Chapter 48: Caught Red-Handed
"Huh?"
Soren blinked, the condensation from the juice can dripping onto his knuckles as the silence stretched. For a split second, he genuinely wondered if the exhaustion had finally induced hallucinations or if this was some elaborate psychological tactic to catch him off guard before another surprise sparring match. After all, the woman sitting across from him wasn’t exactly the type for casual small talk.
’No, I must be overthinking again.’
He inwardly shook his head, forcing the mental fog to clear. Swallowing the rest of the juice in his mouth, he took a breath and tried to find his voice.
"I am not sure," he replied honestly. "I might go for another raid or just take a few days to rest. Why are you asking, Sister Zoe?"
The woman didn’t react to the address. After all, she was the one who had insisted on it a few days ago, claiming that ’Instructor’ felt far too formal for someone who spent her time effectively beating him into shape. Because they had spent so many hours in the hall together, the title had become a natural part of their dynamic.
"I see..." She leaned back, crossing her legs. "Then, did you fill your monthly quota yet?"
"Yes," Soren said. Between the party and his solo slime raids, he had far exceeded the minimum requirements set by the Bureau.
"Hmm..." Zoe trailed off, her fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest of the sofa. She seemed to be weighing her words, looking thoughtful for a moment before turning her focus back to him. "I have a proposal on my desk that involves significant pay and high-grade rewards. Are you interested?"
Soren lowered the can, his curiosity piqued. Opportunities like that were usually reserved for higher-ranked hunters, making the offer far too tempting to ignore.
"...Alright," he said. "I’m all ears."
"I don’t know whether you have heard," Zoe began, her tone shifting into a professional gear, "but the Kalmira Elite Hunter Academy is currently preparing for their annual field examinations."
Soren remained silent, listening intently. While he hadn’t heard of this specific event, the concept made sense. Academies across the continent often held high-stakes practical exams to prepare students for the harsh reality of the field. Though he was relatively new to the city, he knew Kalmira was an A-rank hub; an academy bearing its name was likely a powerhouse, a breeding ground for the future elite of the hunter world.
"The Bureau is cooperating with the Academy for this session," Zoe continued. "They’ve requested a group of Bureau-affiliated hunters to participate. Instead of hiring external mercenaries, they want people who are already under our management to act as part of the student teams."
Soren leaned forward, his interest growing. "So, what exactly is the mission?"
"It’s a combined escort and evaluation task," she explained. "While those students are elite and possess high mana levels, most of them have spent their lives in controlled training rooms. They haven’t set foot in a real gate where the monsters don’t stop when you tap out. You should be able to guess why the academy is doing this."
Soren took a second to think about it. It wasn’t hard to see the problem with those "genius" kids.
"They’re probably great at practice, but they’ve never actually been in a life-or-death situation. The academy wants to see who panics when things get ugly, but they don’t want to lose their best students. So, we’re the ones there to keep them from getting killed while they learn what a real fight feels like."
"You’re exactly right. They need to know who has the stomach for this job before they graduate," she said. "Furthermore, this exam is strictly for sophomores and third-year students, who will be sent into Second and Third Circle gates, respectively."
She paused, her ice-blue eyes narrowing slightly.
"I took a look at your profile earlier. You have a 100% clear rate and excellent reviews. But more importantly, I can see that you’ve already ’gotten stronger’ recently. Plus, after seeing your performance today..." She gestured vaguely toward the training hall. "I’m confident you can handle the sophomore mission."
Soren froze.
’She knows?!’
He had been meticulously hiding his breakthrough to the Second Circle, keeping his mana suppressed to avoid drawing unnecessary attention while he grew his strength in secret. He hadn’t told a soul, yet she had tossed the comment out with the casual ease of someone commenting on the weather.
’Gulp...’ Soren gulped inwardly.
For a moment, the only sound in the lounge was the faint hum of the air conditioning as he tried to keep his expression neutral. However, the sudden rigidity of his shoulders and the way his breath hitched gave him away instantly.
Zoe watched him for a beat, her eyes twinkling with a sharp, perceptive light that seemed to pierce right through his facade. She didn’t look offended or suspicious; instead, her lips curled into a knowing, almost amused smile.
"I don’t know why you are trying to hide it," she said softly, "but it couldn’t escape my eyes during the training. You have a good poker face, Soren, but your body doesn’t lie. Besides, no Initiate Awakened can maintain that level of output for two hours without their internal reserves running dry. It isn’t just about stamina; the quality of your mana began to shift as you pushed yourself."
She let the silence linger just long enough for him to realize he had been caught red-handed.
"But don’t worry," she continued, waving a hand dismissively. "I won’t expose it, and I won’t ask for the reason. Everyone has their secrets in this industry, and I’m not the type to go gossiping around. I just thought I would help you out since you’ve clearly put in the work."
Soren remained silent, his mind racing.
He felt a deep sense of wariness, but it was quickly tempered by the reality of his situation.
Zoe was one of the most respected hunters in Kalmira, known for her professional integrity and her clean record.
In fact, he was lucky to have even secured a training slot with her, let alone receive a direct recommendation.
If she wanted to harm him or exploit his secret, she could have easily pressured him in the training hall or reported him immediately. Instead, she was offering him a path to a lucrative contract.
However, to be absolutely sure, he decided to trust his eyes one last time. He focused his gaze, activating the peculiar power that had guided him this far.
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Name: Zoe Marron
Status: Healthy
Age: 26
Rank: 5th Circle (Late Stage)
Current Mana Level: Very High (482,410)
Ability: Telepathic Insight
Mental State: Calm, Amused, Assessing
Investment Value: Very High
Potential: 7th Circle (Estimated)
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The sheer scale of her mana level was staggering, but it was her mental state that made him relax. And with Telepathic Insight, she had likely felt the shift in his mental state and mana flow long before she even spoke.
Accepting that there was no point in further deception, Soren set his drink down. He stood up, cupped his hands, and offered her another deep, respectful bow.
"Thank you, Sister Zoe," he said, his voice firm and sincere. He looked up, his gaze steady with newfound resolve. "What do I need to do to apply?"
Zoe smiled approvingly, clearly pleased by how quickly he had regained his composure and accepted the reality of the situation.
"First, you need to upgrade your license to E-rank," she replied, leaning back and crossing her legs. "Don’t worry, you are more than qualified for the promotion. And after that, you must complete three recorded Second Circle gate raids before the application deadline. Do that, and the mission is yours."
"So, what do you think? Are you up for it?"