8. Pro
Leonard was the self-proclaimed best solver in A-044 City.
There are times when I add humility and say ‘one of the best solvers’, but I didn’t let go of the title anyway. That’s why the situation is so embarrassing right now.
“I don’t mind. Didn’t the request just fail, and you killed the target?”
“Oh, it was a mistake.”
“mistake? mistake? The best solver in Sodom?”
“There is a saying that even monkeys can tap dance in trees, right?”
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Jake, the ‘broker’, stretched his frontal and corrugator muscles to the limit to create wrinkles. I guessed it because of his bald head, but the implant rate was not high. Artificial muscles couldn’t express such a vivid ‘angry man’.
“Can you explain who the little boy the monkey brought is?”
“Uh, well? A guy I don’t know too well?”
Leonard and the broker looked up and little Max nodded. The middleman smiled and then turned his face again.
“Seven thousand credits. Blowing away a 7,000 credits commission out of pity? Are you still a pro?”
“Pro…?”
Leonard’s face hardened. It wasn’t because of my usual conviction that a true professional is more than a skill.
“Listening to what the scavenger scum say, they say it’s a request for 10,000 credits, but why am I asking for 7,000? Why is the pro cheaper? Am I a pro?”
“uh? uh, that’s…”
“I have a reasonable suspicion that the broker I have entrusted my work with has taken more credit than the commission. Shall we hear what the same professional thinks?”
When Leonard put away his overcoat and showed him his revolver, the broker waved his hands in bewilderment.
“for a moment. for a moment. misunderstood misunderstood. I can explain.”
The other side picked the job first, so I had to cut the cost due to negotiating late, the reason I didn’t tell you in advance was because of the call time, I’m Jake the broker, I really don’t trust you, and so on. Leonard nodded grimly.
“Of course, I will.”
And he pulled out his revolver. The middleman got cold and covered his head and pulled up to his right foot. Leonard cast his gaze as to why he was oblivious and pressed the stopper to pull out the cylinder. I had already fired all six rounds, and only bullet casings remained.
“This bitch…”
Leonard laughed and removed the barrel for maintenance. If you ask if you need oil after shooting only 6 shots, you will answer that a drop of strong oil is cheaper than life.
The agent buried himself in the back of the sofa and watched Max flirting with Sigma.
“So what are you thinking? Are you going to babysit me?”
“I didn’t even think about that…”
The broadcast channel changed when the broker was about to say something. It was not a pirate broadcast calling for the downfall of a company, but a regular broadcast after a long time. The content didn’t matter. It was a very ordinary morning news that nine people were killed in a gang fight on 21st Street, a collapse accident at a suburban coal mine left three people missing, and the son of the president of Bolfors hit and killed a construction worker while drunk and driving without a license. The story of the scavenger who died in the back alley of 12th Street also came up briefly, literally briefly.
“Even corporate guys who are not afraid of the world would want to hide the fact that they kidnap children and trade with old people.”
It was reported to the corporate client that Fixer and Scavenger competed for success and failed. I won’t dig as deep as the back is rotten.
“Even if I get over this one, it will be difficult if it continues like this.”
“I know.”
“No kidding. It would be ‘really’ difficult.”
It doesn’t seem like it’s a level of difficulty where work is falling. Leonard also nodded seriously.
“Be careful.”
The broker sighed and quit. It was nagging to talk more about the solver who had seen all the sweet, salty, bitter, and spicy tastes on the ground and underground.
“A new job is coming. Don’t go far and wait.”
“already?”
“Didn’t you just see the news? The gangsters are shooting and the young master is making an accident. At times like this, there is a lot of work.”
The broker got up with his overcoat and hat. He pretended not to be, but it was clear that he came because he was worried about Leonard. So I couldn’t just let it go.
“Jake, hold on.”
“Ah, if it’s dinner, that’s it. After all, it’s either an energy bar or a soup noodle soup.”
“What are you talking about? I want you to create a new identity for that little boy. Since the name is common, use it as it is, but change the date of birth and place of origin. Of course, it’s traumatic.”
“This guy… really…”
The most useless worries on earth were corporate worries and Leonard worries. At least that was the case in A-044 City.
@
Contrary to the broker’s boast, no work came in for several days.
According to rumors, the war between the Wildkid gang and the Twins gang, which dominated the 20th street, was in full swing, and a scavenger who could hire a fixer was saving himself.
“Isn’t a scavenger someone who kills people and removes implants and sells them? That’s why his name is also Scavenger.”
Max asked, turning his head. Sigma used two of his four arms to hold Max’s head back. It was not good to move during a haircut.
“Originally, I only referred to those guys, but now if you don’t have citizenship and don’t have a job, you just call them scavengers.”
“Can such a person hire a fixer?”
“Without citizenship, there is no help from the public security, and gangsters are less trustworthy than public security agents. So what can I do?”
Among the so-called ‘high air drinkers’, there are cases where they seek a fixer for something shameful, but usually the main customers are backstreet residents. Young but intelligent Max quickly understood and moved on.
“Then what do you mainly do? Not just saving a kid without implants.”
Sigma laughed loudly. It was terrifying because he let out a laugh with an expressionless expression.
“It’s a lot of work. Searching for people, protecting them, punishing them, rescuing things, transporting them, stealing them… Ah, as I said in advance, I don’t accept requests to kill people.”
There were times when I had no choice but to kill, but there was never a time when killing itself was the goal. Max mouthed an exclamation.
“Hey, is that Mr. Leonard’s conscience?”
“It’s more like a rice bowl than that. A fixer isn’t a contractor. There are other experts out there.”
There were quite a few people who were only called fixers and were actually killers. There are many people in the industry who love it because it is easier to kill than to actually save, protect, and move it, but the contract work was short-lived. Max nodded as if he knew.
“Is that why you don’t have a job?”
In a war where gangs kill and kill, there wasn’t much to do with a solver who doesn’t kill people. Unless it’s Leonard’s case, there will be quite a few fixers hired to retaliate.
“But if you have skills, you have work. Is there such a thing as a niche market? How many things have I solved in seven years?”
“Come on. Voila. It’s all done.”
said Sigma, putting away the scissors, comb, razor, and clippers at the same time. Like a versatile all-round android, his haircut skills were excellent. Max admired his beautifully shortened hair in the mirror.
“Are you cool? The workmanship is really good.”
“It’s the first time I’ve actually done it.”
Leonard had implants on 70% of his body, so his hair did not grow well, and Jake, the broker, was bald, so he had nothing to touch.
“I have 17 basic functions, such as cooking, cleaning, crime prevention, and childcare, but due to the user’s lack of discretion, I cannot use them.”
“Why is it my fault?”
The two legs are expensive, so users who put wheels on them protested. Clever Max quickly accepted the situation.
“Do not worry. Let me help you.”
“Why are you helping? You are a guest.”
As Leonard grumbled, the 100% human and 100% machine stared at him. In addition to the lack of work, there was a problem with Max’s whereabouts.
“Am I not living here?”
“I’m a fixer, not the head of an orphanage.”
“If we enumerate historical events and global problems caused by human irresponsibility by time period…”
“Keep the machine quiet.”
As the landlord was adamant, the military family became sullen.
“I don’t mean to kick you out right away. I’ll find a place to live and find something to do, so I’ll spend it thinking I’m taking a few days off.”
“I’m fine living here…”
“I’m not okay! I! The landlord isn’t okay, but what if you’re okay!”
Ttty-dick- Ttty-dick-
Leonard’s phone rang. Leonard signaled to stop and received it directly on his cell phone. The broker’s businesslike voice echoed through the office.
-I waited a long time.
“yes. Is it work?”
Leonard put on an elated expression, saying, ‘There’s no way things won’t come to a fixer like me.’ The broker stuttered in bewilderment.
-yes? No, the request is still pending, and I contacted him because of his status as a little bird.
Sigma covered his mouth and let out a giggly laugh. It was a deliberate gesture due to the nature of androids that do not breathe through lungs.
“That, yes. That doesn’t matter either.”
-Kuhm! I did a special favor because it was your request, but the cost came out quite high. I’ll send you the bill, so take care of it right away.
“From ID.”
– I’m glad you said thank you.
The call time was too short for an argument. The broker explained only the key points while uploading the documents.
– My name is Max Walker. 15 years old. man. I’m from Lenox City, and I processed it as having settled in A-044 City after my brother who left home, so I’m going to take care of the previous information…
“for a moment! for a moment! what walker? Lennox? brother? Who is your brother?”
Leonard paused in embarrassment. The broker said as if there was something wrong.
– Weren’t you supposed to be responsible? If you’re going to be responsible, your family is better than others. It’s a kid without implants, so it’s easy to fool around because he’s from an underground city, and he’s out of the federal government’s administrative power, so it’s hard to find out unless you’re determined and investigate.
“It’s not that kind of problem!”
– Gee, time’s up. talk to you later
As usual, I hung up the call at 59 seconds. Leonard grabbed the phone as if it were a middleman and threw it onto the couch. In the midst of this, throwing to the safe sofa was a true pro.
“You bald bastard! Revenge like this?!”
Leonard’s fury made Max wince and his neck wink. was still a child If you know that you are in trouble because of yourself, you will be hurt. Leonard calmed down and said.
“It’s no big deal. Nothing to worry about. It’s a disguise anyway.”
However, I looked down on the face that survived 15 years in the back alley too much.
“Yeah. brother. Please take good care of me.”
“…Because I’m not your brother.”
“Then Brother. My room would be over there.”
Sigma covered his mouth again and laughed. Where did you download it? It was a damn gesture.