Securing the job as a guard was easy.

  Shane had stood before the security coordinator, a bead of sweat rolling down the man’s temple that made him look stressed, overworked, and staring intensely at a resume.

  In truth, having been consumed by a waking dream, the man was staring into a blank paper.

  [Hallucination Spore (C-)]

  Evolved as a defense mechanism for the Sacred Roses, these microscopic particulates bypass magical barriers to take root directly in the host’s psyche, blooming into false realities.

  Thanks to the dungeon breach achievement that had rewarded him with a new skill slot, he didn’t have to give up [Fireball] to copy it.

  The real benefit, though, was that the spore’s effect changed depending on who you’re using it against. And anyone that’s a lower rank than the skill, had a 100% activation rate.

  “Everything seems to be in order,” the coordinator had mumbled, his eyes glazed as he signed the digital clearance.

  And that was how Shane, currently wearing a discreet metal pin on his lapel, disguised as a guard hired from the Wynn guild, had passed the perimeter checkpoint and ended up here.

  “Alright, listen up,” the Assocation’s hunter said. “We’re handling the Tier One principals tonight. Top priority.”

  She looked over the security team she’d assembled for the event.

  “One mistake, and it’s an international incident. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Yes, ma’am!” the group chorused.

  Shane leaned against the back wall, arms crossed.

  This brings back memories.

  The nervous energy, the desperate hope in the eyes of the freelancers. The promise of a fat paycheck had everyone moving sharp.

  It felt like he’d been reliving the old days a lot lately.

  The official talked to a pair that was standing at the front.

  “I assume you’ve all reviewed today’s schedule?”

  “Access control and close-quarters protection for the welcome reception,” the burly one answered.

  “We were also briefed on mobile patrols and stationary guard teams,” the other added quickly, eager to show competence.

  The Association’s hunter smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes.

  “It’s a nice change of pace to work with a team that’s already read the memo. Makes my job a lot easier.”

  Shane suppressed a smirk. He figured the video of the last dungeon breach must have rattled the industry. The System wasn’t the only thing that recorded performance.

  He watched a younger hunter fiercely spinning his dagger.

  The ones looking to make a big score and get out of the business were always the most desperate to get noticed at a place like this.

  It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that a hunter’s life was dictated by their rank.

  Low-rank hunters were basically gig workers, lucky if they could scrape together enough for retirement by selling the loot they risked their lives for.

  But from time to time, stories about some hunter whose life changed overnight after catching the eye of a billionaire would circulate.

  That was the dream fueling the tension in this room.

  Of course, an event like this always started the usual arguments. People complaining that only the rich got a hunter’s protection.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  But nobody here seemed to care about that.

  The hunters just wanted their payday, and the The International Conference on Parahuman Studies was happy to have the public’s attention, good or bad.

  Shane had adjusted his gear to match the standard issue for a rookie from the Wynn Guild—the second-best guild in the country. It was a bold cover, but the high turnover rate of guild rookies made it the perfect camouflage.

  And he also had another agenda.

  “Stone, you’re paired with him. You two have Dr. Williams.”

  Shane didn’t even glance up, even though he heard Henry approaching.

  He knew Henry’d be here. Shane had arranged to be partnered with Henry, actually. This was also why he disguised himself as a Wynn hunter.

  It was always better to work with a known variable.

  Shane finally looked up as he yawned. Henry was exactly as he remembered—except his face was set in a permanent frown, like he was worried about something. Well, kids these days did have a lot to shoulder.

  But Henry, not recognizing him, was surprisingly formal and distant.

  Shane actually found the cold shoulder surprisingly refreshing. The quiet was a pleasant change. Henry would have had a fit if he knew what Shane was thinking, but Shane, ignorant of the turmoil he was cuasing, calmly went over the plan in his head.

  “Ah, wait a second,” the Hunter’s Association hunter interrupted, tapping her tablet. “I misspoke. Your assignment’s been changed. You two will be protecting someone else.”

  Theofficial smirked, seeming to enjoy Henry’s confused look.

  “Wow, you rookies are lucky.”

  “Lucky, ma’am?” Henry asked, skepticism coloring his tone.

  “You two have been reassigned to Dr. Ray Spencer.”

  Henry’s eyes went wide. She shoved the tablet into Henry’s chest.

  “He’s the biggest name in this field. Make sure you take good care of him.”

  “Wait, us?” Henry stammered, looking from the tablet to Shane and back. “But surely for a VIP like Dr. Spencer—”

  “Orders are orders, Stone. Get moving. Some hunters would kill for your position.”

  Henry looked like he was about to hyperventilate. Shane, however, was suppressing an exasperated laugh.

  No wonder the security detail was such a disaster in the game, Shane thought.

  Even though the Hunter’s Association was a government organization, it was a hydra with too many heads. Shane recognized the fingerprints of internal politics all over this. If one organization had too many departments, they each developed their own agenda.

  Surely some underfunded department had orchestrated this whole setup.

  It was a classic gamble. They assigned two rookies from a top-tier guild to the most high-profile target.

  While they probably had their real security team hiding somewhere else.

  If trouble started, then elites would swoop in save Dr. Spencer, and make the rookies from the big guild look like amateurs. The department would get to demand more funding. If nothing happened, then no harm done. And they saved budget on the initial guard detail by hiring rookies.

  To them, this conference, with VIPs from all over the world, was just a golden opportunity to get more funds and influence.

  Some desk jockey who’s never seen real combat probably threw this plan together at the last minute.

  Most organizations are more of a chaotic mess behind the scenes. They must have found a loophole in the personnel assignment system and hastily pushed through the rookies to take advantage of the situation.

  On paper, it looked good. B-rank and an A-rank hunter from the Wynn Guild, the second-best guild in the country, on the detail. That was also exactly why Shane had gone to the trouble of infiltrating under the Wynn banner.

  The Association’s hunter didn’t seem too concerned.

  “It might be a bit nerve-wracking to guard Dr. Spencer, but don’t worry, there are plenty of other security teams in the hall. If you play your cards right and kiss up a little, who knows? He might even hire you for his private detail.”

  “Yes, ma’am…”

  Henry was surprised by the change, but he didn’t seem to question the motive behind it. Not that there was much he could do anyway. Unless he planned on quitting, all he could do was follow orders.

  Things would mostly go according to the desk jockey’s plan.

  An incident was definitely going to happen. It just wasn’t going to be the kidnapping the department was counting on.

  After all, the true threat at this conference wasn’t human.

  Shane checked his wristwatch.

  Soon, an A-rank dungeon would tear open right in the middle of the party. In the original timeline, the head researcher, Dr. Spencer, would be the unlucky soul caught inside when the portal snapped shut.

  With a competent guard detail, someone might have pulled him out in time, or at the very least been trapped inside with him.

  Instead, he was getting a B-rank tank and an F-rank hunter as guards.

  Oh well. Works for me.

  Shane’s plan was simple, if suicidal by normal standards: Get trapped in the dungeon with Dr. Spencer and get on the good side of the most influential researcher on the planet.

  It probably sounded insane. An F-rank hunter trying to protect a VIP inside an A-rank dungeon.

  But this wasn’t just any dungeon.

  Labyrinth dungeons were a special kind of hell.

  They were infamous for their shifting corridors, lethal traps, and high-level guardians.

  But that difficulty could easily be negated if you knew the right path.

  Labyrinth dungeons didn’t have a boss. You didn’t even have to wipe out the mobs. You could technically clear the whole thing without ever drawing your weapon once.

  As long as you reached the exit, the portal opened for everyone.

  Shane’s fingers twitched at his side, feeling the phantom sensations of how he used to play the game, because he knew every single twist and turn of that place.

  Well, at least he used to.

  It had been years since he played the game. He would mostly have to rely on muscle memory.

  Still, his knowledge was going to make him the best damn bodyguard Dr. Spencer could possibly ask for.