Chapter 249

I glare at my opponent in front of me. I stare unflinchingly.

I don’t even bother hiding the fact that I’m on edge and just fixed my gaze on them intensely.

I was caught up in a game… or rather, I had some preconceived notions since I intend to exchange help and hindrance later on in accordance with a specific scenario I want. But I have absolutely no personal regrets about it.

Regrettably, my head started spinning at the opening line that was just a casual suggestion to put in some effort from now on, and the area around my neck felt tight, while my lips were parched due to insufficient hydration…

“…Hey, you. Why are you suddenly picking a fight out of nowhere? Huh?”

“Well, that’s quite something. You’ve expressed it so candidly that I don’t know how to react…!!”

“Uhm…?”

Whether her sharp response to external access was mockery of my uncooperative attitude or simply her way of perceiving my overall disposition, I couldn’t tell.

Or maybe it was the product of the idea that “hackers are inherently socially inept, so why analyze it further?” After maintaining a semblance of calm – or at least I thought I did – I succeeded in responding while she gazed at me in a daze… and then she smiled.

“Did my choice of words bother you that much? Was it annoying to that extent?”

Bang!

It seemed that the ploy to intentionally provoke me was quite evident.

If I mixed in more active gestures here, the purpose of our one-on-one communication might be lost. So instead, I pretended to pick up a random chip from the nearby display and examined it.

“Log of heightened sensations and effective performance records from consuming over 400 kinds of pill-type combat enhancers”… Not bad.

I don’t know why such quasi-drug experiences are bolded into the survival genre, but considering that enemies consume them and charge at you, it’s better to remember them.

However, if there’s no real intent for conversation, I’ll just show my eagerness to fidget around and do my own thing.

What’s this? Interestingly enough, it seems that a lot of effort and thought went into the expression “outsider,” as Martina began to recite the traces left by the hacker codenamed Ivory in a rather friendly tone.

“The name used for citizenship registration is Anastasia Valentine. Although she is listed in the household registers as the granddaughter of Heinrich Valentine, an unofficial citizenship broker operating in Paradise. Considering the height and hair color differences compared to her sister Helena Valentine, and the fact that neither have plastic surgery records, it’s unclear whether there’s any blood relation.

She debuted in the officially sanctioned operation ‘Fat Rat Heist’ and displayed courage by not shying away from frontline combat. There are testimonies that she wiped out a rogue band of mercenaries, and rumors say she even rejected direct scouting offers from corporate representatives, leading to her reputation as a rising star hacker.”

“Ah.”

…No, no, no, wait a minute…!!

I was annoyed that I asked them to discuss seriously but never requested them to dig up someone else’s dark history based on their own research!?

Even if there’s concrete evidence, it’s not particularly pleasant to be dissected in front of someone like taking a personality test… I sighed in dissatisfaction.

Even worse, what kind of new method of torture is it to recite this in front of the person involved!?

But the short, unfortunate exclamation that sprang out reflexively was not enough to halt my actions or my concentration.

From the start, Martina was serious about cataloging someone’s personal profile rather than joking around.

She recited with a solemn expression, chewing over the true implications of her words systematically.

“However, whether there was external pressure or not, shortly after she was employed by the HPPD gate guard. While working alongside her sister, due to an ‘unfortunate accident,’ she lost her family and immediately used the compensation and savings to buy a caretaker robot, then moved to Neo Haven, suggesting a deep emotional wound.”

“That… makes me really curious about who wrote the footnotes sprinkled throughout there…!!”

Ugh.

If it were a document from an animal shelter, it would probably have a cluttered evaluation like “be careful as she might get lonely~,” and I wanted to interject, but once again, I was ignored.

Still, on the positive side, I suppose it wasn’t a long wait for the main point she prepared to come up.

“Currently regarded as one of the top-tier hackers who can operate publicly, she has carried out commissions, and according to rumors, she was briefly affiliated with Enema but quickly left.

However, considering the involvement of Paradise in her real estate acquisition process, there is a high likelihood that she still has some connections remaining, and her erratic movements in the gambling world leave her unpredictable. The fact that the increased purchases of droids seem to come from the black market implies she actively utilizes it. Therefore….”

That’s enough. After saying that all in one breath, Martina slightly tilted her body, which had been standing parallel to the display in front of us, and ended her remarks while deeply observing my complexion.

“Given such a glamorous background, I would infer that the person corresponding to hacker Ivory is either impulsive and reckless, refusing to look at life long-term and behaving randomly… or conversely, she may be a dangerous talent who advances towards a fixed goal, a maverick…”

“…Hehe.”

“Ah, and by the way, given her history of leaving every organization without failing to endure long, she’s probably introverted or outsider-ish; so it’s safe to say she’s very maladaptive to organizational life!” A postscript, but…

In the end, that’s it.

Hey, hacker, who doesn’t know where you came from. I’ve seen your skills pretty well. But I still think someone like you should be detained in Elysium. Don’t just wander around; join us.

Excluding some information I can’t obtain unless I see it with my own eyes, I figured out most of the details and it seems I compiled remnants of records scattered here and there.

This is a problem in this town.

Even if I gather all the evidence and data I once carefully balanced, as long as I live, eat, drink, and breathe within a social system, there are traces that these experts will somehow manage to unearth.

To completely prevent this form of access, I should have used a dual identity as clearly as underground organizations like Five Eyes while also keeping a distance from the black market… but given my limited options, there was nothing much I could do.

As for tracking identities… well, partly my fault for ambiguously blending my physical self with statistical data, preventing a complete separation between the online Anastasia and reality. Um.

“So, is that why you know all this, and you’re asking me to join you?”

“If you have no special beliefs, I can appreciate your talent… and also offer the highest level of pay. Wouldn’t it be happier for both of us to work in a place surrounded by similar folks?”

“…You evaluated me as a potentially dangerous individual, didn’t you? Is it really okay for a large company like Elysium to just offer this to anyone?”

“There are other factors to consider as well. Usually, a cute type who gets visibly angry and whose face shows her frustration isn’t typically a devious betrayer or mastermind. Plus, I just confirmed that the hidden skills are far from a mere inference of being ‘good.'”

Ugh. I pulled back my hand from touching the edges of the packaged chip case, trying to ease the tension that had been heavily focused on Martina.

What is that thing?

“Confirmation?” Are you talking about that malicious chunk of code I shot out as part of the cyberware while throwing in a chat as well?

Although my firewall did neutralize it at first, isn’t it more common for a stranger to click on a connection link sent out of nowhere because it looks interesting?

While I shot her a disdainful glare, laden with the intent that it would be strange to reward that with extra points, she pointed out a flaw in my premise.

“I never said I was affiliated with Elysium, nor did I reveal my name, yet you’re already making it sound like you’ve seen through my base. That can’t just be coincidence.”

“Huh…?”

…What the hell?

Whether Martina lamented about us players trying to play too dull with one another while gently patting her chest or not.

I was busy going back over the flow of the conversation we just had step by step from the beginning.

Really? No way, seriously? Even though the other party must have purposefully rubbed it in to induce confusion, did I miss that while the wave of information and black history rushed in, and ended up making the first mistake?

Ugh, damn…

I am such a fool for trying to converse and weave my way out with someone who’s so adept at deceiving people.

“This straightforward attitude is what made me a renowned genius gambler; if she has an apt level of intuition and skill to compensate for that, it’s somewhat understandable… I just can’t fathom how she applied it.”

“Thanks, I really appreciate the compliment. Yes…!”

I am absolutely not angry at all.

I’m just a bit parched, so my responses are coming out in fits and starts.

With the thought of using ‘this’ if I didn’t get the gist, I cast a glance at Zero, the embodiment of coercive measures, and then stated one word at a time, letting her know that I was done joking around, and she straightened her posture.

“Then shall I make a formal request? It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Anastasia. As you might have guessed, I’m Martina Cryptobohara, affiliated with the Elysium Counterintelligence Agency. My superiors highly value your capability as a cyber engineer and your bravery as a hacker and would like to extend a great offer. So, how about it? Do you have some time?”

…Well, I absolutely refuse!