From Trash Rank to Untouchable

3

The Vale family were also important to the society with a company worth billions of Silverland Credits, spanning real estate, infrastructure, and construction.

Eric’s father was the founder of this company, built it from the ground up, until the bad things happened.

The company was taken over by the other side of the family, and with it, the life his parents had fought to secure.

Eric had long suspected they were involved in his parents’ mysterious deaths, but there was no evidence to prove that.

It had been a year since Eric last saw them. He could still remember the day they had arrived, seizing every document, every asset.

The only thing they couldn't or didn't take was their home. Small mercy.

Now, standing in the dungeon staging area, the memories churned as a familiar voice cut through.

“What are you doing here, Eric?”

Regan held Eric’s Hunter ID between his fingers, amusement written across his face.

“E-rank?”

Eric looked at Regan’s ID too and saw he was A-rank.

The other Hunters joined in, grins wide and mocking.

“What are you even doing here? Did you come to die?”

“Can’t you read? Didn’t you see the posting clearly?”

“An E-rank in an A-rank dungeon? You’re just dead weight. Reject him, Regan. We can’t have someone like him dragging us down.”

“Seriously… this freaks me out.”

Eric let out a slow sigh, looking away.

The ranks around him ranged from A to C. To think they would allow an inexperienced E-rank, him, of all people, into this dungeon as a mere carrier was naive.

“Let him stay.”

Eric looked at Regan, shocked by his words.

Then Regan shoved a document and pen toward him. “It’s obvious you desperately need money, Eric, so I won’t be a hindrance to your decision. Sign the contract and let’s get on with this.”

A red-haired young man nearby read aloud the name on Eric’s ID.

“Eric Alan Vale… no wonder. You’re family, after all.”

Regan just smiled and gave Eric the gesture to go ahead. Regan was only a year older than Eric but he carried himself like he was five years older, looking at Eric like he was a child.

Eric didn't like how calm Regan was unlike how he was back then toward him. Have the past year changed him?

He seemed even more mature.

‘I guess I’m the only one who remained where I was,’ Eric thought, lowering his gaze at the contract. ‘It’s time I step up.’

He flipped through the pages carefully, reading every line. Then, one clause made his heart seize.

“The Hunter Association, its affiliated guilds, and any participating parties shall not be held responsible for any injury, loss, or death incurred during the dungeon operation. The participant assumes full responsibility for all risks involved.”

He swallowed hard and looked back at Regan, who remained annoyingly relaxed. Something behind that calm smile made Eric uneasy.

“Are you going to sign it or not?!” a lady snapped.

“Yeah! Stop wasting our precious time!”

Eric’s hand trembled slightly, the pen hovering over the page.

Then he remembered the pay. One million SLC, enough to make a difference for him and his sister.

Biting back his fear, he pressed the pen to the paper and the ink scratched across the contract.

“All right, let’s move!” Regan shouted, shoving a massive, overstuffed backpack into Eric’s hands.

The moment he hoisted it onto his shoulders, his arms threatened to snap off under the weight.

‘Whoa… being a carrier is brutal,’ he groaned silently, staggering slightly as he followed the team toward the swirling blue portal.

The instant they stepped through, the world changed.

He found himself in a cavern so vast it seemed endless.