Tatsuya, lighting a cigarette, exhaled a puff of smoke and said, "Alright, let's give you a tour of the hotel, Kenny."
The atmosphere in the hotel was vibrant. Music filled the air, women danced gracefully, and businessmen in elegant suits mingled in the grand hall. As the three – Tatsuya, Akito, and Kenny – descended the main staircase toward the large hall, Tatsuya began explaining, "As I mentioned earlier, this is the main hall. Here you'll find dancing, dining, and drinking."
The hall was adorned with white marble columns illuminated by crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. In the corners stood elegant wooden tables covered with silk cloths, while the aroma of gourmet food permeated the air. To the right was a large bar with shelves lined with bottles of various drinks, and to the left was a stage reserved for the live band.
Kenny was about to join the crowd on the dance floor when Tatsuya grabbed his arm, saying, "You idiot! Are you planning to dance in those filthy clothes?"
Kenny's face turned red with anger as he replied, "Shut up, suit boy! Aren't you a Balancer? Why are you dressed like a businessman?"
Tatsuya, smirking as he exhaled smoke, said, "Being here requires this. But your clothes are a blatant violation of the hotel's standards. Your place is in the Balancers' corner."
Kenny shouted, furious, "Huh?! The Balancers' corner? Aren't we the ones keeping all these people alive?"
Tatsuya replied coldly, "Technically, yes."
Kenny crossed his arms and said, "Then let me dance with the people we've saved."
Tatsuya grabbed his collar again and said, "What saving are you talking about? The best you've done is struggle for ten minutes to kill a weak soldier."
"Damn, he's right. But with my new power, I can take down at least a grade C gate on my own."
Tatsuya turned and began walking, saying, "Alright, Kenny, let's continue the tour. Come along, Akito."
…
They reached a section entirely different from the hotel lobby. The hall was filled with glass displays showcasing jewelry and weapons of all kinds. The place looked like a gallery with a commercial vibe.
Kenny, looking around in astonishment, asked, "So, this is where Mr. Takamura comes?"
The vendor, arranging some items, replied, "Mr. Takamura? He's a friend of mine. He was here a few days ago to sell gate loot."
Kenny, curious, asked, "How much were the last loot items he brought you?"
The vendor thought for a moment and replied, "Maybe three million yen."
"That scumbag thief! Not only is he a coward, but he was also stealing from us – the money and loot we worked hard for."
…
Tatsuya pointed to another corner. "And that far side is the missions area, or what we call the Orders section. Citizens place their requests here for us to kill monsters or close gates."
Kenny, looking at the digital boards displaying missions, said, "Yeah, I get this. I've got the guild app."
Tatsuya smiled, "Good. Now let me show you the place from the outside."
…
Tatsuya opened the hotel's main door, revealing the city of the Balancers' Guild. Swimming pools dotted the landscape, skyscrapers adorned the skyline, and neon lights lit up the night as if it were day.
Tatsuya spread his arms wide and said, "Welcome to the Balancers' Guild City."
"This… this is the life I never thought I wanted. I've always lived in a small place and never wanted to leave it much. All I wanted was to eat and drink. But this… I wouldn't mind living like this."
…
As they admired the city, the Guild Leader, Kagiura, appeared. He wore a black shirt and black trousers, exuding an aura of authority and strength.
Kagiura, in a calm tone, said, "Akito, I need you to head to a mission to close a grade C gate."
Then, turning to Kenny, he said, "Welcome, Kenny. We apologize for what happened earlier. There was a miscalculation; we thought the gate was a grade C, but it was actually a grade B."
Kenny, feeling nervous, replied, "It's alright. Everything's fine now."
Kagiura said, "Alright, I'd like to see you in my office to discuss some details. Tatsuya, come along."
…
They entered Kagiura's office. It was highly luxurious but looked as though it hadn't been cleaned in weeks. Kagiura sat in his grand chair while Kenny and Tatsuya stood before him.
Kagiura: "So, Kenny. Your survival in a grade B gate has raised some questions. How exactly did you manage to kill the boss?"
"I can't tell him about the system. That's my secret."
Kenny activated his ability, and his right eye glowed red. He then drew his new sword – a sleek black katana emitting a faint dark aura.
Kenny said, "It was sheer luck with this sword."
Kagiura, holding the sword, said, "A powerful blade indeed. But we need to verify your strength."
Kagiura instructed Tatsuya to bring the grade-measuring device. He then pricked Kenny's hand slightly with a small knife, letting some blood drip into the device.
The device beeped strangely before displaying the result: B.
Kagiura smiled and said, "Well, Kenny. You're a grade B now. Just as I expected."
Kenny, trying to hide his excitement, said, "I'm a B now! I'm so happy! But I shouldn't show my nerves."
Kenny said, "Ahem, thank you, Mr. Kagiura."
Kagiura replied, "Mr. Kenny, we're currently forming teams of four members from different grades to create effective balancing units. Things are getting out of hand in Japan with the monsters leaking through."
He pointed to the television screen, which displayed news of three families being killed by leaked monsters in Shibuya.
Kenny: "Alright, Mr. Kagiura. But… what about the salary?"
Kagiura laughed and said, "There will be a fixed monthly payment, plus the loot from the gates you close and the monsters you kill. So, what do you think?"
Kenny: "I'm in, of course."
Kagiura: "I knew you'd say that. That's why I asked Akito to prepare everything before your arrival."
…
Kagiura led them down a long corridor on the sixth floor of the building until they reached room number 634. He opened the door to reveal three people inside:
A girl of medium height with a slim figure, fair skin, and long black hair reaching mid-back, with light pink highlights on either side. She wore a short pink jacket and a black shirt with a Japanese phrase written on it.
A young man of average height with a lean build, light brown messy hair with strands covering his forehead. He wore a black leather jacket with a silver zipper and a white T-shirt.
A tall girl with bronze skin and short blonde hair, the tips dyed sky blue. She wore a white shirt and black pants.
The young man in the leather jacket approached Kenny confidently, his expression a mix of indifference and sharp appraisal. With a smirk, he said, "Welcome. I'm Takeo, and I suppose I'll be your leader here."
Kenny raised an eyebrow and asked, "Leader? Does that mean I have to listen to you all the time?"
Takeo chuckled, "As long as you don't plan on killing us, then yes."
The black-haired girl with pink highlights interrupted with a playful tone, "Oh, stop acting like you're in a power struggle. We're a team now, so let's not act like children."
She extended her hand to Kenny and said, "I'm Rin, support specialist. I've got your back when things get messy."
Kenny shook her hand with a faint smile, "Alright, Miss Messy… Just kidding, just kidding.MY Name's Kenny."
Almost everyone laughed, except the short-haired blonde girl standing in the corner. She stared at Kenny intently, as if trying to read his thoughts.
With a cold tone, she said, "I'm Miko. If you're planning to be dead weight, better tell us now."
Kenny replied confidently, "Don't worry, folks. I'm the strongest here."
Kagiura interrupted, "Alright, enough introductions. You're now Team Ashiri, and your next mission will require your full focus."
Tatsuya handed out files containing mission details. "The gate you'll handle is a grade B gate. Reports say it contains a type of monster known as the 'Night Hunters.'"
Rin looked at the file and said, "Night Hunters? I've heard they're fast and have deadly night vision."
Takeo added, "But they're not the strongest compared to other grade B monsters. Do we have details about their leader?"
Tatsuya pointed to a picture attached to the file. "This is the leader, known as the 'Grey Phantom.' A monster with camouflage and stealth abilities. That's why we chose Team Ashiri – your skill sets can handle such threats."
Kagiura said, "What I do know is that our enemies aren't just monsters."
(Everyone was shocked.)
He continued, "Perhaps humans like us? Who knows?"