Deren, the Lazy Genius Too Smart to Die Young
"Peaceful life, plenty of sleep, steady cash flow... isn't that the definition of happiness?"
Deren let out a long yawn as he sat atop a stack of rusted containers, tucked in one corner of the ruined district of Eterna City.The air was thick with the scent of rusted metal, dust, and… a hint of instant coffee from the tiny thermos beside him.The sun had barely risen, yet Deren already looked like someone who had just finished a week of all-nighters.
Below, the charred corpse of a Metavore the size of a car still smoldered.Burn marks spread from its chest—the spot where the Core Etherion was located.
"Stable, reactive, and nearly exploded when I touched it. Interesting…"Deren jotted down notes quickly using a worn-out pen and a tattered notebook.
Hurried footsteps approached.
"Master Deren! I've brought this month's report!"
Clarice emerged from behind the rubble, still wearing a sleek black suit and high heels—clearly not the ideal outfit for a hunting zone.
"This month, our profits jumped 270%. Three of your experimental weapons became hot commodities. Even a noble from Lighthar is asking for an exclusive contract."
Deren stared blankly."An exclusive contract means I have to work, right?"
"Yes. But we can decline it, as usual. I told them our 'Master Engineer' is currently working on a top-secret project."
"Good. Don't forget to add that he's also preparing for a ten-hour nap marathon."
Clarice sighed—clearly used to this.
Deren jumped down and approached the Metavore corpse, extracting the Core Etherion from its chest cavity using a special tool.The crystal pulsed softly, almost alive.Its hue was a deep purplish-red—a mid-to-high grade Core.
"Keep this one. I've got an idea. A heat-reactive auto-defense weapon. It activates whenever a Metavore gets close. That way I don't have to get out of bed."
Clarice took notes seriously, as if Deren had just revealed a world-changing strategy.
"Oh, and… send one of the failed weapons to the black market. The one that exploded during yesterday's test."
"The failed weapon? You mean the one that pierced through Tier-6 Metavore armor?"
"That's the problem. If I press the wrong button while using it, this entire city could disappear from the map."
Clarice smiled sweetly. "Understood. I'll market it as 'Next-Gen Anti-Tank Technology.'"
Deren didn't respond. He was already back to sitting, brewing coffee from his thermos, and leaning against a pile of scrap metal.
Seriously, why does everyone treat my ramblings like military-level commands? I just want to sleep.
"Clarice… I mean it. Don't involve me in anything big. I just want to rest in peace."
Clarice only smiled, looking up at the sky."And the world… as always, will ignore your wishes."
Just as Deren was about to close his eyes, a notification popped up on the small communicator strapped to his wrist.
"Warning. Aether Corps recon drone detected within 1.2 kilometers."
Deren raised an eyebrow."Huh? What are they doing here?"
Clarice stiffened instantly."They might be tracking the Core signal from your test weapon yesterday. I forgot to disable the ID chip."
"Clarice…"
"Yes?"
"I don't want to relocate. So if they show up, just tell them I'm a junk dealer."
"You're sitting on a Gen-4 laser cannon disguised as a portable stove."
"Exactly. Visionary junk dealer."
Clarice gave him a flat look, then activated the local field camouflage system.The Metavore corpse began to vanish from radar, along with all signs of energy activity.
"All set. Though… one or two drones might still get suspicious."
Seriously... why is peaceful living so hard?Deren pulled his hoodie tighter and resumed sipping his coffee.
Not far from there, a military satellite picked up an unusually high energy signal from the area.The data was relayed to Aether Corps' central command.A small alert appeared:
"Unregistered signal detected. High-level energy pattern. Possible unauthorized tech developer. Investigation recommended."
And without Deren knowing…
The world began to take notice.Starting now.