Ignis returned to the Cunning Hares' base smelling of smoke and gunpowder; dawn was already breaking. The Jaxcalibur squad had taken a long detour through several districts of New Eridu to minimize the chance of being followed.
Nicole had fallen asleep on the couch in the hall, a blanket draped over her.
The television was broadcasting news about a warehouse fire in the Faunus Quarter. The official explanation claimed that aging circuitry had ignited the ether fuel stored inside.
Ignis wondered how they had handled the shattered corpses and the wrecks of the armored vehicles. From what the broadcast showed, the entire storage area had been consumed by fire. Officers of the New Eridu Public Security had already cordoned off the site, and reporters could only report from beyond the yellow lines.
A ticker at the bottom of the screen mentioned that the girls Ignis had rescued had been found and were now assisting the Public Security in investigating their abduction.
"Your work?" Billy Kid asked as he walked out of his room, for once wearing a serious expression.
"Yes. Though not mine alone."
"The smell of smoke and blood is thick on you. Even with my ventilation system still half busted, I can detect it. Nicole was worried sick about you. We all were."
"Sorry. The scale of that battle was beyond anything you could have handled. Equipment, combat ability—none of it would've been enough." Ignis hesitated for a moment, wondering if that sounded too harsh. "It's not that I'm looking down on you. It just wasn't a fight the Cunning Hares could join."
"I get it," Billy said. "But please, at least think of Nicole more. She's sentimental. If she ever heard you died on a mission, it would break her heart."
"I know." Ignis's gaze drifted toward Nicole's sleeping face.
He unlatched the cannon from his waist and showed it to Billy. "I need strength—any kind of strength. I had to take the risk. Markus's terms were generous, and the task wasn't impossible for me."
"So the enemy you're meant to face has appeared?" Billy looked at him. "Like the villains in those tokusatsu shows—only the hero can stop them, but right now you're lacking power."
"Something like that. I need stronger firepower. The enemies I'll face are far beyond your imagination. And for certain reasons, I can't tell you who they are or where they come from."
"Makes sense. If they needed to make a warrior like you to fight them, they must be terrifying. Just remember, you've got comrades here at the Cunning Hares. We'll answer your call if you need us."
"Thanks." Ignis didn't really know what to say. The foes he was about to face were not ones the Cunning Hares could ever stand against. Still, Billy's words warmed him. They might not always be reliable, but when it came to having each other's backs, they never failed.
"Go get some rest."
The robot turned toward the television and switched it off.
Nicole immediately stirred awake, grabbed the nearest cushion, and hurled it straight at Billy.
"I was watching that!"
"Come on, boss, don't lie. You were snoring." Billy caught the cushion mid-air—only for a second and third to fly his way right after.
"Ah, you're back?" Nicole's messy pink hair framed her tired face. She looked at her giant foster son. "Go rest. You haven't slept all night."
"Rest can wait. Maybe breakfast first?" Ignis glanced toward the pile of takeout boxes stacked on the table. He'd been busy lately, and the Hares had fallen back into their takeout-only routine.
"Really?" Billy lit up. After tasting the giant's cooking once, he'd never found takeout good enough again.
"Give me a minute to change. Power armor isn't exactly cooking gear." Ignis removed his helmet, smiling as he headed toward the garage.
When he returned in a simple T-shirt, everyone was already seated at the table, waiting.
"I want mackerel! Or steak! Meow!" Nekomata's eyes gleamed.
"Who eats steak for breakfast..." Nicole stretched lazily, then reached over to rub the cat-girl's ears. Nekomata purred and leaned into her hand.
"Bacon, fried eggs, toast." Anby's order was the most down-to-earth. "Saw it in a movie recently—crispy bacon, half-done eggs. Looked so good."
"What about you?" Ignis asked Billy.
"I recharged last night, but... to keep up the mood, give me one of those Starlight Knight collaboration meals." The robot proudly displayed a takeout box printed with one of the show's heroes.
"Billy, we've eaten three of those just to help you complete your collection of random merch," Nicole said, chopping the robot's head lightly with a hand-knife gesture—careful not to use too much force against his metal skull.
After a night of chaos and fire, the sight of this made Ignis feel at peace. The Cunning Hares were willing to eat the same meal three times just to help Billy get his favorite collectible. They really were good comrades.
Seeing everyone's eager faces, Ignis tied on his custom apron, pulled eggs and bacon from the fridge, and—under Nekomata's hopeful stare—also took out a pre-marinated steak.
"Oh!! Steak!" Nekomata nearly jumped out of her chair in excitement.
"You're spoiling her," Nicole sighed with a small smile.
The kitchen of the Cunning Hares filled with flame again—but this time, it wasn't the fire of war, but the warmth of a stove. The warrior who had charged through battle last night now moved with calm precision, controlling the heat to make Anby's eggs perfectly half-done.
When Ignis finally sat down with his own massive portion, everyone still stared in disbelief. Breakfast for him meant over five pounds of meat, thirty eggs, two liters of milk, and two alloy bars afterward—for dessert and dental exercise.
A Space Marine required immense energy to function—and Ignis, now preparing to reignite the Belisarian Furnace, needed even more.
The pile of food looked like a small mountain. Even though they had seen it before, the others were still stunned.
"Maybe we should hit a buffet this week?" Nicole said, watching him devour an egg.
"They don't let him in anymore," Anby replied, biting into crispy bacon.
"Yeah, the manager cried, meow. He gave us our money back and begged us not to come again, meow," Nekomata added, wrestling her steak.
"He even gave us a dozen coupons for the buffet across the street," Billy said while shoveling food into his mouth.
"That's why I plan to use them—maybe they'll let us eat free again." Nicole pierced the half-done yolk with her fork and dipped toast into it.
"I'm in," Ignis said with a grin. "But best if you go in first—buy the tickets, get a table. I'll show up later. Give them no excuse to turn us away."
"You're going to kill that restaurant," Nekomata said through a mouthful of steak. "Mmph, good stuff!"
Watching them banter filled Ignis with quiet strength and resolve. He loved this place. He would never let anyone—not even the Four Gods of Chaos—destroy its happiness.
That afternoon, Ignis visited Markus's shop again. He hated owing money—especially to a black-market dealer who knew too many secrets.
Who knew what kind of cursed job might pop up next?
"Mr. Ignis, my friend. No need to rush repayment," Markus greeted him with a broad smile. Judging by it, the man had probably slept very well the night before.
"I must say, hiring you was the best deal I've made in five years. The Jaxcalibur team told me everything—you saved them. As their employer, I owe you thanks."
Thinking of that team, Ignis couldn't help but smirk, especially remembering the loudmouth, Jax-03.
"They're capable people. Helped me a lot." Ignis said it plainly.
Markus almost laughed out loud at the giant's calm bragging. Without this man, the whole Jaxcalibur squad would've been wiped out. Though he had many teams under his command, that one was his favorite. The captain had personal ties to him—and debts to pay—so Markus often gave them well-paid but high-risk assignments.
Of course, those missions were deadly, but the Jaxcalibur always delivered, rarely losing anyone. Perhaps their success had made them targets.
"You know, the Jaxcalibur carried recorders. Your armor and combat style were captured. Some of my clients are very interested in that suit," Markus said. "Would you allow us to study or replicate it? You know—the current-issue 'Gray Rhino' suits the Defense Force uses can't even compare."
Ignis chuckled inwardly. Even if I gave it to you, you wouldn't understand. The Mark X Gravis Power Armor worked as a second skin because its neuromuscular suit linked directly to the Black Carapace, transmitting nerve impulses straight to the armor's systems. Without the Black Carapace—without the surgery to implant neural interfaces under the skin—no one here could ever replicate it. What, are you going to wire it straight into your spine?
And that was before even mentioning the armor's power source—just a single backpack generator would make New Eridu's scientists lose their minds.
"I'm sorry. That request can't be met," Ignis said firmly.
"Why not? My clients will want an explanation." Markus removed his tinted visor. "Come on, at least give me something. Don't make this hard."
"According to my ID, I'm a Thiren. But anyone with eyes knows that's nonsense. Truth is, I'm a reconstructed human—frozen and preserved from an old era inside a Hollow."
Markus stared at him as if he'd seen a ghost. But considering Ignis's power and technology, it was believable enough.
"The technology you use now is centuries behind the era I came from. Even the materials can't be replicated. My armor works because my nerves are directly linked to it—something your modern tech can't accomplish."
"Do you remember where you woke up? What was around you?" Markus pressed, trying to locate the cryogenic facility Ignis had mentioned.
"Forget it. The place was destroyed. I was awakened in an emergency—and I was the only one. My brothers are gone, likely devoured by ether crystals long ago," Ignis said quietly. Forgive me, my battle-brothers. "And I destroyed the entrance myself to keep it secret."
Markus sighed, watching a fortune slip away right before his eyes.
"Don't try threatening me—or going after anyone close to me," Ignis warned, transferring the money through his phone. "Trust me, you don't want to face the wrath of a Son of Vulkan."
Markus nodded quickly. He'd seen the footage—this man, clad in heavy armor, moving like lightning, tearing six armored vehicles apart barehanded. Crossing him would be suicide.
"Actually, I do have another job for you," Ignis said. "Of course, you'll be paid."
At the mention of business, Markus perked up immediately—his purple explosion of hair nearly bounced.
"The five-round magazines are too few and awkward to carry. I need a few drum mags—twenty-five rounds minimum, maybe saddle-drums for forty."
Markus pulled out his phone and started taking notes. "That's doable. But custom molds cost extra. No one else will ever use these but you."
"No problem. I'll also send you schematics for new shells in a few days. Have those made as well."
"And I need information. I know you can find it."
Markus nodded. "Go on."
"First, the Mountain Lion Gang. Where's their hideout? I've got unfinished business with Razor. Second, those girls I rescued last night—who took them, and why. I want the truth, not the Public Security's official story."
"So you're taking revenge? What are you, some kind of dark knight?"
"Doesn't matter what I am. I'll pay. Can you get it or not?"
Markus's grin widened.
"This is New Eridu, Mr. Ignis. We have everything. Oh—and one tip, given the size of your order: someone's looking for you. Not sure if they're friend or foe."
Ignis's brow furrowed. He'd expected as much—but being hunted was never a good sign.