Bloodline Evolution: I Can Choose Opposing Paths-Chapter 68: Urban Hunting License (3)

The clerk seemed to realize what he had just said. Color drained from his face before he straightened abruptly.

"My apologies," he said, clearing his throat. "I spoke out of turn."

His fingers moved quickly again, tapping the side of the sphere before the glow within dimmed completely.

He looked at Aren directly now.

"Don’t worry...sir," he said carefully. "The Committee maintains strict control over all Hunter records."

"Your information is safe with us."

Aren didn’t respond immediately. Well, at this point, what could he even say? He couldn’t exactly just tell them to give back what the clerk saw.

So he sighed before giving a dismissive wave. "Yeah, thanks."

The clerk closed the suitcase with a decisive click.

"I will prepare your provisional Hunter identification," he said. "Please wait."

He turned and disappeared behind the curtain once more. Aren turned to face Daniel. The Senior’s expression had gone neutral.

"Look, Daniel," he started. "I really need you to keep this a secret and—"

The senior immediately grabbed both sides of his shoulders and shook him back and forth violently.

"WHAT THE HELL, AREN?" he yelled loudly. "YOU REALLY ARE A GOLDEN GOOSE!"

Aren’s head snapped back and forth from the force.

"PROFESSOR STERLING WAS RIGHT!"

"Dragon Bloodline? Upper Line 3? What are you hiding, a third element too?!"

"Daniel—stop shaking me!"

The Senior finally released him, but only so he could stare at him in open disbelief.

"You absolute monster," he muttered, half laughing. "Do you know how insane that is?"

Aren blinked. This was... not the reaction he expected.

"You’re not concerned?"

"Concerned?" Daniel scoffed. "Why would I be concerned?"

"If I could choose someone to watch my back on a mission?" he said quickly. "I’d choose the guy with the Dragon Bloodline, ten times out of ten."

Aren hesitated for a second before speaking slowly.

"I need you to keep this quiet," Aren said. "Even from Professor Sterling and the rest of the Urban Hunting Club."

Daniel studied him for a moment.

"...That serious?"

"Yes."

The senior exhaled slowly through his nose before nodding.

"Alright, your secret’s safe with me."

The curtain rustled again.

The clerk stepped back out, expression once more perfectly neutral, with a small metallic card resting between his fingers.

"Your Urban Hunter identification," he said calmly.

Aren stepped forward and picked it up. It was lighter than he expected. On the front was the Urban Hunting insignia, a stylized mountain peak split by a descending blade.

Beneath it, engraved in clean lettering:

Aren Cross

Rank: One-Star

That was it.

Aren exhaled a breath of relief he didn’t even know he was holding.

Daniel slapped him lightly in the back before congratulating him. "Welcome to the club, Junior!"

The clerk bowed, giving a line of his own. "Congratulations on becoming a Bounty Hunter, sir."

Aren had just slipped the card into his pocket when the bell above the door chimed sharply.

The door shut quickly behind the newcomer. Both Daniel and Aren glanced up instinctively.

The figure was covered almost obsessively—an oversized hoodie pulled low over their head, dark sunglasses hiding their eyes, and a mask concealing the lower half of their face.

Even their posture seemed to curl inward, as if trying to take up as little space as possible. They walked straight up to the counter without hesitation, bypassing the shelves entirely.

But as they passed, Aren noticed something...a thin strand of pink hair that slipped from beneath the hoodie. It caught the light for only a second before disappearing back into the fabric.

Aren’s gaze lingered.

The clerk recovered immediately, his tone sliding back into the bookstore persona as if nothing unusual had happened.

"Welcome to Mountain and Seas," he said smoothly. "Looking for anything in particular?"

The hooded figure shook their head.

"No."

The voice was soft and high-pitched, probably belonging to a female.

"I need to place a commission."

They were extremely direct, not even code words were used as Daniel did. The clerk’s eyes sharpened faintly, though his expression remained polite.

"What kind of commission?"

"Bodyguard detail."

They didn’t even glance at Aren or Daniel, as though the two of them were part of the furniture.

Daniel shifted beside him, clearing his throat quietly.

"Time to go," he murmured.

Aren didn’t move at first.

That strand of pink hair had caught the light again when their hood tilted forward. Something about it tugged at his memory.

Daniel nudged him gently toward the door.

"It’s rude to linger," he added under his breath. "Committee business."

"Right," Aren replied softly.

Aren tore his eyes away and stepped outside with him. The bell chimed again as the door closed behind them, and the sounds of East Ward rushed back in.

They walked side by side for a short stretch, neither speaking before the Senior’s phone buzzed.

He glanced down at the screen, brows lifting slightly before a grin tugged at his lips.

"Looks like I’m getting summoned," he said lightly.

"Summoned?"

"Someone I promised I’d meet," he replied, already pocketing the device. "Senior duties."

Aren didn’t ask further.

They slowed near the bus stop where the late afternoon sun had begun to dip. The lanterns above now served their purpose, illuminating the small street almost like fireflies in the night.

Daniel rolled his shoulders once before turning to him.

"You good to get back on your own, One-Star Hunter?"

Aren gave him a flat look.

"...Don’t call me that."

Daniel laughed.

"Take care, Aren."

"You too."

The Senior lifted a hand in a casual wave before peeling off down the street, disappearing into the crowd within seconds.

He boarded the bus back toward the academy district and by the time he reached his apartment building, the sky had deepened into a soft orange hue.

Aren unlocked the door and stepped inside.

Seems like Luna isn’t home yet.

Well...after today’s match, the Ice Department would be drowning in interviews, and whatnot. Makes sense.

He dropped his keys onto the small table by the entrance and loosened his collar slightly.

Aren walked toward the balcony and slid the glass door open. Cool evening air drifted inside, carrying the distant hum of the city.

Yet he kept thinking that strand of pink hair refused to leave his mind.

He pushed himself away from the railing and moved toward his room, shrugging off his outer jacket before tossing it over the back of a chair. The Hunter ID card slipped from his pocket and clinked softly against the desk as he set it down.

"A bodyguard commission..."

If it was urgent enough to walk in disguised like that... it wasn’t going to be a simple escort job. Which meant someone would take it soon.

And if it was high-profile—It wouldn’t even reach the One-Star board.

Aren exhaled slowly.

He had just gotten his license.

I should probably...take a commission soon.

That was when his eyes felt heavy, and sleep claimed him before he could think any further.