Meeting the Head

"That Void Realm was really tough… I never thought I could actually handle it," Vanitas muttered under his breath, still feeling the lingering exhaustion from the relentless battles. His body ached, but the thrill of survival fueled his determination. Before heading off to meet the Head of the Korean Hunter Association, a thought crossed his mind.

"Before anything else... let me check what that ring artifact does," he whispered, curiosity getting the better of him.

Taking a deep breath, he raised his hand and commanded, "Inventory!"

A transparent system screen materialized before him.

> Inventory<

[Weapons]

Shadow Blade (A)

[Artifacts]

Void Ring (C)

[Materials]

5x Health Potions

1x Shadow Essence

Vanitas scrolled through the list, his eyes locking onto the ring. Clicking on it, a detailed description appeared.

[Void Ring]

Tier: C

Description: A ring forged in the depths of the Void Realm by the god of that realm, "Voidex." Only the chosen ones receive this artifact upon clearing the waves. Once equipped, it provides the following boosts:

+10% Agility

+20% Strength

2x Stats when inside the Void Realm

Vanitas furrowed his brows, reading the part about being a "chosen one." "What do you mean by chosen one? Bah, whatever… this thing is sick!" he muttered, shaking his head in amusement. Without hesitation, he slid the ring onto his finger. Instantly, a surge of warm energy coursed through his veins, making his muscles feel stronger and his movements lighter.

[Void Ring Equipped]

Excited to see the changes, he quickly pulled up his status.

[Stats]

Strength: 34(+20%)

Agility: 15(+10%)

Stamina: 15

Intelligence: 12

Luck: 8

Unassigned Points: 15

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm... if I'm going to meet the Head of the Hunter Association, I'll need to appear smarter. I'll put 10 points into Intelligence and the last 5 into Stamina," he muttered, scratching the back of his neck.

[Stats Updated]

[Stats]

Strength: 34(+20%)

Agility: 15(+10%)

Stamina: 20

Intelligence: 22

Luck: 8

A wave of satisfaction washed over him. "This power... it's amazing," he whispered, clenching his fists and feeling the newfound energy coursing through him.

---

Click! Click! Click!

The sound of flickering cameras and murmuring voices filled the air. Vanitas stood outside the towering headquarters of the Korean Hunter Association, its glass facade reflecting the golden hues of the setting sun. People gathered around, their eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and envy.

"Isn't that the F-rank who survived the UD?!" someone whispered.

"Why is he meeting the Head of the Association?" another voice chimed in.

Vanitas sighed. He hated attention. Just as he was about to step forward, a man in a fine polo shirt with the association's badge approached him.

"This way, sir," the man said with a professional yet polite tone.

Vanitas looked up at the massive 20-floor building. "Is the Head on the top floor?" he wondered, following the man inside.

As he walked through the grand lobby, a familiar voice called out.

"We meet again, Vanitas," said a blonde woman with striking features.

Vanitas squinted at her, scratching the back of his head. "Uh... what's your name again?"

Celine's eyes twitched in annoyance. "Are you serious? It's Celine... Celine!"

"Ah, right! You're the one who gave me this black card, right?" he said, fishing the card from his pocket and flashing it with a grin.

Celine crossed her arms. "Yes, that's right. I can't believe you forgot me when we just met recently."

"Sorry, I'm not great at remembering names," Vanitas replied sheepishly.

"Ugh, whatever... let's go," she said, leading him to the elevator.

As they stepped inside, an awkward silence filled the space. Before Celine could speak again, the elevator dinged, signaling their arrival at the top floor.

---

The doors slid open to reveal a grand office, its walls lined with medals and framed photos of dungeon expeditions—some featuring S-rank hunters. Behind the massive mahogany desk sat an older yet muscular man, his chair slowly turning to face Vanitas.

"I've been wanting to meet you, Hunter Vanitas," the man said in a deep voice while chewing gum. "After that incident in the UD, there are... questions."

Vanitas took a deep breath, standing tall. "It's an honor to meet you, Head."

The man leaned forward, placing his elbows on the desk. "I am Barc Thompson, head of the Korean Hunter Association. Now, tell me... what really happened inside the UD?"

[Trial Quest Initiated]

[Objective: Make him believe a lie.]

[Failure: -10 Stats for 24 hours.]

[Success: Extra Rewards.]

Vanitas smirked inwardly. 'Simple task. Just lie and speak nonsense. Easy.'

He put on a serious face and said, "Honestly? Nothing much. Just some goblins. After clearing them, the exit portal appeared, and we got out."

Barc's brow twitched. "Interesting... but why did only three of you survive without a scratch?"

Vanitas clenched his fists. "The others were greedy. They got themselves killed by goblins and golems."

Barc slammed his fist on the desk. "Impossible! Are you telling the truth?"

Celine, who stood beside him, eyed Vanitas with suspicion. "If that's true, then why are Kai and Alexis acting so traumatized?"

Vanitas sighed dramatically. "Seeing people die can mess with your head, y'know? It's normal."

Barc stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Hmmm... that makes sense."

Celine opened her mouth to argue, but Barc cut her off with a raised hand. "Enough. We'll believe him... for now."

Vanitas suppressed a grin. 'They actually bought it. This is too easy.'

[Trial Quest Completed!]

[Reward for Completing Trial Quest]

(+5 Attributes)

(1 @#$#? Dungeon Key.)

'What a key to what dungeon?!' he thought, but he tried to calm down so he doesn't get caught.

"Before you go," Barc continued, handing him a phone with a map, "I want you to join a D-rank dungeon raid. Here's the location."

Vanitas glanced at the phone. "Sure, but I expect one million won as payment. Deal?"

Barc chuckled. "Sure, that's not a problem."

Celine, however, looked shocked. "One million won?! That's a lot, sir!"

"Shush!" Barc replied sternly.

Vanitas smirked. "Pleasure doing business." He turned and made his way out.

---

As Vanitas reached the lobby, he could already hear the crowd outside buzzing. He groaned. "Hey, Celine... is there a back exit? I don't wanna deal with them."

Celine sighed. "Yeah, follow me."

As they exited through the back, the city was still alive. Cars honked, people bustled about, and the cool evening breeze brushed against his face. The moment of peace was short-lived, however, as a chilling notification flashed before his eyes.

[Warning: You Are Being Watched!]

Vanitas froze, his heart pounding. He scanned his surroundings, but everything seemed normal—too normal. A bead of sweat rolled down his forehead.

"Something's not right..." he muttered, gripping his fist tightly. 'Is it that unknown figure again?'

End of Chapter