"Talk? My wife?" Soren frowned, his exhaustion instantly replaced by alertness. "Who are you? What are you talking about?"
The voice on the other end didn’t answer. Instead, it spoke with quiet, deliberate coldness.
"A word of advice, Soren Valre. Don’t ddle in things that don’t concern you."
"What?" Soren’s confusion sounded genuine. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Accept reality and move on with your life. Stop clinging to foolish hope."
"Hope? I don’t understand—who is this?!"
The voice continued as if he hadn’t spoken. "If you insist on being stubborn, the consequences will be severe. For both of you."
"What consequences? Hey—"
The line went dead.
Soren pulled the phone away from his ear, staring at the screen.
"What the hell..." he muttered loudly, his voice tinged with irritation. "So kind of prank call? Seriously?"
He shook his head and tossed the phone onto the seat beside him, letting out an exaggerated sigh.
"Never mind. I’m too exhausted for this nonsense."
He leaned back and closed his eyes, his expression settling into one of tired indifference.
But inside, his thoughts were anything but calm.
’So they finally took action, huh?’
He’d known this would happen eventually. The mont he started actively trying to help Ethea recover, whoever cursed her would notice. He just hadn’t expected them to react this soon.
Thankfully, it was only a phone call. Not sothing drastic, like sending an assassin or a direct attack. But...
’It ans they’re really watching...’
Soren kept his eyes closed, his breathing steady, as if he’d already dismissed the call entirely.
’In that case, I need to be even more careful from now on. Can’t show any abnormalities. Can’t let them know I’m making progress.’
He had already broken through to the late stage early this morning after absorbing the Frost Crystal. However, he hid it earlier and said he was just a mid-stage. But it seems like even that was too abnormal in their eyes.
’...I need to keep a low-profile in the future.’
Soren promised himself as the taxi continued through the city streets, the afternoon sun filtering through the windows.
Thankfully, the rest of the ride passed uneventfully.
---
By the ti the taxi pulled up in front of his house, it was already 12:55 PM.
Soren paid the driver, grabbed his spear, and stepped out onto the familiar street. Inwardly, he checked the surroundings.
Everything looked normal. Quiet. Peaceful.
’...’
He walked toward the front door, his expression calm and relaxed, as if nothing had happened.
As he approached, he noticed movent near the small garden not far from the entrance.
Clara was there, sitting on a bench under the shade of a tree. Beside her, Ethea sat in her wheelchair, facing the garden. Both turned slightly as they heard his footsteps.
"Mr. Valre, welco back!" Clara stood with a warm smile. "How was the Gate?"
"Successful," Soren said, returning the smile. "A bit rough, but we cleared it."
Ethea’s ice-blue eyes t his briefly, her gaze steady and unreadable as always.
Clara glanced at the ti. "We already had lunch while you were away. Would you like to prepare sothing for you?"
"No need," Soren said, waving her off gently. "I’ll make sothing myself. You two continue enjoying the garden."
"Are you sure?"
"I’m sure. Thank you, Clara."
Soren headed inside, set his spear down, and quickly prepared a simple al. He ate alone in the kitchen, his mind still turning over the phone call from earlier.
After finishing, he cleaned up and headed back outside.
"I’m going to train for a bit," he told Clara and Ethea.
Ethea and Clara gave a faint nod.
Soren spent the next few hours in the courtyard.
By the ti evening ca, Clara prepared to leave for the day.
"Take care, Mr. Valre. I’ll see you tomorrow morning."
"Thank you, Clara. Have a good evening."
After she left, Soren helped Ethea back inside and prepared dinner. They ate in quiet companionship, and afterward, he helped her get ready for bed.
Once Ethea was settled, Soren pulled out his phone and opened the Hunter Network app.
He scrolled through the party listings, checking for responses to his earlier application
[Application Status: Iron Fang Ravine Party - REJECTED]
Soren’s eyes narrowed slightly.
’Rejected?’
He’d applied to that party yesterday, together with Moss Hollow Cave. But he got rejected by this one?
’Is it because of... them? The people behind the phone call?’
Or... was he just overthinking?
’...Hm.’
He sighed and shook his head.
’Either way, I can’t rely on one application.’
He browsed through the available listings and applied to three more Gates scheduled for tomorrow: two First Circle Gates and one Second Circle party that accepted beginners.
After submitting the applications, he set his phone aside and moved to his futon.
He closed his eyes and entered a cultivation state, letting the Glacial Emperor Scripture guide his breathing as cold Mana circulated through his Core.
Hours passed in silence.
The next morning, Soren woke with the first light of dawn.
He stretched, feeling refreshed, and imdiately checked his phone.
[Application Status: REJECTED]
[Application Status: REJECTED]
[Application Status: REJECTED]
"..."
All three applications. Rejected. Again.
Soren stared at the screen for a long mont, his expression unreadable.
Then he sighed and set the phone down.
After a brief silence, he exhaled slowly and made a decision.
’Fine. I’ll rest for today. But I’m not sitting idle.’
He already had a backup plan.
Standard mbership with the Bureau gave him access to training facilities and technique libraries. He’d been aning to learn a proper spear technique anyway—sothing more refined than the basic drills Marcus had taught him.
Soren opened the Hunter Network app again, this ti navigating to the Bureau’s training resources section.
He tapped on the search bar and began typing.
[Search: Spear Techniques - Beginner to Interdiate]
A list of available techniques appeared on the screen, each with a brief description, rank, and price.
Soren scrolled through them carefully.
[Basic Thrust Formation - F-rank]
- Price: 3,000 Credits (Standard mber Discount: 2,400 Credits)
Too basic. He’d already learned the fundantals from Marcus.
[Wind Piercing Spear - D-rank]
- Price: 15,000 Credits (Standard mber Discount: 10,000 Credits)
Focused on speed and piercing power. Not bad, but it didn’t synergize with his ice affinity. And he had yet to master his wind affinity.
[Flowing River Spear - C-rank]
- Price: 18,000 Credits (Standard mber Discount: 14,400 Credits)
Adaptive and defensive. Interesting, but not what he was looking for.
Then his eyes landed on one near the bottom of the list.
[Glacial Edge Spear Arts - C-rank]
- A spear technique designed for ice affinity users. Combines precision strikes with frost infused Mana to slow enemies and create openings. Effective in both solo and party combat. Includes foundational forms and advanced applications.
- Price: 32,250 Credits (Standard mber Discount: 25,000 Credits)
"Hmm..." Soren read the description twice.
’Ice affinity. Precision strikes. Crowd control and damage in one package.’
’Exactly what I need.’
But the price...
25,000 Credits. Even with the discount.
He checked his account balance.
[Current Balance: 52,027 Credits]
He’d have 27,027 Credits left after the purchase. Enough to cover expenses for a while, but it would cut deep into his savings.
Soren gritted his teeth.
’It’s worth it. I need a proper technique if I’m going to keep getting stronger.’
He tapped on the technique listing to see the purchase options.
[Purchase Options:]
- Digital Manual (Downloadable to app): 25,000 Credits
- In-Person Instruction (3 sessions at Bureau Training Hall): 25,000 Credits 1000 Credits per additional session
’This...’ Soren hesitated.
The digital manual was cheaper and more convenient. He could study it at his own pace, practice at ho.
But in-person instruction ant a real instructor could correct his mistakes, guide his form, and answer questions.
’Which one?’
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