I spend the night in one of the newest hotels in the Crimson City.
My doubles helped recreate a small number of luxury rooms similar to the mana dense rejuvenation rooms found at the Moon Bar back in Valor City. With my new imbuement skill, creating building materials and furniture that release controlled amounts of mana throughout these suites is an easy task.
I take a well-needed rest after my awakening and feel completely refreshed once the sun rises again.
I spend a few minutes in the morning staring out the glass window overlooking the city while a single white teleport crystal spins slowly above my hand.
"It's time..." I whisper to myself while I adjust my mana control output to match that of a strong ranked-up hunter and shift my appearance to fit the persona I used during the exams, Ray Anderson.
Next, I crush the white gem in my fist, and a bright flash of light fills the room as I'm teleported back to the Apex Region.
The endless white mana-shield floor materializes beneath my feet, and I find myself back in the same position I started in when I came to this exam site over a month ago.
If I sent out a pulse of aura with divine energy intertwined, I could easily mentally map this entire Region in a matter of seconds, but I don't want to blow my cover just yet.
They all turn around and begin walking through the artificial forest region I vividly remember from the exams. The lush green shrubbery and colorful wildlife in this artificial forest seem a lot less cared for than last time I was here.
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Some patches of plants look like they haven't been watered in weeks, and some portions of the wildlife are completely gone; like large sections of it have been taken away.
It's similar to the chunks of endless white mana shielding that were missing outside this dying wildlife sanctuary.
The three of them silently march forward without saying a word as I follow, and the gate behind me closes.
I have a lot on my mind as we walk through the calming forest. I consider the fact that I have the ability to free them right now, but that would drastically ruin my stealth approach to this matter.
All there is to do is silently walk behind them until we make it to the entrance to the compound that led into the gambling lounge from the pretrials of the exam before.
Instead of the colorful lights, happy workers, and energetic music, all that is here now is an empty white room with a single door at the back.
His eyes glow brighter, and the aura of greed and anticipation floods out of him.
I respond in a calm voice as the three new A-Class hunters walk into the room behind me and the door shuts.
"I'm looking forward to coming to an agreement, but let's not forget about what I asked for. You'll make me the Director of the Vice Region if I agree to this deal, right?"
A loud laugh echoes through the room at my words, but I stare forward with my arms crossed and a serious expression still on my face.
"So young, with great ambitions. I'm sorry to say for now that is impossible, we'll need to come up with other terms. Running an entire Region is far more work than just being strong. Brutus is a man who runs the Vice Region with honor and integrity. You cannot merely rise the ranks because of a single victory during the exams. You must prove your loyalty and work ethic. He worked his way up the Association's chain of command, building business connections, loyal friends, and studying the inner workings of a successful society for decades. It is no small feat to be the face of the Association in the eight great regions."
While he brings up great points, stating that running an entire region's Association branch is not an easy job for the average hunter, his talk of upholding honor and integrity makes me want to laugh as hard as he did moments ago.
I hold it in and reply with a nod.
"Very well, we can discuss those terms later. For now, I'd like to see the training facilities you've promised will bring me to level 1000 so quickly. I'd like to know what exactly I'll be signing up for, maybe if it impresses me I'll be able to accept a negotiation for different terms."
The Director is silent for a few moments but nods and presses a button beneath his desk.
The pressure in the room momentarily rises as the yellow threads permeate out from his body just slightly.
He only stops when one of the nurses that tends to his side faints from the intensity.
As one of the other nurses heals her, the Director nods, and the entire room starts to shake.
"Let's leave this temporary exam site, and allow me to be a welcoming host to a future A-Class Hunter. I'll bring you back to the Association headquarters in the heart of the Apex Region."