Ch.3535. Cyberpunk and the Hospital

The crowd murmured.

“What’s going on? What happened?”

The area in front of the dungeon was always bustling with people.

Even at night, the dungeon entrance was packed with explorers.

It was usually nothing special, just an ordinary day.

But that day was a little different.

VROOOM!!

“Move aside! It’s D4C!! Everyone step back!!”

A flying vehicle landed at the dungeon entrance, and crew members poured out.

The crew members, wrapped from head to toe in ultra-composite bulletproof visors and NIJ Level 5 body armor, immediately established a perimeter as soon as they exited the vehicle.

The crew members maintained vigilance with a deadly intensity.

The vehicle projected a beam to form a no-access line, and they aimed taser cannons, ready to subdue anyone who crossed it.

Their arms and vehicles bore a red cross logo with white letters inside:

D4C

Dangerous & Difficult & Dirty Deeds For Cost

Dangerous, difficult, and dirty.

A phrase embodying their commitment to do anything if paid enough.

Though it sounded like some illegal operation, surprisingly, this was a medical company.

When a customer’s life was in danger, information was automatically transmitted, and if they didn’t arrive within 3 minutes of the call, they refunded 10% for each minute of delay—a radical business model.

At the same time, it was a company most explorers—who lived day to day with death as their companion—would never see in their lifetime.

“I never thought I’d live to see D4C at the dungeon entrance.”

One explorer muttered.

The explorers nearby nodded in agreement.

“Is some top-tier explorer dying in there?”

The explorers speculated as they watched D4C.

Despite parking right at the entrance and blocking anyone from entering the dungeon, no one dared protest.

While D4C was infinitely loyal to their customers, they were equally ruthless to anyone who interfered with a rescue.

In the past, when a terrorist being suppressed by the Horde turned out to be a D4C customer, the two forces clashed, resulting in the absurd case of both units being completely wiped out—a testament to their formidable power.

[Customer’s location signal is coming through! They’re coming out of the dungeon!]

Upon receiving information from the netwalker, the crew immediately began preparing a makeshift operating room in the transport vehicle parked at the dungeon entrance.

Soon, a group emerged from the entrance.

“Help!! Please help!!”

Amon, at the front of the five-person group, waved his phone.

Amon, who was relatively unharmed, was carrying the blonde Even, while Iron Fist Tori, whose eyes were blinded but arms still functional, carried the mage Paul.

Blue-haired Hale, who had lost both arms, waddled behind them like a duck.

The D4C crew verified the phone’s location data, and as soon as they confirmed these were their customers, they rushed forward.

“Rescue team here! We’ve confirmed four people in need of rescue!”

With urgent yet polite tones, they took over the injured.

First, they received the mage Paul and the blonde Even.

“Abdominal damage confirmed! Report vital signs!”

“Pulse 25!! We have AA and Perfo!”

“Begin surgery immediately!”

“This one has a Speedware short circuit!”

“Initiating blocking and reincarnation!”

After taking those two, they immediately began treating the less urgent cases of Tori and Hale.

After handing over the four to the crew members, Amon fell to his knees and dry heaved.

“Uwegh!!”

Running to the mid-boss room, immediately entering combat upon arrival, and then carrying an adult back out after the battle.

His heart was cursing and screaming for mercy.

“Cough! Uwegh!! Cough!!”

Clang, roll…

While Amon was disoriented and dry heaving, the equipment he had been carrying for himself and his party members rolled off his body.

Expensive swords, daggers, shotguns, grenades, and more.

The mercenaries’ eyes filled with greed at the sight of the items rolling from Amon’s body.

Most resisted the urge, but a very small minority couldn’t.

‘No one will notice anyway.’

Taking advantage of the chaotic scene, someone reached for Amon and his party’s equipment.

That’s when it happened.

“Get your filthy hands off, you bastard!”

A crew member who had been polite to the party members just a second ago suddenly changed, aiming at the mercenary’s forehead.

“Eek!”

The mercenary turned pale and disappeared into the crowd.

Seeing this, the crew member nodded, and the others carefully gathered the equipment from the ground and stored it in cases.

This was a basic “service” included in the rescue mission, as the customer’s property and assets were also considered rescue targets.

However, the purpose of providing this service wasn’t solely out of love for the customer.

It was also so they could seize the property or equipment in case the customer couldn’t pay.

In other words, they protected it so thoroughly because it might become their own asset in the future.

While the four were being rescued, the captain of the dispatch team approached Amon, rubbing his hands together.

“Customer, how would you like to make the payment?”

It wouldn’t matter if he had no money.

They could just take the patients’ implants.

And if that wasn’t enough… well, they might take some organs.

This was why D4C was also known as “legal scavengers.”

Fortunately, Amon had enough money to meet proper paramedics rather than scavengers.

“It’s 100,000 dollars for four people, right?”

“Yes. Installment plans are available.”

“I’ll pay in full.”

Amon’s hand trembled slightly as he handed over his phone.

Even though Amon was relatively wealthy, 100,000 dollars wasn’t something to be taken lightly.

Still…

‘Life can’t be measured in money.’

Telling himself it was a worthwhile expense, he boldly opened his payment app.

The captain scanned the code displayed on the app with his eyes and completed the payment instantly.

Ding!

A notification arrived on Amon’s phone.

“Payment confirmed, customer. We will save the patients no matter what.”

Afterward, the captain verbally recited the terms of the service Amon had paid for.

That the arrival time was 2 minutes and 28 seconds so there would be no refund,

That 30 percent of the dispatch cost per patient would be refunded if a patient died,

That hospitalization costs were separate.

Though he felt like he was dying from exhaustion, Amon carefully noted the terms in this cutthroat world.

After explaining the terms, the captain quickly scanned Amon’s body with his eyes.

Then he offered Amon regenerative ointment and a bottle of water.

Amon grimaced and refused.

“I’m fine, please just take care of my companions.”

It was an expression of his unwillingness to pay additional costs.

Understanding this, the captain said with a good-natured smile:

“Water and basic ointment for the patient’s guardian are completely free. If you need sugar, we also provide glucose candy. That’s free too.”

With that explanation, Amon reluctantly rinsed his mouth with the water.

Thanks to the water, Amon barely regained his senses, and the captain suggested he board the flying vehicle.

“Guardian accompaniment is a standard option.”

Only after confirming this was also free did Amon board the transport vehicle.

The vehicle carrying the two critical patients had already departed, and Amon joined the car with the two less serious cases.

The vehicle door closed, and a feeling of weightlessness came over him.

‘Paying in full does have its benefits.’

As soon as they confirmed his ability to pay, kindness flowed freely.

It was a world that was infinitely kind to those with money.

But Amon didn’t feel particularly pleased.

As Amon’s body swayed slightly back and forth, the captain sitting next to him pushed a tablet toward him.

“Customer…”

“What is it?”

“We’ve confirmed that you’re subscribed to our company’s premium package. I’d like to inform you that under this package, guardians can also receive discounts on dispatch costs and hospitalization fees.”

“Ah, right.”

Only then did Amon remember the compatibility of the product he had subscribed to.

In this world where getting shot on the street was an everyday occurrence, subscribing to D4C was common sense if you had the money.

Amon had signed up for the premium package with Sonia as soon as they had money.

“Then please apply the discount.”

“Understood. And since this is your first time using our service…”

The captain manipulated the tablet to change the screen and carefully presented it.

“I noticed you made the emergency call with your phone. According to our company’s internal statistics, customers who use 24-hour monitoring implants have a 20 percent lower mortality rate compared to phone users…”

“I don’t want an implant.”

“Ah, for those uncomfortable with Cyberware, we also offer compatibility with magic tattoos.”

“No, thank you.”

It wasn’t about Cyberware or tattoos.

In the end, D4C was also a Megacorp.

24-hour monitoring meant collecting everything from private life to biometric and magical information, which Amon absolutely declined.

“Then perhaps a smart watch…”

“No thanks.”

Afterward, the captain persistently recommended various products to Amon.

Patients were dying right next to them, yet he was pushing product subscriptions.

‘Damn cyberpunk.’

Of course, he understood.

From D4C’s perspective, this captain was just another component, and he needed to meet his sales targets.

Nevertheless, it was impossible not to feel misanthropic.

Amon arrived at the hospital within 3 minutes.

During the journey, all conversation with the captain was about products.

No compassionate talk about whether the patients would be okay or if Amon was feeling unwell.

Just an attitude that suggested: you paid, and we’ll provide the service accordingly.

He felt suffocated by the coldness of these crew members who cared nothing for human life.

Far from feeling superior because of his money, he was choking on the bleakness.

But even in that bleakness, Amon didn’t lose his conviction.

“Thank you.”

A rare expression of gratitude in this world.

Even though he had paid a bundle of money for the service, they were still his benefactors.

Amon bowed his head to the crew members.

“You saved us.”

The crew members paused momentarily at Amon’s thanks.

Their expressions were hidden behind dark visors.

The captain, the only one not wearing a visor, stared at Amon as if lost, then suddenly bit his lip.

He briefly turned off the camera on his chest and spoke:

“The patients will be fine.”

“Thank you again.”

Amon bowed once more to the crew members and headed into the hospital.