The decision settled faster than Lin Kael expected.
Not because it had been rushed—but because, once made, it aligned with everything else.
The Hunter Department wasn't the safest option, nor the most stable. It didn't promise protection, and it certainly didn't guarantee survival. But it offered something the others didn't.
Freedom to act.
Access to beasts.
And fewer restrictions tying his hands.
For Lin Kael, that mattered more than comfort ever could.
---
"Walk with me."
Calder didn't wait for a reply. He turned toward the side exit of the registration compound as if the matter had already been decided.
Lin Kael followed, falling into step beside him without hesitation.
Up close, Calder looked even less like an official representative. His jacket was worn along the seams, boots scuffed from long use, and a faint scar ran across his jaw—old, but not the kind that faded into the background. It was the kind that stayed visible because it had been earned.
"You picked fast," Calder said after a while, glancing sideways. "Most people take their time. Ask the same questions three different ways, hoping the answer changes."
Lin Kael gave a slight shrug. "The answers were consistent. Taking longer wouldn't change the outcome."
"Fair enough," Calder replied, a hint of amusement in his voice. Then he added, "Still… choosing us without hesitation usually means one of two things. Either you're confident—or you don't fully understand the risk."
Lin Kael looked at him. "Which one are you hoping for?"
Calder chuckled quietly. "The first. Makes things easier for everyone."
They passed through a secured gate, flashing credentials to a guard who barely spared them a glance before waving them through.
Beyond it, the atmosphere shifted.
The polished exterior of the registration center gave way to something more practical. Buildings here were functional rather than refined—reinforced walls, exposed structures, equipment stacked where it was needed rather than where it looked good.
"Hunter Department works differently," Calder continued. "We don't babysit. You'll get guidance, a team, and access. What you do with it… is on you."
"That includes mistakes?" Lin Kael asked.
"Especially mistakes," Calder said. "You learn faster that way. Or you don't learn at all."
Lin Kael nodded slightly. That wasn't surprising.
"What about team structure?" he asked. "How are roles assigned?"
Calder glanced at him, approval flickering briefly in his eyes. "Small teams. Four to six people. Balanced roles. You won't be thrown in blindly—we match based on ability and potential."
"And leadership?"
"Assigned," Calder replied. "But not rigid. If you've got a better call and can back it up, people listen. Out there, results matter more than titles."
A flexible hierarchy. Performance over position.
It suited him.
---
They entered a mid-sized building marked with the Hunter insignia.
Inside, the atmosphere shifted again—not quieter, but more grounded. A few Pathwalkers sat around a central table, some cleaning weapons, others discussing a projected map filled with marked zones and movement lines.
One of them looked up as Calder and Lin Kael entered.
"New recruit?" he asked casually, leaning back in his chair.
"Looks like it," another replied, giving Lin Kael a brief, assessing glance before returning to his work.
Calder didn't slow. "Ignore them," he said under his breath. "They'll size you up whether you talk or not."
Lin Kael allowed a faint smile. "I'd be more concerned if they didn't."
"That's the right attitude."
They reached a smaller office toward the back. Calder pushed the door open and gestured inside.
"Sit."
Lin Kael took the seat across from the desk as Calder pulled out a file and slid it over.
"Basic onboarding. You'll go through the details later. For now, focus on what matters."
Lin Kael opened the file, scanning through it quickly.
"Assignments," Calder continued, leaning lightly against the desk. "We don't keep new people on standby. Not reckless—but practical. You learn more in the field than anywhere else."
Lin Kael looked up. "How soon?"
Calder met his gaze. "Soon enough that you won't get comfortable."
Lin Kael considered that, then gave a small nod. "That works."
Calder let out a short laugh. "You're either very confident… or very clear about what you want."
"Both," Lin Kael said.
Calder studied him for a moment before nodding. "Alright. Let's see if that holds."
He tapped the file.
"Your first assignment—low-tier beast activity near the outer perimeter," Calder said. "Nothing complicated. Standard cleanup."
Lin Kael nodded slightly. "Beast Soldier level?"
"That's right," Calder replied. "Small groups. Likely roaming or recently displaced. Nothing outside the usual patterns."
Lin Kael leaned back slightly, considering it.
"Numbers?"
"Three to five per sighting," Calder said. "No confirmed nest. Patrol teams flagged it, so we clear it before it grows into something bigger."
That made sense.
Not urgent—but not something to ignore either.
"What's the team composition?" Lin Kael asked.
"You'll be joining an existing squad," Calder replied. "They've handled similar assignments before. You'll be the newest addition."
"So I'll be evaluated."
"Constantly," Calder confirmed, a faint hint of amusement in his tone. "Not just by me."
Lin Kael nodded. That was expected.
"What about equipment?"
"Standard issue," Calder said. "Firearms included. At your level, there's no reason to avoid using them."
Lin Kael allowed a faint smile. "Good. I prefer having options."
Calder returned a slight grin. "You'll need them. Out there, being prepared matters more than being confident."
---
As the details settled, Lin Kael's thoughts shifted—briefly, but inevitably—to Zhao Kai.
He didn't feel the urge to act immediately.
What happened in the alley had already told him enough.
Zhao Kai was reckless. Used to getting his way. Used to others handling things for him.
That kind of person rarely changed.
And more importantly—
rarely covered their tracks well.
Lin Kael exhaled quietly.
There was no need to rush.
Not now.
Right now, he had something more important in front of him.
The Hunter Department.
Access to information. Exposure to the world beyond the city's safety. A chance to understand how things truly worked.
Zhao Kai wasn't going anywhere.
If anything—
he'd make another move.
And next time…
Lin Kael would be better prepared.
With that thought, his focus shifted back to the present.
---
Calder closed the file.
"You start tomorrow. Report early. Your captain will walk you through the rest."
Lin Kael stood.
"One more question."
Calder raised an eyebrow. "Go ahead."
"For standard low-tier activity," Lin Kael said, "what's the usual approach in the field?"
Calder leaned back slightly, considering the question.
"You follow your team's lead," he said. "Observe first. Don't rush in just because you can act. Coordination matters more than individual performance."
He tapped the file lightly.
"At your stage, the biggest mistake people make isn't lack of strength—it's poor judgment."
Lin Kael nodded. That made sense.
"Stay within your limits, do your part, and don't try to prove anything on your first run."
A faint pause.
Then Calder added, more casually this time,
"If you can do that, you'll be fine."
Lin Kael held his gaze briefly before replying,
"Understood."
---
As he stepped out of the office, the quiet rhythm of the building returned around him—voices, movement, the steady preparation of people who understood exactly what they were walking into.
It was different from school.
More direct. Less forgiving.
And far more real.
As Lin Kael walked toward the exit, one thought settled clearly in his mind—
This was only the beginning.
---
By the time he returned home, the sky had dimmed into night.
Inside, the apartment was quiet.
Lian Mei looked up as he entered, her expression softening slightly when she saw him.
"You're back earlier today."
"Things moved faster than expected," Lin Kael replied, setting his bag down.
She studied him for a moment. "And?"
"I've been assigned. Hunter Department."
There was a brief pause.
Then she nodded slowly. "I thought you might choose that."
"Too obvious?"
"A little," she admitted, a faint smile appearing. "You've never liked being restricted."
"That hasn't changed."
Her gaze shifted, thoughtful. "When do you start?"
"Tomorrow."
Her fingers tightened slightly around the cloth in her hand before relaxing.
"…That soon."
"It's a low-tier assignment," Lin Kael said. "Outer perimeter. Nothing unusual."
She didn't fully believe that—but she didn't argue.
"Eat first," she said after a moment. "You shouldn't go into something like this on an empty stomach."
Lin Kael nodded. "I was planning to."
---
Later that night, the apartment fell into silence.
Lin Kael sat at the small desk by the window, the faint glow of his newly issued terminal illuminating the surface.
For a moment, he didn't move.
Then he activated it.
A clean interface unfolded—precise, efficient. At the top corner, a small line of text confirmed his status:
Registered Pathwalker — Initial Clearance Granted
Lin Kael's gaze lingered on it briefly before shifting.
"So this is the system…"
He didn't browse aimlessly.
He searched.
---
→ Pathwalker Classification
Spirit Walkers — Specialize in spirit attack, spirit sense, and telekinetic manipulation
Physic Walkers — Specialize in strength, speed, and durability
Lin Kael leaned back slightly, thinking.
"No overlap at the foundation…"
That matched what he had already experienced.
---
→ Power Levels
Awakened Realm
Resonance Realm
Manifestation Realm
Each divided into:
Entry
Mid
Peak
The structure was clean. Deliberate.
Growth wasn't vague—it was defined.
Predictable.
Controllable.
---
→ Beast Classification
Beast Soldier
Beast Warrior
…
"Mirrors Pathwalker levels," Lin Kael noted quietly. "So engagements are measured… not random."
Which meant his assignment should fall within a controlled range.
"…Unless the reports are wrong."
---
He moved to the next section.
---
→ Assimilation System
This time, he slowed.
Pathwalkers can assimilate once per level
Requires refined potions derived from beasts
Only compatible with same-path beasts
Abilities are granted through integration of genetic traits
Lin Kael's fingers tapped lightly against the desk.
"So abilities aren't learned…"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"They're inherited."
That changed things.
Power wasn't just about training—it was about choice.
What to take.
When to take it.
And what direction that choice would lock him into.
If a Spirit Walker assimilated an illusion-type beast…
They would gain the ability to manipulate perception itself.
The logic was simple.
The consequences weren't.
---
→ Ability Grades
First Grade
Second Grade
Third Grade
…
A note followed:
> Lower-grade abilities remain effective at higher levels, but superior grades offer stronger effects.
Lin Kael nodded faintly.
"Not replacement… optimization."
Early decisions wouldn't become useless.
But better options would always exist.
---
Silence filled the room as the terminal hummed softly.
Lin Kael leaned back, his gaze drifting briefly toward the curtain in the corner.
Behind it, his father's breathing remained steady—unchanged.
…Not yet.
---
He turned back to the screen.
---
→ Pathwalker Privileges
Access to classified information
Eligibility for recruitment
Allocation of evolution techniques
His eyes paused on the last point.
"Evolution technique…"
That would be the foundation of everything that came next.
---
Lin Kael exhaled slowly and closed the interface.
The light faded.
For a while, he remained seated, unmoving—not overwhelmed, but thinking.
The system was clear.
Structured.
Full of limits—but also full of opportunity.
And within that structure—
there was space to move.
To plan.
To act.
---
Finally, he stood.
Tomorrow, he would meet his team.
Enter the field.
And test everything he had just learned against reality.
As he stepped toward the window, his gaze drifted toward the distant darkness beyond the district walls.
Out there—
the rules wouldn't feel as clean.
And that…
was where the real rules began.