＜ Episode 12 ＞
“Well.”
When I opened my eyes, what I saw was an unfamiliar view of the ceiling.
There was only a bed and a table, and it was more like a prison than a room, but John got up regardless.
“Kuk.”
Intense pain welled up all over his body, and a moan escaped involuntarily.
John gritted his teeth and focused his mind at the pain to the point where a cold sweat formed on his forehead.
A seed nestled inside the brain, at an unrecognized and unobserved point.
A new ‘organ’ that allows the use of this ability started working, and according to John’s will, the ability was spread throughout the body.
Tiddik. Tick.
An inner voice that could only be heard in John’s ears rang, and only then did John get off the bed with a more comfortable face.
“I have to find a way.”
Needless to say, this is the aftermath of the battle.
Defeating the gangs protected by wizards alone was a remarkable thing, but the aftermath was formidable.
Although it is said to be strengthened with this ability, the body is still alive.
His body, which had no special martial arts or protective abilities, was too weak, and it was clear that it would be a great weakness for him, as if he had stepped into the world of the talented in earnest.
As time passes and this ability gradually gets used to the body, John’s body will also enter the realm suitable for the person with the ability, but he has not yet reached that stage.
Even if it’s not a slum, it’s a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of It’s a joke.
After thinking so, John left the bleak room.
“You woke up.”
“Thanks to you, I slept well. Gilbert.”
“What happened? Because it wasn’t free.”
The place where John lay down is Gilbert’s shop.
In fact, it was the safest place in Area 63, so John could rest without any burden.
“Are you okay?”
“so so.”
Beyond the various weapons displayed on one side, he could see a heap of machines piled up.
“Thanks to that, I couldn’t even sleep.”
“There must be that much profit.”
Gilbert frowned as he recalled the bodies and implants that had filled the vacant lot, but John didn’t feel sorry at all.
Gilbert’s kindness to John is always in his interest.
It’s a relationship that’s nothing more and nothing less, and after this time, we may not see each other for a while or in the future.
“… He’s like an unsympathetic guy. Check it out.”
Beep.
The communication device he was wearing on his wrist emitted a notification sound, and John, who reflexively checked the screen, put on a slightly surprised expression.
“Did it turn out pretty well?”
“The bodies of the best guys in each district. It’s embarrassing to compare it to scrap metal. Well, there are so many damaged parts, so the price has gone down a lot, but the value doesn’t go anywhere.”
“Thank you.”
With this amount of money, of course, it would replenish the items consumed in battle, and for the time being, I would not be constrained by money.
“done. Because work is work. Are you going right away?”
“Still, you have to take care of what you need.”
Laughing, Gilbert pulled out a list, and John started shopping.
I don’t know if you know it, but the upper districts will be safer than the slums, and you won’t be selling weapons casually on the street.
With that in mind, when you can get a weapon, you should get it as much as possible.
how much time has passed like that
Gilbert put on a tired expression as he looked at John, who had taken all kinds of firearms, ammunition, and consumables piled up to the size of a human torso at once.
“It’s a coveted ability. I heard that subspace is monopolized by magicians.”
“I heard that the upper area is quite relaxed?”
“Arthur. Even so, the fundamental technology is magic after all. They say that most of the product sales go to royalties.”
Since Gilbert was quite influential in the slums, there was nothing he couldn’t find if he wanted to save sub-space, but considering the cost of reaching the slums beyond the zone, he couldn’t calculate it.
Gilbert, who was looking at John with complicated eyes, made a vague expression.
“This is how it goes. Well, I did think that one day I would come out of the slums.”
“I owe you all this time.”
“I was pretty good too. It’s rare to find a neat guest like you.”
After looking at each other for a moment, the two men turned around.
“I live while taking care of my health.”
“You too, save yourself and go.”
The man who built his domain and the man who walked toward the world said goodbye.
***
kid.
When I opened the stiff door and entered, everyone’s eyes gathered.
“Well.”
“greatness!”
However, the reaction was markedly different from yesterday.
Nothing has changed as a person, but considering what he’s done, this kind of treatment might have been natural.
The defiant stare at him and the ferocious stare that looked at him as if looking at prey all disappeared, and John smiled viciously as he refused to make eye contact with him.
The wizard was right.
Since the fixers that only nerds gather are like this, the guys in the slums are all scum.
“Come. zone.”
As John made his way through the fixers who split left and right with each step, he reached the bar and was greeted by the bartender.
“A letter of introduction?”
“Here it is.”
All eyes were on the plate card the bartender placed on the bar.
The air was hot and greed was burning in everyone’s eyes, but John casually picked up the card, put it in his arms, and turned around.
“You are cool.”
“Because I have nothing more to do.”
The bartender laughed at John’s words, which felt colder because there was no special emotion.
“yes. Those who leave the slums should. Good luck, John.”
“I’m indebted.”
The moment John was about to take a step, the bodies of several fixers flinched and gave off dangerous eyes.
Even though it is a slum full of despair, there are always people who have a desire to improve, and the job they choose is a fixer.
And one of the goals of such solvers is that letter of introduction.
It seems like John got it fairly easily, but letters of introduction weren’t given to just anyone, and among those at the agency, only Slip was the least qualified to get letters of introduction, so getting letters of introduction wasn’t as easy as he thought.
However, since the person who put such a letter of introduction in his arms appeared, there was no way his eyes would not roll.
A subtle murder and momentum arose and began to strangle John, but John moved his steps calmly with a nonchalant expression, but soon left the agency.
“···Damn it.”
Someone who was looking at John’s back spat out an abusive language, which represented everyone’s feelings.
I couldn’t help it.
Gulak, who annihilated the most elite Carpaccio gang in Area 63, and John, who dismantled the gang members single-handedly, made them unable to move.
‘This is why I don’t give letters of introduction to just anyone.’
The bartender clicked his tongue while watching such troubleshooters.
24 hours of time.
During the 24 hours of applying for and receiving the letter of introduction, the fixer must face and overcome countless hostility.
Read at noblemtl.com
Most of the solvers fail to overcome the time and lose their lives.
However, since John overcame an incomparable ordeal and stood here, even the veterans did not think to jump in, and the incompetent solvers were unable to move due to John’s feat.
“Go well. zone.”
John Doe, a fixer who suited the slum better than anyone else, but on the other hand, didn’t fit in at all.
The bartender murmured, blessing his future.
***
“Welcome. zone.”
“Long time no see. Hamilton.”
John bowed his head to Hamilton, who greeted him with an exaggerated expression, and his gaze turned to the place behind Hamilton.
wall.
The sight of endlessly connected huge composite concrete walls that stretched over 30 meters had the power to press down people’s hearts endlessly.
Hamilton smiled, as if guessing what John was thinking.
“How is it? Despair.”
“…whoever built it really stinks.”
Hamilton giggled at John’s answer and turned around.
District 60, which touches the outside of the city, and a huge concrete wall that divides the inside.
The wall, thicker and harder than expected, was a wall that separated the people of the world’s slums from the safe city, and from some time ago it was called by the name of despair.
There is only one way to get into the city beyond the impenetrable walls.
“Give me a letter of introduction.”
Following Hamilton, John stood in front of the bunker where various weapons were mounted and presented a letter of introduction.
Hamilton, who inserted the letter of introduction into the sturdy reader, stared at the screen cautiously, and at that moment, the weapons in the bunker aimed at John.
The men around Hamilton stared at John with fierce eyes, and the force of death and momentum squeezed his body.
Completely different from the first impression he touched, his cold-hearted appearance and the spirit of his subordinates proved that Hamilton was not an ordinary person.
Read at noblemtl.com
Most of the public security officers in the slums were people who had accidents and were demoted in the city, but the people guarding the entrance to the wall were a completely different story.
Wherever you are, the gatekeeper is the face of the city.
Hamilton and his men are among the best in Luna.
Beep.
“Confirmed. zone. congratulations You qualified.”
Wei Ying.
With a word from Hamilton, the automatic weapons let go of their aim, and the men who were glaring at John scattered around with a flirtatious gesture.
“Are you done?”
“Well, the passing qualifications are over, and there is a simple education. Come with me.”
After receiving the letter of introduction, John followed Hamilton.
“As you probably know, now you are a resident of the inner world. I mean, you can’t just live like in a slum.”
After passing the bunker, I saw a huge iron gate.
“Yeah, Luna is also a place where people live, so there are a lot of troubles. That’s why I accept people like you. The important thing is not to noticeably cause an accident.”
“I understand.”
After all, it means that we need people to take care of the bottom line, so John’s work won’t change much.
It just means you need to be a little less obtrusive and do things a little more tidily.
“In that respect, I have high expectations from you. It was to the point that rumors that the work was neat reached even to me. You might be the talent Luna wants.”
The huge door that looked over 10 meters tall was made entirely of reinforced alloy and seemed to have been enchanted.
“It’s Hamilton. Door opening code number 13.”
– Confirm!
An answer came through the communication device, and with it, one side of the door lifted as if it were being folded.
I’m going to go to the middle of the day.
It was shabby compared to the huge door, but everyone in the slums aspires to pass through that door.
There was a passage beyond the door, and I could see the light shimmering at the end.
“Then let’s go in. zone.”
“Suffer.”
John didn’t hesitate.
＜ Episode 12 ＞ End