Chapter 70: I’ve Got Money

“So… uh, how have you been lately?”

“What’s with that awkward, parent–child tone?”

Unable to stand the silence any longer, I tried breaking it. Souta’s slightly exasperated reply hit harder than it should have. To be fair, even I thought I sounded ridiculous.

“I’ve been doing well,” he said, smiling. “These days I’m studying Monoz bodies, mainly. Trying to learn how they’re built.”

“I see.”

“If you ever get the chance to replace yours, give me a shot at it, okay?”

“If it’s cheaper.”

“I’ll study harder, then.”

We shared a brief laugh as we walked down the hallway of Kamisawa Heavy Industries.

It had been a while since my last visit. This time, Souta led me somewhere new—a research wing I hadn’t been allowed into before.

Was it really okay to bring an outsider into a place like this? Confidentiality clearly wasn’t their strong suit.

Still, I followed behind him, his white lab coat fluttering as he walked, and together we passed through a series of Authorized Personnel Only doors until we reached a cluttered, chaotic lab.

Everywhere I looked, there were exoskeletons, artificial spines, Monoz bodies, weapons, experiments and prototypes piled high. It was the kind of room built not around a theme, but around curiosity itself.

“Akito-san! I brought Toji!” Souta called out.

From somewhere in the mess came a reply—“Coming!”—followed by the sound of something collapsing. A few moments later, a man emerged from the chaos: wild hair, thick glasses, and a grease-stained jumpsuit that had definitely seen better days.

“Hey! You’re alive, Toji! I’d completely given up on you!—Wait, what happened to your left leg? Isn’t that an outdated model? Let me build you a new one! No, seriously, let me! Ahahaha!”

As loud as ever.

There he was—Akito, the Sleeper engineer. I hadn’t seen him since I’d returned, but his energy was just as unbearable as I remembered.

“Let’s… leave that for another time,” I said.

“Ah, right, sure. So what brings you here? Weapon consultation? Not enough firepower again? Oh! That sample I gave you last time—how was it?”

“Good,” I said, “but not good enough.”

Akito tilted his head, confused. I reached into my pocket, pulled out a rifle round, and tossed it to him—an APCR prototype he’d made.

“It’s impressive,” I said. “Turning something meant for tanks into a rifle round? Brilliant. But it’s too light. Sure, the speed makes up for it, but that same lightness cuts the range short. So—”

“So it’s awkward for a sniper like you,” he finished for me, frowning. “Yeah, well… there’s no fixing that without changing the gun itself, you know?”

He smirked. “You don’t exactly strike me as the loaded type, Toji.”

I smiled back—just enough of a smirk to make it count.

“Akito, there’s a line I’ve always wanted to say at least once in my life.”

“Oh? And what line is that?”

“…I’ve got money.”

I turned my terminal around, the screen reflecting the payout from my last job.

***

It took almost an entire day to travel from Uraba, where Kamisawa Heavy Industries was located, back to the camp.

Even with Horse Unit handling most of the driving on autopilot, the fatigue inevitably piled up.

When I returned with Shinzo, it was different—his skill behind the wheel was on another level, and I could sleep the whole way without ever being jolted awake. But with just me and Horse Unit, it wasn’t nearly as smooth.

So, after delivering my return report to Howard, I wasted no time heading to my assigned quarters.

The Monoz, rolling lazily around the compound, scattered in all directions when I dismissed them for free time. In the end, only two stayed with me—Boar Unit, who had the night watch, and Rudo, who slept in my room.

My quarters were on the second floor. Since Rudo, being a long-bodied, short-legged corgi, wasn’t exactly built for stairs, I picked him up. He rested his chin on my shoulder and let out a soft, satisfied hum.

When we reached the landing, I set him down again—and immediately noticed my clothes were now covered in fur.

Tomorrow was my day off. I’d have to wash him and give him a proper brushing.

That thought was still in my head as I reached for the doorknob.

“…”

My eyes narrowed.

There was someone inside.

I gave quick hand signals to Rudo and Boar Unit, then drew my sidearm.

Count—three, two, one—Go!

I kicked the door open with my shoulder and swept the room. Rudo and Boar Unit followed half a second later, clearing corners in sync.

“…What are you doing?”

The intruder wasn’t hard to find.

If she’d just sat on the sofa, it might’ve looked less suspicious. Instead, she was lying sprawled across my bed.

“Welcome back, Toji.”

Eevee.

Her tone was casual, her posture anything but appropriate—face-down, arms thrown out, lying across the sheets like she owned the place.

Rudo looked up at me, clearly offended. Being a stickler for pack hierarchy, he wasn’t pleased that someone ranked below him had claimed the forbidden bed.

And honestly, neither was I.

I was exhausted. I just wanted to sleep.

“I’m back, Eevee. Now move.”

“I refuse.”

“…”

Don’t refuse. Move.

I glared silently. She rolled over with a soft thump and stared up at me, now lying on her back.

“Toji, let’s sleep together.”

“No.”

“Then at least help me up.”

“No.”

Eevee let out a small, sulky grunt, then sat up silently and plopped herself down on the bed.

“Fine then,” she said, closing her eyes. “Kiss me.”

“Like hell I will. Move.”

I growled, half out of fatigue, half out of irritation.

“Toji, you get awfully rude sometimes.”

“I do not.”

I am, after all, a perfectly polite gentleman.

“Well then, Mr. Polite Gentleman, why don’t you show me how you treat a lady?”

Eevee tilted her head, feigning sweetness.

As a gentleman responding to an uninvited lady in my quarters, I gave her a cold, expressionless stare.

“…”

“…”

We locked eyes in silence for several seconds. The first to yield was Eevee.

“Mm!”

With a small huff, she extended both hands toward me. “Pull me up.”

I sighed, took her hands, and pulled. A little too hard. Eevee stumbled forward and crashed into me.

“Gyuu—”

Taking advantage of the situation, she wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tight.

When I looked down, she was grinning up at me, a soft, teasing smile on her face.

I slipped a hand around her back and returned the embrace, just enough to make her beam with contentment. Her warmth, her scent—it made my head spin for a second.

I gave a small shake of my head, breaking the spell.

“All right,” she said brightly, stepping back. “Now I’m satisfied. I’ll head home! Good night, Toji.”

“Good night.”

I watched her leave, then turned to unpack.

Being welcomed home by someone wasn’t so bad, I supposed. It didn’t cost me anything… maybe I should have given her that kiss.

“Oh, right!” Eevee’s head popped back through the door. “The Search Dog’s Monoz dropped by—said the investigation’s done.”

“Don’t just forget something like that!”

That was the whole point of her visit!