Upon hearing Kael’s answer, Ferris smiled from the other end of the call.
"That’s good."
There was a hint of satisfaction in his voice.
"In fact, I’ve already prepared a mission for you."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"Already?"
"It’s a newly formed Rift."
Ferris continued before Kael could ask anything else.
"You’ll be required to form a team and explore it. Since this will be your first official mission as an S-Rank Hunter, the Association can assign a team to you if you don’t already have one."
Kael paused.
A team.
He hadn’t even started recruiting members for his newly established guild yet.
"I actually formed a guild recently," Kael said. "I haven’t started recruiting members yet, though. So if you can assign a team to me, that would be great."
"Consider it done."
Ferris didn’t hesitate.
"You don’t need to worry about anything else. I’ll arrange the team and handle the paperwork. You just need to show up and lead them."
Kael smiled faintly.
"Thanks."
He understood what Ferris was doing.
This wasn’t simply an ordinary mission assignment.
Kael didn’t know much about newly formed Rift exploration, but even he knew how valuable the opportunity was. Newly formed Rifts were dangerous, but they also contained resources that hadn’t been claimed by anyone.
The first team to enter could potentially obtain the first batch of resources, treasures, rare materials, and other valuable discoveries hidden within the Rift.
That was precisely why individual Hunters and guilds fought so fiercely for the opportunity to participate in first explorations.
Being given one as his very first mission after becoming an S-Rank Hunter was definitely not something ordinary.
Ferris had almost certainly pulled some strings to get him the opportunity.
"No problem," Ferris replied. "I’ll compile all the information regarding the Rift and send it to your registered email."
"When is it?"
"The mission starts in the morning, two days from now."
Kael mentally calculated his schedule.
"I can make it."
"Good."
Ferris paused briefly before continuing.
"Oh, there’s something else."
"What?"
"The Association has finished processing your new Hunter ID. It’ll be delivered to you tomorrow."
Kael nodded.
"Alright."
"And the payment for the Beast Horde has also finished processing."
Ferris’s tone became slightly more businesslike.
"Do you want the money transferred directly into your registered account?"
Kael thought for a moment.
"Sure."
Then he remembered something.
"Actually, deduct the repair costs for the Association building first."
Ferris fell silent for a moment.
Kael continued.
"I already said I’d cover the damage, so just deduct whatever the repair costs are and send me whatever remains."
The response came almost immediately.
"Sure. I’ll take care of it."
There was a noticeable brightness in Ferris’s voice.
Although Kael had already promised to pay for the destruction caused during the Reassessment Test, there had still been a lingering concern in the back of his mind.
Now that the money had finally been processed and the repair costs could be deducted directly, that concern disappeared.
He relaxed slightly against the seat.
Just then, the chauffeur’s voice came from the front of the limousine.
"Mr. Kael, we’ve arrived."
Kael glanced out the window.
The familiar apartment building had already come into view.
"I’ve got to go," Kael said.
"Sure."
The call ended.
Kael slipped his phone back into his pocket before opening the car door.
"Thanks for the ride."
The chauffeur stepped out and gave him a respectful nod.
"My pleasure, Mr. Kael."
Kael returned the gesture before turning toward the apartment building.
By now, the sun was already beginning to descend.
It was around five in the evening.
The streets were gradually becoming busier as people returned home from work, but Kael paid little attention to the activity around him. He simply made his way up the stairs toward their apartment.
When he finally reached the familiar door, he unlocked it and stepped inside.
The moment he entered, voices reached his ears from the living room.
Kael paused briefly before walking toward the sound.
When he entered the living room, he immediately spotted Lyra sitting on the couch.
And she wasn’t alone.
A familiar figure sat beside her.
Kael recognized her instantly.
The two women noticed his arrival at almost the same time and turned toward him.
Lyra was the first to speak.
"You’re back."
"Yeah."
Kael glanced between the two women.
"Looks like you have a guest."
Lyra smiled.
"Actually..."
She pointed toward the woman beside her.
"She’s here to see you."
Kael frowned.
"Me?"
Before Lyra could answer, Ezra stood up from the couch.
"Hey."
Kael stared at her.
"What’s up?"
Ezra hesitated for a moment before getting straight to the point.
"I actually came here to ask you something."
"What?"
"I wanted to know how much you paid for that armor."
Kael’s brows immediately furrowed.
"Seriously?"
Ezra nodded.
"Yes."
"I don’t like owing people favors."
Kael stared at her in disbelief.
"You came all the way here just to ask me that?"
"Yes."
Kael sighed.
"It was a gift."
Ezra remained silent.
"Just take it."
Kael waved his hand dismissively.
"You don’t have to pay me back. Say thank you and we’re done."
Ezra continued staring at him.
The silence stretched.
Eventually, Kael sighed again.
"Fine."
He rubbed his forehead.
"If you really want to pay me back that badly..."
He casually threw out a number.
"Thirty million."
Ezra froze.
"...Thirty million?"
"Yeah."
She looked genuinely stunned.
"For that?"
Kael nodded.
"That’s what it costs."
Ezra’s expression changed instantly.
She looked at Kael.
Then toward Lyra.
Then back at Kael.
"On second thought..."
She slowly sat back down.
"I think I’ll just accept the gift."
Lyra immediately burst into laughter.
"See?"
She pointed at Ezra.
"I told you it’d be ridiculously expensive."
Ezra didn’t respond.
Lyra leaned back against the couch with a smug expression.
"Just take it. Besides, it seems Kael has gotten himself a new sugar mummy, so he’s loaded."
Kael rolled his eyes.
"You’ve got to be kidding me."
He already had a pretty good idea where Lyra had gotten the idea.
She had probably seen the limousine Zoey had sent to pick him up.
"Whatever."
He wasn’t going to bother explaining.
Kael turned toward the hallway.
"Anyway, I’m heading inside."
Lyra looked up.
"What are you doing?"
"I’m going to sleep."
He raised a hand casually.
"After that, I’ll head straight to the Tower."
He glanced back at her.
"So don’t call me for dinner."
Lyra gave Kael a thumbs-up with a grin.
"Sure, bro. Ezra and I were already planning on having a girls’ sleepover anyway, so you won’t be missed."
Kael’s eyes narrowed slightly before he rolled them.
"As if."
He turned around and headed straight back toward his room, shutting the door behind him before locking it. Then, after a moment of consideration, he checked the lock again.
There was a very good reason for his caution.
Who knew when Ezra’s split personality would decide to make an appearance? The last thing Kael wanted was to wake up in the middle of the night and discover Ezra standing in his room doing something that would get both of them in trouble.
He had already suffered enough from the last incident.