Once they returned from their mission, the three appeared at the teleportation base. There, waiting for them with a wide grin from ear to ear, was the President. As soon as he saw them materialize, he hurried over and shook each of their hands one by one.
"I was really worried the mission wouldn't go well. Honestly... I apologize. I thought you wouldn't manage to complete it successfully," he said sincerely.
The three smiled, even though the President had just admitted he had counted them out.
"If it hadn't been for Kairo, I'm not sure we would have come back in one piece," added Racher.
"Well… not exactly in one piece," Kairo replied with a tired smile. "I almost died there."
The President looked him up and down in amazement and let out a small chuckle.
"Die? But you look perfectly fine. You're even better off than Racher, who has a nasty cut on his face."
"I took an axe blow to the back. Honestly, I was close to dying. The Chronocore even triggered a critical danger alert," Kairo explained. "Luckily, by defeating Trid, I leveled up twice and got a skill called Miracle Recovery. Its effect is to completely heal any injury if your life drops below 10%."
"I've never heard of that skill before. How curious..." said the President, frowning. "But it'll come in handy in critical situations. You're lucky to still be alive."
"Yes… very lucky," Kairo nodded with a smile. "Though it can only be used once a year, so from now on I'll have to be more careful not to need it again."
"It's a shame it can only be used once a year. It seemed like a really useful skill, but it has a big downside with such a strict limit," replied the President. Then, after a brief pause, he turned to one of the nearby assistants. "Bring the reward for our heroes."
As the employee went off to fulfill the order, the President looked back at the group with a proud expression.
"Here's your pay: 500 Riones each for this mission, and an extra 200 Riones for Kairo and Robert for their work in Virelia. You've earned it."
"Thank you, sir," said Robert, accepting his with a slight bow.
"We appreciate it a lot," added Racher, smiling sincerely.
Kairo looked at his envelope reverently, as if it held a trophy. It was his first official reward, his first salary as a Star Hero.
"I can't believe it..." he murmured, more to himself than the others. "Two missions, and I'm already getting a real paycheck. This feels... incredible."
"You earned it, kid," Racher said, patting him on the back. "You deserve it more than anyone."
Kairo nodded, holding back his emotions. That money wasn't just a number: it was tangible proof he was making progress, that he wasn't just a rank F with no future. It was a step toward something bigger.
"I'm glad you're satisfied with your pay. Now it's time for a well-deserved rest… especially you, Kairo. You're new, and you've already completed two consecutive missions. Honestly, it's something I've never seen since I became President of Heroes. Sorry for the pressure we put on you. You've earned several days off. Enjoy them, you deserve it."
"Thanks, I'll rest well… but I'm eager to keep improving. So, as soon as there's a mission available that I can join, any mission, don't hesitate to call me. I want to give my best," said Kairo enthusiastically.
"You surprise me. I could count on one hand the Heroes who have shown such enthusiasm for self-improvement. As soon as we have something suitable for you, we'll call you. Don't doubt it," replied the President, impressed.
It was already night when they left the Hero Association building. The city was lit by street lamps, and a gentle night breeze accompanied them as they walked. Kairo walked beside Robert, wearing a calm smile, while Racher stretched his arms with a yawn.
"Well, guys..." said Racher, stopping in front of them. "Good job. I'm going home to sleep for at least two days straight."
"You earned it," Robert replied with a small laugh.
"See you soon. And Kairo, good job in there. I hope we work together on a future mission," added Racher before turning and heading down one of the city streets.
Kairo and Robert watched him walk away until he disappeared into the crowd.
"I'm sure when you get home, your parents will be super proud of how well you did on the mission," Robert commented with a smile, giving him a pat on the shoulder.
Kairo looked down a bit, though he didn't lose his smile completely.
"I don't have parents," he said softly but calmly. "My only family is my grandfather, and yes... I'm sure he'll be very happy when I tell him how these two missions went."
Robert nodded, this time with a more serious expression.
"Your grandfather must be very proud of you. And he'll be even more when he sees how far you can go."
Kairo looked up at the starry sky and let out a small laugh.
"I hope so."