episode_0128

I walked across the bar to the metal sight office’s troubleshooters.

Ray was following behind me, one step behind.

“…Huh?”

“Hello?!”

They recognized me before I even said a word.

“It was the same last time, I think you come here often.”

Three in all. They all had their entire bodies transformed into prosthetic bodies.

Coincidentally, the shapes of their eyes were different, but their eye colors were red, yellow, and green.

‘This is totally a traffic light.’

Although I didn’t say it out loud, the color combination was just right.

“It was better than I thought.”

“Really?”

The words of the red-eyed guy with the square pupils made me feel so good.

“Chris, wouldn’t it be better to make a statement first?”

“Oh, that’s right.”

Following Ray’s words, I introduced Ray to the three people at the Metal Sight office.

“Well, I know anyway, so I’ll skip it. Here···.”

“You know that too, Chris.”

“Really?”

“I mean, I’m a kid from the Ildong office.”

Ray nodded to their words. They weren’t wrong.

Now that our introductions are over, it’s the guys’ turn.

Ian has red, square pupils, Marcus has green, cross-shaped eyes, and Nils has yellow, spider-like eyes.

“Hmm.”

“Is it difficult?”

“No, that’s not it.”

I clearly said that wasn’t the case, but the way the three guys were looking at me seemed to indicate that they already thought that was the case.

“There is an easier way to tell them apart.”

“What is it?”

Nils, with his yellow eyes, began to roll his eyes from side to side.

Although the sight was a bit creepy, I asked out of politeness.

“All three of us are platoon leaders.”

“I am the 1st Platoon Leader, Nils is the 2nd Platoon Leader, and Marcus is the 3rd Platoon Leader.”

I get what Niels and Ian are trying to say, but… honestly, I feel more confused.

“Well… Anyway, there are platoon leaders under the director and vice director, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. Our office has quite a few of them, you know.”

Ian’s words piqued my curiosity a little.

“But you drink alcohol well even though you have a full body prosthesis?”

“Chris….”

Ray was horrified, but to me it was a very important question.

“We didn’t change our entire body though.”

“Really? It looks expensive at first glance.”

Orc Kings and Young Lords. If it weren’t for the wealth they amassed through their alliances with the two gangs of Oakland, they wouldn’t have even dreamed of it.

Although the Blue Heart Office readily gave up its administrative office space to the Metal Sight Office, it was still the kingpin of Grove Avenue.

***

“I’m going around the offices and talking to you guys. How are you doing?”

“Yes?”

“Well, it’s the current situation and stuff.”

“Ah… We’re fine.”

The pupils were trembling slightly and there was a slight mechanical noise. It was clear that he was lying.

The guys under me still don’t know me well!

“Really?”

“….”

My and Ray’s gaze continues.

Then, of the three, Marcus, the one with green eyes, was the first to speak.

“Excuse me, Chris. Can I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

There was something else I wanted to hear, but I decided to give in for now.

“First of all, our office is also under Chris’s control… I understand that he has been under your control in various ways recently.”

“You know?”

“Do you intend to take the Orc Kings and the Young Lords under your command?”

uh….

“Well? It’s a cooperative relationship, right?”

Now that I’ve started to take over the mountains and rivers, I’m more powerful than the two gangs.

Now that I think about it, it seems like our cooperative relationship is lacking.

Because if the two gangs collude with the Lidocaine Association in an unexpected situation, they could be in for a disaster.

“Well, not right now, but I guess I can do something about it later.”

“….”

What comes out of my mouth won’t be the answer they want.

“Okay, then let me ask you something.”

“Yes, do you have any questions?”

“Do you know anything about the Gear Hunters Office?”

As I sat down at the table with the three guys, I couldn’t help but find myself looking at the drinks they were drinking.

“I know a little bit. Even if I don’t want to know, there are a lot of things in common.”

“How would you compare them to me?”

“…What kind of comparison are you talking about?”

Marcus’s response seemed to suggest that my question was too vague.

***

“Well, there are areas where you are both confident. There are areas where you are not lacking compared to your office. ”

“…First of all, the equipment is killing me.”

It was Niels, not Marcus, who answered.

This time, it started to roll its yellow spider eyes around noisily.

“Equipment red?”

“Yes, we did spend more money on the body.”

“And we’ll probably have higher versatility. If it were a big machine war, you’d be higher level than us.”

Ian’s explanation continues.

“….”

“Can you elaborate a little more?”

As I looked at myself furtively, Ray asked me.

Then Ian and Nils started explaining things.

“First of all, do you know roughly how the Gear Hunter Office was created?”

“Uh… Really?”

“You really know that, right?”

“They’re here to get revenge on those crazy androids and prosthetic users.”

Even so, I preferred to check at least the minimum information before the interview.

Meanwhile, Ian and Nils reacted as if what I said was correct.

“So what should I say? It’s a bit excessive, isn’t it?”

“For example?”

“Unlike us, I understand that even the inside of your body has been completely replaced with a prosthetic body.”

“…Then you can’t even dream of food or alcohol?”

Marcus’ words suddenly interrupted.

But it was Ian who answered me.

“That’s right. We have no intention of giving up that kind of fun.”

“Then what do you mean by universality? If the Gear Hunter completely replaced the inside of the body, wouldn’t that be stronger?”

“That means if the machine guys are your opponents. The goal of the people in that office is to catch the crazy machine guys.”

Oh, aha? I think I understand a little bit.

“So you’re saying that if your opponent isn’t a machine, you’re at an advantage?”

“Yes, that’s right. And as I said before, the price of the prosthetics we use is incomparable to theirs, so the functions are also diverse. ”

Niels hesitated at Ray’s question.

Then, all of a sudden, a business card popped out from the back of my hand.

Metal Sight Office, 2nd Platoon Leader Nils Heutmann.

A blue hologram of a stationery store appeared above the business card with “.” written clearly on it.

The hologram was of Niels himself, standing in front of me and Ray.

“…Oh? Is this possible with a business card?”

“Yes, I have an acquaintance who is designing business cards.”

Niels said that and then asked me and Ray if we were interested too.

It feels like they’re taking bribes one by one rather than conducting a surprise inspection…

Well, whatever!

“But wouldn’t it cost a bit of money if it had a hologram?”

“That’s true. But… isn’t it cool?!”

“Yeah! I see!”

You could say that it’s a total waste of money. But… at the same time, it’s also a total romance!

“First of all, is there anything you would like to include on your business card or express in a hologram?”

“Uh….”

My official title at the Blue Heart Office was… what was it?

“Ray, what should I do?”

“Chris, why don’t you just list your affiliation and then write down your ranking?”

“Hmm, that sounds good.”

For the time being, I have no intention of going to other top solvers to try and climb the rankings.

The second place case is a bit more complicated, but I don’t think I’ll get second place.

“Is this possible?”

I wrote down the parts I wanted and showed them to Nils.

“Yes, it is possible! But I wonder if it would be too complicated with a hologram.”

What I wrote was simple. I wanted Ray’s picture on my business card, and my picture on Ray’s business card!

“First of all, the person receiving the business card will be confused.”

As Ian chimed in, I began to worry again.

“Then what about the two little bats?”

“I think it will be okay.”

In response to Nils’s answer, I said that the part where the two bats are holding each other’s hands was important.

“If we’re going to do it, why don’t we show you the real thing?”

***

“Hey, Chris. I don’t think that’s necessary.”

When I came out too aggressively, Ray started blushing in embarrassment.

The three guys at the Metal Sight office showed various reactions as they watched the sight.

Marcus just stares without any reaction, Nils looks like his mouth is twitching, and Ian tries to change the subject out of consideration for Ray.

It was like two completely different traffic lights.

“But how much does a business card cost?”

“You don’t have to worry about that.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll ask my friend and try to do it for free somehow.”

No, is such a heinous thing possible in Magusfall?

“Mr. Niels, you don’t have to go that far….”

“No, if you say that it’s a business card for a top 10 problem solver, your acquaintances will like it. After all, it’s self-promotion.”

…Is that so?

Since Niels said so, I decided not to refuse the favor he offered me.

A business card with a hologram? I’m already starting to get excited.

Meanwhile, the traffic light guys offered us drinks too.

Alcohol was a bit weird, so I chose a suitable drink.

“Chris, Ray. Here you go.”

Then, Eslock, who looked like a giant mole, came over and brought us the drinks we had ordered.

Everyone laughed at the sight of the former branch manager, who had now become a landmark at Sylvia’s bar.

“Thank you.”

After saying that to Eslock, Ray and I toasted with the traffic light guys.

Even though it wasn’t alcohol, it was important to get in the mood.

“Cheers!”

After that, we talked about various things about the Gear Hunters office.

Like a way to become friends with them.

“Well, they are people who are crazy about revenge.”

“…Then let’s just catch some crazy machines together.”

It was something I blurted out in response to Ian’s words.

But the traffic light guys all agreed that the way I just threw it out there was the best.

“Ah, it’s the director.”

This happy time did not last long.

Because Ian got a call from Anderson, the head of the Metal Sight office.

The traffic light guys hurried off to their offices, leaving Ray and I alone at the table they were at.

“Then shall we go in?”

“Okay, then.”

Ray didn’t express any regret about breaking up with me.

But I could read Ray’s emotions just by looking at the subtle movements of those red eyes.

“Ray, see you later!”

“Yeah, Chris!”

I was thinking of seeing him off outside the bar, but I had work to do.

What I confirmed with Psylocke last time, I had to confirm with Aslock, Lillian, and Laia.

The question is whether the second place holder really intends to become the wise man of the north.