Danny's team found solace in their private quarters after the day's events. They had ordered in, and the room was filled with the aroma of their meal. As they ate, John, with a mouthful of food, initiated a discussion that would steer the course of their evening.

"So, do we know who Ken really is? I looked up his hunter’s rank, and he's listed as G-rank," John said, a hint of disbelief in his voice.

"Really?!" Sarah and Zeus responded in unison, their expressions a mix of surprise and curiosity. Danny, however, remained the picture of serenity. His eyes, usually a beacon of warmth, now held a contemplative sheen, reflecting the depth of his strategic mind.

"Yeah, it's kind of crazy," John continued. "For a G-rank, solo hunter to not only participate in an S-rank branch but also to survive? The Hunter Corp must've had a major oversight."

Danny's lips parted in a slight, knowing smile, his calm demeanor unshaken by the revelation. "It's possible, but I suspect there's more to it. We shouldn't underestimate Ken," he advised, his voice carrying the weight of his experience.

The team nodded in agreement, recognizing the wisdom in Danny's words.

"Danny's right," Zeus added. "And let's not forget about Blake's team. Our strategy should hold against them. But for now, let's focus on understanding the other teams and refining our approach."

Sarah, browsing through her tablet, found something of interest. "It looks like our guild tried to recruit Ken a few months back, but we didn't succeed."

Danny's memory was jogged by this information. "Oh, that reminds me. I heard someone demanded a billion dollars per year and 10% ownership based on trust. That must've been Ken."

John whistled, impressed by the audacity of such a demand. "That's bold. I hope to make the transition to S-rank by next year myself."

"You're well on your way," Zeus encouraged him.

Sarah shifted the conversation to a broader topic. "I've always wondered why we're even participating in this tournament. We're all well off. They could've focused on A-rank and below."

Zeus explained, "It's about publicity—for us, the guild, and the kingdom. It's to show the world we're the best. Plus, our standing within the guild will rise based on our performance."

"And," he added, "this tournament will determine the next head of the guild. Will it be Blake, or will it be Danny?"

The conversation lulled into a brief pause as each member retreated to their own thoughts, only to be interrupted by a knock on the door. Danny rose to answer it, finding Blake on the other side.

"Blake, what are you doing here?" Danny asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.

"Hey Danny, I think we need to talk about Ken. You need to forfeit, call it personal matters," Blake stated, his tone urgent.

"I don't think I can do that—you know what our dad said to us. I don't want to get kicked out," Danny replied, his voice steady despite the gravity of Blake's request.

"Yeah, yeah, I get that, you'll become the guild master. You'll have the inheritance, but under no circumstances should you face Ken. It'll only end badly," Blake insisted.

Danny's face scrunched in concern. "What do you mean? Why did you even join the tournament when you didn't want to initially?"

Blake sighed, a rare moment of vulnerability showing through. "I did it for mom; she loves dad...she guilt-tripped me. You know us, we can land on our feet. The kicking out would be publicized as us going on our own path. But fighting Ken... it would look bad on the guild and us."

Danny pressed for more information. "Again, what do you mean about Ken, why him specifically?"

Blake created a private field, ensuring their conversation remained confidential. "Alright, so... I saw what he did and how he took the tokens, I don't know how he did it, and I don't know why he is still G-rank. Somebody messed up and didn't fix it in time. I'll need to investigate it."

"What did he do?" Danny inquired, his interest piqued.

"I think he slowed down everything. My ability to forecast my consciousness wasn't affected; I was able to observe but not move. It was extremely scary," Blake confessed.

"So have you experienced that since?" Danny asked, secretly thrilled that Blake was shut out by Ken as he couldn't really do anything against Blake one-on-one.

"No, I stopped projecting my consciousness since because I've felt stuck before this tournament, only to find out who is causing it. Thankfully, nothing of that note has happened to me since. If my team and I were to fight Ken, I don't think we could do anything really," Blake admitted, his usual confidence replaced by a hint of dread.

"What about your other ability?" Danny inquired further.

"Fire ability with spatial control won't do anything. Whatever Ken does, I'll be affected by it, and I am not sure to what extent," Blake said, running his hands through his hair in frustration.

"So, are you seriously going to forfeit?" Danny asked, seeking confirmation.

"Yeah, I've already forfeited. I don't care, didn't want to do it in the first place. Dad will understand, and if he doesn't, well... then whatever. That's why I can come to your room. Whatever you do now, I've warned you. Don't blame me later," Blake said as he turned to leave.

"What are you going to do?" Danny called out, but Blake was already out of earshot. With a sigh, Danny closed the door, only to be met with the questioning gazes of his team.

"What was that about?" Zeus asked, concern etched on his face.

"Blake forfeited from the tournament. He warned me about Ken. Told me not to fight against Ken; it'll end badly for our guild's reputation," Danny explained.

"Should we consider forfeiting too?" Sarah asked, worry coloring her tone.

"No, not at this moment. Let's see who we're up against next, then we'll make a decision," Danny decided, his leadership shining through the uncertainty.

---------------

"Yeah, I did forfeit,” Blake’s voice echoed through the tablet, a mix of defiance and concealed pain in his tone.

“…”

“No, I won’t reconsider. This is my decision.”

“…”

“You don’t understand. It’s not just about the guild—it’s about what’s right for me.”

“…”

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“Disown me? After everything we’ve been through? You’re really going to cut me off?”

“…”

“I can’t—no, I won’t be part of this any longer. It’s not who I am.”

“…”

The line went dead, the finality of the click resounding louder than any argument. Blake felt a surge of emotions, a tumultuous storm that he fought to keep at bay. He had always been the rock, unyielding and strong, but now, as he faced the stark reality of his situation, a crack appeared in his armor.

He received the notification of his dissolution from the guild with a grim acceptance. The next call was to his publicist, a last-ditch effort to control the narrative of his downfall. But the response was as cold as he had feared—another door closed in his face.

Blake’s attempt to transfer his funds was met with the harsh truth that he had never truly had control over his finances. His father’s grip was ironclad, and now, Blake was left with nothing but the will to fight back.

He couldn’t lash out against his father or the guild; it would only serve to validate their narrative. Instead, he had to rebuild, to prove them wrong on his own terms.

With a heavy heart, Blake approached the building where Ken resided. His hand hesitated for a moment before knocking on the door.

It swung open, and there stood Ken, the man who represented everything Blake had been trying to avoid.

“Hello, can I help you?” Ken’s inquiry was simple, yet it carried the weight of the unknown.

Blake took a deep breath, steadying his voice. “Hello Ken, my name is Blake. I’m an S-rank hunter. There’s something crucial I need to discuss with you, privately.”

“Sure thing, come on in,” Ken replied, stepping aside to allow Blake entry.

As Blake followed Ken into the suite, his mind raced with the possibilities of this encounter. What would come of this meeting? Only time would tell.

---------------

"Want anything to drink? I'm going to make tea for myself," Ken offered, his hazel eyes gleaming with an innocent curiosity as he set about preparing the beverage.

"Tea would be nice, thanks," Blake replied, his voice steady but his mind racing with the implications of meeting someone so unassumingly powerful.

As Ken moved around the kitchen with a lean grace, Blake took a moment to observe him. There was a simplicity in Ken's actions, a certain naivety that belied the immense power he held within. It was both disarming and terrifying.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Ken asked, handing a cup of tea to Blake with a casual ease that contrasted sharply with the tension Blake felt.

"I'm not sure how to say this, and I hope I don't offend you, but I need to understand your ability. What exactly is it?" Blake ventured, his gaze fixed on Ken, searching for any sign of the latent force he knew lurked beneath the surface.

Ken took a sip of his tea, seemingly unfazed. "Why do you want to know?" he asked, a hint of playfulness in his tone.

Blake leaned in, lowering his voice. "When my consciousness was projected, I saw you moving around freely, and I couldn't do a thing. It was like you were in a different world."

Ken's expression remained open, almost childlike in its transparency. "Couldn't move, huh? That's too bad. Well, I suppose there's no harm in telling you. It's not like it's a secret, right?" He locked eyes with Blake, his gaze holding a depth that seemed at odds with his lighthearted demeanor.

"I can invoke the pledge of truth if it makes you more comfortable," Blake offered, though he knew it was a hollow gesture against someone of Ken's capabilities.

Ken chuckled, a sound that was both warm and chilling. "No need. My ability is to slow down time. It's interesting to know it doesn't affect your consciousness, though. How does your ability work?"

Blake was taken aback, choosing not to answer Ken's question. "But that doesn't make sense. With that kind of power, why are you still ranked as a G-rank?"

Ken shrugged. "I don't know, and frankly, I don't care. I will be content living my life after I win the money from the tournament. Plus, I've been blacklisted by every guild for taking low-level missions. I reported it to Hunter Corp, but no updates. I didn't follow through, didn't see the point."

Blake felt a surge of frustration, not just at the system that could overlook someone like Ken but also at the helplessness of his own situation. "What will you do if you're kicked out of this tournament or can't continue?"

Ken's smile faded, and for a moment, a shadow crossed his face. "I joined for the money. I bet on myself to win the S-rank, so I'll get a decent payout from that. What do you think will happen if I lose out on that?" he said, the laughter gone from his voice.

Blake's heart pounded. The man before him showed a little bit of anger, enough to be a stark reminder of the difference in their standings.

"Why not go to the kingdom? Or Hunter Corp? Show them what you're capable of?" Blake pressed, unable to contain his curiosity.

Ken's eyes darkened, and suddenly, Blake felt the cold press of a knife against his neck. "I could now, but why would I ever want to lose control?" Ken whispered, the knife disappearing as quickly as it had appeared.

Blake's sweat was visible now, the fear palpable.

Ken leaned back, his demeanor shifting back to the carefree man he was moments ago. "If I wanted, I could take over the kingdom, make a few changes here and there. That isn't something I'm interested in right now, plus I don't know how to run a country. How did you find me, anyway? Aren't you supposed to be in the tournament?"

Blake exhaled slowly, trying to regain his composure. "I forfeited, and then I requested where you are currently staying, wasn't too hard of my stature. I wasn't going to embarrass myself, and I never really wanted to be part of it in the first place."

---------------

"Why did you forfeit?" Ken's question cut through the silence, his tone devoid of the complexities of familial ties.

Blake hesitated, a storm of emotions brewing behind his eyes. "My father... he's a tyrant. Obedience is not optional in our family, and those who resist... they're erased."

"You have siblings?" Ken's curiosity was evident, though he lacked the frame of reference for such bonds.

A bitter chuckle escaped Blake. "I had siblings, besides Danny. They weren't strong, didn't toe the line... and they paid dearly for it."

"They were punished for their defiance?" Ken's voice was soft, his features shadowed by a rare flicker of empathy.

"Punished is too kind a word," Blake murmured, a sorrowful edge to his words. "They were assassinated, their deaths staged as accidents. It's all about maintaining the facade of control."

Ken absorbed this in silence, his orphan's heart reaching out to the pain of a brother's loss.

"I can't fathom such loss," Ken finally said, his voice a quiet echo in the room.

"It's the harsh truth of our world. In my family, power and absolute obedience are the only currencies that matter."

"And your mother?" Ken ventured, his gaze steady and inviting trust.

"She's trapped, just like the rest of us. A powerful S-rank hunter, yet bound to his will, whether willingly or out of fear."

The weight of Blake's confession lingered between them, a testament to the tangled web of family loyalty and power.

"So, what's your next move?" Ken asked, the empathy in his voice genuine and unwavering.

Blake's determination was clear. "I can't return to that life, Ken. I need to stay away, to forge a new existence—one that's not overshadowed by his control."

Ken nodded, understanding the need for a fresh start. "You're welcome to join me. We both stand apart from the world in our own ways; maybe together, we can find our place in it."

Blake's eyes met Ken's, a silent question within them. "Are you sure? I don't want to be a burden."

"It's not a burden," Ken replied with a slight smile. "It's an opportunity. We have much to learn from each other."

The offer was subtle, yet it spoke volumes to Blake. It was an unspoken pact of mutual support, a shared journey neither of them had to face alone. "Alright, Ken. Let's see where this road takes us."

Together, they would navigate the challenges ahead, their alliance a quiet understanding that went beyond words.

Blake's stay in the suite, was a stark reminder of his current state of limbo. The room, while comfortable and reminiscent of his previous accommodations, was just a transient space—a place to rest but not to call home.

As he settled into the room, Blake couldn't help but feel the impermanence of his situation. The walls, adorned with generic art, seemed to echo the hollowness he felt inside. This was not a place meant for long-term residence; it was a stopgap, a brief respite from the turmoil of his life.

-----

As Sir Leonard scrutinized the silent footage of Ken, a frown creased his brow. "A misstep by the Hunter Corp, or a deliberate oversight?" he pondered, the light from the fountain casting a glow on his contemplative face. "To leave a hunter of such caliber at G-rank... it's either incompetence or cunning strategy."

The creatures in the tanks seemed to stir, reflecting the tension in the air. Leonard's telekinetic prowess was on display as he sipped his tea, considering the implications. "If it's a mistake, it's one that could cost the Corp dearly. But if it's intentional, then Ken is a wildcard they've knowingly played."

A silent servant appeared at the door, awaiting instructions. "Prepare a dossier on Ken," Leonard instructed without looking away from the screen. "I want to know everything—every mission, every encounter. The Corp's error in judgment, whether by accident or design, has made him the most intriguing figure in this tournament."

The servant bowed and retreated, leaving Leonard alone with his thoughts. "Ken, you've become the eye of a storm you may not even be aware of," he mused. "And I intend to find out why."