Silver crest Guild did not make informal invitations.
Three days after Gate Nine, a formal notice arrived at Jae-min's registered contact address. The document was structured with legal clarity rather than promotional enthusiasm, outlining evaluation privileges, resource allocation tiers, and performance-based advancement tracks.
The invitation did not exaggerate its tone.
It assumed value rather than attempting to create it.
Jae-min read the terms carefully before closing the document.
Silvercrest offered structured dungeon access above D-Rank threshold, sponsored training facilities, and controlled exposure to national ranking circuits. In exchange, the guild required operational priority and public affiliation.
Across Orion City, the ranking board continued cycling his Conditional D-Rank designation. The provisional tag no longer drew surprise. It drew expectation.
Expectation created pressure.
That afternoon, he arrived at Silvercrest's headquarters at the scheduled time.
The lobby was expansive without being ostentatious. Guild branding remained present but restrained. Performance metrics of current members rotated along a curved display wall, highlighting recent dungeon clears and promotion milestones.
Hae-in met him near the entrance rather than sending an assistant.
"Seojun prefers to conduct discussions personally," she said as they walked toward the upper floors.
"I assumed as much," he replied.
Inside the conference room overlooking the skyline, Seojun stood beside a projection displaying comparative growth trajectories.
"Conditional D-Rank within days is rare," Seojun began without preamble. "Even rarer is controlled variance under observation."
Jae-min took a seat opposite him.
"You value sustainability," Jae-min said.
"I value predictability," Seojun corrected calmly. "Unpredictable growth destabilizes systems."
Hae-in remained seated slightly to the side, observing rather than leading.
"Silvercrest can accelerate your climb responsibly," Seojun continued. "Higher-tier gates require political clearance. Media narratives require positioning. Guild backing provides insulation."
"Insulation narrows independence," Jae-min replied evenly.
Seojun did not appear offended.
"Independence without leverage is fragile," he said. "You have leverage. The question is how you intend to use it."
Silence settled briefly between them, not tense but deliberate.
Before Jae-min could respond, Hae-in's tablet vibrated with an incoming alert.
Her expression shifted subtly as she read the notification.
"Gate Twelve," she said quietly. "Emergency fluctuation detected."
Seojun stepped closer.
Gate Twelve was classified as D-Rank High, occasionally bordering C-Rank volatility. Emergency fluctuation indicated unstable mana surges, often preceding elite migration or partial gate expansion.
"Deployment teams?" Seojun asked.
"Two squads en route," Hae-in replied. "Response window estimated at twelve minutes."
Seojun's attention returned to Jae-min.
"This is not a controlled evaluation," he said. "It is a live incident."
Jae-min stood.
"Which means metrics will be unfiltered," he replied.
Hae-in looked at him directly.
"Entering Gate Twelve under emergency conditions would accelerate scrutiny," she said. "But it would also clarify ceiling."
Seojun studied him carefully.
"You are not obligated," Seojun added.
Jae-min considered the situation without visible hesitation.
Controlled growth had defined his approach thus far.
But emergency incidents altered perception differently than evaluations.
"I will enter," he said.
Seojun's expression shifted slightly, not in surprise but in recognition.
"Then we move immediately."
Gate Twelve's perimeter buzzed with urgency.
Association vehicles lined the entrance platform while response squads prepared to deploy. Mana readings displayed on the external monitor fluctuated erratically, suggesting internal instability beyond standard D-Rank thresholds.
Hae-in secured her blade while reviewing the latest terrain projection.
"Central chamber is destabilizing," she said. "If the elite migrates toward the exit corridor, civilian zones could be exposed."
Jae-min activated Reinforcement internally without escalating output, calibrating his baseline for emergency engagement.
The gate activated with heavier mana pressure than previous assignments.
Inside, the environment felt unstable.
Rock formations vibrated faintly as mana currents pulsed unpredictably through the cavern system.
A squad of D-Rank hunters engaged two elite variants near the central corridor, struggling to maintain formation.
"Flanking collapse in progress," one hunter shouted.
Jae-min assessed quickly.
Escalating too aggressively would expose his scaling curve prematurely.
But insufficient force would prolong instability.
He advanced alongside Hae-in without verbal coordination.
Reinforcement activated at B-Tier integrated smoothly as he intercepted an elite's charge, redirecting its momentum away from the collapsing squad formation. Hae-in capitalized on the opening with efficient strikes targeting weakened armor seams.
The engagement unfolded with controlled aggression rather than reckless force.
Above ground, Seojun monitored live feed with tightened focus.
"Mana fluctuation rising," an analyst warned. "Core instability threshold approaching C-Rank variance."
Inside the cavern, a deeper surge pulsed through the central chamber.
The primary elite of Gate Twelve emerged.
It was larger than expected for D-Rank classification.
Plating density suggested near C-Rank resilience.
Hae-in adjusted her stance.
"This exceeds projected threshold," she said.
"Yes," Jae-min replied.
The elite lunged with force that fractured stone upon impact.
This time, restraint narrowed dangerously.
Jae-min calculated margin.
If he maintained B-Tier output, prolonged engagement risked structural collapse near the exit corridor.
If he escalated, observers would recalibrate perception immediately.
He made the decision.
Reinforcement surged beyond prior visible threshold.
The adjustment remained controlled but unmistakable.
His acceleration sharpened.
His strike fractured plating with decisive impact.
The elite staggered.
Hae-in recognized the shift instantly and synchronized her movement without hesitation, targeting the exposed mana core with precision.
The chamber trembled as the elite collapsed.
Silence followed, heavy but stable.
On the surface, analysts stared at the data feed.
"That was above recorded D-Rank ceiling," one said quietly.
Seojun did not respond immediately.
Inside the gate, Jae-min allowed Reinforcement to fade gradually rather than abruptly.
The system interface pulsed again.
[Upgrade Available]
This time, the margin had narrowed.
Outside the gate, the ranking board began recalibrating.
Conditional designation no longer reflected reality.
And for the first time, the climb had shifted from controlled anomaly to undeniable disruption.