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Chapter 22
Chapter 22 : It starts now (5)
It was true that Red Clot, a mere gang, was privately owning a part of the Lower Sector. Although crude, they were equipped with their own checkpoints.
A tattered and unsightly red flag was fluttering. No, looking closely, it was just pieces of cloth patched together. That appearance was nothing more than child's play.
‘Other things are the same too.’
Obstacles embarrassing to call barricades were blocking the path. Naturally, they couldn't be military equipment. They were just structures welded haphazardly, smeared with paint to mimic the look.
Е̂ n ǔ m̂ а̀ .і d̈
“Hey, hey, show some manners when visiting someone else's territory!”
“When setting foot in the land of friendship and romance, prove the qualification befitting it!”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
These guys, who looked like their screws were loose to the point of being rusty, must be Red Clot's members. I couldn't have come to the wrong place. That made it even harder to understand. Because the atmosphere was distinctly different from what I had thought.
“If you fail to prove your qualification... what came next?”
“I told you to memorize the script, you stupid bastard!”
“The writing was all smudged so I couldn't even recognize it, damn it!”
Ё n̂ ũ.m̃a . і̃d̊
Before long, the guys started arguing amongst themselves. Was there even a script? It seemed they had prepared a cringe-worthy play.
“Before I beat up your ugly noses, you'd better guide me to Ragas.”
At those words, silence followed and gazes focused on me. Although the atmosphere lacked seriousness, the guns they held were not fake. Even at a glance, they were properly maintained.
‘They are guys who have killed people before.’
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It's only intuition, but it wouldn't be wrong. Their attitude toward me, who didn't play along, changed distinctly. They wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger.
I didn't want to deal with these idiots seriously. Although I felt that way, I couldn't ruin the job by being swayed by trivial emotions.
Е̊ṅù m̀а̃
“I don't want a disturbance. Saying it once again, I came here as Kyron Lee's agent. Like a villain visiting the land of friendship and romance.”
I nodded my head expressing intent to surrender. It seemed like a decent line. It would be best if they didn't expect more from me.
“Oh, a villain!”
“Right, right! So you were a villain!”
Although I had a memory of revealing my identity just a moment ago, it seemed that was solely my perspective. If they were satisfied, isn't that enough? Thinking that, I was also an idiot.
“Then entry is even more impossible!”
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CLICK!
Two gun muzzles aimed at me simultaneously. Are they trying to check the limit of my patience? Or did Kyron Lee not convey it properly? Just as all sorts of distracting thoughts were about to mix together. Busy footsteps echoed from not far away and gradually got closer.
“Haa, haa! This person is the guest, that's right!”
A man looking quite frail fixed his crooked glasses and caught his rough breath.
“Tsk tsk, becoming exhausted like this as a man!”
“I told you if you do rough and fierce training regularly, you can become like us, Eddie!”
Ẁ ëb̂ n о̂ṽе́l Е nûm̀.а̂
The person called Eddie waved his hands in the air instead of answering. If nothing else, they are saying something correct for the first time. Because his stamina looked pitifully lacking.
“...Mr. Ragas! Told the two of you! But! Just in case... told me to go!”
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Interpreting the incoherent words that followed immediately, my visit was indeed scheduled. The two idiots aspiring to be actors just forgot.
“Did you hear that?”
“I don't know, don't remember.”
It was amazing that they kept these things as sentries. It's just fortunate that someone who looks normal came, even if belatedly.
W е b̊ nо̆v́ě l Е n̈ um̀ á
***
Life at the bottom is bound to stink. Because all sorts of impurities gather and no one tries to clean them up. However, the area occupied by Red Clot was quite different.
‘An organized atmosphere.’
It wasn't a general slum riddled with malice. Even common junkies were not seen. Instead of provocative soliciting, prostitutes were laughing and chatting, and the cleanliness of entertainment establishments created an awkwardness difficult to describe.
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“Is it originally like this?”
“It looks strange to outsiders.”
Е n ǔ m а . i d
The one who answered my question was Eddie. He said he was instructed to guide me.
“So please refrain from actions that stand out as much as possible. Since it must have taken a long time to come here. Not that it's my place to say, but since it will be a wasted trip anyway.”
Unlike when I first saw him, his tone was strangely prickly. For a weakling who can't even run properly. Surprisingly, he must be used to this situation.
“It seems you also guided Kyron Lee's agents who visited before?”
“Since there isn't a suitable person.”
“That's understandable.”
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Just looking at the guys standing guard proved that. Although they looked quite lacking, they must be guys with some influence here. It would be troublesome if I stupidly started a dispute.
“Even so, you'd better not think of harming me. Everyone is just not showing it, but they won't be pleased with your existence.”
That was a part I was also aware of. Because there were many subtly conscious of this side. Even those who didn't look like gangs had a similar air.
‘At this point, I am curious.’
About what kind of human is the focal point that maintains this level of solidarity.
“Mr. Ragas will be waiting here.”
Е̄n̊u̇ m.á
“It was a kind guide.”
CREAK.
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The place we arrived at was a decent lounge bar. It wasn't a bad environment. Because they didn't pay attention to me, distracted by loud music.
‘Is that guy Ragas?’
I had received a heads-up about this. They said he was big. Bigger than I thought. It was an insincere explanation, but looking now, it was an appropriate expression.
“Kuhaha! So it's you, the one sent by the money grubber!”
Еń um а́ . i.d
“For now, yes.”
SQUEAK, SQUEAK.
Irregular noise occurred every time Ragas laughed and moved his body. His original build must be considerable too, but his physique looked even larger due to the exoskeleton suit padded on.
‘Must be uncomfortable.’
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Strengthening Cyberware is difficult to commercialize in many ways. Because it must start with mastering the Mana Core, the driving force that can draw out functions most efficiently.
Of course, nuclear fusion fuel or high-density storage materials can also be used. However, it's not cost-effective. Since separate resources must be consumed eventually.
Е̇ ńŭ m a . і d̂
Naturally, the financial power of a human in the Lower Sector cannot even dream of it. At best, modifying cheap daily-use Cyberware is the best they can do, but even that cannot compare to Strengthening ones. Just like Kyron Lee, who is an example of that, was defeated by me in vain.
‘In terms of armed force, this side would have the advantage.’
Choosing an exoskeleton was a wise choice. Because it maximizes armed force solely based on the user's athletic ability, the required energy is low. With a giant like this, decent efficiency would come out.
“Are they using tiny things like you these days?”
“You are just damn huge.”
“Kuhaha! You're much better than the guys who came until now!”
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Saying that, Ragas waved his hand toward the bartender.
“Give me the usual! And for this side...”
“Same thing...”
“Bring out a fruit juice or something!”
Come to think of it, I am not an adult yet. Therefore, the damn synthetic drink mimicking taste would be suitable. Recently, I seem to receive this kind of treatment particularly often.
“You won't regret it! More than that, for what reason are you running errands for the money grubber? Is your family held hostage? If not that, do you have a massive debt?”
W̌ е̄ b̊ ǹ ov̄ ё l̂ Еn ŭ m̃_a.
Looking at it, he didn't seem to be talking nonsense. Because the Kyron Lee I know would drag in those with nowhere to go using such methods too.
“It's cooperation.”
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“Haha! Putting on airs!”
Not long after, the ordered drinks were placed on the table. Ragas gulped down the liquor contained in a glass as big as a face with an overwhelming momentum. It was a speed that would show the bottom soon.
“Kuh, it's good! You taste it quickly too! There's no poison, so don't worry!”
They said those who came here for the role of agent until now did not return. But he wasn't a human who would pull clumsy tricks. If he were going to do that, he wouldn't have let me inside in the first place.
Wê b̆ nòṽе l̂ Е̄n ú m̀ а
“...Mm?”
“Awesome, right?”
I have always consumed only food pursuing efficiency, focusing on nutrition. There is no special meaning. It just means the fruit juice is that delicious.
“It's not mimicking the taste, it contains natural fruit grown directly using soil. It's hard to make!”
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If it's fruit, it is also being produced through artificial cultivation. Time consumption is much less and it's ahead in overall nutrition too. Of course, it forms a price burdensome for humans in the Lower Sector.
“Going out of your way to suffer.”
Еñ ü m â
“It's that delicious!”
I decided not to refute this part. Because it is a fact as it is. To the extent that my hand reached out naturally again.
“Pleasure without romance has no value. The fruit juice you drank is the same. The order of this place is like that.”
Honestly speaking, I don't know what he means. I just realized there was a reason why the guys standing guard were talking nonsense.
“Right, killing people and unauthorized occupation with romance.”
“The more I look, the feistier you are!”
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Pointing out things is usually useless to someone with firm convictions. Ragas was that kind of category. A human deviating from universal ideology, with clear standards of his own.
“If it's like that, the revered knights are no different! But at least we didn't intentionally harm someone to enforce our will! Because having to persuade others is not romance!”
It's nonsense passing as sophistry. But on the one hand, I felt like I could understand the meaning contained in those words.
Red Clot probably never fought to expand their territory. They just stood up when there were those threatening themselves and those around them.
Therefore, like the words just before, the existence called knights might be closer to evil instead.
“...So, know that the fruit juice given to you is also just romance.”
W̊ еb̈n о̆ v е l̃. Е ǹ ůmа́
Goodwill is not pretense. Until now, all negotiations must have proceeded in this way. All agents would have received kind treatment. This is not persuasion, but merely minimum courtesy.
“You had no will to negotiate from the beginning.”
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“Right, if we give you guys the right to supply goods, you'll just deal with dirty synthetic drugs. We don't need such things.”
The fact that it was a negotiation for supply rights was something I just learned. I wasn't really trying to perform the role of an agent, and Kyron Lee, knowing that, also didn't need to reveal the details of the business.
“There are two choices given to you. Finish the fruit juice filled with sincerity to the bottom and leave quietly, or stupidly make enemies of everyone here. You'd better not hope for mercy. Because there will be no one opposing this.”
These words wouldn't be a bluff. Probably, Kyron Lee's agents who visited here until now received the same proposal as me and chose the latter. The possibility is high that they became arrogant with the opponent's goodwill on their back.
Ӗ ṅ um а. і̆ ḋ
‘Irrationality created by morality.’
Arranging the meeting in a bustling place was likely for that reason. Usually, one might refuse this situation itself. However, Ragas welcomed me with his own kind of hospitality.
If a problem arises here, the cause lies with me. Because the crowd will perceive it that way. Even if murder happens right now, Ragas's support will rather become more solid.
‘...Having to persuade is not romance, is it?’
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The glass of juice in my hand was like the identity of this place. They say distinguishing beneficial insects and pests is necessary for fruit to bear proper results. And to confirm this, a procedure of boldly giving away a part of what one has is needed.
Even if judged harmless, there is no need to remove them. Probably, the current me is placed in that position. If judged as a pest, there is no reason to show goodwill.
Е̄n̊ u mа
It would be better to redefine the evaluation of Ragas. The foundation he has built is solid. This man wasn't something like a dull pacifist.
“Have you chosen?”
“Yeah.”
CLACK.
I placed the empty glass on the table. Through the surface revealing the inside, pieces of fruit flesh remained and flowed down thickly.
“Gratitude for making a wise judgment...”
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Ragas, who was smiling satisfactorily, trailed off as his eyes met mine. This man is similar to me. However, not exactly the same.
“...You, you weren't Kyron Lee's errand boy.”
Ragas's breathing became disordered, noticing my killing intent. At this moment, everyone here is a hostage. The proper conversation starts from now.
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