Lyra eyed Eagan sceptically, crossing her arms as she leaned back against the wall. "You want to join me on a dungeon run? Why? You're not exactly the 'team player' type."
"Besides, what would Alastair think?" She added. "As much as I like getting myself into trouble, I don't want to get in trouble with an S-level hunter for bringing his uncertified brother into a dungeon."
Eagan raised an eyebrow at Lyra's mention of Alastair, his older brother. The last thing he needed was to get caught up in a mess involving the brother, who kept a very tight leash on him. "Alastair doesn't need to know," Eagan replied smoothly, though a hint of unease tugged at him.
"I'm not exactly a rookie anymore. And besides, I'm not asking for his permission. I'm asking for a way to stay alive."
Lyra gave him a sideways glance. "Yeah, well, I don't know if'staying alive' is enough of a reason for your brother to keep his mouth shut. He's the overprotective type."
"He's not that bad," Eagan muttered, though he knew it was a half-truth. Alastair had always been the overbearing older sibling, keeping a close eye on him ever since their parents died in the initial chaos of the apocalypse.
Lyra exhaled, rolling her eyes. "Fine. You'll deal with your brother if he finds out. I won't clean up your mess." She warned and Eagan nodded. "Since you are so eager, you help me get the stuff I need, and maybe—just maybe—I'll consider letting you tag along." She uncrossed her arms and gave him a once-over.
"But you better be ready. The Unclosed Mine isn't a walk in the park, and it's not like I can guarantee anything. You die in there; you're on your own."
"Deal," Eagan said without hesitation, his gaze steady. "Let's just get to it."
The two of them moved quickly through the streets of the city. The world outside the central districts was wild and unpredictable, but Lyra was no stranger to navigating these zones, and Eagan had learnt enough to keep up.
The streets were eerily quiet, save for the distant hum of drones overhead and the occasional screech of a larger creature in the distance.
"Here," Lyra said as they reached a dilapidated building tucked between two larger structures. A neon sign flickered above the entrance, buzzing intermittently. "This is where my guy works. Just don't do anything stupid."
Eagan nodded and followed her inside. The interior of the building was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of stale oil and metal. The shop was cluttered with old, worn tech and weapons: communication devices, military-grade armour, and various pieces of scavenged equipment, some of which looked like they hadn't seen a proper overhaul in years.
Behind the counter stood a scruffy man in his late thirties, his face obscured by a patchy beard. He looked up as they entered, his eyes scanning them both briefly before settling on Lyra.
"Well, well, what's the rush today, Lyra?" The man's voice was low, almost mocking, as he leaned back in his chair.
"I need a stealth module," Lyra said, her voice calm but firm. "High-end. The kind that actually works, not the knockoff stuff you try to sell to the rookies."
The man chuckled. "High-end, huh? You know that comes at a price."
"I've got the money," Lyra replied, dropping a small stack of money on the counter. "But it better be worth it. I need this for a job, and I'm not in the mood for bad surprises."
The man eyed the stack for a moment, then shrugged and reached under the counter. He pulled out a small black box, sleek and unassuming. "This is the good stuff. Top-tier. Fully silent, fully cloaked. It'll get you in and out of any trouble spot, assuming you don't get greedy."
Lyra took the box, inspecting it closely. "How much?"
The man tapped his fingers on the counter, a sly grin spreading across his face. "For you, Lyra? Two million dollars."
"Two million?" Eagan baulked, the price outrageous even by normal standards. "That's highway robbery."
"Take it or leave it," the man said with a shrug. "This is the last one I have, and I don't exactly hand out discounts."
Lyra, however, wasn't fazed. She quickly opened her bag and pulled out a few more stacks. "You're lucky I like you," she muttered as she slid the additional credits across the counter. "You better not disappoint."
With the deal struck, Lyra tucked the module into her pack, turning to Eagan. "We've got what we need. Next stop: Zone F."
"Aren't we going with your sister's team?" Eagan asked.
"With you tagging along?" Lyra scoffed. "It's a definite no. She wouldn't agree to two uncertified hunters coming with her team."
"So you are sneaking us in with the module?"
Lyra flashed a sly grin. "Exactly. You won't be noticed, and if things go south, we bail out before anyone knows we were even there."
Eagan nodded, already picturing the scene in his mind. It was risky—sneaking into a high-danger dungeon without official clearance—but the rewards would be enormous if they could pull it off. He wasn't exactly a stranger to walking the fine line between survival and death.
Both in his past and present life, he could not be considered as one who follows laid-down rules.
"So, when do we leave?" Eagan asked, eager to get this over with. The sooner they got into the unclosed mine, the sooner they'd find out if this was a treasure hunt or a death march.
"Tonight," Lyra said without hesitation. "We need to move quickly. The longer we wait, the more chances someone else might get there first." Her eyes darkened. "And I don't like competition."
Evan nodded, his senses sharpening. He was well aware of the risks involved, but this was the kind of opportunity that didn't come around often. Information, rare materials, and possibly even a way to level up faster—it was all on the line. "I'll be ready."
Lyra seemed satisfied with his response and turned to head toward the exit. "Meet me at the gate in two hours. Don't be late."
Two hours later, Eagan stood at the edge of Zone F's entrance, where a massive steel gate loomed like the mouth of some ancient beast.
The city lights cast long shadows over the surrounding area, and the air had a chill that hinted at the dangers lurking in the darkness. Lyra arrived a few minutes later, her usual confident swagger replaced by a careful, cautious energy.
"I wasn't expecting you to actually show up on time," she said, eyes flicking over him as she passed. She was now equipped with the stealth module in a small pouch strapped to her side. Her outfit had changed too—tighter, more practical, designed for quick movements and blending into the surroundings.
Eagan had also made sure to prepare himself for the worst. He was dressed in his newly acquired jacket and some form-fitting attire to aid his movements. His shadow-forged daggers were tucked securely at his sides, ready for anything.
"Let's get this over with," Eagan muttered.
"Not so fast," Lyra pulled him back. "The dungeon entrance is guarded by hunter association officials. We can't just go in."
"Even with the stilth module, we would be detected by the
devices. So we have to wait until my sister's team begins to move." She explained.