The Guild operations room buzzed with activity as Magi and the rest of Echo Squad squeezed past a group of anxious C-rank teams.

  Despite their disheveled appearance and lingering sewer stench, they'd made decent time returning to headquarters.

  "Next," called the processing clerk, a thin woman with glasses perched on her nose. She looked up, then immediately wrinkled her nose. "Oh. Sewer duty?"

  "Colony-class gelatinous cube," Marc replied, sliding their completed contract form across the counter. "Northern sector drainage system. Full clearance."

  The clerk's eyebrows shot up as she scanned the document.

  "Colony-class? That's at least B-rank. How did you—" Her eyes landed on Magi, standing quietly behind Layla. "Never mind. I'll process the appropriate hazard adjustment."

  While Marc handled the paperwork, Magi set his backpack on the floor and began methodically arranging their collected slime containers.

  He sorted them by volume, stacking the smaller vials in neat rows.

  "What are you doing?" Jax asked.

  "Inventory," Magi replied without looking up. "We need to know exactly what we have before approaching the Collective."

  Layla shook her head. "We nearly died down there, and you're counting bottles?"

  "Yes." Magi continued organizing. "Twenty-three containers. Approximately eight liters total. Market value between eleven hundred and thirteen hundred credits, depending on quality assessment."

  The clerk returned with their payment voucher, eyes widening at the neatly arranged collection of glowing blue liquid. "Is that—?"

  "Byproduct," Marc said quickly. "All properly contained according to regulation."

  She handed him the voucher. "Your payment's been adjusted to reflect the actual threat level. Congratulations on surviving."

  Marc nodded thanks and guided the team away from the counter. When they were out of earshot, he showed them the voucher. "Eight hundred credits total, plus hazard bonus of six hundred."

  "Fourteen hundred," Magi said automatically. "Two eighty per person."

  "Plus whatever we get for the slime," Jax added with a grin.

  "Minus Guild tax," Magi corrected. "So approximately two fifty each from the contract, plus potentially two twenty each from the slime sale."

  "Four hundred and seventy credits for nearly drowning in sentient sewage," Eli muttered. "What a bargain."

  They made their way to the payment desk where a teller processed their voucher and distributed credit chips. Magi accepted his share, holding the small metallic rectangle with unusual reverence.

  He tapped it against his status band, transferring the funds to his account. A slight smile crossed his face as he watched the numbers update.

  "You look happier about that money than you did when you saved my life," Layla observed.

  "Money is more predictable," Magi replied. He began calculating aloud: "Rent is one-fifty per week. Food averages sixty. Basic supplies twenty. That leaves one-seventy for savings, plus the slime proceeds."

  Marc exchanged glances with Jax. "You track your expenses that precisely?"

  "Of course." Magi tucked his status band away. "Don't you?"

  "I mostly just spend until I'm broke, then take another job," Jax admitted.

  "Inefficient," Magi said. "Regular expense tracking increases financial stability by approximately thirty-two percent over time."

  Eli studied him with her usual directness. "You really care about money, don't you?"

  Magi considered this. "I care about what money provides."

  "Which is?"

  "Distance from problems."

  Eli's eyes widened slightly. The rest of the team fell quiet, each contemplating his words. After a moment, Eli nodded slowly, as if he'd shared some profound insight.

  "That's... actually quite wise," she said. "Detachment from material concerns as a path to freedom. Like the ancient philosophers taught."

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  Magi blinked. "I meant I want a bigger apartment."

  Layla burst out laughing. "And here I thought you were getting deep on us."

  "A bigger apartment is a legitimate goal," Magi said, slightly confused by their reaction. "More space means fewer interactions with neighbors. Fewer interactions means fewer complications. It's practical."

  "The philosopher of practicality," Marc said with a smile. "Speaking of which, we should get this slime to the Collective before it destabilizes."

  "It won't destabilize for approximately seventy-two hours," Magi said. "But selling it sooner would be optimal."

  They were heading toward the exit when a commotion near the mission board caught their attention. A cluster of Guild officials surrounded a large status display, their expressions grim.

  "That doesn't look good," Jax murmured.

  Marc nodded. "Something's happening."

  As if on cue, the Guild's alert system activated. A deep tone sounded throughout the building, followed by flashing red lights along the corridors.

  "Attention all registered teams," announced a voice over the communication system. "Code Red alert. Rift instability detected in Sector Seven. All available B-rank and above teams report for emergency deployment. C-rank teams remain on standby."

  The operations room erupted into activity. Higher-ranked teams rushed toward the briefing rooms while Guild officials shouted orders. In the chaos, Magi took three steps toward the nearest exit.

  "Where are you going?" Layla asked.

  "Home," Magi replied. "We're C-rank. They said standby."

  "But they might need us," she argued.

  "They have procedures for a reason," Magi said. "Besides, I need to secure these samples."

  As the team hesitated, a Guild official approached them. Tall woman with silver-streaked hair pulled into a severe bun. Her status band marked her as Administrator Whitehall, Deployment Division.

  "Echo Squad?" she asked, consulting her tablet.

  Marc stepped forward. "Yes, ma'am."

  "You're on the list." She swiped through her tablet. "Recent performance upgrade recommendation. You handled the sewer situation?"

  "Yes, but—"

  "Good. We need all competent teams." She looked up, her eyes settling on Magi. "Especially teams with... unconventional problem-solving abilities."

  Magi took another step toward the exit. Marc caught his hood, stopping him mid-retreat.

  "Triple overtime pay," Marc whispered. "Emergency deployment rates."

  Magi stopped immediately, his posture straightening. "I'm in."

  Administrator Whitehall nodded briskly. "Briefing Room Three, five minutes. Leave your... containers with storage. They'll be secured."

  After she walked away, Jax gave Magi an incredulous look. "Seriously? You were going to bail until he mentioned triple pay?"

  "Triple pay is significant," Magi replied. "That's an extra month's rent in one day."

  "Or, you know, helping save people from a dangerous Rift," Layla added.

  "The people would get saved regardless," Magi said. "The compensation makes it worth my participation specifically."

  "At least you're honest about it," Eli said, carefully packing the slime containers into a Guild storage crate. "Most people pretend they're heroes while counting their credits in private."

  They secured their valuable cargo with the storage department and made their way to Briefing Room Three. The space was already crowded with teams, most wearing higher-rank insignia than Echo Squad.

  Magi positioned himself near the back wall, observing the assembled Raiders. Their expressions ranged from eager to anxious.

  "What do you think is happening?" Layla whispered.

  "Rift fluctuation," Magi replied. "Potentially a dimensional cascade."

  "Which means?"

  "Reality becomes unstable. Monsters appear outside containment zones. Bad for civilians. Good for Raider income."

  Jax snorted. "Always the optimist."

  Administrator Whitehall entered the room, accompanied by a man in a lab coat clutching a data tablet. The room fell silent.

  "Raiders," she began without preamble, "we have a situation. The Rift in Sector Seven. Foundry District. Has begun exhibiting fluctuation patterns consistent with a dimensional breach cascade. Initial containment measures have failed."

  The scientist stepped forward, projecting an image of the Rift onto the wall. What should have been a stable tear in reality pulsed with irregular energy, its edges fraying into smaller rifts.

  "As you can see," he explained, "the primary Rift is spawning secondary tears. If this continues, we estimate complete containment failure within three hours."

  A murmur ran through the room. Magi studied the projection, noting the mathematical patterns in the energy discharge. It wasn't random, the fractal patterns suggested a controlled destabilization.

  Whitehall continued: "We're deploying teams in three waves. A-ranks will establish a perimeter. B-ranks will handle emerging threats. C-ranks with special capabilities," her eyes briefly found Magi, "will address specific tactical needs."

  She activated a larger display showing a map of Sector Seven. "The evacuation is already underway, but we have approximately two thousand civilians still in the danger zone. Your priority is containment and protection of evacuation routes."

  Marc raised his hand. "Administrator, what's causing the fluctuation? This isn't normal behavior for an established Rift."

  The scientist and Whitehall exchanged glances.

  "Unknown," she finally answered. "But we have reason to believe it's not a natural occurrence."

  The implications hung in the air. Someone or something was deliberately destabilizing the Rift.

  "Deploy in twenty minutes," Whitehall concluded. "Team assignments are being transmitted now. Dismissed."

  As the teams filed out, their status bands chimed with mission details. Marc checked Echo Squad's assignment and frowned.

  "They've put us on eastern evacuation duty," he said. "Seems straightforward enough."

  Magi checked the attached payment authorization. Triple standard rate, plus hazard bonuses. Approximately seven hundred credits for what should be a few hours' work. His previous irritation faded.

  "Let's go," he said.

  "Wow, sudden enthusiasm," Jax remarked.

  "It's proportional to the compensation," Magi replied, already walking toward the equipment lockers. "Seven hundred credits is exactly what I need for the security deposit on a better apartment."

  "At least we know where your priorities lie," Eli said, falling into step beside him.

  "Yes," Magi agreed, missing her sarcasm entirely. "Financial security first, then everything else becomes easier."

  As they geared up for the emergency deployment, Magi mentally adjusted his budget projections. If they survived the next few hours, his apartment upgrade would be ahead of schedule.

  It was almost enough to make him look forward to facing whatever was coming through that Rift.

  Almost.