I Merged with a Forbidden SSS-Rank Nanosuit After Being Abandoned-Chapter 84 - Extermination Mission

Just as Zion was about to stand up and continue, Uriel’s voice interrupted him.

[Host, I’ve found a very suitable mission,] it said. [It’d be best if you looked at it now.]

"Sure," Zion answered, staying seated on the ground.

A second later, a holographic screen popped up in front of him, filled with rows and rows of text.

[It’s an extermination-type mission on a planet very close to here,] Uriel explained. [A colony of D-rank Spineback Lizards has wiped out their natural predators, leading them to breed unchecked.]

Zion nodded slowly, skimming through the information on the screen with a solemn expression.

The planet, Heliax, had only been discovered a few years ago. Therefore, it was still in the early stages of development, even lacking a Mercenary Guild presence.

Now, a D-rank lizard infestation had grown quietly in the unchecked areas outside the building zones.

These lizards had wiped out all of their food sources in those areas and had thus begun attacking civilians who were part of the construction crews.

"How many of them are there expected to be?" Zion asked, scratching his head.

[Their population is currently estimated to be in the low thousands due to the low reproduction rate of D-rank creatures,] Uriel said while scrolling. [But if left unchecked, their numbers could escalate to tens, even hundreds of thousands.]

"Mhm," he nodded, unsurprised. "I imagine the rewards are pretty good, since it’s quite urgent?"

[Affirmative,] Uriel said. [They offer 5,500 credits per killed lizard.]

Hearing that, Zion sat up straight as a smile appeared on his face.

The amount was a little above average, but more than attractive enough for him. It was the perfect testing ground for both his weapons and his teamwork with Koru.

’Not to mention that it’s only a three-day flight,’ he thought, a glimmer of excitement flashing through his eyes.

"Take it," he immediately said.

Uriel remained quiet for a second.

[Done,] it finally said, a signed contract opening in front of Zion’s face.

"Good job finding that," Zion said, nodding in approval. "We should quickly go to Koru and get going."

As for testing out the remaining weapons, he could do that during the downtime onboard his ship.

A mission like this had no limit on the number of crews that could participate, since civilian lives and a large construction project were at stake.

Zion flicked the contract away, pushing himself off the floor in one smooth motion, feeling a hint of excitement run through him for the first time in a long while.

He left the training room immediately, quickly making his way down the corridor, only stopping in front of Koru’s door.

After knocking once, the door hissed open.

The stone giant stood behind it, looking down at Zion with a wide grin.

"We leave now?" he asked, already carrying a cloth bundle with all his belongings inside.

The corner of Zion’s mouth curved up.

"Yeah," he said. "I found us work."

Koru clapped his hands together. "Good," he laughed. "I was getting tired of these walls!"

He stepped out of his room, slamming the door shut behind him.

"Lead the way!"

Zion tilted his head slightly. "Are you not interested in what kind of work it is at all?"

"Does it take us somewhere else?" Koru asked, turning back.

"Yes," Zion answered without hesitation.

Koru shrugged. "Then I don’t care."

Zion stared at the stone giant, speechless. Finally, he shrugged as well and turned toward his own room.

"I’ll get my stuff, and then we’ll go to the ship."

Koru nodded once, sitting down in the corridor with a satisfied grin.

After entering his room, Zion quickly packed his belongings into a single suitcase before checking both himself and Koru out of the rooms through the guild interface.

"Alright," he said, the door locking behind him. "Ready to go?"

Koru pushed himself off the ground, staring down at Zion. "Of course!"

They moved through the corridor together, drawing multiple strange glances from passing mercenaries.

By the time they reached the elevator, Zion’s excitement had settled and turned into concentration.

He hadn’t forgotten all the strange and malicious looks they’d received before he broke through.

’I have to be a little careful, even if time means money,’ he thought, occasionally glancing behind him.

It would’ve been better if he had the time to draw out anyone following him outside the city, but that would cost them hours.

’Can’t afford that,’ he thought, narrowing his eyes as the elevator doors opened onto the guild’s ground floor.

Zion pulled his hood up before stepping out together with Koru.

Immediately, several dozen people turned to stare at them, some even taking out holographic devices after only a few seconds.

"I wonder what the next planet will look like," Koru rumbled, his voice low.

Zion snapped out of his thoughts and smiled faintly.

"I’m sure it’ll be great," he said. "And we’ll have some fighting to do there too."

"Fighting?" Koru repeated, grinning. "That’s good. I like fighting."

As they left the building, Zion focused back on the people around them, a strange feeling settling in his stomach.

[We’ve got a few tails,] Uriel said, confirming his suspicions. [But they’re only F- and E-ranks.]

’That’s strange,’ he thought, frowning. ’They might just be scouts for larger crews.’

[Affirmative,] Uriel continued. [Instead of waiting for these crews, it’d be better to rush getting into space.]

Zion nodded slowly. That did seem to be the smartest plan.

These low-level grunts would never have ships of their own, making it impossible for them to follow him.

Not to mention, once he was in space, it would be very hard for anyone to pursue him unless they were already nearby.

’Besides, those larger crews could have who knows how many C-ranks,’ he thought. ’Fighting them near the Mercenary Guild would only draw more attention to me.’

Even now, all it would take to ruin his life was a single person with enough authority running a check on his face and flagging him to the Sovereignty.

"Let’s hurry up," Zion said, shaking his head. "I want to get off this planet before it turns into more trouble than it’s worth."