CHAPTER 41: [TRAINING FACILITY]

"Act natural. Smile. You’re a guest," Arman whispered, voice low and casual, but the pressure of his hand on Eli’s back said otherwise.

The moment the heavy doors of the so-called detention room opened, Eli found himself blinking into bright, open space. And for a split second, his brain lagged.

Until it hit him.

’Wait... this is... the Lion’s Fang Guild?’

He vaguely remembered Caelen saying something along those lines, but the words had flown right past him earlier. Now, though, reality was sinking in.

He was inside their guild.

Eli’s confusion and nerves multiplied as they stepped into the large hall. It was grand—modern, pristine, buzzing with activity.

Hunters—some dressed in uniforms, others in casual wear—strolled through the wide corridors, chatting about raids, monsters, gear upgrades.

The moment he and Caelen’s team stepped into view, heads began to turn.

Lots of heads.

Arman and Punzo were still walking on either side of him—not dragging him, not gripping too tightly—but it was clear they were making sure he didn’t bolt.

Eli forced a smile on his lips, remembering Arman’s warning. And he could feel Caelen behind him.

Watching his every move.

Meanwhile, Jabby walked ahead like this was a fun group stroll, waving and grinning at familiar faces.

From the moment they stepped out, whispers began trickling in.

"Oh... isn’t that him...?"

"It is! That’s Elione, right?"

"Do you think he’s going to join Lion’s Fang?"

"Isn’t he a friend of... he-who-shall-not-be-named?"

"Why is he with Caelen now?"

Some of the voices sounded impressed. Others suspicious.

All of them curious.

But just as the weight of attention began pressing down on Eli’s shoulders, the focus shifted—like a sudden change in the wind.

"Oh my god, Caelen looks so hot right now."

"God. What I’d give for Caelen to be my captain."

"Punzo and Arman are looking scrumptious as ever."

"Ohhh, one night with Jabby, please..."

Typical fangirl and fanboy noise—starstruck and hungry for gossip.

"Looks like someone’s popular," Punzo murmured with a smirk, leaning toward Eli.

Eli kept his smile, replying in a low voice, "You guys are popular. I just happened to go viral."

"Are you kidding? You’re a famous vlogger," Jabby piped up without turning around, "and the son of one of the richest men in Korenea. You’re seriously downplaying yourself. I’m shocked you haven’t called Daddy to rescue you yet."

"I don’t have my phone," Eli replied dryly.

That earned soft chuckles from both Arman and Punzo.

"What?"

"Nothing," Arman said, still grinning. "It’s just... you really are different from what your file said."

’What was in Elione’s file...?’ Eli wondered. He remembered how surprised Elione’s parents looked when he didn’t throw a fit back at the hospital.

Maybe that said a lot.

He wanted to ask, but he was even more curious about something else.

’Where are they taking me?’

They entered a sleek glass elevator with a soft chime. The view outside showed just how high up they already were—hundreds of feet above Korenea.

Caelen stepped in last, moving to the front of the elevator. He reached forward and pressed the button for the top floor.

’A test run? What does that even mean?’ Eli frowned, staring at Caelen’s back.

Beside him, the conversation resumed.

"By the way, Caelen," Arman spoke up casually, "any updates on when the next dungeon’s opening?"

"Yeah," Punzo chimed in. "Can’t wait for just us to handle the raids. God, I know Talia must be pissed."

Talia.

That name was very familiar. She was an S-Class hunter too. And a famous model, if Eli was correct about who he thinks they’re talking about.

’Do they hate Talia?’ he thought, brows twitching.

Also—what did they mean by "just them"?

"We’re waiting," Caelen replied evenly, hands resting in his coat pockets. "So far, no S-Class dungeons have appeared. If one opens, we alternate with Twilight. If two open at once, we go at the same time."

Eli, half-listening, half-worrying, blurted out the first thought that came to mind.

"What about the bidding?"

The elevator fell into a hush.

Caelen turned his head slightly.

Eli’s eyes widened the moment the words left his mouth.

’Shit.’

He hadn’t meant to say it aloud. It had just slipped.

And now every single member of Caelen’s team was watching him again.

Ding.

A soft mechanical chime echoed inside the elevator.

[SYSTEM WARNING]

Target’s wariness is rising.

Once it reaches 100%, your mission will be considered a fail.

Current wariness level: 95%

’What?! Why is he even THAT wary of me? Just because I helped Kairo?! And because I asked a question?!’ Eli clenched his jaw, biting down on the inside of his cheek to stop himself from reacting outwardly.

It was completely unfair.

Caelen was the one acting suspicious.

He was the one who kidnapped someone, threw a dagger at their face, and threatened them like it was just another Tuesday.

And now he was the one getting wary?

’He’s wary of me because of his rivalry with Kairo? What’s there to be wary about? Look at my face!’ Eli mentally pointed at his reflection on the sleek elevator wall. ’This face is the picture of innocence!’

Elione’s soft features, dewy skin, big yellow eyes—he looked like a damn porcelain doll.

’I look like I couldn’t hurt a fly.’

And yet here he was, one wrong breath away from a system penalty.

’Besides, they were the ones talking about it in front of me!’ Eli added bitterly, watching the numbers above the elevator tick closer to the top floor. ’Why am I the bad one for being naturally curious?!’

The tension was suffocating.

No one was speaking.

Even the usual hum of conversation that came from the team had faded into stone-cold silence.

And then—

The elevator doors slid open with a smooth hiss.

Bright light flooded in, and Eli squinted—

His breath hitched.

’This is...’

The clash of weapons rang out in sharp, rhythmic patterns. The low grunt of someone lifting heavy weights. The whoosh of abilities cutting through air. The scent of sweat and clean metal.

’...Their training facility?’

He followed after Caelen, stepping out slowly, instinctively scanning the area.

And what a sight it was.

Eli’s eyes widened with every step. It was larger than he’d imagined—even after watching the Lion’s Fang documentary four separate times.

Massive, sleek, and sparkling with state-of-the-art tech, the facility was a mechanical beast of its own.

Panels lined the walls with status readouts. Holograms flickered.

Simulated monsters—detailed and lifelike—moved in choreographed battles with live hunters who dodged and countered with speed and precision.

A glass floor sectioned off an area for physical testing, where real-time vitals pulsed across translucent screens.

Further in, he could spot recovery lounges, a high-pressure aquatic chamber—a damn pool—and even a digital weapons forge glowing in the corner.

Everything was gleaming, elite, and terrifyingly advanced.

’No wonder it’s the biggest facility in Korenea...’ Eli thought. ’Only Twilight’s comes close.’

As they moved deeper inside, heads turned. Staff members dressed in professional athletic uniforms gave small bows and greetings.

One in particular—a stunning woman holding a sleek tablet—stepped forward.

"Good afternoon, Sir Caelen," she said with a smile that could melt steel. "Here to train?"

Caelen gave her one of his signature warm smiles, and the switch was almost dizzying—charming, princely, gracious.

Like his entire personality had changed the moment others were watching.

’Now he’s the nation’s prince,’ Eli thought dryly. ’Kind, approachable, radiant. He should win an award for best double personality.’

"Yes," Caelen replied smoothly. "Please clear out the simulation room."

The woman nodded. "I assume it’s for you and your team?"

Caelen turned slightly, the corner of his mouth twitching upward as his gaze slid to Eli.

"No," he said, his tone calm and deliberate. "It’s for me and him."

Eli blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

’What?’