Dungeon Raider System

The celebrations ended on a happy note as the megacity of Madrid had acquired hundreds of new hunters without the need to even set foot outside the city. As usual, most of the new hunters became evolved, but the number of those who became heavenly rank was surprisingly high which made their new festivity more than worth the risk and effort.

The only problem that came after was that the army alone couldn't handle so many new hunters and the Cryptid hunting agency was summoned to help in the tagging process. Something like that was highly unusual, but it could be easily explained by the army's low presence in the area.

After all, although the war against cryptids was being fought in all the world, the biggest war front was taking place in America and that is precisely why most of their resources were allocated in said continent.

But politics weren't of Uriel's interests, at least not modern politics and especially not now that he had bigger concerns. Namely, getting paid for his services. He knew that counting the cryptids while they were alive and kicking was bound to be impossible as their numbers were too big, but once killed their flux orbs would let them know their numbers in the most accurate way.

When the celebration finally ended and the flux orb count was made, Uriel was please to receive the news that over five hundred cryptids had been slain. If the reward for their flux orbs alone was big, he was bound to get at least ten times that amount for bringing them alive.

He wasn't a broke student anymore, but that amount of money was more than he had ever seen in his life and would take his company to the next level. Just thinking of what artifacts he would be able to buy from his Auction ability made him water at the mouth.

On the other hand, Luna rejoiced at the possibility of buying a magnetic resonance machine that would allow her to study the bodies of her patients, or test subjects as she liked to call them. The thought of where she would set a machine like that, how to transport it or even where to buy it didn't even cross her mind and she could already picture herself making ground breaking discoveries made possible by such device.

Nika, instead, attempted to calculate how many beers she would be able to buy with that money but when Uriel revealed the amount of zeros their check was bound to have she couldn't compute the amount. It was the kind of number that she didn't even know how to spell, which said a lot considering how she used to work at the Mapple corp and had met some of the wealthiest people on the planet. Because of that, she settled with dreaming that she would be able to get drunk all day for the rest of her life with that money, disregarding the fact that it wasn't her money to spend in the first place or that they had yet to receive it.

At first Uriel had no doubt they would be paid in full, but now he was starting to question whether or not things would be as easy considering how that amount of money was bound to take a chunk of an entire city's budget. With this in mind, he had come to terms with the fact that they would need to compromise and reach an agreement that would make things easier.

'It's a bit disappointing, but that's reality.' He inwardly thought as he let out a deep sigh before entering the governor's office.

"Mister Sage, I'm so thankful for what you did for our city! This is even better than I could have ever anticipated." The governor spoke with such emotion that didn't let out any concern, which should have put Uriel at ease, but instead made him wonder if the numbers had reached the governor's ear.

"About the payment..." Uriel attempted to speak, but he was cut short by the governor.

"Of course, we'll take care of that right now, but I'm afraid such a large sum can't be wired up." The governor shrugged.

"Here we go." Nika said as she cracked her fingers getting ready to beat some sense into the sneaky governor. Her demeanor changed as soon as the governor continued speaking.

"Which is why I would appreciate it if you accepted some of the payment in the form of artifacts. Of course, we would also provide you a means of transportation."

Nika took a quick glance at Uriel, expecting him to look disappointed but the crooked smile in his face was the closest she had ever seen to a gleeful expression on his face.

"We'll take it." Uriel said after composing himself and proceeded to follow the governor who led them to an elevator that took them to the underground floors.

"This palace was renovated several times over the years. This basement used to be used for storage, then it became a bunker and now it's more of a vault. Since it's a secure place I'll ask you to leave all your weapons here, you will be allowed to retrieve them after our deal is done." He spoke as they walked through lavish halls that seemed to be even more luxurious than the rest of the palace, then took them to a security stand where their weapons were seized.

The flux signature that came off from the paintings made Luna feel unease, a feeling Nika shared but for an entirely different reason. She didn't wearing revealing clothes in the slightest, but without a pistol on her thigh she felt completely naked in front of people and having all her weapons stripped form her didn't bode well for her. For Uriel, instead, the fact that they went through such security measures was the sign of good things to come. Or that is what he thought until they passed a seemingly ordinary statue that drew Uriel's attention.

"This level of detail is magnificent, but I can't point out what period is this." He mumbled.

"All statues look the same to me, but this at least is anatomically correct." Luna added, then it was Nika's turn.

"This does look familiar... I think I know this guy." Nika said, prompting Uriel to laugh at her.

"Don't be silly, it's a sculpture. You can't possibly know him, unless..." Uriel's thoughts didn't have the time to catch up with what he was about to mindlessly say, but the governor confirmed the suspicions he didn't know he had.

"Yes, he used to be our holy rank hunter. Now, thanks to your friends he's nothing but a worthless piece of stone." The governor's amicable tone turned bitter and his voice became a raspy growl which made Nika's suspicions to be back on the table.

"Then why did you bring us here if you had no intention of paying us." She asked after cracking her knuckles once more, this time sure that blood will be spilled.

"Don't get me wrong, I do intend to go through with my word. You will get what you deserve, I even made sure the transportation I offered was made ready for you." The governor whistled and another elevator was open revealing a car with its headlights on.

"Oh, a funerary car... I get it," Uriel let out a chuckle. "I actually like that model and it's spacious enough for a few artifacts."

"Traveling on horseback is tiresome." Luna nodded.

"You won't need to worry about your travels anymore, this is as far as you get. I went through the trouble of hiring the strongest hunting party I could find and their qualifications are undefeated. I even checked their ranking in the Cryptid hunting agency and they're above your entire company." The moment the governor finished his sentence a group of hunters rushed in wearing their full gear and intermediate weapons. They had the professional look only seasoned hunters would acquire through extensive training and dire experiences. They were also heavenly rank hunters with an impeccable record, but more importantly, Uriel knew those people.

"You again?" Uriel asked in annoyance, then buried his face in his palms in what the governor took as a sign of surrender.

"That's it, cry all you want, they won't have mercy. Show them!" The governor snarled with a shit eating grin, but the Defenders didn't move.

"Fuck, no. No matter how much you're paying, we're not dealing with this." Cursing was uncharacteristic of the noble leader of the Defenders, but it was the only way she could express just how dead serious she was.

"I'll double it, just kill them already!" The governor started sweating buckets as he took a couple steps back, only to corner himself into a wall.

"It's just not possible, even if we wanted to, which by the way we do not." Hazel insisted.

"But you are more and they're unarmed!"

"No, they're not." Hazel glared at the governor who now had to do a double take when he saw Uriel wielding a pistol in one hand and a pistol on the other; Nika in firing position with her Peacemaker and Luna with her orichalcum claws.

"Okay, now I need to know, where the hell did you take those from!?" Uriel asked Luna who nonchalantly replied as she lowered her underarmor enough for Uriel to see a bountiful sight.

"From my bra."