Chapter 242

What is this place, the Chip Shop, that I’m heading to on purpose right now?

It’s no longer enough to merely gaze out the taxi window at the scenery flowing by. Given how accustomed I’ve grown to life in Neo Haven, let’s take this opportunity to gather and organize information from both the game and the real world.

This shop was originally a frequent stop for purchasing various skills and utility programs as well as for upgrading cyberware within the game.

Some might define a shop like this, which was said to be an essential part of living in the 23rd century, as a place that should be frequented as casually as going to a restaurant for a meal.

Instead of food, though, this shop is stocked with small electronic cartridges filled with information and data.

Unlike the low-quality or defective freeware indiscriminately shared through networks and the internet, this place not only sells but also verifies and buys back high-quality, high-performance items that reflect current trends.

While the Machinery Shop has mechanics on standby to maintain various mechanical equipment, and the Implant Shop has resident medical professionals and surgical operators overseeing cyborg-related products for the body, the Chip Shop deals with programs and software that go into these devices in a more intricate way.

Commonly carried items include PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), scanners, holographic pads, and even biochips favored by extreme cyber-modification enthusiasts, all available in a wide range.

Depending on the various devices preferred by users, they offer on-site data transfers, compatibility checks, and even custom programming consultations while arranging for the necessary cyber architecture.

In a way, if the mercenary industry and the black market are frontlines of action, then here is the meeting place for tech enthusiasts and nerds.

It might as well be compared to an electronics arcade lined with game CDs and title packs, much like a paradise for playful troublemaking children.

Speaking of troublemakers… Come to think of it, we have a similar one at home.

“Zero? Is there anything you’d like to get from the Chip Shop?”

– My combat manual update may be almost a year behind, but I have no software deficiencies. However, it would be nice to have more drones or multi-purpose robots to freely operate at my leisure…

“Hey! That’s not something you can just get at a Chip Shop, and it doesn’t come cheap either! Hmm… Anyway, since it feels awkward to rely on Leornar forever, let’s wait until Mr. Richard the broker finds us an appropriate warehouse to look into.”

When I casually inquired if he wanted a new toy, he gave me a sharp look as if suggesting he wants to quickly complete and deploy a custom mechanized unit.

Why does he expect such infrastructure to be finished overnight?

Since there’s no ally limit like in the game, it sure would be reassuring to have a backup of his mechanical forces wherever I go.

But to live consuming credits like they’re air, one must earn them just as easily! That’s the thing.

Ahem, I went off on a tangent. Anyway, why haven’t I visited such a useful Chip Shop until now? Was it simply because I didn’t feel the need to?

Well, I did visit a local store to buy a cheap terminal on Harvest Planet.

However, upon arrival, I discovered that I already had all the basic programs I needed in my optic nerve and communication implant. Moreover, it seemed better to simply modify other firmware and cyberware myself, leading me to dismissively ignore it in the meantime.

However, this is now my main stage in Neo Haven.

The large Chip Shop I’m heading to now, ‘Circuit Refinery,’ is also a place where familiar faces can confirm each other and leave good impressions, so there’s no harm in stopping by.

Thus, it’s the final destination for today. Hmm.

Well, even if it’s my first real visit, the knowledge I have from the game gives me an advantage, and I already know the store owner isn’t a nuisance. So, in truth, it’s an advantage here too.

[You’ve arrived at your destination! Thank you for using EnterCruise Taxi Service. If you wish to call us on your way back, you can easily swap departure and arrival locations for a discounted price! Enter your expected return time…]

“One hour… No, two hours later. Same spot.”

Considering the time it’ll take to check the atmosphere of the store, make vaccines on the spot, and wait for verification, I estimate around that time.

I gladly fell for the sales tactics of the unmanned taxi company to quickly get out of the car with Zero.

“Ahem…”

As soon as I inhaled the air outside the car without passing through the air filter, I cleared my slightly tickling throat.

Indeed, like the bustling capital center, today’s gray and cool atmosphere continues to impress.

The area near the shop, located a bit away from the plaza among commercial zones classified separately from grocery stores, already showed a moderate flow of busy passersby.

Since I wasn’t here to do anything bad, I didn’t worry about my face being recognized. Besides, if I didn’t want that, I could have simply uploaded the vaccine to a hacker community and been done with it, so the presence of other customers was no issue.

However, in an electronics district with so many robots bustling about, it’s hard to avoid curious stares when coming with a clearly combat-customized droid in both arms.

At least Zero’s Model 0 doesn’t have any exposed weapons; but the others captured from the lab carry heavy weapons on their backs, leaving no room for excuses.

This is why I’m increasingly avoiding going out. It’s the same situation from the casino visit, and the levels of attention I receive just get more intense as time goes by. Next time, I should really start wearing a mask.

Conversely, markets where mercenaries gather might be better. After all, they know how to handle things, like after a blow to the back of the head or an offer, they know how to shift their gazes properly.

“Let’s go in quickly before it gets too warm outside.”

Before the shyness I sensed rose to my face, I moved swiftly to hide my body in the shadow of the building.

Thus, briskly…

The automatic doors opened and quickly closed behind me, boots continuously scraping the dust-removal mat at the entrance. Meanwhile, for some reason, some customers in the front suddenly disappeared to the sides as if they had urgent matters elsewhere, revealing the entire interior of the Chip Shop at once.

Transparent cases filled with countless integrated circuit boards lined the walls.

Touch pads and electronic devices were scattered throughout for trial operations and demonstrations.

Monitors and speakers displayed and played the latest cyberware and software updates instead of random company advertisements.

Finally, a large counter in the center of the spacious store designed like an art gallery caught my eye.

Wow, looking at it in person, this place feels more like a secondhand game store? Do you sell retro games or computers by any chance? Specifically, models from about 200 years ago…?

A somewhat deep and mature tone contrasting with a high-pitched voice rang out.

The roaming clerks briefly turned their eyes towards the strange customer and the even more unusual shop owner, then seemed to realize it wasn’t their business and walked away.

Why am I not getting annoyed about being called a kid? Considering height purely, this person is way shorter than me, making it entirely non-problematic. Flipping through a list of characters, I doubt there are any smaller people except minors.

An important character? Not at all. He’s just an intriguing shop owner with a couple of quests.

Closeness? Back then, I found him merely curious due to his distinctive appearance.

Overall evaluation? His obsession with money made him rather unlikable, likely leaning towards undesirable.

On the contrary, this makes it easier to approach him casually as an old acquaintance, so I turned my head lightly to face the source of the sound.

“Hmm! Is that Mr. Hemet? Unfortunately, I haven’t come here to buy anything but to sell. So, I’d like to ask for a consultation regarding purchases.”

First came to view: scruffy beards, lanky and thin mechanical arms and legs.

This isn’t an exoskeleton armor. It’s not even protected by a glove plate; instead, it looks more like a dedicated wheelchair for this small rider to move smoothly in everyday life, with all the bone-like structure and wires exposed.

There’s a condition called dwarfism.

It refers to remaining significantly shorter in stature due to various reasons during growth or even after.

Whether this came from financial difficulties in Hemet’s youth or an unfortunate disease onset that was hard to treat, his reliance on such aids stands boldly in a 23rd-century setting.

The stubby hands and feet operate sensors, and the extended metal parts move accordingly; rubber gloves at their tips, attached to avoid accidents, wobbled pitifully.

However, I didn’t express any sympathy.

I felt it would be disrespectful to cast such glances at a self-made businessman confidently doing his job.

“…If you’re here to sell a droid, then you’ve got the wrong place.”

“No, this one is far from for sale. I’ve developed a program myself that I’d like to sell.”

I wondered why sitting on a substitute robot and then sitting at a desk held any real meaning.

Correcting the hasty misunderstanding, Hemet, sitting behind the counter in his designated seat, tilted his head sideways and soon sighed dramatically.

“Kid… Sorry, this isn’t the place for basic courses or watch programs made by following guides. Go show those to your parents; they’ll probably love them.”

“…”

I flinched.

Of course, here we have a man who, in the game, would spew absurd nonsense like “Money is the greatest! Look, even a loser like me with money can summon three high-class prostitutes, making two of them scissor and have the third one give me a blowjob!”

This attitude reflects his unwillingness to waste limited time or energy dealing with unworthy customers.

…Yet the damn fact is, I’m a legitimate customer with something to sell.

“Though you’re clearly the expert, I can’t understand why you’re making such wrong assumptions based on someone’s appearance. If you’re unwilling to offer proper consultations, I’ll sell elsewhere…”

“Don’t pretend to be ignorant, kid! Lately, all sorts of idiots have been loitering around due to that ‘Conquer Engineering in Three Weeks’ course. And those who claimed to have set up a new antiviral defense system? They just stuffed a bunch of script kiddies into an office, creating a human firewall! Absolutely!”

“…”

Our piercing looks cross. Apparently, our timing is very ill-fated, but I’m not obligated to feel responsible for that.

Besides, Mr. Hemet, did you know?

Would you care that, just like your cherished endurance and time, other people’s patience is also a limited resource?

You damn dwarf brat… why do you keep calling me “kid”…!