We sat in silence as I processed Ms. Akira''s words, my gaze fixed on the scenery passing by outside the car window. The countryside blurred into the edges of the city, a transition I barely noticed. The weight of her offer hung heavily in the air. Why would a guild like Luna, renowned for its elite Hunters, want someone like me—an F-Class Hunter with little more than a reputation for fishing?


    The car hummed steadily along the road, the soft sound of the engine filling the quiet. Every so often, Ms. Akira would glance at me, her expression unreadable, but I didn''t dare ask any more questions just yet. I needed time to think.


    After a while, the city gave way to an industrial district. The buildings grew taller, more imposing, and the streets less familiar. Eventually, we reached the edge of the district, where the Luna Guild''s headquarters loomed ahead—a massive, sleek structure that stood in stark contrast to the surrounding buildings. It had the look of a fortress, and it made me feel incredibly small as we pulled up in front of its grand entrance.


    The car came to a stop, and Ms. Akira stepped out before walking around to open my door. I hesitated for a moment, still trying to process everything she had said about the Ichthyes and the mission to Syria. But I followed her, stepping out onto the pavement and looking up at the towering building.


    Inside, the Guild headquarters felt like a world apart. We walked through the grand double doors and into the lobby, which was vast and elegant. The high ceilings stretched above us, with polished marble floors reflecting the soft glow of hanging lights. The reception area stood at the far end, and on either side of the desk, glass spiral staircases led up to the second floor.


    There were a few Hunters and civilians scattered around the lobby—some chatting quietly, others on their phones, likely waiting for meetings. But all their conversations fell silent as Ms. Akira and I passed. Her presence commanded attention, and I couldn''t shake the feeling that I was far out of my depth.


    We moved toward the staircase on the left side of the reception desk, and as we got closer, the receptionist looked up, her gaze immediately drawn to me.


    “A new recruit?” she asked, her voice full of curiosity. She eyed me, clearly trying to gauge what was going on. "I’ve never seen Ms. Akira scout someone herself before. He must be important."


    “Yes. We’ll work out some details and send him with us to Syria for the Ichthyes mission,” Ms. Akira replied without missing a beat, her voice calm and detached. “It’ll be a test to see if he can adapt and cooperate with the guild.”


    I followed her, bowing slightly to the receptionist as I hurried to catch up with Ms. Akira, who had already begun ascending the stairs.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    “The Ichthyes mission and a new recruit Ms. Akira scouted personally?” The receptionist muttered to herself, clearly intrigued by the situation. Her eyes followed us as we moved past.


    "Sorry about Sora," Ms. Akira said over her shoulder, her tone a bit apologetic. "She’s a very talented receptionist, but she’s curious... a bit too much for her own good sometimes."


    "No worries," I said, feeling a little awkward as I rubbed the back of my neck. I didn’t find Sora rude—just a bit too interested in what was happening.


    We climbed the glass spiral staircase in silence. Each step felt heavier, as though I were walking further into something far bigger than I could grasp.


    At the top of the stairs, Ms. Akira led me down a long corridor, the walls adorned with portraits of renowned Hunters and framed accolades of the guild’s many triumphs. We finally reached a large, oak door. Ms. Akira pushed it open, and we entered a spacious office, the floor-to-ceiling windows offering a sweeping view of the city skyline.


    The room was minimalist but elegant, with a large wooden desk at the center. Behind it, a tall, imposing figure sat—Kazuto, one of the guild’s most trusted S-Class Hunters. His cold, calculating gaze locked onto me as I entered.


    “Ms. Akira,” Kazuto said smoothly, his voice laced with authority, "We have a problem."


    Ms. Akira didn''t look up from the map she was unfolding on the desk. “What is it?”


    Kazuto didn’t mince words. "The reports from Syria are not what we expected. There’s something else—something we hadn’t anticipated." He paused, his eyes narrowing on me, sizing me up. "I trust you’ve brought someone capable?"


    Ms. Akira didn’t flinch. “He’s capable. That’s why he’s coming with us.”


    Kazuto’s sharp gaze flicked toward me, his brow furrowing as if something didn’t sit right. "Is that so?" he asked, his voice growing colder. "What exactly qualifies this... F-Rank fisherman for such a mission?"


    The tension in the room was instant, and my heart skipped a beat. F-Rank. He’d noticed.


    I stood tall, trying to mask my surprise. "I may be F-Rank," I said, my voice steady, "but I’m no rookie when it comes to fishing. I can handle myself."


    Kazuto didn’t seem impressed. “F-Rank?” he repeated, his tone dripping with skepticism. “And Ms. Akira wants to send him to Syria with us, on an S-Class mission?” He glanced at Ms. Akira, his voice carrying a note of disbelief. “I’ve worked with seasoned Hunters on high-risk assignments before. I’m not sure this... recruit fits the profile.”


    Ms. Akira’s eyes flicked up from the map, locking with Kazuto’s. "He’s here because he’s different. We’ve had our eyes on him for a while. I trust him."


    Kazuto''s expression darkened. "Trust him?" he asked, his voice sharp with frustration. "With all due respect, Ms. Akira, F-Ranks like him barely make it through a simple dungeon raid, let alone something as dangerous as this. He’s a liability."


    I felt the sting of his words, but I refused to let them show. "I’m not here to be your liability," I said firmly, meeting Kazuto’s gaze with determination. "I’ll prove I’m more than just an F-Rank."


    Kazuto eyed me for a long moment, the silence between us thick with tension. Then, with a cold smirk, he finally spoke. "We’ll see about that." He turned to Ms. Akira. “I’ll work with him, but don’t expect miracles. If he can’t keep up, we leave him behind. Simple as that.”


    Ms. Akira gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. “Understood.”


    The tension didn’t lift as Kazuto walked out of the room, leaving me and Ms. Akira alone. I could still feel the weight of his words pressing down on me. I knew I had to prove myself, but the thought of being seen as a liability—especially by someone as powerful as Kazuto—stung.


    Ms. Akira turned to face me. “Don’t worry about Kazuto,” she said, her voice calm. “He’s just protective of the team. He’ll come around.”


    I nodded, but doubt still lingered in my chest. What if I couldn’t keep up? What if my F-Rank status was more than just a number—it was a wall I couldn’t climb?


    Before I could voice my concerns, Ms. Akira spoke again. "We leave for Syria tomorrow. Pack your things. You’re coming with us."


    And just like that, the reality of what I was about to do hit me again. This wasn’t just some fishing expedition anymore. The guild had entrusted me with something far bigger than I could have ever imagined.


    And would I be able to meet their expectations? Or be a liability?