＜ Episode 13 ＞
Although the districts are divided in Luna, in fact, there is no great difficulty in communication except for the 60th slum.
Of course, the single-digit area is an out-of-standard space, so it is impossible for only those who have been selected to enter, but the other areas can freely enter and exit as long as they have Luna’s citizenship.
Even though they couldn’t go in and out, people in the slums always longed for the city, and they didn’t know what the city looked like because it was a yard where they caught radio waves coming out of the city and watched the broadcast.
It was the same with John, and since a long time ago, he had been gathering information little by little since he set the goal of entering the upper district, into the city.
Luna was not an unknown space to people in the slums.
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Maybe that’s why I long for it and struggle even more.
Passing through the dark passageway and walking towards the light, the place that came out was the inside of a large building.
An automatic machine was aimed at John, and unlike the smirking Hamilton, policemen with hardened faces stood staring at John.
Watching their eyes staring at something contemptuous and not hiding their attitude of not wanting to be close, John realized that he had entered the upper zone.
‘…This is the reaction.’
– ···You’ll do well on your own, but if you go up to the upper level, people’s reactions will be annoying. Talented people or industry officials will only see your own abilities, but ordinary citizens will not hide their contempt. Be patient though. At least until you settle down.
The conversation he had with Gilbert before falling asleep flashed through John’s mind.
He thought he was not an ordinary person, but Gilbert was also a person who had the experience of escaping from the slums and advancing to the upper districts, and he said that he returned to the slums after spending time like that.
He didn’t tell me the exact reason, but I thought the advice he gave would have an answer, and John could realize that Gilbert’s advice was right.
“Disarm.”
A suppressed voice of tension and contempt resounded, and the police officers with hardened expressions were about to approach John.
“I do.”
Showing off his overcoat, John took out the revolver from his holster and set it aside.
“Can I pass this way?”
For a moment, the public security officers were taken aback by the sight of John walking naturally in front of a scanning device similar to the one placed at the airport checkpoint.
Everyone’s eyes widened as John’s scan results appeared on the screen.
“I heard about it, but I don’t really have any implants.”
“It’s been a while since a living body without a communication module.”
“…then you really came all the way here naked?”
In disbelief, the public security officers exchanged opinions with each other, and one of them picked up John’s gun.
“…It’s been a while since I’ve had such an ignorant gun. How many calibers? No, can a naked person shoot something like this?”
50 BMG bullets, so it was natural for him to say such a thing, and everyone’s eyes turned to John.
It was at that time that the public security officers were about to open their mouths after seeing John shrug his shoulders with an expressionless face.
“I will not carry a weapon that I do not use. Get back, you idiots.”
A middle-aged public security officer entered with a nervous voice, and everyone made a surprised expression.
“Inspector!”
“Move.”
A middle-aged man who broke through the public security with rough movements stood in front of John, but he scanned John’s body with his eyes wide open.
I didn’t feel any hostility, but the intense eyes that made me feel like I was naked for a moment made John’s heart tense.
“…I guess Hamilton is right.”
“Have you heard anything about me?”
When John asked back at the appearance of a name he knew, Curtis, a middle-aged man, smiled viciously.
“I told you that the fixer scheduled to come in today is a bit special.”
A red light appeared in Curtis’ pupils, perhaps because he had replaced them with prosthetic eyes.
“I see. special.”
At the meaningful words, John narrowed his brows.
It was unclear whether he had heard the story or noticed it through his artificial eye, but it was clear that Curtis recognized that John was a person with special powers.
“done. go.”
“Inspector!”
The public security officers screamed in surprise at the sudden remark, but Curtis’ attitude did not change.
“Thank you.”
John answered as if it were natural, took his gun from the absent-minded policeman’s hand, put it in his holster, and quickly walked out of the room.
Unlike Curtis, who watched his back and smiled, one of the public security officers with a confused expression asked Curtis.
“Can I send it like that?”
“if not? Anyway, the verification is over when you receive the letter of introduction. You don’t even need to hold it, but you guys are overreacting.”
The public security officers turned their attention to see if there was anything stung by Curtis’ cynical words.
“Tsk.”
Curtis, who looked at the public security officers, said with a disapproving expression.
“Since we’ll be seeing each other often from now on, it was okay to try to kill spirits. But you have to do it while looking at the other person.”
“What do you mean?”
Curtis responded with a firm face to the cautious question.
“A bare-body solver. In addition, a revolver with a large caliber that ordinary people could not use. A relaxed attitude even though the weapon fell from the body. Isn’t that enough of an answer?”
Curtis let out a sigh as he looked at the public security officers, whose faces were still filled with questions.
“It is said to be capable. Mana or aura was not detected, so it must be a shaman or a person with special powers. Well, if you look at the gun, it looks like a person with physical enhancement type.”
“No way?”
“You mean from the slums?!”
Curtis said firmly, looking at the public security officers shouting with surprised faces.
“Slums are also places where people live.”
A moment of silence fell upon the weight of those words.
“It is not without precedent. Either way, I guess.
Curtis muttered, taking a cigarette out of his pocket and taking a bite.
“Either die early or become a tycoon.”
***
Each district is connected to the corresponding number of districts, and of course it was Area 53 that John, who had overcome despair in Area 63, arrived.
“…It’s definitely different.”
John muttered after sitting on a bench and looking at the street for a long time.
The sight of the city that John first encountered after leaving the building without much resistance did not inspire him much.
Compared to the slums, it was clean and full of the smell of people living, but to John, who has experienced Seoul and other large cities around the world, it is just calm.
What John paid attention to was the atmosphere.
Compared to the sharp atmosphere of the slum where I lived for three years without letting go of tension, this place was still a peaceful atmosphere.
Of course, there were enough pickpockets and hoodlums targeting stupid people or drunkards who fell asleep in the alleys, but at least they wouldn’t take their lives.
I don’t see people that dangerous, so it’s safe to call it heaven compared to the slums.
After looking around for a long time, John pulled out a cigarette, lit it.
“after.”
White smoke, different from the dangerous color of the stimulant, disappeared into the air, and some citizens passed by frowning at his appearance, but John didn’t care at all.
After burning a cigarette, John tossed the butt around and lightly raised his hand to stretch.
“ruler. What should I do now?”
Empty words that he did not know who he was talking to hovered in the air, and of course no one answered.
“I am asking you.”
But John didn’t care, and turned his gaze across to the man who was sitting on the bench reading the newspaper.
“…you asked me?”
The man who was reading the newspaper looked a little surprised and asked John cautiously, but John’s attitude did not change.
“yes. A follower man.”
“What a follower?!”
The man shouted as his shoulders twitched at John’s words, but John made a sad face.
“If you want to tail, do it properly. It was nice to blend in and follow along, but I got too close. If you were like me, you would have gone farther away.”
“…surely the rumors weren’t exaggerated.”
At that moment, the atmosphere in the company changed.
He looked like an ordinary man enjoying a good time while reading a newspaper until just now, but isn’t he exuding sharp energy by changing his expression and narrowing his eyes?
John knew people with this vibe well.
Those who have crossed dangerous bridges many times and experienced the gap between life and death.
John remembered that only the pros who didn’t hesitate to get blood on their hands if need be had this kind of aura, and that these guys were quite troublesome when they were enemies, but infinitely reassuring when working together.
“I heard that a unique solver is coming up. I’ve heard that they do things quite differently than the slums do. I guess that makes sense.”
The man with the newspaper he was holding, folded neatly and tucked under his armpit, approached John with a straight step and sat down next to him.
“It’s Miller Bird. I am your broker.”
“John Doe. I am your fixer.”
A smile came to Miller’s face when he heard John’s words.
“That’s fine. You can use it as the catchphrase of the office.”
“Don’t claim copyright.”
“ha ha ha.”
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Miller laughed lightly at John’s joke and stood up.
“First impressions are good. The better the future, the better.”
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Miller smiled and made eye contact with John.
“You asked what can I do? That’s why I’m here as a broker to help with that. Come with me.”
At Miller’s words, John stood up.
“First of all, we need to update the letter of introduction with an ID. There are a lot of things to do because you have to open an account and decide on a place to live. I’m going to be a little busy today.”
“It’s better than being absent-minded.”
John, who was following Miller, who was leading the way, suddenly turned his head.
I could see the bench in the little park where he was sitting, and beyond it I could see a figure of despair standing firm with an overwhelming sense of authority.
Walls across slums and cities.
A physical wall built a wall up to the heart of a person, and even though people were breathing the same air on the same land, they created a class that was far enough to be clear.
John shook his head, thinking it was a city worthy of a dystopia.
The beliefs he devoted his life to and the space he lived in are now far away, and John is a person who is accustomed to adapting to circumstances.
He was accustomed to adapting in the slums, so it was clear that it would not be difficult to adapt inside the city.
And if he adapts like that and gains power over time, John will be able to make his voice heard in this city, and only then can he truly survive.
‘First of all, from adaptation. don’t go in a hurry slowly.’
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Miller turned his head toward John, who was walking away with such a promise.
“ah. I almost forgot.”
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Miller spread his hands wide.
“Welcome to Luna.”
John smiled at the obviously exaggerated gesture.
“Thank you very much for that.”
＜ Episode 13 ＞ End