Tap.
The waitress set down a tall glass of coffee, more like a fancy milkshake with cherries on top, and a cup of strong espresso.
Kreyn’s eyes sparkled as he looked at the coffee that cost a whopping 20 credits!
"Phuh, you’ve decided to make the most of your request, haven’t you?" Groza chuckled, taking a sip of her bitter drink.
"Well, 20 credits for coffee? Pffft! In Sector 18, I could eat for several days on that!" Kreyn muttered disapprovingly before popping the cherry sitting on the whipped cream into his mouth.
Groza glanced at him over the rim of her cup.
"Sector 18? How unusual. I thought a newbie like you would be from here, Sector 1."
Kreyn shook his head.
"Nah, if I had to pay 20 credits for a cup of coffee, I’d have starved to death long ago. Alright, now let’s get down to business. You said you have a suitable mission, right?"
In response, Groza nodded and slid the chip forward.
A blue light burst forth as all the mission information appeared before them.
[Search for the Anomalous Crystal Crusher
[Type: Recon/Hunt/Territory Clearance
[Difficulty: Special
[Participants: Hunter Groza
[Objectives: Find the Anomalous Crystal Crusher. Further actions depend on the participating Hunters.]
[Time Limit: None
[Penalty for Failure: Depends on what the Anomalous Crystal Crusher does. The penalty could potentially be severe.
[Reward: Depends on the mission’s final outcome. Minimum: 5,000 credits for locating the Anomalous Crystal Crusher.]
Blink.
Kreyn blinked as he sipped his coffee. This wasn’t what he’d expected, but it all looked more than serious.
Three things immediately caught Kreyn’s attention: the monster’s name, the 5,000-credit reward, and the mission’s difficulty.
"What does ’Special Difficulty’ mean?" Kreyn asked.
Groza shrugged.
"It means the administration can’t precisely determine the difficulty of this mission. Usually, a mission’s difficulty depends on how dangerous a monster you might encounter in the worst-case scenario. That is, if it’s a Two-Star Monster, it means it’s Two-Star Difficulty.
"However, missions aren’t always as straightforward as simply killing a monster at a known location. Missions like mine are combined missions where there are several possible targets at once. More often than not, it’s impossible to accurately determine the difficulty of such missions."
Kreyn was silent for a moment before nodding thoughtfully.
"Is this some kind of special request? And, as I understand it, you discussed the mission details personally with the administration?"
The corners of Groza’s mouth turned up for a moment.
"Correct. I’ve wanted to find the Anomalous Crystal Crusher for a long time. It’s important to me."
"Find it or kill it?"
A cold glint flashed across Groza’s black eyes.
"Both."
She folded her hands in her lap.
"Before we start discussing the terms, I want you to understand that I’m the captain of our team, and you’re the newbie, albeit an unusual one."
Before Kreyn could answer, Groza showed him her badge, it was a gold one.
Kreyn blinked. He realized that, for the most part, he didn’t deserve his silver badge. It was Grad’s preference. He had little experience and few abilities, so someone with a gold badge was a far better Hunter than he was.
"Here’s what I propose: we split the rewards 70/30. If we find any rare resources needed for our evolution, we’ll decide on a case-by-case basis. Also, am I right in thinking you can craft gear from monsters?"
"Hmm? How do you know that?" Kreyn tilted his head.
"Well, that analyst you came with said a little more than she should have." Groza narrowed her eyes. "So? Is that true?"
Contrary to her expectations, Kreyn shook his head uncertainly.
"Yes and no."
He pointed to his boots.
"I crafted them from a monster I killed in the sand dunes. But I don’t know if I can craft gear for others, or if there are any restrictions, and so on."
Groza took this in stride. She was the type who preferred to prepare for missions and weigh the risks.
"I see. In that case, I’d like you to create one thing for me as well, if the right gene and opportunity arise. What do you say?"
Kreyn stared at a single point, sipping his coffee milkshake.
"You know, when I saw that coffee on the menu, I thought I’d be the one robbing you. The terms are pretty tough - I won’t lie."
"Fair enough, but I’m offering you experience as well, and there’s something else."
"Hmm?" Kreyn looked at her as her expression grew more serious.
"You won’t die, because I’m strong. I can guarantee that."
Kreyn ate another cherry, mulling over her words.
"Are you an attacker?"
"Indeed."
Groza could see that Kreyn was hesitant. She hadn’t expected anything else. Even experienced Hunters might take several days to consider such a decision.
"I’ll give you until tomorrow evening to think it over. As for now, I have to go," Groza said respectfully, not wanting to prolong their awkward silence.
"Wait."
"Yes?"
Kreyn tapped the rim of his glass with his straw.
"Buy me another coffee and a pizza, and I’m ready to go with you whenever you say so."
They both knew it wasn’t about the coffee or the pizza, but still, how could Groza refuse such a request?
She smiled.
"Sure. I’m glad to be working with you."
...
Kreyn didn’t go back to his home in Sector 18, though he didn’t have to book a hotel room in Sector 1 either, his bank account wouldn’t survive that.
When the Hunters were ready to head out on a mission, they could stay at any military facility near the walls, where they could finish preparing for the mission.
During their trip, Groza shared additional details with Kreyn, such as the fact that their mission would take place at night. There was practically no chance of finding the Anomalous Crystal Crusher during the day.
Clasp.
Kreyn slipped a holographic bracelet onto his wrist and put on a black uniform. This was standard for the Hunters, as the uniform was made of breathable materials, didn’t restrict movement, provided good protection against the cold, and offered decent protection.
The bracelet on Kreyn’s wrist was his mini-computer, used by both Hunters and the military, and it was connected to a chip in his badge. Through the bracelet, he could view information about their mission, as well as about other Hunters, monsters, or the surrounding area.
"Please, follow me!" the soldier exclaimed as a gate opened behind him.
Groza and Kreyn exchanged glances as they headed after the man.
Soon, they found themselves on a runway where, under the gusts of cold wind, Kreyn quickly stuffed a protein bar into his mouth. He’d stolen a few from the military hall.
Groza watched as a fighter jet landed in front of them, its engines blazing vertically with blue flames.
"Are you ready for your first official mission, Kreyn?" Groza asked without turning around.
Kreyn stretched out his arms. "Of course. How else am I going to get my generous 30%?"
"Tsk, I heard you." Groza smirked.
But Kreyn was going to get far more than 30% out of this mission.
’Anomalous Crystal Crusher?’
His eyes grew deeper.
’Let’s see what I can create from your gene.’