CHAPTER 47: [THE A-CLASS GATE]

Of course, the crowd erupted the instant Caelen appeared.

They always did.

He was the Nation’s Prince, after all—one of the two number one–ranked S-Class hunters in all of Korenea. His name alone could command the attention of an entire city, and in person, his presence was magnetic in a way that seemed to pull people in without effort.

Cameras fought for angles, microphones stretched forward, and the sheer weight of attention seemed to bend toward him like gravity.

Eli might have been in awe too, if he hadn’t already seen past the perfect smile.

He knew now that behind that immaculate, princely façade was a man who was cocky, winning-obsessed, and relentless when he set his sights on something.

The barricades rattled as paparazzi surged forward, their voices clashing into a chaotic wall of noise.

"Sir Caelen, why are you suddenly doing an A-Class gate?!"

"Is this related to the tears?!"

"Lion’s Fang Guild is still under fire—especially your team—for being responsible for an S-Class dungeon’s explosion!"

"What’s your goal for this raid?!"

"Why did you take this gate from fellow Lion’s Fang member, Jack Hoffman, and his team?!"

The questions came rapid and sharp, like arrows fired in quick succession.

Caelen didn’t flinch. He didn’t even slow down. His stride was unhurried, the picture of control, his smile warm enough to soften the edges of even the most hostile reporter’s tone.

He made eye contact just long enough to make each person feel acknowledged, then moved on—like a seasoned performer working his stage.

Beside Eli, Punzo let out a short laugh. "Bet you anything he’s annoyed as hell right now."

"Mmhm," Jabby agreed, smirking faintly. "He hates paparazzi. But damn if he doesn’t know how to put on a show."

’I always thought he loved being in the limelight.’

Eli glanced back outside, watching Caelen’s easy stride, his smooth nods, and how not a single twitch of his face betrayed irritation.

’If he’s only pretending, then he’s good. Almost too good. What’s he going to say?’

Eli assumed Caelen would fall back on some safe, throwaway excuse—training, scouting, "investigating."

Finally, Caelen stopped just short of the gate. That perfect smile never wavered as his voice lifted over the noise, smooth and clear.

"I’m here," he began, "because I have my eyes set on a hunter. A very promising hunter."

Eli’s head snapped up. ’Wait—what?’

"I intend to use this A-Class gate," Caelen continued, "to test whether this hunter would be the right fit for my team."

The crowd exploded.

"Who is it?!"

"Why now?!"

"Caelen, you’ve never added anyone to your team in years!"

"This is very exciting news, but why an A-Class gate?" one reporter yelled over the rest.

"Well, that’s because this certain hunter is a B-Class hunter," Caelen answered.

Arman, standing beside him, raised an eyebrow at that.

The crowd noise doubled.

"A B-Class?!"

"Caelen, are you serious?"

"A B-Class hunter working with the strongest team of hunters?!"

Even the security guards manning the barricades looked intrigued, glancing at each other.

Jabby laughed quietly beside Eli. "Welp. Guess you’ve got no escape now, pretty boy."

"Didn’t think your face could get any paler, Elione," Punzo added, grinning.

But Eli wasn’t laughing.

Well... maybe he should be.

He should want this, right?

Caelen was one of the two targets Eli needed to get closer to in order to get his body back, but... why was he dreading it?

"In fact, he’s inside the car right now."

Every head turned toward their SUV as Caelen gestured at it, cameras immediately swiveling like predators catching the scent of prey. "Come on out."

"That’s your cue," Jabby said, already grabbing the handle. "You ready to face the cameras?"

"No," Eli replied without hesitation.

"Oh, come on. As the son of one of the richest men in Korenea—and considering you’re a vlogger—you should be used to this," Punzo teased.

No. Elione was used to this. Eli wasn’t.

He wasn’t used to so many eyes, so much focus, all at once—let alone the sharp, hungry interest of the media.

Punzo flashed him a toothy grin, then pulled the door open. Sunlight and sound crashed into the car like a physical force. Cameras flashed in rapid bursts. Voices rose in a wave of eager speculation.

"Hello, everyone! Please make some room for us," Punzo called out, his voice cutting above the din.

Jabby inhaled slowly, bracing herself, before slipping out as well.

Eli followed Jabby’s lead, pulling in a steadying breath—once, twice—before stepping forward. His foot hit the pavement, and the reaction was immediate.

A ripple of gasps swept through the crowd. The noise dimmed into a hush, as if someone had turned the volume down on the world, leaving only the low buzz of voices trading whispers.

"Isn’t that...?"

"That’s the hunter from the viral video, right?"

"Are you kidding? How could you not know him? That’s Elione Noa Ahn."

"Elione Noa Ahn... you mean...?"

Phones and cameras angled sharply toward him, eager to catch every detail.

With Jabby flanking his left and Punzo on his right, Eli walked forward under the weight of dozens of curious eyes.

The press of attention was stifling, but up ahead, Caelen’s smile cut through the tension—radiant, poised, and aimed entirely at him.

"There he is," Caelen announced, extending a hand toward him.

’Does he want me to take his hand...?’

It seemed like he did. Hesitantly, Eli placed his hand in Caelen’s. The grip was firm, confident, and before Eli could pull back, Caelen drew him in, his arm sliding around Eli’s shoulders like they were already a team.

The crowd erupted.

"Caelen, isn’t this the hunter seen with Kairo?"

"Elione, you went viral for helping S-Class hunter Kairo, but now you’re applying for Caelen? Why is that?"

"Elione, how does your father feel about you joining a guild?"

The questions came rapid-fire, flashes popping in his peripheral vision. Eli’s gaze darted from one face to another, his pulse quickening with every step.

Caelen’s arm tightened slightly around him, grounding him in place. "He’s currently overwhelmed by the amount of questions," Caelen said smoothly, his voice carrying over the noise. "As much as we’d like to answer, time is of the essence. We still have to enter the A-Class gate for his test."

A voice cut in from the side, sharp with accusation. "So you took our gate just to test out the hunter that was seen with Kairo?" He asks. "A bit petty, don’t you think?"

Eli’s eyes tracked the source—broad-shouldered, geared up, face tight with irritation. Jack Hoffman.

Caelen turned his head toward him, still smiling, but his tone was matter-of-fact. "His abilities don’t seem to work on simulations. The Guild Master figured that, considering hunter Elione’s skill as a support, the best way to test him was inside an A-Class gate."

"That wasn’t my question though." Jack’s voice carried just enough edge to draw the attention of nearby reporters, their cameras swiveling toward him like vultures scenting drama.

’Well, it’s obvious now who probably called all these reporters.’ Eli thought. Jack Hoffman looked very bitter about losing this gate.

"What’s that supposed to mean?" Arman’s voice cut in, low and sharp. He stepped forward, closing the space between them with deliberate weight. "Please respect the decision and return to the guild, Jack."

"All I’m saying is—"

"Jack, come on." A young woman in hunter gear gripped his arm, tugging insistently. "We have to go."

Jack didn’t move. His glare stayed locked on Caelen, jaw tight. Around them, the reporters leaned in, the air thick with anticipation of a confrontation.

Caelen’s grip on Eli tightened again, just enough to make Eli wince.

But Caelen only chuckled—light, almost amused, though the sound didn’t reach his eyes.

"I know what it may seem like," he began smoothly, turning back toward the swarm of microphones and cameras, "that I just took the hunter who was recently with Kairo. However..."

His tone dipped, deliberate, his words threading through the noise until the crowd quieted enough to hear him clearly. "Anyone who saw that video could see how impressive Elione was during the fight with the ogres."

He stepped half a pace closer to Eli, the movement casual, practiced for effect. "Sure, to non-hunters—or maybe to mediocre hunters’ perspective—perhaps Elione was just there. However..."

He let the word hang, gaze sweeping the press before finally lowering it to Eli with a smile so flawlessly crafted it almost sparkled... but Eli could tell it was fake.

"...if you looked closely, he," Caelen continued, squeezing Eli’s shoulder just enough for the cameras to notice, "...was actually directing that fight. Anyone with the right mind would try to recruit Elione. And since Twilight didn’t recruit him, why should I pass up the opportunity to have such an exceptional hunter? Right?"

’He wants me to answer.’

"Y-Yes... right, anyone would feel very honored to be recruited by the one and only Caelen himself." Eli forced out the words, polite, his own attempt at a smile barely holding.

"Right." Caelen’s agreement was quick, final, before his attention shifted toward Jack. "So, we understand you’re frustrated about getting your gate taken, but A-Class gates appear all the time. And besides, didn’t the last time you went on a raid, you fail to clear it?"

Punzo’s arms were crossed, his stance solid as stone. Jabby giggles. The barb landed.

Jack’s expression darkened instantly—his jaw clenched, nostrils flaring.

For a second, Eli thought he might actually lunge forward. But before the tension could snap, the woman at his side moved fast, looping her arm around his and forcing a bright, nervous smile at the press.

"Of course! We don’t mind at all!" she said quickly, tugging him back a step. "Jack’s just a tiny bit frustrated, that’s all. He didn’t... mean any harm."

Jack didn’t respond, but the muscle in his jaw twitched as he finally let her lead him away.

Eli exhaled quietly in relief. It seemed Jack wasn’t going to push further—but it also seemed he knew exactly what kind of man Caelen really was, and he’d been seconds away from letting the whole crowd see it.

’I wonder what’s the history with that one.’

As soon as Jack disappeared into the crowd, Caelen’s arm slid away from Eli’s shoulders. "Well," Caelen said, tone brisk, "since that’s been settled... Elione and I will now go inside the gate." He turned without waiting for comment, his gaze fixed forward on the shimmering portal.

Eli blinked.

Caelen’s team blinked.

Even the reporters hesitated, some lowering their cameras in confusion.

"Eh... just you and Elione?" Arman finally asked, brows raised.