After leaving the park, we pile into the minivan the girls use to travel between gates.
I usually take the underground or the bus; public transport in the city is reliable, and thanks to my [Item Box], I don't need to lug around any gear. But after a run, I tend to travel with my party to the association to settle the paperwork and loot distribution.
Miria takes the wheel, Lexi and Sylvia slide into the back seats, and I'm directed to sit up front beside the team leader. As soon as we're on the road, she launches into a conversation I'd been expecting.
"After what happened in the boss chamber," Miria begins, eyes focused on the road, "your usual flat fee plus ten percent just isn't enough. Honestly, I think you should get twenty-five percent of everything."
I frown. "We had an agreement, flat fee plus ten percent. It doesn't feel right to change the deal after the fact just because things went sideways."
Miria doesn't even hesitate. "Sorry, Xavier, but I'm not taking no for an answer. I'm sure the others agree too." I glance into the back seat, Lexi and Sylvia both nod without hesitation.
"As team leader, I have discretionary rights to adjust pay based on performance," she continues. "And in my judgment, twenty-five percent is more than fair. Even if we stuck to the original agreement, I'd just give you a bonus afterward, so let's not waste time arguing. Just smile and accept it."
I sigh in mock defeat. "I really can't win with you, can I? Fine. Thank you for your generosity, team leader."
She laughs. "No, thank you for clearing the boss and getting us out of those cages. None of us wanted to become breeding stock for those filthy little green freaks. You saved us, it's only right that your reward reflects that."
Another glance into the back seat, another pair of grateful nods.
It takes us about fifteen minutes to reach the Gate-Runners' Association. It's less of a building and more of an industrial complex, a cluster of blocky units, each dedicated to a specific purpose.
After parking, we head to the unit that handles gate loot. This is where corpses, mana crystals, and miscellaneous items get sorted, valued, and sold.
Because I'm a male Awakened and have a [Item Box], I'm easily recognized here. The staff usher us into a back room where I begin unloading everything we collected.
A clerk with a clipboard watches, counting each item as it appears.
"There are forty-seven regular goblin corpses and one headless goblin shaman," he notes. "The goblin corpses go for $80 apiece. The shaman's corpse, without the head, is worth $100. The rest of the loot, including mana crystals and miscellaneous items, totals $1,470. Altogether, that's $5,330. Acceptable?"
We agree to the total, and Miria instructs them to divide it four ways. The clerk glances at me, eyebrows raised. He clearly knows I usually only take ten percent. I've been doing this job for nearly three years, and this is the first time I've walked away with such a large cut.
After the money transfer is confirmed, we head to the administrative wing to officially report the gate subjugation. The staff there awards us another $5,000, the standard bounty for clearing an E-rank gate. Once again, my larger-than-usual share earns me a curious look.
Getting paid for the gate clear itself has never been part of my usual arrangement. My standard fee is $500 per day plus ten percent of the loot. If we'd gone by that, I'd be walking away with just over $1,000. Instead, my take-home for today is closer to $2,300.
We finish signing the necessary paperwork. That's when I drop the real bombshell.
"Now that that's done, I'd like to report a reawakening. It happened inside the gate."
The receptionist freezes. Her mouth opens, but no words come out, just a stunned, fish-like motion. After a moment, she stammers out a few words and hurries to get her supervisor.
A middle-aged man in a well-fitted business suit appears and promptly escorts us into a private room.
This room is very different from the utilitarian ones we've been in. Though simple in layout, two plush sofas facing each other with a low table between them, the furnishings themselves are made from Gate wood. I recognize it instantly. Rare and expensive, it only comes from high-level forest gates. Even the grain of the wood radiates power.
The supervisor returns, placing a small crystal orb on the table in front of me.
"Before anything else, we need to reassess your rank," he explains.
I've done this once before, when I first awakened and was registered as an F-rank. I lean forward, place my palm over the orb, and will my mana into it.
The crystal lights up immediately. It starts with a pale, colorless glow, then deepens to green. A few seconds later, it shifts to blue, then flickers to purple before cycling back again, caught in a rhythmic pulse between the two hues.
"Incredible," the man murmurs. "That glow places you at rank D, but the fluctuation means you're not done yet. There's more potential, likely significant growth to come."
He quickly records the result in their system. "Your current rank will be updated today. Within the next few days, someone will reach out to schedule a formal interview and deeper assessment. And in the future, if you feel your power has grown again, don't wait, come straight here."
I nod, silently digesting the implications. A few hours ago, I'd been chained up and marked for sacrifice. Now I'm walking away not only alive, but stronger, richer, and officially on the radar.
There's a lot to figure out, about myself, about the Genoforge system that unlocked, and about what comes next.
But for now, all I can do is exhale slowly and let the weight of the day settle.