BCST 37

chapter 37

Crunch. Snap.

I watched Ali-Bec Kibizo wriggling on the floor with a serious gaze.

Even back in the days when I played the game, there was a potion that caused various incidents as side effects.

That potion was Hekaton-2.

It was a product that drastically increased healing power thanks to Celebrix Pharmaceuticals’ revolutionary genetic engineering technology.

Thanks to its superior performance, a year later, Celebrix Pharmaceuticals would go head-to-head with other pharmaceutical companies in a second round of corporate intrigue.

And as a player, I would come into contact with these companies as the troubleshooter who resolves such conflicts, so this phenomenon was very familiar to me.

“So this must be the prototype.”

The unreleased, clinical trial version: Hekaton-1.

Now that I think about it, was it this gang where the potion incident first began?

“Hmm…”

I gazed at Ali-Bec Kibizo, whose muscles were about to burst free of his restraints, lost in recollection.

When I first arrived in Sector 56, I encountered the Neon Wings.

And opposing them were the Shatter Hands.

Among street gangs, they were at least somewhat known, but they weren’t true gangs.

The real gangs, the ones actually vying for dominance in Sector 56, were elsewhere.

One of them was Blue Plain.

A year later, thanks to Hekaton-2, they would dominate the backstreets of Sector 56, becoming the actual ruling gang.

Thud.

I kicked Ali-Bec Kibizo, whose body had more than doubled in size.

Through the torn clothes, his back was revealed.

“…”

I checked, just in case, and as I suspected…

A familiar gang tattoo was on his back.

A blue circuit design in the center, with firearms and sharp blades drawn in an “X” pattern.

The tattoo of Blue Plain.

The moment I saw it, detailed information about this gang and the corporate conflicts that followed began to flash in my mind…

Then I stopped.

“Annoying.”

Just because I know about an incident doesn’t mean I have to participate in every one of them.

Especially this episode—it’s complicated, and if luck isn’t on your side, there’s little to gain and enemies only increase.

High risk, low return.

So there’s no need for me to get involved.

It’s one thing to stumble upon it while hunting bounties, but following that trail all the way to the top is a completely different story.

Especially after suffering overwhelming danger during the 20p mission this time, my mental fatigue is already piling up.

If corporations are involved, climbing higher will definitely mean facing more formidable opponents…

And you want me to go through that again?

Forget it.

Right now, it’s a time to find peace of mind by taking easy targets.

No need to step in unnecessarily.

“…Ugh!!”

Having made up my mind, I looked down at Ali-Bec Kibizo with a detached gaze.

A vivid display of Hekaton-1’s side effects.

Since [Low-Grade Regeneration] had triggered these side effects, I decided to extend a merciful hand.

Crunch!

Though my hands were small compared to his enlarged neck, I twisted it 180 degrees in one motion.

“Ughhh…”

But the predecessor of the famous Hekaton-2 wasn’t that easy.

Despite his broken neck, the nerves and blood vessels in his potion-activated regenerative body were still functioning.

Ali-Bec Kibizo had been kicked down and facedown, so his eyes met mine as I twisted his neck 180 degrees.

“…”

I twisted his neck a few more times and slightly lifted him off the floor.

Rattling!

Since he wished for death, this was the proper course of action.

This was better than letting him suffer in the potion’s tenacious vitality.

Sure, the bounty would be slightly reduced, but…

It’s much easier than carrying a live target around.

Even here, coming for a meal and needlessly disturbing civilians would be a problem.

“No, wait.”

Thinking about it, killing him this way is easier for me, too.

No need to carry the entire body—identity confirmation is enough…

Suddenly, I focused on a potentially better method: Ali-Bec Kibizo’s head and his left arm with hydraulic knuckles.

Hmm.

“Last time it was a suitcase, now it’s a plastic bag?”

Mia grimaced as she took the item.

She held the bag like it was a cockroach.

But I had my reasons.

Even though it was a fast-food place, there was no suitable case.

And whenever other troubleshooters dealt with a job, it wasn’t unusual to take only the part needed for identity confirmation.

So I wasn’t the odd one out.

I just collected the evidence and put it in a usable container nearby.

But this “plastic bag vibe” seemed to bother them. Last time, when I brought Yabok in a suitcase, nobody cared, but now, whispers began.

“Wasn’t his name Eddy? He brought the head… knew he was capable, but still…”

“Why does he carry it like butchered meat?”

“Wait, didn’t he wrap the hotdog like that last time? No way…”

“Ugh! Don’t talk crap! I ate it all!”

They polished off the snacks but still complained?

I wanted to punish their insolence, but Mia beat me to it.

“Never mind. Eddy, your client is here, so let’s go to the VIP room.”

“Client?”

I asked, and Mia nodded, explaining further.

“You handled the Aires case way better than expected, right? You must’ve told some acquaintances in the financial world. That’s why a direct commission came in.”

I had to admit, I was surprised.

A named commission already?

A direct commission meant my reputation as a troubleshooter was growing.

It’s a morale booster for anyone in this line of work.

But when I pictured the sly face of President Aires, I frowned.

He probably promoted me openly, showing off his influence.

I remembered his gaze when I left the Aires Building, as if I were a golden ladder rising to the sky.

So I shouldn’t take full credit.

I wonder how Aria is doing…

While I was lost in thought, Mia handed Sean the plastic bag I brought.

“Sean, handle this. By the way, what was the bounty?”

Rustle.

Sean, holding the bag with Ali-Bec Kibizo’s left arm and head, answered flatly.

“250,000 credits, Mia. If captured alive.”

“And if dead?”

“150,000 credits. Additionally… if you sell these hydraulic knuckles, you could get more. About 50,000? Total around 200,000 credits.”

Not bad.

With Yabok, the commission alone was 300,000, plus 500% for a total of 1.5 million.

Selling the byproduct cyberware brought in another 3 million credits.

I spent some afterward, but including Aires’ escort pay and capturing the vampire and gang vault, the funds have grown considerably.

Let’s see… barely over 6 million now.

Still far from faking a new identity.

Unless I strike it big with cyberware again, I need to work steadily.

The secondary bounty is about 200,000.

To reach the target of 10 million credits, I’d need roughly twenty more of these commissions.

For an ordinary troubleshooter, this could take half a year or a quarter, but I could finish in a month.

Still, it feels a bit frustrating.

Not slow, but somehow tedious.

Naturally, I started looking forward to this named commission.

They’re several times more expensive than normal jobs.

More hassle, yes—but I’m confident I can handle it all.

As reputation grows, wealthy clients sometimes offer money for simple tasks to ensure perfect results.

Meanwhile, Mia seemed excited as we walked toward the VIP room with a client.

“I knew a day like this would come, but already a first named commission… you’ll be a named soon, huh?”

A named.

A title given to troubleshooters recognized for their skills and achievements by many.

In short, a high-grade professional in this industry.

Everyone has their reasons for becoming a troubleshooter, but there’s a shared goal: to earn the title and become a named.

NPCs I’ve called “named” generally met this standard or contributed significantly to the main stream of the game.

For me, living here as a troubleshooter, it’s still a romantic goal.

To earn the title.

Of course, an essential achievement.

“You mean I’ll become a named? Of course I will.”

“Oh! I knew it!”

Mia’s eyes sparkled. She whispered softly.

“If it’s Eddy, it might really be possible…”

See? Told you.

Then I noticed Mia’s little head moving ahead of me.

“…That wasn’t about me becoming named, was it?”

To me, Mia Dunlevy is also named.

Not by personal strength, but by influence on the main stream.

So naturally, yes.

The stories tied to the “Edge Line” and Mia’s role as handler.

And I’ve avoided them until now for the same reason as Ali-Bec Kibizo.

If I traced the trail upward, what awaited at the end would be too much for my current level.

“This way!”

We reached the VIP room. Mia called out.

“Since you’ve worked with Aires Corporation, you know roughly how corporate people are, right?”

Absolutely.

I learned through President Aires, reeking of corporate scent.

Mia opened the door, as if she expected me to know.

I thought: getting stronger quickly fits my plan.

Once stronger, important quests can be tackled, so Mia’s story can wait until then.

There’s plenty of time before the game’s events.

And to shorten that time, opportunities like this must be seized.

The VIP room opened, and a man in a lab coat was seated inside.

Wait, didn’t she say corporation?

Why a lab coat?

Seeing him, my [Senses] flared with a bad omen.

“Greet him, Eddy. This is Mr. John Scouzy of Celebrix Pharmaceuticals.”

Mia’s words confirmed the ominous feeling.