◈ Episode 31

Squeak.

The unmaintained hinges made a noise as they folded. Thinking that he should start by replacing the door, Kim Lee-hyun went into the office.

'You still go to work after coming all the way here.'

It felt familiar yet strange. There was a time when I would go to work and back home as a matter of course, even though I was tired. But now, even that felt like an extension of the abnormal.

'It hasn't even been half a year, let alone a year.'

The time spent in Polaris was extremely dense. I wonder what I will be like in three years. At least, I will have a rich repertoire of life stories to tell to others.

Suddenly, I remembered a story I heard recently. Life is boring, that's my preference. Kim Yi-hyun also agreed with that.

'Who said that? Was it him?'

On the sofa that had been set up, a woman was sleeping soundly. The drool flowing from her mouth soaked the covers. Her clothes were the same as yesterday.

It was Chelsea who became a member of Dustborne a few days ago.

"...Haam. Oh, you are coming…."

Chelsea woke up with a start, as if she sensed someone's presence. She yawned so loudly that her Adam's apple was visible. Kim Yi-hyun, who was staring at her, said.

"Go back to sleep. We don't take extra care of you or anything because you leave work late and come in early. From now on, we'll charge you for your lodging expenses."

"No… It's not that I'm trying to look good or anything. Actually, I'm a little embarrassed to go home…."

"Why? What happened?"

When asked about the situation, Chelsea sat up straight. She knelt on the sofa and slapped her cheeks to ward off the sleepiness.

The hazy eyes became a little clearer. The typical cat-like eyes that represented Chelsea's personality came back to life. The eye boogers were still there though.

"Ugh, right? It's hard to listen to this without crying, isn't it?"

* * *

Around 3pm yesterday, in a seedy house in the red-light district.

"Wow―!"

Chelsea let out a refreshing exclamation as she took the beer can from her lips. The cushion on which she sat had cotton sticking out, but the landlord didn't care.

Who cares if the cushioning is so bad that your hips hurt? Or if there's a musty smell like spilled coffee or alcohol?

You can use it for 5 more years. If you invest the money you would use to buy furniture for 5 years, it will grow enormously.

'Investing' was a big part of Chelsea's life.

It was her hobby, her specialty—Chelsea herself believed she was an investment genius—and her future.

The only way out of work. The wings that would break free from the hamster wheel and make you the ruler of capitalism.

'Today is a perfect day.'

On a day when there were no urgent dispatches and training ended early, I was lucky enough to get my hands on some liquor that was not widely available but was extremely popular. I also prepared a sumptuous set of side dishes to go with it.

The screen connected to the terminal showed the scene of the stadium.

2:50. Players are starting to enter. This is the third game of the day, right?

Yes, this game will be a lot to watch because, this matchup… … .

"Okay, okay! Let's go!"

The pink eyes looking at the screen were overflowing with anticipation. It was impossible not to be excited. This match would be a great step forward for Chelsea.

'Absolutely. I can get it 100%.'

In fact, a bet that is guaranteed to win is like an illusion.

If it's a game where the winner is obvious to anyone, the odds are bound to be skewed. The league isn't easy enough to make money that easily.

But this match was special in many ways.

One side is a player with a strong fandom even though they are weak. The other side is a player with good skills but no popularity. Even the former's support betting was stronger than usual, and the odds were evenly split at 4:6.

'If you don't eat this, you'll be a loser!'

An opportunity to easily take a large sum of money. Chelsea bet on this match somewhat, no, quite a bit. They even poured out all the money they received from Kim Lee-hyun.

Tiring!

An electronic sound came from the terminal. It was the sound of a message notification.

― Let's go, let's go, Blueback player^^!!!!

- What are you all going to do after you get your paycheck? LOL

― I have to move,,, oh no,,, there's a croaking noise in the corner of the houseㅡㅡ,,,

Chelsea checked the group chat and snorted.

"You idiots. Don't you know that money isn't meant to be spent, it's meant to be rolled over?"

For Chelsea, today's game was not the end. She had made up her mind 10 years ago that she would definitely succeed someday. She could not be satisfied with one victory.

However, it did not pour cold water on the atmosphere that had finally heated up.

"Everyone, cheer on… cheer on…."

I sent them a decent message. They were all members that Chelsea shared their picks with. Even though their way of thinking is a bit stuffy, in a way, they are colleagues.

'Because I decided to get a Pochi too.'

It is agreed that they will each take 10% of the profits. Even though we did not sign a contract, there is no need to worry. Once they get a taste of it, they will voluntarily pay it. That way, they can get the next pick.

The blueprint for success was laid out perfectly. Chelsea laughed to herself. The taste of alcohol on her tongue could not have been this sweet.

It was good until then. But.

- Oh, it looks like the game is being delayed.

The beginning of the change was the relayer's voice of distress.

"What? Why aren't you coming out…?"

Blueback. The player who carried the fate of Chelsea and his neighborhood friends on his shoulders was nowhere to be seen. Even as the scheduled time of 3 o'clock approached.

― Something may have gone wrong. Blueback's sponsors are also in a state of confusion. It's difficult, but our broadcasting team hasn't heard anything…

I put down the beer can. It wasn't the time to drink or anything.

Are other gamblers starting to feel the pinch too?

- What happens if I don't show up like this?

- Isn't it a failure?

- Then what about our money?

The chat was cut off for a moment. A cold atmosphere flowed.

"Fuck, f*ck. That's a lie. Seriously, seriously, don't do it."

Bad feelings always come true. Annoyingly, time passed by without a trace. Blueback never showed up.

- It's 3:10.

- Blueback player is out of the game. Flavor player takes the points in vain.

― It's unfortunate, but rules are rules! The audience's boos are reaching the sky, and in this case, the tickets… … .

Chelsea was frozen and couldn't move. A no-show, an unexpected result. The thinking literally came to a halt, so she wasn't even angry.

She suddenly came to her senses, having forgotten even the passage of time. The notification sound was ringing. And sure enough, the chat room was on fire.

'Ouch, we're in trouble.'

I have to run away.

Chelsea hurried out of the house, holding only the terminal. She went into a nearby alley to check the situation for a moment. As expected, she found people running towards her.

Some were carrying clubs. Some were carrying oil cans. When they arrived at Chelsea's house, they started pounding on the door like crazy people.

Boom, bang!

"I know what's inside, open the door!"

"I'm coming out, it's a dog! I can shoot!"

There was no demon. Chelsea shivered with fear. She couldn't go home like this. It was the moment when she was about to take a cautious step back.

Bam!

A can lying on the street was crushed and crushed. A man's head snapped up at the noise.

"There it is, there it is!"

"Catch that bitch!"

One person had a face that could easily be buried.

"Eek...!"

Chelsea turned and ran away. She felt a threat to her life. A danger closer and more blatant than the faint scent of death she had smelled through her scope when she had first fought Snowfield in the underground.

It was the day she became homeless, not homeless.

And back to the present.

"That chew! I can't admit it. It's a game manipulation!"

Chelsea slammed the table after finishing her lengthy explanation. She didn't look like someone who had just woken up.

Kim Yi-hyeon thought that it was his own fault, but he didn't say anything out loud. It was just a scratch. He laughed in vain and responded appropriately.

"Life is so much fun. I'm jealous."

"You're jealous? This?"

"Of course. I can't live like you for the rest of my life."

There has never been a more certain counter-example.

* * *

A briefing came over the earpiece.

- I missed two. I'll be going to B-3 soon.

- Again? Are you not going to come to your senses?

- What should I do if I keep moving even after getting shot?

- Talk later. Who's going to clean it up?

Kim Yi-hyeon looked at the map with his terminal. There were blue dots here and there. They were the locations of his team members and himself.

"I'll go. Pep, keep an eye on those guys you caught. Don't let them run away like before, and don't overreact."

- Yes. I'll tie it up.

After hearing Pep's answer, I crossed the alley. After passing the side road, another side road opened up. There were many complex sections in Cilicia like this, like roads cutting into each other.

It's daytime now, but at night it's like a labyrinth. Night is when hyenas move around. Patrol drones don't always fly around.

Drones are often captured by scavengers who collect useful items and sell them. It's an obvious crime, but if you get away with it, you're fine.

The 'official record' is important.

If there is no data that can identify the facts of the crime and the criminal, even a heinous criminal who has killed dozens of people can enjoy all the rights of a citizen.

In the back alleys of Cilicia, there live such 'good citizens'. The guys we are chasing now have not yet become outlaws.

These are the guys who will become one sooner or later.

- Hyun, I'll stick to the back. I'll be a few seconds behind due to my position. What should I do? Do you want to get the timing right?

"Just come. I'll stop you, so you clean up after me."

After giving instructions, I turned the next corner.

Soon I could hear urgent footsteps. As I aimed my gun, a man appeared around the corner.

Bang, bang!

As soon as the head appeared, Kim I-Hyeon immediately fired a warning shot. The non-lethal rubber bullet hit the wall.

"Damn, here too…!"

The man backed away and hid himself against the wall. Kim Yi-Hyun fired two more shots and took his right hand off the gun. A new device was in his hand.

[N13 Flash Grenade]. A 3-star auxiliary equipment that reduces the enemy's normal attack hit rate by 25% for 5 seconds. It's a common weapon that appears everywhere.

It's a 'normal' flash grenade. If it hits directly, it won't just block your vision for a few seconds. Unless it's an FPS game.

Kim Yi-hyeon pulled out the pin and threw it into the wall where the enemy was hiding. There was an explosion as the man who saw the flash grenade swore.

'Leave that to Jenna.'

Jenna, who will arrive soon, will subdue them. I left them alone and checked the surroundings. There are two people who escaped. I have only found one so far.

- Check the 2nd floor of the building on the right.

I turned my head at Chelsea's voice.

There was a horned man on the iron steps of the building. When Kim I-Hyeon fired his bullet, Pecatum quickly lowered his posture.

It was only for a moment. Pecatum knew that the bullets they were using were not threatening, and that if they continued like this, they would be surrounded and captured. He stepped on the stair railing and jumped down.

There was a pile of trash bags at the landing point. Kim I-Hyeon poured all the remaining bullets on Pecatum, who was rolling on the trash pile.

Pecatum did not fall down even though he was hit in all but one of his feet. He grimaced in pain, but got up as if nothing had happened.

'I'd like to go to Matt's house once.'

It was a great race. It was understandable why Pavoni, a country mafia, tried to deceive the innocent Pecatum.

"Move!"

The Pecatum man rushed at Kim I-hyeon. His purpose was obvious. If you just walk a little further, you will reach the main street.

In front of civilians, not only Dustborne but also the police cannot fight freely. Completing the request is like crossing the water… . I have been active for almost a month and have yet to fail.

Kim Yi-hyeon didn't bother to engage in a physical fight. He didn't have the confidence to win. He made way for them to pass and then made a gun in his right hand and aimed it.

[Pulse Waver]. A Polaris taser gun manufactured by Harrenhal's military enterprise. The current is set much higher than in reality.

Ta-da-da-dak!

"Ahhhh!"

Pecatum, who had electrodes embedded in his back, fell down as he ran. It was a lethal weapon, but it was deadly. Kim I-hyeon restrained Pecatum with handcuffs.

"Chelsea. Video?"

- You took a good picture. This is all you can do.

"Why, are you complaining? You said it looked fun."

― The fun part is long gone. This is actually quite difficult to control.

When out on missions, Chelsea often uses a drone rather than her original sniping duties, in order to record the situation on video.

If you kill someone, it will be evidence that it was self-defense. It will also be useful for reviewing missions regardless of whether they are related to the National Assembly.

"It's difficult, so you should do it. You're good at it."

― Ahem, if you say so… Ahem… .

From the start, Chelsea tended to shy away from praise, which made them easy to deal with.

"...You said you would stop it, but you just did it all by yourself."

Jenna, who had come closer without realizing it, muttered in despair. The man who had been caught by her and dragged away shouted at Kim Ihyeon while glaring at him.

"What the fuck, who the hell are you guys? Where the hell did you come from? What did we do!"

Their actions were varied. They included special assault, extortion under the pretext of protection money, distribution of illegal drugs, and forced sales.

There was no need to remind her. Jenna just hit her head for being noisy without any explanation.

"Someone will be here soon. Leave your statement there."

It is not known whether the Congress obtained evidence of the crime. It was not necessary to know. If necessary, they would create evidence that did not exist.

"Pep, Bryce. Bring the guys you caught and join us here. Chelsea, keep a good lookout."

That's all for today.

* * *

"Please don't put such a weird frame on me. Why am I a loser?"

Pep let out a frustrated voice as he went up to the office. Unfortunately, he had no one on his side here.

"You missed it. Hyun cleaned it up for you."

"Twice in a row is too much. Should I deduct it from my salary?"

"I said the equipment is the problem. Does it make sense to kill a Pecatum with rubber bullets in the first place?"

"Don't rely on guns, use your body."

"You want me to fight Pecatum?"

Pep sighed and hit his forehead, as if he was dumbfounded.

In terms of gameplay, Pep was a typical long-range dealer. A fighter who specialized in mid-range shooting. However, his close combat skills were lacking.

He was also the one who was the least adapted to activities on the ground. I heard that he was also scouted by White Fang while he was working as a bounty hunter.

'Well, I guess I'll do well.'

Kim Yi-hyeon didn't really care. It wasn't a serious enough problem to be called a hole. His teammates were also playfully harassing him.

In situations where real bullets are needed, Pep will be active. When he can't, someone who can can cover for him. Pep's salary will be cut, though.

It was when I arrived at the 3rd floor where the office was located.

"Oh, bro."

I could find Roscoe loitering in front of the door. He was an unexpected guest. Unlike Asterique, Roscoe didn't come here often.

"When did you come? I didn't get your message."

"I just got here. I was trying to call you because it was locked, and you're here right now. Are you coming back from work?"

"Uh huh. But why?"

Roscoe exchanged greetings with his teammates. Then he opened his mouth in a hesitant manner.

"Well, I have something to discuss."

"What? Are you trying to ask for a favor?"

"Rather than a request, I should say it's a headache…."

It didn't feel refreshing at all. It was as if he had come to borrow money. Kim Yi-hyeon looked at Roscoe for a moment and then walked closer to the door.

"Let's not do this here. Let's go in and talk."

As he unlocked the terminal and entered, a dark office greeted Kim I-hyeon. The office has not yet hired any permanent staff.

I will look for it when I start receiving external requests. Right now, since there are only a few people, I can be satisfied with just the salary given per case by the council.

Soon, Kim Hyun-i sat down across from Roscoe. Instead of coffee, he opened the teapot that Astérique had brought and placed it on the table.

"I think there was a game today too. What was the result?"

"Of course we won. Sponsor offers are pouring in, but we are just waiting to see. We are thinking about promotion to the first division first."

"Fortunately, things seem to be going well."

I shook my head and suddenly looked down. Roscoe's hands were shaking slightly.

"Why are your hands shaking so much?"

"Oh, it's because I quit smoking."

"Quit smoking? If you smoke, you'll die."

"Miss Asterique told me to tell her from afar that the cigarette smelled bad... I thought that this was also part of my job as a manager, so I decided to quit."

"Oh my. Such a big decision."

Kim Yi-hyeon snickered. He had never smoked a cigarette, but he knew roughly how hard it was to quit smoking through his friends' stories.

I prayed that my resolution would not last more than three days.

"Anyway, back to the main point... How should I put this? There's no major problem right now, and it could be a fluke."

"Take it easy. I won't deduct any consultation fees."

"Haha. Thanks for that."

Roscoe cleared his throat. His expression, which had been relaxed, became serious again.

"First of all, it's something related to the young lady."