The specialist quietly withdrew from the scene following captain's order, steadying his breathing, pulled out his communicator and dialed the headquarters. "This is Specialist from Squad Alpha, requesting immediate reinforcement. We've encountered a high-ranking vampire, much stronger than initially assessed. One of our scouts... didn't make it." His tone remained firm despite the grim news. A brief pause followed before the voice on the other end responded, "Understood. Stay on guard. We'll send reinforcements right away." The line cut off, leaving the squad to regroup and hold their ground.

  At the headquarters, the chief slammed a stack of reports onto the desk, his expression tense. "Inform the nearest available S-rank hunter about the situation in Valenwood," he commanded. One of the operators quickly checked the mission logs and communication channels before turning back, looking uneasy. "Sir, all S-rank hunters are currently out on missions. None are available for immediate dispatch." The chief's jaw tightened, frustration evident as he tried to think of alternatives.

  One of the operators hesitated before speaking up. "Sir, what about Ray Lin? He's an A-rank, and with all the S-ranks occupied, he's our next best option." The chief shot the operator a glare, clearly displeased. "That reckless drunkard? You think I’d call him if I had a choice?" He grumbled, rubbing his temples as the weight of the situation pressed down on him. Ray Lin was undeniably strong, but his attitude, disobedience, and carefree nature made him more of a liability than an asset. Still, the thought of losing a whole squad to a rogue vampire was unacceptable. After a moment of tense silence, he exhaled sharply, reluctantly giving in. "Damn it. We’re out of options. Get him on the line. If he wants something in return, tell him he can have it. Just make sure he gets there fast."

  The chief grumbled as he reluctantly dialed Ray Lin’s number. After a few rings, the line connected, and a lazy, almost drowsy voice came through.

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  “Ray Here, who’s this?”

  “It’s the chief. We need your assistance on an urgent mission,” the chief replied, trying to maintain his composure.

  Ray let out an exaggerated yawn. “Oh, must be pretty bad if you’re calling little old A-rank me. Did all your shiny S-ranks suddenly decide to take a vacation?”

  The chief’s eye twitched. “All our S-rank hunters are on a mission. You’re the next best option.”

  “Oh? Next best? I feel so honored,” Ray chuckled. “But, you know, I’m just an A-rank. I might trip and fall on my way there. Maybe sprain an ankle. Not sure I’m cut out for this.”

  The chief bit back a curse. “Cut the crap, Ray. It’s not the time for jokes.”

  “Aw, but joking’s my best skill. Way better than hunting vampires. Seriously, are you sure about this? I might just sit there and drink while the squad gets mauled. Sounds like something I’d do, right?”

  The chief clenched his fist. “Stop messing around! Are you going to help or not?”

  Ray’s tone turned playful. “I don’t know… What’s in it for me? Gotta make it worth my while.”

  “We don’t have time for negotiations! Just get your ass over there!”

  Ray hummed thoughtfully. “Tell you what, chief. You let me borrow that fancy bike—the one for S-ranks—and I’ll think about it.”

  “That bike is for high-ranking hunters only!”

  “Yeah, yeah. But since you’re so desperate, you might just make an exception for your good old A-rank buddy. Think of it as a little bonus for dragging me out of bed.”

  There was a long silence before the chief finally gave in. “Fine. You get the bike. Now move!”

  Ray snickered. “See? Was that so hard? I’ll be there before the squad even realizes they’re in trouble.”

  He hung up before the chief could protest, leaving the old man seething and regretting every life decision that led to this moment.

  The chief sighed in frustration, knowing they had no other choice. Reluctantly, he gave the order, his voice heavy with resignation.

  "Set the Shadow-X12 to auto-pilot and send it to Ray Lin's location," he commanded. The operators exchanged glances, unsure whether to feel relieved or worried. One of them began the sequence, inputting the coordinates as the bike roared to life.

  As the sleek, powerful machine prepared for departure, the chief muttered under his breath, "This better be worth it..."