Lyra looked at all of them.

Then back at Arthur.

"...You’re taking responsibility for it."

Arthur didn’t hesitate. "Yes."

"If it becomes a threat.."

"It won’t."

She cut him off. "If it does."

Arthur held her gaze.

"...Then I’ll handle it."

That was enough.

Lyra exhaled slowly.

That alone made it feel heavier.

Then..

"...Fine."

Commander Lyra smiled.

Not a small one.

A real one.

"...You can keep it."

Silence.

Torren looked at Nox. Nox looked at Selene. Selene slowly turned back to Lyra like she misheard.

"...Wait," Torren said, "that’s it?"

He then let out a breath. "That was easier than I thought."

Lyra shot him a look. "Don’t get used to it."

Then her eyes returned to Arthur who was still a bit stunned.

He didn’t expect that.

Not this fast.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, like he was checking if she was serious.

Lyra noticed and gave a small nod. "I said you can keep it."

Arthur let out a quiet breath, then nodded. "...Thank you."

He didn’t overdo it.

But it was clear it mattered.

The cub shifted on his shoulder, like it felt the change.

Lyra watched that, then spoke again, her tone settling.

"I’m not agreeing because it’s harmless."

That brought everyone back to focus.

"There are still risks," she continued. "You already know that."

Arthur nodded. "I do."

"The tainted mana," she said. "It’s going to always be there. Maybe faint, but present.

Her gaze dropped to the cub again.

"If it ever loses control..."

She didn’t finish the sentence right away.

She didn’t need to.

Arthur understood.

Still, she said it.. explaining it more clearer this time..

"You’ll have to put it down."

The room went quiet again.

This time, heavier.

As she let Arthur know the weight of his decision.

Nox’s excitement dimmed a little. Torren scratched his cheek, looking away.

Arthur didn’t look away.

"...If it happens," he said, calm and steady, "I’ll handle it."

He reassured once more.

Lyra held his gaze for a second reading his resolve, then nodded once.

"Good."

She shifted slightly.

"Second," she continued, "it’s still a monster."

Torren muttered, "Hard to forget that."

Lyra ignored him.

"If it shows hostility toward humans, it doesn’t step into human spaces."

Arthur nodded again. "Understood."

"I won’t have panic spreading because you wanted a pet."

Arthur almost smirked. "It won’t be a problem."

Nox raised her hand slightly. "We can help too."

Lyra glanced at her.

Nox smiled. "Training it, I mean."

Torren added, "Yeah, better it gets used to us early."

Selene gave a small nod. "It’ll learn faster in a group."

Even Althea spoke, quiet but clear. "It won’t be alone."

Lyra looked at all of them this time.

Then back at Arthur.

"...You’ve got support."

Arthur shrugged a little. "I didn’t ask for it."

Nox nudged him. "You’re getting it anyway."

He huffed lightly. "Do what you want."

But he didn’t refuse.

Lyra caught that.

"Third," she said, bringing it back, "it joins your training."

Arthur raised a brow slightly.

"So we can monitor it," she added. "Its growth, its behavior... everything."

There was more behind that.

Arthur saw it.

She wasn’t just watching the cub.

She was thinking ahead.

If it grew strong, it could become part of the squad’s strength.

A weapon.

A support.

Maybe both.

Arthur didn’t mind.

He adjusted the cub slightly as it shifted again.

"...That works."

Lyra nodded.

"Good. Then it stays under your responsibility, but under my observation."

"Fair."

She studied him one last time, then let it go.

"That’s all."

The tension finally eased.

Lyra turned slightly, but before dismissing them, she spoke again.

"Regardless..."

They all looked at her.

"...You did well."

It was simple.. but it hit.

Their first mission was completed with no losses, or even injuries.

They also gained information of the source.

Even if not everything was clear, it was something.

Ryn stepped forward slightly. "Thank you, commander."

The others followed with nods.

"We’ll do better next time," Ryn added.

Lyra nodded. "I expect it."

There was no pressure in her voice.

Just certainty.

She trusted them.

That alone said enough.

She waved her hand lightly. "You’re dismissed."

Torren didn’t wait. "Finally."

Nox laughed. "You just want the money."

"Of course I do."

Selene shook her head as they turned to leave.

Arthur followed, the cub still resting on his shoulder.

As they stepped out, the mood shifted again.

Lighter.

Excited.

"Exchange counter?" Torren asked.

"Obviously," Nox replied.

Ryn nodded. "Let’s go."

They moved together through the stronghold, this time with more energy than before.

Voices around them, footsteps, movement... it all blended into something familiar.

This was the part everyone liked, turning risk into reward.

Soon.. they reached the exchange area and slowed slightly, scanning the counters.

"Over there," Selene said.

Arthur followed her gaze.

And smirked.

"Elena."

Torren groaned lightly. "You always pick her counter."

"Coincidence," Arthur said.

"No, it’s not."

They moved anyway.

Elena looked up as they approached, already focused.

"You’re back."

Ryn nodded. "We are."

"Good," Elena said. "Let’s see it."

They didn’t waste time.

Torren stepped forward first, placing his storage device on the counter.

One by one, items came out.

Wolf cores.

Fangs.

Claws.

Materials stacked neatly.

Elena’s hands moved quickly, checking, sorting, noting.

"Next."

Selene stepped up.

Then Nox, who talked a bit too much while unloading.

"—and then it jumped, but we already—"

"Nox," Elena said without looking up, "focus."

"Right."

Althea followed quietly.

Then Ryn, who gave a clean and organized set.

Elena worked through everything with the same pace.

Sharp.

Efficient.

Reliable.

Numbers came up, and their values calculated.

"Your total," she said, sliding the results forward.

Torren grinned. "Not bad."

"Split from the boss core is included," Elena added.

That got their attention.

"Equal share," she said simply.

Nox smiled. "I like that."

Selene nodded. "Fair."

Ryn didn’t comment, but he accepted it.

Then..

Elena looked up.

"Next."

Arthur stepped forward.

He placed his storage device down.

"Shared items first," he said.

Elena nodded.