Three days had passed since the shocking incident in which Sia lost control. Thanks to all the care Rokan had given me, I was recovering quickly from the aftermath. Training was still difficult, let alone clearing a gate, but thankfully I'd recovered enough to manage everyday life.

The same went for Sia. Rokan said it would take a few more days for her to recover fully, but she was healing faster than he'd expected. He added, ["That's all thanks to you. Because you forced her rampage to stop, her mana wasn't completely depleted."]

I was relieved Sia was doing better than expected, but I still couldn't put my mind at ease. 'What if this leaves Sia traumatized?' What happened that day was a terrible accident no one could have predicted, like an earthquake or some other natural disaster. According to Rokan, though, Sia seemed to blame herself for everything.

Sure enough, since that day she hadn't made any of her usual daily video calls, or even called to talk. She'd sent only a few short messages. How could I not worry when her whole manner had changed so completely? 'No matter how many times I tell Sia it wasn't her fault...' She already believed it was. Whatever I said to comfort her probably wouldn't get through right now. For now, all I could do was wait and hope time would help.

I took a sip of the elixir Rokan had left and lay down on my bed. I didn't know whether it was the lingering effects of the accident or exhaustion from having so much on my mind, but I'd been in a daze for days. Sleep was supposed to be the best medicine, so I was about to close my eyes again when my phone rang. The number was unfamiliar. 'Another guild representative or reporter...' I pressed the volume button to silence the ringtone. The calls weren't coming as often as they had right after my rank reassessment, but one still came through every so often, just when I'd started to forget about them. I couldn't turn my phone off, either, in case Sia called. I'd probably have to put up with it until Rokan started his guild. 'That'll take a while.' Between caring for Sia and me and repairing the dungeon gate, he was busy enough already. How could he find time to start a guild too? For now, I'd just have to let it go.

I set my phone beside my pillow and tried to get back to sleep. Or rather, I was about to. Then came a knock.

KNOCK, KNOCK.

Someone was at my door. I hadn't ordered a package or any food. Thinking it might be Rokan, I opened the door without giving it much thought. But the man standing there wasn't Rokan. I'd never seen him before, and he wasn't even Korean. He was a huge white man, nearly two meters tall, dressed in a crisp suit. What were the odds of a foreigner in a suit showing up at my apartment unannounced?

"... Who are you? Uh, I mean, who are you?"

There was nothing ordinary about him, and the surprise left me stumbling over my words.

"Excuse me. Are you Hunter Yoon Minjun?"

To my surprise, he spoke flawless Korean. I hadn't noticed in my confusion, but when I looked closer, I saw a translation artifact around his neck.

"... Yes. What is it?" I asked, hiding my surprise and keeping my voice as calm as I could.

"I'm Chris Wood, personal secretary to Ms. Lia Black, guild master of the Aura Guild."

"... What?"

Wasn't the Aura Guild famous for being among the top ten guilds even in the United States, the world's leading hunter nation? And its guild master, Lia Black, was said to be one of the few SSS-rank hunters on the planet. But why would the Aura Guild suddenly come looking for me? Had news of my rank reassessment reached America? Even so, a guild like Aura must have more than enough high-ranking hunters and promising recruits. Why come all the way to Korea? While I stood there dumbfounded, Chris continued.

"Our guild master is very interested in what you've accomplished recently, Hunter Minjun. She would like to meet you in person."

The head of a world-class guild had sent her secretary to tell me she wanted to meet. I'd received plenty of calls, but this was the first time the master of such a major guild had reached out directly. Conflicting feelings rose in me. It was one thing to get hold of my phone number, but they'd found my identity and address and turned up at my home without warning. That bothered me. At the same time, I was grateful that the Aura Guild had come all the way from America just to recruit me. ... This felt strange. Should I be angry or thankful? And there was one more thing. 'I already know where I'm going...'

I appreciated them coming, but I had no intention of accepting an offer from any guild, whatever the terms. What mattered to me was awakening my dragon power as quickly as possible so I could be with Sia. And I couldn't exactly tell them that.

"If my unexpected visit has upset you, I sincerely apologize. That was never my intention."

"... Oh. No, it's all right."

He'd apologized as if he'd read my mind, which made turning him down feel even harder.

"If you're uncomfortable, I'll leave without another word. But if you don't mind, might I ask you to hear me out first?"

With the practiced courtesy of a secretary serving the master of a major guild, Chris continued. "In fact, our guild master has come to Korea herself to meet you, Hunter Yoon."

"...?"

It wasn't just her secretary? An SSS-rank hunter had come all the way from America to see me?

"She said her first goal is to invite you to join the Aura Guild. But regardless of whether you sign a contract, she would like to meet you and have an honest conversation, hunter to hunter."

"..."

Why was she putting me on the spot like this? Talking to her secretary was intimidating enough, and now she'd come all the way to another country herself?

"It doesn't have to be today. If you tell us when you're available, the guild master said she'll do her best to accommodate your schedule."

The Aura Guild's master certainly seemed to have a knack for putting people under pressure. I'd never heard of such an aggressive recruitment pitch. 'Is this how they do it in America?' A cold sweat broke out on my back. After all that, how could I flatly refuse to meet her before even hearing her out? It wasn't as though I could meet an SSS-rank hunter any day.

"... All right. After all the trouble she's gone to, I can't refuse to meet her. I only just woke up, though, so I need time to get ready. Could you give me one hour?"

"Of course. I'll see you in an hour."

Chris bowed and left without another word. 'What on earth is going on?' As I got ready, I thought it over, but none of it made sense. Was I really worth an SSS-rank hunter coming in person to recruit me?

"There has to be another reason."

I had no concrete evidence. But people said there was no such thing as a favor without strings attached. Someone as influential as her could surely call the shots wherever she went. There had to be another reason she'd come herself and was treating me like an honored guest. I had no idea what it might be. It seemed I needed Rokan's wisdom this time. Once I'd changed, I called him, but he didn't answer. Perhaps he was repairing the dungeon or busy with something else. I sent him a text briefly explaining the situation, then left the house.

"Allow me to escort you," Chris said.

I followed him, treated with painstaking courtesy.

* * *

Chris stopped in front of a luxury imported car that looked as though it cost billions of won. He opened the door for me and gestured inside, telling me there was a mini-fridge for drinks and I was welcome to have anything I liked. Curious, I opened it. It was packed with bottles of liquor that looked expensive before I'd even read the labels. 'Why are they going to such lengths for me?' I was starting to feel uneasy. No matter how much potential they saw in me, or how high their expectations and curiosity ran, this was too much even by my reckoning. There had to be something else they wanted from me besides joining the guild. As I waited to hear from Rokan, I kept wondering what they were after, but I couldn't come up with anything.

After some time, Chris said, "We've arrived," and opened the car door for me. Since we'd be discussing a contract, I'd expected to meet somewhere reasonably private. I was wrong. Before me stood one of the five most luxurious hotels in the country. By now I was more frightened than pleased or impressed.

"I'm meeting the guild master at this hotel?"

"That's right."

Chris escorted me to the room where Lia Black, the Aura Guild's master, was staying. As soon as we reached it, he rang the doorbell.

"Guild Master, Minjun has arrived."

"Come in."

Chris unlocked the door and showed me inside.

At last, I met the woman who'd summoned me here: Lia Black. She had glowing bronze skin, hair as black as a night sky, and striking amber eyes. 'She's even more... overwhelming in person.' Lia Black was an SSS-rank hunter famous not only for her abilities but for her flawless beauty. In person, she was more beautiful than I'd imagined, and her presence was just as striking as her looks. I had Sia, so it wasn't the case for me, but a man without a girlfriend would probably fall for her at first sight. Maybe she'd even captivate women. 'And that outfit...' I'd heard Western fashion was more revealing than Eastern fashion, but I hadn't expected it to be this revealing. I didn't know where to look. If Sia had seen this, she might have gasped and covered my eyes. Whether Lia knew how awkward I felt or not, she smiled at me, her eyes crinkling. Then she spoke.

"Welcome, Minjun. You must have had a long trip."

Her voice was so alluring it was almost cloying.