After checking the final layer of the array, I stood up and brushed the dirt from my hands.

The Cursed Item Security Guard would take time to yield.

Until then, I had other work to do.

I headed back toward the nearby city.

Inside one of the houses, I used a Dreamroot Mist Pill.

Within seconds, everyone inside fell into a deep sleep.

I entered quietly, sat at the desk, and powered on their computer.

Once the screen lit up, I logged into my Underworld account.

A message popped up.

…

Alan Veritus,

Congratulations on passing the Cursed Spirit Hunter License Test. You may collect your license from the Underworld branch where your test was held.

—Underworld Team

…

I closed the message and shut down the computer.

A few moments later, I used a warp point and appeared in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Just like before, I walked into the Minotaur's Mug pub.

It looked normal from the outside—dim lights, laughter, and the smell of beer—but the bartender's eyes told another story.

I gave him the secret code.

He nodded and led me through the back door into the Underworld branch below.

The underground hall was the same. Wide stone corridors, soft lights, and quite a few hidden Exorcist guards.

I walked to the reception counter.

The woman behind the desk smiled politely.

"Welcome, Alan. Please proceed to Room 407."

I blinked.

Normally, they just handed the license over the counter.

If they were calling me inside, there was only one reason. Someone important wanted to meet me.

I followed the corridor until I reached the door with 407 engraved in silver.

I turned the handle and stepped inside.

The room was surprisingly luxurious. Black marble floors. Velvet curtains. A golden chandelier that didn't fit the underground setting.

A man stood near the desk.

He had short black hair and calm red eyes.

When he saw me, he smiled and extended his hand.

"Alan Veritus," he said warmly. "Welcome. I've heard a lot about you from my daughter. So I thought I'd hand your license to you personally."

He laughed lightly, then added, "Ah, where are my manners? I'm Nico Hargraves, Calliope's dad. She was with you in the Area 51 domain, right?"

I was surprised for a second, but quickly covered it with a polite nod. "Yes. It's nice to meet you too."

'So Calliope was from the Hargraves Family, which is the House of Hades.'

That wasn't shocking on its own.

But her father being Nico Hargraves… that was.

This man was the husband of Chrysis Hargraves, the current head of the House of Hades.

And that wasn't even the most surprising thing about him.

"Please, sit," Nico said, gesturing toward a chair across the table.

I sat down while a butler entered quietly and placed a tray of refreshments between us.

I raised a hand. "I can't eat anything with the mask on."

Nico looked curious. "Why wear a mask at all? You're the disciple of the Monkey King, aren't you? Given how you are revealing that to everyone, I would think you want fame. Then why hide your face?"

He wasn't like Chrysis, who preferred to circle around topics with hidden motives.

Nico went straight to the point. He was just as I had heard.

"I have my reasons," I said simply.

He studied me for a moment, then nodded. "Fair enough."

As he leaned back in his chair, I could tell his confidence wasn't just from authority.

He had presence, the kind that came from power and experience.

In my mind, thoughts started connecting.

'In my last life, the House of Hades worked with the invaders.'

'Was that because Calliope—their daughter—died in the Area 51 domain?'

'Yes. That must've been it.'

'Knowing Chameleon, she probably disguised herself as Calliope or used her to blackmail the family.'

It all made sense now.

Nico reached into his coat and pulled out two cards, placing them on the table.

One was black. The other was blue.

I raised an eyebrow and picked up the black card first.

It was my Cursed Spirit Hunter License.

After storing it inside my inventory rune, I reached for the blue one.

It was a Exorcist ID.

My Exorcist ID.

"From what I knew, you didn't have a Exorcist ID," Nico said. "So we made one for you.

"Consider it a gift for helping my daughter.

"We've also registered you under the House of Hades. Every Exorcist needs to belong to a family under a major Hidden Clan."

He leaned back slightly, speaking in his usual calm tone.

"We would've created a new clan for you, but one person isn't enough. You need at least one Rank 2 Exorcist, ten Rank 1s, and the approval of a major Hidden Clan."

I nodded.

"Don't worry too much about being listed under House of Hades," he added. "You won't have to respond to our summons or meet any quotas.

"You can move to another Clan anytime you want, or when you create your own Clan.

"Also, we've transferred one and a half million dollars into your account."

I looked up. "Is that for exorcising the cursed spirit or saving your daughter?"

"Both," he said with a small smile.

"It's not enough," I said.

Nico chuckled lightly. "It isn't. But we can't pay more. You are suspicious as is. No one knows where you came from.

"If we give more rewards, the Exorcist Union would think you are someone we set up, and we are using you to launder money and resources."

I gave a small nod.

Talking to him felt easy.

He was direct and didn't waste time.

If he had survived until my return to Earth in the last timeline, maybe we would've been good friends.

"I don't need money or resources," I said.

Nico tilted his head. "Then what do you need?"

"The Rank 4 Cursed Spirit. Leviathan. A team will be formed to take it down in five years. I want to join that hunt with one of my colleagues."

For the first time, his calm expression faded.

He sat straighter, eyes narrowing.

"How do you know about the mission to hunt Leviathan? That's top secret."

"I have my ways. All I need is a place on the team," I said.

He didn't respond right away.

His silence spoke more than his words could.

Leviathan wasn't a normal cursed spirit.

It was a Parasitic-type Rank 4 Cursed Spirit.

One of the only twenty-four Rank 4 Cursed Spirits.

It was dangerous enough to destroy a nation with ease.

My reason for joining was simple.

Leviathan was the Second Disaster that came after Area 51.

The hunt for it would end up in complete destruction.

The first team would be wiped out.

Australia would lose a tenth of its land to the sea.

And Nico, the Rank 5 Exorcist leading the mission, would die in that fight.

He finally spoke. "Fine. I won't ask how you got that information. But I can't allow you to join the Leviathan Hunt. At least not the current you."

He leaned forward slightly, his tone firm. "Alan, I'm going to be honest with you. Many Exorcists doubt you're truly the Monkey King's disciple.

"Letting you join a mission this important would be risky for us."

He paused for a moment, then sighed.

"But you saved my daughter. So I'll put my trust on you, and give you a chance.

"If you and your colleague reach Rank 3 before the Leviathan Hunt begins, I'll personally approve your entry."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.