Exo Seeker: The Strongest Human Woke Up In The Future!

"It's still here," Trey said, sighing in relief as he glanced at the Miner and then at Kael. "We thought something unexpected would happen, so we found a place to hide the Orbs. Fortunately, they're still here."

Kael glanced at the spot where they had hidden the Growth Orbs and couldn't help but stare at the young man strangely. Their chosen hiding spot was none other than the dead bodies of the Primers—stuffed inside their broken Exoskeleton Suits or directly inside their mangled corpses.

"You stuffed them up like a turkey. That's cold and disgusting," Kael said, though his voice lacked any hint of discomfort. Even if blood and meat rained down on him, he wouldn't bat an eyelid. But he still had his own preferences—unless necessity dictated otherwise. Looking at the current situation, though, what they did was actually a noble and smart choice. He would probably have done the same in their place.

They had no proper equipment to store the Orbs. The Compression Sphere in Trey's bag was already filled with other Growth Orbs, and the average Primers were too cheap to own Quantum Spatial Compression equipment worth stealing. Even if they did, the ones Trey and Bach possessed wouldn't fit inside those cheap compression tools.

The only person with the right equipment to handle dozens—or at least a hundred—2nd-Grade Growth Orbs was from the New One group. Trying to steal from someone who could kill them with a single punch would be suicide. That's why Trey and Bach had opted to hide the Orbs inside the dead bodies.

Fortunately for them, the corpses hadn't been thrown off the platform. Otherwise, they would have faced the wrath of the lunatic.

"What would you have done if those bodies had fallen?" Bach asked Kael.

"I would've dragged you two to another Fissure and made you my personal carriers," Kael replied truthfully, sparing the orbs a glance before turning to the fallen Behemech.

The light in the Final Boss's eyes had already dimmed. Its body was riddled with wounds, from small cuts to deep gashes that pierced its very core. Two of its limbs had been sliced off, blood still oozing from the wounds. Its metallic parts were scattered around, circuits still sparking. The Ground Fire Hog—once a small mountain of a beast—was dead as day. And standing around its corpse were the Primers, glaring at one another, each trying to snatch a piece of the treasure.

"Isn't that what we are right now?" Trey asked, glancing at Kael speechlessly.

"I'm just a miner. My old bones can't handle all that drama," Bach said, shaking his head. "Let's get these orbs before those foxes try to steal them from us."

Without another word, Bach began retrieving the Growth Orbs. What he had told Trey earlier—when they had been dangling over the edge—was true. Entering this Fissure and going on this adventure had been the best moment of his life. He felt young again, like the soldier he once was—strong and filled with determination to do the right thing.

Furthermore, Kael had saved him. Whether this was his way of repaying the man or simply because he enjoyed the thrill, Bach wasn't sure. Just like his decision to pull Kael out of that cave, he simply followed his instincts.

Once they had finished gathering the Orbs and cleaning them, they held them firmly before standing beside the White Prime.

"It's finally done," Trey said. "Another day, another Grey."

Bach glanced at Kael, curiosity flashing in his eyes. "Where did you go? I didn't see you take part in killing that monster."

"What you two are carrying is more than enough," Kael said. "Doing too much is bad. Doing too little is worse. Finding the right balance—that's the key to getting what I want."

Kael said something he would surely contradict in the future. He was still human, after all—handsome, but not perfect.

"Convenient and practical… Doing what's appropriate for the situation—it's easy to say but hard to do," Bach nodded, understanding Kael's words. "You look young, but you have wisdom that others don't."

"He said he's at least a hundred years old," Trey commented from the side. But deep inside, Kael's words echoed in his mind—and in his heart. I've been doing too much while achieving too little… I'm afraid, but… Trey glanced at the miner before his gaze landed on Kael.

"It's called common sense," Kael said, speechless, as he had only spoken on a whim.

"I know," the miner chuckled.

Around this time, they heard the angry shouts of the Primers.

"What's happening?" Bach asked, confused as he turned to Trey.

"They're arguing over the distribution of rewards," Trey explained, his face turning serious. "This is what I hate the most every time I come here. It's like a market—greed and saliva are their steroids."

"Oh…" The miner nodded in understanding. "But how are they going to determine their contribution? That's what they're fighting over, right? The right to claim this monster?"

"Wait for it," Trey said. "Contribution isn't as simple as you think."

This only made the miner more confused. In the world of Primers, Bach Ponce only knew the basics. When it came to Fissures and Exoskeleton Suits, he was as green as one could be.

Kael already knew what Trey meant, his eyes fixed on the sky above the center of the platform.

…

The New One group surrounded the Final Boss, their cold eyes scanning the Primers around them.

"You killed a lot of us!" one of the Primers shouted angrily.

"You f*ckers! Just because you're being babysat by that giant company doesn't mean you can bully us!"

"Yeah! We deserve a bigger share! Give us more contribution!"

"You broke the agreement! We were supposed to kill that monster from long range together for equal contribution, but you guys tried to take it down on your own!"

"Yeah! We're left with only scraps!"

As the Primers' shouting grew louder, Carina glanced at her teammates.

Noticing her gaze, they nodded in understanding before raising their weapons to the sky. Gunshots rang out as they pulled the trigger.

The sudden barrage startled the Primers, making them take a step back in reflex.

"Are you done?!" Carina shouted, silencing the crowd. "If not, anyone who wants to fight us—step forward, and we'll settle it hand to hand!"

Dave and Lance smiled dangerously, waiting for any brave soul to step up and meet their death.

But even after a full minute, no one moved.

"Hmph, all talk," Carina scoffed, glaring at the Primers before turning her eyes to the sky.

Suddenly, a beeping sound echoed above them. The Primers who had been raging at the New One for being tyrants had no choice but to accept the outcome as they looked up.