Chapter 184

“Umm…”

One hand on the waist. With the other hand, I caress my chin and survey the surroundings.

When I say ‘survey’, I mean I am observing closely, not just casually looking around. It means that this is a task that cannot be taken lightly.

The first thing that catches my eye is, of course, the large furniture and various types of home appliances.

While the technological advancements, such as holographic displays and contactless recognition scanning, are apparent, there haven’t been any particularly radical changes in the design aspect, which is somewhat reassuring.

…No, actually, it’s quite troublesome because the cheap items seem to focus solely on function, making them look like boxes with handles and buttons.

Fortunately, since this place seems to have a staggering price range, I can tell which one is the refrigerator, which one is the dishwasher, and which one is the pulse-type ionizer, which isn’t a problem…

…? So why do such things exist in the household?

Aren’t we in an era beyond the curse of pseudo-science claiming that fans can grind oxygen molecules? Is this the kind of issue that even highly educated people fall for?

– In the case of highly reactive implants lightly inserted into the skin, a phenomenon occurs before malfunctions caused by static electricity can be suppressed in the central nervous system, leading to the conclusion that these facilities are used to suppress it. It seems that the owner of this house was sensitive to such minor issues. –

“…Ah!”

Zero, observing this scene from the viewpoint of the observer, quickly added an explanation.

So those who have implants face such inconveniences in real life… those deceivers!

Regardless, there was nothing in this house to nitpick about the large devices that could be classified as ‘necessities.’

Even though it felt a bit lived-in, it wasn’t problematic on a significant scale, and there was no malicious intent in the additional options offered as extras.

However… when it comes to conditions that cannot be changed once decided upon, I had no intention of making any concessions, especially regarding the minute details that are easy to overlook!

“…”

I slowly move my legs, comparing my stride to the threshold of the floor.

Is that subtly high threshold? With internal wires and sensors stuffed into it, it’s a rival of humanity that should not be taken lightly.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do; I follow the culture of wearing shoes indoors as much as I can when there’s no choice. However, if I were the homeowner, things would be completely different.

There aren’t many weapons as good for ambushing toes as protruding thresholds.

If there’s a lack of attention to detail in such minor aspects, it’s clear how hastily the rest has been designed…!

…Well, I’m joking. I can’t possibly be that kind of black consumer, can I? Tripping over the threshold was almost excuse-worthy, and I know it’s hard to find a house perfectly prepared just for me.

It’s just that the internal area is below my expectations, and there’s the uncomfortable future knowledge that a famous wanted bomber might be living one floor above in the same building.

Lastly, while viewing this space as a unit of data breakdown, I noticed signs of manipulation in what should be augmented data uploaded from a detailed scanning of the interior, making everything look like new, which raised suspicions and prevented me from feeling inclined to purchase it.

How should I express this concisely, strongly, and without being bothersome to refuse?

Hmm… Well…

“…Pass?”

“Oh dear…! Young lady customer, in order for me to show you better items, you need to tell me what you don’t like about this one…”

With a single word of rejection, the world collapses.

Like the quality of a video going down, or like a baseball panel rotating in sequence. In another way, like a dam that’s begun to collapse or a sandcastle that’s become disorganized.

Returning to the virtual waiting room with a gentle, bluish hue like sunlight touching the sea surface, I ponder what to respond to Richard’s lament… until I realized there are many things I can’t say honestly and pulled out my well-used excuse.

“Um, it’s just… the location conditions bother me a little.”

“Kyaaa—!! Is it that again!?”

If you ask what we were doing, we haven’t actually moved in yet, so it’s not a housewarming, rather it’s more like a cyber house tour… right?

I could vividly see him squirming in his chair even without taking off the headgear, but I wasn’t doing this ‘cyber harassment’ because I enjoyed it.

It really is a frustrating situation for both of us.

It’s not easy to nitpick at vague scams.

And yet, if I were to hear, “This kind of deception is annoying, but it’s the seller’s fault… I apologize~” it would not only sound like I was nagging him for no reason, but I wouldn’t have anything to say back either…

Above all else, I didn’t want to reveal to this sensitive-to-money guy that I had the ability to discern such things or that I possessed information that no one else did at this moment. It was too bothersome!

A gentleman must know how to endure with restraint.

The only thing I should disclose at this brokerage is the total budget… No, even if I can’t help it with my identity! I don’t need to carelessly spill any other personal information. That’s what I thought.

Anastasia Valentine, from today on, I will strive to live diligently without getting involved in terrifying conspiracies… or faction fights… or dark political dealings! …Ah, but I always welcome mercenary appointment requests? I need to make a living too.

“Very well…!! For someone with such strong preferences, rather than wasting time showing you ambiguous value items in the 700 to 800 million range, it would be better to introduce you to the secret items that are close to the limit of the 1.2 billion budget.”

“…Mr., have you still got stuff like that left?”

With a click, with the sound, I felt like I had just seen around twenty places that would have a musty smell of a bachelor’s pad… Surely, he wasn’t trying to probe with a malignant property or something, I thought.

As I cut off the neuro connection and raised the device that had been covering my eyes, I suspiciously watched Richard gathering the coat he had hung on the hanger.

He seemed completely unaware that I was debating whether I should get my loyal carebot to turn him upside down and shake him down.

“Oh, let’s get going! The place we’re heading to won’t provide indoor data for security reasons, so it’s faster to visit and see it with your own eyes.”

“Well… is that so…?”

…That sounds awfully corporate.

Whether it’s a secret item or whatever, if we’re headed near a mega-corp headquarters, I might as well just go to another brokerage.

“Welcome to the Engineer Plaza, customer! It’s been a long time since we’ve had a double room combining two general rooms available, so you are extremely lucky!”

Passing through the entrance guarded with multiple layers of identity check barriers.

I passed by the receptionist greeting visitors with a beaming smile.

After recognizing my visitor pass issued as a broker, I exited from the elevator that only operates between the lobby floor and the 36th floor where the vacant space is located to open the entrance.

Richard, who had maintained silence throughout, emitted his first words—an introduction laced with a bit of humor and anticipation for my reaction.

However… the revealed interior view welcomed visitors in a way that made it a reasonable impression. Moreover, it slightly piqued my previously indifferent heart, fitting well with my taste.

“…I see. This is possible, huh?”

[Welcome, customer! May you have a wonderful day in Neo Haven today! 🙂 ]

The smart home system that I had also recently seen welcomed us, but it didn’t exude extravagance or particularly lavish decor.

The aesthetics of newly rich combined with the succinctness of realists. Neatly arranged furniture aiming for the middle ground, a fully equipped kitchen’s plumbing system—though I don’t know how the water bill is paid, the bathroom plumbing must also be in good condition…—and a clean management state with not a trace of the previous owner’s departure.

Above all, my attention was captured by the large wooden bed placed by the window.

Having inadvertently viewed several personal rooms of corporate officials.

I can guarantee, from having hopped around various lodging establishments like I was reviewing all sorts of accommodations, there was ample living space that could be freely decorated according to the owner’s hobby.

The Engineer Plaza…

While it’s a purchasable property, if diligently paying a small management fee, one could enjoy services at a level comparable to that of a high-end lodging facility; I just read this online.

I know what this place is.

It’s just that in Neo Haven, users naturally jump to the more expensive places all at once, as establishing a foothold in the nearby sectors requires several corporate certification quests to be resolved or achievements accumulated…

Since I won’t be living here indulging in wealth and prosperity for a thousand years, the option of purchasing a room that alleviates the burdens of tedious tax payments and maintenance concerns seemed to offer far more advantages than I had expected.

“But… isn’t this a place only current engineers can reside in?”

“What an obvious thing to say. In Enema, only professional technicians are issued blue citizen cards above certain levels, right? I know that everyone dreams of living in such a place, no matter what form of engineer they are!”

– Analyzing… No clear signs of false testimony are evident. However, please be cautious of low trust since my analysis criteria for human emotions are still being calibrated. –

I pressed against the bed mattress with a slight push, offering a guided question, and received a nonchalant answer as to how he knew to bring me here immediately.

Zero, who contributed to the assessment, didn’t think it warranted harsh interrogation, only providing basic advice.

As it is, I don’t particularly think… there are any reasons to suspect it.

With the fact that I am a suspiciously rich girl carrying a weird robot alone, there was always a possibility of assumption anyway. That could happen.

…By the way, I genuinely find it appealing across various aspects.

Would it be okay for Anastasia Makarovich to live in such a super official corporate residence? In fact, just because it isn’t problematic on the Valentine side doesn’t mean there wouldn’t be issues; after all, Makarovich is tied closely to a lot of risky publicity… ugh…

What if name contracts aren’t supported? Like with a ridiculous name like Tin Can Valentine the Zero?!

“Hmm…”

I awkwardly tried to find something to nitpick by digging into the corner cushions and checked the refrigerator temperature and the pressure of the sink.

It wasn’t like my heart immediately melted away upon moving, just that I didn’t yet agree to a purchase just because I didn’t leave a bad review on all the virtual visited properties!

With the air feeling as if I was stepping into a new home, and a bed that resembled the one I used to have in my old rented place—though this one is several times bigger—it felt almost like… like this was a space I should be in, making it hard to utter that I wanted to look around elsewhere.

Sure, there could be criminals here, but at the Engineer Plaza, a basic security system must exist, which would ease the burden on both myself and Zero~

Even though I had never liked that style before, I felt inclined to appreciate the pictures hung on the walls~ Oh, the round-shaped analog wall clock over there was truly nice. It exuded a Korean home vibe all over.

In any case, I kept spotting items that would earn extra points.

Facilities, location, night view, services, good furniture. Plus, they even had wider space, and yet they were ensnaring me like this…! Don’t presume that you can easily plunder my bank account!

– …Isn’t that a bit too stubborn? –

It’s not stubbornness; rather, this house is provocatively challenging my pride! It’s trying to easily conquer my reason!

As I finally equipped the bizarre mindset of ‘since it has come to this, I will look for forced reasons to hate it as much as I can’ and began inspecting every corner of the house.

Before long, I discovered a firmly closed door, unlike the other slightly opened rooms I had seen. What could it be? I had already found an exceptional restroom with both a shower stall and a bathtub.

A simple storage room? A multipurpose room? Or maybe… is there a guest room?

“Oh, that might be a bit messy. There could be some clutter, so I will open it for you instead.”

“Uh? Yes, please do.”

Up until now, having remained discreetly in the background and quietly waiting for the customer to be satisfied, Richard seemed to have read my hesitation and moved first.

I expected it might just be a storage room… but my ordinary disappointment was completely overturned by an overwhelmingly dramatic emotion.

As soon as the sensor detected someone entering, it supplied blood known as current to the darkened, dormant iron tomb, causing waves of light to ripple through the dim interior.

Monitors filled on one side and curved ultra-thin interfaces simultaneously powered on, welcoming the newly arrived person in a grand spectacle. The scale was even larger than the master terminal previously installed in a police situation room.

It was as if it was a gateway built to enter an electronic world, a cradle for skilled users, perhaps?

Though I was indifferent to news announcing the release of new shoes or clothing, I would almost instinctively react to news about new graphic cards or computer peripherals.

However, while I didn’t miss the latest trends, it was practically impossible to purchase them, leaving my experience with longing to scratch that itch vividly. It sent shivers down my spine and twisted my mouth into a grin.

To express this as dirty? You lack house-dweller sensitivity.

A dedicated computer room, a dedicated room! Are you kidding!? How dare you hide such enticing visuals from a bedroom gamer all the way to the end!?

What is this, a toy box? Is it a Christmas present from last year? Huh?

“I also didn’t have the specifics, but… the original owner was said to be a cyber engineer associated with a mega-corp. However, they got caught by an executive for embezzling house loans and management fees a while ago… In the end, these loud devices got classified as second-hand, making it difficult to determine their value, so they would simply pass them along to the actual resident as an ‘option not option.’”

Is that why it doesn’t have much practical value? That didn’t concern me in the least.

They looked cool, they made my heart race just looking at them, and even the cable organization that my ancestors wouldn’t do for me was all neatly arranged; what more could a person wish for?

Later on, if I just stick additional memories or power supplies in that empty space, it will serve perfectly as my dedicated workspace or workshop.

Moreover, fuck, I thought the house itself wasn’t bad. But buying a hideout comes with a dedicated PC room…! Who could resist that?

“If you find it troublesome to deal with, I can contact the flea market to handle disposal…”

“…Let’s sign the contract right now.”

I abruptly cut off Richard’s useless chatter, who seemed unaware that in my mind, I had already delegated the proxy authority.

Take my bank account, you devil.

“Let’s do it today. Should I say, the landlord…? Either way, if you negotiate well with the true owner of this room, I can assure you the highest commission in the industry… On top of that, if purchasing ‘under another name’ is possible, I could include about ten million credits as additional service fees.”

Could you possibly allow for a name transaction? Like a silly name such as Tin Can Valentine the Zero!

“…Ah, yes.”

If that’s what angering him over underestimating my abilities counts as, then I wouldn’t argue that point. Fair enough.

Regardless, the market price for this room, the double room on the 36th floor of the Engineer Plaza, was approximately 1.22 billion.

Confidently, I intended to achieve the great feat of getting that price down to below 1.2 billion. Richard, who dashed out while making phone calls, was not something I felt the need to stop.

I thought there was no need to hinder someone determined to do their job diligently.

And because of a lazy thought that if a professional was filled with enthusiasm, it would lead to positive results.

If, ten minutes later, I were to witness this scene, I would have sincerely advised that in such a large transaction, no matter how much money you have, it’s also crucial to investigate who the ‘seller’ is.

Even if the transaction is legitimate and straightforward, without any risky underground auction involved…

…There could very well be someone I know at the table of negotiations with a very light heart!