The archer nodded in agreement with her comrades, their silvery eyes studying me intently. "Indeed. Even for our squad, a full dungeon clear is no small feat. To do it alone... that's remarkable." There was something in the way they were speaking that set my teeth on edge. I didn't like this; it was like they were sizing me up, and not in a friendly way. More like they were looking for the right size of coffin.

  "Look, I just did what needed to be done. Can we leave it at that?" I stated, reigning in my unease, I could sense that Vipera shared my discomfort with the situation. I couldn't shake the sense that there was something wrong here. It was the same sense of unease that hung over me before Uncle Wolf had shown up at the house to bring me to see David. The feeling that there was something going on in the shadows. A game I couldn't see, with players I wasn't aware of.

  The redhead stepped forward, extending her hand. "I'm Scarlett, leader of Squad 7. This is Bjorn," she nodded towards the bearded man, "and Ash," gesturing to the archer shrouded in their cloak. I stared at the woman's hand for a moment before extending my own. As soon as our hands made contact and we locked eyes, I felt the pressure of an analysis-type Skill. The pressure was significant, but not insurmountable. With an effort of will, I pushed the woman's attempt to scan my status aside. The woman's grip tightened on my hand to an uncomfortable level. She was strong, very strong. She had more Strength than I did, that much was certain, but not so much that I couldn't push right back. I exerted all sixty or so points of my Strength to return the woman's grip. It felt like I was trying to crush a brick with my bare hand, pre-System. If I had to guess, I'd say she probably had 30% more strength than I did. Logically, that meant she must have a very physically focused class. The System wasn't always logical, though; I was a prime example of that.

  The red-haired woman, Scarlett, stared back at me. Her eyes widened slightly. Shock? Maybe. I wasn't sure. I didn't think someone without a physical class like hers should have enough strength to not have their hand crushed in her grip. It looked like she knew that, too. I didn't have the benefits of a physical Class boosting my Strength; instead, I had a Bloodline. Which might, as it turned out, be even more important than I originally thought.

  The tension in the air was palpable as Scarlett and I continued our silent standoff. Neither of us willing to back down, our locked hands trembling slightly from the exertion. I could feel Vipera coiling tighter in my soul, ready to materialize and strike at a moment's notice. Finally, Scarlett released her grip, a tight smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

  "Well, Aiden, you're full of surprises, aren't you?" She took a step back, her calculating gaze never leaving my face. "I think we have a lot to discuss."

  I flexed my hand, trying to work out the lingering ache from her vice-like grip. "I'm not sure there's much to talk about," I replied cautiously, my eyes darting between the three squad members. "Like I said, I just did what needed to be done."

  Bjorn, the bearded giant, let out a low chuckle. "Come now, lad. You can't expect us to believe that. A solo dungeon clear? That's almost unheard of for someone your age and... apparent rank." I chose to remain silent. This felt like it was moving towards a recruiting pitch. One for a side I didn’t have any desire to be on.

  "My rank is my own business," I said evenly, meeting Bjorn's gaze with a flinty one of my own. "And I'm not looking to join any squads or organizations, if that's where this is going." Interestingly, Uncle Wolf and David remained quiet for the moment. Though I felt Uncle Wolf shifting to stand at my back. That brought a small degree of comfort; I had some backup if this went pear-shaped.

  Scarlett's eyes narrowed slightly.

  "You misunderstand, Aiden. This isn't about recruitment. It's about responsibility." I felt my jaw clench involuntarily.

  Responsibility, what a joke. That’s just an excuse for people like you to demand whatever they want from everyone else.

  There was something about their persistence that was starting to grate on my nerves. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the growing tension in my body.

  "Look," I said, my voice low and measured, despite my growing irritation, "I appreciate your... interest. But I'm not looking to join any squads or get involved in whatever it is you're doing.” Scarlett's eyes narrowed slightly, her smile never wavering.

  "Of course, Aiden. We understand. But surely you realize the implications of what you've accomplished? Someone with your potential could go far with the right support." I could feel Vipera's agitation through our bond. I could feel her desire to come out. To coil around me protectively. I sent her a silent reassurance, though I shared her unease.

  "I'm aware of the implications," I replied carefully. "But I prefer to handle things my own way. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have business to finish here, and then I'd like to get some rest; it's been a long day."

  Ash, the archer, spoke up, their voice soft but carrying an undercurrent of steel. "Working alone can be dangerous in our world, Aiden. Especially for someone who's caught the attention of... certain parties."

  I felt Vipera's agitation spike through our bond, and I had to resist the urge to let her materialize fully. Instead, I took a deep breath, centering myself. The words were cautionary, but there was a threat lying just underneath the surface. The cracks in my psyche were straining, and my tolerance for threats was at an all-time low. I'd lived bathed in monster blood, going from battle to battle for so long now that restraining myself wasn't as easy as it used to be. And it had never been very easy before.

  "That's quite enough." David's voice rang through the tent. I felt a wave of relief wash over me as David stepped forward, his authoritative presence cutting through the tension like a knife. His deep blue eyes swept over the squad members, his expression stern. More concerning was the nature of the relief. It wasn't from nerves or relief that I wouldn't have to deal with the three in front of me. It was a relief that I wouldn't be spilling human blood today. The realization that I was fully willing to murder all three of the people who stood across from me was stark and haunting. Perhaps my time in the Soul-Sheer had changed me even more than I had thought.

  "Squad 7, I appreciate your concern, but Aiden is under my jurisdiction. Any further discussions about his status or potential will go through official channels." David's voice was calm but left no room for argument. Scarlett's smile faltered for a moment before she regained her composure.

  "Of course, Director Giffle. We meant no disrespect. We were merely... curious."

  I could feel Uncle Wolf's steady presence at my back, a silent pillar of support. David nodded curtly to Squad 7. "Your curiosity is noted. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have matters to discuss with Mr. Kaesor, privately."

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  The squad members exchanged glances before Scarlett inclined her head slightly. "Understood, Director. Aiden, it was... an interesting meeting with you. I'm sure we'll cross paths again." As they filed out of the tent, I couldn't shake the feeling that this encounter was far from over. Once Squad 7 had left, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. The tension in my muscles slowly began to ease, but the unease lingered. I turned to David, my eyes narrowed.

  "What was that about?" I asked, not bothering to hide the edge in my voice. "They seemed awfully interested for a random encounter. Even if I suspect that encounter was much less random than I’d like."

  David sighed, running a hand through his graying hair. "It's... complicated, Aiden. Suffice to say that, like any organization, The White Banner is not immune to the squabbles of internal politics. Squad 7 is one of our best teams in the region, and they're not used to being outperformed, especially by someone not affiliated with the Banner. At least not directly." I watched David closely for several moments. There was something there, something he wasn't saying.

  Uncle Wolf stepped forward, his weathered face creased with concern. "Kid, you need to understand the position you're in now. What you've done... It's not unheard of, but it's rare, coupled with what you went through while you were away. People are going to be curious, and some might see you as a threat."

  I felt Vipera's reassuring presence through our bond, her agitation mirroring my own. I took several moments to chew over what had been said and the encounter with Team 7. Then my gaze returned to David, and I levelled a hard glare at him as some things clicked into place. With a deal in place with the White banner as a whole, there were only a couple of reasons for others in the organization to think of me as a threat. One could be competition, like David had hinted at. That didn't feel right, however. I didn't think Team 7 had shown up here on their own initiative. They'd been sent.

  "This is politics," I growled, "There's factions inside the white banner, Team 7 is attached to one that opposes yours, aren't they, David?"

  David's expression tightened, confirming my suspicion before he even spoke. He let out a long sigh, his shoulders sagging slightly.

  "You're... perceptive, Aiden. The White Banner, for all its noble intentions, is not immune to internal strife. There are indeed factions, each with its own vision for how we should operate."

  I could feel my jaw clenching, a familiar anger bubbling up inside me. "And now I'm a piece on the board," I grunted.

  Uncle Wolf stepped forward, his weathered hand coming to rest on my shoulder. "It's not that simple, kid. You've become a wildcard, whether you like it or not. Your abilities, your... unique circumstances. They make you valuable, and that makes you a target." I shrugged off his hand, then immediately let out a heavy sigh. Things were getting more complicated by the minute.

  David's voice was soft but firm when he spoke again. "I understand your frustration, Aiden. Truly, I do. But the reality is, you're already involved. The moment you returned, you were always going to get some level of attention. Soul-Sheer survivors always do. Clearing that dungeon solo the way you did, though? That's put you on everyone's radar in a big way." Rage boiled just under the surface, just a scratch away from exploding.

  "Fine, I'll play your games, but understand this, David." I took every ounce of rage and frustration I felt and I hammered it down until it was contained, harnessed. My anger would be my weapon, my arms and armour. My aura pressed down on everyone in the tent with the weight of my suppressed anger. "If this boils over, if your politics get anyone in my family hurt…" I trailed off for a moment, watching the strain on David's face under the weight of my aura pressing down on him. "Understand this, I will kill anyone who hurts my family, member of the Banner or not." Uncle Wolf and Carl were both breathing heavily through their noses, and veins stood out on their faces from the strain they were under.

  "I understand, Aiden." David ground out.

  I let my aura dissipate, the pressure in the tent easing as everyone took a deep breath. David straightened, smoothing down his jacket as he regained his composure. His eyes met mine, and I saw a flicker of something – respect, maybe even a hint of fear – before his professional mask slid back into place. I felt marginally better after my little outburst, not quite so angry and frayed, but I was also frustrated with myself for my momentary loss of control. I couldn't afford slip-ups like that any longer.

  "Your position is... noted, Aiden," David said carefully. "I assure you, protecting your family is a priority for us as well. But you must understand, the situation is delicate. Your actions have consequences beyond just yourself now."

  I felt Vipera's presence in my mind, her thoughts a mixture of pride and concern. She approved of my show of strength but worried about the strain I was feeling. She was doing her best from within me to keep me whole and balanced.

  Uncle Wolf cleared his throat, his voice gruff but steady. "Kid, I know this isn't what you wanted. But we're here to help you navigate this. You're not alone in this." He was worried. I'd seen the look on his face. No one in the family had realized the extent to which I had changed while I was away. Or how much of what was coming out was there before, but buried so deep it never saw the light of day.

  I nodded, some of the tension leaving my shoulders. "I appreciate that. But I need to know what I'm dealing with here. No more half-truths or political double-speak. What exactly am I up against?"

  David sighed. "For now, nothing. They've been rebuffed from the easy play of pulling you over to their side. For now, I'd recommend remaining neutral. As long as they think there's a chance of persuading you to come to their side, they'll play nicer, so to speak." David explained. "Carl will be your liaison with the Banner, that will keep things simple for us but muddied for them since you have an external relationship with Carl." David nodded to Uncle Wolf. There was some comfort with that. If Uncle Wolf was the only one I needed to deal with directly, that would make things easier. "These are old-money families, though, used to getting what they want. Playing neutral will only work for so long unless you have the strength to back it up. Which you seem well on your way to having."

  I mulled that over. At least that part seemed to line up with my own goals. "So the simple answer is get stronger as fast as possible." I grinned. "That I can actually do." Both Uncle Wolf and David were smiling now. "I am sorry for my outburst, David. Credit where credit is due, you seem to have dealt with me fairly so far."

  David nodded, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Apology accepted, Aiden. And I appreciate your candour. It's... refreshing, in its own way." I let out a small chuckle, feeling some of the remaining tension dissipate.

  "Well, I've never been one for subtlety. Especially not after..." I trailed off, memories of the Soul-Sheer flickering at the edges of my mind. I pushed them away, refocusing on the present.

  "So, what's our next move?" I asked, looking between David and Uncle Wolf. David straightened, his demeanour shifting back into a more professional mode.

  "For now, we need to process your dungeon clear and get you officially registered with the Banner. It's a formality, but an important one. It'll give you some measure of protection and resources."

  Uncle Wolf nodded in agreement. "It'll also help muddy the waters for those trying to figure out where you stand. The more ambiguous your position, the better, for now."

  "Let me finish getting the numbers in order, then we'll go from there." David turned back to the corner of the tent, tapping away at his tablet.

  —-

  After a few minutes, David returned with a tablet in hand.

  "Alright, Aiden. Based on our initial assessment, the total value of the crystals you've brought out, along with what Marlz and his team are working on currently, comes to approximately 1.2 million Canadian dollars. Your 40% share would be $480,000, plus the base fee of $50,000 for responding to the call. So your total payout for this dungeon clear would be $530,000."

  I blinked; everything in my mind ground to a halt in that moment. That was... a lot of money. Just the base fee was what I used to make in an entire year of work in my old warehouse job. A few hours spent clearing a dungeon was worth more than five times that amount. "That's... wow. Okay."

  David nodded, a small smirk on his face. "It's a substantial sum, but it reflects the danger and difficulty of what you accomplished. We like to make sure our people are well compensated for the risks they take on. We'll have the funds transferred to an account for you within 24 hours. Is there anything else you need from us before you go?"

  "A couple of small things, I'd hope you'll take care of the documentation side of things for me. I'm sure more than half a million dollars all at once would draw someone's attention. I was ever only a warehouse worker once upon a time ago. And I'd like some help with the whole returning form being missing thing." I said, suddenly very concerned about the amount of money in front of me. The CRA might not be as well-known as the IRS, but that didn't mean it was wise to mess with them. There was nothing more certain than death or taxes.

  "Neither of those is an issue; we work closely with the governments whose polities we reside in. Our own people all have flags on their accounts for those looking at them to… Look elsewhere. As for your time away, that is a non-issue we were already planning to handle that for you regardless." David explained off-hand, like he was on a different train of thought than the conversation.

  "I think that's all then," I said, glad to be at the end of this endeavour. I'd finally be able to go home and rest with at least a few dozen fewer questions plaguing my mind.

  "Well, not quite." A new voice sounded from the entrance of the tent. "I'd like to speak to Mr. Kaesor as well. If he is willing, that is?"