The Hunter Monarch

They cleared the rest of the Sunken Library without major incident. The encounter with the Scribe had sharpened the party's focus, and they moved with a renewed, grim efficiency. They fought two more Ink Elementals and a handful of lesser, shambling monstrosities called "Tome-Crawlers." Through it all, Lin Yu remained in the rear, his moment of unconventional heroism fading back into the mundane reality of his role. He collected loot, managed the pack's weight distribution, and kept his mouth shut.

The boss of the Layer was a "Librarian Prime," a larger, more powerful version of the Sunken Scribe that commanded the lesser ghosts. The fight was intense, a chaotic ballet of holy light from Chen, debilitating traps from Li Mei's arrows, and Su Wan's relentless, deadly dance. Tao, his earlier freeze forgotten, performed admirably, his healing spells patching up the minor wounds the party sustained.

When the Librarian Prime finally dissipated with a despairing wail, a faint, collective chime echoed in the minds of everyone in the party. It was the System's subtle notification: [Layer Objective Complete. Entry Portal Reactivated.]

Sū Wǎn let out a controlled breath. "It's done. The way out is open."

The run wasn't truly over. They still had to make the journey back through the silent, dripping halls and eerie scriptoriums to the circular chamber where they first arrived. The trek back was tense, as everyone knew that lesser monsters could sometimes respawn after a Guardian's fall. But their path was clear, and soon they stood before the solid stone wall where they had entered.

As they approached, the wall shimmered, the stone melting away to reveal the stable, silver light of their exit portal, humming softly as if waking from a long slumber. The run was over. They were successful."

Back in the noisy, familiar chaos of the Hunter Plaza, Su Wan distributed the pay. It was a fair and transparent process. The value of the loot was calculated, the cost of supplies was deducted, and the remaining gold was split evenly among the four combatants. As the Pack Mule, Lin Yu's pay was a pre-negotiated flat fee—a generous one, by his standards. He accepted the pouch of coins, the weight of it a stark and satisfying contrast to the pittance Kaelen had thrown at him. This was enough for a new pair of boots and a week's worth of proper meals.

"Good work today, everyone," Su Wan announced as the team prepared to disperse. "Rest up. We'll run again in two days."

Chen and Li Mei gave Lin Yu another respectful nod before heading off, and Tao offered him a small, grateful smile. "Thanks again," the young healer said. "You really saved my skin back there."

Lin Yu just nodded, unsure what to say. He wasn't used to gratitude.

As he turned to leave, Su Wan called his name. "Lin Yu. Wait a moment."

He stopped, and she walked over to him, a thoughtful expression on her face. She was holding a piece of armor. It was a vambrace, a guard for the forearm, crafted from thick, hardened leather the color of dark mahogany. It was stitched with what looked like sinew, and a single, polished piece of obsidian was set into its center. It was simple, practical, and of a quality far beyond anything he could ever dream of affording.

"This was part of the boss's drop," she said, holding it out to him. "It's a 'Guardian's Vambrace.' Nothing special, just a C-Rank defensive item. But it's sturdy. You should have it."

Lin Yu stared at the vambrace, then back at her, stunned. "That's part of the party's loot. It should be sold, the gold split…"

"The party agreed," she said, cutting off his protest. "After what you did for Tao… consider it a bonus. A hazard bonus."

Her eyes were firm, leaving no room for argument. Hesitantly, he reached out and took the vambrace. The leather was cool and smooth to the touch, and it had a reassuring weight. It felt… real. It was the first piece of proper Hunter's gear he had ever owned.

"Put it on," she prompted.

He fumbled with the straps, his fingers feeling clumsy. Su Wan sighed, a hint of amusement in her voice, and stepped in to help. She deftly buckled the straps, securing the vambrace snugly around his left forearm. It was a perfect fit. He raised his arm, looking at the dark leather and the gleam of the obsidian. It felt like a shield.

"Every Hunter should have at least one piece of armor," she said quietly. "Even a Pack Mule."

A powerful, unfamiliar emotion swelled in his chest. It was more than just gratitude. It was a fierce, burning resolve. He looked at the vambrace, a tangible symbol of her belief in him, of his newfound place, however small, within a real team. He looked at her, at the quiet strength in her eyes.

He vowed to himself, a silent, solemn promise made in the depths of his soul, that this would be the last time she ever had to give him something to protect himself. One day, he wouldn't need a bonus piece of armor. One day, he would be strong enough. He would have skills, power, and a blade of his own. One day, he would be the one standing in front, protecting her, not the other way around. The vambrace was not just a gift; it was a catalyst, a seed of ambition planted in the barren soil of his despair.

From a distance, hidden in the afternoon shadows of a tavern's awning, Zhao Hu watched the entire exchange. He had seen his party return, seen the bonus being given. He saw the way Su Wan helped Lin Yu with the straps, the brief, easy intimacy of the gesture. He saw the look of profound gratitude on Lin Yu's face and the soft, genuine smile Su Wan gave him in return.

Every bit of it was like acid on his pride.

He had offered her a place in his elite party, offered her wealth and glory, and she had rejected him with cold disdain. Yet here she was, gifting valuable loot to a useless, skill-less leech, smiling at him with a warmth Zhao Hu had never once received.

It was the final straw. The casual contempt he'd felt for the Zero had now curdled into a thick, poisonous hatred. It wasn't just about Su Wan anymore. It was about the intolerable insult Lin Yu represented. This powerless, worthless boy was a stain on his world, a walking symbol of his own public humiliation.

He clenched his fists so tightly that his polished black gauntlets creaked in protest. The seed of malice that had been planted earlier had now taken root, its dark, thorny vines wrapping around his heart.

He had to get rid of him. Permanently. And he was beginning to think he knew just how to do it.

All he needed was the right tool, and he knew the whispers of the black market were starting to speak of exactly the kind of forbidden, untraceable poison he required.