2.1: In UNICORNS.

The Intel Department, Protocore Research Department, VR Training Center, Armory, Archives...

In a towering twenty-story building, various sectors with their own responsibilities exist. It offers a variety of services, all meticulously organized and fully equipped to support every aspect of a hunter's work and life.

OTTO-CSE: Hunter's Watch, HOS.11.4. Metaflux detection system has been updated to the lastest version.

OTTO-CSE: Guidance for each floor has been uploaded. Use of the Slepen Pod has been approved, and access to the VR Training Center has been granted.

After performing a flurry of dazzling maneuvers on my watch, the spherical robot opens a compartment on its body.

OTTO-CSE: The system log shows you had less than four hours of sleep last night. The quality was also extremely poor.

A console appears from the compartment, and it presents a small pill box.

OTTO-CSE: A special delivery. One Draumril.

I touch the bags under my eyes, my mind replaying the scene of that "eye" appearing by the window last night.

I thought Wanderers had appeared, so I rushed out of my home. Despite scanning the nearby area, I didn't find any abnormal traces of energy fluctuations.

MC: (I'll try and dig up some info from the squad's files. I'll also be on the lookout tonight.)

Suddenly, a holographic screen appears and interrupts my thoughts. The adorable voice resounds in the room once again.

OTTO-CSE: Alpha Team has special life insurance for it's members. Please sign here.

MC: "...Huh?"

**********

Otto-cse: Alpha Team is on the third floor. The office is next to the Movere Bridge.

Otto-cse: This is so in case of an emergency, you'll be able to arrive anywhere in Linkon City within a few seconds.

OTTO-CSE: I need to go now. Have a great day!

The robot leaves, and I'm alone. I turn around and see an empty office. Sunlight shines through the glass walls, illuminating a pile of untouched paperwork.

MC: "A new recruit's equipment should be at their desk, and mine is..."

Nero: "...A newbie?"

I hear a voice in the corner. A table appears from the shadows, and behind three rows of old, widescreen monitors is a man with small eyes scrutinizing me.

MC: (He must be my teammate.)

MC: "Hello, I'm—"

Nero: "S-Stay... Stay right there!"

Hesitant, I don't move. I inadvertently look at the array of dark-colored monitors.

It's rare to see such old-fashioned products in an era of rapid technological advancement... I guess ther're mainly used to avoid small talk.

The back of the monitors are plastered with dozens of portraits of Wanderers, big and small. Handwritten notes containing all sorts of information are present. Among them is a familiar face.

MC: (Isn't that a Luminivore?)

The Wanderers in the records are all rate. It seems this person is quite knowledgeable.

MC: (Oh right, what I saw outside my window last night...)

I walk up to the monitor and give it a few taps.

MC: "Excuse me, may I ask a question?"

MC: "Do you think there are Wanderers that can turn invisible or just disappear in a split second? It's okay if you don't want to answer..."

Nero: "What did you see?"

As if a switch had been flipped, he suddenly springs up from behind the desk and walks over to me.

MC: "Well... it's just..."

Nero: "Shh, draw it."

His small eyes look surprisingly bigger as they're fixated on me. He shoves a pen into my hand, its tip a flickering red light.

MC: "...A Braimago?"

Nero: "You know about them? This has the latest Kenel OS! It's fresh from the oven of our techies! The resolution is three times better than the previous version!"

Nero: "Oh... I only use it for work. That's it. Look, here's the TSC security authentication code."

I nod and take the pen. I press the switch, then the tip emits three green streaks of light which coil around my arm.

The memory of what was behind the curtain appears in my mind once more. The moment the pen touches the paper, lines begin to dance across it.

In a matter of seconds, that fearsome eye is drawn out.

Nero: "It's beautiful..."

MC: "?"

Nero: "I mean, it looks dangerous."

Recalling what I saw, I manually add a few more details.

MC: "That's all I can remember."

Nero: "Just leave it to me."

Jenna: "Nero, Andrew is looking for you."

The door swings open. Captain Jenna walks in. It seems she just returned from a mission.

Jenna: "Let me remind you that Data Analytics is on the fifth floor. If you prefer to hide there for some peace and quiet, you might as well request a transfer."

Nero doesn't dare to respond. He snatches the pen and paper from my hand and runs away without looking back.

MC: "Ma'am."

Jenna: "Call me Captain like everyone else. Jenna works too."

Jenna: "How's the paperwork? If there are any issues, you should speak up now."

MC: "Everything's going well, but the squad..."

Jenna: "It's normal for us not to be here. We don't need to sit in HQ all the time if there's no mission."

MC: "I see."

Perhaps sensing my awkwardness, she smiles.

Jenna: "Relax. Yes, our job can be dangerous. But before any mission is assigned, Advanced Tech Labs considers the hunter's Evol, overall capabilities, and efficary."

Jenna: "Of course, while efficacy can be measured, people are anoter story. Outside of urgent missions, you're allowed to pick and choose."

Jenna: "Don't worry, you won't be forced to resign from Alpha Team on your first day."

MC: "Understood. Thank you, Captain Jenna."

I feel a vibration on my wrist. As I lift my arm, the Hunter's Watch shows me the virtual user interface for missions.

Jenna: "Perfect, Advanced Tech Labs has a job for you."

Jenna: "Hear them out first. Then go take a look."

MC: "Yes, Captain!"

Jenna: "Getting to that place will be tricky. I have a 270HM already parked by the Movere Bridge for you."

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OTTO: The 5th-gen guide robot developed by Ever Group has a cutem spherical appearance. This adorable machine is available in various forms and designed for different scenarios. In addition to basic systems like navigation, sightseeing commentary, and a lost item tracker, these robots have a new features such as weather alerts and a Metaflux monitor,

Nora: Nora is a colleague from Data Analysis who suffers from severe social anxiety. His personal space has a circumference of two meters, and no outsiders are allowed inside it. Since Alpha Team's office is rarely crowded, he uses it to find some peace and quiet. That's why we're acquaintances. Whenever issues related to Wanderers are brought up, he becomes a chatterbox.

270HM: This is an exclusive motorcycle for Deepspace Hunters developed by Ever Group's Research Facility. It employs state-of-the-art aerodynamic technology. There are two other models: 310HM and 380HM.

Because it can reach such high speeds, onlu those who have undergone professional training can obtain a motorcycle license for it.

Ever Group: With its roots in biotechnology, Ever Group has become a large company in industries such as biotech, aerospace, Evol Energy, and international trade.