episode_0109

“Alright~ Done!”

Getting up from the operating table, I immediately moved my tingling arms and legs to shadowbox, testing my increased elasticity.

Fiber tissue made from high-elasticity shape-memory material.

My distal tendons and ligaments had just been replaced with lightweight, superiorly elastic bio-composite implants that also benefited from nanoweare’s real-time reconstruction procedures.

Thump! Thwack!

Even before the anesthesia completely wore off, my strikes and jumping in place showed significantly better performance than before the procedure.

“At this rate, even if I use speedwear, I’ll only have to worry about my bones or muscles, not ruptured ligaments, right?”

“Thanks to Oppa, I can get unlimited support for the highest-grade implants from Ayakashi and its affiliated chrome manufacturers~ so I gave it my all~”

Indeed, Mason’s skill in effortlessly performing high-difficulty procedures like muscle fiber replacement, not just simple distal replacements or organ insertions, was admirable, proving that his claim of being a member of a legendary mercenary team that raided Hwangryong, a world-leading mega-corp, was no empty boast.

“You mean you could have used anesthetic all this time, but you didn’t?”

“Ahaha~ I need to start my research now, so I’d appreciate it if Oppa would leave♡”

Mason tossed his blood-stained surgical gloves into the waste bin and issued an order for me to leave, as if to evade my interrogation.

But I’m supposed to be the CEO here…

I mumbled, but in the engineering room, the engineer was king, so I had no choice but to step back.

When I walked out, pouting discontentedly, Luna, as if she had been waiting, rose from the waiting seat and greeted me.

“Are you done?”

“Yeah. My ligaments and tendons were replaced with high-elasticity bio-materials, and my internal armor plates and combat auxiliary eyeballs were upgraded to higher models.”

“Even with the leeway, it’s quite minimal. Now that you’re getting sponsorship, don’t you plan to change more?”

“Anyway, cyberwear is inefficient beyond this point because it won’t receive the benefits of nanomachines. The only thing I’d consider adding would be something like a cardiac arrest defibrillator.”

If I were to make any more modifications, it would have to be biowear.

Besides, the replacement tendons and ligaments I just had implanted are essentially close to biowear already.

Whoosh—

As Luna and I chatted casually, walking down the hallway, Raleigh, who seemed to have already prepared for combat, walked towards us from the opposite direction, her breathing audible through her mask.

And next to her was a Shape Shifter, similarly dressed but without a mask, revealing an otherworldly face like white porcelain.

“Oh, what’s this? Are you two going to Mason for engineering too?”

“…”

Hiss—

Raleigh exhaled again and slowly nodded her head up and down.

“I am merely following along. My maintenance was completed while I was still with Rossmore’s company, so it is unnecessary.”

Dr. Pointless and the Shape Shifter had joined up when they came down to the Upper City and decided to stay in this building for a while.

The secret base in Tony Boni had already been completely raided by Roden, and the Shape Shifter had lost all of her clients, so this was the only place to hide an entity like Dr. Pointless, who violated the EP Special Ordinance.

“Are you two heading to meet that tin can then?”

“Yeah. That’s right. Before we recruit Wild Hunt, I want to have a proper talk with Dr. Pointless.”

“I’d tell you not to… but it’s not my place to stop you.”

Aside from Mason, an engineer with deep knowledge of implant procedures, Dr. Pointless was a developer with incredible development capabilities, possessing hidden Xenotech technology.

Such a technician was always worth recruiting if possible.

After hearing Luna’s words, the Shape Shifter closed her eyes, her porcelain-like face signaling the end of the conversation as she started walking again, passing us by.

“…”

Raleigh gave a brief nod and followed her, heading towards Mason’s engineering room.

“We should recruit her too, you know.”

“If you’re going to recruit the Shape Shifter, it’s better to talk with Vanishment. She’s currently contracted to be part of Vanishment’s affiliation.”

“What a hassle~ But those guys are taking jobs directly from mega-corps, would they even want to be affiliated with our company?”

“We’ll have to think about the conditions for them to accept then… But I do have something in mind.”

As expected of Luna. She has a plan!

“If you keep this up, I might just fulfill the dream I’ve had since before I became a mercenary?”

“What is it…?”

Luna seemed somewhat expectant, wondering what nonsense I’d spout next.

“Marrying you to become your live-in kept man?”

I proudly and majestically gave a thumbs up.

A live-in kept man, no less.

What a great and grand dream!

“…Don’t talk nonsense and focus on your work. I have no intention of putting up with something like a live-in kept man!”

“No! My awesome plan!!!”

Thwack!

“Gasp! Gasp, gasp!”

With a heavy impact that shook my gut, I couldn’t breathe..!

I looked up at Luna, whose face was flushed crimson, and could only write her name as a dying message.

Your hand stings…

“You’re exaggerating!”

“I am a proper young man who has never exaggerated in my life. Have you ever received a perfect attendance award through elementary, middle, and high school? Huh?”

“Be quiet!”

As Luna raised her fist, I put up both hands, declaring surrender.

Once was enough, twice would be a bit much.

“Phew… But it’s not a bad dream…”

“Right?”

“Except for the live-in kept man part.”

“That’s the most…”

“…”

“Yeah, it’s not important. It’s the part that can be torn off and thrown into the sewer, right.”

Only then did Luna nod, seemingly satisfied, and stopped pouting. She then playfully tapped my hand with her finger.

When I opened my hand at the ticklish sensation, a soft yet firm hand slipped between my fingers, interlocking with mine.

Feeling the firm grip and warmth of her hand, we headed towards Dr. Pointless’s room.

It had been less than three days since the building opened, but he had already set up his territory. The floor was filled with the strange machines I had seen in Tony Boni, the ones whose purpose I didn’t know, and they were all running.

And amidst those machines, an old research android was meticulously fiddling with something, deeply concentrated.

“Oh, you’ve come at a good time. I was just about to call you. It’s Ayakashi Jun now, isn’t it?”

“Just call me Dojun or John Doe, whatever. By the way, you were looking for me?”

Dr. Pointless sprayed lubricant on his arm joints and warmly greeted me, who had suddenly appeared.

“You saved our kiddo, and you helped me maintain my existence when I was about to be discarded. I’ve prepared a gift in return.”

“Haha, I wonder if I’m the only one who’s ever received a gift from an android?”

It was truly a strange feeling to receive a gift as a reward for showing kindness to an android that merely moved according to commands and programming.

“As I said, I have not defined my existence. My body is made of an alloy mixed with iron, zinc, nickel, magnesium, and eleven other metal elements, along with neural mimicry circuits, but I do not consider myself an android, so it would be difficult to indulge in such sentiments.”

“It’s complicated, really complicated.”

I’m a human who can’t even self-reflect, so I have nothing to say when attacked with such 22nd-century philosophical dilemmas.

Dr. Pointless didn’t seem to be seeking an answer from me, either. Instead of continuing, he held up a piece of clothing he had been fiddling with on a cutting machine.

It was a white jumper, whose material I couldn’t even guess, but it had a texture resembling artificial leather, internal plates that seemed to offer some protection, and upon closer inspection, tiny embedded integrated circuits covering its surface.

“It’s the same item as the cloaking cloak our kiddo uses. It has basic functions like radar and infrared detection evasion, as well as active optical camouflage. While it won’t be of great significance, it also possesses a certain degree of blade and bullet resistance, and its functions will be maintained even if it sustains damage exceeding 30%.”

“…”

Ignoring the fact that radio wave and infrared stealth were basic functions, the active optical camouflage for invisibility, bullet and blade resistance, and function retention were absurd.

It was such a bizarre item that it made me understand why the Shape Shifter hadn’t broken despite being hit so many times.

I could confidently say that all military camouflage outerwear currently under development couldn’t even touch the hem of this jumper.

“That’s a crazy piece of gear.”

“It’s quite expensive.”

“No, this isn’t something you can make just by throwing some money at it…”

Luna, who had been listening to the explanation beside me, exhaled, more dumbfounded than surprised.

Indeed, it was a truly astounding item.

Dr. Pointless handed me the jumper, then turned around in his chair with a clunk—the heavy footsteps characteristic of an old android—and sat down.

“That will be of help in the future. And the reason you came all this way is because you want me to be affiliated with your company, isn’t it?”

“…You knew.”

“How could I not? It may sound like self-praise, but I am a technician of considerable value. However, I cannot meet that expectation.”

Luna frowned slightly.

“I thought you had a contract with Vanishment. Is there a reason you won’t contract with us?”

She seemed quite upset at being rejected before even starting the conversation.

“Please don’t misunderstand, there is a reason. I didn’t say I would directly affiliate with Vanishment either. I will organize and hand over the Xenotech secrets and developed technology data that I possess.”

“…Can you do that?”

“The lifespan of the machine I am currently operating is not very long now. It will stop functioning in another year or two.”

His tone was utterly calm, as if he were discussing something entirely separate from himself.

No, perhaps it was simply the voiceware limitation of an old android, but it certainly sounded that way.

“Then if you transfer the data to another machine…”

“I refuse. I consider the lifespan of this machine to be the permitted time of my existence. I have not defined my existence, but neither do I wish to deny an existence that has not yet been defined. Even if I were to transfer to another machine, whether it be a replicated data body or a research AI from which errors have been eliminated, I wish to end as myself, exactly as I am.”

“…That’s a shame, considering you were just born.”

“Thank you for your concern, young lady. But now that our kiddo has grown so much, I don’t feel it’s a shame to think my role is over. Rather, it’s delightful.”

The old android let out a few beeps, as if laughing, then turned completely around.

“You may leave.”

There was no fear in that dismissal.

Standing in front of the room, holding the gift received from a being who was not human but more human than any, Luna and I looked at each other, silently sharing a brief moment of emotion.

“That tin can is more human than humans.”

“I agree.”

Despite the subtle emotions, all preparations were complete.

I put on the newly received cloaking jumper and stood at the air vehicle exclusive exit on the 45th floor of Cylinder 77.

Waiting there was JQ, excitedly standing on the roof of an AV, greeting us.

“What took you so long! Get in quickly, I’m dying to leave!”

Luna chuckled faintly at JQ, who was utterly excited to ride an AV—something even a successful mercenary would have to save money not just for months but for years to buy—on the company’s dime. She unclasped her intertwined hands.

“Honestly… Is it really that good? Anyway, Jun, you have to be careful, okay?”

“Of course. I’ve been to Tony Boni so many times.”

“What does that matter?”

Luna chuckled lightly.

Peck—

A soft touch on my lips, and then Luna’s face, spinning her eyes awkwardly to avoid my gaze, moved away.

“Grrr… I can’t take it anymore…!”

“Just go.”

“Yes, ma’am.”