The first rays of morning had only just begun to brighten the city when Liam stepped out of the bank branch.
It was exactly seven o’clock.
He slipped his bank card into his wallet and took a deep breath.
He had already deposited almost all the cash they had earned over the past few days into his new account.
’Much better this way.’
He didn’t like the idea of carrying that much money around.
After all, they were hunters now, and the bank even had a special agreement with the guild so that rewards would be deposited directly into their accounts.
As he walked along the still-quiet sidewalk, he slipped his hands into his pockets.
’After I pay Banks...’
His thoughts began to wander.
’Maybe we should move.’
It seemed like the logical choice.
They had a steady income now.
They could afford a better apartment, larger, more comfortable, and, above all, with a far less unpleasant landlord.
However...
He slowly shook his head.
’No...’
Lydia loved that apartment.
It was small, old, the hot water failed every now and then, and the bedroom blinds never closed all the way.
But it was also the place where they had started their life together.
Where they had cooked their first dinner as husband and wife.
Where they had laughed.
Where they had cried.
A smile appeared on his face without him realizing it.
’We have too many memories there.’
He walked another few blocks.
Then another idea suddenly came to him.
’What if... we bought it?’
He frowned slightly.
He had never considered it before.
Mr. Banks was a greedy man.
That much was obvious.
And precisely because of that...
’Maybe he’d agree to sell if someone offered him enough money.’
It wasn’t a bad goal.
They could save for a while.
Keep clearing dungeons.
Continue working for the guild.
Maybe, in a few months...
That apartment could truly become theirs.
He smiled.
’Although I should talk it over with Lydia first.’
After all, it wasn’t a decision he could make alone.
◇◆◇
A few minutes later, he arrived in front of a two-story house with a small front yard.
It was Mr. Banks’s home.
Liam took a deep breath.
’Well then...’
He climbed the three steps leading to the entrance and looked at the old doorbell.
He remembered perfectly well that it had been malfunctioning for months.
He pressed it, and only a faint buzz could be heard from inside.
He waited patiently.
Then a gruff voice called out.
"I’m coming!"
Liam waited quietly.
Finally, the door opened.
Mr. Banks stood on the other side.
He was wearing dress pants, a wrinkled shirt, and his hair was completely unkempt.
His expression made it obvious he’d just gotten out of bed.
When he saw Liam, his eyes widened slightly.
"Well..."
He folded his arms.
"I didn’t think you’d actually come."
Liam smiled calmly.
"It’s not good to have debts in life."
He repeated the exact words Banks himself had used the previous night.
The man let out a forced laugh.
"Very funny."
Then he looked Liam over more carefully.
There was a trace of concern in his eyes.
"...Do you really have the money to pay me?"
"Yes."
"Seriously?"
"Yes."
Banks still didn’t believe him.
He narrowed his eyes.
"Where did you get the money?"
Liam remained composed.
"That’s not really important."
"Of course it is."
The man stepped forward.
"You’re unemployed."
He pointed a finger at him.
"Did you sell something else valuable?"
Liam slowly shook his head.
"No."
Then he smiled faintly.
"In fact, I even managed to get my wife’s ring back."
Mr. Banks’s expression changed for the briefest instant.
Liam caught that flicker of discomfort.
He continued speaking.
"The same ring you lost."
The landlord cleared his throat.
"I already told you it was an accident."
Liam didn’t answer.
They both knew perfectly well that the ring had never actually been lost.
It had simply disappeared.
And Liam had more than enough suspicions about what had happened.
Banks quickly tried to change the subject.
"Don’t give me stories."
He stared directly at Liam.
"What’s the trick?"
Silence.
"Did you get involved in something shady?"
More silence.
"Some illegal business?"
Liam let out a quiet sigh.
"No."
His voice remained perfectly calm.
"And that’s enough questions."
He pulled out his guild-issued phone.
"I have the money to transfer to you."
Banks still looked suspicious.
He couldn’t understand how the young man who had been unable to pay rent just a few days ago was now speaking with such confidence.
Liam unlocked his banking app.
"But first, I wanted to talk about the rent increase."
Mr. Banks raised an eyebrow.
"What about it?"
"I’d like to know exactly how much I owe you."
Banks answered almost from memory.
"Right now you owe me sixteen hundred."
Liam nodded.
"And next month..."
The man adjusted the collar of his shirt.
"With the increase, it’ll be seventeen hundred."
Liam did the math in his head.
Then he looked back up.
"Perfect."
Banks frowned.
"Perfect?"
"Give me your account number."
The man hesitated for a few seconds, but eventually recited it.
Liam entered it into the app.
"I’m transferring you five thousand."
Banks almost laughed.
His mouth even opened.
But when he looked at Liam’s face...
There wasn’t the slightest hint of a joke.
The young man remained completely serious.
"...Five thousand?"
"Yes."
Liam finished entering the information.
"That settles everything."
He pressed Confirm.
"And it also covers the next two months in advance."
Banks simply stared at him, completely unable to understand.
A second later...
The phone in his pocket vibrated.
Almost on instinct, he pulled it out and looked at the screen.
His expression changed completely.
Transfer Received.
He read the amount again, as though expecting to discover he had misread it.
Slowly, he looked back up.
"...What the hell...?"
Liam slipped his phone back into his pocket.
"Just like I told you yesterday."
He smiled politely.
"I came by to pay."
Banks remained frozen.
"...What kind of job did you get?"
"A pretty good one."
"What is it?"
Liam thought for a moment before answering naturally.
"I’m a hunter now."
It took Mr. Banks several seconds to process those words.
"...A hunter?"
"That’s right."
He offered no further explanation.
Nor did he feel like giving one.
He turned around and started walking down the front steps.
Banks was still staring at his phone.
The money was still there.
It wasn’t a mistake.
It wasn’t a prank.
Liam had really paid everything he owed...
And had even left money in advance.
’It can’t be...’
The landlord thought.
’Just a few days ago...’
He couldn’t come up with any logical explanation.
Meanwhile, Liam raised a hand as he spotted a taxi driving down the avenue.
The vehicle pulled over to the curb, and the driver rolled down the window slightly.
"Where to?"
"The Ace of Swords Guild headquarters."
"Hop in."
Liam opened the door.
Before getting inside, he glanced back one last time.
Mr. Banks was still standing in front of his house, phone in hand.
Completely motionless.
Liam gave him a small wave.
"Have a good day, Mr. Banks."
Then he climbed into the taxi.
The door closed, and the car pulled away smoothly.
Banks watched the taxi disappear down the street.
Then he looked back at the transfer notification.
He still couldn’t believe it.