Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Squeak.

The unmaintained hinges made a noise as they folded. Thinking she should change the door, she walked into the office.

‘You come all the way here and you still show up for work.’

It was familiar and unfamiliar. There was a time when I was used to commuting to work with a tired body, but now it felt like an extension of my normal routine.

“It hasn’t even been half a year, let alone a year.

The time spent in Polaris was dense. I wonder where I’ll be in three years, but at least I’ll have a richer repertoire of life stories to tell others.

I was reminded of a story I heard recently. I heard that life is better when it’s boring. It was something Kim could relate to.

“Who said that… was it him?

On the couch, a woman was sleeping soundly. Drool from her mouth soaked the covers, and she was dressed the same as yesterday.

It was Chelsea, who had just become part of Dustborne a few days earlier.

“……haam. Oh, you’re here….”

Chelsea woke up unceremoniously. She yawned so hard you could see her uvula. Kim Yi Hyun, who was staring at her, said.

“Go back to sleep. We don’t get extra for coming in late and leaving early. Next time, we’ll get paid for the night.”

“No… it’s not that I’m trying to look good or anything, it’s just that I’m in a bit of a dick about going home….”

“Why. What happened?”

I ask, and Chelsea sits up. Kneeling down on the couch, she slaps her cheeks together to chase away the sleep.

Her cloudy eyes became a little clearer. Chelsea’s characteristic cat eyes have returned. The circles around her eyes were still there.

“You know, because it’s hard to listen to this without tears?”

* * *

Yesterday, around 3pm, in a grungy house in the red light district.

“Kya-!”

Chelsea lifted the beer can from her lips and let out a cool sigh. The cushion on which her butt rested was sticking out, but the landlord didn’t care.

The cushioning is dead to the point where your hip bones hurt. You know, the musty odor of spilled coffee or alcohol.

I can use it for five more years. If you invested the money for furniture for five years, it would grow to a huge amount.

‘Investing’ was a big part of Chelsea’s life.

It was her hobby and her talent – Chelsea herself believed she was an investment genius – but it was also her future.

The only way out of labor. Wings that would take him off the grid and make him the master of capitalism.

“Today is the perfect day.

It’s a day with no urgent calls, and training ended early. I’m lucky enough to get my hands on some of the lesser-available, more popular liquor, and I’ve laid out a sumptuous spread of snacks to go with it.

The screen connected to the terminal showed a view of the stadium.

2:50 PM. Player entrance begins. Third match of the day, right?

Yes. This game will be a lot to watch, because this matchup is…….

“Okay, okay, okay, deja vu!”

The pink eyes staring at the screen were brimming with anticipation. It was hard not to be excited. This was going to be a big step for Chelsea.

“It’s a no-brainer. I’ll get it 100 percent.

The truth is that winning bets are an illusion.

Odds are skewed in the first place when the game is a foregone conclusion. The leagues aren’t favorable enough to make money that easily.

But this match was special in many ways.

A player who is weak on one side but has a strong fan base. The other is a player who is only good but not popular. The former’s cheering was stronger than usual, and the score was 4:6.

“If you don’t eat this, you’re an idiot!

A chance to take home some easy money. Chelsea bet on this match a little too heavily, no, a lot too heavily. They spent all their money on Kim Yi Hyun.

Bing!

Your device beeped. It was the notification tone for a message.

– Go Bluebeck! Go Bluebeck!

– What are you going to do when everyone gets paid?

– Isa gaaje,,, no,,, no,,, crawl out of the house,,,,

Chelsea snorted as she checked the group chat room.

“Idiots. Why don’t they realize you don’t spend money, you roll it.”

For Chelsea, today’s game was not the end of the road. She made up her mind more than a decade ago. I’m going to make it one day. She can’t be satisfied with one victory.

However, we didn’t throw cold water on the enthusiasm.

“Well, well, well, let’s cheer… Youngcha Youngcha….”

I sent them an innocuous message. They were all members of the team that Chelsea had shared picks with. They’re colleagues in a way, even if it’s a strange way of thinking.

“I’m going to get a pout.

They’re supposed to take 1% of the proceeds. Don’t worry, it’s not in writing. Once you’ve sucked the honeydew, you’ll pay up, so you can get the next pick.

A perfect blueprint for success. Chelsea chuckled to herself, the taste of alcohol on her tongue never tasted so sweet.

So far so good, but then.

– Oops, looks like the game is delayed.

It all started with a frustrated voice from the moderator.

“What. Why isn’t it coming out…?”

Bluebeck. The player who bears the name of Chelsea and the neighborhood was nowhere to be seen. Not even close to the scheduled time of three o’clock.

– There may have been an accident, and Bluebeck’s sponsors are scrambling. I’m afraid our broadcasters haven’t heard anything from them. ….

I put down the beer can. It wasn’t time to get drunk.

I wonder if other gamblers are starting to feel the crunch.

– Hey, what happens if I don’t show up?

– Isn’t that a defeat?

– And what about our money?

The chat was disconnected for a while. There was an undercurrent of bitterness.

“Shit, shit. You’re lying, really, really don’t do it.”

Bad premonitions are always right. Time passed quickly, with no bluebeards in sight.

– It’s 3:10.

– A Bluebeck player loses. Flavor takes a point for nothing.

– Unfortunately, rules are rules! The booing from the audience is about to get out of hand, in which case tickets can be purchased at…….

Chelsea froze, unable to move. The no-show was unexpected. I wasn’t even Chapter because the game had literally come to a standstill.

She’d lost track of time, and then she snapped back to reality. The beep, beep, beep. Sure enough, the chat room was on fire.

“Oops, we’re in trouble.

You need to run away.

Chelsea rushes out of the house, clutching her device. She took a moment to assess the situation in a nearby alleyway. Sure enough, she spotted a group of figures rushing toward her.

Some with clubs. They arrived at Chelsea’s door and pounded on the door like madmen.

Bang, bang!

“I know you’re in there, open the door!”

“Get out, asshole, I could set you on fire!”

It was a demon. Chelsea shivered with chills. She couldn’t go home like this. She took a cautious step backward.

Boom!

A can lying on the sidewalk was trampled and crushed. A man’s head snapped up at the noise.

“Hey, there it is!”

“Get that bitch! Get her!”

These were faces I could easily bury.

“Profit……!”

Chelsea turned their backs and ran. She felt a threat to her life. A danger closer and more blatant than the smell of death she’d faintly smelled through her scope when she’d first fought Snowfield underground.

It was the day she became homeless, not homeless.

And back to the present.

“That son of a bitch, I don’t approve, it’s match-fixing!”

After a lengthy explanation, Chelsea slammed the table. It wasn’t the tension of someone who had just woken up.

Kim thought to himself, but didn’t say it out loud. She could only scratch her head. He laughed and gave her a modest reply.

“You have such a fun life. I’m jealous.”

“Envy? This?”

“Of course not. I’ll never be like you.”

There’s never been a clearer teacher.

* * *

A briefing came over the in-ear communicator.

– We’ve lost two, and we’re about to head out to B-3.

– Again? Will you get a grip?

– What if I get shot and still move?

– Save the talking for later. Who’s going to clean up?

Kim scanned the map on his device. There were blue dots all over the place. These were his teammates’ and his own locations.

“I’m coming. Pep, keep an eye on the guys you caught. Don’t let them get away like they did before, and don’t overreact.”

– Yep. Let’s tie it up.

Pep answered and crossed the alley. Another alley led to another alley. Kilikia had many intricate subdivisions like this, weaving their way through the streets.

It’s daytime, but at night it’s a labyrinth. Night is when the hyenas are on the move. Even the patrol drones don’t fly around all the time.

Drones are often stolen by scavengers looking for something useful to sell. It’s an obvious crime, but if you don’t get caught, it’s okay.

The “official record” is important.

If there is no data to identify the crime and the perpetrator. Even a heinous criminal who has killed dozens of people can still enjoy all the rights of a citizen.

There are such “good citizens” living in the back alleys of Kilikia. The ones you’re chasing are not yet Outlaws.

Sooner or later, they will be.

– String, I’m coming up behind you. It’s going to be a few seconds late due to its position, so what do we do? Can you get the timing right?

“Just come on over. I’ll hold them off and you can clean up behind me.”

I gave the command and rounded the next corner.

Soon, he could hear hurried footsteps. As he pointed his gun, a man appeared from around the corner.

Bang, bang!

As soon as his head was in sight, Kim fired a threatening shot. The non-lethal rubber bullets hit the wall.

“Damn, there’s one here too…!”

The man stumbled backward and hid against the wall. Kim fired two more shots and removed his right hand from the gun. A new device was in his hand.

[N13 Flash Grenade]. A 3-star secondary that reduces enemy Basic Attack damage by 25% for 5 seconds. A ubiquitous and overused weapon.

This is a ‘normal’ flashbang. If you get hit, you’ll be blinded for a few seconds. Unless you’re playing an FPS game.

Kim pulled out the pin and threw it into the wall behind enemy cover. The man who witnessed the flashbang spat out a string of profanities.

“Leave that one to Jenna.

Xena, who would arrive soon, would take care of it. I checked my surroundings. Two people have escaped. I’ve only found one so far.

– Second floor of the building on the right, check it out.

I turned my head at the sound of Chelsea’s voice.

A horned man stood on the iron steps of the building. Pekatum quickly lowered his stance as Kim fired a shot.

It was only for a moment. Pekatum realized that the rounds they were using were not threatening, and that if he stayed, he would be surrounded and captured. He stepped on the stair railing and jumped down.

The drop zone was piled high with garbage bags. Kim fired all his remaining rounds at Pekatum as he rolled on the trash.

All but one of the shots landed, but Pekatum didn’t go down. He grimaced in pain, but kept on his feet.

“That’s a nice place to eat.

They were a remarkable race. It’s no wonder Pavoni, a rural mafioso, tried to trick the simple Pekatum.

“Move!”

The Pekatum man pounced on Kim. The purpose was obvious. The boulevard is just around the corner.

You can’t fight Dustborn in front of civilians, not even the Rangers. It’s not like I’m going to be able to complete the mission…. I’ve been active for almost a month and have yet to fail.

Kim didn’t put up a fight. He wasn’t confident of winning. He made way for them to pass, then formed a gun in his right hand and pointed it at them.

[Pulse Waver]. Polaris’ taser gun, manufactured by Harenhal’s military corporation. It’s set to a much higher current than it should be.

Tada tada tada!

“Argh!”

Pekatum collapsed as he ran, the electrodes lodged in his back. For a non-lethal weapon, it was deadly. Kim restrained Pekatum with handcuffs.

“Chelsea. Any footage?”

– Nice shot, that’s all I do.

“What, you’re complaining? I thought you were having fun.”

– I’m past the fun part, this thing is hard to steer.

On missions, Chelsea often found herself flying drones rather than sniping. This was to document the situation on video.

Proof that you acted in self-defense if you end up killing. It’s also useful for reviewing missions outside of Congress.

“It’s hard, you should do it, you’re good at it.”

– Hmmm, when you put it that way… ugh….

From the beginning of the game, Chelsea tended to be flattered by compliments. This made her easy to deal with.

“You said you’d block ……, but you just did it all by yourself.”

Jenna muttered weakly as the man who had grabbed her and dragged her away glared at Kim.

“What the fuck are you guys, where the fuck did you send us, what did we do?”

Their crimes were varied: extortion for protection money, including extraordinary rendition. Distributing and selling illegal drugs.

I didn’t need to be reminded. Jenna just slapped me on the head for being loud without explanation.

“Someone will be here soon. Give your statement to him.”

We don’t know if Congress got evidence of the crime or not. We don’t need to know. They’ll make up evidence that doesn’t exist if they have to.

“Pep, Bryce, take the guys you caught and join us over here. Chelsea, keep a good perimeter.”

That’s it for today.

* * *

“Please don’t put me in a weird frame. I’m a senior, why am I a senior?”

Pep sounded frustrated as he walked up to his office. Unfortunately, there was no one on his side here.

“You missed it, and Hyun cleaned it up.”

“Two in a row was bad, you’re taking it out of my paycheck, right?”

“The equipment is the problem, what sense does it make to try to catch Pekatum with rubber bullets in the first place?”

“You don’t have to resort to guns, you have to use your body.”

“You want me to get into a fight with Pekatum?”

Pep slapped his forehead in disbelief.

In gaming terms, Pep was the quintessential ranged dealer. A combatant who specializes in mid-range shooting. However, his melee skills are lacking.

He was also the least acclimated to life on the ground. Apparently, Whitefang was also scouted during the Bounty Hunter activities.

‘Well. I’m sure he’ll do well.’

Kim didn’t think much of it. It wasn’t a serious enough problem to be called a hole, and her teammates were playfully teasing.

Pep will be there when we need him, and when he’s not, we’ll need someone else to cover for him. Pep’s salary will be cut.

I reached the third floor where the office was located.

“Ah, brother.”

Roscoe was found pacing at the door. An unexpected visitor. Unlike Asterique, Rothko was not a frequent visitor.

“When did you get here? I didn’t get your message.”

“I just got here, I was trying to reach you because you were locked out. Are you on your way home from work?”

“Uh-huh. But why?”

Roscoe exchanged eye contact with his teammates, then opened his mouth in a hesitant manner.

“Uh, I need to talk to you about something.”

“What, are you asking for a favor?”

“I don’t know if I should call it a request or a headache….”

It wasn’t cool. Like someone who came to borrow money. Kim stared at Roscoe for a moment, then moved closer to the door.

“Let’s not do this here, let’s go inside and talk.”

Kim unlocked his device and entered the darkened office. She hasn’t hired anyone to work in the office yet.

We’ll look for it when we start taking on outside work. Since we have a small staff, we’ve been able to make do with what the council pays us on a case-by-case basis.

Soon, Kim sat down across from Roscoe. Instead of coffee, she cracked open the kettle Asterike had brought and placed it on the table.

“Maybe it was a game today. How did it go?”

“Of course I won. Sponsor offers are coming in like a flood, but we’re waiting and seeing. We’re thinking about promotion to the first division first.”

“Good, that must be going well.”

I shook my head and then looked down. Roscoe’s hands were trembling slightly.

“Why did you drop your hand like that?”

“Oh, it’s because I quit smoking.”

“Quit smoking? You’ll die if you smoke.”

“Ms. Asterique told me to tell her from a distance that she smelled like a cigarette…. I thought it was part of being a manager and decided to quit.”

“Uh-oh. Such a big commitment.”

He’d never even touched a cigarette, but he knew from his friends how hard it was to quit smoking.

I prayed for three days that it wouldn’t happen.

“Anyway, back to the point… how do I say this, it’s not a big deal right now, it could be a fluke.”

“Relax, I’m not charging for the consultation.”

“Haha. Thanks for that.”

Roscoe cleared his throat. His expression relaxed, then turned serious again.

“Well, something to do with you.”