episode_0090

Deep thrumming—

With the colossal operating sound that deafened my ears, my body floated up and soared into the sky, escaping the twinkling lights of the ground below.

I rested my arm on the driver’s side window and watched the search beams adding dynamic flair amidst the neon signs, drawing on a cigarette that was so heavy it was acrid.

How much time had passed like that?

“Stop! Stop!”

A super-massive elevator, seemingly quite aged, stopped at the top, and in response to the director’s signal, the rails—installed as very basic safety equipment—rose.

Skillfully, I held the steering wheel and slowly exited the elevator, driving along the work line as if accustomed to it.

So natural was the sight that despite the worker, who must have been there for years, having changed, we smoothly reached the designated location without any particular hindrance.

Well, in truth, the main reason was likely that they didn’t bother memorizing the faces of workers from other departments, with whom they rarely had direct conversations.

“Let’s get out. Let’s act naturally.”

I said that to the faces riding with me, but honestly, they were faces that would be hard to act naturally with.

Although they were covered in thick work suits and raincoats, a little bit of anxiety was unavoidable.

[Work completion confirmed. All workers are requested to submit their ID cards and leave the workplace to clock out.]

A work-assistance drone approached the parked truck, announced the customary permission to clock out, and then zipped away towards another line without any further identity verification.

“They stop people from coming up from the Lower City like their lives depend on it, but surprisingly, their identification checks are sloppy.”

“They must be confident that they won’t be infiltrated. Besides, since it’s managed by MegaCorp, riff-raff wouldn’t even dare to try and break through.”

The Shapeshifter, who had regained consciousness during the movement and had undergone temporary repairs, was able to move her limbs adequately, replied thus.

Indeed, MegaCorp’s reputation is no small thing, so even with loose operations, most would be filtered out.

Torrential downpour—

Perhaps it had been raining anyway, but even in the Upper City, rain poured down like a waterfall, drumming against our raincoats, sounding as if drums were being beaten haphazardly, as we slowly lined up and headed towards the exit.

“It’ll be dangerous if we go this way.”

“No, well. We even took their ID cards; we should at least let them clock out.”

When I held up and shook the ID cards, which we had taken according to the number of people, a sound of utter exasperation could be heard.

“…I’d like to say we’re not here for fun.”

“It’s about moral responsibility, you see.”

It would be good if such a thing didn’t happen, but if push came to shove, we could just break through head-on and hide somewhere in the Upper City, so I wasn’t particularly nervous as I walked to the ID card submission point.

There was a high-security attendance device that cross-referenced not only ID cards but also iris and physical data, but we had the Shapeshifter.

When I looked at her, the Shapeshifter twisted her chiseled face, but soon she took the ID card from me and activated her half-broken mask.

The next moment, the Shapeshifter transformed into the appearance of one of the workers and stepped onto the attendance device.

[Identity of worker James S. Falcon confirmed. Please have a safe journey home.]

As expected, the recognition device failed to identify the Shapeshifter, who had completely assumed the worker’s appearance, instead recognizing her as the owner of the ID card, James S. Falcon, and allowed her to pass.

That process was repeated.

Having simply bypassed the security system, we were able to exit the waste disposal facility operated by Green Something-or-other Corporation, a MegaCorp.

Unlike the Lower City, which always played AI-generated pollution videos and felt somewhat gloomy and stifling, the Upper City, even with dark clouds and pouring rain, somehow felt refreshing.

Although this rain was closer to a ‘rain impersonator’ designed to fall naturally after undergoing high-speed purification treatment from the transparent dome covering the Upper City’s ceiling, feeling such cleanliness between buildings for the first time in a long while made me realize that expensive places truly have their reasons.

Furthermore, unlike the lower areas, which were close to slums with shops and residences chaotically mixed in a messy form, the neatly organized appearance of the Upper City, divided by sections, felt like returning home.

“I never thought I’d get back into the Upper City this way…”

“Then you were thinking of coming in another way?”

Perhaps her feelings differed from mine, as Luna pushed back her raincoat hood and let the rain hit her, making a subtle expression as she looked at the Upper City’s quite innovatively designed buildings.

“Of course. My dream is here.”

As Luna wore a somewhat cool expression while passing roads where ultra-luxury hypercars and AVs moved as a matter of course, I grabbed her shoulder, stuck close to her, and pestered her.

“Since we’ve made it up safely, let’s not make such scary faces. You might get questioned by the security guards, you know?”

“…I’ll handle it myself. And don’t just touch other people’s chests as you please!”

Squeeze squeeze. Deciding that it was Luna’s fault for having such a satisfyingly touchable chest even through thick clothes, I diligently wiggled my fingers, teasing her breasts, and looked at Dr. Pointless, whose voice was oddly awkward even wearing that large raincoat.

“Now that we’ve reached the Upper City, we’re safe, right?”

Thanks to the nanowear, their complexions had improved significantly, and there was no risk of them worsening again, but since I couldn’t leave the two of them wheezing as if struggling to breathe, Dr. Pointless shook his head from side to side in response to my implied desire to take them to a hospital soon.

At that reaction, I thought, ‘Couldn’t we just smash that tin can bastard and avoid being chased?’ and perhaps sensing that atmosphere outwardly, Dr. Pointless hastily continued speaking as if to make an excuse.

“It can’t be helped. Even if the Upper City is tangled with complex interests, it doesn’t mean we can just poke around carelessly.”

“Damn it. What do you want me to do?”

In response to my naturally irritated reaction, Dr. Pointless crossed his arms.

“Shouldn’t we hide in the darkness of the brightest place? Or, failing that, find someone who can protect us.”

“…I know a place.”

***

“It’s quite a heavy rain for a change.”

One of the towering skyscrapers in the Upper City.

One of those skyscrapers. A woman murmured, sipping fragrant coffee with a warm, citrusy aroma rising from it, as she gazed at the weather phenomenon that narrowed the world through the full-glass windows of the top floor.

“According to information, this rainfall is expected to be the heaviest recorded in the last 70 years, and it will continue for approximately 140 hours.”

“That wasn’t what I wanted to know, but thank you for telling me.”

“Not at all, Representative Director-nim.”

A face that, contrary to its gentle atmosphere, exuded an air of mystery, making it difficult to approach carelessly.

The CEO of the sensational company, formerly Extreme Military, now Rossmore Classic Vultures, who had won the lawsuit over forced closure, devoured several related companies, and grew several times larger than before being attacked.

Kathleen Rossmore was enjoying a moment of escape from the deluge of work, chatting casually with her secretary.

“I certainly made a request, but I’m worried if he’ll really arrive on time.”

“Are you referring to the man who personally had that prototype implanted?”

Nod. Kathleen nodded up and down at her secretary’s question, recalling the image of the man who must still be carrying that ‘thing’ she believed was wrongly made, despite having brought it into existence herself.

Slightly playful, sharp yet curved eyes, gently upturned lips, seemingly young but large…

“Director-nim? Director-nim?”

“Yes?”

“You suddenly went silent, so I thought something might have happened.”

“…I just had something to think about.”

Though she had made the first overture, Kathleen thought it presumptuous of herself, and with slightly reddened ears, she evasively answered her secretary’s question.

“Theoretically, even for a highly trained soldier, the operational limit of Kerberos is only two uses, but he survived after using it at maximum output dozens of times since its first test run. Of course, I have a personal liking for him, but I’ll also be able to get excellent data from him.”

“Indeed.”

Her secretary, who was a former soldier herself, seemed to be admiring Kathleen’s words, yet she put a hand to her in-ear device, as if receiving a communication from below.

“Report.”

Could it be that another mercenary group was coming to pick a fight over forced closure again?

Kathleen thought that no fool would pick another fight just a few years after seeing her overwhelming victory in the lawsuit war, so she decided it was just a nuisance caller.

“What? The entire security team was taken down by one unidentified individual? Do you think that makes sense? What, they can’t keep up with the acceleration?”

“…”

“Absolutely prevent them from reaching the CEO… Are you listening?”

Kathleen couldn’t help but feel a strange sensation at the urgent reports and commands coming from beside her.

Surely the company’s security team would be equipped with advanced military-grade cyberware, comparable to corporate soldiers, in preparation for the previous attack.

Approximately 3 minutes later.

The presence of several people began to be heard from outside the CEO room door.

Though it was said they were all taken down by a single individual, could these be their comrades?

“Head to the emergency exit.”

To protect Kathleen, her secretary activated the powered link integrated into her suit, preparing for combat and blocking the space between Kathleen and the door.

It was nothing short of excellent loyalty to be willing to sacrifice one’s life without a moment’s hesitation, even against an intruder who had instantly crushed the corporate headquarters’ security and ascended.

“…Chen, there’s no need for that.”

“Pardon?”

Kathleen let out a deep sigh and spoke in clear pronunciation so that the owners of the presence, who seemed to be deliberately waiting outside, could hear her.

“Come in, John. Next time, I’d appreciate it if you’d just call.”

“Haha. It’s a surprise, but I’m not late for the time you told me to come, am I?”

“You had 6 hours until time out, so you’re quite leisurely.”

Opening the door, the one who appeared was him, nonchalantly scratching the back of his head with a beaming face as if trying to slyly gloss over his mistake, and the friends he had mentioned.

‘…Friends?’

It feels like something strange is mixed in.

Withdrawing her gaze from the old, hooded android, Kathleen decided to just let it go with a sigh.