Seeing how badly the girl hoping to tag along on a mission, Firefly pulled out her terminal, stared at the S-rank commission on the screen, and fell into thought.
Then she looked up at the girl and said,
"You said you need to earn credit points to pay for your friend's treatment—how many do you need?"
"Just two thousand credit points! An average B-rank job pays five to ten thousand. Even if I only take five percent, eight short missions will be enough."
The girl instantly raised two fingers toward Sam.
"Two thousand credit points… eight missions…"
Hearing the number, Firefly went quiet.
To someone whose income ran into the millions, two thousand was almost comically small.
"Yes… even a short mission takes over an hour, so eight of them eat up half a day. Five percent is the minimum I can accept…"
Hearing Sam mutter, the girl answered timidly.
'Two thousand credit points… that's only two stellar jade. Nothing, really. And in an unfamiliar place I could use a guide—two thousand for a day's tour guide sounds fair.'
(Actual guides: BOSS!!, we'd fight for it!)
'Even if she's after me, so what? A bit of spice in life. I doubt anyone stronger than a fiction character really exist here, and if they do, they wouldn't show up in place like this.'
After weighing it and finding no downside, Firefly agreed.
"Come with me. I'll give you the two thousand; you don't need to fight."
"Great! My name is—wait, wait! Mister, I'm not selling my body!"
Thrilled that Firefly would let her tag along, the girl's eyes lit up—then froze as she parsed "I'll pay you two thousand and you don't have to do anything." She waved her hands in panic.
Firefly was struck speechless, then explained,
"Not that. You're eager, so be my guide for the day. Two thousand is pocket change."
"Oh, that's all!"
Relieved, Elis continued,
"Just guiding, nothing else. If you try anything… I'll run!"
"Hand me your terminal; I'll transfer the money."
Ignoring the girl's wild imagination, Firefly opened the payment screen.
"Okay!"
She produced her terminal; Firefly tapped 2,000 credit points over, said "Let's go," and headed for the south gate.
Elis trotted after her.
"I'm Elis. What's your name, mister?"
"Sam."
"Cool name! What mission are we doing? I've got support skills—I can help in a fight."
"Clearing a Mutated Beast pack. Simple. No help needed."
Unconvinced, Elis let white light bloom in her palm.
"My power can push someone into Ability Overclock with zero backlash—top-tier support!"
"Then why does nobody team up with you?"
Firefly stopped and turned.
If the skill was as advertised, parties should be fighting to recruit her.
Instant overclock without side effects? Everyone would want it.
Yet she'd said her "strange" ability scared people off—either she was lying or there was a catch.
"Well…"
At the question, Elis deflated.
After ten seconds she mumbled,
"Whoever I overclock gets overwhelmed by rage, attacks friend and foe alike…"
"…"
Now Firefly understood.
With that debuff, no one dared risk it.
Buff the strongest fighter and he might wipe the squad.
"And you offered to help me? Sounds like a suicide."
"No way!" Elis protested. "You're solo! If you can't beat the beasts I'll overclock you and run. Once you finish them off I'll come back."
"Show me. Use it on me now."
She wanted to see if even she could be affected by the rage.
"Here? In front of everyone?"
Elis glanced at the crowded south gate.
"My bad. Let's head outside first."
Firefly walked toward the exit.
"Wait for me!"
Elis hurried after.