Morning light crept through the narrow gap of the curtains, spilling into the room. Nathan groaned softly, his face half-buried in the pillow. After so many nights on the hard floors of the Tower, the comfort of a mattress almost felt... wrong.
"Oi, wake up." Sophia’s voice cut sharp, far too energetic for this hour.
Nathan blinked groggily, his eyes only half-open. "...Why the hell are you so loud this early?"
Sophia stood at his bedside, arms folded, her posture stiff with resolve. "We’re going to Bluefang Guild today. I’m not letting some other guild snatch you first. You need to meet Ulrich—make your position clear."
Nathan exhaled, shutting his eyes again. "Bluefang, huh... Ulrich..." His lips curved faintly. "Not a bad idea. I’ve been curious about him anyway."
"Don’t act is optional." Sophia clicked her tongue, grabbed his jacket, and tossed it onto his face.
On the sofa, Validia sat in her usual calm composure, watching Lily still curled up on the futon with her rabbit. Her gaze slid briefly to Nathan. "I’ll come along. A place like that should be... interesting to see."
"Fine," Nathan muttered as he sat up, dragging the jacket over his shoulders. "The more backup, the better."
Half an hour later, the three of them were seated in a crowded city bus. Nathan slouched by the window, head leaning against the glass, yawning every so often. Outside, the city sprawled with the kind of bustle he hadn’t seen in years—traffic, horns, chatter. Strange and familiar all at once.
Sophia sat beside him, visibly restless. "Do you even get how dangerous this is? The moment word gets out you’re alive, every guild in city will come clawing. Bluefang won’t be the only one knocking."
Nathan cracked an eye open, still half-dazed. "I get it. But running around panicked won’t change anything. Better to see for myself what they’re about."
From behind, Validia observed quietly. Her crimson gaze scanned the other passengers. A small child peeked over the seat at her, wide-eyed, as though entranced by her presence. Validia returned the stare for only a second before shifting her eyes away, lips curving in a secret smile.
"If they knew who sat among them," she mused silently, "this bus would already be in chaos."
Sophia groaned, rubbing her temple. "Unbelievable... I swear I’m the only sane one in this group."
The bus halted in front of a massive glass building. The insignia of a blue fang gleamed across its façade, catching the sunlight. Hunters came and went in waves—some laughing, some grim, each radiating power and confidence. The air itself seemed heavier here, charged with ambition and danger.
Nathan stepped down from the bus, eyes narrowing as he looked up at the towering guild hall. "...So this is Bluefang Guild."
His fatigue seemed to vanish, replaced by a faint smile and a glint of curiosity.
Sophia adjusted her jacket, striding forward. "Let’s go. Ulrich needs to see you before anyone else does."
Validia followed at an unhurried pace, gaze sharp and calculating. "Let’s see if this place is truly worth the reputation it holds."
The morning air hung cold around them as they approached the looming doors of Bluefang Guild—an unspoken tension building with every step.
The lobby was crowded, voices overlapping as Hunters moved about, weapons clanging faintly against armor. Nathan stepped inside, his eyes instantly locking onto a familiar figure.
David stood near the staircase, casually holding a paper bag. He reached inside, pulling out a cluster of glossy purple fruits.
Nathan froze mid-step, his jaw tightening. ...You’ve got to be kidding me.
The memory hit like a knife—how those fruits were cultivated, the obscene "fertilizer" that made them grow. His fertilizer.
Great. Just what I needed. A buddy showing up with sperm-fed grapes like they’re lunchbox snacks.
He kept his expression blank, but bile rose in his throat. Don’t think about it. Don’t think about it. Shit, I’m thinking about it.
Then, a booming laugh broke through the crowd.
"Hah! Look at this beauty!"
A hulking man walked past, clutching a bottle filled with shimmering silver liquid. He held it high like a trophy, the metallic sheen catching every light.
"Mettalumcum! Strongest damn potion you can get!" he shouted, pride swelling in his voice.
Nathan’s stomach lurched. He didn’t need to read the label—he knew exactly what was inside. Monster blood, stabilized with piss. A recipe stamped with the WhiteNull Shop seal.
Fantastic. One’s holding my semen-fertilized fruit, the other’s waving a piss-blood energy drink like holy water. What the hell is this place? A guild hall or a biohazard festival?
He shoved his hands into his pockets, eyes lowering. And worst of all... it all traces back to me. Feels less like I’m a Hunter—more like I’m the shady supplier of black-market filth.
Validia walked beside him in silence, but the curve at the corner of her lips told him she sensed his disgust. She enjoyed watching his composure crack, even if just a little.
Sophia, oblivious as ever, jabbed a finger toward the staircase. "Quit spacing out. Ulrich’s upstairs."
Nathan exhaled slowly, pushing his thoughts down. Right. Pretend none of this exists. Just... don’t think about how everyone’s clutching pieces of your body fluids like prized treasures.
.The heavy doors creaked open, and a wave of heat brushed against Nathan’s skin the moment he stepped inside. The room was lavish yet unnervingly warm, the kind of warmth that clung to the air and made him wonder if Ulrich kept some hidden furnace running.
Seated behind a broad mahogany desk was a man whose presence filled the space without effort. Ulrich. His coat hung neatly over his chair, the Bluefang insignia etched proudly into the fabric. His sharp eyes lifted as Nathan, Sophia, and Validia entered.
"Well, well," Ulrich greeted, his tone calm but carrying weight. "The Tower’s ghost returns."
He reached casually into a bowl at his desk, plucking out a dark purple fruit. With an audible bite, juice dripped from the corner of his mouth as he chewed.
Nathan’s lips twitched. Of course. Of all the things... he’s snacking on that?
A laugh threatened to escape his throat, but he swallowed it down, the absurdity burning in his chest.
Ulrich waved them closer, still chewing leisurely. "Come, sit. No need to be stiff." His gaze sharpened as it landed on Nathan. "I am Ulrich, Guildmaster of Bluefang. You’ve caused quite a stir since your return."
He lifted the fruit again, showing it off like a rare jewel. "This here—Prunus Vitalis. Excellent for stabilizing mana flow. Did you know that?"
Nathan said nothing, his face unreadable.
Ulrich smiled knowingly, taking another bite. "Ah, of course. You wouldn’t know. You were trapped inside the Tower all that time."
Silence lingered. Nathan’s eyes narrowed faintly, his thoughts spitting venom he dared not voice.
You think I don’t know? You think I’m clueless? Who the hell do you think supplies that fruit in the first place?
Validia glanced at him, her crimson eyes glimmering with amusement, as if she could hear his every unspoken word. Sophia remained standing tall at his side, watching the exchange like a hawk.
Nathan leaned back slightly, forcing his expression to remain calm, while inside, laughter and disgust tangled in his chest.
Keep chewing, Ulrich. You don’t even realize you’re munching on my dirty little exports.
Ulrich wiped the juice from his chin with the back of his hand, tossing the Prunus Vitalis core aside without a second glance. His eyes, sharp and heavy, locked squarely onto Nathan.
"So then—" his tone shifted, firmer, the warmth in the room now carrying an edge. "Tell me. What was it like down there? The floors you were trapped on... What kind of monsters did you face? Their levels?"
Sophia stiffened slightly at his directness, while Validia remained silent, eyes half-lidded as if studying both men at once.
Nathan blinked, his expression unreadable. Inside, his thoughts stirred. Straight to the interrogation, huh? No small talk, no subtle probing. Typical Guildmaster.
Ulrich leaned forward, elbows resting on the desk. "I want details. What level were they? How organized? Did the bosses show patterns? Anything you say could change how this Guild operates against the Tower."
The weight of his words pressed the air, almost suffocating. His gaze didn’t waver, like he was trying to strip Nathan bare with sheer intensity.
Nathan scratched his jaw slowly, buying himself a moment. He could feel Validia’s eyes flick toward him, the tiniest smirk tugging her lips—like she was curious how much truth he would reveal.
If I tell him everything, Bluefang gains too much. If I lie, he’ll smell it. Damn... this is like playing chess while the other guy’s eating my cum fruit.
Ulrich’s tone cut sharper, impatient. "Well? You survived floors no one else has even mapped. Don’t insult me by staying silent." ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by NoveIꜰire.net
Nathan met his gaze at last, lips curving into the faintest smile. "Floor conditions, monster levels, boss habits... You want me to just hand that over for free?"
The room went still. Sophia glanced at Nathan in surprise, while Ulrich’s brows arched ever so slightly.
"Interesting," the Guildmaster muttered, his voice low. "So you do have answers."