Tyler lifted the iron tray with metal tongs, tilted it, and dumped the useless hardened residue into a growing pile near the wall.

It landed among many others.

Several trays already lay scattered there, each stained black from failed experiments, each carrying the remains of Carbonyx ore that had either melted into lifeless sludge or endured electrical discharge without revealing anything useful. Beside them, untouched chunks of Carbonyx were stacked neatly in a corner, their black surfaces streaked with purple veins that now seemed almost mocking under the workshop lamps.

So much ore, yet none of it had given him a proper answer.

He set the empty tray aside and finally removed the thick gloves from his hands.

After that, he loosened the protective outer layer he was wearing —the black suit made from the yellow radiation-blocking fabric taken from Veena’s old collection. Tansy and Rose had stitched it together carefully, layer by layer, turning crude material into something practical enough to protect him while handling the ore directly.

Same one used to protect their father.

Even after hours inside the garage, the inside of the suit had become warm from sweat.

Tyler folded it neatly instead of throwing it carelessly aside. It had already proven useful, and with Carbonyx infection being a real danger, wasting it would be foolish.

He looked once more at the machine, the rows of copied batteries, and the ruined cables before switching off the lamps.

For today, there was nothing more to gain here.

After leaving the garage, he pulled the metal door shut and secured it from outside.

The street beyond remained quiet.

Sector 11 always felt emptier than a place built for this many houses should feel. Low population had left many buildings abandoned over the years. Some stood locked and dusty, some half collapsed, and others had become temporary storage spaces, hiding places, or quiet shelters for anyone who needed privacy.

Tyler crossed the narrow lane and entered another abandoned building nearby.

Inside, sitting near a broken window where light entered cleanly, was Rose.

She had made herself completely comfortable.

Bread sat beside her.

A cloth full of roasted pumpkin seeds rested on her lap.

There were also candies—small colorful pieces she carefully ate one after another while absentmindedly swinging her legs.

Unlike someone living in a poor sector, Rose had the expression of a girl who temporarily forgot hardship whenever food appeared in front of her.

She didn’t even notice Tyler immediately because she was too focused on deciding whether to eat another candy or more seeds first.

Tyler smiled faintly.

"You’re not helping your mother today?"

Rose looked up and quickly stuffed the candy into her mouth before answering.

"Mom is busy stitching clothes with other ladies because of the stage they’re making in the square," she said while grabbing another handful of roasted pumpkin seeds. "Mommy also told me not to show my face too often during this time."

Tyler paused.

He had already heard enough from Veena and others to understand what that warning meant.

Sometimes Capital visitors did not only come for ore, taxes, or entertainment.

Sometimes they noticed young girls.

And once noticed, those girls often disappeared.

Taken away under polite excuses or official orders, only to become toys for people who considered sector lives disposable.

His eyes lingered on Rose for a brief moment.

She was still young enough to speak lightly without fully understanding how ugly that truth could become.

"Are you here to have your ways on me?" Rose asked with anticipation.

Or not. This is just a little devil.

Tyler bonked her head.

"How did you get so much food?" Rose suddenly asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

Tyler leaned against the wall and smirked.

"Don’t forget the rule."

Rose immediately rolled her eyes dramatically.

"Yeah, yeah... if I want your food, I have to do anything you want," she declared in an exaggerated voice, placing one hand over her chest like a helpless maiden captured by some villain.

The timing was unfortunate.

"Did he say that?"

Tansy’s voice came sharply from the doorway.

She had arrived silently enough that neither of them noticed until she spoke.

Her expression already looked dangerous.

Tyler reacted instantly.

"Hey— don’t make your sister kill me, or you’ll never get food again."

Rose pouted, clearly amused by how fast he defended himself.

"Just kidding," she said. "He only told me not to ask questions."

Then she muttered silently, "I don’t mind if he wants to do anything with me."

Actually Rose already hinted her sister a lot to seduce Tyler, but looks like she didn’t care. So she decided to do herself. She never been once gotten hungry after she met Tyler. So she doesn’t mind being anything to Tyler.

While she was in that chaotic thoughts, Tansy already walked inside and immediately bonked her lightly on the head.

"Ouch!"

Rose grabbed her head dramatically as if struck by a hammer

Tansy ignored the performance and looked at the foods.

Bread , Candies and Roasted pumpkin seeds.

And a lot more roasted seeds, she is pretty sure it was the same one she brought from the ruin.

Her eyes shifted toward Tyler.

This Tyler was becoming stranger every day. He appeared from nowhere. He knew things no one here should know. He brought food too often. He asked dangerous questions. He is like wealthy kid ran away from captail.

For someone so mysterious, he had never once tried anything improper with her or Rose, even though they had spent enough time alone for such intentions to become obvious if he had them. That thought brought her an odd kind of relief— though, if she were honest, also a faint disappointment she did not fully understand.

Maybe he simply did not find sector girls like them attractive.

The thought came and went quickly, but it still lingered enough to annoy her.

In truth, Tyler’s mind worked differently. He was focused on refining ore. Even if he is interested he might show it on Tansy or even her mom, if she was single, but not on lass like Rose.

Tansy herself had far too many questions.

Who was he really? Where did he get food so often?

Why did he sometimes speak as if he had seen worlds beyond Libria?

Yet every time she felt close to asking, something stopped her. Perhaps because each answer seemed tied to something larger than Sector 11, and some instinct told her that once certain truths were spoken aloud, life would no longer remain simple.

So she stayed silent.

Instead, she sat beside Rose, took another handful of roasted pumpkin seeds, and ate quietly.