Free Web NovelChapter 217: _You’re Welcome
As Ambrose faced judgment from his new teammates, Viktor stayed back at their house.
Alone.
He hadn’t gone to Glacier Talon in almost a week now. And to top it off, he and his mother hadn’t spoken since he moved out.
If he was being honest he wanted things that way. The more he hung around his mother, the more likely the possibility of the nosy woman finding something out about him and Ambrose.
Especially the permanent link.
However, today he wasn’t going to be entirely idle. He got a call from the Guild a couple of minutes ago that some officials from the United States Hunters Federation would be visiting him.
Why specifically? Well, that’s what he was about to find out.
"Mr Morozov." A man in a simple white long-sleeve shirt and black pants was the first to greet him at the gates. He stretched out a hand to shake him. "I’m glad we could schedule this meeting."
"Likewise." Viktor offered his most charming smile, his eyes flitting to the woman beside him. He shook her as well before gesturing at the house. "Please, come in."
They followed him into the house, both admiring the decor once they were inside.
"A lovely place you’ve got here." The woman beamed as they sat on a couch across from him.
Viktor waved with fake bashfulness. "Why, thank you." He made himself comfortable on another couch, crossing one leg over the other. "Should I get you guys any drinks or—"
"There’ll be no need, Mr Morozov." The man shook his head. "We actually hope to make this quick. It’s about the A-Rank dungeon Rift you and a team of Glacier Talon Hunters cleared about a week ago."
That made Viktor blink as his mind went through a few possibilities. His forehead wrinkled. "Don’t tell me it turned into the next Echo Rift or something."
"Oh, heavens no." The officials glanced at themselves and chuckled. Then the woman spoke. "Thankfully, that’s not the case."
The ice Prince let out a relieved exhale.
God knows he’d be taking the next plane out of this damn country if that turned out to be the case. Just go on vacation for a bit.
"We got word that although it was classified as an A-Rank dungeon... it proved more difficult than expected." The man brought out a note, squinting keenly at the S-Rank. "As the captain of that particular raid, could you give us any details you might’ve noticed? Anything odd at all?"
Viktor adjusted his posture. "I already gave my mother a report on—"
"Yes, but we’d like to hear it directly from the horse’s mouth." The man insisted. "We’re hoping these past days you’ve gotten enough time to reflect. Perhaps you can recall something you left out."
Silence settled in the living room.
Well, this was underwhelming. Not to mention suspicious.
He knew there was something off about that dungeon Rift... but with everything that happened after he came out, he’d mostly made himself forget about it.
But now that it was being brought up again—
"Well, for starters." He cleared his throat, his expression sharpening into something serious. "It was a vast ecosystem. Filled with tons of aether crystals."
The man nodded, jotting something down. "Right, and your Guild mined these crystals after the raid?"
"We sure did."
"Did you encounter any S-Rank beasts?"
"Hell, no." Viktor snorted. "But there were multiple A-Rank beasts. Odd since the dungeon was supposed to be only an A-Rank. The boss ended up being an upper A-Rank so—"
"We heard you nearly went berserk." The man pointed out. "Is that correct?"
Viktor’s mouth hung open.
The man quickly added. "I know how personal that must have been but it’s all part of the data we’re collecting. If you don’t mind."
At this rate, Viktor could no longer hold back his curiosity. "What... data?"
The two officials cut each other a weary look before the woman decided to just tell him.
"For some days now the Federation has been getting multiple reports across the continent," a short pause. "Of dungeons getting more difficult to clear. Harsher ecosystems. Stronger beasts than usual—and all that sounds exactly like what you’re telling us now."
Viktor’s expression warped.
He hesitated before questioning further. "W–Why though? Could it have something to do with the Void Entity?"
"That’s why this investigation is necessary, Mr Morozov." The man with the notebook adjusted his glasses. "We’re hoping this doesn’t turn out to be a dire case like the Echo Rift. But if it continues? We might truly have to begin re-evaluating everything we thought we knew about Dungeon Rifts."
All of a sudden his mother’s words to him echoed at the back of his head.
’Unprecedented times...’
Each day that passed a new problem popped up around the world. It was only a matter of time before even all the Federations would be unable to keep up.
And by then... It was anyone’s guess what would be humanity’s fate.
★★★★★
C-Rank Cave Dungeon
"So you’re saying you saw Guide Ambrose fighting alongside us." Captain Killian stared blankly at Leon. "Where then is the proof? As you can see he’s—"
"He owns an A-Rank weapon." The second Leon uttered those words, Ambrose’s heart nearly shot out of his ribs.
What the fuck?
Instantly, all the Hunters who’d previously been bad-mouthing him swerved their heads to him in a mix of awe, disbelief and jealousy.
"An A-Rank weapon?" Someone repeated.
"Those things are pretty expensive."
"I’ll say—what’s a C-Rank Guide doing with one?"
"It was a gift." Ambrose was quick to speak before Leon could blab again. "From... a friend."
He sure as heck wasn’t about to begin to explain the complexities of his relationship with Viktor.
Captain Killian’s eyes flitted to his belt buckle—letting him spot the frost dagger.
It only took a moment for him to make a solid guess. "A frost-type weapon." His head angled toward a couple of dead spiders a few meters away.
Their bodies had traces of ice on them. And no one else in the group had cold or frost-related abilities.
More than enough proof that Ambrose had indeed participated.
"... Very well." Killian brought his gaze back to the Guide, although there was still a hint of apprehension in his tone. "I hope to witness you fight moving forward, Guide Ambrose."
Ambrose’s frown deepened.
That simple?
Without another word, the captain turned to the team. "Let’s stay focused. There’s clearly something off with this dungeon and we can’t afford any distractions."
As the Hunters gradually peeled their eyes off Ambrose, he spun his neck to Leon.
The Esper simply winked. "You’re welcome."
He eased away from Ambrose ’An A-Rank weapon.’
His smile widened. ’Interesting. Very interesting. I wonder what else you’re hiding from me.’
