News spread faster than expected.
Even though the incident had been covered up—
rumors still leaked.
"Something erased an anomaly inside the city."
"An unknown hunter is involved."
"Even the guild couldn't measure him…"
Inside the Hunter Guild, tension had reached its peak.
Elena stood in front of a long table.
Across from her—
officials.
Not just guild members.
Government representatives.
And something else.
A man leaned back in his chair.
Calm. Sharp. Watching everything.
"…So you're saying this D-rank hunter solved an anomaly alone?"
Elena's voice didn't shake.
"Yes."
The man smiled slightly.
"…Interesting."
His gaze shifted.
"…And you trust him?"
A pause.
Elena didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"…Yes."
Outside—
Kael stood in the hallway.
He wasn't called in.
But he could hear everything.
Not by effort.
Just because he existed.
The door opened.
Elena stepped out.
Their eyes met.
"…They're interested in you."
Kael's expression didn't change.
"…They shouldn't be."
She walked closer.
"That's not how this works."
A brief silence.
"They think you're a threat."
Kael tilted his head slightly.
"…Do you?"
Elena froze for a moment.
Then—
"…I think you're dangerous."
A pause.
"But not in the way they think."
Before Kael could respond—
another voice interrupted.
"Well, that's quite the defense."
Both turned.
The man from inside the room walked out slowly.
Tall.
Well-dressed.
Calm in a way that didn't feel normal.
"My name is Adrian Cross."
His eyes locked onto Kael.
"…And I've been looking forward to meeting you."
Something about him—
was off.
Not power.
Not aura.
But awareness.
He wasn't looking at Kael like others did.
He wasn't confused.
He was… analyzing.
"…You're not part of the guild," Elena said.
Adrian smiled faintly.
"No."
"I'm part of something older."
Silence.
Kael finally spoke.
"…Then leave."
Elena glanced at him.
That was the first time he had spoken like that.
Direct.
Cold.
Adrian didn't react negatively.
Instead—
his smile widened slightly.
"…You see? That's exactly the problem."
A pause.
"You don't follow structure."
Kael's gaze sharpened.
"…I don't need to."
The air grew heavier.
Elena stepped between them slightly.
"Enough."
She looked at Adrian.
"He's under guild observation."
Adrian chuckled softly.
"…You're protecting him quite seriously."
A brief silence.
His eyes moved between them.
Then—
"…Or is it something else?"
Elena's expression hardened.
"That's none of your concern."
Adrian turned slightly.
"…Careful, Elena."
A faint pause.
"Attachment clouds judgment."
Kael watched quietly.
But something inside him shifted.
Not anger.
Something colder.
Adrian walked past them.
"…We'll be watching."
Then stopped.
"…Both of you."
Silence remained after he left.
Elena exhaled slowly.
"…I don't like him."
Kael replied immediately.
"…You shouldn't."
She looked at him.
"…You noticed it too?"
"…He's not normal."
A pause.
Then—
Elena stepped closer.
Closer than before.
"…And you are?"
Kael didn't answer.
For a moment—
they just stood there.
Close enough to feel each other's presence.
Elena spoke softly.
"…You keep saying you don't belong anywhere."
A brief pause.
"…Then stay."
Kael's eyes shifted slightly.
"…Where?"
She didn't hesitate.
"…Here."
Silence.
That word—
simple.
But heavy.
For the first time—
Kael didn't immediately respond.
Because for the first time—
someone wasn't asking what he was.
They were asking him to stay.
"…I'll think about it."
Elena smiled faintly.
"…That's enough for now."
Far away—
in the shadows of the city—
Adrian stood alone.
Looking up at the sky.
"…A World-Class anomaly…"
A faint smile.
"…This will be interesting."
Behind him—
something moved.
Not human.
Not visible.
"…Prepare containment."
The air distorted.
And something began to awaken.