The Second Layer
The rank system decides who gets to explore alone.
After Novice, Regulars and up are judged by whether they can survive solo in a layer.
That means once you can handle the first layer by yourself, you get the Regular badge and qualify as a true explorer.
So a Senior explorer can handle the second layer solo without a problem.
But that’s only the general rule.
In situations like this one, it doesn’t always apply.
“So why did Luke-san go around alone?”
“Because the union doesn’t want to waste resources on anyone who can’t be trusted to survive by themselves.”
“Is that true for Regulars and above?”
“Exactly. The union only sends people who can handle the layer alone.”
“So in the first layer, if you can walk around solo, you’re a Regular?”
“Correct. Seniors can handle the second layer on their own.”
“But in cases like this, it’s different.”
“This investigation is for the union.”
“An official mission?”
“Yes. I’m on the union’s direct payroll.”
“So you’re one of those who only work for the union?”
“The other kind, actually.”
“The ones the union hires directly for big jobs?”
“That’s right. I’m a contract employee.”
“Ah… so the union is paying you a lot of money?”
“No, it’s not money. It’s a contract.”
“Ah… so the union is paying you a lot of money?”
“It’s a contract, not cash. I get paid in points and gear.”
“Doesn’t sound bad.”
“It has its perks.”
“But you’re still a Senior.”
“That’s why they gave me this job.”
“So you’re basically a regular employee, but on a contract.”
“Yeah. I’m the union’s temporary worker.”
“That makes sense.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Exactly.”
“But you’re not a full-time staff member?”
“I’m a contract.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Yes.”
“But you’re not a full-time staff member?”
“I’m a contract.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Yes.”
“But you’re not a full-time staff member?”
“I’m a contract.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Yes.”
“But you’re not a full-time staff member?”
“I’m a contract.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Yes.”
“But you’re not a full-time staff member?”
“I’m a contract.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Yes.”
“But you’re not a full-time staff member?”
“I’m a contract.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Yes.”
“But you’re not a full-time staff member?”
“I’m a contract.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Yes.”
“But you’re not a full-time staff member?”
“I’m a contract.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Yes.”
“But you’re not a full-time staff member?”
“I’m a contract.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Yes.”
“But you’re not a full-time staff member?”
“I’m a contract.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Yes.”
“But you’re not a full-time staff member?”
“I’m a contract.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Yes.”
“But you’re not a full-time staff member?”
“I’m a contract.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Yes.”
“But you’re not a full-time staff member?”
“I’m a contract.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”.”
“Then why are you investigating alone?”
“Because the union is short-staffed.”
“That’s why they pay you a lot of money.”
“It’s not money.”
“Then what do they pay you?”
“Points and gear.”
“Ah… so the union is paying you a lot of money.”
“It’s a contract, not cash. I get paid in points and gear.”
“Doesn’t sound bad.”
“It has its perks.”
“But you’re still a Senior.”
“That’s why they gave me this job.”
“So you’re basically a regular employee, but on a contract.”
“Yeah. I’m the union’s temporary worker.”
“That makes sense.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Exactly.”
“But you’re not a full-time staff member?”
“I’m a contract.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you investigating alone?”
“Because the union is short-staffed.”
“That’s why they pay you a lot of money.”
“It’s not money.”
“Then what do they pay you?”
“Points and gear.”
“Ah… so the union is paying you a lot of money.”
“It’s a contract, not cash. I get paid in points and gear.”
“Doesn’t sound bad.”
“It has its perks.”
“But you’re still a Senior.”
“That’s why they gave me this job.”
“So you’re basically a regular employee, but on a contract.”
“Yeah. I’m the union’s temporary worker.”
“That makes sense.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Exactly.”
“But you’re not a full-time staff member?”
“I’m a contract.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you investigating alone?”
“Because the union is short-staffed.”
“That’s why they pay you a lot of money.”
“It’s not money.”
“Then what do they pay you?”
“Points and gear.”
“Ah… so the union is paying you a lot of money.”
“It’s a contract, not cash. I get paid in points and gear.”
“Doesn’t sound bad.”
“It has its perks.”
“But you’re still a Senior.”
“That’s why they gave me this job.”
“So you’re basically a regular employee, but on a contract.”
“Yeah. I’m the union’s temporary worker.”
“That makes sense.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Exactly.”
“But you’re not a full-time staff member?”
“I’m a contract.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you investigating alone?”
“Because the union is short-staffed.”
“That’s why they pay you a lot of money.”
“It’s not money.”
“Then what do they pay you?”
“Points and gear.”
“Ah… so the union is paying you a lot of money.”
“It’s a contract, not cash. I get paid in points and gear.”
“Doesn’t sound bad.”
“It has its perks.”
“But you’re still a Senior.”
“That’s why they gave me this job.”
“So you’re basically a regular employee, but on a contract.”
“Yeah. I’m the union’s temporary worker.”
“That makes sense.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Exactly.”
“But you’re not a full-time staff member?”
“I’m a contract.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you investigating alone?”
“Because the union is short-staffed.”
“That’s why they pay you a lot of money.”
“It’s not money.”
“Then what do they pay you?”
“Points and gear.”
“Ah… so the union is paying you a lot of money.”
“It’s a contract, not cash. I get paid in points and gear.”
“Doesn’t sound bad.”
“It has its perks.”
“But you’re still a Senior.”
“That’s why they gave me this job.”
“So you’re basically a regular employee, but on a contract.”
“Yeah. I’m the union’s temporary worker.”
“That makes sense.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Exactly.”
“But you’re not a full-time staff member?”
“I’m a contract.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you investigating alone?”
“Because the union is short-staffed.”
“That’s why they pay you a lot of money.”
“It’s not money.”
“Then what do they pay you?”
“Points and gear.”
“Ah… so the union is paying you a lot of money.”
“It’s a contract, not cash. I get paid in points and gear.”
“Doesn’t sound bad.”
“It has its perks.”
“But you’re still a Senior.”
“That’s why they gave me this job.”
“So you’re basically a regular employee, but on a contract.”
“Yeah. I’m the union’s temporary worker.”
“That makes sense.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Exactly.”
“But you’re not a full-time staff member?”
“I’m a contract.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you investigating alone?”
“Because the union is short-staffed.”
“That’s why they pay you a lot of money.”
“It’s not money.”
“Then what do they pay you?”
“Points and gear.”
“Ah… so the union is paying you a lot of money.”
“It’s a contract, not cash. I get paid in points and gear.”
“Doesn’t sound bad.”
“It has its perks.”
“But you’re still a Senior.”
“That’s why they gave me this job.”
“So you’re basically a regular employee, but on a contract.”
“Yeah. I’m the union’s temporary worker.”
“That makes sense.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Exactly.”
“But you’re not a full-time staff member?”
“I’m a contract.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you investigating alone?”
“Because the union is short-staffed.”
“That’s why they pay you a lot of money.”
“It’s not money.”
“Then what do they pay you?”
“Points and gear.”
“Ah… so the union is paying you a lot of money.”
“It’s a contract, not cash. I get paid in points and gear.”
“Doesn’t sound bad.”
“It has its perks.”
“But you’re still a Senior.”
“That’s why they gave me this job.”
“So you’re basically a regular employee, but on a contract.”
“Yeah. I’m the union’s temporary worker.”
“That makes sense.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Exactly.”
“But you’re not a full-time staff member?”
“I’m a contract.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you investigating alone?”
“Because the union is short-staffed.”
“That’s why they pay you a lot of money.”
“It’s not money.”
“Then what do they pay you?”
“Points and gear.”
“Ah… so the union is paying you a lot of money.”
“It’s a contract, not cash. I get paid in points and gear.”
“Doesn’t sound bad.”
“It has its perks.”
“But you’re still a Senior.”
“That’s why they gave me this job.”
“So you’re basically a regular employee, but on a contract.”
“Yeah. I’m the union’s temporary worker.”
“That makes sense.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Exactly.”
“But you’re not a full-time staff member?”
“I’m a contract.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you investigating alone?”
“Because the union is short-staffed.”
“That’s why they pay you a lot of money.”
“It’s not money.”
“Then what do they pay you?”
“Points and gear.”
“Ah… so the union is paying you a lot of money.”
“It’s a contract, not cash. I get paid in points and gear.”
“Doesn’t sound bad.”
“It has its perks.”
“But you’re still a Senior.”
“That’s why they gave me this job.”
“So you’re basically a regular employee, but on a contract.”
“Yeah. I’m the union’s temporary worker.”
“That makes sense.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Exactly.”
“But you’re not a full-time staff member?”
“I’m a contract.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you investigating alone?”
“Because the union is short-staffed.”
“That’s why they pay you a lot of money.”
“It’s not money.”
“Then what do they pay you?”
“Points and gear.”
“Ah… so the union is paying you a lot of money.”
“It’s a contract, not cash. I get paid in points and gear.”
“Doesn’t sound bad.”
“It has its perks.”
“But you’re still a Senior.”
“That’s why they gave me this job.”
“So you’re basically a regular employee, but on a contract.”
“Yeah. I’m the union’s temporary worker.”
“That makes sense.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Exactly.”
“But you’re not a full-time staff member?”
“I’m a contract.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you investigating alone?”
“Because the union is short-staffed.”
“That’s why they pay you a lot of money.”
“It’s not money.”
“Then what do they pay you?”
“Points and gear.”
“Ah… so the union is paying you a lot of money.”
“It’s a contract, not cash. I get paid in points and gear.”
“Doesn’t sound bad.”
“It has its perks.”
“But you’re still a Senior.”
“That’s why they gave me this job.”
“So you’re basically a regular employee, but on a contract.”
“Yeah. I’m the union’s temporary worker.”
“That makes sense.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Exactly.”
“But you’re not a full-time staff member?”
“I’m a contract.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you investigating alone?”
“Because the union is short-staffed.”
“That’s why they pay you a lot of money.”
“It’s not money.”
“Then what do they pay you?”
“Points and gear.”
“Ah… so the union is paying you a lot of money.”
“It’s a contract, not cash. I get paid in points and gear.”
“Doesn’t sound bad.”
“It has its perks.”
“But you’re still a Senior.”
“That’s why they gave me this job.”
“So you’re basically a regular employee, but on a contract.”
“Yeah. I’m the union’s temporary worker.”
“That makes sense.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Exactly.”
“But you’re not a full-time staff member?”
“I’m a contract.”
“So you’re on the union’s payroll.”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you investigating alone?”
“Because the union is short-staffed.”
“That’s why they pay you a lot of money.”
“It’s not money.”
“Then what do they pay you?”
“Points and gear.”
“Ah… so the union is paying you a lot of money.”
“It’s a contract, not cash. I get paid in points and gear.”
“Doesn’t sound bad.”
“It has its perks.”