The sky has markings now after the deployment of the Disruption Net that was cast from these nodes. These markings are now always available and through these nets. The world has lately experienced a strange change.

It was as if the world had gone back to normal like before. There were changes in the sky, but that was nothing compared to this.

“Looks like the disruption is preventing the spit-realm from tearing a space. Janna, what do you think?”

“It’s effective. No wonder they were so eager to complete this machine. But this will only work with lesser creatures. Bigger openings will require power and although this thing is recycling the Ichor. I’ll be fine because the net acts as a warning device.”

“And here I was thinking that there’d be some grand unity or some chosen one that will make this world peaceful. Huh, look at that, you need a lot of money to do it.”

“Silly man, of course that’s how problems are solved. Hmm, I do think that this will limit some things.”

Gaston stored his equipment in his pocket. Next to him was Janna who was scanning the perimeter. They were in a mountain range of a village that had recently been retaken after the net was cast. They were passing by so they had taken the commission to secure the area. They were making a living as Freelancers.

It had been four months since they ran from their previous duties. And the four months they had spent that time traveling the world, visiting places that they have always placed on their list.

“How’s that creature?”

“Fine for now.”

Gaston pulled his exoskeleton reinforced fist back and shattered the bone of the belua. It was a Type-3 biomass entity that was able to escape the split-realm. If they have let this creature stay here for months. It would have made hundreds of spawns and given it a year and it’d have the alps crawling with the creatures devouring the ecosystem.

“Reminds me of our previous work.”

“It does, doesn’t it? Oh yeah, I heard that there’s a place here that has a great view and a warm place to stay. We should get some rest there.”

“If that’s what you want. Let me contact the Babaika Branch here first.”

Gaston switched channels. He placed his ID code. Then tuned it to the secured line meant for the Babaika Lions.

“This is Adjutant Gaston Hardy. Requesting pickup of a Type-3 in my coordinates. Do you copy?”

“Affirmative, we copy you. So you’re in the alps, Adjutant?”

“That’s right. Uh, we have fifty type-2’s here led by a Type-3. We’d appreciate it if you could pick it up and get it processed.”

“Copy that, we will be sending a team to extract the materials. Payments will be sent to your account, Adjutant.”

“How was it?”

Janna asked while wielding that buster sword of hers.

“It’s fine. They’ll be coming here soon. Place should be secured so there should be no problem for now.”

Janna slammed the tip of her sword on the ground. Gaston retracted his exoskeleton and calmed the black and red lightning coming out of his body.

“That reminds me. Did you pass that document to Reginald? If we don’t pass that they wouldn’t be able to do anything about the change in our last names.”

“I did. I think he passed it to his wife since he had to leave for Southeast Asia again.”

Gaston sat down.

“Secret Societies as well?”

“Yep. They are getting rowdy again. They even made a new type of drug with ingredients that are sprinkled with ichorium.”

“Hmm, I guess the net still produces addicts for that thing.”

The net deprived them of ichor and also maintained the ichor in their bodies. But side effects had been showing and some of the Breakers experienced withdrawal symptoms.

“Nothing’s perfect, then again it’s still the initial version of the netting so improvements will be made. Not that we’d have to worry about that.”

“That cuff of yours is going to be helpful. How does it feel by the way? That you manage to save the world?”

Gaston laughed lightly. He looked at Janna fondly.

“You’re kidding me. Well, not that I did anything worthwhile. I did something, but it was for my benefit. Well, for our benefit at least.”

Janna raised a hand and rubbed Gaston’s head.

“Well, it’s something. This trip has been nice for my stress levels. You cheered up as well. No more of that stone-like face of yours. I like it better when you look like this, Gato.”

The space above them tore apart. Split-realm ships entered the realspace and started to land on the area around them. One of the Mercs rushed to them while holding a data pad.

“Uh, you two should be Gaston Hardy and Janna Foster, right?”

Janna walked up to merc.

“It’s actually Janna Hardy now.”

“Oh, I’ll have it changed then.”

Gaston shrugged. He pointed at the belua that was on the ground.

“There’s a lot of them in this area. Most of them have quite the grade. Oh, do you have capture cages?”

“We do. That's a Type-3?”

“Alive and well. Can you take it from here?”

“We can. Uh, thank you for this!”

Gaston nodded. He left the area with Janna who had already sheathed the buster sword on her back.

The two crossed the alps and found the area that Janna had mentioned. Arriving at this resort, they booked a room, bathed together and sat outside the balcony of their room.

“Been a long time since we got proper rest.”

“Too true. And here I was telling you to leave it alone. Well, there was that chaos a month ago. It’s good that they got it covered.”

They weren’t the only professionals in this world. Gaston Hardy knew that there were many among them that were professional and good enough to handle the situation. Heroes were a rare breed, but in this world, professionals were too many.

He wanted to trust these professionals to do their job so they can get some rest and travel the world. After that, he didn’t know what to do. It’ll take time for him and Janna to go around the world.

When that time comes he still wonders if he’d stay or go.

They had the ticket after all.