Fenris reached his doorway and bumped into Cromi.

  Cromi, smoking a cheap cigarette, leaned against the wall.

  “Not home?”

  Minogue, standing beside him, chuckled. “You think everyone’s as free as you are? He’s probably looking for work.”

  “Ugh, it’s a hassle. So many people still haven’t found jobs.” Cromi scratched his head, looking troubled.

  “That’s your job, isn’t it?” Minogue smiled.

  “You looking for me?” Fenris suddenly appeared.

  Cromi jumped.

  “Ahem, kid, couldn’t you have called?”

  “Are you here to check employment rates? Is that your job now?” Fenris asked curiously.

  “Technically, no, but since you’re my referrals, I have to check in,” Cromi took a deep drag of his cigarette, exhaling a cloud of smoke.

  “Smoking is harmful to your health; you’ll have to pay extra for lung cleaning,” Fenris calmly stated.

  “Ahem, kid, couldn't you be a bit nicer?” Cromi coughed, ignoring the smoke.

  Minogue stifled a giggle.

  “I found a job,” Fenris replied.

  Cromi clapped Fenris on the shoulder, delighted. “Good job, kid.”

  Minogue asked curiously, “What kind of job?”

  “Scavenger,” Fenris replied.

  Cromi’s smile faltered. He groaned, “You actually got accepted as a scavenger?”

  “Yes? What’s wrong?” Fenris asked.

  Cromi hesitated; he couldn’t say it was bad. He sighed.

  “It’s… not a good job, but you applied, so there’s nothing to be done.”

  Minogue said, “It’s not bad; every job needs someone to do it. Besides, the pay might be better than yours.”

  Cromi said nothing but clapped Fenris on the shoulder. “Well done. Do your three years and get out.”

  “If the Logistics and Resources Department hears you say that, you’ll be facing a complaint,” Minogue reminded him.

  “I don’t care.” Cromi shrugged.

  “Should I invite you in?” Fenris asked.

  “Can’t. I have other places to go.” Cromi shook his head.

  “Okay.” Fenris nodded.

  After seeing Cromi off, Fenris was about to open his door when—

  The door next to his opened; Fenris was surprised; he looked up.

  In the past two weeks, he’d never seen his neighbor.

  He’d assumed the apartment was vacant.

  An attractive woman, looking disheveled and smelling faintly unpleasant, opened the door.

  She entered her apartment and closed the door.

  Fenris was curious, but only mildly so.

  Fenris returned to his room, looking at the crate of nutritional bars. He hesitated. They weren't bad; various flavors were available, but eating them every day was unbearable. He intensely disliked the taste; he hadn't had a choice before, but now he could afford to be more discerning.

  Fenris went out again; his status no longer restricted his movement.

  He passed through the checkpoint into Sector D.

  Once in Sector D, he went to the market to buy groceries and small appliances.

  He stopped at the first shop, a sign proclaiming:

  “Good quality, low prices! Handmade appliances! Everything just 10 points!”

  Fenris entered; a languid young man lay sprawled on the floor, snoring.

  Fenris browsed, finally stopping at a miniature solar cooker. Placed in sunlight, it would provide sufficient energy for daily use. Essential.

  The price was reasonable: only 20 credit points.

  “How much is this?” Fenris woke the young man.

  The young man blearily awoke, looked at the appliance, and lazily extended two fingers.

  “Not expensive, but how’s the quality?”

  “Don’t worry, I assembled it myself. If it malfunctions within a year, I’ll replace it.”

  “Okay.” Fenris paid and left.

  The young man yawned and prepared to sleep again, when Zyra appeared, seeing the sleeping man and without a word, slapped him on the head.

  “Ouch!”

  “I told you to watch the shop!”

  The young man whined, “Sis, is it appropriate for a future high-level mechanic like me to be stuck guarding a shop?”

  Before he could finish, Zyra slapped him again.

  “Wait till you graduate! How did you do on the exam?”

  The young man’s mouth twitched. “Uh, the results haven’t been released yet. Sis, are you hungry?”

  Fenris headed to the grocery store. Each sub-sector in D had a grocery store, stocking various daily necessities, though it wasn't crowded; everything was expensive.

  Fenris entered; there were only a few hundred people, carefully selecting their necessities.

  Fenris chose some essentials, costing 100 points. He then went to the produce section; a package of quick-frozen greens cost about 50 points, roughly a month's worth of nutritional bars. He took four packages. Then he went to the meat section; a 500g package of pork cost 100 points; he took two.

  He seemed to have everything he needed, but stopped at a display.

  After hesitating, he took two bottles of the cheapest dark beer—200 points.

  He went to the checkout; the total was 600 points.

  Fenris carried his heavy bag towards Sector F, but instead of returning to his room, he headed in a different direction.

  He stopped at a door and knocked.

  No one answered.

  Fenris waited; two hours passed; it was late at night.

  A figure approached in the distance.

  Cromi, arriving at the door, paused, sighing. “Why are you here?”

  Fenris held up a bag.

  Cromi's face darkened.

  Moments later, they sat on the metal bed, enjoying a hot pot.

  Cromi exclaimed, a mix of pleasure and pain, “Delicious!”

  Fenris calmly stated, “Your money isn't necessary.”

  “Kid, you don’t understand. I’m a vagabond; I came into this world with nothing, and I’ll leave with nothing. I don’t need that money; I'll enjoy this instead.” Cromi poured a dark beer, savoring it.

  “Even without possessions, one can still enjoy life,” Fenris questioned, raising an eyebrow.

  “I wasn't born with that kind of fortune. Besides, how did a kid like you suddenly think to buy all this and invite me to eat?” Cromi shook his head.

  Fenris spoke seriously. “I dislike owing people. Besides, I’m tired of those nutritional bars.”

  Cromi laughed. “Ha ha! Kid, you’re alright, but you’re so serious and rigid. I wonder who taught you that way.”

  “My mother.” Fenris replied seriously.

  “Ahem… she did a good job,” Cromi said, realizing his slip-up.

  Fenris asked curiously,

  “Why are you so kind to so many people?”

  Cromi spoke seriously. “This is about legacy. You must know what despair feels like, right? I’ve been there. I was a refugee with nowhere to go, but I was lucky; I was taken in. Through hard work, I have what I have today. So, I decided to do something meaningful, to give others who are despairing, like I once was, a chance.”

  Fenris pondered for a moment. “A very special hope.”

  “Kid, you’ll understand eventually. You can’t change the world, but you can choose how you live in it,” Cromi said.

  Fenris spoke. “Is that what your mother taught you? To follow your heart and have no fear?”

  Cromi choked, momentarily speechless. What kind of mother would teach a child that?

  “Let’s… let’s just eat.”

  The next morning, Fenris arrived early at the designated training location.

  People were already gathering. Fenris entered, underwent an identity check, and proceeded to the training room.

  It was unusual. Rows of circular, egg-shaped training pods lined the room; practical training and theory were combined; he finally understood why the standards couldn't be lowered.

  The training was rigorous; if you were given an advantage initially, don't expect leniency later.

  When the designated time arrived—

  A tall, muscular, dark-skinned man entered.

  “Everyone get into your assigned mechs. I will explain and demonstrate practical operation. If you don’t listen and find yourselves in danger, crying for help won't save you. The corresponding name is displayed on each mech’s external screen.”

  Quickly, everyone began to find their mechs. This training session had over a hundred participants. Some went directly to their mechs, as if already knowing which one was theirs—clearly not their first training session.

  Fenris searched for a while before finding his mech and climbing in.

  The hatch slowly sealed. Fenris sat in the pilot's seat.

  The instructor's voice sounded in his ears.

  “Many of you are new recruits, some failed previous training cycles. You'll be integrated into this session. I expect you to learn diligently. This isn't just about your earnings; it's about your lives.”

  “These mechs, the so-called Scavengers, are all refurbished light mechs retired from the Hydonia. Most of the weaponry has been removed, and enhanced thrusters added, making operation more efficient.”

  Fenris listened intently. He noticed a change in gravity, and the cockpit temperature was rising; it seemed designed to acclimate them to abnormal conditions.

  Time passed. Suddenly, with a bang, a hatch burst open.

  An exhausted trainee crawled out, unable to continue.

  Waiting personnel rushed to his side, helping him away.

  The resource extraction division was severely understaffed. The Hydonia had yet to find a large, well-developed planet for resupply, relying instead on scavenging wrecked and abandoned planets. Scavengers were constantly suffering casualties; veteran losses were mounting, and new recruits couldn't keep up, resulting in significant shortages. Zyra, the head of the extraction division, frequently clashed with her superiors.

  Fenris suddenly found that time wasn't so monotonous. Everything had become richer; he had more to learn every day. It felt like he'd gone back to his childhood.

  Days bled into weeks. On the twentieth day, during a training session, several officers in blue uniforms entered.

  “What’s this?” the instructor frowned.

  “Good day. I’m Lieutenant Boroka. This is a mobilization order from the Logistics and Resources Department. Newly trained Scavengers are being deployed immediately.”

  “This is preposterous!” The instructor erupted.

  “My apologies, sir, but this is a direct order. I’m merely executing it. If you have objections, you can raise them with your superiors,” Boroka said apologetically, clearly aware of the instructor's fury.

  Turning to the trainees, Boroka said, “Please follow us.”

  If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  Everyone looked at each other, then at the instructor, apprehension on their faces.

  The instructor's face turned green, but he finally said, “Go.”

  More than a hundred trainees followed Boroka, who led them to a special entrance in Sector D.

  Three squads of guards in simple armored uniforms stood guard. Boroka approached and spoke.

  “Open the access elevator; we’re going to Sector E3.”

  “Yes, sir.” The guard commander saluted, then began operating the controls.

  A massive, ten-meter-high, twenty-meter-wide alloy gate began to rise.

  “Let’s go.” Boroka led the way.

  After entering the passage, they boarded a large steel platform.

  With a slight shudder, the platform began to descend.

  ...

  In Sector E3, Zyra was engaged in a heated argument with a balding old man.

  “This is sheer madness! The training period is already far too short, and you're deploying them early. You're sending them to their deaths!”

  The old man responded in a firm, unwavering voice.

  “This operation requires a degree of risk acceptance. This resource extraction must succeed. Previous supply runs have been disastrously unsuccessful. We've finally located a massive planet, containing ice-crystals. We need a substantial water supply; otherwise, our next opportunity is unknown. The original plan to resupply from Belloc has long been abandoned.”

  “This planet, designated V42-52, is shrouded in an unidentified atmospheric layer. Survey signals are attenuated by 60%, returning minimal data. The internal situation is essentially unknown. This rushed resupply is extremely risky.”

  “There’s no risk. I’ve requested support from the combat division; the elite guard squadron will accompany them, ensuring maximum Scavenger safety. This is non-negotiable. Your job is to execute.”

  A female officer in a uniform approached carrying a mini-control panel.

  “The squads are ready and proceeding to the hangar. The operation plan is as follows: teams of three—two experienced Scavengers and one recruit—totaling 300 teams. Three large-scale resource extraction vessels and ten heavy-duty extraction ships will be deployed. The DT agile mech division will provide escort: 120 mechs total, including 100 Type I new light mechs, 17 Type II heavy mechs, and 3 Type III high-powered mechs.”

  “Excellent. The escort is considerably stronger this time,” the old man nodded, satisfied.

  Fenris arrived at a massive hangar in Sector E3. Before him stood a colossal 800-meter-long resource extraction vessel. Aside from a few weapons, the ship had been extensively modified. Unnecessary equipment had been removed to maximize cargo space. The hull was reinforced with armored alloy plating, and it contained one hundred and twenty articulated robotic arms for operation. Four advanced T-type fusion engines provided propulsion, capable of carrying a maximum payload of 400,000 tons.

  Ground maintenance personnel were making final adjustments, ensuring optimal performance. Their target was a massive ice crystal field; their primary goal was a 6100-square-meter crystal, 180 meters high. With a density of 0.9 tons per cubic meter, the crystal weighed over 100,000 tons. Adding the ship’s weight, the three massive extraction vessels would be operating near maximum capacity, a risky proposition since theoretical and practical payload limits often differ.

  The other larger extraction vessels would collect other resources.

  “Hey, kid, snap out of it.” A voice from behind drew Fenris's attention.

  Fenris turned to see two individuals approaching. One was a tall, blond woman with tanned skin, wearing a gray short-sleeved shirt and a cigarette dangling from her lips.

  The other was a disheveled middle-aged man, reeking of alcohol and occasionally coughing.

  “This is our messy assignment,” the man said.

  “Shut it, Jones,” the blond woman snapped.

  Jones waved his hand dismissively. “It is what it is. Already short-staffed and now they add rookies. I wonder if those managers got hit on the head.”

  The blond woman turned to Fenris. “Though we’re not thrilled to have you, there’s nothing we can do. Since we’re a team, I don’t want you dying easily. Just stick close, don't act recklessly. That’s the best way to survive.”

  “Thank you,” Fenris replied, unfazed by their attitude. In a way, they were right; he was a liability.

  “I’m Aina. Let’s go. We need to board,” Aina said briefly.

  Fenris followed Aina and Jones towards a massive extraction vessel. According to Aina, they hadn’t been assigned water resource collection; their task was to survey a specific area, where returned signals were unusually erratic. After eliminating interference, analysts believe there's a possibility of rare ore deposits.

  Their mission was reconnaissance and confirmation. If resources are found, they’d begin extraction. The urgency stems from the situation on Belloc; with severe material shortages, the planned resupply has been delayed.

  The captain believed that encountering aliens was a significant possibility, therefore increasing personnel to expedite the resupply.

  Fenris and his two companions arrived at the bottom of a massive extraction vessel named the Fishing Net. As they prepared to board, a young-looking man approached, a smile on his face.

  “What a coincidence, Aina! We're working together again.”

  Aina responded impatiently, “Quark, aren’t you supposed to be in the control room preparing for takeoff? What are you doing here?”

  “Come on, we're friends. Interested in drinks after the mission?”

  “Not interested.”

  Jones coughed, “Go away, Quark. You’re wasting your time. Find another girl; you don't want your eggs crushed.”

  The smile on Quark’s face froze. “I just wanted to say hello. Where are you headed? Oh, a newbie? Your team's replacement?”

  Jones sighed dejectedly, “Not just a newbie, probably hasn't even finished training.”

  Quark shook his head. “I don't know how to describe this...good luck. I'll go.”

  “Hey!”

  Fenris felt someone calling them. He looked up and saw a woman in a yellow hardhat and mechanic's overalls, one hand gripping a steel cable, the other waving.

  “Aina!”

  A moment later, the woman dropped from the cable.

  “Camille! What is it?”

  “You’re going on that mission?” Camille asked anxiously.

  “What’s so strange about that?” Aina replied.

  “I heard this mission is extremely dangerous. Be careful,” Camille warned.

  Aina dismissed her concerns. “Relax, I know. We have to board now.”

  Aina led the way onto the ship. The Scavenger mechs had already been loaded into the cargo hold at the rear.

  Inside the spacious cargo bay, the Scavengers were neatly arranged in two rows, secured to the floor in designated mounts—twelve in each row, twenty-four total.

  “Follow me,” Aina said to Fenris, slightly surprised herself. This new recruit seemed unusually composed; he lacked the typical anxiety and fear. If not for his age and new recruit status, she would have mistaken him for a veteran.

  Fenris followed Aina

  to a Scavenger mech, designation KC-745.

  “This Scavenger is yours.”

  “And here’s your protective suit. Don’t rely on it too much; its lifespan is limited,” Jones added.

  Fenris accepted the suit. “Thank you.”

  Fenris looked at the fifteen-meter-tall Scavenger. This was his work machine?

  It was a standard mech design but only equipped with two 480mm self-propelled cannons, holding about twenty rounds each. Not much, but better than nothing.

  It also had four multi-functional manipulator arms, a rear-mounted external fuel tank, and modified legs for increased stability and equipped with enhanced sensors, allowing the Scavenger to traverse more complex terrain safely.

  Seeing Fenris staring silently at the Scavenger, Aina didn’t say anything.

  Soon, the ship’s PA announced:

  “Fishing Net preparing for hangar closure. All Scavenger units, return to your mechs, prepare for deployment.”

  “Time to go,” Aina said, and climbed the boarding ladder to the cockpit.

  Fenris didn't linger, climbing into his Scavenger.

  Reaching the top, he entered the cockpit, settling into the cold pilot's seat, his hands gripping the controls. For some reason, the cold metal felt good; he seemed to like it.

  As the crew boarded, the Scavengers powered up, their eyes glowing.

  Fenris pressed the start button.

  “Starting up. Identity verification in progress. Fingerprint verification successful. Iris scan successful. Identity confirmed: Fenris.”

  With the final chime, the Scavenger’s internal systems sprang to life.

  Fenris maneuvered the Scavenger to its feet.

  Zyra's image then appeared on the screen.

  “Good morning, everyone. I’m Zyra, the mission commander, and I will be directing this operation. I will now assign tasks.”

  “First, Shark, Mushroom, and Hound—the three large extraction vessels—proceed to coordinates 425, 658, and 745, and maintain position, awaiting further instructions.”

  “Grey Bear—proceed to coordinates 542, 741, and 846, and maintain position, awaiting instructions.”

  ...

  The final set of orders were issued.

  Once the last ship received its instructions, Zyra spoke again.

  “Thank you for your service to the Hydonia. Be careful out there. Depart.”

  Her words were followed by a series of shrill warnings from the hangar.

  “Exterior hangar doors opening. All hangar personnel evacuate. Evacuate hangar, proceed to designated safe zone.”

  “Repeat: Operation commencing. Exterior hangar doors opening. All personnel evacuate hangar immediately, proceed to designated safe zone.”

  “Countdown commencing: 9, 8… 0”

  “Exterior hangar doors opening.”

  “Safety vent opening.”

  “Pressure vent opening.”

  “Passage fully open.”

  The Fishing Net began to power up, its engines roaring. Even inside the extraction vessel, Fenris could hear the noise clearly. He found this strange; how could the noise be so loud? He reflected that it made sense: the Fishing Net’s operational age far exceeded its design life. It had only survived due to constant repairs.

  The Fishing Net slowly lifted, then flew toward the passage, leaving the Hydonia and entering space.

  In the Fishing Net’s control room, Fenris felt little, but he knew the vessel was heading towards its designated coordinates.

  A 40-minute countdown to the target appeared on Fenris's screen.

  The screen changed, displaying a video feed.

  Aina’s face appeared.

  She spoke seriously. “Once we reach the target, the mission parameters will be transmitted. I’m the team leader. Rookie, your rule is to obey orders; don’t improvise. Resource extraction is inherently dangerous, and your luck is exceptionally bad; this mission is especially challenging.”

  Fenris replied calmly, “Understood.”

  Aina's image disappeared. Fenris looked at the countdown timer, feeling there was nothing he could do.

  He accessed the Scavenger’s data logs.

  They were largely consistent with the training materials.

  The countdown soon reached zero.

  A message appeared; Fenris opened it.

  “Mission parameters: At coordinates .462, 752 on planet V42-52, sensors have detected unusual signal fluctuations. Severe atmospheric interference prevents full signal reception. On-site investigation required.

  Mission objective: Proceed to designated location and conduct survey.”

  Aina’s voice sounded.

  “Depart.”

  The Scavenger’s safety restraints clicked open.

  Fenris piloted his Scavenger, following Aina’s behind them towards the rear cargo bay.

  The Fishing Net’s cargo bay doors were opening.

  “Good luck,” Quark’s voice echoed.

  Aina leaped ahead, effortlessly jumping off the ship.

  Fenris followed suit, maneuvering his Scavenger to the edge before jumping.

  The action felt clumsy. Despite knowing the procedures and having practiced simulations, the real thing felt different; he couldn’t control it perfectly.

  Fenris activated the Scavenger’s rear thrusters, chasing after Aina.

  Fenris glanced down, then froze.

  The planet was shrouded in a hazy obscurity; other colors were imperceptible.

  This wasn't the planet's true form. The haze was likely the atmospheric layer, the source of the unusual interference.

  “Analyzing data…”

  Fenris’s expression shifted, then broke into a smile. Echo had awakened.

  “Elements present: Hydrogen, Carbon, Oxygen, Nitrogen, CO2, Methane. Standard elements.”

  “Life forms detected. Analyzing…”

  “Microscopic yamidoffen single-cell organisms detected. They absorb interfering electromagnetic and sonic spectrums, and utilize the absorbed energy.”

  “You’re awake.”

  “Indeed, Fenris.”

  “Can you go dormant again?”

  “Theoretically, yes. I operate by absorbing energy from your body. I anticipate entering dormancy again in approximately one month.”

  “How can I replenish your energy?”

  “Large amounts of food will suffice, but it's not recommended. The preferred method is energy crystals, especially those of a mild nature.”

  “Don’t dawdle. We need to enter the atmosphere soon.” Aina’s words broke through Fenris's concentration.

  Just as Fenris was about to maneuver, Echo spoke.

  “Advanced AI assisted control functions enabled.”

  The feeling was incredible. Fenris instantly felt far more comfortable controlling the Scavenger; his inputs translated precisely to the controls.

  This resulted in Fenris effortlessly matching Aina’s speed.

  “Ten seconds to atmospheric entry. Recommend activating level-two shock absorption systems to minimize impact forces.”

  Following Echo’s instructions, Fenris manually activated them.

  A sturdy armored shell extended from the Scavenger, covering the cockpit area.

  With a violent lurch, Fenris felt a surge of pressure, and the surrounding temperature soared.

  “Planet V42-52 gravity is three times standard. Gravity increasing. Recommend activating level-three anti-gravity systems. Life support system load increasing. Recommend manually adjusting power output to 70% to maintain mech propulsion and prepare for potential unavoidable impacts.” Echo issued a series of recommendations.

  Fenris rapidly adjusted the parameters. He felt the temperature climbing, reaching 50 degrees Celsius.

  However, it stopped there. Sweat poured from Fenris’s body.

  “How long until atmospheric exit?”

  From the outside, the Scavenger glowed red-hot.

  “Projected time to atmospheric exit: 172 seconds.”

  Fenris silently counted down. When only ten seconds remained…

  He began maneuvering the Scavenger to correct its posture.

  “Recommended: Activate vent four, activate vent six, close rear vent.”

  Fenris followed the instructions.

  The moment the Scavenger broke through the atmosphere, it rapidly stabilized, hovering in the air.

  Aina and Jones also adjusted their mechs’ positions.

  Aina observed Fenris, a slight surprise in her eyes. He'd adjusted his mech’s posture incredibly quickly. Just moments ago, she'd seen him struggle with basic controls—a typical rookie.

  Fenris piloted his Scavenger to Aina's side.

  Aina collected herself. “Hold position. Await vanguard reconnaissance to assess the threat level.”

  Lightweight scout mechs were now piercing the atmosphere, passing nearby.

  Fenris observed the optical display: a parched landscape, littered with broken rocks, deep craters, and jagged peaks—a barren wasteland seemingly devoid of life.

  Jones coughed. “Kid, how are you feeling? Feeling crushed? If you can’t handle it, max out your life support.”

  “Thank you for the suggestion,” Fenris replied politely.

  “But that means you'll have less time here, and the danger increases. Your call,” Jones explained.

  “Echo, should we perform a perimeter scan?”

  “Will that consume significant power?” Fenris asked.

  “It will consume 30% of the remaining power.”

  “Negative.”

  Fenris rejected the suggestion. A ground search was already underway; there was no need to complicate things further. Moreover, even if they did find something, how would he explain it? How would he describe his method?

  He couldn't say the Scavenger detected something.

  After about an hour, the vanguard scout mechs returned.

  “Area relatively safe.”

  “Move out.”

  Aina led the way down. Soon, the three were on the ground.

  “We need to deploy the sample collectors at the designated locations. Each of us takes a sector; signal for help if you encounter problems, and do not deviate from your designated area,” Aina instructed.

  “Yes.”

  Fenris began deploying collectors along his designated route, according to the provided map.

  The collectors were small, roughly the size of an adult hand. They were designed to gather geological data and perform preliminary analysis.

  Due to time constraints, they used a scattergun approach. A single successful sample would justify the effort.

  Deploying the collectors wasn't a simple task. According to mission guidelines, the three of them had to deploy 108 collectors.

  Fenris was assigned 30. In a way, this was considerate for a rookie; Aina and Jones had a considerably heavier workload.

  Fenris piloted the Scavenger towards the designated coordinates. The travel time between coordinates varied—sometimes close, sometimes farther—averaging about half an hour.

  The entire delivery process, theoretically, should take around fifteen hours.

  “Echo, calculate the total delivery time.”

  “Estimated total delivery time: 16 hours, 23 minutes. Including return time: 23 hours, 11 minutes.” Echo responded instantly.

  On paper, it sounds manageable, but the reality is quite different. First, this is only the first leg. Second, there's no opportunity for rest, and they have to contend with unusual environmental conditions.

  Fenris wasn't idle; he engaged Echo in conversation.

  “Are there likely to be resources here?”

  “No detailed scan has been conducted. Based on preliminary surface analysis: 70% probability of usable resources, 20% unusable resources, 5% rare resources, 5% unknown.”

  Echo provided a preliminary assessment.

  Fenris nodded. This month's commission shouldn't be too bad. Scavenger salaries are high not due to base pay, but mainly due to resource extraction commissions.

  Scavengers receive 1% of the value of extracted resources as commission.

  Significant discoveries also yield substantial bonuses—up to 5% of the final extraction profits.

  However, none of that mattered. The most important thing was that the final report had to be acceptable to the Hydonia.

  Fenris's current task was surveying the area. Even if he discovered resources, it wouldn't be considered a significant find unless exceptional circumstances applied, since it was within the Hydonia's exploration zone.

  Fenris arrived at a designated location. He deployed a large, oval-shaped piece of equipment—a collector—its large gears extending and rotating. The drill-shaped rear end burrowed into the ground, securing itself. The green indicator light on top began to flash, signaling completion.

  Fenris verified installation and moved on to the next location.

  The work was tedious.

  As time passed, the temperature began to drop, and night was approaching.

  Echo issued a warning.

  “Temperature decreasing. Expected to reach -124 degrees Celsius.”

  That cold? Fenris was surprised.

  Echo replied, “Nocturnal operations increase risk levels.”

  Fenris checked the remaining time allocated by Aina: 25 hours left. Theoretically ample, but unexpected events could occur. Better to complete the tasks first.

  “Continue operations,” Fenris decided.

  The Scavenger continued towards the next target when Echo issued a new alert.

  “Unstable atmospheric pressure detected. Rapidly increasing.”

  Fenris checked the scanners; everything was still calm, showing no anomalies.

  “Echo, propose solutions.”

  “Calculating… Option one: relocate to temporary coordinates 712, 142 for evasion. Option two: proceed 5km forward and secure a position in the rock fissure. Option three: withdraw from the area.”

  Fenris considered his options. Option one was a significant detour; Option two seemed best, but the atmospheric conditions were unknown. Option three was immediately dismissed.

  After a few seconds, Fenris chose Option one. He diverted from his task zone, heading toward the designated coordinates.