Ch.127

“Work starts from the 27th, and I’ve prepared your flight for tomorrow. Oh, and about the hero name. The concept is quite grim from the start. Like bringing in an active-duty soldier.”

Active-duty likely refers to someone from special operations. After recalling the frighteningly powerful special ops division that still makes me shudder, I nodded lightly.

“I’m trying to come up with something along those lines. Is there a specific method for creating call signs? Or…”

“Usually it’s just random. Any word that’s reasonably distinctive will do. Chance, generate a three-syllable random word for me.”

“Understood. Generating now. Gardner. It means gardener. Seems fitting since you use blades too.”

The representative from Heroism and Hope didn’t seem particularly interested in naming a disposable character and simply nodded. Placing a hand to the side of his head to connect a call, he spoke.

“I’ve decided on a name. Call sign Gardner. Please inform the marketing team and… you know, prepare something like those intros T-Enter often makes for movies featuring former patent agents or special ops.”

Ah. Even “Extreme crimes require extreme solutions” was cringeworthy enough, but I wonder what they’re planning this time. I decided not to rub my forehead in front of him. Professional courtesy.

While he was checking if there was anything else on his to-do list, he slid a ticket into my view. It was a first-class airplane ticket. I never expected freelancers to receive such treatment.

Perhaps I could tolerate some cringeworthy advertisements after all. The departure was scheduled for tomorrow. I had more than enough time to say goodbye to Ms. Eve.

After removing the costume that still needed finishing touches and straightening my clothes, I left the hotel. The city was still in Christmas spirit, but I was already leaving it behind.

It was an uncomfortable story to hear on a day that speaks of hope that comes only once a year. I went straight home and contacted Ms. Eve. With a sigh, her playfully teasing voice came through.

“Yes, Arthur. What is it? If you’re planning to say goodbye over the phone, I might get angry… but you’ve never made me angry before. I’m counting on that.”

“That’s half coercion, you know. Anyway, were there any problems with the people you went to meet?”

“Of course not. Inquisitor Creek made the news at Turner and Tucker. Everyone at Hallowd Creek cut ties with him and they’re all laughing about it. They’re saying even Creek’s hunter becomes prey here.”

I chuckled at that. The veil of fear was lifting. Inquisitor Creek would just become another good guy. That was enough. More than enough.

So I need to learn more and hone my skills at Heroism and Hope. I knew how to tear down idols, but it needed to be artful. Is there a reason to endure all this? Yes. Whale meat will be sweet.

“I’m not really a hunter anyway. Anyway… my flight leaves tomorrow, so I should at least say goodbye in person over lunch tomorrow. I…”

“I’ll come in the morning. Your place is closer to the airport, right? And what if you came here and forgot to pack something? I should be the one to move.”

“You’re really acting like an older sister now. See you tomorrow.”

“I’ve always been five years older than you, you insolent boy. Yes, see you tomorrow. I think I need to visit a few more places… no more inquisitors. I’ll call you when I get home, so go to sleep before then.”

Ms. Eve was the kind of person who tried to make a Type 4 who only needed four hours of sleep get eight hours every day. I laughed casually, replied, and ended the call. Honestly, I didn’t have that much to pack.

Since I was officially going for security work, I needed to bring weapons. I packed Small Evil, my carbine, and the grenade rifle connected to Chance. I checked the ticket again.

It mentioned a weapons and firearms delivery system. With an additional note that Belwether company special products would be fine, so I could bring even the grenade rifle.

I checked my weapons again and packed my meager personal belongings. Three gun cases and one bag for my personal items were more than enough. I wasn’t proud of having a small life and many weapons.

I completely disassembled the grenade rifle, cleaned it, and reassembled it with Chance’s guidance. After checking weapons until dawn, I finally got some sleep and woke up… to find Christmas skies completely gone.

The sky was grayish, and the pollution that Farmers had been fighting off with all their might yesterday was settling back in. When Christmas passes, hope passes too. A passing with the promise of return, like Halley’s Comet.

With a knock at the door, Ms. Eve appeared. At least before leaving, I could enjoy one more breath of Los Angeles air.

Ms. Eve’s blue hair was always a joy to see. I lightly embraced her as she immediately opened her arms, then carried her inside and set her down.

“Did you eat breakfast?”

“If you count pseudo-food ingredients and instant meals as food.”

Ms. Eve, still in my arms, hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded.

“I won’t tell you to spend money on real ingredients first thing in the morning. But was that from the person you worked with at Farmers?”

“PD? I gave mine to the boss. Since I’ll be on a different job from the 27th, I thought it would be better than leaving it in the refrigerator.”

Her fingertip lightly tapped the tip of my nose. The feeling of absorbed impact was now familiar, and I smiled.

“It’s strange. You talk a lot about things you want or enjoy, but for someone who does that, you don’t seem very greedy.”

“I don’t care as much about things I don’t want as badly as the things I really want. I don’t dislike food. And I certainly don’t dislike you, Ms. Eve.”

At my words, blood rushed to Ms. Eve’s face again. Her pleasantly reddening face stopped at one comment. Like floating in a room filling with water only to be stopped by the ceiling.

“Someone keeps holding me back, and it’s quite annoying.”

“I’ll cut off the wrist that’s grabbing your ankle, so don’t worry.”

“Sseup. Watch your language.”

“Yes, yes. I’ll watch my language.”

It wasn’t enough for Belwether to dislike Hallowd Creek. I needed something that would make them sever ties with Hallowd Creek. I needed to become accustomed to greed and familiar with corporate language and thinking.

Then the path would become visible. There is always a path. Breaking walls, exceeding top speed, running faster—something will be accomplished. Everything else can be forgotten.

Ms. Eve checked each of my bags again. Like Robin, she was quite the worrier, but I didn’t mind.

Only after repeatedly pulling out and reinserting the well-seated carbine magazine several times did I hear her say, “You packed well.” I couldn’t help but smile.

And then, it was time to leave. Small Evil was always at my waist. I could put it in the gun case when checking in luggage at the airport. After going through everything one more time, I walked out into the hazy air.

Los Angeles was great overall, but having the airport almost on the opposite side of the planet was a problem. The air was acrid, and the half-broken sunlight raced through the city as I sent farewell messages to my colleagues.

As always, Enzo’s message was thoughtful, Vola’s was casual… and Kay sent a joke message along with a video of someone shouting “Send that guy to Detroit!”

The airport looked no different than usual. After presenting my freelancer license to the security team in reinforced suits, I headed inside. While looking for the check-in counter, I saw someone running toward me.

It was a woman in a neat blue-tinted suit. Customer service? Considering her prosthetic eyes and hands that seemed designed for aesthetics rather than performance, that was probably the case.

“We find the path and build the legs to walk it. Pathfinder Company Customer Service Department 2, General Staff Yelena Horowitz. Um, is there any reason you didn’t call for staff assistance? Perhaps…”

Ms. Eve poked me in the back as the woman fumbled in front of me. I spoke with a slightly smiling voice.

“Someone’s acting like a mercenary company employee instead of a Belwether-certified freelancer, which confused her, Arthur. Don’t worry. I don’t distrust Pathfinder’s services.”

Sometimes I forgot my place. I was a freelancer certified by the owner of this city. Even if my name wasn’t well-known, this level of treatment should be normal.

So if I had promptly called for staff, would this not have happened? I should be more aware of my status as a freelancer from now on.

Everything else was fine. I liked that someone would help with the complicated check-in process, and that I could put all the annoying tasks aside. There was only one thing I didn’t like.

It meant less time to say goodbye to Ms. Eve. I wasn’t that eager for the VIP lounge. I didn’t sigh. That would have been rude.

“Yes, I don’t distrust you. Could I take a moment to say goodbye and call you back?”

“Of course. I’ll wait nearby.”

Hearing this, Ms. Eve gave me a teasing look and poked my cheek lightly.

“‘I’ll call you when I need you, so don’t bother me.’ That was definitely a corporate aristocrat kind of statement, Arthur. Are you drunk on freelancer treatment?”

I smiled back and countered her playful teasing. When Ms. Eve jokes, it’s best to meet her head-on. I always knew how.

“I’m just a bit upset that I’ll have less time to say goodbye to you. And I don’t enjoy watching someone fret even after escorting me to the VIP lounge. Is it okay if we say goodbye here?”

What would happen next was rather obvious. I wasn’t the type to rely on mistletoe magic. I cupped Ms. Eve’s cheek with one hand, bent slightly, and touched my forehead to hers.

Only after feeling the tension drain from her body did I lightly press my lips against hers, enjoying one breath of Los Angeles air.

That was the end of the farewell, but somehow Ms. Eve’s reddened face seemed far from returning to its original color. I chuckled leisurely as Ms. Eve grumbled.

“You’re so predictable it’s unfair. Geez… have a good trip, Arthur. Los Angeles and I will be waiting.”

“Half of the Los Angeles I remember is scenery I saw with you. Just you wait, and Los Angeles will follow naturally. I’ll keep in touch regularly.”

After that, a Pathfinder transport drone approached and took my luggage. I headed toward an entrance far from the people waiting for check-in. Yelena’s voice was filled with tension.

“We’ve already completed all of Arthur’s boarding procedures at Pathfinder. Your luggage will be delivered automatically. But you’ll still need to go through security…”

“Ah. Don’t worry too much. I’m not experienced enough to be used to skipping security checks wherever I go. Did I need to send my pistol separately?”

“No. As a freelancer, you may board with your pistol. With your firearms permit comes the obligation to cooperate with Pathfinder’s in-flight security personnel in case of terrorism.”

I wasn’t sure if this treatment was good or harsh. I took out Small Evil from my waist, removed the magazine with reinforced suit ammunition, and inserted one with regular bullets. You can’t fire reinforced suit ammunition on an airplane.

“Even though Belwether doesn’t give out freelancer licenses for free, this feels like I’m being treated as active security personnel?”

“Pathfinder also dreams of someone who can turn the situation around in an emergency. And a Belwether-certified freelancer is more than enough to be that someone.”

There must be some hierarchy depending on the certifying company. After all, a freelancer certified by a military supplier would feel very different from one certified by an adult content company.

I could go through security in a private room. The metal detector screamed, and some security personnel gasped at my body with metal coils implanted instead of tendons.

It took less than two minutes to determine there was no problem. Many people would be surprised to learn how kind airport staff can be.

Afterward, as expected, I was guided to the VIP lounge. A disheveled woman leaning against the staff corridor wall showed her Pathfinder employee ID. She was an in-flight security officer.

“Do you know these guys let freelancers into the VIP lounge they rush out to guide you to, but won’t let their own in-flight security officers set foot in there? They don’t value their own people at all.”

I responded with the same ease to her comfortable words between colleagues. The comfort of not needing to be on edge was incredibly warm.

“If you sat in the VIP lounge dressed like that, anyone would think ‘Ah, that’s an in-flight security officer.’ Looking inconspicuous is part of your job, isn’t it?”

“That’s too logical. I didn’t expect to be scolded by a freelancer too. Anyway, I hope you have an uneventful flight. I’m hoping for the same.”

“Even if it’s not uneventful, we have to make it so. I’ll be in first class, so call me if you need anything.”

After a light handshake, I arrived at the VIP lounge, which even had a tree donated by Farmers planted in it. A fitting place for a first-class passenger and Belwether-recognized freelancer.

Sorry to Mr. Gunter, but this place didn’t feel like “my place” either. I would have felt much more comfortable sitting among people with my bag between my knees.

The feeling of boarding a plane with Small Evil at my waist was as alien as leaving the Belwether building in uniform. But I should get used to it as something routine now.

I decided to think more positively. If this hadn’t been officially a security mission, Heroism and Hope might have sent someone to escort me directly. That would have been a hundred times more burdensome than boarding as a regular passenger.

Thinking of it that way, this wasn’t so bad. Everything is always relative. I half-reclined in the spacious, plush first-class seat and connected to the net.

I liked everything else, but there was one thing I couldn’t appreciate—the massive advertisement showing someone wearing the costume I had tried on yesterday.