The evening had just come alive.
The sound system blasting on max volume.
'This is it, huh? The first ceremony I get to attend as a hunter,' Rean thought.
The hunter award ceremony is always broadcast. It's just that there's a bunch of exclusive segments that never make it to the news.
Most channels are only allowed to record and make content surrounding the top performers. This way, the public is always kept in the know. It's done this way to allow general members of the public to know the top hunters and guilds in the nation.
Most hunters who are worth their salt mark an attendance.
"Emm, hey, hello sir. Good evening. Do we have anything, a word from you to sign in to this amazing ceremony?" one reporter asked a hunter who had just arrived in a limo.
"Well, I make it my business to be where the party is at. Have a wonderful evening." This hunter was Seral Lush.
'Crap, I am still yet to swap out contacts and make actual friends. This night is going to be long and lonely,' Rean thought to himself.
"Hey, stranger," someone said, waving to him.
It was Porter.
"Come over here."
Rean walked over. He found out the Association reserved a specific amount of tables per guild, the amount of tables corresponding to their performance.
"So you mean the Black Cranes got only 3 tables?" Rean asked.
"Yuh, impressed, right?" Zeta responded.
"Yuh, it is. Plenty impressive."
It seemed Rean was the last to arrive. Everyone was already talking and exchanging information and stuff.
"Hey, give me your phone," Rose asked, immediately taking the phone off Rean without him even agreeing yet.
"Here's my contact, and then here's the group chat."
"Strange how Porter didn't add you in," Rose said, looking off at some hot dude in the distance.
Almost entranced by the act, Porter snapped Rean back to reality.
"Don't take the wrong thing out of that interaction, Rean. She's like that with everyone," Porter said.
"Oh, yuh, sure. I know, man," Rean responded, his words all dragging their way out.
"So when is this event getting started officially? I feel like I have had more than enough to drink," Miles said.
"If you're getting bored, Miles, then let's hit the dance floor," Rose replied.
"Sure," Miles said.
The two held hands and made their way over to where the others were dancing.
'Micheal hasn't said anything. His eyes look dead. Is he even here? I don't get it. What the hell is going on? Is he uninterested or something?' Rean thought.
'Wait, what's going on? Why do I get fixated on Michael? It was just that one time. I need to calm down.'
"Hey Rean," Michael called out. "Congratulations on your brother ranking higher."
Michael ended.
'What? Michael finally spoke and that's all he says? Why the congratulations though, and how does he even know this?' Rean continued.
'Of course, parties involved in the award ceremony are informed of their status before the ceremony itself. Shom talked about this briefly,' Rean still in thought. 'But...'
Before long, the event proper would begin.
A voice over the mic resounded.
"Please, let's take our National Anthem."
Immediately all present arose, hands on their chest, reciting in unison.
"Ok, thank you. That was... just thank you," the man said.
"My name is Harvey Silk and I'll be your host this evening."
"Before I get into what everyone's been wanting to hear all this time, let me ask you hunters a very important question."
Tension immediately grew.
There was no mention of any evaluation or secret test.
'What is going on here?' Rean thought.
"Ok, I can ask, huh?" Harvey confirmed.
"Are you enjoying yourselves, hunters?"
Immediately the event hall burst into noise.
Filled with so many remarks and expectations.
"That guy is funny," someone said.
"Don't set us up like that, man," another said.
"Ok," Harvey said, pulling an envelope from his pocket.
"Let's get this party started."
"Oh, and those who made their bets, those who invested in this ceremony, guilds and hunters. I hope your investment pays off."
Some people didn't just watch the stream at home because of the entertainment, for fun, or even as a patriot.
This day was known well to be for the gamblers.
It was simple.
You bet on the stocks of top guilds and hunters. This is done at the beginning of the new cycle so that no rigging occurs.
These bets were placed about 6 months ago.
"There were 1,400 guilds active over the last 6 months. Not registered, active," Harvey emphasized.
"The number is massive, but the Association seems to only want me to announce the top 10 guilds like they do every time."
"At tenth place, we have the New Stone Guild with 10 B-rank gates cleared and 1 A-rank gate raided," Harvey shouted.
"Please members of the New Stone in attendance, stand up and take a bow."
The hunters stood and got applauded. The entire hall was cheering them on.
'This is a lot. They don't even get called by their names, but you can feel the heat. The appreciation. I want that,' Rean thought.
"What's even more crazy is the fact that the A-rank raid wasn't completed. It was merely participation," Rean said.
"At ninth place, the Flame Giants Guild. With a ratio of 50 B-rank gates cleared," Harvey announced.
Their members arose and received applause.
"At the eighth place, we have the Mighty Hand Guild. 20 B-rank gates and 2 A-rank gates cleared," Harvey said.
"At seventh, we have the Burning Hearts Guild. With a ratio of 10 B-rank gates cleared and 5 A-rank," Harvey continued.
"Next is the Heavenly Faith Guild with a ratio of 20 B-rank and 6 A-rank gates cleared."
"Fifth is the Monster Hunters Guild. With 22 B-rank gates cleared and 1 power gate."
The hall went silent.
The Monster Hunters placed high, unusually so.
'The power gate they raided must have been next level, and they cleared it. Wow,' Rean thought. 'We are...'
"The Black Cranes!" the announcer shouted.
"With 60 B-rank gates cleared and 4 A-ranks."
The crowd erupted in cheer.
"Please arise so we can acknowledge your efforts."
'Their cheers... they're cheering for me, for all of us,' Rean thought, almost with an emotional accent.
'No.'
Something crept in.
'This cheer is not for you. You're here for one thing, and you're still yet to make a name for yourself, yet to go on a proper raid. This is someone else's glory. Don't be dumb and let that get into your head.'
Rean smiled, feeding into his own toxic mindset.
"Now for the final three," Harvey said.
"James Rebirths comes in at 3rd place, a whole step down from last time."
"Their ratio — 10 B-rank gates, 8 A-rank gates, and a power gate."
"At second place, barely edging the latter, we have the Venus Flame with a ratio of 10 B-rank gates, 8 A-rank gates, and 2 power gates."
"Damn, just one stat made the difference. That's brutal," someone noted.
"And now the undisputed for years, our top guild in this fine country — the East Wind Tornado."
"With an all-sweeping ratio of 100 B-rank gates, 20 A-rank gates, and 10 power gates cleared."
The cheer was wild.
It was wilder than anything Rean or the world might have ever seen.
'Those guys... their cheers. This feeling. This rush. This is the nation's top. Wow,' Rean thought with nothing but thrill in his mind.