You Sure This Thing’s Legal?!

"You sure this is safe?""Absolutely not. But if we just stand here, that Metavore's gonna reach the residential zone."

The conversation took place in the western edge of Lynth City, right between the safe zone and the wildlands.An old bounty hunter gripped a massive, strange-looking weapon.It was pitch-black, rough-surfaced, with exposed wires sticking out.No logo. No serial number.One thing was clear—it wasn't officially manufactured.

Across from him, a Tier-5 Metavore crawled rapidly through the rubble.The creature looked like a cross between a wolf and a metallic lizard.Its mouth was lined with chainsaw-like fangs, and its body emitted a toxic energy field.

"Alright, kid… if this thing blows me up, tell my wife and kids I was just trying to help."

He pulled the trigger.

—WUUUNG—!!!—

A thick red beam erupted from the weapon's barrel.In a split second, the Metavore stopped moving.Not because it was injured—Because half its body was gone.Vaporized. Burned away by high-pressure particles that even its natural armor couldn't resist.

The bounty hunter stared at the weapon, speechless.

"…IS THIS THING EVEN LEGAL?!"

Several hours later, at the Western Branch of the Aether Corps...

"We've received a report of an illegal weapon used to kill a Tier-5 Metavore."

A young woman with short silver hair and sharp eyes pulled up the footage on a large holo-display.

"Plasma particle reaction. No standard stabilizer. This tech… doesn't match any current military spec.But its efficiency outperforms even our third-generation weaponry."

Lieutenant Sarka Elwyn tapped her fingers on the desk.

"And the source? Still unknown. Only identified as a 'rare underworld product.'"

Sitting beside her, Captain Reiner Vahl crossed his arms, his expression grim.

"We've been tracking the movements of an underground group called Eidolon for a while.But this is the first solid proof they can manufacture weapons like this."

"What do you think? Who's behind it?"

"No idea yet.But whoever it is… they're no ordinary person."

Meanwhile… far from the military tension, someone had just finished another "experiment."

"Told you, that weapon was way too strong."

Deren sat at his tiny workbench, surrounded by scraps from a half-destroyed prototype.Some of his testing tools were still slightly smoking.

"Good thing I sent that one to the black market yesterday. Totally not my style."

Clarice walked into the room with her usual deadpan expression.

"News just came in. That weapon was used in Lynth. And… well, a Tier-5 Metavore lost half its body."

Deren turned his head slowly."Well. If they survived, that's great."

"Great? Sure—except now the Aether Corps is launching an investigation.And they're starting to connect the dots… with the name Eidolon."

Deren shrugged."Just tell them I'm not involved. I'm a freelance contractor."

Clarice narrowed her eyes."You own Eidolon."

"On paper. Mentally, I'm just a humble hermit who loves his bed."

Clarice let out a long sigh and pulled out a holo tablet, showing him the latest financial report.

"Oh, and by the way—we made a 40% profit from the civilian defense division this month."

Deren squinted."…Any chance that comes with a bonus nap?"

"Sorry. The only bonus is more work."

Outside the building, beyond the cloudy night sky…A surveillance drone quietly locked onto their coordinates from afar.

"Target location D-47. Core energy activity detected. Investigation marked as high priority."

And just like that…Deren's unwanted adventure was beginning to unfold.