Chapter 250

Let’s summarize it briefly.

A “scout list” has been distributed among undercover agents, including Martina, who are working in various places. I have been recognized as a particularly interesting outsider, starting with personality assessments and granting significant discretion to on-site contacts.

It seems that the developer has a solid foundation based on the customized cyberware firewall and the time spent in the internal office. Regardless of experience, the ability to quickly discern one’s hidden identity suggests exceptional hacking skills, prompting a swift decision!

…I can’t say for certain about the former, but the latter was simply a pure mistake born from prior knowledge, not a calculated provocation.

Oh, were the employees on-site considering that skilled individuals would recognize the reason for revealing their identity to the protagonist in the game as a process of building connections?

Hmm… does that make sense?

“Starting with the boss, there are plenty of professional programmers around here. Didn’t you act a bit recklessly?”

“Although the priority for protection might be set low, my identity is under the management of Elysium Data Protection.”

The owner, Little Hemet, is an expert in robotics and electronic engineering, making it difficult for him to navigate this alone… In fact, those who figured it out are already securing positions at headquarters and branches, which perhaps has benefitted me to some extent.

Forget the notion that everyone can act like you. It’s not that I’m particularly capable; it’s simply that you were careless… This rationale was subtly shifting focus, but it fell on deaf ears when I received that response.

Moreover, boasting about the security of a subsidiary and stating, “Those who recognized me are already working hard at Elysium,” was quite something!

You didn’t just come to engage in small talk or reconnaissance, did you? You approached me right away to eliminate a promising newbie.

This was something that wasn’t mentioned in the game at all; hence, I had no idea.

Somehow, aside from Martina, who possesses a reputation, there seemed to be a lacking talent pool. If she had been headhunting useful individuals for Elysium, it would make sense.

How could someone merely a field agent possess such authority and connections…!

“…How ridiculous. What if a fool, who carelessly sticks their nose in and easily acknowledges things, reveals their identity? What will happen? Will they be lynched by those harbored grudges against Elysium?”

“If rumors spread, I’d have to quickly change my face with plastic surgery and move to a desk job, hiding away. But most seem to simply pay more attention to what I have to say rather than engage in such meaningless and worrying actions.”

As if to ask if I had any clever thoughts of my own, I shook my head at Martina, who was bending over and peering around.

There’s no need to create unnecessary enemies.

…Ah, so that’s why she has been able to function steadily in this vicinity for years? Generally, a capable hacker would have much to lose if things went wrong, whether or not they had assets. Huh.

“Alright, fine. That’s good. Your conduct isn’t something I’ll step in to meddle with, but what do you mean by saying that ‘I’ should be within the corporate fence?”

“It’s troubling that talented individuals like you roll around without a life goal, potentially veering off track or dying in some unknown alleyway. Wouldn’t that be a significant loss for Elysium as well?”

The words flowed like smooth water, but still lacking explanations for her earlier lengthy introduction and suspicious promotional phrases about joining a grand order, I maintained my stance that I would leave if she kept babbling.

No, I intended to maintain it. Until the ominous flame flickering in Martina’s gaze extinguished before I had regained my composure.

“…Broker, Gunner, Pointman, Solo. Ultimately, mercenaries and outlaws who make a living from combat or problem-solving cannot win against groups, but against many examples, a hacker is a different matter.

Monstrous beings with the potential to create catastrophic singularities like scientists possessing immense foundational technologies are hidden everywhere, potentially devastating the very foundations of our society… I believe it’s a happier ending for everyone to be within a widely accepted fence.”

Hatred, awe, fear, admiration. She pressed me cautiously, not letting go of doubt and tension, which was different from any of those emotions, as if she was a technician trying to disarm a living biological time bomb.

“Have you ever felt the fear of dying in this mercenary life one day? Imagining your head flying off at the hands of contractors hired by an enemy who barges in through the door? From the looks of it, you seem to be terribly safety-conscious, circling around like a droid.”

“…Well.”

I don’t know if she intended to scare off a timid hacker to reel me in, but for someone with the ordinary mindset of a commoner like me, it was an irritating stimulus, evoking memories from the early stages of reincarnation.

Walls of hotels that couldn’t even provide proper protection… distant gunshots echoing from alleys each night, unknown gazes that induce body stiffness, shadows swaying in the light.

They say that music genres associated with synthwave like cyberpunk were born out of longing for romance, freedom, and end-of-century emotions, right?

Freedom and romance can also be described as negligence and lawlessness. The cityscape, once beautiful from afar, begins to feel like torture for the eyes and a trap filled with various threats once seen from the inside.

As of now, if anything were to happen to me, the connections and good people I’ve accumulated would react excessively…

– …Should I suppress it? –

Why is this fool here?

I briefly calmed my agitated heart by secretly communicating with Zero, but Martina took a step closer, seemingly determined to extract a clear answer before I regained my composure.

“The scout proposal you might have heard from elsewhere might be a bit different in nature or nuance, which could be confusing. Instead of promising simple jobs or a modest level of wealth, wouldn’t it be better to offer a sheltered place where you won’t be pointed at?”

“……”

After all, the luxuries I wished to indulge in would have surely bored me during solitary living… While I left the second half unspoken, the main idea had been conveyed clearly.

It was such an attractive proposal that it’s understandable why no one had reportedly declined after hearing this much. Even if I turned her down now under the pretext of needing more time, I’d likely return to meet her once I sorted through my thoughts later.

In an ever-changing environment, even network apparitions adapting better than anyone else seek stability and are afraid of change.

If a mega corp scout is trying to lure you into Elysium, praising your abilities and enticing you to contribute to a better future, even if an explicit salary isn’t mentioned right away, it serves to ease a hacker’s desire for recognition and solitude that has lingered for half a lifetime.

Elysium… To be honest, even for someone who has explored countless possibilities that the average person cannot even imagine, it remains an unknown territory.

Those who outwardly pretend to be clean are often far scarier behind the scenes. Even Enema, which pledges to take responsibility for human healthcare, has sharply defined lines of black and white, public and private. Those who can jump out of bed to deal with brain-related tasks must be even more intense.

…After all, those friends who openly say things like, “Instead of trying to fix the already screwed-up Earth ecosystem, why not all hold hands and happily live in a virtual world?” are probably more ridiculous.

But still.

“Martina… I didn’t think you were that fervent about corporate beliefs.”

“I’m in a position where I receive my salary based on that; what’s wrong with being obedient to commands and respecting the company’s motto?”

She replied cheerfully and pretended to busy herself with product selection, taking measured steps toward me.

Letting out words in a volume just enough to communicate within our mouths, she seemed worried about who might overhear.

“…What’s your true intention?”

“If I can scout you, the incentives will surely come out in millions, right?”

I chuckled, and over there, she seemed to interpret the conversation as going well, returning a soft smile.

Even though she was, in essence, just another hacker, she managed to evoke a sense of camaraderie to the point I felt like applauding her almost textbook manner of captivating people.

It’s true that the lower-tier employees often lack connection with the ideals of the higher-ups, but her case was a carefully crafted performance, and those words shouldn’t be taken at face value.

“Oh, if expenses are high and you want something immediately, I could even deduct more than half from my share? How about it? There’s a great restaurant nearby where we can discuss it calmly?”

Just like a tiger cub grows to be a tiger, she too is a spider making this metropolis her territory. If she could establish recognizable faces in various sectors, her willingness to be indebted even with a bit of credit was refreshing.

This is fun.

While the specific details are still shrouded in mystery, I can follow her until sign the contract without getting trapped. The fact that the offer came from a charming woman adds a layer of reason to consider it.

If I wanted to win her favor, I’d say I’ve done it right.

Though thinking of achieving goals through relational business could remind me of Mr. K and annoy me, she’s actually a character who would be satisfied and retire if the related quests go smoothly.

However, personally, I’d prefer to naturally intertwine down the line rather than getting entangled like this. Hmm…

…No, wait. Let’s think about this from another angle.

Given that Martina is an on-site agent who has been granted all discretion, if I play that card well, wouldn’t Elysium’s tracking become a tad looser for months?

After all, the firm clearly views private hackers as potential threats. If I can manipulate the pace of their footsteps and prepare for potential situations, it wouldn’t be a bad idea at all.

“Job offer…? A threat? In any case! I heard your advice about operating under Elysium’s protection clearly. I’ll review it positively when I return. So, could you tell the higher-ups not to worry? …Ah! On the condition that you also prepare a useful gift on the way out.”

“Huh… I think Miss Anastasia seems like a type that shouldn’t exchange mere verbal agreements and contact information.”

“Then. I genuinely want to maintain a good relationship with you, so I’ll offer the best consideration I can give you right now.”

Despite being completely flustered, it was noticeable that her shoulders were twitching occasionally, seemingly pulled by the inherent magic of the word ‘gift.’

What should I do? Should I stretch out my hand with an open palm?

Or is she going to send something via cyberware, like a true hacker?

However, based on the crucial nature of my guarantee, I knew that it was something far more significant than either of those options.

“Just let the odd guy dressed in tracksuits covered in Oni patterns know to avoid touching me if they try to abduct me later.”

“……………………..What does that mean?”

A reaction closer to rigidity or petrification. After a moment, a rebooted Martina scanned the surroundings sharply before ultimately fixing her eyes on one location.

I merely recited what Zero informed me of, after all.

Um… To be precise, from across the survival corner, past the main counter, beyond the front door, into the shadows of an alley across the main road?

Regardless, such an intense interest from that distance was quickly noticeable.

It seems the implants embedded in her eyes are incredibly effective. Hmm… I envy her, being able to pick up such cues on this street.

“Wait a minute! Didn’t you just say you wanted to maintain a good relationship!?”

“Yeah, so I’m preparing an escape route to ensure you can get out unharmed, right?”

Oh, despite everything, seeing a creature directly related to those urban myths caused that usually sturdy grin to waver.

She frantically muttered, wiping cold sweat that seemed to have arisen from nowhere, but I reassured her, signaling that I was fine.

Good. This way, even if she refuses to cooperate, Elysium will be in chaos with something like, “Hey, why is Enema popping up here!”

Those poor dinosaurs can struggle with territorial battles amongst themselves without fretting over a mere hacker like me. Got it?

But that was a bit unexpected.

I thought that if I pressed with a feeling like, “What about my consideration?” she would respond with something like, “How considerate to pay attention to this point… I must take more time to approach cautiously!”

Was my expectation too one-sided? Or could it be…?

“Just in case, I’d like to clarify that ‘that’ isn’t exactly a friend operating under my commands. If I had to classify it, it’d be more similar to a natural disaster.”

“That, in turn, doesn’t guarantee my safety if some bad things happen, does it?!”

“…Could I correct that to say it’s a stalker who surprisingly listens to requests to some degree?”

Whack…!!

Oh dear. It seemed she wanted to stop talking, thinking this was enough chatter for a first meeting. She brusquely placed the chip case she was holding on the shelf and turned her back.

It might have been a bittersweet reaction, but it’s no wonder that I ended up leaving with the ambiguous answer of “pending” in my hands.

However, if we succeeded in buying the time we aimed for, we would have achieved the best outcome. It could be said that we passed through the immediate danger safely.

“Anastasia… just you wait. I’ll definitely repay the debt from today…!”

“…Huh?”

At least until the moment she turned only her head over her shoulder, grinding her teeth in a tearful state, I thought that.

This doesn’t seem like a pleasant atmosphere for parting, does it? It sounds more like a negative expression of wanting to repay a debt. Excuse me?

Crash!!

“Damn it! Why are you knocking over innocent signboards!?”

I didn’t even have time to intervene.

Even though it was a large store with an upper and lower floor, perhaps due to theft issues, the only customer exit aside from the staff-only back door was the main entrance.

Martina bolted out the door, knocking over all the signboards placed near the entrance and disappeared around the corner.

A black silhouette darted down a six-lane road in a couple of leaps, catching the attention of all around as they chased madly behind.

In the end, what remained was the disgruntled Hemet cursing about how the entrance had become a mess, while watchful employees cautiously began tidying up.

What more could I do in such a situation? I just pretended it was none of my business.

…I’ll have to explain separately to her.

While I wouldn’t interrogate every Masanari that appears on my radar simply for being someone I exchanged words with, our Elysium scout had been suspiciously lingering nearby for too long.

If there seemed to be a chase going on while I hurriedly finished shopping, I’d need to do my utmost to intervene.

– Both of you have already exited the detection range. However, if you wish, I can activate other nearby devices that are currently being maintained… –

“…Okay. Let’s do that later!”

As soon as I heard that the chase needed to begin, I stretched and tossed my personal contact into the still open one-to-one channel.

Let’s put complexities aside for now. Whether it’s reaching out to me when they really find themselves in a corner, or waiting for upper management’s orders before things escalate into a proper issue, either way is fine.

This is precisely why corporate folks are terrifying. There’s no middle ground whatsoever.

“Sigh…”

Having gone through all that, I felt quite liberated.

With the troublesome encounter disappearing along with the boundaries of my private life (not that I wanted them), I now had the shop owner on my side, so there was nothing to worry about.

Even those who unnecessarily probe into others’ affairs have been lured outside by the commotion, allowing me to shop leisurely.

Right, this time, I’ll buy that annoying chip related to marksmanship or combat techniques and check visually for suitable spots where a large event might occur nearby before resting~ right at that moment.

“What? Why is the Circuit Refinery building so small and shabby? I don’t think I’ve come to the wrong place… Ugh. Whatever. As long as the price is reasonable for my situation, why bother complaining….”

“…”

…What a long-lost, nostalgic language I’ve not heard for ages.

The abrupt syllables and jagged pronunciations tickled my eardrums in my native language, Korean.

Thus, it was utterly absurd that just earlier I had muttered about the excessive curiosity of the world when my entire focus got locked onto a presumed Korean lingering by the shop entrance.