[[[ The Next Morning ]]]
[[[ Desert Mountain Village ]]]
At the entrance, Zeus stopped Surai, who was driving out of the village... Surai had seen Marwan standing there with his mecha parked behind him and thought Zeus had stopped because he wanted to say goodbye to the man.
Surai didn't mind and got out of the car as well to bid farewell to Marwan, only to be surprised by Zeus's next words.
(Zeus): I'm staying here. I won't be leaving with you.
(Beatrix): What do you mean? ... Why?
Surai went silent, sinking into deep thought, weighing the pros and cons of staying here versus returning to his home near their city (Blue Dusk).
(Surai): It doesn't seem like you just made this decision... Why didn't you tell us earlier?
Zeus hugged Surai, then stepped back, placing a hand on his shoulder and speaking calmly with a fake smile.
_ Come on, I'll see you again someday... it's not like we're parting forever.
(Beatrix): I'll stay with you.
_ No, you won't... you have family, duties, responsibilities... Also, I won't be doing anything here... I'll just stay temporarily until you two find any leads on the case... I'll just be hiding, no need to worry.
(Beatrix, annoyed): I doubt the truth in your words.
(Zeus, laughing): Come on, I'm not a child.
_ Yes, you are.
_ Beaty, you're going with Surai. That's final.
(Beatrix): Promise me you won't do anything reckless.
_ Alright, I promise.
_ Why do I feel like you're lying?
(Zeus, shocked): !!... Come on, what do I have to do to make you believe me!?
(Surai): Just take care of yourself... we'll be back as soon as we can... Beatrix, let's go.
Surai headed to the car, and Beatrix hesitated to leave. At the same time, she wanted to hug Zeus goodbye but didn't have the courage to do it... so she turned and left.
(Zeus, warmly smiling): Beaty...
(Beatrix, blushing pink with embarrassment): Okay.
The girl hurried off, and when Zeus turned around, he was startled to see Marwan very close, staring at him in confusion.
(Marwan): Teach me how you do that? ... I've tried several times and failed.
(Zeus, confused): Teach you what!? ... All you need is a handsome face.
_ What's wrong with my face? Am I that bad?
_ No, but you're hesitant and shy... I doubt you'd even approach a girl, even if one liked you.
Marwan rubbed the back of his head awkwardly and spoke.
_ Maybe... Did you pack your stuff?
_ Damn! I left it with them in the car.
_ Catch up to them, they haven't left yet.
(Zeus): Forget it, I said my perfect goodbye. Going back would be awkward, and it was just some clothes I wanted to throw out anyway... I have my weapons and my bike.
Zeus transformed Surar into a black bike... Marwan was impressed, and in the next moment, he spoke with a smile.
_ These things are only cool in cities... They're not really effective here, you'll need to change it.
(Zeus): I've got a lot to do... get a new mecha, new weapons, and a new combat suit.
(Marwan): That's going to cost you a lot, and I don't think getting a mecha is easy.
"Since the energy storage runes can now generate energy, and I have movement and explosive energy runes... maybe making one myself isn't that far-fetched or insane!!!"
Zeus thought excitedly, eager to work on the projects in his mind.
"Wait! ... I don't have any money! How did I forget that!?"
Marwan watched Zeus's face shift between joy, excitement, sadness, and shock, wondering if the man before him really was insane like his friends had said.
(Marwan): Let's go... You need to find a place to stay if you're going to be here long-term, and you have a lot to think about.
---
[ A Week Later ]
"I didn't know making money was this hard!"
All last week, I was a wandering man with no idea what to do. I thought of making rune weapons to sell, but rune inscriptions only work by my will.
I started thinking about what kind of job or service I could offer, and I found I was only relatively good at fighting... maybe racing.
"Racing might actually work! ... I could organize them and make money. They don't have that culture here, and Marwan and I are popular enough to attract crowds and potential racers."
That's what I thought, but then again, this isn't a city—it's a village. The people here are poor and don't have money to waste.
And going to the nearest city to race illegally, where thousands of cameras are watching and police could raid any moment, is not a smart option at all.
That guy finally showed up.
_ Where have you been, man? Come think with me on how we'll make enough money to fill this room.
I asked Marwan and saw him look at me like I was an idiot!
(Marwan): Why just a room? Maybe we should drown the entire village in money. Zeus, my friend, don't make your dreams small and pathetic like that—a room!? Dude, just a room!? Don't aim for a village, aim to fill a whole city—or better yet, let's dry up the sea with money!
He's mocking me again. Why can't I find someone who believes in ambition and the impossible? If you stay pessimistic and dreamless, you've shut every road to the stars—except for luck, and that's something you can't control.
(Marwan): I almost forgot, your bike money came in.
(Zeus): How much did the mechanic sell it for?
_ I didn't know your bike was that expensive. It sold for 2,000 gold coins! Man, normal bikes don't cost more than 5 coins. What was your bike made of!?
_ Maybe it was the unique, strong metal, the abundant energy, or the brand... I honestly don't even know what normal bikes look like to give you an accurate comparison.
"That bastard is filthy rich!!?" Marwan thought, deciding to walk away before having a heart attack from the man's brain in front of him.
"Now how do I use 2,000 gold coins to make at least 4,000?"
That money is enough to buy what I need to make new weapons, but not enough for a level-three combat suit—and there's no way it's enough for a black-market mecha.
Wait, I don't have to buy a mecha. I can build one! How could I forget my brilliant ideas so quickly? Shame on this genius brain! Don't worry, my friend, I'll support you with a notebook to record your work.
---
Zeus spoke to his mind like a madman alone in the repair shop, while somewhere far away, Surai met with Sam and the rest of the group in the dining hall attached to the main building of Unit 293.
Sam shouted in Surai's face.
_ Don't stay silent, you bastard! Speak—what did you see when you found Zeus, and where did you bury him?
(Beatrix): Calm down.
(Sam): Not today, you spoiled brat—not today. You were with him too, tell me what happened? Where were you hiding all these weeks!?
(Hanabi): You both need to tell us everything. Why are you insisting on silence?
(Surai): I told you he died. What more do you want to know?
(Sam): Seriously, you bastard!? ... Then where is he buried?
(Surai): That doesn't matter.
(Sam): Look at this bastard!! "Doesn't matter"!?? ... You son of a #$@!
Sam threw a furious punch at Surai, who deliberately didn't dodge fully, only tilting with the punch to reduce the damage—even though to onlookers, it seemed like he was knocked back several meters before falling.
Sam tried to continue the attack, but Beatrix kicked him, throwing him into the food trays.
Before he could get up and attack her, soldiers gathered to break up the fight.
(Sam): I won't forget this, you bastards. I promise I won't forget.
(Hanabi, whispering in Sam's ear): Sam, let's leave. Not now, not here.
The duo left, and Beatrix walked over to help Surai up.
He politely declined her help and stood up on his own before offering a bitter smile.
(Surai): We have to endure... all this is for you, my friend. Even if you're not here, your problems still haunt me!
Beatrix smiled sadly and spoke:
_ You're right. I wish just one month would pass without Zeus bringing some disaster.