Chapter 64

After finishing the experiment, before going out for a long-awaited group dinner.

While the Ogre and the Bisexual Mage were tidying up after a late overtime, the waiting colleagues chatted.

About how the mission was, how the world is these days, what they’ll do in the future…

In the middle of such a conversation, Sonia voiced a question she had been pondering.

“But, you know. I suddenly wondered, why do we conduct these experiments at the headquarters?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“That snail looks safe, but you never know. Other companies do it too. I just wonder why we insist on doing this kind of experiment at the headquarters.”

“Ah.”

Amon nodded at Sonia’s question.

He immediately understood what she was getting at.

It was a question of why the headquarters would take the risk of dungeonization and conduct experiments there.

The Water Buffalo Tanker, who was listening, also nodded.

Amon, who was asked the question, exchanged glances with the Mute Sniper.

The Sniper shrugged his shoulders.

It meant he knew but wanted Amon to explain.

Amon looked at Cash and said,

“I know, but you explain it. I’m not confident I can explain it well.”

“Got it.”

Cash took the baton.

Sonia and the Water Buffalo Tanker looked at Cash with curious eyes.

Why would the headquarters take the risk of dungeonization and conduct such experiments?

The reason was simple.

“Because they’re afraid of being scammed.”

“…Huh?”

“True, corporate incidents are hard for the public to care about. Especially incidents like these, where companies often bribe the media to cover them up.”

“Has anyone ever scammed us?”

“Too many to count. Way too many to even list.”

Before Cash explained, she pointed to Sonia’s wrist and said,

“Let’s say you could lend someone the bracelet infused with your Essence. Ignoring ownership for a moment.”

“Okay.”

Sonia’s gaze turned to the bracelet.

A bracelet coated with Legendary Essence.

In terms of price, it was worth a house or two.

But it also held priceless memories with Amon.

Cash pointed to the bracelet and said,

“Now, let’s say you wanted to research the potential of the Essence. Who would you entrust the bracelet to?”

“I’d probably entrust it to Amon or you.”

“Then could you entrust it to our company’s proxy?”

“No! Are you crazy?”

“It’s the same thing.”

That’s what Cash was getting at.

“The company doesn’t want to conduct risky dungeonization experiments outside the headquarters. But… the problem is there’s no one to trust.”

Core technology research is the lifeline and identity of a Megacorp.

If the technology is powerful enough to turn a Megacorp into a dungeon overnight, it’s usually tied to the company’s fate.

Entrust that to a branch?

Then the branch would take the technology, complete it, and start a new company.

Of course, a company built with such technology would be at Megacorp level or close to it.

Suing such a company would be pointless.

In a world where corporate spies and sabotage are rampant, do you think the law would be fairly applied between corporations?

The absolute principle of Cyberpunk.

The law sides with the strong, and in battles between the strong, it chooses to turn a blind eye.

Copyrights, trademarks, ownership rights.

No matter how much you wave legal documents and recite your rights, the court will look away, and the scamming company will plug its ears and ignore you.

The headquarters has only one option left.

Forceful suppression.

In most cases, suppression is possible.

The problem is the bloodshed that must be endured is beyond imagination.

And other companies won’t just sit idly by while a company is bleeding.

Numerous cases have proven this.

“Research costs are a loss, and to reclaim it, you have to consider bloodshed and invasion.”

Just entrusting dungeonization-risky technology to a branch alone brings such risks.

“Plus, if a dungeon breaks out at the branch. Then, due to dungeon duty laws, the headquarters has to bear the cost of cleaning and managing that branch.”

Considering all these risks, ironically, it’s much less risky for the headquarters to dungeonize.

At least if the company goes down in flames, the lucky executives can survive, fake their disappearances, and run off with the remaining assets.

“That’s why we build labs at the headquarters.”

After Cash’s explanation, Sonia nodded.

It was a very rational reason.

“Aside from that, experiments at branches have a higher chance of dungeonization. Unlike the headquarters, they don’t prioritize safety as much, and security is relatively weaker, so sabotage happens often.”

Such minor reasons were just bonuses.

While Sonia and the Water Buffalo Tanker were expanding their knowledge about dungeons, the researcher couple who had finished their overtime preparations approached.

“All done.”

“Thanks for waiting.”

With the Ogre and the Bisexual Mage joining, the full team of six was complete.

The six headed to the elevator.

“Today, the Executive Director is treating!”

At Amon’s shout, Cash was flustered.

“Hey! Why do you get to decide?!”

“Ah, the Executive Director has a lot of money.”

“Ugh!”

With the six’s boisterous laughter, the elevator doors closed.

—

The day after eating the most delicious meal paid for by someone else’s money.

Cash struggled with a mountain of work in her office, while Amon lounged lazily on the sofa.

There were no special plans for today.

Yet, the reason he was guarding Cash’s office was simple.

“Can my bodyguard really work so casually?”

“But there haven’t been any problems so far, right?”

“Ugh…”

Cash sighed.

The reason Amon became her bodyguard was, of course, because he was trustworthy.

And the reason Amon accepted the bodyguard role was partly because his fixed party disbanded, and partly because of Cash’s request.

Cash looked at Amon.

His lounging figure didn’t seem very reliable as a bodyguard.

Rolling around, occasionally watching videos on his phone, then putting on earphones to listen to hymns.

It was so very Amon-like to be so self-assured even in the Executive Director’s office.

When a few department heads came to deliver documents, he would suddenly straighten up and put on a solemn expression, but his acting was so funny and cute.

Cash wished this peaceful daily life would continue forever.

But…

‘He’s not the type to belong anywhere.’

Amon didn’t belong to the company.

He was her personal bodyguard.

Someone who could leave her at any time.

Originally, Cash had offered Amon the position of Security Chief, but Amon, who didn’t want to be tied down, refused.

Even though his equipment upgrades made him comparable to the Security Chief, Amon wasn’t the type to be bound to one place.

If he wanted stability, he wouldn’t have started as a mercenary in the first place.

He was a soul that craved endless freedom.

– “Just so you know, I’m not cutting ties completely. It’s just that I don’t feel confident taking on that responsibility.”

Hearing that, there was nothing more to say.

Of course, Cash felt regret.

She wanted to keep Amon by her side.

Going to work together, being protected by him while handling tasks, going home together.

A simple but incredibly happy daily life.

But Cash couldn’t bring herself to ask him again.

The bird she loved was one that freely soared the skies and sang.

If she caged the bird, it would no longer be the bird she loved.

‘Sometimes, if you love something, you have to let it go.’

Having seen her mother and Owen as cautionary tales, and having seen the right kind of love from Amon by her side.

Cash decided not to cage Amon.

As she was thinking this, the former Executive Director, her father’s closest confidant, entered her office.

As always, the former Executive Director wore a bright smile.

It was still hard to believe that this man had handled the Security Chief with that expression.

The former Executive Director glanced at Amon and approached Cash.

“Miss. The Chairman has given his permission.”

“Huh? Really?!”

Cash beamed at the former Executive Director’s words.

Amon, curious about what was going on, tried to stay out of it as an outsider.

Then, the former Executive Director said something that couldn’t be ignored.

“Congratulations, Amon.”

At the former Executive Director’s words, Amon’s gaze turned to Cash.

Cash was looking at Amon with a meaningful smile.

In her hand was a piece of paper.

She handed it to Amon.

“Read it.”

Amon’s eyes scanned the paper.

It was a contract stating that the company would unofficially sponsor Amon, the mercenary.

No obligations, but one option.

If the company needed, they could entrust requests to Amon.

In return, one requirement.

If the company faced a crisis, he would help like this time.

Of course, Amon had already planned to help Cash in such situations, so he looked at the paper and Cash with a puzzled expression.

Cash confidently said,

“You’ll accept this, right?”

Amon readily nodded.

Unlike the Security Chief position, this wasn’t a job offer with specific duties, nor was it a leash.

Watching Amon accept the sponsorship, Cash’s smile deepened.

She clearly loved the free bird.

That’s why she didn’t cage it.

But there was no problem in giving the bird food to make it come back often.

A comfortable nest to return to when hungry or tired after freely roaming the skies.

Cash was satisfied with that role.

Moreover…

– “Mom! I’m home!”

– “Honey. I’m home.”

She had seen that the nest was the form of happiness she desired most.

Because she knew that, in the end, the bird returns to the nest.

She decided to wait.

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