An Offer He can't refuse

Ares clenched his fists as he stood frozen in the dimly lit alleyway. The air around him felt heavier, suffocating even. His mind raced as he processed the situation.

"Damn it... of all people, why them?"

The Government—the most powerful and feared organization in the world. They weren't an issue for A+ or S-rankers, but for lower-ranked hunters like him, they were a nightmare. Even the whispers about their hidden experiments made Ares shudder. Stories of humans being turned into monstrous killing machines, of "The Ultimate Ranker"—a being that could dominate even S-rankers—spread like wildfire. Yet, despite these horrifying rumors, the government still held absolute power, standing on equal ground with the Roshin Clan itself.

Ares took a deep breath, trying to suppress his growing anxiety. "What the hell would the government want with a D-rank like me?" He could feel sweat running down his back as he met the gaze of the suited figure before him.

"Do they want to use me as an experiment? Or worse… eliminate me?"

He swallowed hard before speaking.

"What do you want from me? I'm just a D-rank. There's nothing to gain from me."

The man didn't respond. Instead, he calmly reached into his left pocket. Ares tensed up, instinctively taking a defensive stance. "A dagger? A gun?" His mind raced, bracing for an attack. But instead of a weapon, the man pulled out a sleek black phone and extended it towards Ares.

Ares hesitated. His hands twitched as he slowly took the phone. He looked up, wanting to question the man further, but—he was gone.

The alley was eerily silent. Ares spun around, scanning the shadows, but there was no sign of the agent. His heart pounded in his chest. "What the hell was that? Was he even human?"

He exhaled sharply, shaking off his nerves before glancing at the phone.

"Okay… what do I do with this?" He turned it over in his hand, feeling its weight.

It was a high-end model, probably worth two months of his hunter salary. He couldn't help but grin slightly. "Damn, this thing is nice. Maybe I should just sell it—"

Before he could finish the thought, a voice suddenly echoed from the phone's speaker.

"Hello, Mister Ares."

"GAH!!" Ares yelped, nearly dropping the device. His breath hitched as he stared at the phone.

"Who—who the hell is that?!"

"I'm right here on the phone, sir."

The screen lit up, revealing the image of an old man in a black suit, similar to the agent from before. Deep scars ran across his face, a testament to countless battles. His muscular build was almost unnatural for his age, but what truly made Ares's blood run cold was the emblem on his chest.

Seven Emblems.

Ares felt his throat tighten. "No way… no freaking way."

The Seven-Emblem Rank—the highest authority within the government. People whispered about them like legends, figures who commanded entire armies and were stronger than multiple S-rank hunters combined.

The man on the screen smirked as if amused by Ares's reaction.

"You've got to be kidding me…" Ares muttered, sweat trickling down his face.

"S-S-S-Seven… E-Emblems…" His voice stammered as he struggled to compose himself.

The old man chuckled. "Relax, kid. I'm not going to kill you. At least… not yet."

Ares gulped. His instincts screamed at him to be careful. One wrong move, one wrong word, and he could be erased from existence without anyone even remembering his name.

The old man leaned forward slightly, his sharp eyes boring into Ares's soul. "The name's Grand-General Brown of the 5th-Division Military Unit."

Ares stiffened.

"T-The Military too? Just how much power does this guy have?!"

He forced himself to respond, his voice shaky. "I-It's an honor and privilege to m-meet you, s-sir. My name is—"

Brown cut him off with a laugh. "Yeah, yeah, I know who you are. Let's drop the formalities, kid."

Ares immediately looked down, feeling humiliated. "Great… I just embarrassed myself in front of a literal god of war."

Brown's expression turned serious. "Do you know why I'm speaking to you at this hour?"

Ares quickly shook his head. "N-No sir, I don't. If I did something wrong, I apologize! I-I'll do whatever it takes to make up for it!"

Brown waved him off. "Nah, that ain't it. I've been watching you, kid."

Ares's stomach dropped. "Watching me?"

"Yeah. I had my men keep tabs on you. And from what I've seen, you're a hell of a lot more hardworking than some of the S-rankers I know."

Ares's eyes widened slightly. "What? What the hell is he getting at?"

Brown smirked. "That's why I'm giving you an offer."

"An… offer?"

The air around them grew heavy, almost suffocating.

"You have two choices, kid."

"One: You live the rest of your life weak, angry, and forgotten."

"Or two: You join our experimental program and show the world what you're truly capable of."

Ares's heartbeat quickened. He gritted his teeth.

"An experiment…?"

Brown leaned in closer, his voice dripping with temptation. "Don't you want power? Don't you want to prove to the world that they were wrong to abandon you?"

Ares's body tensed as the words struck deep into his soul. "Show them… what I'm capable of?"

For a moment, a storm of emotions brewed within him. He wanted that power. He needed it.

But—something still held him back.

Ares clenched his fists and inhaled sharply before speaking. "I… I don't think I'm good enough. I'm just a D-rank. I wouldn't meet your requirements, sir."

Silence.

Then—laughter. Deep, hearty laughter.

"You're the first one to hesitate." Brown said with a grin. "Every other bastard I've given this offer to jumped at it without a second thought. But you… you actually thought about it."

His expression darkened.

"Alright then, how about this?"

The atmosphere grew cold.

"Protection."

Ares flinched. "Protection? From who?"

Brown's eyes glowed with an ominous light. "From the people who will come after you if you say no."

Ares's blood ran cold.

To be continued…