Chapter 6: Hunter Bureau Agency

The jeepney screeched to a halt, its rusty frame rattling as Jay handed over the fare and hopped off. Rob followed close behind, his feet hitting the pavement with a soft thud. The moment he looked up, his breath caught in his throat.

The Hunter Bureau Agency loomed before them, a towering monument of steel and glass that seemed to hum with latent energy. It wasn't the tallest building in the city, but its sheer size and futuristic design made it impossible to ignore. Sleek metallic panels reflected the midday sun, while glowing blue circuits ran across its walls like veins of power. It was as if the building itself was alive, pulsing with the energy of the hunters who passed through its doors.

"Damn," Rob muttered, tilting his head back to take it all in. "I can't tell if this came from the future or another dimension."

Jay chuckled, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Credit goes to Ciano Dela Rosa. He's not a national-rank hunter, but the dude awakened as a Technosmith. You know what that means?"

Rob shook his head, still staring at the building. "Enlighten me."

"Basically, he's a walking, talking forge of advanced tech. He doesn't just build—he creates. Weapons, structures, materials—hell, I bet if you gave him the right resources, he could whip up a real-life starship."

Rob's eyes lit up. "For real? So, humanity might actually leave the solar system?"

Jay smirked. "That's the dream, right? I mean, despite all the monster invasions, the multiversal gate theories, and the crazy-ass powers we've developed, I still wanna see a starship take off." He patted Rob on the back. "But let's focus on getting you registered first. Stick close to me."

Rob raised an eyebrow. "Why? What's the problem?"

Jay sighed, rolling his shoulders. "Those bastards are probably here again."

Rob frowned. "Who?"

Jay's grin turned sharp. "You'll see soon enough."

With that, they headed toward the entrance of the Hunter Bureau, the automatic doors sliding open with a soft whoosh. The blast of cold air-conditioning was a welcome relief from the heat outside, but Rob barely noticed. His attention was immediately drawn to the lobby.

The interior was even more impressive than the exterior. Sleek, hovering seats floated in clusters, their surfaces glowing faintly. Force-field windows protected the teller fronts, and holographic panels displayed information about the building's layout. At the center of the room stood a holographic AI assistant, its form shifting fluidly as it responded to hunters' inquiries. The air buzzed with activity—hunters of all ranks filled the space, some in full gear, chatting in groups, others alone, fresh from their awakenings, looking lost or deep in thought.

Rob's heart pounded as he took it all in. The sheer scale of the place was overwhelming. Hunters moved with purpose, their gear gleaming under the fluorescent lights. He couldn't help but feel like a small fish in a very big pond.

"Stay close," Jay said, his voice low. "This place can be a bit… intense for first-timers."

Rob nodded, his eyes darting around the room. He spotted a group of hunters in sleek combat gear, their laughter echoing as they checked their floating interfaces. Another group was huddled around a holographic map, pointing at what looked like a gate location. The energy in the room was electric, and Rob couldn't decide if it was exhilarating or terrifying.

Then a booming voice cut through the air.

"Jay! My man! You finally joining my guild or what?"

Rob turned to see a tall, burly man striding toward them. Muscles on top of muscles, the guy looked like he could bench-press a car for warm-ups. A massive greatsword was slung over his shoulder, its blade gleaming with an otherworldly sheen.

Jay smirked. "Hell nah, fool. You know I work alone—well, not anymore." He clapped Rob on the shoulder. "Meet my little bro, Rob. Rob, this oversized meathead is Mark Rivera, B-Rank hunter. Awakened as a Bonk Class."

Mark scoffed. "I told you, it's Titan Knight, man!"

Jay snickered. "Yeah, yeah. All I see is a guy who smacks things real hard. Anyway, you wouldn't believe it—dude used to be shorter than me when we first met. Now look at him."

Mark rubbed the back of his neck, slightly embarrassed. "That's 'cause of my class, alright? But I still had to put in the work. Can't be a skinny Titan Knight, now, can I?"

Jay chuckled. "Fair enough. Anyway, yeah, we're here for his evaluation. You wanna do the honors of showing my brother the ropes?"

Mark grinned. "Damn right I do! Finally, you let me be the one introducing rookies." He gestured for Rob to follow. "Come on, man. First thing you gotta do is grab a registration form from that pedestal, fill out all the boring blanks—"

A voice cut in from behind them.

"Well, well, look who it is. Our little rogue knights. What, dragged another poor sod off the streets to be your sidekick?"

Jay sighed before turning. A group of hunters lounged near the entrance, all smirking, but the one who spoke stood front and center—a lean guy with a bow strapped to his back, wearing a long coat and a cocky smirk. His hair was slicked back in that trying-too-hard kind of way.

Jay's lips curled into a slow grin. "Damn, Cole. I didn't know cows had started licking hunter's heads for good luck. How many times does it take to get that premium barnyard shine on your scalp?"

Mark burst into laughter, nearly dropping his greatsword, while a chorus of "Ooooooohhh" erupted from nearby hunters.

Cole's smirk twitched. His hand instinctively ran through his hair as his face burned. "Hah. Nice one." His voice was dry, forced. Then his eyes hardened. "So, what do you say we take this to the training grounds? Or you gonna hide behind jokes all day?"

Jay crossed his arms, his grin never wavering. "Training grounds? You sure you're ready for that, Cole? Last time I checked, you couldn't even handle a C-Rank gate without backup."

Cole's jaw tightened, but before he could retort, Mark stepped in. "Alright, alright, break it up. We've got a rookie to register, and I don't think Rob here needs to see you two idiots duke it out on his first day."

Jay shrugged, turning back to Rob. "Don't mind him. Cole's just salty because I beat him in a sparring match last year. He's been nursing that bruised ego ever since."

Rob glanced at Cole, who was now glaring daggers at Jay. There was clearly more to their history, but now wasn't the time to ask. Instead, he followed Mark toward the registration pedestal, a sleek console glowing softly in the corner of the lobby.

"Alright, rookie," Mark said, tapping the screen. "First things first—fill out this form. It's just basic info: name, age, class, that kind of stuff. Once you're done, the system will assign you a test schedule."

Rob nodded, his fingers hovering over the screen. He hesitated for a moment, glancing at Jay. "What if… what if my class is… unusual?"

Jay raised an eyebrow. "Unusual how?"

Rob forced a smile. "I mean, what if it's not a typical mage class? What if it's something… more?"

Jay studied him for a moment, then shrugged. "Doesn't matter. The Bureau's seen it all. Just fill it out honestly, and we'll deal with the rest."

Rob nodded, though his stomach churned at the thought of the tests ahead. He couldn't reveal his S-Rank class—not yet. The Bureau didn't need to know the specifics of his abilities, only that he could handle himself in the field. He'd have to be careful, though. If he showed too much, someone might start asking questions.

As he filled out the form, Mark leaned in, his voice low. "Don't worry, kid. The tests are tough, but they're fair. Just focus on doing your best. And hey, if you ever need advice, you know where to find me."

Rob glanced up at him, surprised by the genuine warmth in his tone. "Thanks, Mark. I appreciate it."

Mark grinned, clapping him on the back. "No problem. Now, let's get you registered. The sooner you're done, the sooner we can grab a drink."

Rob smiled, feeling a bit more at ease. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

Rob finished filling out the registration form on the pedestal, his fingers trembling slightly as he tapped the final button. The screen flashed a confirmation message: "Registration complete. Please wait for your name to be called."

He stepped back, exhaling slowly. Jay and Mark were nearby, chatting casually, but Rob's mind was racing. The Bureau didn't need to know the specifics of his S-Rank class, but what if the tests pushed him too far? What if he accidentally revealed too much? He clenched his fists, forcing himself to stay calm. One step at a time.

The lobby was bustling with activity. Hunters of all ranks and appearances filled the space. Some were decked out in full combat gear, their armor gleaming under the fluorescent lights. Others looked like they'd just rolled out of bed, wearing nothing but T-shirts, sweatpants, or even house slippers. Rob couldn't help but notice the stark contrast. Guess not everyone takes this seriously, he thought.

A few minutes passed, and Rob found himself sitting on one of the hovering seats, its surface soft and slightly warm. He glanced around, taking in the details of the lobby. The holographic AI assistant at the center of the room was now helping a group of hunters, its form shifting fluidly as it answered their questions. The air was thick with anticipation, the low hum of conversations blending with the occasional beep of the pedestals.

Then, a sharp, commanding voice cut through the noise.

"Attention, all applicants. Please gather near the central hall entrance. Your names will be called shortly."

Rob turned to see a tall, fit man in an overly formal tuxedo and glasses standing near a set of double doors. His posture was impeccable, and his voice carried an air of authority that immediately silenced the room. He held a sleek tablet in one hand, his eyes scanning the crowd.

"When your name is called," the man continued, "proceed through the doors and follow the staff to the testing grounds. Do not linger. Do not attempt to bring unauthorized equipment. Failure to comply will result in immediate disqualification."

Rob exchanged a glance with Jay, who gave him a reassuring nod. "You'll be fine," Jay said. "Just don't overthink it."

Mark chimed in, grinning. "And don't trip on the way down. Trust me, it's embarrassing."

Rob frowned. "What do you mean, 'down'?"

Before Mark could answer, the tuxedo-wearing man began calling names. One by one, the applicants stood up and made their way to the double doors. Rob watched as a heavily armored hunter strode forward, followed by a scrawny guy in a tank top and flip-flops. The contrast was almost comical.

"Liam Cruz," the man called.

A young man in a hoodie stood up and shuffled toward the doors.

"Maria Santos."

A woman in a tracksuit followed, her expression calm and focused.

Rob's heart pounded as the names continued. He glanced at Jay and Mark, who were now leaning against a wall, watching the proceedings with casual interest.

"Robert Malque."

Rob froze for a moment, then stood up. Jay gave him a thumbs-up. "You got this, bro. We'll be waiting here."

Mark added, "Don't screw up, rookie."

Rob shot him a half-hearted glare before making his way to the double doors. The tuxedo-wearing man gave him a curt nod as he passed, his glasses reflecting the harsh light of the lobby.

As Rob stepped through the doors, he was greeted by a long, dimly lit hallway. The walls were lined with glowing blue circuits, similar to the ones on the exterior of the building. A staff member in a sleek uniform gestured for him to follow.

"This way, please," the staff member said, her voice calm and professional.

Rob fell in line behind the other applicants, his footsteps echoing softly on the metallic floor. The hallway sloped downward, and it didn't take long for Rob to realize they were heading underground. The air grew cooler, and the faint hum of machinery grew louder as they descended.

So the testing grounds are underground, Rob thought. Makes sense. Can't have hunters blowing up the city during evaluations.

The group walked in silence, the tension palpable. Rob glanced at the other applicants. Some looked confident, their expressions set in determination. Others, like the guy in flip-flops, seemed nervous, fidgeting as they walked.

After what felt like an eternity, the hallway opened up into a massive chamber. Rob's eyes widened as he took in the sight. The testing grounds were unlike anything he'd ever seen. The chamber was vast, with high ceilings and walls lined with advanced equipment. Holographic displays floated in the air, showing data and statistics in real-time. The floor was divided into sections, each equipped with different testing apparatuses—treadmills for agility tests, weight stations for strength, and even what looked like a shooting range for ranged abilities.

At the center of the chamber stood a group of evaluators, their expressions stern and focused. They were dressed in formal attire, much like the man in the tuxedo, and carried tablets similar to his.

The staff member who had guided them spoke up. "Please wait here. You will be called forward one by one for your evaluation. Follow all instructions carefully, and do not interfere with other applicants."

Rob nodded, his heart racing. He glanced around the chamber, taking in the details. The air was thick with anticipation, the low hum of machinery blending with the occasional beep of the equipment. He could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on him.

This is it, he thought. No turning back now.