Chapter 35

Buzz buzz…

– What? What’s going on?

The dungeon entrance, always bustling with people.

Even at night, the dungeon entrance was packed with adventurers.

Just another ordinary day.

But that day was a bit different.

Whoosh!!

“Move aside! It’s D4C!! Everyone, step back!!”

A flying vehicle landed at the dungeon entrance, and agents poured out.

Clad in ultra-high-grade bulletproof visors and NIJ Level 5 armor, the agents immediately went on high alert as soon as they stepped out of the vehicle.

The agents scanned the area with a menacing aura.

The vehicle projected a no-entry line, and they aimed their taser cannons, ready to subdue anyone who crossed it.

On their arms and the vehicle was a red cross logo with white letters inside:

D4C

Dangerous & Difficult & Dirty Deeds For Cost

No matter how dangerous, difficult, or dirty. If the price is right, they’ll do it.

At first glance, it sounded like some shady corporation, but surprisingly, this was a medical organization.

When a client’s life is in danger, information is automatically transmitted, and if they don’t arrive within 3 minutes of the call, they refund 10% for every minute over. A groundbreaking company.

At the same time, it was a company most adventurers, who lived day-to-day flirting with death, would never see in their lifetime.

“I can’t believe I’m seeing D4C at the dungeon entrance in my lifetime,” muttered one adventurer.

The other adventurers nearby nodded in agreement.

“Did some top-tier adventurer get themselves killed or something?”

The adventurers speculated as they watched D4C.

Despite blatantly parking their vehicle at the entrance and blocking anyone from entering the dungeon, no one dared to protest.

D4C was fiercely loyal to their clients, but equally ruthless to anyone who interfered with their rescue missions.

In the past, there was an incident where D4C clashed with Hod because a terrorist they were suppressing happened to be a D4C client. Both forces were wiped out in the absurd confrontation, a testament to their overwhelming power.

[We’re picking up the client’s signal! They’re coming out of the dungeon!]

Upon receiving the information from the Networker, the agents immediately began setting up a makeshift operating room inside the parked transport vehicle.

Soon, a group emerged from the dungeon entrance.

“Help!! Please help!!”

Amon, at the front of the five-person group, waved his phone frantically.

Amon, relatively unscathed, was carrying Even, who had blonde hair.

Tori, whose eyes were gone but whose arms were intact, was carrying the mage Paul.

Hail, who had lost both arms, was waddling behind like a duck.

The D4C agents cross-checked the phone’s location and confirmed the client before rushing out.

“Rescue team here! We’ve identified four in need of assistance!”

In a hurried yet polite tone, they took over the injured.

First, they took the mage Paul and Even.

“Abdominal injury confirmed! Report vitals!”

“Pulse at 25!! We’ve got AA and Perfo here!”

“Proceed with surgery immediately!”

“This one’s got a speedware short!”

“Blocking and reincarnation incoming!”

After handing over the two, they immediately began treating Tori and Hail, who were less critical.

As soon as he handed over the four to the agents, Amon knelt on the ground, retching.

“Ugh!!”

He had run to the mid-boss room, fought immediately, and then carried an adult back out after the battle.

His heart was screaming for mercy.

“Gag! Ugh!! Gag!”

Clang, clatter…

While Amon was still retching, the equipment he and his party had been carrying fell from his body.

Expensive swords, daggers, shotguns, grenades, and more.

The mercenaries’ eyes gleamed with greed as they saw the items rolling out of Amon’s body.

Most didn’t act on it, but a few couldn’t resist.

‘No one will notice anyway.’

Taking advantage of the chaos, they reached for Amon and his party’s equipment.

That’s when it happened.

“Get your filthy hands off, you bastard!”

The agent, who had been polite to the party just a second ago, suddenly turned hostile and aimed at the mercenary’s forehead.

“Eek!”

The mercenary turned pale and disappeared into the crowd.

Seeing this, the agent gestured, and the other agents neatly packed the scattered equipment into cases.

This was a ‘service’ provided as part of the rescue mission, as clients’ property and assets were also part of the rescue package.

However, the purpose of this service wasn’t entirely out of love for the clients.

It was also to seize the assets or equipment if the client couldn’t pay.

In other words, it could become their future asset, so they protected it meticulously.

While rescuing the four, the team leader rubbed his hands together and approached Amon.

“Sir, how would you like to handle the payment?”

It didn’t matter if he didn’t have the money.

They could just take the patients’ implants.

And if that wasn’t enough… well, they could always harvest some organs.

This was why D4C was also known as the legal scavengers.

Fortunately, Amon had enough money to avoid becoming a scavenger’s target.

“Four people, so that’s $100,000, right?”

“Yes. We also offer installment plans.”

“I’ll pay in full.”

Amon’s hand trembled slightly as he handed over his phone.

Even though Amon was relatively well-off, $100,000 wasn’t pocket change.

But still…

‘You can’t put a price on life.’

Repeating that it was a worthwhile expense, he boldly opened the payment app.

The leader scanned the code on the app screen, and the payment was completed in an instant.

Ding!

A notification popped up on Amon’s phone.

“Payment confirmed, sir. We’ll do everything to save your friends.”

The leader then recited the terms of the service.

The arrival time was 2 minutes and 28 seconds, so no refunds.

If a patient dies, they refund 30% of the dispatch fee per patient.

Hospitalization costs are separate, and so on.

Though it felt like he was being skinned alive, Amon listened carefully to the terms.

After explaining the terms, the leader briefly scanned Amon’s body.

Then he handed him a regeneration ointment and a bottle of water.

Amon declined, looking disgusted.

“I’m fine. Please take care of my friends.”

It was his way of saying he didn’t want to incur additional costs.

Understanding this, the leader smiled warmly.

“The water and ointment are complimentary for the client’s guardian. If you need sugar, we also offer glucose candies. Also free.”

Amon reluctantly took the water and rinsed his mouth.

As Amon regained his composure thanks to the water, the leader suggested he board the flying vehicle.

“Guardian accompaniment is a basic option.”

Only after confirming that this was also free did Amon board the transport vehicle.

The vehicle carrying the two critical patients had already left, and Amon joined the one with the less critical patients.

As the vehicle door closed, a sense of weightlessness set in.

‘Paying in full was the right call.’

As soon as they confirmed his ability to pay, the kindness flowed.

It was a world that was endlessly kind to those with money.

But Amon wasn’t feeling particularly cheerful.

As Amon’s body swayed slightly, the leader sitting next to him pushed a tablet toward him.

“Sir…”

“What is it?”

“We’ve confirmed that you’re subscribed to our premium package. This package includes discounts on dispatch and hospitalization fees for guardians as well.”

“Ah, right.”

Only then did Amon remember that his subscription was compatible.

In this world where getting shot on the street was a daily occurrence, subscribing to D4C was common sense if you had the money.

Amon had signed up for the premium package with Sonia as soon as he got the money.

“Then apply the discount, please.”

“Understood. And since this is your first time using our service…”

The leader manipulated the tablet and carefully handed it over.

“You reported this incident via phone. But according to our internal statistics, users with 24/7 monitoring implants have a 20% lower mortality rate compared to phone users…”

“I’m not getting an implant.”

“Ah, if cyberware makes you uncomfortable, we also offer compatibility with magic tattoos.”

“No, I’m fine.”

It wasn’t about cyberware or tattoos.

In the end, D4C was just another megacorp.

24/7 monitoring meant collecting everything from private life to biometric and magic power data, which Amon absolutely refused.

“Then how about a smartwatch…”

“No, thanks.”

The leader continued to persistently pitch various products to Amon.

While patients were dying right next to him, he was pushing product subscriptions.

‘Damn cyberpunk.’

Of course, he understood.

From D4C’s perspective, this leader was just a cog in the machine, and he had to meet his quotas.

But it was hard not to feel a sense of misanthropy.

Soon after, Amon arrived at the hospital in just 3 minutes.

The entire conversation with the leader had been about products.

Whether the patients would be okay, or if Amon had any discomfort.

There was no heartfelt conversation.

Just an attitude of ‘you paid, so we’ll provide the service.’

The indifference to life made Amon feel a deep sense of disillusionment.

Far from the superiority money was supposed to bring, the coldness was suffocating.

But even in that coldness, Amon held onto his conviction.

“Thank you.”

A rare expression of gratitude in this world.

Even though he had paid a hefty sum for the service, they were still his saviors.

Amon bowed his head to the agents.

“Thanks to you, we’re alive.”

The agents paused for a moment at Amon’s gratitude.

Their expressions were hidden behind dark visors.

The leader, the only one without a visor, stared at Amon blankly before suddenly biting his lip.

He turned off the camera on his chest and spoke.

“The patients will be fine.”

“Thank you again.”

Amon bowed once more to the agents and headed into the hospital.

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