Only the indirect lighting was on, and the room was dim. With no windows, she couldn’t tell whether it was day or night. Cloie quickly checked her status. Her outfit was unchanged, and her magical flow remained disrupted. Judging by her hunger, no more than two days had passed.

At the same moment, she remembered the people being held captive.

Originally, Cloie was only to deliver a letter to Guild Master Seong Hyunjae and receive his reply—a simple task. Given the recipient, sending a high-rank hunter made sense, but Cloie had not been the obvious choice.

A one-on-one meeting with the Seong Guild Master. If she could catch his interest, it would be easy. If not, even speaking to him would be nearly impossible. While pondering her options, VanCave Guild had sent a request: clear the Gold Hamster Dungeon.

The task came from Han Yujin, director of the Gi Seung-soo breeding center, who wanted a pet monster. Because he would host the breeding, a meeting was assured, and S-rank hunters would likely accompany her for protection. Still, there was no guarantee Seong Hyunjae would appear. Even if he did, the odds he’d care about a hunter carrying a letter were low.

But what if an S-rank hunter disguised herself as a lower rank?

Cloie had no plan to hide her rank for long. Faking lower stats was difficult—her always-active attributes could slip out at any moment. Unless one never interacted with others or deceived oneself completely, hiding S-rank status for long was nearly impossible.

So she decided to exploit her hidden rank now that it would soon be revealed. Claiming a lower rank carried no penalty yet. She planned to accompany VanCave Guild and subtly hint at her true S-rank—but before that, Han Yujin had shown interest in her.

Surprisingly, after touring D&L Corporation at Han Yujin’s suggestion, she contacted the Seong Guild. Through his secretary she secured a direct call with Seong Hyunjae and managed to meet him privately before the evening banquet to deliver the letter. In the meantime she had heard that Han Yujin felt more than mere fondness for her, but she hadn’t paid it any mind.

An F-rank hunter with special skills under S-rank protection. From that environment and the information she’d gathered, Cloie judged Han Yujin to be like a greenhouse flower. When Park Hayul had said, “Yujin-hyung is amazing! I can’t tell you the secret, though,” she’d dismissed it—Hayul had always idolized hunters before her awakening.

Still, having been uprooted from her greenhouse and dragged outside once, Han Yujin must feel insecure. She likely grew more dependent on the surrounding S-rank hunters and obsessed over her safety. Yet upon meeting her, Han Yujin was far brighter than Cloie had expected.

She led a troop of S-rank hunters and treated the opposing S-rank as casually as if they were equals—recklessly so. No matter how powerful her protectors, her own F-rank vulnerability meant she could be in danger at any moment. She had already been harmed. Yet there was not a trace of caution in her.

Cloie found it hard to understand, but observing the S-rank hunters around Han Yujin, it made sense. Her family—Han Yuhyun and Park Yerim—and even Moon Hyunah were overly doting. Surrounded by such adoration, one might forget the world held dangers.

Her worries about Han Yujin’s abduction to China faded. After the evening banquet confession, Han Yujin seemed more concerned with Seong Hyunjae than with Cloie, and Cloie thought the matter might pass. But then—

“How are the three people Han Yujin is holding?” Cloie said, still seated tensely on the bed, ready to bolt.

“I promised not to run away,” came Han Yujin’s reply.

The Han Yujin before her now was a completely different person. No longer a docile herbivore hidden among beasts, she embraced much larger, stronger creatures and bared her teeth with murderous eyes.

As if she’d once lost those dear to her. Cloie had seen such faces and eyes many times. If threatened, she would kill without mercy. That was why Cloie had extended the invitation.

“Guild Master Seong,” Cloie called again, anxious. His loosely closed lips parted.

“Do not be hasty,” he said, voice utterly composed.

“Hunter Alzer is my guest.”

Seong Hyunjae rose from his chair. Cloie’s shoulders involuntarily hunched under his raised gaze. Both were S-rank, yet his presence felt overwhelmingly dominant. The dim shadows in the room seemed under his command.

“I merely brought a guest,” he continued.

“That means…” Cloie began.

“Neither did she run away, nor did I extract her.” He poured water into a glass. “I came, collected my guest, and walked out. What problem is there?”

He extended the glass. Cloie reflexively took it.

“So you claim to have lawfully taken her from Han Yujin?”

“Of course I did, though I felt no pleasure in doing so.”

His golden eyes narrowed slightly. Cloie could easily imagine Han Yujin’s desperate face in the terrace garden. “And the other three?”

“They are not my guests,” he replied lightly but firmly, turning back to his chair.

Cloie moistened her dry throat. To Guild Master Seong, three mid-rank hunters held no value—he would pay them no mind, whatever their fate.

“Of course you, my guest, may rest assured.”

His tone was confident, unbothered by Han Yujin or her S-rank guards.

“I’m sorry, but I cannot be at ease while they remain captive.”

“Consider how best to host them,” he suggested.

Cloie would then be perfectly protected, making the remaining three harder to touch. They could still use them as threats, but…

“What if Han Yujin tries to drag me out?”

“Hunter Alzer…” He leaned back, tilting his head slightly. A gentle smile curved his lips, yet it chilled the air. His low voice filled the room: “Not once was there conflict ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) before reaching here. I walked in quietly, took what I wanted, and left. Winning through battle is easier. The hardest feat is to take without lifting a finger—and that requires complete superiority.”

Cloie swallowed hard. She’d thought him unlike other S-rank hunters, but now found him frightening—and reassuring. Han Yujin’s resources were beyond her reach: three S-rank hunters and a blacksmith with unique abilities. She still got goosebumps recalling the fire spirit in that forge.

But if the Seong Guild Master cooperated…

The glass felt weightless in her hand. Watching him, his eyelids drooped slightly, and the tense air slackened.

“I observed your quarrel too, but have you truly fallen out with Han Yujin?”

“All the same to me,” he replied, as if her absence brought him no regret.

Which was more painful: mutual estrangement, or one-sided disappointment? With him, the latter seemed far worse. No struggle mattered if it failed to affect him—especially after yesterday’s smile.

“I hear your interests fade quickly. Rarely do they last.”

“I am simply honest with myself.”

“Yet Han Yujin lasted, did she not? She was your second after Song Taewon, was she not?”

Cloie studied his expression. Had he truly lost interest? On the terrace, he had seemed otherwise—perhaps even the opposite.

“With Han Yujin, I enjoyed it.”

His eyes softened warmly, glittering with genuine delight like a boy’s pure smile. Cloie drew a sharp breath—she had never imagined Guild Master Seong could look so open.

“In many ways she suited my taste. I was fond of her.”

“…Does that mean you are no longer?”

He gave no answer. Behind the smile, a flicker of coldness remained. Cloie finished her water.

“I will take your cooperation as courtesy to your guest.”

“It is a courtesy to my guest,” he confirmed.

“If I receive a favorable reply, I must leave Korea. Will you accompany me?”

If she departed, Han Yujin could do nothing. If he kept the three safe, she could plan and buy time.

“You propose a party partner,” he mused, expression suddenly indifferent. Cloie tensed.

“You look young. One cannot judge an S-rank by looks, but you seem about twenty, maybe twenty-one.”

“…”

“I have no desire to stand beside such a child. Children are not my taste.”

“But the reply—”

He rose abruptly, cutting her off. He strode close and looked down at her.

“If you require a companion, it will be me.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Did you expect a choice? Four invitations meant four guests, I assumed.”

He teased, extending his hand. The white glove stood out in the dim room. Cloie stared at it in surprise.

“It is not your decision. My invitation was taken by Han Yujin.”

“Such trivialities matter little.”

His low voice fell. “All I need is Cloie Alzer’s consent.”

He could grant any wish, if she agreed. Cloie’s fingertips trembled, understanding why even S-ranks fell under his sway.

A perfect person extends a hand, and one feels compelled to grasp it. Most crave that recognition, that lift to a higher place.

“…I too require Guild Master Seong’s cooperation.”

Reluctant but in need, Cloie extended her hand and shook his briefly. He stepped back.

“First, let me see to your meal. Or perhaps a bath?”

“I will fill my stomach. Is this your residence?”

“Hardly. Once outside, others wait. A word of advice: I cannot help what happens after you leave this building.”

“I understand.”

Cloie rose, bowed lightly, and stepped outside. A faint click sounded. Seong Hyunjae removed his white glove; sparks and torn fibers fell to the floor.

“Not very entertaining,” he murmured. He’d expected more—Han Yujin being his favorite. Not bad, but lacking intrigue. An invitation from Ho-yeon would have been more enjoyable. Above all—

The door opened again, and someone entered.

“We have located them,” Vantes reported politely—one of Cloie’s allies who had not been captured.

“I will gift half to Hunter Alzer. Leaving the rest intact suits Min Jisoo’s work… in America.”

“She is investigating based on the description Han Yujin provided,” Vantes added.

Seong could not share the letter’s contents, but Han Yujin—being so conspicuous an S-rank—would soon yield information. His cold expression softened. He did not intend to deprive Han Yujin, but he would not lose his own due, either.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep