Jonas looked at Kael for a moment before smiling.
"Of course," he said. "Go ahead."
Kael didn’t waste any time.
"My question is about the task itself." He looked directly at Jonas. "There’s no guarantee how things will turn out. I might not be able to find the item the Association President is looking for."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"If that happens, will the Association take back the reward?"
That was the one thing he needed clarified before everything was finalized.
Jonas stared at him for a second before letting out a hearty chuckle.
"So that’s what you were worried about."
He shook his head with an amused smile.
"There’s no need to be concerned."
"Yes, the President hopes you’ll succeed, but that doesn’t mean the Association would go back on its word if you fail."
"Our agreement is based on your participation, not the outcome."
"The Rift transfer will proceed regardless of whether you find the item."
Kael’s eyes flickered slightly.
Jonas smiled.
"In fact, the transfer process has already been completed on our end."
"All that’s left is for you to sign the necessary agreements."
"Once that’s done, the Rifts will officially be handed over to Mothlight Guild."
Hearing that, Kael finally nodded.
That was exactly the answer he wanted.
Without another word, Jonas reached into his inventory space and pulled out a neatly organized file before sliding it across the table.
"Take your time and read everything carefully."
Kael picked up the file and began flipping through the documents one by one.
The contract wasn’t particularly complicated.
The first agreement was a non-disclosure contract.
Everything discussed inside this room, from the existence of the other Safe Zones to the Treasure Rift and the upcoming tournament, was classified at the highest level. Under no circumstances could he disclose any of today’s information to a third party without authorization from the Association.
The second document concerned the transfer of the Rifts.
After carefully reading every clause, Kael quickly understood the arrangement.
Although ownership of the designated Rifts would be transferred to Mothlight Guild, the Association would temporarily remain a co-manager.
It wasn’t because the Association wanted to retain control.
It was because Mothlight Guild simply lacked the manpower.
Managing a Rift wasn’t as simple as collecting permit fees.
Security had to be maintained around the clock.
The surrounding area required regular maintenance.
Emergency response teams had to remain on standby in case unexpected situations occurred.
Personnel were needed to inspect every Hunter entering and leaving.
There were countless responsibilities involved in operating a Rift safely.
At the guild’s current stage, Mothlight simply couldn’t handle all of that.
Under the agreement, the Association would continue providing manpower and daily management while Mothlight Guild retained ownership and shared the profits according to the agreed percentage.
Considering the guild’s current situation...
It was honestly the best arrangement they could hope for.
Without any further hesitation, Kael signed every required document before sliding the file back across the table.
Jonas glanced over the signatures before smiling with satisfaction.
"It was a pleasure doing business with you."
"I suppose that wraps everything up."
He had just begun putting the documents away when something suddenly came to mind.
"Oh, that’s right."
"The beast horde you dealt with a few days ago."
"You left before the Association’s recovery teams arrived, but we’ve already finished calculating your contribution based on the monsters you killed and the materials recovered afterward."
He looked at Kael.
"After everything was totaled, your reward comes to approximately fifteen billion credits."
"The Association will contact you shortly to arrange the transfer."
Kael simply nodded.
"I understand."
Jonas blinked.
That was it?
Fifteen billion credits.
An amount large enough to make even an S-Rank Hunters lose their composure.
Yet from beginning to end, Kael’s expression hadn’t changed in the slightest.
There wasn’t even the slightest hint of excitement in his eyes.
Jonas couldn’t help wondering just what kind of secrets this young man was hiding.
Fortunately, he had long since learned not to pry into things that didn’t concern him.
Pushing those thoughts aside, he continued.
"Oh, one more thing."
"The Association also intends to award you a Merit Medal for your contribution."
Before he could explain further, Kael immediately raised a hand.
"Can we skip that?"
Jonas looked at him in surprise.
"I’d rather avoid public attention if possible," Kael said with a helpless smile. "I’d prefer to keep a low profile."
Jonas studied him for a moment before laughing softly.
"I suppose that’s easy enough to arrange."
"If that’s what you want, I’ll report it to the higher-ups."
"Thank you."
The two spent another several minutes discussing a few minor matters regarding the upcoming tournament before finally concluding their meeting.
After settling the bill, they left the restaurant together.
Outside, the black sedan was already waiting by the entrance.
One of the guard quickly opened the rear door, and the two entered before the vehicle smoothly pulled away from the curb, heading straight toward the Association Headquarters.
Not long afterward, Kael boarded the Association’s private jet for the return trip.
The flight passed quietly.
By the time the jet landed outside the heavily damaged Association branch in the Third District, dusk had already settled over the city.
Fortunately, it was getting late.
The crowds that had surrounded the ruined building earlier had long since dispersed, leaving only a handful of Association personnel still working around the site.
Kael stepped off the jet, made his way toward the parking area, and stopped beside his motorcycle.
He fastened his helmet, started the engine, and pulled out onto the road.
The ride home was peaceful.
Streetlights stretched endlessly ahead as the city gradually became quieter with the arrival of night. Within twenty minutes, Kael turned into the familiar apartment complex and parked beneath the building.
After killing the engine, he removed his helmet and casually slung it over one arm before making his way upstairs.
By the time he reached the apartment, light was already spilling through the gap beneath the front door.
Seems like Lyra’s back already.
A faint smile appeared on his face as he unlocked the door and stepped inside.
The first thing that greeted him wasn’t Lyra.
It was the blaring sound of a television.
Kael didn’t even need to look at the screen to know what was playing.
He let out an amused scoff.
"Seriously..."
"She’s watching House of Seven again."
House of Seven was one of the most popular reality shows currently.
Every season, seven celebrity Hunters were invited to live together under one roof while cameras followed their daily lives twenty-four hours a day. It was marketed as an authentic glimpse into the everyday life of elite Hunters and had somehow become a nationwide sensation.
Kael, however, couldn’t understand its popularity.
To him, the show was unbearably boring.
Worse still...
It was advertised as a reality show, yet almost every scene felt painfully scripted. The conversations were forced, the conflicts were obviously manufactured, and even the so-called spontaneous moments looked like they had been rehearsed a dozen times beforehand.
He genuinely couldn’t understand why millions of people loved watching it.
Then again...
Considering every participant looked like they had stepped straight out of a magazine, perhaps the director simply understood exactly what the audience wanted.
# #
Expect all Chapters owed by this author from now until the end of tomorrow. The author had been really busy and haven’t been able to finish them until now.
Also, it’s just a few days until the end of the month. You guys should start working on next month’s mass release goals.
Love you all to bits and pieces ❤️