Chapter 31 - 30: Aftermath, Fame, and Invitation
The Hunter Association headquarters rose like a glass mountain in the heart of the administrative district. Leon sat in the back of the armored transport, watching the building grow larger through bulletproof windows.
His new sword rested across his knees. Shadowedge hummed with contained power, making his fingers tingle. The Champion’s blood had already dried on the blade’s dark surface.
The transport pulled into a secured garage beneath the building. Armed guards flanked the vehicle as Leon stepped out. Their eyes held a mixture of respect and wariness that he had grown used to.
Director Arieth Landstan waited in the elevator lobby. She was in her mid-forties, with steel-gray hair and a sharp suit that probably cost more than most hunters earned in a year. Her handshake was firm and professional.
"Mr. Graves. Thank you for what you did today."
Leon nodded. "Just doing my job."
The elevator climbed sixty floors in silence. Leon watched the city shrink below them through glass walls. Somewhere down there, cleanup crews still scraped alien blood off broken concrete.
The ceremony hall buzzed with reporters and Association officials. Cameras flashed as Leon walked to the podium. The crowd’s energy felt different from that of the underground tournament—respectful and awed.
Director Landstan spoke into the microphones. "Today, we witnessed something unprecedented. A B-Rank threat emerged from a routine dungeon. One hunter stood against it when others fled."
She turned to Leon, genuine pride in her eyes. "Leon Graves, by the authority of the Hunter Association, I hereby promote you to B-Rank status."
The new badge felt heavier than the old one—bronze instead of iron. It caught the camera lights as Leon pinned it to his jacket.