The conference room fell silent. Dim lights pulsed along the steel walls, reflecting off the black table where several figures sat in tense silence, waiting for someone to speak.
"Why is it still not working?" Ranya asked, her voice cutting through the silence.
She leaned forward, eyes narrowed with urgency. "We've been waiting for over a week now."
At the far end of the table, Saul slammed his fist down, his gruff voice echoing through the dim chamber.
"And where the hell is Tenji? The bastard's gone rogue. We haven't been able to reach him in days!"
The tension in the air thickened, like the moment before a storm. No one dared to speak—until a voice older than time itself broke the silence.
Talon, a weathered old man with a face marked by decades of hard living, folded his hands calmly.
"In my experience… it can take more than a month. We don't need to lose hope. Not yet."
Just then, the door creaked open.
All eyes turned.
A figure stepped into the room, his long coat trailing dust behind him. His presence drew a mix of surprise and suspicion.
"Tenji," Ranya breathed. "Where were you? We tried contacting you countless times."
Tenji didn't answer right away. He walked to the table, pulled out a chair, and sat down without urgency.
"I had to tie up some loose ends," he said, his voice low. "But today… I found another."
Saul's eyes narrowed, his voice rising. "What loose ends are you talking about? The plan was airtight. There shouldn't be any!"
Tenji rested his elbows on the table and leaned forward slightly.
"The plan was airtight. Everything went exactly as it should've… until the final phase."
He paused, his tone darkening.
"Then… he appeared. Out of nowhere. A boy."
The room fell silent.
Ranya leaned forward, brows furrowed. "A boy?"
Tenji nodded slowly. "He almost ruined everything. Years of planning—nearly wasted."
"And this loose end you found today… is it the same boy?" Ranya asked carefully.
Tenji's eyes met hers. There was confusion behind them—a rare sight.
"Yes. I don't know how… but he's alive."
Ranya's voice grew tense. "What? How could that happen? Does he possess some hidden ability?"
"No. He's just a U-Class boy," Tenji replied, still trying to piece it together in his own mind.
Saul scoffed. "Then what's the problem? Why didn't you finish it?"
Tenji's answer came with an edge of hesitation. "He wasn't alone. He was with the Solari family's child."
The entire table tensed.
"I couldn't find a moment when he was isolated. If anything went wrong and the Solari family got involved… it would spiral out of control. That's why I brought it to you."
His eyes settled on Ranya.
"I need you to handle this."
Ranya crossed her arms, considering. Then, with a glance to Saul, she said, "Alright. We'll take it from here."
She tilted her head. "Saul, you can handle it… right?"
Saul grunted, his face twisting slightly, but he gave a reluctant nod.
When they finished eating, Felix glanced at his watch, then met their eyes. "Need some air?" he asked, already rising from his chair.
Ten minutes later, they were sitting on the rooftop, the city lights spreading below them like scattered gems. The wind carried distant sounds of traffic and life, but between them hung only silence as each became lost in their own thoughts.
Koda was the first to break it. "So?" she asked, giving Felix a curious look. "Why did you bring us up here?"
Felix slowly rotated his chair to face Theon and Koda. His expression shifted—subtle but unmistakable. This wasn't casual anymore.
He leaned forward, voice lowering.
"I need to ask you both for a favor."
Theon blinked. "A favor?" he repeated, tone open, ready to listen.
Felix exhaled through his nose, as if bracing himself for something difficult. His eyes fell briefly to the ground. Shame flickered there.
"My family has a tradition," he began, voice tight. "When someone turns eighteen, they have to complete a task before continuing their life." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "I have to form a team... and go on a hunting expedition. I need to collect two specific crystals."
Koda's eyes widened. "With no experience?"
Felix nodded slowly. "Yeah... I know it sounds crazy. But it's a very serious thing in our family. To my father, it's everything."
He looked away for a moment, lost in thought.
Koda narrowed her eyes, realization dawning. "So that's why you missed your high school test last year," she said, her tone half-accusing. "You weren't sick. You were scared. You didn't want to go."
Theon studied Felix's face. He'd seen fear before. People in this world died beyond the Gates every day—even experienced hunters. Fear wasn't a weakness. It was survival instinct.
"But without a Gate Access License," Theon asked cautiously, "how are you even planning to get through? The regulations are strict. They don't let just anyone through."
Koda scoffed. "You really don't know anything about him, do you?"
She crossed her arms, eyes narrowing.
"Felix has the rare Solari family ability. The government just gives them a license right away. No tests needed."
Theon blinked.
Theon looked at Felix with new eyes. For someone he'd met just a week ago, there was still so much he didn't know.
Felix looked away, his voice dropped again. "That's the only reason this is even possible. But there are rules. Tradition rules."
He looked frustrated.
"I have to form a team of nine, including myself. I need to be the leader. Which means I can't hire anyone stronger than me. So only E-class or below, And... I can only spend 200,000 Terra Coins. Not one coin more."
Koda leaned back in her chair, her eyes sharp now—calculating.
"Let me guess." She smirked. "With zero experience, no one wanted to join you. Even if you offered ten times the pay, they refused. That's why you asked me for that giant list of freelance hunters."
Felix nodded, his expression telling her she was right.
"Yeah. Had to use my family name to get anyone interested."
Koda smiled, pleased she'd figured it out.
"So when they heard 'Solari,' they suddenly wanted in. It wasn't about the extra money, they just want connections to your family company."
"It's the only way anyone would join," Felix said sadly.
Most hunters didn't hunt because they liked it. For many, it was the only path to survival.
Joining a powerful company meant better contracts, protection, and a safer life for their families.
In Felix's case, if someone died while protecting a member of the Solari family during an expedition, Solari Corp would compensate their families so generously that they'd never need to risk stepping through the Gates again.
"How many agreed to join?" Theon asked.
Felix sighed. "Half of them. But I can only hire six."
He looked defeated.
Koda raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me... you can't even afford that?"
Felix scratched the back of his head, guilt clear in his expression. "I can't. After gear and Gate passes... there's barely enough left. I can maybe afford one more lower class hunter, but I need two."
Koda shot Theon a look, voice dry. "So he's basically asking us to risk our lives for nothing. Am I right?"
"I only have 5,000 Terra Coins left," Felix said, looking genuinely sorry. "I know it's a lot to ask."
Theon stayed quiet, a flicker of sympathy in his eyes. Felix may have been born into wealth, but that didn't spare him from the crushing weight of a tradition that could cost him his life.
"But even if I wanted to help," Theon said, "I don't have a Gate pass. How would I even go with you?"
He glanced at Koda. "Do you have one?"
Koda gave a bitter laugh. "Nope. And don't even think about using that fake license we used for the arena. If we try it again, the system will flag it instantly. Government cybersecurity is no joke."
She wasn't wrong.
The AI Wars came before the Luminari invasion. After that, people made strict rules about technology.
The government banned AI that could think for itself. Government systems became highly secure.
"Don't worry about licenses," Felix cut in. "I can get you both in, This complex is owned by my family, after all."
Theon noticed the shift in Felix's face—a kind of hardened resolve.
This wasn't just about crystals. This was about proving something deeper.
His father, only Solari without any special abilities. Looked down on by the rest of the family.
Now, Felix had power. And this expedition was his chance to bring pride back to his father's name.
Koda leaned forward, serious now.
"What kind of crystal are we talking about?"
"Solarium," Felix said. "But most people call it Rionite Crystal."
Koda's face was drained of color.
"You trying to get us killed?" she snapped. She flicked her wrist, sending something to the watch using Nip. A hologram hovered above the table—a monstrous tiger-like creature the size of a grizzly bear.
Fangs glowed red-hot with fire.
"These things? It takes nine E-Class explorers to take one down. And they still lose people. And you want two crystals?!"
Felix raised both hands. "We're not hunting them. Some Rionite Crystals can be found in cave systems—where the beasts died naturally. I have a report about one such location. There's no mention of live creatures."
He hesitated.
"But yes. It'll still be dangerous. If we find more crystals, we can sell them. Normally, profits are split by rank, but I'll give you two my entire share."
Theon said nothing. He was already thinking of his mother. The arena winnings helped—but this could help a bit more?
Still, the risk was massive.
But there was something else too. Felix had helped him before. Twice, in fact. Theon couldn't forget that.
"When were you planning to go?" he asked.
Felix's voice steadied. "End of next week. I'll have the passes by then. The whole trip should take three days total."
He looked at them both, almost hopeful.
"You don't have to answer now. Sleep on it. Let me know later."
Back in District 7, as evening shadows stretched across the city, Saul moved with purpose through the narrow streets. The meeting with Ranya and Tenji still fresh in his mind, he had wasted no time.
In a crumbling back alley lined with broken crates and flickering neon signs, Saul approached a man who looked worn and twitchy, his clothes stained and his eyes darting with restless energy. Without a word,
TING..
Saul sent the coins through his NIP. A small bell sound confirmed the payment.
"You'll get the rest after," Saul muttered.
He projected a small hologram between them—a rotating image of a young boy.
Theon's face glowed in the dim light.
"Take care of this," he said, his tone cold and final.
The man's eyes narrowed as he studied the image, then nodded once.
"Consider it done," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.
As Saul walked away, he sent a brief message to Ranya: "Loose end being tied. Will report when complete."
__________
HaloBand :
The HaloBand is a new high-tech wristwatch that works with the NIP chip to project 3D holograms in the air. It replaces traditional screens and lets users control everything with just their thoughts. Because it's so new, it's extremely expensive.