Xen kept silent as the Ether Technocrats approached with the poised strides of businessmen. Their armor was sleek and dark, glinting faintly with embedded mana circuits. Their leader, a lean man with a pointed goatee and an augmented monocle over one eye, stepped forward with a practiced, predatory smile.

  "Well, well," he said, voice smooth and mechanical, enhanced by a throat implant. "What an interesting collection of wanderers. And here I thought we had this quadrant under lockdown."

  Before Randy could speak, the leader raised his hand, and a wave of unsettling yellow light from his monocle scanned them from head to toe. Xen noticed how the leader seemed to dismiss the humans. Instead, his sharp eye locked onto Xen.

  "Hmm. A level 53 Hunter?" The leader narrowed his eyes. "An unusual companion for a weaker group like this? Care to explain?"

  Xen grew concerned. He had thought the Appraisal skill he possessed was rare, yet this man had managed to glean such information in a second using that strange light?

  Wait, why did he say level 53? I'm level 51 in my slime form and level 45 in my human form. He didn't mention my class or race either?

  Randy moved in front of the group. "Use of Appraisal augments on people without permission breaks the London Accord. I could have you arrested by the Association for that action."

  The Technocrat chuckled darkly. "But you are in our territory, son. And according to Guild Code Seven-Delta, approved by the Japanese government, all Hunters moving through a zone marked for research by the Ether Technocrats must be registered and taxed accordingly. Therefore, I'm granted the right to scan those who enter for our personal records."

  Randy let out an audible sigh. "You're seriously pulling Code Seven-Delta out here? This isn't a research zone. It's a rubble-strewn hellhole barely above lava. Come on, man. Be serious."

  "Rules are rules, and we have full discretion to label any area we deem fit as a research zone," the Technocrat replied. His smile faded slightly as his hand lowered to the weapon holstered on his thigh—a sleek mana pistol that hummed with restrained energy. "You wouldn't try to undermine the authority granted by the government to the Technocrats, right?"

  Xen's eyes flicked to the side, toward the ruined archway just off the main path. Shadows stirred. More Hunters were waiting to strike.

  "Research zone or not, we still don't have to answer your questions," Randy said, crossing his arms. "I'm also certain murder wasn't listed as something you can get away with."

  The leader caressed the top of his gun with a strange smile. "What a naive child you are. Murder? I'd never get my hands so dirty. But there are more ways a person can go missing in a dungeon," Xen noticed the shadows move closer. "That much you can understand?"

  Randy didn't flinch. "I'm well aware, but I know my rights—"

  The leader drew his weapon so fast that Xen almost missed it, and before he could react, the barrel of the gun glowed a vibrant blue, and the man fired. The blindly bright mana round struck the stone floor between Xen and Randy, erupting in a pulse of concussive force and scattering dust in all directions. The ground hissed where it had been scorched, a spiderweb of hairline cracks radiating from the blast site.

  "That was a warning shot," the Technocrat said with eerie calmness as he reholstered the weapon. "Enough games. Answer my questions, young man."

  "I—I..." Randy stuttered and gulped. His lower lip was trembling as he just stared at the smoldering floor an inch from his foot.

  For possibly the first time, Xen saw Randy truly shaken. He was usually so calm and collected, the true rock of the team who always seemed to know what to say and do. Vesper and Valoria seemed equally shocked; their eyes were wide, and both were silent.

  "Well, son?" the Technocrat said impatiently. "What's it going to be?"

  Xen had vowed to remain silent, but he had been left with no choice.

  He stepped in front of the three humans.

  "You can speak with me," Xen said firmly, and in the reflective glint of the Technocrat's monocle, he cut an imposing figure. His mask was still streaked with blood from earlier combat, his suit torn in several places, and the once-white undershirt beneath it soaked in the crimson of his enemies.

  "No, Gerald," Randy whispered, his voice shaking as he struggled to get ahold of himself. "D-Don't speak with them."

  Xen ignored Randy and continued forward until he was almost side by side with the Technocrat. The two bodyguards seemed nervous, but the Technocrat simply met his masked gaze with interest.

  Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

  Xen took the opportunity to cast Appraisal.

  [Human (Arcanist Gunner: Level 38)]

  What a weakling, Xen snorted.

  "Does something about me amuse you, Hunter?"

  Xen saw the condescending look in the Technocrat's gaze and couldn't hold his tongue anymore.

  "What gives you such confidence? Is it the authority invested in you by your guild? Is it the speed at which you can draw that gun of yours? Or perhaps it's because of the others lurking nearby in the shadows?" Xen hummed in amusement and used Ghoststep to teleport through the man, leaving a brief afterimage that faded as he whispered in the Technocrat's ear from behind, "None of those will save you if I wanted you dead. Do you understand me?"

  The Technocrat spun around, gun already drawn. But Xen was faster. He grabbed the weapon and crushed it into pieces with his bare hands. With his other hand, he grabbed the stunned man by the throat and lifted him into the air, legs kicking uselessly.

  Both of the man's bodyguards lunged in to stop him, and the shadows near the archway made themselves known. Xen was about to kill the Technocrat and move on to dispose of all witnesses when a voice cut through everything.

  "Stop!"

  Xen instinctively paused his action, as did the two bodyguards.

  "Please, just stop. There's no need for bloodshed over this," Randy said, having regained his usual confidence. "Gerald, please put the Technocrat down."

  Xen hesitantly did as he was told, as Randy usually knew best—he trusted his judgment, especially on matters concerning humans.

  The Technocrat coughed violently and was red-faced as his two bodyguards helped him stay upright. Xen thought the man was going to rage like many other humans did in situations like this, but instead, he found his footing, brushed himself down, and regained his composure.

  "Ahem. It seems my harmless prank incited a rather unexpected reaction," the man said smoothly. "Mister..."

  Xen stared at him for a moment before offering a reply. "Ghostwire."

  "Mister Ghostwire, allow me to extend a sincere apology."

  Xen was baffled. Reasonable humans besides his group existed?

  The Technocrat reached into his armor. Xen half expected him to withdraw another weapon and shoot him between the eyes. Yet he was surprised again when it turned out to be a card.

  "I'd like to extend an invitation to the Ether Technocrats guild. We would be overjoyed to welcome someone of your caliber into our ranks. What do you think?"

  Xen glanced at Randy for help.

  "He already has a prior association," Randy helpfully interjected.

  "A shame. Well, the offer is always on the table, Mister Ghostwire," the Technocrat glanced between them all. "I hope the misunderstanding between us has been cleared, and as a sign of apology, I'll allow you to pass through this research zone without questions or payment."

  "Thank you," Randy said curtly. "Come on, guys, let's go."

  Xen was practically led by the hand away from the group of Technocrats and down a relatively quiet street that cut a straight line through the ruined city.

  "I don't understand," Xen said under his breath. "I could have killed them all. Why did you stop me?"

  "Same reason he shot the ground and not us—murder in the dungeon is highly illegal, and do you not see how many Hunters are present on this floor? Such a battle would attract the attention of the Guild Association within minutes. Not to mention, while you would have won, the three of us would have died in the crossfire."

  Xen paused. He hadn't really considered that. "To think the Ether Technocrats turned out to be more reasonable than me..."

  "Oh, don't get it twisted," Randy laughed, but the humor didn't reach his face. He looked deathly serious. "He let you go, for now. But remember that monocle he had on? It records our levels and also acts as a camera. That whole exchange was filmed and has been sent to the Ether Technocrat Guild for analysis. I wouldn't be surprised if you have a bounty on your head by tomorrow. Basically, what I'm trying to say is the moment you made your move, the damage was already done. Whether you killed them all or not."

  "But killing them would have earned us the Guild Association's wrath alongside the bounty on my head."

  "Exactly, now you're starting to understand the shit show we are in," Randy grumbled, casting a glance over his shoulder. "We need to get out of here, and fast."

  "This bounty system is total nonsense," Xen complained. "I did nothing wrong, and now people will get paid for hunting me?"

  Randy grimaced. "While the Guild Association does require a valid reason for placing a bounty, that video will be quite incriminating, and those with a big enough say in the industry can force bounties through by spending enough money. Do you now see why I say the Ether Technocrats operate like a mafia? They are dangerous to deal with."

  "No kidding," Xen pouted. "I guess not all problems can be solved with violence. I'm sorry for acting up."

  "Don't worry, it should be fine. At the end of the day, if you're strong enough to fight off the bounty hunters, then it doesn't matter. Or in your case, I suppose you could eat them."

  Xen's eyes widened behind his mask. "He scanned my level and will tag that in the bounty report, right? Doesn't that mean bounty hunters who believe they can defeat a level fifty will come after me?"

  Randy nodded. "That's usually the case. Depends on whether the bounty is stupidly big enough or not to make people of a higher level seek you out."

  Wasn't this a perfect way to get suicidal idiots to throw themselves at him, and he would be justified in defending himself? He smiled behind his mask. I'm so glad I gave him the name Ghostwire rather than some made-up name. This will work well in my favor. Though I wish humans weren't so complicated all the time.

  "Question, Randy, why did that yellow light get my level wrong?"

  "The Appraisal augment? It measures your mana levels and other signatures, and then a supercomputer somewhere analyzes the data and makes a guess on your level. It's usually accurate within half a level."

  That means I can fight with the strength of a level 53, and unless someone uses the Appraisal skill on me, they won't be able to tell I'm too low level right now to be Ghostwire.

  "I'm also sorry for freezing up back there and leaving you to deal with that mess," Randy said with hardened determination. "I'll do better in the future."

  Xen nodded and glanced down the street. His heart sank.

  "Looks like you will be needing that newfound determination sooner than expected," Vesper said, half-joking.

  A group shrouded in the aura of the Iron Legion was heading toward them.