HIA Club.

This was mainly the daily service area for Hollow Investigators, but also served as the recruitment center for new members.

"Welcome to the Hollow Investigative Association. How can I help the two of you today?"

A red-haired, sultry beauty named Bertha greeted them with a smile.

When her eyes landed on Sol Mercer, her smile brightened noticeably.

It was the first time she'd seen someone this handsome.

"He's here to register with the Hollow Investigative Association."

Nicole subtly moved to stand between Sol Mercer and Bertha.

It really was dangerous out here—those seductive hussies always had their eyes on Sol Mercer.

"Oh?"

Bertha's eyes lit up with pleasant surprise.

She thought they were here to try out the [Combat Simulation Room]. She hadn't expected the pretty boy was here to join the Association.

"May I ask your Ether Aptitude score? Would you mind taking the test again?"

As she spoke, Bertha handed over an Ether Aptitude test strip.

"Ether Aptitude: 90 points."

Sol Mercer took the test strip from her and used it casually.

A few seconds later, the indicator liquid rose up the center and finally stopped at the deep red mark denoting 90 points.

"You're that prodigy with Ether Aptitude Score of 90 who went astray a few days ago!"

"Joining the Hollow Investigative Association today will be the wisest decision of your life!"

Bertha recognized him immediately from the test results and Nicole's presence.

The news about Sol Mercer's 90-point Ether Aptitude had already made waves on the Inter-Knot. Inside the Hollow Investigative Association, it had spread like wildfire.

An Ether Aptitude of 60 qualified someone to explore Hollows. At 80, you had ACE Investigator potential. At 90, you had Void Hunter Potential.

They'd regretted it deeply when Sol Mercer joined the Cunning Hares. But it wasn't too late for him to walk the right path.

"Hey! Who's gone astray?! I'm filing a complaint!"

Nicole slapped the glass table hard. "Sol Mercer is just here to register as a part-timer, got it?!"

"Well, that's a real pity."

Bertha handed Sol Mercer a registration form, lightly brushing his palm with her finger. "If you ever feel like coming over to the light, come find big sis anytime."

"If you go full-time with the Association, you'll receive top-tier training and plenty of extra benefits."

She emphasized the word "benefits" suggestively—as if hinting at something more.

A guy this good-looking? She wouldn't mind offering herself.

"No need. I'm not considering that right now."

Sol Mercer took the registration form back and declined.

Clearly, guys had to know how to protect themselves when going out, too.

"Then I'll help you complete the registration."

Bertha wasn't discouraged and smiled brightly. "Even part-timers are welcome at the Hollow Investigative Association."

With Bertha's efficient assistance, Sol Mercer completed his registration and officially became a proud Trainee Investigator.

The ranks went from Trainee to Full Investigator, then Senior Investigator, Elite Investigator, and finally the coveted ACE Investigator.

"Now that you're officially registered, is there any task you'd like to take on?"

Bertha handed Sol Mercer a tablet filled with various mission listings.

Rescue trapped personnel inside Hollows, retrieve lost materials, investigate changes in Hollow structures, routine Ethereal extermination...

All kinds of missions were available, with reasonable rewards.

Sol Mercer scanned briefly, then slid the interface to the most difficult tier.

Clear Cretan Original Hollow, Clear Hawara Original Hollow, Clear Lemnian Hollow in Seventeenth Street...

Among the dozens of Hollow-clearing missions, Sol Mercer locked onto one: Clear Cretan Companion Hollow in Fourteenth Street.

[Mission Target: Completely clear the Cretan Companion Hollow located in Fourteenth Street]

[Mission Difficulty: Extremely Hard]

[Recommended Rank: ACE Investigator]

[Mission Reward: 10 billion Dennies, 100,000 Performance Points, 100,000 Merit Points (Performance Points upgrade Investigator Rank; Merit Points redeem internal resources)]

100,000 Performance Points—enough to promote a Trainee directly to ACE Investigator.

100,000 Merit Points—worth more than 10 billion Dennies in actual value.

[Note: This mission is jointly issued by New Eridu Metropolitan Administration, Hollow Investigative Association, Public Security, and the Defense Force. Negligence will be severely punished.]

Sol Mercer pointed at the mission and told Bertha, "I'll take this one."

"Hmm!?" Bertha looked where he pointed and was completely stunned. "Did you... pick the wrong one?"

That was a Hollow-clearing mission. The Association only kept those posted for PR purposes, to show their commitment to defending New Eridu.

Since these missions were published, only a few Elite Investigators had dared to take them—hoping to replicate Chairman Joyce's legend.

And then... nothing.

Most gave up and took the penalty for mission abandonment. (Forced to complete three Hard-level missions without refusal, with rewards halved.)

The rest died in the Hollow. Maybe some of them were now part of the new higher-tier Ethereals.

Now Sol Mercer wanted to accept this mission? Bertha couldn't imagine any other explanation besides a mistake.

"I didn't choose wrong. I fully understand the consequences."

Sol Mercer looked into Bertha's eyes and said seriously, "I'm taking the task to clear the Cretan Companion Hollow in Fourteenth Street."

Hearing that, Bertha's expression turned solemn. "Trainee Investigator Sol Mercer, you've accepted a top-tier mission far above your rank. If you abandon it midway, it will be considered mockery of the Hollow Investigative Association and be punished severely. There's still time to withdraw."

In the Association, giving up a mission normally incurred light penalties.

But mocking the Association? Nobody wanted to face those consequences.

"I am fully aware of all consequences. I accept this mission."

Sol Mercer confirmed a second time.

"Understood." Bertha looked straight at him. "You've taken the mission. After approval by the higher-ups, real-time map data of the Cretan Companion Hollow in Fourteenth Street will be uploaded to you."

These missions carried heavy penalties precisely because of the real-time Hollow maps, known on the Inter-Knot as Carrots.

An official, real-time map was immensely valuable. Selling it on the black market or exploiting it yourself could earn a fortune.

That's why some Investigators had taken risks. And the Hollow Investigative Association had made examples of them without mercy.

Sol Mercer asked, "Before the official map is available, I'm free to act using private connections, right?"

Bertha blinked.

Private connections… that meant working with a Proxy?

He's this eager to clear a Hollow...?

Still, the Association didn't restrict that. Many Investigators had their own channels.

Bertha: "Of course. Just ensure your own safety."

"Then we'll be off."

With everything confirmed, Sol Mercer and Nicole turned and left.

Watching Sol Mercer's departing figure, Bertha found him very interesting.

So confident. Maybe... he really can pull it off.

As she pondered, Bertha sent Sol Mercer's registration info and the accepted mission to the upper management's inbox.

At the same time, many Hollow Investigators browsing the task board were stunned—

The long-untouched Hollow-clearing mission had finally been taken again.

And the one who took it... was just a Trainee Investigator.

"What is this madness!?"

Immediately, the news caused a massive stir across the entire Hollow Investigative Association—and quickly spread across the Inter-Knot.