Invitation to Hunter Academic Program

"Music Maestro," Theo replied.

Silence followed.

Then, the manager gave a small, impressed laugh, rubbing her temples. "I've seen elementalists, beast-tamers, even mind-artists… but never anything like this."

She then straightened her blazer, still visibly impressed, and turned to Theo with a contemplative look. "Tell me something, Mr. Theodore… are you interested in joining the Hunter Academic Program?"

Theo blinked. "Hunter… what?"

She smiled. "It's a special initiative supported directly by the Association. Designed for minors who've awakened with potential and wish to become certified Hunters. You can attend any school of your choice during weekdays, but on weekends, you'll be trained at a hidden facility alongside others like you."

She paused. "It's intensive. And free of cost."

Theo's eyes lit up instantly, his lips parting slightly in disbelief. "Free…?"

"Completely. Training, access to gear, simulated dungeons, mentors, everything. Think of it as a gifted program… for the dangerous and talented."

Theo blinked as a thought came to his head. "But, I'm here to get the Hunter Certification and do activities as a hunter, though. Not trained to be one."

The manager shrugged. "That's alright. You can have the certification and still attend the academy. The important thing is that you have potential and a minor."

Manager Liu turned toward Qin Dongzhi. "However…" her tone became more professional, "we still need a legal guardian's consent. We can register him under your guardianship, Mr. Qin. But I should warn you… If his father were to later press legal charges, claiming coercion or assault, you'll have to bear the responsibility and side with the Association. Is that acceptable?"

Theo tensed, heart pounding. For a second, the old anxiety flared. He looked at his grandfather, almost afraid of the answer.

Dongzhi met his gaze. "I've worked for law and enforcement for over thirty years. I know the law better than most judges." He looked at Liu calmly. "Proceed with the arrangements. I'll sign wherever needed."

Theo's shoulders slumped with relief. His chest swelled with something warmer than pride.

Manager Liu's expression softened. "I'll initiate the enrollment immediately. He'll also need a temporary license until he receives his official certification. In the meantime, we'll need a birth certificate copy, passport, student ID — anything that verifies his identity."

"I have my old school ID," Theo offered quickly. "And I also have my passport. But birth certification will need Dad's permission to download.

"Ah, that's perfect. Just a passport would be enough," she replied. "Send a copy to the front desk before you leave. We'll fast-track the paperwork. As for what rank your ability receives, we will have to invite an expert for a reassessment again."

As they exited the training room, Theo walked a few steps behind, the violin case gently bumping against his leg.

His fingers clenched around the handle, knuckles white.

He did it.

His father's voice echoed bitterly in his mind. "You are not suited to be a Hunter."

Theo's lips tightened.

"I'll make you eat your words, old man. Even with music, I'll become the strongest."

A few hours later;

Around late night, Theo and his grandfather sat on the couch, a bowl of half-eaten popcorn between them.

On the television, a grainy 90s melodrama played, full of longing glances and agonizing misunderstandings.

Theo furrowed his brows. "Why won't they just tell each other they're in love already? This is so frustrating."

Grandpa Dongzhi chuckled. "Back in our time, romance was about the process, the waiting, the tension, the unsaid things. Now, your generation is too fast. Kids even younger than you have girlfriends."

Theo tilted his head. "I wouldn't know anything about that. I never chased girls."

Dongzhi raised a brow. "Oh?"

Theo grinned, reclining back. "They used to chase after me in school. I guess I inherited the good genes."

"Hah!" The old man laughed and waved a hand. "You're just like your father. Back in his school days, I kept hearing complaints from your aunt that girls used to come to our house with all kinds of excuses: return a book, ask for tutoring, drop off notes. It was chaos."

Theo's eyes lit up with mischief. "So Dad was quite the playboy, huh? I wonder how many hearts he had broken."

Thwack.

Dongzhi gave him a playful slap on the wrist. "Don't talk like that. He was just… popular."

"Yeah, yeah. Sorry," Theo said, laughing.

But just as the warmth of their laughter hung in the air, a sharp knock echoed from the front door.

Theo paused, frowning. "Who could that be?"

He stood up and opened the door.

Standing there, wearing a crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled up, and eyes unusually stern, was Tianzhu.

"Dad?" Theo's voice faltered slightly. He instinctively stepped aside.

Without a word, Tianzhu walked in, his shoes clicking softly against the tile as he made his way into the living room. His eyes locked onto his father.

"Mr. Qin," he began, not Dad, not Father, "Did you really think I wouldn't find out? That you could pull some old favor and get my son registered behind my back?"

Dongzhi straightened from the couch, taken aback. "Tianzhu, listen…"

But Theo quickly stepped in. "No, Grandpa didn't force anything. I'm the one who asked him. You wouldn't let me even talk about awakening, much less get the certification!"

Tianzhu looked at him.

Theo didn't falter. "Do you know what they said? The core crystal or whatever that is, couldn't even determine my potential. And I heard that such people often reach atleast Mythril Class or maybe even the legendary Adamantine Class."

His voice trembled slightly at the end in fierce defiance.

Tianzhu's jaw clenched. For a long beat, no one spoke.

Then, Tianzhu spoke. "We'll talk later, Theo. Go downstairs and wait in the car."

Theo's fists clenched. "But, Dad…"

"Do as he says," Dongzhi interrupted softly, yet firmly.

Theo hesitated, his lips parted in frustration, but one glance at his grandfather's unreadable face made him lower his head. Without another word, he left, closing the door behind him with a quiet click.

The room fell into silence.

Dongzhi stood up slowly, walked to the kitchen, and poured a glass of water. He brought it over and set it on the table before Tianzhu, gesturing toward the empty chair.

"Tianzhu, sit."

Tianzhu sat down, jaw tense, arms folded, but his eyes held flames of anger behind them.

Dongzhi sat opposite him and exhaled.

"I know… I did wrong," he began, voice heavy. "What I did to you can't be washed away with a sorry. I was wrong back then, and that guilt…" he placed a hand over his chest "has never left me. You had dreams, and I crushed them. You had passions, and I spat on them."

His voice trembled, but he didn't stop.

"But your son… he has the same fire. That same defiance in his eyes. He wants to become a Hunter. He's got talent. I saw it. I couldn't make the same mistake again."

Tianzhu scoffed bitterly, his lips twisting into a cold sneer.

"Stop acting like some saint, Mr. Qin."

Dongzhi flinched slightly at the name.

"You didn't reject my dream just because you disapproved of the entertainment industry," Tianzhu continued, voice low and sharp as a blade."You hated my mother. You hated us. You hated me."

His knuckles turned white.

"I was five. I didn't understand any of it then. But I do now. I remember the fights. The shouting. The way you looked at her like she was filth. I remember the way you accused her. You thought she had an affair with Kim Jaehyung, some Korean actor she once worked with. You even asked her if I was really your son."

His voice cracked, just a little, then hardened again.

"You forced her to get a DNA test to prove we were your children. You shamed her. Humiliated her. You tried to push my sister to become a hunter when all she wanted was to follow in Mom's footsteps. You threw her into dungeons, into danger, just to erase any part of her that resembled Mom."

Dongzhi didn't speak. His fingers trembled.

"The entire world believes that my mom died because of scandals, the pressure from the media… You might have created a fake story around my mom's death with a swift cremation…"

Tianzhu's eyes locked on his father's.

"But I know how she died. She didn't commit suicide. She was killed. Do you think I don't remember the bullet wounds on my mother?"

Qin Dongzhi's eyes widened. "How… How do you know that?"