After several days of recovery, Darian was finally discharged from the hospital. He stood outside the towering white building, the breeze brushing against his face as he looked up at the bright sky. For reasons he couldn't quite articulate, he appreciated the scenery far more than before. The chirping of birds, the bustling streets, and the warmth of sunlight felt sharper, more vivid—as if a fog had lifted from his senses.
"It feels good to be outside again," Darian muttered to himself, stretching his arms as if to embrace the world anew.
He decided against returning to the Tamers Guild Academy for now. Instead, he headed toward the Guild Office to sell the loot he had painstakingly gathered from the dungeon raid.
As he strolled down the lively streets, Darian couldn't help but notice subtle changes in himself. His senses had become razor-sharp. The colors of the world seemed richer, as though painted in 4K ultra-HD. Conversations drifted to his ears from people ten meters away, their words crisp and clear. His body felt attuned to the slightest changes in the environment—the faint rustle of leaves, the distant hum of a vehicle.
"Is this... the system?" he wondered aloud. His lips curled into a small smirk. This newfound awareness was both thrilling and unnerving.
Eventually, he arrived at his destination: the Guild Office. The building stood like a monument to power and ambition—a skyscraper of steel and glass, its reflective surface dazzling under the sunlight. A constant stream of people moved in and out of the entrance. Warriors clad in ornate armor, magicians draped in shimmering robes, and sharply dressed professionals mingled effortlessly, a testament to the Guild's far-reaching influence.
Darian navigated the throng, making his way to the registration desk. The receptionist, a woman in a sleek black top and skirt, glanced at him with an expression that teetered between irritation and indifference.
"Excuse me," Darian began, his tone polite but firm.
Her demeanor shifted instantly, morphing into the practiced smile of customer service. "Welcome, sir. How can I assist you today?"
Darian caught the flicker of pretense in her expression but chose to ignore it. "I'd like to sell some items."
"Of course," she replied, gesturing toward an elevator behind her. "Please, follow me."
The ride up was silent save for the soft hum of the elevator. When they reached the second floor, Darian noticed how quiet it was—eerily so compared to the bustling ground floor. The receptionist led him into a neatly arranged office where another woman, dressed similarly, was typing away at a computer.
"This gentleman would like to sell items from a dungeon raid," the first woman said before retreating.
The second woman looked up briefly, then gestured for Darian to take a seat. "What dungeon rank did you clear?" she asked, her tone distracted as her fingers danced across the keyboard.
"S-rank," Darian replied nonchalantly as he sat down.
The typing stopped. The woman's head snapped up, her eyes wide with disbelief. "S... S-rank?" she stammered, clearly doubting what she had just heard.
"Yes," Darian confirmed, leaning back in his chair.
The woman hesitated for a moment before excusing herself. She hurried through a door at the back of the office, leaving Darian alone. Minutes later, she returned, accompanied by a man who exuded authority.
The newcomer wore a tailored suit of deep navy and transparent glasses that reflected the light. His every movement radiated control and precision. He sat down across from Darian, and the air in the room seemed to grow heavier.
"I hear you cleared an S-rank dungeon," the man began, his voice firm but composed.
"That's correct," Darian replied evenly, refusing to be intimidated.
The man studied him for a moment before leaning back. "Let's see what you've brought."
Darian accessed his inventory, a faint shimmer in the air marking the transition, and began placing the loot on the desk. One by one, rare and gleaming artifacts appeared—ornate daggers, shimmering gems, vials of mysterious liquids, and finally, a glowing orb that pulsed with faint, otherworldly energy.
The man's brow arched as he inspected the items. Though he didn't touch a single one, his discerning gaze seemed to assess their value instantly.
"A fine haul," he remarked, his voice betraying a note of approval. "How exactly did you manage to clear an S-rank dungeon?"
Darian's expression darkened for a moment. "At a grave cost," he said softly, his voice tinged with bitterness.
The man studied him, sensing the weight behind those words, but chose not to press further. "I see. Well, these are high-grade items. For the lot, I'll offer 30,000 Beast Coins—and I'll throw in an extra 20,000 for the orb."
Darian's heart skipped a beat. Fifty thousand Beast Coins. It was far more than he had anticipated, but a flicker of doubt crept in.
"How do I know you're not lowballing me?" he asked, his tone sharp.
The man smirked faintly. "I could be. Or I could not. The Guild maintains a standard, and I assure you, my offer reflects that. But if you think you'll get a better deal elsewhere, feel free to try. Just know this—no one will offer you more for that orb than I will."
Darian weighed his options. The man's confidence was unnerving, but he knew he had little leverage. If he went to a lesser Guild outpost, the odds of getting a fair price were slim.
"Alright. Deal," he said finally.
The man's smirk widened into a satisfied grin. "Good choice."
The transaction was swift. The items disappeared from the desk, replaced by a sleek black Guild credit card handed to Darian. He inspected it, noting the engraved insignia of the Guild and the digital display indicating his new balance: 50,000 Beast Coins.
"Pleasure doing business with you," the man said as Darian stood to leave.
"Likewise," Darian replied curtly before exiting the office.
As the door closed, the man leaned back in his chair, his sharp gaze lingering on the spot where Darian had been. "Carla," he called to his assistant.
"Yes, sir?"
"Have you seen that kid before?"
"No, sir. Is there a problem?"
The man tapped his fingers on the desk, deep in thought. "No... but his power level is off the charts. Keep an eye out for him in the future."
"Yes, sir," Carla replied, though she couldn't hide her curiosity.
Outside, Darian slipped the card into his pocket, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips. "No more being broke," he murmured, his mind already racing with plans. But deep down, he knew the encounter at the Guild Office was only the beginning. Somewhere, in the shadowy corridors of power, his name had just been noted—and he would have to be ready for whatever came next.