Solo Leveling: Infinite Talent

Mai Lee studied Kaito with a careful gaze, his body still primed for battle. The scent of blood lingered in the air, and the dungeon walls pulsed faintly, as if the place itself had not yet settled after the chaos.

"An offer?" Mai asked, his tone neutral. "You do realize we're still in a dungeon, right? Not exactly the best place for negotiations."

Kaito chuckled, slipping his hands into the pockets of his hunter gear. "That's exactly why I came here. I had to see it for myself. One guy tearing through an A-rank dungeon solo? That kind of feat doesn't go unnoticed."

Mai remained silent, watching him carefully. If Kaito truly was an S-rank hunter, then underestimating him would be a mistake. Even though Mai's abilities had grown exponentially, he had no intention of picking a fight unless necessary.

Kaito took a step closer, the smirk still lingering on his lips. "You've got talent, kid. More than just talent—you're unnatural. And that means you'll have a lot of eyes on you soon, some of them friendly, some… not so much."

Mai folded his arms. "And which one are you?"

"That depends on your answer." Kaito's expression turned serious. "I'm with an independent faction. We don't answer to governments or guilds. We operate in the shadows, handling things that others can't—or won't. And right now, we're looking for people like you."

Mai's eyes narrowed. "You want to recruit me?"

Kaito nodded. "With your abilities, you'd rise fast in our ranks. We have access to high-tier dungeons, rare artifacts, information networks, and—most importantly—protection. A guy like you, growing this fast? It's only a matter of time before the big players start taking an interest. And not all of them will want to play nice."

Mai glanced at his status window again. The recent battle had pushed him even further, and his strength was beginning to reach a point where he needed to start thinking about the bigger picture. Staying solo had its advantages, but it also meant he was vulnerable to organized groups.

"And if I refuse?" Mai asked.

Kaito's smirk returned. "Then I walk away, and we pretend this conversation never happened. But like I said, word about you is spreading. If it's not us, someone else will come knocking. I'd rather it be us than, say, a high-level guild looking to recruit—or eliminate—competition."

Mai exhaled slowly, considering his options. He had no intention of binding himself to an organization, but information was power. And right now, Kaito had more of it than he did.

"Tell me more," Mai said finally.

Kaito grinned. "Smart choice. Let's talk somewhere less… corpse-filled, shall we?"

Mai glanced around at the dungeon full of slain monsters and nodded. Without another word, the two of them stepped toward the dungeon's exit, where the real game was about to begin.

As they walked, Kaito continued speaking. "Our faction isn't just some mercenary group. We're in the business of controlling information and opportunities. We know which dungeons are about to be raided, which guilds are making moves, and what the governing powers don't want people to know."

Mai raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like a spy network."

Kaito chuckled. "You could call it that. But it's also a way to stay ahead. The moment you step into the high ranks, it's not just about power—it's about strategy. Even the strongest hunters can be taken down if they don't know what's coming."

Mai remained quiet for a moment, absorbing the information. He had already noticed how the world operated differently at higher levels. Strength alone wouldn't be enough.

"And what exactly do you want from me?" Mai finally asked.

Kaito turned to him, his expression unreadable. "For now? Consideration. A trial run. See how we work. Maybe go on a mission with us. If you don't like it, you walk. No strings attached."

Mai smirked. "That easy, huh?"

"That easy," Kaito confirmed. "Of course, if you do stick around, there's more to gain than just knowledge."

They finally reached the dungeon's exit, the distorted space at the entrance shimmering faintly. Mai glanced back one last time, taking in the battlefield of his own making. Then, without hesitation, he stepped through with Kaito, leaving the dungeon and stepping into a world far more dangerous than just monsters.