The morning sun greeted the earth as Wanderer and his team reached the designated cliff overlooking the vast, desolate landscape. The wind whipped through their hair, carrying the scent of dust and scorched earth. Below them lay the remnants of a world long forgotten,

The old commander, flanked by a squadron of SWAT soldiers, stepped out of the blue airship. He saluted his elite troops. blue and silver exosuit with shield on their arms. his eyes scanning the horizon before settling on Wanderer. There was a mix of respect and expectation in his gaze.

"Good job, Wanderer," he said, his voice carrying a hint of admiration. "I knew I could trust you. Now, give me the blueprints."

Wanderer remained impassive, his gaze fixed on the two Series 9 members standing beside him. "Well, pay them first," he replied, his voice steady. "One hundred thousand credits. As you know, without their intel, we couldn't have finished our mission."

The old commander rolled his eyes, a sigh escaping his lips. "Alright, alright," he grumbled, reaching for his pistol. In a swift movement, he shot one of the Series 9 members in the head, their body crumpling to the ground.

The other Series 9 member raised his hands in surrender, fear evident in his voice. "No, wait!" he cried, but it was too late. The old commander fired another shot, silencing him forever.

Wanderer watched the scene unfold, his expression unreadable. He then turned to the old commander, who had holstered his pistol. "Now we don't need to spare our money for trivial things," the old commander said, his voice cold and calculating. Wanderer wanted to say something, but no words came.

In the tense moment, Wanderer finally gathered his thoughts. "Well... betraying people has a karmic effect, you know," he said, placing his hands on his hips.

The old commander chuckled, his eyes narrowing. "Oh, you think I care about karma, mercenary? Survival is the only law that matters in this world. And if that means betraying those who get in my way, then so be it."

Wanderer's expression remained firm, then lit up. "Hah! Classic rhetoric. Now do you think I will trust this blueprint of mutation to you?"

The old commander shrugged, a smirk playing on his lips. "You don't have to trust me. You just have to deliver. We had a deal, and I expect you to honor it. After all, you're a mercenary, and mercenaries do what they're paid to do. Right?"

"Don't remind me. I hope you remember our promise too... our pinky promise." Wanderer then drew the chip from his pocket. "We're going to destroy this tech, aren't we?"

The old commander chuckled again, clearly unimpressed. "Destroy it? Are you insane? This tech is too valuable to destroy. Why would I destroy something that could give me an advantage in this war?"

"Come on! You promised me! I'm here not to bring it to you, but to test your loyalty," Wanderer insisted.

The old commander sneered, his eyes narrowed. "Loyalty? In this world? You're delusional, wanderer. Loyalty is a luxury we can't afford. Survival is all that matters, and if that means breaking your silly pinky promise, then so be it."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Then... watch this with your own eyes." Wanderer threw the chip off the cliff.

The old commander's eyes widened with rage as he watched the chip disappear into the abyss. "You fool! That chip contained priceless knowledge and technology! You've just set us back months, perhaps years. Do you have any idea what you've done?!"

"Yes, but at least I taught you something about loyalty and respect," Wanderer replied, his tone steady.

The old commander gritted his teeth, his hands clenching into fists. "You think that paltry lesson means anything? You've just cost us valuable intelligence and set us back in our war effort. And for what? To teach me about loyalty and respect? Ha! You've just demonstrated your own foolishness and shortsightedness."

"Yes, see you again," Wanderer said, turning away.

The old commander seethed with rage as Wanderer walked away. "Don't think you can just walk away from this,. Our paths will cross again, and when they do, you'll pay for your treachery. Mark my words, Wanderer. Mark my words."

Wanderer stopped, glancing back. "You could shoot me in the back. You didn't. You didn't do that because you need me."

The old commander's expression softened slightly, and he scoffed. "You're right, Wanderer. I didn't shoot you in the back because you're needed. You're a valuable asset in this war, and I won't waste your skills unless absolutely necessary. But make no mistake, I can still make your life a living hell if you cross me again. And trust me, my way of payback is far worse than a bullet to the back."

"Good boy," Wanderer replied, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

The old commander chuckled, a sly smile playing on his lips. "Oh, you think you're so clever, don't you, Wanderer? But don't get too cocky. I may need you now, but I won't hesitate to dispose of you if you become more trouble than you're worth. Remember that."

Later, Wanderer focused his base near the Mermaid settlement, raising his own salary while dealing with SWAT missions. The SWAT had no option but to meet Wanderer’s demands for their oil truck protection against the True Horde. It was a delicate balance of power, and Wanderer was determined to leverage it to his advantage. while wanderer keep investing his salary to upgrade the police system in wasteland. hoping someday they dont need rely on Swat.

One day, Wanderer and Nodira stood at the training ground, watching the unnamed boy they had saved from Series 9 grow up. He was now intermingling with the mercenaries, honing his skills. Wanderer sipped his tea, a contemplative look on his face. "So... do we have a name for the boy?" he asked, glancing at Nodira.

Nodira lifted her sunglasses, pretending to think deeply. Before she could respond, Oboro joined the conversation, a smile peeking from behind his scarf. "Well, so far we just call him... the boy."

Nodira smirked, enjoying the banter. "How about 'Prodigy'? It's fitting for someone with his skills."

Oboro nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I like that. Prodigy suits him well. And it's easy to remember too!"

Wanderer stretched his arms, a playful glint in his eyes. "He might be half mutant, but without the green skin. Prodigy? What even is that?"

Nodira chuckled at Wanderer's question. "A prodigy is someone who shows exceptional talent or promise in a particular field. In our case, the boy is showing remarkable combat skills and intelligence that surpasses what you would expect from someone his age. That's why we call him 'Prodigy.' We’ll just have to remind him of his humble beginnings."

Wanderer raised an eyebrow, a hint of mischief in his tone. "Mhmh... do you think that’s kind of... a bit... racist?"

Nodira laughed, clearly amused. "Racist? What do you mean? We're not calling him that because of his genetics. We're calling him that because of his skill and potential. But if you have a better suggestion, I'm all ears."

Wanderer grinned,. "How about... non-mutant boy? Ahah hahaha!"

Laughter erupted among them, but Wanderer quickly added, "Mhm, but no... just jokes."

Nodira rolled her eyes, a mischievous smile on her face. "Well, that's certainly... unique. But I think 'non-mutant boy' might be a bit too straightforward, don’t you think? We could use something more creative and memorable, like 'Uncanny Kid' or 'Mutant Lite.' Or we can just stick to 'Prodigy.'"

Wanderer pondered for a moment. "How about we let him choose instead?"

Nodira nodded in agreement. "You know what? I think that's a great idea. Let's ask him what he wants to be called. He has a right to choose his own identity. But remember, this is all just for fun, Wanderer. It's not like we're going to call him 'The Amazing Non-Mutant Boy' every time we talk to him. We'll just stick to 'Boy' or 'Prodigy' unless he decides otherwise. And remember, we only call him non-mutant just for fun, okay?"

Wanderer turned around, using his real time psyche to call the boy over. The tall teenager approached, his eyes wide with curiosity. "Alright, boy, since you’re nameless, we’re going to pick a name for you. We have some name suggestions, but we give you the freedom to choose your own name because we’re too dumb for it."

The boy listened attentively, excitement bubbling within him. After a moment of contemplation, his eyes lit up. "I... I want to be called 'Dragon!'" he exclaimed, a proud smile spreading across his face.

Wanderer and Nodira exchanged surprised looks, but they couldn’t help but see the irony in his choice. It seemed the boy had a sense of humor after all.

"Alright... Dragon it is," Wanderer said, a smile breaking across his face.

Nodira chuckled and nodded in agreement. "Alright, then 'Dragon' it is. Welcome to the team, kid."

The boy, now named 'Dragon,' beamed with pride, clearly pleased with his new identity.