How To Live as a Cyberpunk Solver

30. boogeyman

Unlike anyone else, the ‘self-certified’ best implant doctor, Twins, carefully examined the new product of Fort Bionic. Like the best, the estimate was quickly selected.

“Four thousand credits.”

“What is it?”

Leonard dared to doubt the best. It could have happened if the 30,000 credits he brought after going through several death hurdles were cut at half price. Twins pushed the 360-degree monitors away and retrieved several jacks plugged into the new product.

“The goods are good, but the storage is a mess. This is half a living thing, but I need to put it in a low temperature device.”

“Because that’s not enough… But isn’t 4,000 credits too much?”

“We have to subtract the cost of repairs that we will have to bear here. And the baggage you brought with you.”

On the monitor that had been moved over there, Jesse and his three friends came to mind. As if the tattoo & piercing gangs were burdened, they clung to each other and trembled.

“We should also subtract the cost of protecting them.”

“Why do you take that from me?”

“Then who should I get it from? Oh, if you don’t like it, bring it back to the cat’s claw and put it on the head.”

If it did, it would be misunderstood and displayed on 15th Street.

“Still, 7,000… no, 5,000 credits…”

“……”

“… Let’s make it 4,000.”

“It is a wise decision.”

An instant credit was fired into Leonard’s account. The number went up, but I didn’t feel good.

“How about Wildkid?”

The lack of revenue was decided to be filled with information. Gang wars are also relayed on pirate broadcasts, but they were not as accurate as what the people in charge heard.

“Sometimes they come and shoot, but it doesn’t matter.”

“Would the guest be leaving?”

When Leonard was worried about his business, the Twins laughed in the same pose.

“Where do you think a scavenger who gets shot will get his implants?”

“Oh, is that so?”

Since they hold the illegal implant market, there was no shortage of funds. The Twins said as if it was really nothing.

“Besides, it seems he made a lot of enemies.”

“Tiger Claw?”

“Big Ground Co.”

They were bigger enemies than street gangs. The head office is located in A-010 City, so it cannot use much power, but the capital power it possesses has not gone anywhere. Credit could do a lot.

“I’m hiring Ryan Bourne, Elia Garden, Logan Mace, and others to hunt wildkids.”

“I only know Ryan Vaughn.”

“These are your friends who are active in A-040 City and A-038 City.”

“If all the fixers are your friends, are all the gangsters your friends?”

It was helpful information to kick off the sajok. The war between gangs versus gangs has turned into a war between corporations versus gangs and fixers versus gangs. As if the Twins were having fun, they kept attaching their legs.

“To use the best solver in each city as a hunting dog, is it really a big company?”

Leonard nodded nonchalantly, and his pride was hurt.

“Ryan Bourne is the best in A-044 City? Is there me?”

“It was evaluated by the company. agree.”

“What did the company do wrong?”

Confessing the truth for Leonard’s petty ego, the headhunter at Big Ground wanted to hire Leonard along with Ryan. It’s just that the fixer broker cut him off saying he doesn’t do contract killings, so he didn’t get in touch. In fact, if a gang hunting request came in, he would have refused.

“Isn’t this enough service? Stop waiting for your little friend.”

As if the Twins knew all about your intentions, they issued a congratulatory order. Leonard said, ‘because we’re not friends’ and stood up. He’s not Leonard’s friend, but he’s obviously Jesse’s, so he must be worried. Worrying about the things you worry about is proof that you are a friend, but stubborn people never acknowledged it.

@

Contrary to consideration, Max wasn’t worried at all.

To put it mildly, he had no doubts about his brother on paper and mentor on the job, Leonard, and to be honest, he was preoccupied with his new toy and had no time to worry. He took form by swinging the Japanese blade left and right.

“Kangho’s Eunwon can’t stop even nuclear weapons. I’ll make you pay for replacing your master’s right arm with an implant.”

The dialogue, whose genre is unknown, was quite spleen. Leonard took one look at his right arm and scolded the disciple for his senseless vengeance. Just-!

“Stop talking bullshit and get in the car.”

“Huh…”

Max grabbed the top of his head and tried to climb into the driver’s seat, but he got hit one more time and was kicked out of the passenger seat.

“Who is Jesse’s sister?”

I liked the idea of asking people before credits. It was a rare occurrence in a machine-filled junk town.

“I will fix the implant and send it to another city.”

I gulp Leonard’s credits, so that’s what I’m going to do. Max didn’t ask which city he was going to. A new life was beneficial when no one knew about it. Because the Tigerclaw gang could find a crazy Chuck.

“It was okay. That’s enough.”

Leonard glanced at his precocious 15-year-old assistant and started the engine.

“The fixer has to worry about gang retaliation, too.”

“Me too?”

The fixer was the client’s tool. When a family member is assassinated, it is more like retaliation against the enemy who hired the assassin rather than finding the assassin. Even more so, the solver was a citizen who was active under legal protection. Even if they shot the same gun in the street, the fixer did not take responsibility. It’s hard to win, and there’s nothing to gain from winning, so I didn’t touch the solver.

“It’s an unwritten rule in Junk Town.”

“It is good to keep unwritten rules, but not necessarily.”

Leonard opened the window and threw away the lollipop wrapper. If it was my hometown, it would have been a fine of 20 credits.

“There will be no one who dares to take revenge. But more often than not, emotions move people.”

“Uh… it’s a little scary to say that, right?”

“There’s a reason I don’t get hired to kill.”

Not all fixers were like Leonard. Leonard’s unofficial rival, Ryan Bourne, accepted any request. As a result, within three years, he overtook Noah Lucas and became the best solver…

“If you rampage like that, you will be targeted before the client.”

“Me?”

“…You’re a flea even if you jump.”

Flea Max pursed his lips. Leonard pulled over on 11-1 Street and made up his mind. I will not do anything for a week from today and rest.

@

Leonard’s resolution was for three days. It’s hard to say that it was not voluntary, but three days, but I received a new job in three days. The process was as follows.

“I have enough money to live next month, and I don’t have any regrets.”

Leonard cleared one ear and adjusted the hearing module. The noise of a 7.62mm rifle did not compare to that of a .45 caliber revolver. Jake, the ‘intermediary’, seemed to think so as well, raising his voice even further.

-What are you talking about! Buy Big Ground! Did you know that requests from Big Ground are common?

“Well, you’re afraid to fall behind, right? There is Mr. Ryan who is proud, so why should I do it?”

I looked at my watch and saw that there was not much time left. 13 seconds, 12 seconds, 11 seconds… The broker giggled and uploaded the data.

-7,700 credits. If you refuse this, I won’t see you for a while.

“Is that a threat? You’re not the only fixer broker… Hello? honey? Did you hang up?”

Max pulled the bolt of ‘Winterfield’, took out the last cartridge case, and checked the safety. It was quick to meet and learn from the teacher. I fired 5 shots and all 5 were hits.

“Now 400 meters is no problem! Shall we increase the distance a little more?”

“Oh, wait.”

After gesturing to wait, Leonard glanced over the referral letter sent by the broker. There are the client, the subject of the request, the amount of the request, the period, and a rough outline and conditions, but typos were noticeable as if it was written in a hurry.

“Are there any bullets left?”

“A bullet?”

Max checked the clip. The gunsmith took care of it generously, so there are more than 30 left. Marking the numbers with his fingers, Leonard nodded.

“Let’s practice the rest in real combat.”

“If it’s a real game, it’s a real game. How do you practice?”

Leonard loaded the gun into the pickup truck and opened Brainchip’s navigation system.

“I think I can do it this time.”

The destination was 28th Street, Junk Town. Max was frightened when he saw a street sign swinging at an angle with one ring missing.

“This is the Aktion gang area!”

“It’s a little bit like a gang, but that’s what it is.”

The main street of Junk Town – 20th Street is heavily occupied by the Twins gang, but 28th and 29th Streets are an exception.

The classy collars of White Town think of Junk Town as a lawless place, but there can be little order in the place where people live. There was a loose order around the gangs that dominated the streets. For example, a scavenger who ran away without paying credit could be shot and killed on the spot, a self-defense law, and a tax prohibition law in which gang A did not have to pay gang B if protection tax was paid. By the way, if you want to get a protection tax, you have to reach an agreement between the gangs with guns. But it wasn’t 28th or 29th Street. This was a lawless zone in the truest sense of the word.

“Are you fighting Action?”

“I know you only gang and fight.”

They call it ‘gang’ because there is no proper word for it, but the Aktion Gang was different from other gangs. In the first place, there was no leader and no organization. It was a term referring to lunatics from Orange Penitentiary.

“Seventy percent of the crimes of psycho cyborgs are gangs here, right?”

“Ugh… stop it. It’s really scary.”

The street was very empty. Even if the junk town merchant was brave, he wasn’t good enough to trade in a place where psycho cyborgs roamed around. There are residents, but they don’t go without cars, and at least the gates don’t go out when the sun goes down.

“There are some guys who are safe in a place like this.”

Leonard pulled over at 28-5. It was in front of the villa, which seemed to have suffered a gunfight, arson, and gas explosion three times. Leonard pulled out the gun and bullet box from the luggage compartment. Even the implant body with good output was a staggering weight. Max was lightly relieved.

“It’s not for us.”

“I don’t even know what to write.”

Leonard looked up at the building and went through the entrance. After passing the trash-covered first floor, there was an immediate reaction. A sharpened machete landed on his neck.

“…Who are you?”

Leonard lightly lifted the burden in both hands. However, no self-introduction was necessary.

“Leonard Walker. An A-044 City solver like me.”

A refreshing voice introduced Leonard instead. It wasn’t a very nice introduction.

“Don’t be fooled by that stupid face. After all, he’s from Hexagon. The boogeyman who killed a triple-digit federal army.”

“I’m a former boogeyman. He is on active duty.”

Leonard turned his head away, ignoring the knife. Contrary to his voice, there was a man who looked like heavy equipment at a construction site.

“Ryan Bourne.”

“Welcome, Leonard Walker.”