The Legendary Ghost Hunter

The term that came out of the polite man's mouth was unfamiliar to both Finn and Iris.

"Warrior's Cage…? What's that?" Iris asked.

"The top entertainment facility of this Underground City," the man explained, spreading his arms gently. "A fighting ring where the audience places bets, and the winner takes all. My master would like to hire you as her contracted fighter. If you win in fights, this is a very profitable opportunity."

"Is that so?" Finn answered in his usual stoic tone. "Unfortunately, I am not interested in making profits."

The man fell silent momentarily, the smile disappearing from his face, but it returned as quickly as it had left.

"Finn Thresher. Age 18. Male. Currently being hunted by all five Ghost Hunter Guilds under the suspicion of being a Sentient. Does that sound about right?"

"…!" Finn and Iris immediately tensed up, getting right for a fight, but the man showed no hostile intentions and instead merely continued as if reciting a script.

"Ivis Silverdale. Age 18. Female. Currently being hunted by all five Ghost Hunter Guilds for traveling with a Sentient suspect. But… that's not even your real name, is it?"

"Wha…" Iris was stunned to have her secrets spilled so easily, and Finn stepped forward before immediately grabbing the man by the collar.

"… What do you want?"

"Haha, calm down, I will not report you to the guilds or anything," the man said, waving his gloved hands. "That is… if you come with me to meet my master, of course."

"Or… I could kill you right here and now," Finn whispered, pulling the man close. "That would make things a lot simpler, no?"

"Go ahead and try," the man said. "I am but one of many. However, if I die, you can safely kiss goodbye to all your secrets. My master knows everything. You cannot escape her. She has eyes everywhere. Even now, there is a sniper rifle pointed at your head."

"…" Finn tightened his grip on the man's collar as Iris frantically looked around for said sniper. Before long, she spotted him, perched on top of the roof of a tall clock tower, aiming towards them.

"H-He's not lying, Finn."

The man smiled. "Now, do you see? Do you wish to see our master now?"

"Do I really have a choice?" Finn scoffed, then let go of the man. That was just one sniper. There was no telling how many more were hidden around the city.

"Haha, glad you are quick to understand," the man said, straightening his clothes and laughing lightly. "Now then, follow me."

- 15 Minutes Later -

The formal man in a silver fox mask led Finn and Iris to what seemed like a hotel—and quite the luxurious one at that.

Finn and Iris's original impression was that most people only came to this underground city to do some secretive business, then leave, but in reality, many Ghost Hunters in fact lived here full-time. Rogues driven out by the guild, freelance Hunters who don't serve anyone in particular, and businessmen who by chance have joined the Ghost Hunter world and now remain in it forever, all reside here.

By the way, just like with anything else in this place, the underground city was named… Underground City. And the hotel? That was no better either—it was literally called 5-Star Hotel.

"My master is the owner of this place She is waiting on the top-most floor. Please, follow me inside."

Saying this, the man entered the building confidently, with Finn and Iris following behind.

Inside, nearly everyone wore wealthy, professional suits and posh masks made out of either gold or silver. Some even had full-on diamond masks, and Iris guessed the difference in material showed hierarchy, in a way. Gold was more precious in silver, and diamond more so than gold.

The silver-fox-masked man did not pay any heed to the customers in the main lobby of the hotel, conversing with one another, and instead headed straight over to the elevator. Or at least… he tried.

"Oi, Foxy," a male voice suddenly called out to him, and the man tilted his head slightly to see an older man with an obese figure and a diamond pig mask covering his face. "How's your master doing?"

"Fine," the young man replied, bowing slightly.

"Ha! She still refuses to accompany me in bed?" The pig-masked man laughed boldly and took a sip of his wine.

"… My master will sleep with whom she wants."

"What a shame… such a beauty, yet refuses to marry again. Her previous husband was a dirtbag who only cared about money, wasn't he? Haha!"

"…" The man fell silent, unsure of what to say in a situation like this. The other man, seeing this, chuckled and began walking away.

"Just let me know if she changes her mind, Foxy! I can make her the most wealthy woman in the world, hahaha!"

As he faded away from earshot, Finn folded his arms.

"… Was what that man said true?"

"… Yes," the fox-masked man said after some hesitation, then stepped into the now-open elevator. Finn and Iris followed.

As the doors closed, the man spoke quietly.

"The truth is… ever since that man left my master ten or so years ago, she has never been the same. She is lonely, and in need of someone to love again. But she never admits it on the surface. Never."

"That's… sad," Iris said after a while.

"But it is none of our concern," Finn added.

"Indeed. I just felt the need to inform you two of that since it is a sensitive subject for her. Please do not bring it up when you speak."

"…" Neither Finn nor Iris responded, mainly because both were seeing this as a possible weakness to exploit. After all, they had no connection with this woman. They just wanted to get out of this place.

"Oh, and one more thing," the man continued right as they arrived on the topmost floor and the elevator doors slid open.

"My master… she has a daughter. Be mindful."