"Finally, someone shows up... I was starting to think they planned to just leave me here. Tch."
Shin shook off her hand and turned away.
...
Outer perimeter of Dead End Hollow
"Well, well—what an honor. A general himself has come. You sure think highly of me."
Shin wore a smile, her eyes gleaming slyly like a fox—mischievous, yet cold.
"Major Shin, you flatter me. The Falkenhayn Mercenary Troupe and the Defense Force operate under different systems. Technically speaking, Major Shin and I are of equal rank."
The middle-aged man smiled calmly. He clearly caught the sarcasm in her tone but didn't seem to mind.
Shin's eyes flickered. What he said wasn't wrong—they were technically the same rank.
But in reality, Falkenhayn officers could issue commands to the Defense Force as equals, while Defense officers couldn't interfere with Falkenhayn. In practice, Shin's standing was higher than that of the major general before her.
Especially since she was about to be promoted...
As for why she spoke the way she did—
Shin's smile faded, her tone cooling.
"If you understand that much... then leave."
"Major Shin, I'm here to—"
A glint of steel flashed past the major general's face, leaving behind a thin red line.
A short blade was embedded in the snow just ahead, its sharp glint biting cold.
"Leave."
Shin's voice was icy. Her attitude wasn't just blunt—it bordered on insult.
But the major general didn't react. He simply raised a hand and warned calmly,
"Major Shin, you're crossing a line."
"New Eridu may have seventeen military districts, but fewer than half are permanently garrisoned. And you've mobilized an entire district—for something this trivial."
He shook his head.
"And this operation wasn't approved by the committee. It wasn't even reported up the chain. Major Shin, you're heading for a court martial."
Shin's expression didn't change.
"Say one more word, and I'll kill you."
Snowflakes dusted her pink hair like frost on plum blossoms. It didn't soften her—it gave her a prideful edge.
Shin had no intention of being polite with anyone trying to interfere. She didn't even bother with pleasantries—why waste time?
The major general's pupils contracted, his expression shifting slightly. He didn't doubt for a second that she meant what she said.
Murder within the military—especially someone of his rank—was no small matter. But Shin...
He knew Shin well. Despite the internal friction within her family, she was one of the most outstanding talents of the younger generation. She'd never hesitated to leverage her family's power.
That's why she dared to mobilize an entire military district on her own.
Even if she really killed him, the family would pay whatever it took to protect her. At worst, she might just lose her position.
Plenty of people would gladly owe the family a favor. He knew their kind—they wouldn't lift a finger for a corpse.
After a brief silence, he gave in.
Facing Shin's dominance and overt threat, he chose to back off.
Gambling his life just for a bit of leverage wasn't worth it.
With a frosty look, the major general turned and left. Shin didn't spare him any courtesy, and he saw no point in maintaining his facade.
Shin curled her lips slightly. Everything was unfolding exactly as she expected.
"Tsk, weren't you afraid he'd call your bluff and go toe-to-toe with you?"
Yeyan, who'd watched the whole standoff from the side, walked over curiously.
Shin's stance had been too aggressive. Sure, that was her personality—but this time, her opponent wasn't just anyone.
That was a general—one of the highest-ranking officers in New Eridu.
"Heh..."
Shin gave a cold laugh and shook her head.
"People that high up? They don't have the guts for a real fight to the end. Especially not over something so... unimportant."
"Yeah, fair point."
Yeyan nodded, then glanced toward her.
"By the way, Shin—someone just reported something odd in the core zone of Dead End Hollow. You're heading there next, right?"
"Can I come with?"
She batted her eyes, playing cute for her own agenda.
Shin sighed and replied with mild exasperation.
"What for? Nobody said we found the Fire Picker. Just a massive crystal formation."
"Oh, but if the Ether crystals didn't disperse, it's definitely got something to do with the Fire Picker. As his spokesperson, I absolutely have to go check it out."
Shin frowned slightly.
Wait—didn't she say she wanted to meet the Fire Picker first and then become his spokesperson?
Now she hadn't even seen him, and she was calling herself that already?
"Come on, let's go!"
Before Shin could respond, Yeyan had already grabbed her hand and was dragging her toward the Hollow's core. Shin could only sigh and follow along.
...
Core of Dead End Hollow
Unlike the outer perimeter, where the snow was trampled and chaotic, the snow here was untouched—pure and pristine.
In the heart of the zone stood a towering mound of Ether crystals. The jagged spires jutted out sharp and rigid, forming a bizarre spectacle.
A faint glow shimmered from within, exuding a chill that had nothing to do with air temperature—and a powerful pressure that made the entire structure feel... unapproachable.
A hundred meters out, the Defense Force had already set up a perimeter.
Shin stood silently in the snow, staring at the strange monument before her.
"Whoa! Shin, it's really not dissipating!"
Yeyan exclaimed beside her, full of surprise as she peered at the crystals.
From what she knew, Ether crystals were different from Ether matter. Once outside a Hollow, they usually broke down into raw Ether energy due to environmental instability.
But this one clearly didn't follow that rule.
After all, Dead End Hollow was already gone.
"Should we take a closer look?"
Yeyan turned to Shin with a grin.
"Hmm... it might've been left behind by the Fire Picker..."
Shin nodded slightly. Since the Hollow's disappearance, Zane hadn't contacted her—she had no new leads.
And the person on the other end of the call hadn't been identified yet. She still didn't know whether it had been Zane himself—or someone merely connected to him.
Hare's House and Belobog Heavy Industries were both suspects. That robot had tried hard to play it off... but there were cracks in the act.