After the ship was cleared, the monitoring team swiftly moved in to salvage any alien tech and prepare to close the portal permanently. This was a crucial step, one that the hunters could only watch from the sidelines. They were spent, their bodies still recovering from the ordeal, and the poison that had almost claimed their lives.
Axel stood silently, a severe expression etched on his face as he observed the proceedings. He felt a burning rage as he glanced at Military Head Kurtly, the man who had interrogated him not too long ago, and at President Seo Jinhyuk, who stood beside him.
Captain Rowin and the others, still weak from the poison, glared at Kurtly with undisguised contempt. The effects of the toxin had begun to fade only after they exited the ship and breathed in the fresh air. If not for Axel, they might have never made it out alive.
"Congratulations on proving yourself and clearing the ship," President Seo Jinhyuk praised, though his words were lost on Axel, who focused only on Kurtly, whose face reddened with rage.
Axel wasn't interested in waiting for Kurtly's next move. He stepped forward, closing the distance between them in a heartbeat, his voice low and threatening. "Next time you send people after me, I'll make sure to send you to hell to accompany them!"
Kurtly didn't flinch. A seasoned military head, he was used to threats, accustomed to enemies who wanted him dead. He simply scoffed, turned around, and walked away.
"Next time, I won't fail," Kurtly muttered under his breath, loud enough for Axel to hear. The blatant dismissal stoked the fire within Axel, but he knew there was nothing he could do without evidence. Laws were still murky when it came to alien portals, and Kurtly's actions would go unpunished.
Axel seethed, his fists clenched. Watching Kurtly walk away without consequence was maddening.
"Don't focus too much on him," President Seo Jinhyuk's voice broke through Axel's fury. He sounded more amiable now, far different from the interrogator Axel had faced before. "You've earned your reward for clearing the portal."
Axel turned to face him, trying to suppress his anger.
"All of you will receive the standard payment, with an additional two hundred Kyotas, making it a total of three hundred thousand," the President continued. "But Axel, I believe you deserve more than just a small payment. I'm promoting you to B-Rank."
Meanwhile, Axel sat on a public bus, his head resting against the window as the city streets blurred by. He felt lighter, more hopeful than he had in a long time. The promotion to B-Rank had changed everything. It was as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
Ping!
His phone vibrated in his pocket, pulling him from his thoughts. A bank alert. Axel's heart raced as he pulled out his phone, suddenly reminded that he hadn't yet confirmed his payment. Would it reflect the new B-Rank status, or would it still be the old E-Rank amount? His mind raced as he opened the banking app and scrolled to his account balance.
His jaw dropped when he saw the number.
"What the hell... One million Kyotas!"
Axel stared at the screen in disbelief. One million Kyotas. It was more money than he had ever seen in his life, more than he had ever thought possible. His hands trembled as he tried to comprehend what this meant. The possibilities, the doors this could open—it was overwhelming.
As the bus continued down the road, Axel's mind buzzed with thoughts of how much his newfound wealth would support his family's needs. He had a ton of things he could already suggest were needed.
But as thrilling as they were, for now, he allowed himself a moment of peace, a moment to savor the victory. Whatever lay ahead, he would face it. He had to. There was no turning back now.
***Author's note***
Thanks you for purchasing privilege. I'll be editing the other chapters sooner than you know it.
The same begging for today too. Please I need your support for this novel, magic castle to boost the book if you believe it's worth it. Thaks