The receptionist smiled professionally as she processed my new status. "Congratulations on your test, you are now a C ranked hunter," she said, handing me a small badge.
"Thanks," I replied, turning the badge over in my hands. "But what benefits come with being a c - ranked hunter?" I asked, curious about my new privileges.
"Calm down, Mr. Chrille," the receptionist said with practiced patience, her manicured fingers tapping the polished mahogany desk. "Before we discuss benefits, you must first review the terms and conditions of hunter registration." She produced a thick leather-bound dossier embossed with the Hunter Association's crest - twin crossed swords over a shield shaped like a dungeon portal.
The documents she slid across the desk smelled faintly of ink and magic, the pages slightly luminescent under the floating orbs of office lighting. Eldris flipped through the heavy parchment, each sheet reinforced with enchanted fibers that made them nearly indestructible. The条款 were comprehensive:
**Hunter Association Regulations (Fifth Kingdom Edition)**
*Article 1: Financial Obligations*
- All income generated through official hunter activities is subject to a 10% Association tax
- In case of death, a three-day recovery operation will be mounted (standard fee: 2 gold lim/day)
- Survivors of presumed-death scenarios incur a resurrection fine (500 silver lim base + expenses)
- Departure from active service requires prepaid journey fees (variable by distance and danger rating)
*Article 2: Hunter Status*
"All registered hunters are considered precious assets of the Association. Protection and support services will be provided proportional to your contribution rank, provided you maintain compliance with all regulations."
The terms continued in dense legalese:
1. **Moral Flexibility Clause**: Hunters may operate within moral gray areas, but extreme violations (including but not limited to mass murder, slave trading, or portal tampering) warrant immediate termination (see Addendum 12-B for termination procedures)
2. **Civil Defense Mandate**: During portal breach events (Class C or higher), all hunters within affected sectors must render aid (penalty for refusal: permanent rank demotion + 200 silver lim fine)
3. **Dungeon Access Restrictions**:
- F-rank: White portals only
- E-rank: White + Green portals
- D-rank: Up to Blue portals
(See Appendix Γ for full portal classification)
4. **Kingdom Transit Rights**: Hunter badges serve as border passes in all four kingdoms except during:
- Active warrants
- Plague quarantines
- Royal succession conflicts
5. **Bounty Enforcement**: Hunters must assist in apprehending rogue members (reward: 20% of target's hunter credit balance)
6. **Commercial Benefits**: 5% discount at all licensed adventuring suppliers (exclusions apply to blacklisted merchants)
Eldris' fingers paused at the section detailing the capacity rings. The chart glowed faintly blue as he touched it:
1 square feet of inner space capacity ring for f ranks.
2 square feet of inner space capacity ring for E rank.
3 square feet of inner space capacity ring for D rank.
4 square feet of inner space capacity ring for C rank.
5 square feet of inner space capacity ring for B rank.
6 square feet of inner space capacity ring for A rank.
7 square feet of inner space capacity ring for S rank.
8 square feet of inner space capacity ring for SS rank.
9 square feet of inner space capacity ring for SSS rank.
A thrill ran through him - finally, proper storage for provisions and loot. The receptionist waited until he'd turned the final page before producing a signature slate infused with verification magic.
"Blood seal here," she instructed, indicating a shallow depression in the stone. "And thumbprint here." The contract shimmered as he complied, the text rearranging itself to include his full registered name: *Eldris Chrille, C-Rank (Provisional)*.
She handed him two items: a miniature version of the contract that folded impossibly small, and a plain copper band that warmed to his touch. "Your starter ring will expand to its full capacity when worn continuously for twenty-four hours. Now, was there anything else?"
Actually," Eldris leaned forward, "where might I acquire loaner equipment? Decent weapons, preferably."
The receptionist didn't look up from her paperwork. "Armory loans require secondary authorization." She slid another form across the desk - this one with significantly more bloodstains. "Standard liability waiver. Blood signature activates the tracking enchantment."
Eldris pricked his thumb without hesitation this time. The document absorbed the droplet hungrily, lines of crimson text spreading like veins across the parchment.
"Proceed to the Linked Weapons Emporium," she instructed, pointing down the vaulted hallway. "Straight past the bounty boards, left at the reforging exhibits, continue until you see the animated displays. You can't miss it."
The emporium's entrance was flanked by two suits of armor that turned their helmets to track Eldris' approach. Inside, the air hummed with restrained energies, the walls lined with glowing display cases that shifted to showcase different armaments as he passed.
A clerk materialized from behind a floating rack of daggers, her uniform crisp despite the oil stains on her sleeves. "Good afternoon, hunter! How may we arm you today?" Her nameplate read *Mira - Senior Armorer*.
Eldris cleared his throat. "I'm here about the loan program. The receptionist said—"
"Ah! The new hunter starter package!" Mira clapped her hands, making several nearby weapons rattle in their mounts.
"Wait, what rank are you? She asked.
"I am c ranked. "Eldris replied.
"Right this way to our curated selection." She led him to a circular platform where weapons rotated slowly under enchanted glass.
With a flourish, she activated a control panel. The glass dissolved into mist, revealing a massive viewscreen that displayed options in crisp detail:
**Weapon Loans (F-Rank Approved)**
1. **Emberfang** (Standard Longsword)
- *Material*: Forged steel with dwarven rune etching
- *Enchantment*: Thermal buildup - every fifth successful strike ignites the blade (1d4 fire damage)
- *Loan Fee*: 5 silver lim/week
- *Retail Value*: 1,000 silver lim
2. **Stonefist Gauntlets** (Pair)
- *Material*: Granite-reinforced leather
- *Enchantment*: Kinetic amplification (+10% blunt force)
- *Loan Fee*: 4 silver lim/week
- *Retail Value*: 959 silver lim
[Continued with all original weapons, each description expanded with material details, maintenance requirements, and notable previous users]
When Eldris inquired about armor, the display shifted to reveal full-body gear:
**Protective Equipment (F-Rank Maximum)**
1. **Red Carapace Light Armor**
- *Source*: Juvenile fire wyvern hide
- *Protection*: Withstands direct hits from Sage Stage 6 abilities
- *Special*: Heat resistance (up to 900°F)
- *Loan Fee*: 1 gold lim deposit + 7 silver lim/week
2. **Sentinel Coat** (Rare-Class)
- *Source*: Gravity beast hide (Saint Stage peak)
- *Protection*: 5-second gravity distortion field (3 charges/day)
- *Special*: Automatically activates when detecting lethal force
- *Loan Fee*: 5 gold lim deposit + 1 gold lim/week
[Additional armor sets described with care instructions and known vulnerabilities]
Mira noticed his hesitation. "The loan program lets you test equipment before committing to purchase. Though," she added with a wink, "most hunters upgrade their rank before saving that kind of gold."
Eldris ran his fingers over the display, the holographic models rotating to showcase their craftsmanship. Every piece bore the Hunter Association's mark - a guarantee of quality, and a reminder that in this world, survival had a price tag.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------pls read and vote for my book. And don't forget to add it to your collection.