Chapter 74 - Investigation
The old man looked back at Theo.
’’The commission will be yours,’’ he said calmly. ’’We only take a five percent cut.’’
Theo’s eyes flickered slightly.
’’And everything here... remains anonymous,’’ the old man continued, his gaze steady. ’’That’s what our clients pay for more than anything else.’’
Theo nodded once, his expression turning serious.
Through missions like this, he could earn massive amounts of money and rise through the hunter ranks far faster than normal.
This was an opportunity he couldn’t afford to pass up.
Especially when he needed more cultivation resources to reach his Silver Core.
As for danger...
How many times had he not already put his life on the line?
’’Makes sense,’’ Theo said, taking a step toward the table. ’’I’ll see what I can do.’’
He leaned forward, scanning through the papers closely.
’There’s so many different ones,’ he thought, narrowing his eyes. ’Investigation missions, elimination requests, search and recovery of specific herbs... even contracts on wanted criminals.’
But each one of them had one thing in common.
’The killing missions are all D and C-rank creatures. The investigations take place in the same areas... even the wanted criminals range from experienced Silver Cores to Gold Cores.’
Theo’s expression tightened slightly.
The Calamity Covenant member he’d encountered in the cave... was nothing compared to a real, experienced Silver Core.
That maniac hadn’t even had proper spells for his poison element.
But others wouldn’t be like that.
’What do I choose then?’
That’s when his eyes fell on a specific few requests, each of which was pinned on the wall.
Each one of them had red circles drawn around them.
’These are urgent?’
Theo stepped closer, his eyes narrowing slightly as he read through them.
’Night incidents...?’
The papers were shorter than the others, but far more specific.
Several reports with similar patterns.
Civilians turning into low-ranking humanoid creatures and attacking anyone nearby.
Theo’s gaze lingered on one of the descriptions.
’Always late at night in the same few back alleys of New York.’
As he read further, his eyes landed on the bottom of the page.
He froze immediately.
’A million dollars... for this?!’
For a moment, he just stared at the paper.
Then, his expression slowly settled as he thought it through.
’The creatures themselves are low-level...’ he thought. ’Even if the investigation is difficult... it should still be doable.’
Compared to the other requests...
This was far more realistic for him.
At least, it wasn’t something completely out of his league.
Without hesitating any longer, Theo reached out and pulled the paper off the wall.
He turned and walked back toward the old man, holding it out.
The old man glanced at it once before taking it from his hands.
Then, he looked up at Theo.
’’Are you sure?’’ he asked calmly. ’’These types of missions aren’t easy.’’
Theo nodded once.
’’The rest are a little above my league,’’ he said calmly. ’’I am still a Bronze Core, after all.’’
The old man raised an eyebrow, studying him for a moment longer.
Then, he gave a small nod.
’’Good choice,’’ he said.
He tapped the paper lightly with his finger.
’’You cannot speak a word about this to anyone though,’’ he continued. ’’This request comes directly from the city officials.’’
Theo raised an eyebrow slightly.
But he didn’t think too much about it.
’’Understood,’’ he said calmly.
The old man smiled upon hearing that.
He folded the paper, heading back to the reception at the front.
’’Since this is an urgent investigation mission,’’ he said calmly. ’’I can’t afford to send you alone.’’
Theo’s eyes narrowed slightly.
As the old man stepped back to the front, he turned his head to the door.
’’Mira.’’
A few seconds later, the girl from earlier stepped inside, wiping her hands on a cloth.
’’Yes?’’
The old man nodded toward Theo.
’’Can you call Ethan down?’’
She paused for a moment, her gaze shifting to Theo.
’’Sure,’’ she said slowly.
She turned and walked back out without another word.
Theo glanced at the old man for a moment.
’’Ethan?’’
’’He’s going with you, but he’s not there to fight,’’ the old man replied calmly. ’’He handles analysis, tracking, and documentation.’’
Theo didn’t say anything, but his gaze sharpened slightly.
’A researcher...’
A few seconds later, footsteps echoed from a set of stairs in the hallway.
The door opened again, and a young man stepped inside.
He looked to be around Theo’s age, though his body was thin and he wore a set of glasses.
His eyes immediately moved to Theo, studying him for a brief moment.
’’Grandpa, you called?’’
The old man nodded once, smiling softly.
’’Ethan, you’ll be going with him,’’ he said, gesturing toward Theo. ’’It’s an investigation request.’’
Ethan’s gaze shifted fully to Theo now.
After a moment, he nodded.
’’Okay.’’
Ethan stepped forward, stopping in front of Theo.
For a brief moment, he simply looked at him.
Then, he extended his hand.
’’Ethan Rowe,’’ he said.
Theo glanced at it once before reaching out and shaking it.
’’Theo Line.’’
Ethan gave a small nod, pulling his hand back.
’’I’ll send you the details I have so far,’’ he added, already taking out his phone. ’’We should talk a bit later before heading out.’’
Theo nodded once, taking out his own phone as well.
Within a few seconds, they exchanged numbers.
Ethan glanced at the screen briefly before putting it away again.
’’I’ll prepare everything,’’ he said calmly. ’’And then we can go out tomorrow night.’’
’’Sounds good.’’
Theo nodded, a polite smile on his face.
Ethan nodded and turned around, walking back toward the corridor he came from.
Theo watched him leave for a moment before shifting his gaze.
’I should also go,’ he thought. ’There’s still much more I need to do.’
After thanking the old man and excusing himself, Theo stepped through the doors, his mind occupied.
’Tomorrow night...’
He exhaled quietly, slipping his phone back into his pocket.
’I’ll see what kind of mess I signed myself up for.’