Chapter 113

“…What do you think?”

In a run-down building where it’s questionable if there’s an officially licensed resident and piles of sand are drifting around a construction site, I asked Zero for their opinion, capable of coldly compiling the provided information better than anyone else.

Of course… I wasn’t asking about what urban legend the citizens would reprocess it into when they saw that, but whether we should engage further in this matter.

– …Are you unwilling? With Ahsa’s abilities, there’s no need to force yourself to do something you don’t like… –

“No, don’t mind me. I’m just curious about your honest opinion.”

Breaking the sweet-sounding words—Zero presumably had no intent of flattery but anyhow—I noticed their sensors busily flashing, realizing that I genuinely sought their judgment.

Simulating from the floor up, calculating by including all the variables.

If I were to swallow Mr. Guide’s words as they were.

Since it seemed that going deeper here would make it difficult to pull out our feet carelessly, I wanted to firmly decide on this point at what felt like our Maginot line.

To be honest, I had no speculations even if it seemed like a significant case at the moment.

Originally, among the current tasks, there shouldn’t be too many unresolved cases left hanging until the original time, that ultimately get turned into quests.

Then it would eventually become just one of the precarious commissions from the past… I wonder if it would be advantageous for me.

The scale being large implies either a major corporation is involved, a subtle hand is aiding, or it has become a target.

There were dark and murky filths intermittently visible ahead, making it somewhat bothersome to just pass by.

But when have I ever just poked my nose into only the cases I know? If I thought it necessary or didn’t want to turn a blind eye, or if the situation was unfavorable, I simply did my best within the given limits.

Now that I truly had an environment without a supervising freelancer and a bit of leeway, it was a method to choose paths that I liked and make selections…

– The traveler’s insurance compensation has not yet been deposited in your account. Is any related lawsuit anticipated? –

“……They say Paradise is taking it back since it’s not a ticket I bought with my own money.”

What kind of comprehensive judgment is this person trying to make by digging up even embarrassing personal information?

It wasn’t necessarily something to hide, so it didn’t matter, but it was still baffling.

Thus, I blankly stared, waiting while peering at the skeletal structures left in the construction site.

How many minutes had passed pondering where the other participants could possibly be hidden in that desolate place… Finally, the voice module vibrated the air again.

– If you plan to operate in Neo Haven, you will eventually encounter Mega Cop-Enema, which is something you will have to evade at some point. Therefore, if your aim is to secure funding for activities, it would be wise to carry out fewer assignments with high compensation promised rather than performing trivial tasks repeatedly. –

– Additionally, if the client’s qualifications are as strict as they currently are, there is a possibility of gaining influential power on the mercenary side post-contract, as substitutes will not be available. –

“…So, you’re saying it’s worth a shot, don’t be afraid. Got it, thank you.”

It was a surprisingly proactive statement from one I thought would insist on safety above all else.

Well, it wasn’t incomprehensible since the basis was clear.

‘No risk, no return.’

This saying from the financial industry regarding investments could apply to all aspects of life as well.

If you don’t attempt anything, the probability of a corresponding result happening is 0%, and there’s no world that assigns rewards to worthless actions.

Moreover, is it not something that no one knows?

Perhaps I might forge decent connections here or encounter unexpected original characters.

Shuffling through.

I stepped over the surface with soil showing through due to digging.

Once I decided to act, I needed to do so decisively. If I went in half-heartedly and stumbled over some test or whatever, I would be too embarrassed… and I would punch Zero.

Since we agreed to participate together, I had to bear the responsibility!

Even a Carebot cannot avoid the rigors of group projects. Yup.

After all, I walked through a floor where my boots sank into the muddy ground, entering an interior dusted with cement powder and with hollow spaces everywhere.

Even from outside, I vaguely felt that there was truly nothing here. At least not to my senses.

As is typical for black market dealings. I thought it was natural to first claim a secluded place as a gathering spot before proceeding, but now being on the receiving end of that every time made it quite tiresome.

In this instance, it was understood why they didn’t just show off their capabilities or simply made it a meeting place but stated that there would also be tests to be performed.

“Still, you could just find the encrypted entry on the network and get in.”

Naturally, since I’m a hacker, it was relatively easy to use a simple passage. If you were on the physical side of things, you’d have to receive introductions or find some hidden entry point to barely breach the black market’s threshold, but that didn’t stop my grumbling.

On the other hand… an intense anomaly that didn’t fit the location blocked my confident strides.

“Ugh?!”

I recoiled, startled by the rotten scent and horrible stench, sticky smell felt from the fingertips crossing an invisible boundary of air.

You might consider it nonsense to sniff with my fingers, but I merely described what my senses were disturbed by, leading to that result. In reality, what seemed suspicious was not the air quality but the intensity and variety of the signals ensnaring my senses.

Obscure signals not officially displayed on cyberware were trying to penetrate through, tingling against my skin.

Whether it was side effects of being an electric user, I usually felt disturbed in places where excessive electromagnetic waves were present, but being thrown into a completely hostile state made the intensity distinctly perceptible.

Now that I think about it… didn’t they say only hackers recommended from various places were gathered?

“……What the hell?”

A creepy smile formed involuntarily as my lips twitched.

My mindset was too lax.

Even if it wasn’t time to share a friendly handshake, I couldn’t tell who was throwing this absurd trick before even seeing their face, but I definitely received a declaration of war.

If they throw me a curveball instead of a greeting, I will find this bastard and kick him in the shins instead.

First, I blocked all the general sending and receiving functions of my cyberware. The only open channel was the dedicated line connecting only Zero and me.

While I could trace the signal itself as before, following it to find the source, hiding in this confined space wouldn’t hide them very well. If they planned a counter, they would come out on their own.

“Mention all the suspicious places.”

– My heat detection scanner is purely for home use, so its range is narrow… However, the air temperature coming up from the building’s basement is detected to be slightly higher than the average temperature. It seems to be a phenomenon caused by multiple body heats and breaths. –

“Sounds like exactly the kind of place to hide.”

After reinforcing the firewall to ensure Zero wouldn’t get disturbed, I pushed through the toxic veil.

Descending the shabby staircase.

It was amusing that they couldn’t even properly build above ground, yet had dug so deep underground and even set up supports.

Clang…!!

The loud noise echoed throughout the subterranean junction as I stomped my feet, announcing our arrival.

Human figures, some huddled together and others keeping distance in a disorganized manner, seemed busy wasting time, all turned to meet my gaze simultaneously.

So, which one is it? Who started this quarrel without any manners or basic decency?

“Wow… look at that fair skin. Even though our industry is grim, there are many beauties…”

“But to think a little kid is recommended as a hacker…”

Bam!!

“…….”

Those who had been chatting freely, concerned about the weak durability of the shabby stairs, flinched and went quiet when Zero revealed themselves, stepping back without anyone needing to say so.

The crude remarks and the little kid… made me quite irritated, and while their tone was juvenile, they were not the perpetrators.

Be it for detection or control. The one who disseminated the electromagnetic waves would have noticed the presence of the droid at the moment they detected the firewall.

‘Come out… come out.’

I brushed off my prickly forearm and scanned the crowd of participants.

Honestly, it might have been better if the foul stench were real. At least with time, I’d become immune to the smell, but this damn signal continuously annoyed me, so I was planning to put a stop to it.

Accumulated annoyance was resolved in a rather unexpected way.

“Eh…?”

As a woman approached, the tangled net around her body flew off in an instant.

Like how a fluffy afro could absorb harmful electromagnetic waves, she stepped forward confidently, creating a clean zone around her… and suddenly reached out her hand.

“The old guys just don’t get it. Nowadays, those who grew up with implants from a young age are way more competent. Right?”

“….”

I had nothing to reply to the cheery woman as she sought agreement from me as if she knew me.

Still, staying silent wouldn’t be polite, so rather than chiding, I merely shot her a sideways glance, and she finally realized her mistake and offered a proper greeting.

“I’m Marina Serrano! It’s nice to see you again in a place like this, even if it’s just from brushing past!”

“…….”

Wait, seriously, who are you?