Without waiting for a response, the old man walked toward the center of the chamber before sitting down in a lotus position.
His eyes slowly closed.
Within moments, his breathing became calm and steady as he entered a meditative state.
Kael watched him for a moment.
A trace of disappointment surfaced within his heart.
It seemed...
The old man still had no intention of formally teaching him.
Even so...
Today’s visit hadn’t been in vain.
A faint smile appeared on Kael’s face.
He bowed once more toward the meditating Sword Saint before quietly turning around and making his way toward the chamber’s exit.
Just as Kael reached the door and wrapped his hand around the handle, the Sword Saint’s voice drifted over from behind him.
"On your way out..."
Kael stopped and glanced over his shoulder.
"Go find Albert."
The old man never opened his eyes.
"Have him prepare a fresh set of clothes for you."
A faint snort escaped him.
"I can’t have someone leaving my residence looking as though they’ve just been abused."
Kael instinctively looked down at himself.
Only now did he notice the miserable state of his clothes.
The intense spar had left tears running across the fabric.
A brief silence followed before the Sword Saint spoke again.
"And while you’re at it..."
"Exchange contact information with him."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
The Sword Saint remained seated in meditation as he continued in a casual tone.
"I’m usually occupied refining my sword path."
"I don’t have the time to constantly teach an arrogant brat like you."
Another brief pause.
"...But."
"I don’t mind giving you a few pointers whenever I’m free."
For a moment, Kael simply stared at the old man’s back.
Then a grin slowly spread across his face.
"So you’re a tsundere after all, Senior."
He clasped his fists together.
"This junior sincerely thanks you."
The Sword Saint’s eyelid twitched.
"Get out."
His voice remained as calm as ever.
"You cheeky brat."
Kael couldn’t help chuckling.
Without saying another word, he bowed one final time before turning around and walking out of the training chamber.
The heavy doors slowly swung shut behind him.
The smile on his face lingered only briefly before his expression suddenly changed.
His footsteps came to an abrupt halt.
His eyes shifted toward a seemingly empty corner of the hallway.
More specifically...
Toward the shadow cast behind a decorative flower pot.
The corridor remained completely silent.
Then...
The shadow rippled.
Like ink rising from the ground, a figure slowly emerged from within the darkness until Albert’s familiar appearance came into view.
A look of genuine surprise crossed his face.
"You’re quite perceptive."
He smiled faintly.
"I honestly didn’t expect you to notice me."
Kael shrugged.
"My senses are a little sharper than most."
Albert nodded thoughtfully.
"I can see that."
His gaze drifted toward Kael’s appearance before a chuckle escaped him.
"Judging from the state you’re in..."
"I suppose you were already planning on finding me."
Kael glanced down once again.
He looked more like someone who had survived an explosion than someone who had merely finished training.
Maybe I should ask Scarlet Fist to introduce me to her tailor...
The thought briefly crossed his mind.
After all, replacing clothes after nearly every serious fight was becoming increasingly troublesome.
A moment later, he dismissed the idea.
Once Spectre-X finished upgrading, it wouldn’t matter anymore.
The nanotechnology armor could be deployed instantly whenever combat broke out unexpectedly. At that point, ordinary clothing would simply become another outer layer instead of something that needed replacing every other battle.
Albert interrupted his thoughts.
"Come."
A warm smile appeared on the older man’s face.
"Let’s get you looking presentable."
Kael nodded.
"Sounds good."
Albert took the lead, and the two made their way through the sprawling mansion once more.
...
Some time later...
Kael finally stepped out of the mansion’s front entrance.
After changing into a fresh set of clothes, exchanging contact information with Albert, and chatting with Zoey for a few minutes before saying goodbye, it was finally time to head home.
The black limousine was already waiting at the foot of the stairs.
The same chauffeur who had driven him here earlier immediately opened the rear door upon seeing him approach.
"Mr. Kael."
Kael gave a small nod before climbing inside.
The door closed softly behind him.
Moments later, the limousine silently pulled away from the mansion, smoothly making its way through the enormous estate before exiting onto the main road.
The journey home remained peaceful.
The rhythmic hum of the engine was the only sound accompanying the passing scenery outside the tinted windows.
Then...
Buzz.
Kael felt a vibration from inside his pocket.
He pulled out his phone.
An unfamiliar number appeared on the screen.
He frowned slightly before pressing the answer button.
"Hello?"
A familiar voice immediately echoed from the other end.
"Hello, big brother."
Kael physically cringed.
A look of pure discomfort spread across his face.
"...Don’t call me that."
His tone was unusually serious.
"Just call me Kael."
A playful laugh came through the speaker.
"Okay."
A brief pause.
"...Whatever big brother wants."
Kael closed his eyes.
The corners of his mouth twitched violently.
Secondhand embarrassment flooded his entire body.
He pinched the bridge of his nose before letting out a defeated sigh.
"Ahem."
Clearing his throat, he forcefully changed the subject.
"So."
"Why are you calling?"
"I doubt you contacted me just for a casual chat."
Ferris laughed softly.
"No."
"This is actually official business."
Kael’s expression became more serious.
"I’m listening."
"It’s regarding your S-Rank duties."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Every S-Rank Hunter is required to complete at least one Association mission each year."
"Normally, there’s no strict deadline."
"You can complete it at any point within a one-year period."
He allowed him a moment to process the information before continuing.
"However..."
"Among S-Rank Hunters, there’s an unwritten tradition."
"When someone newly advances into the rank, they’re expected to complete their first Association mission within one week of passing the examination."
Kael quietly listened.
Ferris continued explaining.
"It’s considered an initiation."
"A way for the other S-Ranks to evaluate what a newly promoted Hunter is truly capable of."
"The examination only demonstrates your strength under controlled conditions."
"A real mission is very different."
"It also serves as an opportunity to establish yourself among the existing S-Rank Hunters."
Her voice remained calm.
"Of course..."
"This isn’t mandatory."
"There isn’t a single Association regulation forcing you to participate."
"I’m only informing you because most new S-Ranks choose to do it."
Silence followed.
Kael leaned back against the leather seat, thoughtfully tapping a finger against the armrest.
An initiation, huh...
Truthfully, he wasn’t particularly interested in proving himself.
His strength didn’t require anyone else’s acknowledgment.
Still...
Building connections with the upper echelon of humanity wasn’t a bad idea.
Whether he liked it or not, he’d inevitably interact with them more often in the future.
Having a reason to familiarize himself with the people standing at humanity’s peak could only benefit him.
After thinking it over for a few moments, he gave his answer.
"Sure."
"Why not?"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"It sounds like a good opportunity to get acquainted with the other high-ranking Hunters."