As expected, Arthur berated him for causing the earthquake.

“You caused an earthquake! Do you even realize how catastrophic-”

Lev cut him off with a shrug. “It’s an accident. My hand slipped. A small creature bit me,” He held up his arm, perfectly healed thanks to his ability.

“No one saw me,” Lev said, voice perfectly calm. “Your dramatics are appreciated but unnecessary.”

Arthur nearly lost it. Calm? Calm was impossible when the earthquake had made headlines across the city! But arguing further felt pointless. Lev wasn’t the type to panic, and Arthur had learned that lesson long ago.

Moving away might only make things messier. Like Lev said, no one saw him, so… it would have to be fine.

Besides, Arthur had more pressing matters. Lev couldn’t keep drifting around without an identity. Every month, humans in black suits went door-to-door checking records in every city.

To normal human beings, this is a minor nuisance. For Arthur, though, it was a potential disaster waiting to happen with Lev around.

Arthur had already arranged something. He knew a man who could “process” IDs under the table. Greed was an easy weakness to exploit especially if you have the resources–money. It was the same trick that had landed Arthur a job at the industrial company, the same job funding Lev’s never-ending ice cream obsession.

​​Today, the plan was to meet that man with Lev. But first, buy more clothes for him. It’s better to bring Lev along so he could acclimate to this world faster.

Arthur hesitated, weighing his words carefully. It might be too soon to ask, but he had to.

“Boss… do you want to take the hunter examination? The most effective way to observe these humans is to operate within their organization, to move as they do.”

Lev considered the suggestion with measured calm. It was, after all, the most efficient way to gather intelligence on their strategies. To truly understand them, they would have to blend in.

Become one with the hunters.

——————–

Hunter Association Group Chat

[📢] Attention: If anyone has seen this phone with the same exact model, please return it to the Deadeye Guild. This is urgent!

The chat immediately blew up.

Cedie: …

Noah: …

Kross sent the 👀 sticker.

Teipei: LOLOLOL! Yow! Is that Uno’s phone?? [ROFL]

Matthew: Confirmed. It’s his. 😂

Grish: He dropped it at the park. During the earthquake.

Vander: …Talk about being careless.

Teipei: [giggling emoji] I don’t wanna be that guy, but… S…T…U…P…I…D…

(25 people reacted with “Haha”)

Beau: At least your jawline is sharp enough to cut through your bad decisions 😫.

Noah: Somewhere out there, a random civilian just unlocked Uno’s gallery and fainted from the sheer amount of thirst traps.

Andrew: RIP 💀💀💀

Vander: Don’t worry though! When the Guild’s reputation goes down, people will still say, ‘Yeah, but at least they had that guy.’

Cedie: Handsome privilege can only carry you so far, man. Apparently not far enough to keep your phone LOL

Uno: [left the chat]

Uno closed his laptop with the patience of a saint on his last nerve. His perfectly composed face gave away nothing except mild, simmering irritation.

Beside him, Oliver was practically crying with laughter. “Maybe put a leash on your phone next time.”

Uno gave him a sideways glare. Oliver only laughed harder.

They had already tried tracking the phone the moment Uno realized it was missing, but luck wasn’t on his side that day.

The GPS was off. He usually turned it off on days he went dungeon raiding. His mother had a habit of checking his location, and the last thing he needed was her calling in a panic mid-battle.

Ever since his stay in the asylum seven years ago, she had never stopped nagging him to resign. He’s 27 years old now, and she was still at it. Some habits were harder to kill than the monsters he fought.

Asking around the plaza turned up nothing. The earthquake had knocked out most of the CCTV feeds, so that lead was gone too. Even calling his own number was useless. No one picked up.

In truth, there wasn’t much sentimental value in the phone. He’d even told the head of the Association not to announce it in the group chat. He could just buy a new one and remotely wipe the data. But it was too late. The message went out, and now the entire Association was roasting him alive for his negligence.

“Lemme borrow your laptop,” Oliver said, not waiting for permission before snatching it off the desk.

Uno didn’t even bother responding. He just leaned back on the sofa, draped an arm over his eyes, and decided to pretend Oliver didn’t exist.

Not long after, Oliver spoke again.

“Eh? I think I already know who got your phone.”

Uno didn’t move. “Who is it?”

“I don’t know, but….quick! Come here. The idiot actually took a selfie with your phone. Didn’t even bother to factory reset it.”

Uno exhaled through his nose, got up, and walked over. He leaned closer behind Oliver, eyes narrowing at the laptop screen.

Only one question came to mind.

“…Does the city mayor have a son?”

——————–

Lev stared at the small, stiff piece of paper with his name and picture printed on it. Arthur had explained it was a necessity. Something to show the humans in black suits if they ever came knocking for government registry checks.

This world was far more complicated than he’d expected.

Just then, the cellphone lying beside him began to glow, a strange melody spilling out of it. Lev froze. He hadn’t told Arthur he had this thing.

Slowly, he picked it up, prodding the little screen with his finger. Nothing happened except it kept glowing at him.

He remembered Arthur once swiping across his own phone’s screen, so Lev imitated the motion. The device went black… then lit up again, this time flashing his reflection back at him.

Lev frowned. “What’s this? Why am I there?”

Before he could question it further, he pressed the screen again. A loud shutter sound clicked. The screen flashed.

Lev jumped and immediately hurled the phone across the room.

“So much for curiosity.”