The idea had been sitting in the back of Ethan's mind ever since Nara mentioned wanting to expand the cantina. He had spent so much time here, returning to its warmth after long nights spent on missions, battles, and moments of doubt. This place had been more than just a business, it had been a refuge. A constant in an ever-changing, often hostile world.
He thought back to the early days, when he had first arrived on Kynara, unsure of who to trust. Nara had welcomed him without hesitation, offering him a meal and a quiet place to sit, never asking for anything in return. That simple act of kindness had meant more to him than he ever let on. Over time, her cantina had become a sanctuary, a rare place where he could let his guard down, even if only for a little while. And now, he had the means to give something back.
Sitting in his hotel room, he meticulously worked through the process. The one million credits transfer needed to be seamless, untraceable, and free of any bureaucratic roadblocks. He moved through encrypted channels, bypassing red tape and potential security flags thanks to Iris, the AI assistant that had saved his life more times than he could count.
"You're being careful about this, right?" Iris's cold voice chimed in through his earpiece.
"Always," Ethan murmured, his fingers flying over the holo-keyboard.
"Even with hidden encryption layers, a transfer this size will raise a few eyebrows if the wrong people notice."
"That's why I'm making sure they don't," Ethan replied, double-checking the routing numbers. He had learned long ago that money moved just like power, quietly, and always with an agenda. He wasn't about to let Nara get caught in someone else's crosshairs.
By the time the transfer was complete, he leaned back in his chair, staring at the confirmation screen. The funds were secured. More than enough to cover anything Nara needed.
Renovations. New equipment. Security upgrades. Hell, even an early retirement if she ever decided to step away. The thought made him smirk. He doubted Nara would ever retire, she was too stubborn for that.
But money alone wouldn't protect her.
She needed connections. A network of reliable people who could ensure that her cantina never fell under the control of extortionists, corrupt officials, or greedy middlemen again.
He turned back to the tablet and began his next task, finding the right people. He didn't trust easily, but over the past few months, he had built relationships with suppliers, merchants, and traders who operated outside of the Syndicate's reach. Some of them owed him favors. Others simply knew better than to cross him.
One by one, he reached out.
A secure trade route, one that didn't rely on bribes or strong-arming tactics, was essential. Food shipments, rare spices, imported liquors... all the little things that made Nara's Nest a place worth visiting. If he could guarantee a steady supply chain with fair pricing, she wouldn't have to worry about shortages or price hikes.
Then, there was security.
Ethan wasn't naive. Kynara might be more stable now that the Syndicate was gone, but that didn't mean danger had disappeared. Some gang or rogue faction would inevitably try to assert dominance. Nara's cantina was a small yet profitable establishment, and that alone made it a target.
He tapped into his network of mercenaries, and ex-coalition contacts who chose to not join the UKDF. People who operated in the shadows but knew how to keep places safe without making a scene. He wasn't looking for brutes who would scare off customers, but discreet professionals who could blend into the background, ensuring that no one even considered messing with Nara's Nest.
"You're putting a lot of effort into this," Iris noted as Ethan compiled the list of trusted suppliers and security personnel.
"She deserves it," Ethan replied simply.
His reputation as the hero of Kynara carried weight. He had crushed the Syndicate. He had fought battles most wouldn't dare. And if anyone tried to take advantage of Nara, they wouldn't just be dealing with local authorities. They'd be dealing with him.
By the time he was done, Nara would have everything she needed. Money, supplies, protection. The cantina wouldn't just survive; it would thrive.
That evening, Ethan stepped into Nara's Nest, the scent of spice and roasted meat curling through the air. The cantina was still lively, but the rush was winding down. A few patrons lingered at their tables, nursing drinks, trading stories, or simply enjoying the warmth of a place that had long been a safe haven in the chaos of Kynara.
Nara noticed him the moment he entered. Even after the longest, hardest days, she always smiled. It wasn't the kind of forced pleasantry most business owners gave, it was genuine, like she was always glad to see him, no matter how much time had passed.
"Usual spot?" she asked, wiping her hands on a towel as she approached.
"Not this time," Ethan said, shaking his head. "We need to talk."
Something in his tone made her pause. Her smile didn't fade, but it shifted, less casual, more curious. Maybe even cautious. Still, she nodded and led him to a quieter corner away from prying eyes.
Ethan pulled out a datapad and slid it across the table toward her.
"Take a look," he said.
Nara frowned but picked it up. As her eyes scanned the screen, he watched her expression shift. First confusion, then disbelief.
"That's your account now," Ethan said, tapping a finger on the display. "One million credits. Already transferred."
Nara's breath caught in her throat, but before she could speak, he scrolled to the next file.
"And these, these are new suppliers I've lined up. People I trust. They'll get you everything you need, better equipment, fresh stock, no threats, no extortion, no one bleeding you dry just because they can."
Silence stretched between them.
She just stared at the datapad, the numbers and names blurring in front of her. When she finally lifted her gaze, there was something in her eyes he hadn't expected. Shock, uncertainty… maybe even fear.
"This…" she breathed. "Ethan, this is too much."
He exhaled slowly, shaking his head. "No, it's not."
Nara set the datapad down, her fingers trembling slightly. "I-I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything." His voice was steady, quiet, but firm. "You kept me going when I had nothing. When I was lost, you gave me a seat, a meal, a place to breathe. You didn't have to. You never asked for anything in return."
Her throat worked as she tried to process it all. "But… why? You could've just left. You don't owe me anything."
Ethan leaned forward, holding her gaze. "That's exactly why."
For the first time in a long time, she had no words.
Her fingers curled around the edges of the datapad, gripping it tightly as though she feared it might vanish if she let go. She swallowed hard, blinking rapidly, and then, before he could react, she surged forward and threw her arms around him.
It caught Ethan off guard. She wasn't the sentimental type, and he sure as hell wasn't used to this kind of reaction. But as her arms tightened around him, he felt the weight of everything in that moment. The gratitude, the unspoken history, the kind of bond that wasn't built on debts but on something deeper.
She whispered, voice thick with emotion, "Thank you, Ethan."
He hesitated for just a second, then let out a small breath and returned the embrace.
"You deserve it," he murmured.
She wiped her eyes, but the tears still came.
"I'll make this place better than ever," she promised. "And no matter how far you go, you'll always have a place here."
Ethan didn't need thanks. He didn't need words or grand gestures.
Seeing Nara safe, knowing her dream was no longer just a distant hope but a reality taking shape, was enough. The warmth in her eyes, the quiet relief in her expression, that was his reward.
As he stepped out into the neon-lit streets of Valeris, the hum of the city filled the air around him. Speeders rushing past, distant voices blending with the ever-present drone of neon signs flickering above. The smell of oil, rare rain-soaked pavement, and late-night street food clung to the night, making the city feel alive in a way that only Valeris ever could.
Ethan took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly.
His time on Kynara was ending.
There were still places to go, battles to fight, and a purpose he hadn't fully uncovered yet. The universe stretched endlessly before him, full of unknowns, full of risks, full of moments waiting to be lived.
But before he left, he had done something different.
For the first time in a long time, he had done something that wasn't about war, revenge, or survival.
It was about giving back.
And that, he realized, was a different kind of victory altogether.