บท 31: Map of the City's Gates

The lady receptionist didn't know if she had ever been asked this question before, yet she still smilingly responded, "I can do that for you; just give me a second to scan the records and print a copy."

Cassius nodded in appreciation, then waited by the counter.

Feeling something tugging at his side, he looked down, only to see Grace's erratically flickering doe eyes. "I-It's just… I didn't think you were looking to buy some property… You seem too young to be doing something like that… Unless you're planning to get m-married…"

Cassius softly chuckled at the furiously blushing girl. He patted her head and said, "I'm not doing it for now, but for the future."

"The future…?" Grace's eyes sparkled as her thoughts stirred. 'If it's the future, then maybe he is looking to get married soon!? Could it be that he is interested in someone…!? C-Could it be… me? B-But I don't know if I am ready for marriage…!'

Looking away from the flustered girl getting lost in her own delusions, Cassius received a paper from the amicable receptionist. On the paper was a highly detailed 4D map that somehow stuck to its surface using some kind of magic. The map depicted the City of Hoshito on a magnified scale, with numerous white, orange, and green dots of varying sizes scattered throughout.

Noticing his confusion, the lady receptionist explained, "The dots on the map are the Gate locations you are searching for. Hoshito isn't a hotspot area like Tokyo or Yokohama, so the quality of Gates is not nearly as severe as it is in those cities. If that were truly the case, then we would've long since been wiped out when our strongest Hunters are of the C-Rank and B-Rank."

"There are a few B-Rank Hunters that occasionally pass by, but they are not residents of the city. All in all, White Tier, Orange Tier, and Green Tier Gates are the norm for Hoshito, with a select few of them remaining unclosed because the large Guilds use them to train their newer Hunters. Plus, it's very profitable."

After digesting the information from the receptionist's lengthy explanation, Cassius slightly nodded. "Thank you for all the help."

But before he could walk away with the map in hand, the receptionist's melodious voice rang out once more. "If you click on the dots, you can see any relevant details about them. Moreover, the Gate locations and appearances change by the minute, based on real-time reports."

"I see…" Cassius briefly paused. "How much do I owe you for this? It seems too valuable to be given away for free—"

"Don't worry about it, hihi," the receptionist waved dismissively. "Though, if you are that adamant about paying me back, you could do so over dinner—"

"Grrrr…"

"Or, I guess not," the receptionist giggled at the adorable woman sticking to him like glue. She hadn't noticed her before, but she was definitely a looker.

"Well, if you ever find yourself single, feel free to come back here and find me." With a suggestive smirk, she watched as Grace hurriedly pushed the handsome man out of the building, seemingly trying to get him away from a supposed 'harlot.'

The receptionist bemused, "I would likely do the same thing if I had a snack like that around me~." She seductively licked her lips, causing the meek bunny girl to turn oddly hostile, though she just came out looking cuter.

When Cassius and Grace exited the packed building, an old man with a slicked-back haircut spoke without turning his head. "So he was the one who singlehandedly cleared an E-Rank Sudden Gate?"

"Yes, sir. It has already been fact-checked several times," replied a man in a classy black suit.

The old man clasped his hands behind his back, his wizened gaze following the movements of the seemingly ordinary man. "Then that would mean his power is roughly that of a D-Rank Hunter, with his Speed stat presumably being at the D+ Rank… How have we not heard of his existence before?"

"That is…" the classy man's mouth moved around, yet no more words came out. "It seems he is past the age for awakening and is not an Awakened… Sir, he doesn't have the aura that a powerful Awakener should have. He doesn't even have an aura to begin with…"

The old man's brows furrowed, putting him in deep thought. 'I have been in the Hunter business for more than 40 years, yet I have never heard of a case like this one. Just what sort of secrets is that boy hiding to be capable of rivaling a D-Rank Hunter without being an Awakened…? Was the Awakening Tester Equipment simply faulty, or is it something… else?'

"Hmm?" Cassius glanced behind him after leaving the Hunter's Association. 'I felt someone… analyzing me.'

His eyes narrowed dangerously, as he had a bad feeling about something.

Yet, when Grace nudged him and grabbed his hand, he left his vicious thoughts. If someone was plotting something behind his back, then he would just deal with it when it came around.

"Cassius…" Grace's eyes glazed over as she observed every unique contour of his face. Her expression suddenly erupted in a stunning glow as she smilingly said, "I don't get out much, so I may seem a bit weird, but today I had a lot of fun…! S-So what I'm trying to say is… thank you!"

Seeing the girl struggle so much while squirming like a restless rabbit made Cassius unconsciously pet her head. "It has been enjoyable for me as well, but we aren't even close to being done for the day."

Grace sheepishly asked, "We aren't…?"

Cassius chuckled. "Well, as long as you are fine with it, I was planning to spend the entire day with you." 'I also have my 12-hour Daily Quests to complete, so having her spirited presence is just a bonus.'

Grace's pupils visibly sparkled as she fervently bobbed her head. "I would very much like that! I just assumed you would have grown tired of me by now… so…"

...