I stood in the middle of the street.
Two large bags in my hands.
Covered with cloth.
Heavy.
"…where to now?" I muttered.
I looked around.
Firmament was still crowded.
Too crowded.
"Arche," Reina's voice appeared beside me.
"Nn?"
"There's no way you can unpack those bags in a tent."
I clicked my tongue softly.
"…I know."
"The risk is too high."
I fell silent for a moment.
Thinking.
Reina floated in front of me.
"…rent a room."
I glanced at her.
"You have enough money now."
I hesitated for a moment.
Letting out a breath.
"…yeah."
No other choice.
I started walking.
Toward the lodging district.
The buildings were neater.
Cleaner.
The lights brighter.
I read the price signs one by one.
Expensive.
Too expensive.
Until finally—
"…this one."
A small sign.
100 Nexbit per day.
Reina spoke immediately.
"The cheapest."
I nodded.
"…no other choice."
I went inside.
The door creaked softly.
A middle-aged man stood behind the counter.
His gaze was sharp.
"…how many days?" he asked briefly.
"One."
He didn't say much.
Just slid a holographic glass device toward me.
"Place your A.R.M."
I looked at the device.
"Reina?"
"It's a tracking tool."
I stayed silent.
"He's checking if you're wanted or not."
"…this place is safe."
"And it doubles as a payment device."
I nodded slowly.
Then placed my A.R.M on it.
The screen lit up.
Data flowed.
The man stared at his display.
A few seconds.
Then—
"…clean."
He gave a small nod.
"Pay."
I pressed a button on my A.R.M.
-100 Nexbit.
Balance reduced.
The man pointed down the hallway.
"Room 101. End of the hall."
"Point your A.R.M at the door."
I nodded.
Picked up the two bags.
Then walked.
A narrow hallway.
Dim lights.
My footsteps echoed softly.
Until—
Room 101.
I raised my A.R.M.
The door opened.
Click.
I stepped inside.
And stopped.
A bed.
A table.
A chair.
A small toilet.
Simple.
But—
"…it's been a while," I muttered.
I put the bags down.
Sat on the bed.
Soft.
Not hard like the ground.
Not cold like metal.
Reina floated slowly.
"You look strange."
I smiled faintly.
"…the last time I slept like this…"
I looked at the ceiling.
"…was in Evernoir."
Silence.
This small room—
far from a palace.
But for now—
It's enough.
Then I sat on the floor.
The two bags open in front of me.
"…alright."
I started taking things out one by one.
Heavy weapons.
Cold metal.
Heavy.
"…I don't even know how to use these."
Reina floated beside me.
"No surprise. Those aren't for beginners."
I clicked my tongue softly.
Sidearm.
Smaller.
Still manageable.
Then—
"Painkillers."
I picked up several boxes.
"…these are useful."
"Take them," Reina replied immediately.
I nodded.
Continued.
Gadgets.
Portable batteries.
Bombs.
Flashbangs.
Ammo clips.
"…this is too much."
I let out a breath.
Then—
"…what's this?"
A small object.
An emblem.
A green snake.
Coiling around a weapon.
I lifted it.
Looked closer.
"Reina?"
She immediately analyzed it.
A few seconds.
Then—
"That's an insignia."
"A membership mark."
I narrowed my eyes.
"…an organization?"
"Yes."
Reina continued.
"Its name—The Green Serpent."
I fell silent.
"…so they really are an organization."
Reina nodded.
"And a fairly large one."
I stared at the emblem.
An uneasy feeling crept in.
"Information?" I asked.
"Not in the public O.W.N database."
I frowned.
"…hidden?"
"More like… encrypted."
Reina looked at the emblem.
"And—"
She paused.
"…there's a tracking device inside."
I tensed immediately.
"What?!"
I almost dropped it.
"Relax."
Reina stopped me.
"I've already dealt with it."
I stopped.
"Our location won't be tracked."
I let out a long breath.
"…next time, say it first."
Reina chuckled softly.
"Sorry."
I looked back at all the items.
"…so now?"
I picked up one of the large weapons.
"With something this big…"
"…I'm not sure I can use it."
I looked at Reina.
"Should we just sell everything?"
"Except the A.R.M and that emblem."
Reina didn't answer immediately.
A few seconds.
"…you can't sell them casually."
I frowned.
"Why?"
"Illegal organization gear."
She looked at me seriously.
"You need the black market."
I stayed silent.
"If you sell them in a regular shop—"
"—it's the same as directly challenging them."
Silence.
"You'll be hunted, Arche."
I went quiet.
Staring at the weapon in my hand.
Reina continued—
"Look here."
She highlighted part of the weapon.
A serial number.
Small code.
"Supply series number."
"GS-batch 19."
I narrowed my eyes.
"…meaning?"
"They have a dedicated vendor."
"And all of this can be traced."
I let out a long breath.
"…troublesome."
I put the weapon down.
Then picked up the painkillers again.
"…these are safe?"
"Safe."
I nodded.
"We take everything we can use."
"Painkillers."
"Their A.R.M devices."
"And that emblem."
I looked at the emblem again.
"…to track other members."
Reina nodded.
"Correct."
I looked at the remaining items.
"…the rest we sell."
"The problem is… where?"
Silence.
I thought.
A few seconds.
Then—
"…Ryvolin."
Reina looked at me immediately.
"…risky."
I shrugged.
"…but he has connections."
Reina went quiet.
Then nodded slowly.
"…worth trying."
She floated closer.
"We buy information from him."
"So it's safer."
I smirked faintly.
"…that shady doctor."
I looked at everything in front of me.
"…looks like I'll be in debt again."
I walked back to that clinic.
A shabby building.
Faint smell of metal and blood.
Reina floated beside me.
"…as usual."
Her tone was flat.
"This clinic is miserable."
I didn't reply.
"I hope this is the last time we come here."
I opened the door.
Creak.
Went in.
Ryvolin was there.
Writing something.
He looked up.
Then—
laughed.
"You're still alive?"
I let out a long breath.
"…I'm getting tired of that greeting."
He stood up.
Walked closer.
His eyes immediately went to my hand.
The damaged one.
"If you're here to complain about that hand—"
"I don't accept complaints."
"It was free."
I raised my hand slightly.
"I'm not complaining."
I looked at him.
"I want to replace it."
"Give me a new one."
Ryvolin went silent.
Then—
chuckled.
"Do you have money?"
Or—
he grinned wider.
"Planning to be my test subject again?"
"Don't tell him your budget!" Reina whispered quickly in my head.
I smiled faintly.
"I have money."
I looked at him straight.
"Give me the best prosthetic you've got."
Ryvolin whistled.
"I like this kind of talk."
He pointed at a chair.
"Sit."
"I'll get it."
I sat.
A few minutes.
Silence.
Then—
he returned.
Carrying something.
A prosthetic arm.
Cleaner.
More solid.
He lifted it proudly.
"R-Frame Mk.I 'Overclock Patch.'"
"…brand new."
I narrowed my eyes.
"Price?"
"899 Nexbit."
He smiled.
"Can you afford it?"
Reina analyzed immediately.
A few seconds.
"…an upgrade from the previous one."
"Reduced delay."
"Has an overclock mode."
She continued—
"But—"
"after the overclock ends…"
"forced idle."
"Your arm won't move for a few minutes."
I nodded slowly.
"Worth it."
"Yes," Reina replied. "The price matches. He's not scamming you."
I immediately raised my A.R.M.
Pointed it at Ryvolin's.
Transfer.
Done.
Ryvolin raised an eyebrow.
"…you really have money now?"
He laughed.
"What did you do out there?"
I stood up.
"Just install it."
He grinned.
"Alright."
He got to work immediately.
Removing my old arm.
"…rough fight, huh?"
He looked at my injuries.
"No wonder you've got money now."
I stayed silent.
He installed the new one.
Click.
Connection.
Reina synced instantly.
I tried moving it.
Clench.
Open.
Fingers moved.
Faster.
Lighter.
"…there's still delay," I muttered.
"But it's better."
And—
"…it doesn't hurt."
Ryvolin smiled.
"Of course."
"Brand new."
"Overclock patch active."
"Optimal for beginners."
I didn't reply.
I just looked at him.
Then—
I took something out.
The emblem.
Green snake.
Ryvolin froze.
His expression changed.
Serious.
"…Arche."
"Kid."
"You know what that is, right?"
"I know."
I looked at him.
"The Green Serpent."
He let out a slow breath.
"You also know who I am?"
"An info broker."
"I don't take sides."
"I know," I replied.
"Doesn't matter."
He narrowed his eyes.
"Then why show me that?"
I answered shortly—
"I need access to the black market."
"And I want to sell their gear."
Silence.
Then—
"Oh?"
He smiled.
"Going big now, huh?"
I didn't reply.
Just stared at him.
A few seconds.
He stared back.
Then—
"Alright."
He turned around.
Went to the back.
I waited.
Reina stayed quiet.
After a moment—
Ryvolin returned.
With a small card.
He tossed it to me.
I caught it.
"Member card."
"Black market."
I looked at it.
A name written.
A small code below.
"You'll find it at the edge of the elite district."
"They'll understand when they see that."
I looked at him.
"…how much?"
Ryvolin smiled.
Strangely.
"…bonus."
I paused for a moment.
"…alright."
I put the card away.
Turned around.
Walked out.
"Arche."
I stopped.
Glanced back slightly.
Ryvolin didn't look at me.
He had returned to his desk.
"I'm on the side of money."
"…I don't want you to regret this later."
I smiled faintly.
"…I know."
I stepped outside.
"I'm the same."