While I did let you out, I didn't expect you to actually come out.

You said you would welcome me, so I came.

But, of course, come in, Theo-kun.

Balin greeted Theo and walked into the clinic. Theo walked into the clinic with a serious face. Due to the heavy rain and all the fighting that took place outside, no one noticed Tior's entry into the clinic in Balin.

This time, the plan went well, and the Black Power Warframe was able to kill many behemoths and show its skills. Moreover, it then encounters a monster strong enough to change the outline of the ruins and defeats that monster. This achievement will be the perfect material to promote this new unit.

However, there was another small surprise in this plan. In that battle, the new unit is teaming up with the same hunter who defeated the unit last time. And then most importantly, it was actually that hunter who killed the big monster. If this record is made public, it looks like the new unit will only be able to do what it does because of that hunter. At the same time, they did not want to completely abandon the participation of new units in this record.

In this case, if they say that the hunter does not contribute much in the battle, just running around and hindering the battle, then it will be a good combat record for a new unit. A personal opinion about how much someone has contributed in a battle is based on the subjective thing of the person who gave that opinion. However, if they can bias this view in favor of the new unit, it will really help to promote the new unit.

If such a result leads to the deployment of new units in this and other cities, it will be a huge amount of money. I'm sure they think this billion Au

um is a small amount of money compared to the profit they can make, but it should be enough to satisfy the hunters who are involved.

Ming listened to Mu Lin's explanation with interest. Then he noticed something else and frowned slightly.

Say, don't tell me the reason why I'm insisting on increasing my hunter level

Exactly, it would be embarrassing if the hunter who defeated that new unit was just a low-level hunter. This will definitely damage the reputation of that new unit. However, if that hunter is really a strong hunter disguised as a low-level hunter, then they can still save a little face. That's why they want you to increase your hunter level as soon as possible. That's all they do or at least, there's a good chance that's the case, and in the end, it's just a guess, okay? As I said, this is just a guess.

Mu Lin smiled at something hidden. Akira sighed. All in all, someone did something, and therefore he got into trouble.

Aki

A quickly agreed to the contract, but Kibayashi delayed the signing of the contract in order to get the contract from Aki

a Details of that battle were heard there. After all, after the contract was signed, he couldn't ask Akira about that fight.

Although Ming signed the contract, he still felt that 1 billion Orum was a bit excessive. But seeing Mulin laughing at the story, Ming began to half-believe that it might really be worth that much money, because his other half really didn't care anymore and didn't think about it anymore.

To ask him a question, Mulin struggled to calm himself down from his laughter.

By the way, why did you stay to help that power suit? I can understand you missing out on your chance after losing the bait, but I don't think that's enough of an excuse, you know?

I might be in the mood to do it then.

You're in the mood, right? Is that the whole reason you stayed? Don't get me wrong, that's a good reason! Yes, that's the perfect reason! Those hunters who only care about profit and loss will not do such crazy things after all.

Judging from Akira's angry reaction, Mulin was pretty sure that Akira had another reason, and he didn't deliberately hide it. Probably Aki

a himself was not sure why he did this, or why he decided to go deeper into a dangerous situation. Mu Lin thought it was funny and couldn't help but laugh and laugh again.

If you put the reasons that Jing herself doesn't understand in words, it's sympathy, pride, and hatred. It is sympathy for his allies, even if they are allies for a day, and this is also his way of thinking about distinguishing allies from enemies. The pride and self-esteem of carrying through his work to the end. There is also hatred for himself, because he allows himself to work with antiquities thieves for the sake of work.

Aki

A The incomprehensible vague amalgamation of feelings almost killed him, while also keeping him alive. But this abnormal way of thinking, which he himself did not fully understand, made his actions more and more distant from the guidance of the alpha.

Mulin finally calmed down from his wry smile and began to discuss the remaining rewards. It took them some time to reach a mutual agreement.

Shizuka chats with Elena and Sarah in the store. They were talking about what had happened recently, mostly about how hordes of monsters emerged from the ruins of Katsubihara and attacked the city twice in such a short window of time. At the same time, Ele

a and sa

A is also venting their difficulties in joining the squad, which is tasked with repelling the swarm. Of all the topics they talked about, there was one particular thing that worried them, and that was about Akira.

It is likely that Akira was in the ruins at the time of that battle, and from that day on, he did not come to the store again.

If he's okay, it's time to go back to the store to buy supplies. If he's okay, it's no surprise that Sara and Elena find him out while battling the massive monsters. They are exchanging information about Akira, hoping to find some clues about his whereabouts, but neither of them has received a clear answer.

Ele

a and sa

a as Hu

te

s work, while Shizuka and Hu

te

s work together. They are all somehow accustomed to the death of acquaintances and friends. But that doesn't change the fact that it still makes them sad. They are well aware that death is an occupational hazard for hunters, and they know Aki

a may actually be doing well. But even so, they still had a worried look on their faces.

Just then, Akira suddenly appeared. Elena, Sarah, and Shizuka greet him with brighter smiles than usual.

Aki

A first let them know that his upgrade request is finally complete.

However, a lot has happened since then, and now all my devices are gone. That's why I'm here to get new equipment, or more like, I want to ask about getting a new complete set of equipment, including vehicles. So, is that okay?

Of course! So, how much are you going to spend this time?

About 1 billion gold coins. I actually have a little more money than that, but right now, I want to limit my budget to 1 billion AU

um。 If it's too much trouble, I'd like to do the same as before and then buy some additional modifications and other equipment.

Akira said it so casually that Shizuka's usual smile at the customer turned into worry.

Looks like you've made a lot of money again this time, are you okay? I've heard that the reward for a hunter upgrade request is the hunter level, so usually the hunter can't get a lot of money from the request. But even then, you seem to have earned a billion gold coins from it. Akira, have you done anything reckless?

Shizuka's voice became tense, warning him not to do anything unnecessarily reckless to increase his chances of coming back alive, even if only a little. She thought that if he found out that he had done something reckless and tried to hide it, then she would need to warn him again. As she waited for him to answer, she cast a stern but caring look.

But Akira responds in a way that Shizuka didn't expect. He let out a long sigh and said angrily.

It's a big disaster, a big big disaster

Akira doesn't show the strength she never had, which confirms Shizuka's instincts by letting her know that she really went through something very tough. It seemed that there was no need for warning or reproach, and her face changed to a gentle smile that cheered him up.

It must be really hard, and I'm really glad you came back alive. You okay? Are you hurt? If you're here just to let us know you're okay, thank you, but you don't need to push yourself too hard. You can now go back and get some rest. But if you also want to consult the equipment, we can do it in-house.

Don't worry, I'm fine, after all the mess I made sure I got proper treatment.

Is that so? Well, just be careful and don't push yourself too hard, okay?

Yes, I'll be more careful, but honestly, I'm already trying to be careful, you know.

Akira said with a smile, and then began to vent, looking down. Shizuka, Elena, and Sarah didn't expect him to be like this at all, and felt funny and sad for him at the same time. Then they looked at each other and smiled wryly.

Shizuka put this feeling aside for the time being, and asked Akira with a serious face what he wanted to consult to change his mood.

So, what is your current hunter level?

42.

Shizuka's gentle smile became a little serious.

That's quite a jump. Aki

Alas, at least let me tell you, if your hunter level is that high, it might be a good idea to go to another shop, you know.

Akira didn't expect it at all, and asked nervously with a distressed expression.

Uh, what does Shizuka-san, mean?

In fact, from the moment you order an SSB multi-gun rifle in this store, the price is already much higher than the ordinary goods in this store. That's why I'm not sure if I can recommend a good device for you at the moment. Of course, if you ask me, I will try my best to help you, but there is a limit to how much I can help you. Remember that I sent you data on various rifles, right? Honestly, that's because I can't decide which one is best for you. Also, I usually don't have them in stock, so I need more time to order them as well. So, honestly, it might be better if you go to a better store, and I'm sure they can give you better recommendations as well.

Shizuka said this kindly, but Jing frowned, seeming to be upset.

Uh, if they're items that need to be ordered first, wouldn't Shizuka-san be bothered?

Of course not, quite the opposite. As the owner of the store, if I prioritize making a profit, I want you to order them through my store.

Akira breathed a sigh of relief, seeming relieved.

In that case, as long as I don't bother Shizuka-san, I'll always order at this store.

Are you sure you agree, Akira?

Of course.

Akira nodded firmly. If it was to disturb Shizuka, he would have to change stores, but if not, then he would have no reason to change stores.

Shizuka blushed slightly, which was very rare for her, and looked away from the crystal. She seemed glad he had invested in her store.

In this way, my regular customers can make 3 hunters above level 40 become my regular customers. It seems that my store has really turned into something great.

Shizuka glanced at Elena and Sarah. Akira followed suit and looked at Elena and Sarah, who were still smiling at him, but looked a little ambivalent.

Sara and I are both level 41, which is basically one level below you.

So you've finally outdone us, huh. Well, I do think it's just a matter of time, but I didn't expect it to be so soon.

When Aki

a Ele at the time of the start of the process of escalation requests

a and sa

a Start working hard to really improve your ranking. They give priority to difficult requests and are able to complete them one by one. An expedition into the depths of the Katsubara ruins is one of them. After making a high-quality map of the ruins, bringing back expensive relics, and having performed well in the battles of the previous days, they even contributed to the repulsion of the monster hordes in battle.

Ele

a and sa

A works so hard in part because of their commitment to Aki

a competitive spirit. To put it bluntly, it is to maintain his pride as a senior of Aquilas, but the main purpose is to maintain his status as a senior, even if it is just to stay a little longer.

After all their hard work, and all the achievements they are proud of, they ended up at level 41, which is quite a high ranking in their opinion.

But Akira even surpassed it. Although they are interested in Aki

AS's achievements are very happy, but they are also quite ambivalent about it.

I wonder if I have to start calling you a senior from here.

Elena tries to hide her inner conflict, joking at Akira and at the same time. Akira seemed unsure of what to do. He felt that he might offend Elena and Sarah if he said he still had a long way to go, but he couldn't find anything else to say. You can see this on his face.

Elena and Sarah looked at Akira in distress and felt that there was no need to be too cautious around him. Then they looked at each other, smiled, and went back to their usual ways.

Well, after all, we've been hunters longer than you. So I want to be more experienced in being a hunter.

Oh my gosh, I don't think that's exactly the case with you, Sarah.

How could you say that? Akira, that's not true, is it?

Sarah stared intently at Akira, the answer she was expecting came from her gaze.

Ah, yes, of course. I think I'll still ask for your help from now on.

Huhuhu, thank you.

Sarah smiles as usual, and Akira finally regains her composure.

After that, they started talking about buying new equipment. Even for Elena and Sarah, a billion Orum is a lot of money. Ele

a and sa

A thinks it might be better if they also invest more in equipment.

Just then, Sarah suddenly has a question for Akira.

I can understand that you want a better set of gear because you lost all of your gear last time, but you can actually do other things with your rewards, you know? It's not like you're only alive to fight, right?

Sa

A thought this time Aki

A spent all of his payout on buying gear, but that wasn't true, it was just that he sold a portion of Hu in that request

te

Record the money.

After signing the contract, Akira and Konoha discussed the rest of the remuneration.

Raising the hunter level to level 42, as well as reserving the right to buy medicines and ammunition cheaply for hunter level 50 and above, and finally, Kibayashi's connection with the Kugamayama City Management and Hunter Office makes Aki

a Ability to procure powerful weapons.

Aki

A and Kibayashi's original contract regarding the upgrade request was that in the event of an unforeseen incident, Aki

a will receive additional incentives. The battle against oversized armored monsters fully complies with the terms. So, according to the contract, Aki

a Received an additional reward. At the same time, he spent most of his rewards on getting new special equipment.

There is a lot of equipment that ordinary hunters can't get. This special equipment can be used only by city defense squads, especially soldiers belonging to special forces. On the front line of Kumayama City, equipment sold to frontline hunters is hard to buy, and this is the strength of equipment.

Aki

A definitely needed that kind of equipment to fulfill Alpha's requirements, so he decided to ask Mulin to get it for him. Of course, Oniharashi thought it would be interesting to see what Akira would do to them, so he happily accepted.

Getting a powerful device requires additional permissions and special rights, which take time to obtain. In the worst-case scenario, it can even take months, sometimes even more than 6 months. Kibayashi did inform Aki about this

a，Aki

a Satisfied.

While Sara and Achillas' conjectures are very different, both agree that he spends most of his rewards on gear. Because of this, he didn't notice the misunderstanding and explained casually.

Well, even if you say that, I don't know what I can do with that much money other than spend it on equipment. I'm already living in a big house and the tub is big enough that I have no plans to move out and if anything else, maybe I'll start treating myself to delicious food. I've been buying better and better food lately. But this is only a small amount compared to the price of the equipment.

Ah, Akira, you're that type, aren't you? Well, with the money you earn, I think you can eat 3 times a day on the third floor of the Kugama building.

Ah, since you mentioned it, I did go there recently. It's amazing.

Aki

A began to talk passionately about food in his limited vocabulary. Because of this, he can't convey the taste of the food very well. But at least it's clear that it's great food.

In that case, would you like to go together next time?

Elena said casually, thinking that since Akira spoke so passionately, he would accept her invitation. But instead, Akira said with a frown.

Ahhhh

Oh, then, wouldn't that be?

No, it's just the price, you see. I've only been there since I was invited to discuss the reward I had requested earlier. So I got food there as part of the reward. Honestly, I don't want to go there if I have to pay for it myself, so that's basically why I had to say no, sorry.

Akira said apologetically, bowing slightly. Ele

a and sa

A understood him and smiled.

Well, it's the ones who invite you, so we can pay for your food.

Shizuka interjected with a smile.

Elena, I think that part of the neighborhood restaurants are also expensive for me.

In this case, Sa

A can pay for your food.

I? Well, I don't mind, but be sure to hold back, okay?

Even Aquilas was not consulted for their opinion, they continued to talk, and he made a contradictory face there. Let Ele

a and sa

A invited him to such an expensive meal, he felt sorry, but he was also happy, which meant that he could go to that restaurant again.

Shizuka, Elena, and Sarah saw it and smiled happily. Akira appears to be just an ordinary boy and not a level 42 hunter. They feel closer to each other, and they smile even if it's just their feelings.

Yanagisawa was speaking through his information terminal.

Yes.. Yes, I feel bad about the power set. I also highly recommend that the city administration use that power package. But this result is only from a combat record, and I think it serves too little evidence as a push for deployment. Therefore, I think it's best to deploy them to forward bases and supply lines to collect achievements before deploying them to city defense squads. If it's just at the forward base, I should still be able to get through it, and I'm sure you can expect a good result. Once the decision is made to deploy for the city defense team, please transfer the funds in the way we agreed beforeYes, of course, yes, until the next time.

Yanagisawa hung up the phone, his smile disappeared, and he sighed.

God, these people never get enough to eat, hehe. Why does the neck hurt so much.

Yanagisawa's subordinates, who were waiting for him to finish the call, suddenly complained there and tilted their heads.

Commander, didn't it go well?

Yes. After all, it is someone at the top of the company. When I negotiate with ordinary people, it doesn't go so well.

I know it's normal for you to do strange things, but Commander, you can at least let us know from time to time, right?

Oh? Didn't I tell you before?

We did hear about the details of borrowing equipment and how complicated the documentation work was, but I don't know why we borrowed these things in the first place. I don't remember you ever telling us why, you see.

Yanagisawa often told his men what to do, but not why. This was indeed the case when the special forces team went to the inside of the Katsubara ruins and brought Nelia to the upper floors of the Thran Tower. The same was true when Yanagisawa brought borrowed equipment.

To this question, Yanagisawa smiled slyly as usual and gave only a vague answer.

Well, it's for the prosperity of humanity and the salvation of its future. Basically, just preparing for this.

It was clear that he had no intention of answering seriously.

I see, if you want to do something dangerous behind the scenes, it's entirely up to you, but don't treat us like expendable pawns, okay?

Oops, that's rude. I've never done anything like this, you know?

Yanagisawa seemed genuinely surprised by this remark, so his men stopped bothering him. After too much investigation into Yanagisawa's plans, several people on the team have already gone missing.

Well, I have a report to do. As for the automaton you asked me to investigate, it seems to be the same as you guessed. It could be that someone instigated this attack, and not a simple attempt by a monster.

Think so. This will provide the final proof I need, and then I will have to change the details of the warning. Give me all the Kuomintang and I will take care of them.

There are a few things that bother me about this, though. Please see here.

The details of the report suddenly appeared in everyone's sight. It contains detailed information about the subsequent battles, their locations, and the number of people involved in those battles in a 3D map. Yanagisawa looked at a certain detail in the record, and suddenly lost his smile.

Do everything well. Check to see if there are similar reports, including those sent to detention centers in other cities. You can continue to use my name to get around the restrictions. If they try to hide anything, be sure to decipher that message carefully. Do the same with the ones we captured this time. Rapidly!

Roger that!

The men immediately sprang into action and left the room, Yanagisawa staring sharply at the contents of the report.

According to the report, someone from the ruins management AI has made a proposal.

Habayashi opened a mobile clinic in the ruins of Katsubara. Tiols remote body is strapped to one of the hospital beds.

Habayashi yawned and glanced at the distant body. He had thought that Theo would contact him sooner or later, but today there was nothing. At first, I thought it was a problem with the range of the receiver, so I went to the inside of the Katsubara ruins, and the result was still the same.

In order to avoid damaging the receiver, Yanagisawa decided not to mess with his body. But it was becoming more and more difficult for him to prevent himself from checking the receiver.

I think it's time for me to give up, hehe. Theo-kun, the bed is not free, you know?

Is that so?

The body in the distance suddenly responded. Balin was startled and was about to answer, but he found something and stopped halfway.

You're not Theo-kun, are you? Who could you be?

Can you tell?

I'm a doctor, after all.

The body in the distance showed a hint of surprise, and then smiled at Balin. Although it sounded like a casual remark, he was impressed by the fact that he could accurately identify it as another person.

I have an offer.

What a surprise, what about Theo-kun?

He is now inactive.

Like dead? He's basically still my patient, you see.

It depends on your definition of death. But based on your usual signs of death, I'm sure it's fair to say that he is indeed dead. I am not obligated to keep him alive, after all, you don't have the skills and the means to do it. Do you want me to reactivate him after you make a deal with me?

Leaving aside the question of whether I really don't have the technology or the means to reactivate him, well, from my point of view, I don't see any reason for me to do so, considering he hasn't paid the full cost of the treatment yet. So, who are you? Honestly, I'm interested in your proposal, but I'm a doctor, you see. So unless it's about healing an injury, I don't see any reason to seriously consider a stranger's offer, you know? Ah, by the way, I'm Hachibayashi. As I said before, I am a doctor.

I'm Tsubaki, Manager AI. By the way, regarding the name, I don't mind if you want to continue using your kana. As long as I can use it to identify you, it's not a problem for me.

Balin's face stiffened slightly. The corpse in the distance, still Tiors's face, was smiling like a normal person.

After getting his new equipment with Shizuka's help, Akira drove to the ruins of the Higa Mansion in his new car.

His new car was a completely modified APC for crossing the wasteland. It had a cargo compartment full of ammunition and behind it was his new bike, which made it too big to pass through some places inside the ruins. If he had to cross the smaller road, Aki

a Conversion to cycling is planned.

As for his new gun, he brought a modified and enhanced SSB multi-weapon rifle and, like last time, he bought an enhanced set that came with the repair cabinet. In fact, he bought an enhancement suit from the same high-end line as his previous one, not forgetting the coat with force field armor and camouflage abilities.

Plus ammunition and other consumables, Aki

a 1.6 billion gold was spent this time. Leaving aside whether it is suitable equipment for level 42 hunters, as expected, this is a huge amount of money for the current Akira. To buy a garage big enough for his new car, Aki

a also had to pay a renovator to expand his garage, which also increased his rent. As a result, he is now more strapped for money.

In order to recover from this situation, Akira decides to sell the remaining relics he has stored at home. The purpose of his visit to the ruins of the Riraku Mansion this time was the same as last time, which was to lie to people about where he got those relics.

Of course, there were already some hunters who noticed Akira's attempt to deceive them. But if he knew that was the case and continued to the ruins of the Rafter House, the hunters would begin to question their speculations again. Viola also helped spread the rumor, or at least, that's what Alpha told him.

It's been a while since the last time I went to the ruins of the Higa Mansion. Sure enough, the hunters who used the Old World intelligence gathering device to find the ruins in that ruin were nowhere to be found. Or at least, that's what he thought, and he was stunned when he came to the ruins of the Hisaka Mansion.

There are multiple cars parked around the ruins, and judging by their size, they must have been made for humans. Huge machinery toppled down buildings around the clock, while hunters stood guard around the area. There are also attempts to find remnants in demolished buildings. There are more people in the ruins than before.

Alpha: What the hell is going on?

I don't know. Ask someone who might know.

Alpha pointed at the hunter. Among the hunters guarding the area, Akira spotted the children of Colbert and the Shirley Gang.

Colbert noticed Akira walking towards him.

Akira, right? Do you have anything else to do in this barren ruin? If you come here to trick people into where you got your relics from, then this place is already too popular for you to do so. Or did you really hide your relics here? In that case, you have my condolences.

It doesn't really matter, so, what's really going on here? No matter how you look at it, it's a continuation of the last commotion, which is really strange.

Colbert raised an eyebrow and smiled softly.

Hehe, you don't know, right? While working at the Katsubara Ruins, a small incident occurred, and this is the after-effect of that incident.

Event? What event?

They found an old-world device to connect to an old-world domain, and it's still working. I've heard that when they bring it back to the hunter's office, it makes a lot of money. So the people here are basically looking for similar ruins in the ruins.

Achillas' gaze casually turned to the ruins.

But is it a bit overkill for them to do so? They are basically destroying the ruins.

I bet that's the cost of that relic. Although the initial price has not been disclosed, I heard that there are many companies rushing to buy it. I don't know who found it, but he must have been a lucky bastard.

Working as a hunter means gambling with your own life, so most hunters think they can earn huge sums of money to prove that they are risking their lives. Then every now and then a truly lucky hunter will appear, and although rare, it is enough to reaffirm that other hunters continue to chase their dreams. This is a huge force driving the exploration of the East End's ruins. The scene in front of Akira is a simple embodiment of that dream. In fact, Akira herself was one of the hunters pursuing such a dream.

According to rumors, the person who found the relic originally found an empty secret room. He was furious and began to destroy the walls around him, which led him to find the relic. I heard that after he got the relic appraisal at the relic trading center, he realized that it was an old-world communicator. He had brought the relic to the exchange center, thinking that it should at least bring him a little money, but he didn't expect to win the jackpot. I know this kind of thing happens from time to time in the hunter world, but I've heard that the man has been through a lot since then. It's like being locked up in a hunter's office, because they think he's the one who can connect to the realm of the Old World. Well, he was later released, albeit after knowing that he was not. But in the end,

Colbert said this casually, but Akira couldn't help frowning and said in a panic.

I know, um, so, you're basically here looking for the ruins, right?

Not exactly, I was hired as a guard. Since the last battle, the guards have been paid quite well to watch out for the remaining monsters. Honestly, the money wasn't bad, we just stood here doing nothing and got quite a bit of money. That's why I brought in Elio to fill the membership slot, and it was a great opportunity for them to gain some experience as an amateur hunter.

Elio and the other children there have registered as hunters. They are basically affiliated with SHE as a member

Hunters work for the YL gang, and they occasionally receive jobs from She

yl and Violas relationship. Since they brought good equipment from Katsuragi when they registered their names, they were originally level 10 hunters, and when he first registered his own hunters, they were far above Aki

AS.

Can you really bring Elio and the other kids to fill the membership? Those big monsters are powerful, you know?

Well, even if those monsters do show up, I'm willing to bet the other hunters will happily hunt them down first. So these guys don't even have a chance to fight those monsters. Well, even if they do, they can use rocket launchers to provide support from a distance. If you're so worried, how about joining us?

No, thanks, I have other things to do here. Afterward.

Akira then walked towards the ruins. But his image suddenly blurred around, and Colbert couldn't hide his surprise when he saw it.

Camouflage, right? There are so many hunters here, I bet he's well aware that there are no monsters left in this ruin, right? So why did he do it?

Colbert had a lot of questions in his head, and although he had his own guesses, he couldn't ask Akira for confirmation. After all, if Akira suspected that he was trying to find the location of Achillas' relics, it wouldn't have been good for him. Colbert stood there bothered for a few seconds, then he decided to forget about it and get back to his work.

Akira lifted the camouflage from her coat and walked into the ruins. The coat comes with a hood, and it's big enough to hold Aki

The AS 2 rifle is hidden underneath. Although the hood was designed to cover the face, and its camouflage would not be complete without it, Akira deliberately let part of the hood open. Since some hunters believe that wearing something on their head will reduce their awareness in battle, Alpha allows Aki

a Do this instead of interrupting his attention by covering his face with a turban.

Due to the installation of optical camouflage devices, the coated surface blends in with the color of the surrounding environment. While the bent light didn't make Akira invisible, it was enough to keep him hidden. And in order to prevent other non-optical sensors from spotting him, he turned on an jamming device made using force field technology.

A nearby hunter noticed that the signal from Akira in his information collector suddenly dimmed, and inadvertently turned in Akira's direction. But since there was nothing to be aware of, he returned, eyes fixed on his information-gathering device.

Something similar happened a few times after that, and Akira was really surprised by the effect of the disguise.

Even though I was close, they didn't notice me. If I had known it worked, I would have bought it sooner.

But Alpha cautions Akira not to be too confident.

It's likely that their information gathering devices are set up to detect larger monsters, so they don't work well to detect relatively small objects like you. Moreover, there are a lot of monsters that can easily spot this level of camouflage. In addition, it consumes energy, so it's not like you can turn it on all the time. So don't let your guard down just because you're using it, okay?

I know, do you think this thing will work against those big monsters?

Maybe. When the rain stops, you at least don't need to hide under the rubble.

I see, I should have bought it sooner.

Akira frowned slightly. In his mind, he honestly just thought that if he encountered a monster, he had to defeat it, and that was the obvious answer. And, since he's been able to do it in all of his encounters so far, this mindset has cemented into his brain. But unsurprisingly, being able to avoid fighting made him so impressed that he even began to consider options for hiding and avoiding fighting.

What's more, he's now having to pay for his ammo again, so if possible, he wants to avoid any battles that could consume a lot of ammo. As he continued deeper into the ruins, the thought kept circulating in his mind.

However, considering how expensive old-world communication equipment can be, it might be a good idea to keep one, even if I wouldn't sell it.

Aki

A sounds like he's regretting his decision, but Alpha quickly rejects the suggestion.

That would be a bad idea. If you have one, you'll start thinking about how you can turn it into money without alerting anyone. If it distracts you, it's not good, and if you know how to do it, it's even worse because you won't be able to do anything but try. Then, you will fail, and it will end in a very bad way. Remember when the guy who found it by accident was locked up? If it were you, they would constantly irritate you even if you showed the slightest possibility, and it was too late before you even noticed it.

Akira shuddered as she imagined what would happen next.

You're right, that would be a bad idea. Well, let's be glad someone found it instead of me, so now I know what would happen if it was.

Alpha sees Aki

A fully accepted and smiled happily.

After that, Akira still wears camouflage and wanders around the ruins. This is to help him get used to the use of this disguise as well as the training to deceive others. After all, a hunter in camouflage uniform, wandering through a ruin full of other hunters, will make one guess why he did it.

This is also the reason why Akira let Colbert and his friends see him open his disguise. It would be a fatal mistake to know that there is still an old world information terminal in the ruins, or if there is a hiding place in that ruins. But at the same time, it can also make hunters wonder if this is really a mistake.

Rumors about the existence of Old World Terminals in the ruins of the Hiraku Mansion and knowing where to find them disappeared after no one found anything in that ruin. But the discovery of old-world communication equipment has reignited this rumor.

Akira was glad that not many hunters believed the rumors, otherwise the ruins would have been filled with more hunters.

Although Akira himself doesn't know if this will actually work, he walks around the ruins and adjusts the credibility of the rumors before receiving a call from Viola.

Akira, do you have time?

I'm working right now. If there is no emergency, can you put it for later?

It has to do with your job as a hunter. I know you've completed your last request, and now you're going back looking for the relics, right? And you're in the ruins of the Hisaka Mansion right now, right?

Akira never told anyone where he was going, but Viola already knew. He was silent for a moment, guessing where she had gotten the information.

So, what is it?

If you want to collect more information terminals from the old world, you don't have to sell them little by little, just sell them to me. One of my contacts is actually looking for them, you know?

I don't know if I'm going to get anything until I'm done searching.

But you did find some, didn't you?

Viola was casual in what she said, but she sounded sure of what she was saying. Aki

a There is no ability to determine whether she really knows or is just bluffing.

Even so, I promised Katsuragi that I would bring them to him first, and I had no reason to change that.

Don't worry, I've already discussed it with Katsuragi.

Akira paused again, and Viola continued without waiting for him to answer.

It looks like you're trying to fake where you got those relics from, but if you sell them to me, you don't need to do it anymore, you know? If you suspect I'm planning something, don't worry, I won't. I did do a lot of things behind the scenes, but it was to fulfill my promise to you and help the Shirley Gang make more money. So yes, I'm trying to fulfill my promise to you, you know?

Jing can only know from this sentence that Viola is not an honest girl. But if he did something to stop her from keeping her promise to him, it would be counterproductive. Thinking so, he finally made a decision.

Okay, I'll visit She later

YLS base.

However, if possible, I would like you to bring the relics yourself.

Well?

This is what my client asks for, just take it as my sincerity to my client. I won't force you, but if you do, you'll be able to get more money out of the artifact. I'll send you the location and time after that. If it's not possible for you, please let me know and I'll do my best to adjust it.

Are we going to check the ruins there too?

No, I believe you about the quality of the artifacts, and the client doesn't seem to question my reliability either. Well, don't worry, even if the customer later checks and finds that it doesn't meet his expectations, I'll be the one he'll complain about. Don't worry, I'll be the one who pays you too. I'll pay you the right amount of money, and I won't reduce it because of customer complaints.

Akira looked at the time and place that had been sent to him and tilted her head. However, considering that it was Violas' connection, and that the original relic was sold in the trading center of the slum city, he felt that there was no problem with that time and place, except that there was not much leeway in time.

Well, I'm good about time and place. I'm going there now.

Okay thank you. Afterward.

Viola hung up, and Akira noticed that Alpha was staring at him.

Akira, it's not like I'm telling you not to accept that offer, but can you really accept it?

It's a waste to leave these relics at home anyway, as long as they can be safely sold for a good price. If it causes me trouble in the future, next time I can use it against Viola. This time, I'm going to definitely blow her head off.

Alpha wasn't quite sure what to think of Aki

Alas, he seems to be unusually indifferent to this matter. However, this is also one of his strengths. After all, he had once become indifferent to both Elena and Sarah, who had influenced his priorities.

But the question now is whether Alpha himself will be Aki one day

a Indifference. Although Alpha wanted to confirm, she was unable to test. After all, the act of temptation was enough to increase the likelihood, and it was one thing she would surely know after spending some time with him.

What's wrong?

Well? It's nothing. Let's hurry to the venue so as not to miss the opportunity to blow Violas away.

You know, I didn't accept that offer to have an excuse to kill her.

While Alpha was joking there, Akira wasn't entirely sure he was joking, smiling wryly. Then he turned off the camouflage and left the ruins.

Aki

a in Kuzusuha

A client of Violas awaits in an abandoned building in the ruins. He had already taken off his disguise, although he had two SSB multi-gun rifles with him, but both were facing down. Akira himself was busy staring at his information terminal while scanning the surrounding enemies.

However, this is still a rather suspicious place to trade. It would be very strange if it was a normal honest deal.

Well, I'm sure Violas' client will want to hide where he got the relics from, so that's a good thing for you too.

It's true.

Alpha smiles at Akira, who also laughs and replies.

It's time, here they are.

A man cautiously peeked through the crack in the door to peek into the room. Then he noticed Aki

and cautiously entered the room.

Violas contact details, I guess?

Yes.

Relic?

Aki

A pointed one of his SSB rifles at a backpack not far from him. The guy opened the backpack to check the contents and confirmed that the backpack was filled with the aforementioned relics, the old world information terminals.

Is that all there is to it?

Yes, if you have anything to complain about, just tell Viola.

The guy closed his backpack.

I've heard that Viola will process payments. If you wish, you can go ahead and call Viola to confirm the transfer.

Never mind.

Well, we have a deal. So, who will leave first?

In that case, I'll go first.

Okay, go for it.

The guy shut up and stood there with a serious expression, staring at Akira. Then, Aki

A cautiously left the room, got on his bicycle parked near the building, and returned to the one parked a little further away, as he was unable to take it across the path.

Akira looked distressed.

What can I say that it feels like a super-secret deal that would have led to death for anyone unrelated to who found out about it.

Well, I was expecting the fact that they set the meeting place in the ruins. It is the kind of place where dead bodies can be easily found, and its location is a place that hunters exploring the ruins would not normally stumble upon by accident. If it's a secret deal, though, it's not as secretive as one might think.

No one will ambush me on the way back, will they?

When this happens, you just need to kill them and make sure to kill Viola afterwards as well.

Alpha smiled and said there should be no problem. Akira smiled wryly and rode through the ruins.

The man who remained in the building contacted his friend through a non-wave communication device. He also sent photos of the inside of the backpack through a camera mounted in a prosthetic eye.

I got the relics, but I don't know their quality. Should I go back and check first?

The person on the other end of the line replied in a serious voice.

No, you don't have to do that. If you let them check in town, it will leave a record. After all, these are old-world information terminals. Take them to the next location. When you're ready, call the hunters and ask them to find the relics. They can then confirm the quality of the artifact afterward. If the artifacts are identified in advance, it is too much work to readjust the appraisal results afterwards.

Roger that. By the way, the hunter looking for the ruins seems to be Yanagisawa's people, are you sure it will be okay? They might just be looting artifacts, you know?

I've accepted the risk. Since he worked under that man, he was probably reluctant to dig too deep, even if he was suspicious of the ruins. The question here is whether they will be able to find the relics. It's a matter of luck, but as long as it's at least as good as a normal hunter, you should be able to find relics. But if they can't, we'll send our own hunters. Alright then, let's go. Once you have placed your relics, stay around the area to keep an eye on the hunters from a distance. If they don't contact you after discovering the relics, or if they try to keep the relics for themselves, disguise yourself as robbers and kill them. We can send you reinforcements if you need them.

Roger, let's get started now.

Good luck.

The man hung up and disappeared. The powerful camouflage device was something he got from his boss, which showed how careful the person he was talking to just now was, and the importance of this operation.