CHAPTER 42: REWARDS FROM THE COMMANDER (1)

Next day, Ash and Jessie entered the Government building. Unlike last time, there was a rush of rankers; the training hall in the backyard was also empty.

People were running around with files in their hands.

Liam looked up as they entered his cabin, where he was busy preparing some documents.

"What’s happening? Why is everyone in a rush?" Ash asked curiously.

"Oh, nice, you two came—go and help others arrange the files." He pressed the bell on his desk, and a girl wearing fitted clothes entered.

"Take their help."

The girl nodded, leading them to a separate room filled with racks coated in dust. It was a large hall, and as far as Ash could see, there were only papers and books.

Many people were trying to arrange them in some sort of pattern.

"Pick whichever rack you find untouched and start arranging them in time order," the girl said before leaving them in the room. The smell of dust made them feel dizzy... it took some time to adjust to the environment.

Ash looked toward Jessie, confused, only to be shrugged off.

He went through racks divided by ranks, files piled with no order. A date was mentioned on the front page along with the title of the information.

"D-rank dungeon break outside the walls," Ash read a title.

Looking around and sensing the urgency in their movements, he also started arranging them in order—from oldest to newest.

It was hefty and time-consuming work. Jessie was absorbed in another rack slightly away from him.

After hours of work, he finally finished arranging the files. Others also seemed to have completed their tasks.

He barely had taken a breath when a man entered, his voice loud. Wearing the same outfit, but Ash instantly knew it was a captain—one rank above officer.

"Come out and act decent, any lackluster behavior won’t be tolerated."

Everyone rushed out of the room, some starting their training while others went for sparring.

Ash and Jessie also followed the crowd into the training hall, where rankers were striking mannequins that displayed a number representing their attack power.

Through the gate, Ash saw several vans and armored cars stopping in front of the building.

The captain and officers stood there, welcoming them inside. A scarred man walked in with confidence, barking orders.

Ash couldn’t decipher what they were talking about.

He felt a tap on his shoulder—"Mind sparring with me?" Jessie said, grabbing a sword from the side.

"Are you crazy—you’ll burn me alive with fire," he said, shifting.

Well, it was true to some extent—he had no way to defend against a fireball or any magic spell except by evading or killing the mage before they finished casting.

But the reverse was also true. If he ignored Jessie’s special armor, then she had no way of defending against a close-rank attack. Maybe a shield spell could help her in the future.

Someone might think he was overpowered with his guns, but every profession had its downside.

"I mean a physical fight with no skills involved," Jessie scoffed.

Jessie grabbed a sword and shifted it in her hand with forced confidence.

"Come on, Ash. Don’t tell me you’re scared."

Ash snorted, pulling a short blade from the rack. "Scared? No. But you’ll regret swinging that toy around."

She planted her feet and raised the sword, her stance full of openings. Ash noticed instantly, but instead of rushing, he circled her, testing her patience. Jessie snapped first—lunging with a horizontal slash aimed at his chest.

"Too straight."

Ash twisted sideways, letting the blade whistle past his shirt, and in the same motion, he flicked his dagger upward, the flat grazing her chin. Jessie stumbled but quickly recovered, spinning into another strike.

This time, her sword came faster, heavier—her frustration adding momentum. Ash blocked it with his short blade, their weapons clashing with a sharp crack. For a moment she thought she had forced him back—until his foot hooked behind her ankle.

Jessie’s balance faltered. In a blink, the cold edge of his blade rested against her neck.

"You’re dead," Ash said simply, stepping back.

Jessie lowered her sword, cheeks flushed red. "Huh. You fight dirty."

He smirked. "No. I fight to win. And if you keep swinging with all your momentum in one strike, anyone half-competent will use it against you."

She clenched her fists. "Wanna test something hot?" she said, a flame resting in her hand.

Ash just chuckled, sheathing the blade. "Next time. We’ll see... maybe you’ll want to be my student."

"Ash and Jessie!" a loud voice called.

Ash looked toward the gate, where the captain stood, brows furrowed.

"Come with me."

Jessie and Ash exchanged a glance, then left the weapons down and followed the captain.

"Don’t overact. The commander wants to meet you. Do not mess things up—if you already haven’t," he said, pushing them into a cabin.

Inside, the atmosphere was different from the dusty hall or noisy training. It was placid, documents neatly arranged.

Two men sat behind the desk, chatting comfortably. Ash recognized the first with the scarred face as the commander. His presence alone demanded respect, while the other was a middle-aged man who looked ordinary.

Too ordinary—so much so that he was non-existent to Ash’s intuition, as if he didn’t exist at all.

Ash didn’t notice Jessie’s reaction, but she wore a faint smile, her eyes fixed on the middle-aged man.

"So, we meet again," the commander said in a calm voice, though the weight of his words could be felt.

"We checked the dungeon you both cleared—and I’m impressed that you managed to finish it in time," the commander continued, coming straight to the point.

Jessie and Ash stood silent, respecting his post and authority.

"It was a new type of dungeon that we classified as an evolving dungeon—its level keeps increasing with time. If you hadn’t cleared it, it would have reached A-rank by now. That aside...

The government always rewards the brave, and since I’m here, why not do it with my own hands? You may ask for something you need.

But be careful what you ask for—many have ruined themselves by being greedy."

The commander’s voice carried both generosity and warning.