Didn't have time to put on anything fancy. Hope that's not a problem?"
"Ah, no, no problem at all," Eliana replied, an awkward smile briefly crossing her lips.
Years of working in the city center had made her accustomed to dealing with all sorts of Doom-Breakers. Many of them had eccentric personalities and could be frustratingly unpredictable. Adam seemed straightforward, at least for now, but she wasn't about to underestimate him.
Stepping aside with a respectful gesture, she said, "The car is waiting for us, Mr. Adam. Right this way."
At the hotel entrance, a sleek, extended black maglev business car hovered smoothly, its polished exterior gleaming under the city lights.
Adam followed her without a word, his eyes briefly scanning the vehicle. It was luxurious—far from what he was used to.
Well, at least they know how to make an impression.
Eliana opened the door for him, motioning for him to step inside.
Adam climbed into the back seat of the car, sinking into a seat so spacious and luxuriously soft it felt like a personal cocoon. The seat automatically adjusted its tilt to match his weight and posture, cradling him with an unnerving precision.
So, this is how the wealthy live. Plain, boring... and ridiculously comfortable, Adam thought, trying to mask his awe.
It was his first time experiencing such luxury, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of envy mingled with fascination.
A moment later, Eliana entered the car and settled into the seat beside him. Her composed demeanor didn't waver, but her presence was anything but subtle. The tailored suit accentuated her mature and alluring figure, and a faint yet intoxicating scent drifted from her, subtle but impossible to ignore.
Adam shifted slightly, suddenly aware of the dryness in his throat. He cleared it with two sharp coughs, attempting to regain his composure.
"Everything alright, Mr. Adam?" Eliana asked, her gaze flickering toward him with a hint of amusement.
"Yeah… yeah, I'm fine," Adam replied, doing his best to sound unbothered. "Just not used to, uh… this level of comfort."
Eliana's lips curled into a knowing smile, but she didn't comment further.
"So," Adam said, eager to steer the conversation elsewhere, "where are we headed?"
"To Starlight Villa," she replied smoothly, her tone professional. "It's President Rays' private residence."
Adam nodded, staring out the window as the city lights blurred into streaks of color. A tycoon's private villa? This just keeps getting more interesting.