’She looks so peaceful,’ Soren thought, his gaze lingering on Ethea.
She sat completely still in her wheelchair, her eyes closed and her breathing slow and even. To anyone else, she looked like she had simply drifted off to sleep after finishing her dessert. Yet Soren could feel the subtle, rhythmic tug on the ambient energy around her, a sign that she was already deep in a trance, entirely absorbed by the cultivation of that mysterious technique.
The sight held an understated elegance, drawing his attention and refusing to let go, leaving him with the distinct realization that he could easily stand there watching her for hours.
The crisp ring of the doorbell shattered his thoughts.
Soren pulled himself away from the sight, stepping down the hallway to open the front door. Aunt Clara stood on the threshold with a warm smile.
"Good morning, Soren," she greeted him in a soft whisper.
"Perfect timing, Auntie," Soren replied, keeping his voice low. "Ethea just fell asleep. I’ll be heading out now, so I’ll leave her in your care."
Clara nodded reassuringly, stepping inside. "Go on then, don’t worry about a thing. Take your ti."
With a nod of thanks, Soren left the apartnt and closed the door behind him.
Stepping out of the building, he headed toward the parking lot. Once arrived, he pulled the sleek key fob from his pocket and pressed the unlock button. A pair of sharp headlights flashed in response from the far corner of the lot, drawing his attention.
As he walked closer and caught sight of the vehicle, his steps slowed. His eyes widened in disbelief.
’No way. Is that actually...?’
He stood there, completely dumbfounded.
Resting in the slot was a massive, pristine black SUV. The vehicle featured clean, aggressive lines and a deep, glossy paint job that looked liquid under the morning sun. It managed to look both imposing and incredibly elegant, balancing a sturdy fra with high-end craftsmanship.
His eyes tracked the curve of the chassis, finally landing on the silver emblem stamped across the center grille.
It was the unmistakable mark of a Vanguard-X.
He swallowed hard, a dry gulp catching in his throat as the sheer weight of the na settled over him.
Vanguard was a legendary brand owned by one of the world’s most powerful guilds. They were famous for engineering elite vehicles that offered unmatched security and performance, making them a status symbol among hunters and high-ranking officials.
The most impressive aspect of the manufacturer was its market strategy: despite its premium quality, its standard lineups were far more affordable than those of equivalent luxury brands, allowing rising talents to access high-grade protection.
But looking closely at this specific machine, Soren knew it wasn’t one of those entry-level models. In fact, it looked exactly like the latest flagship model that had been constantly advertised on television screens across the comrcial district.
Drawn in by a mix of curiosity and awe, Soren began to slowly circle the vehicle.
He ran his fingers along the matte trim, finding the panel seams tightly locked and the reinforced body completely flawless. When he reached the driver’s side, he took out the key fob again and inspected the specialized interface on the casing.
Along with the standard lock buttons, there were icons for specialized high-end features, including a toggle for an ergency mana barrier and an active camouflage shroud for complete invisibility.
They were designed for worst-case scenarios like sudden gate breaks or rogue monster attacks. They wouldn’t provide absolute invulnerability against a high-level threat, but in a crisis, that extra layer of defense could buy just enough ti to escape.
’The president really didn’t hold back,’ Soren thought, a faint smile touching his lips.
He walked back around to the front, pulled open the heavy driver’s door, and climbed inside. The dense insulation instantly cut out the ambient noise of the parking lot, plunging the cabin into a comfortable quiet. The faint aroma of premium leather filled the interior as he settled into the molded seat. His eyes scanned the clean dashboard layout, tracking the seamless touchscreen console and the minimalist digital displays.
Glancing at the spacious interior, his thoughts naturally turned back to the apartnt. The wide cabin ant getting Ethea in and out of the passenger seat would be effortless, making it easy to take her out for drives. It was a massive upgrade from relying on public transport or cramped taxis.
"Alright, let’s see what you can do," Soren murmured.
He pressed the engine start button, and the dashboard lit up as the motor ca to life with a quiet hum.
Shifting into gear, he eased his foot onto the accelerator. The steering felt unfamiliar and overly sensitive at first, making his initial turns out of the lot a little clumsy as he adjusted to the vehicle’s massive fra. But it didn’t last long. His past experience working long hours as a delivery driver quickly kicked in. Because he was already used to handling bulky, heavy vans under all kinds of conditions, his muscle mory adapted to the SUV’s dinsions within a few blocks.
Before long, he smoothly navigated the rging lanes and found himself cruising out onto the open highway, the engine effortlessly keeping pace with the traffic.
In just fifteen minutes, the highway gave way to the towering skyline of the city center, and Soren pulled into the parking structure of the bureau. After securing the car in a visitor slot, he stepped out, smoothed down his jacket, and headed through the sliding glass doors of the main entrance.
The lobby was bustling with hunters and bureau staff, but Soren walked straight toward the polished marble reception desk.
"Hello," Soren said, catching the attention of the receptionist. "I have a scheduled eting with the President."
The receptionist looked up, offering a professional smile before typing smoothly on her terminal. "Na, please?"
"Soren. Soren Everly."
She scanned the schedule on her screen, her fingers pausing for a mont as she verified the entry. "One mont, please."
Picking up the sleek desk phone, she dialed a short extension. Soren stood quietly by the desk, easily overhearing her muted voice across the quiet counter.
"Sir? Hunter Soren has arrived for his appointnt."
She listened to the response for a few seconds, nodding respectfully before hanging up the receiver. Turning her attention back to Soren, her smile widened slightly.
"The President is currently on his way down to et you personally. Please take a seat in the lounge area, and he will be with you shortly."
"Thank you," Soren replied, giving her a polite nod before stepping away from the desk.
As he walked toward the lounge, the quiet hum of the lobby seed to shift behind him. He could distinctly feel the receptionists’ gazes locking onto his back, followed quickly by the hushed rustle of whispered murmurs.
"Who is that guy? Did she say the President is coming down personally to et him?"
"I don’t recognize him at all. Is he a famous hunter from another region?"
"Or maybe he’s a relative?"
"But he doesn’t resemble the president at all."
"..."
"..."
Chuckling inwardly at their speculations, Soren kept his eyes forward, amused by how quickly a small piece of news could stir up curiosity in a place like this. He took another step toward the seating area, completely detached from the gossip, when a sudden shadow crossed his path.
Before he could react, he collided squarely with soone rounding the corner out of the blue.
"Argh-!"
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