Emma and her team stiffened, obviously shocked. An offer like that was unheard of for someone with my rank. Just letting a grunt E join a Guild with this level of prestige would be considered generous.

I continued to look at President Price, not letting my thoughts show. He wasn’t interested in signing me, he was interested in signing an S Ranked Hunter’s friend. S’s normally didn’t join Guilds. They didn’t need to since the government paid them a lot of money to get rid of the stronger monsters in the Gate — on top of whatever income they got from selling the monster’s byproducts. But there were a couple S Hunters in a Guild, like the Soul Fae Guild and Frost Guild, mostly because their friends were in the Guilds. And any Guild with an S was automatically bumped to the top of the pyramid.

I looked into Price’s face and shook my head. “No, thank you.” There wasn’t an ounce of negotiation in my tone.

True, a contract like that would solve all my financial needs, even without knowing the full number he was offering. But no amount of money would be worth all the trouble I’d get in exchange.

I could only imagine how ugly Price would turn when he found out that he offered a high contract to an E, thinking he got a cash cow, only to find out it was a pile of manure instead? I knew one hundred percent, signing me would not rope Kesstel in. Not to mention Blake was in this Guild. Even with Emma to smooth it over, I refused to commit to a Guild with that asshole in it. If we were in the same Guild, who knew how often we’d run into each other? Since Price and Blake were obviously on good terms and Price was interested in me, I’d probably see him more than I wanted.

Not to mention the Guild requirements I’d have to fulfill while eyes watched for slip ups from everywhere. It just wouldn’t work with my System, which seemed determined to keep me solo.

President Price’s eyes flared wide and he froze like a statue, obviously not expecting a little E to reject his generous offer without even taking the time to think about it.

Emma and the rest of her crew gasped, just as surprised.

Price took a deep breath and found his smile again. “Miss —”

“Since the expedition is over, there are things that I need to do. But it was nice to meet you, President Price.” I bobbed my head at him, then smiled at Emma. “I guess this is goodbye for now.” I looked at the rest of the team. “Thanks for letting me hang out with you all.”

Emma blinked out of her shock and stepped forward. “I’ll accompany you.” She nodded a quick hello-goodbye at her Guild president and followed me as I walked through the crowd.

The Hunters were still split, creating a clear pathway to the pale purple teleportation circle. They all stared at me with mixed emotions, from ridicule for declining the president’s generous offer to relief that an weak E wouldn’t be joining their Guild after all. I took a page out of Kesstel’s book and walked with my chin up, as calm and steady on the outside as I didn’t feel inside. Emma walked at my side and kept glancing at me, a question on her face. The rest of Emma’s group caught up to us just as we reached the teleportation circle.

But my whole attention was drawn to Blake, just ten feet away.

Mark had a hold of his elbow and he was pulling Blake up to his feet. The two men looked at me. Mark’s face was uncertain and confused. There was also a strong note of recognition in his eyes. He remembered who I was — and the fact that I should be dead. Blake’s features were more extreme. Anger and blame burned in his eyes as his brows knotted together, turning his handsome face almost ugly. Even though he didn’t know I was involved in the energy crystal fiasco, he’d obviously credited me with the humiliation he’d just suffered under Kesstel’s hand.

Blake threw Mark’s hands off and stood up straight. He lifted his chin and sneered down his nose at me. “What do you think you’re looking at?” he snarled.

An asshole. “Nothing,” I said evenly. “I’m looking at absolutely nothing.” Because he was nothing. Before he could come up with something else, I stepped into the teleportation circle. My body became weightless and, a second later, I was hurtling across the sky at a breathtaking rate towards the Gate at the middle of Gate Vale.

I landed on the other side and took a couple running steps to get rid of the momentum the magic circle had put on my body. The last time I’d come out of the circle on this side, it was with an injured crew and there were healers waiting for us. That wasn’t the case now. A couple Hunters exiting the Gate looked over at me before they disregarded me entirely and exited the Vale.

As soon as I was clear, Emma landed, followed by Mason, Billy, Morgan, Kip, and Nick. Ever the perfectly supportive team.

I couldn’t help but look at them. If Blake’s team had an ounce of the work ethic and diligence that these six lower leveled Hunters had, his team would be frighteningly strong. I couldn’t even think of everything that they’d be able to do. I mean, with the talent that Blake had in his team, they wouldn’t even really need to rely on a giant crystal or new recruits to increase the ranking of the Stone Mace Guild. I could tell that with a glance. But he was wasting their talent, instead of setting them up to grow and be the best they could be. Sad, really. Didn’t any of them realize Blake was holding them back?

Mentally, I shook my head. If only those Hunters were under Mason. He was too much of a goody-goody, but he was a good team leader.

Emma walked up to me. “Jyn, are you sure you don’t want to join our Guild? I mean, a top tier contract is … amazing. Like high six-digits-a-year amazing.”

I shook my head. “I’m not who Price thinks I am. I was just lucky that Kesstel was there to save me, that’s all.” I checked the time on my main menu then smiled at her. “But I do actually have to go. It’s already 4PM, and there are things that I have to do before sunset. We’ll have to hangout sometime outside of the Gate.” I still had to cultivate for thirty minutes and destroy five energy crystals. Ah, I guess I only needed to destroy four now.

Mason held out his hand. “I have to say, you’re a lot tougher than I thought. I can see why Emma idolizes you so much.”

She blushed and looked down.

I shook his hand. “Thanks. Emma’s in a good team.” I nodded at all of them.

Mason let go. “We’ll contact you in a couple days with your pay.”

Technically, my pay was under contract so I knew what I should be getting. But it wouldn’t surprise me if I actually got less than contracted. After all, the Stone Mace Guild wasn’t going to be getting the huge paycheck they gambled for. It made me wonder how the teams were going to be paid — if they were going to be paid for the trouble they went through. The Guild took a huge hit and I was making out like a bandit. I felt bad for Emma and her team, but not for the Guild as a whole.

What I felt most guilty over was Eden and Garden City hospitals. Since that energy crystal was supposed to go to them, they were the true losers in this mess. But for Earth’s sake, I’d destroy the crystal again in a heartbeat. Anything to hold off the parasite planet for a little longer until I could figure out a way to make it go away.

I waved at them and turned. “Goodbye.”

“Wait!” Billy stepped forward and reached for my arm.

I side-stepped his hand and turned to face him. “What?”

His fingers closed into a fist and he scowled as he dropped his hand back to his side. “Is it my fault that you turned down the contract?” He rushed on before I could answer. “I know what I said this morning about joining the team, but turning down a chance like this is a dumbass move. I don’t know what you mean by, ‘it’s not what President Price thinks,’ but you’re never going to get a deal better than this.”

My lips pulled to the side and I shook my head. “My decision had nothing to do with what you said this morning.” Honestly, so much has happened since he threatened me, I’d forgotten about it until now. “I don’t partner up. It’s as simple as that.”

Even though I knew they were a good team, I wasn’t a part of them. I didn’t want to be a part of them. I’d never get any EXP if I was. And now that I made such a strong negative impression on Blake, I had a feeling that I was going to need to get stronger even faster.

With that in mind, I turned and made my way to Fogmire to cultivate.

*****