＜ Episode 40 ＞
Episode 40.
Read at noblemtl.com
Maybe an hour passed.
If it’s long, it’s long, if it’s short, it’s a short time, but at least no one felt that this time was short among those gathered here.
“Wow!”
A heavily armed giant with limbs replaced with prostheses and scars running across his face was vomiting in a corner, but no one laughed at him.
Some had turned their faces and covered their ears, and some sat there, unable to control their trembling legs.
“after.”
Chick.
After turning on the tap and washing his hands, John placed a cigarette in his mouth and turned his head away.
“finished. If you have anything to ask, ask. I will answer you wholeheartedly.”
“That. yes.”
Even Lucas, who always looked down on others, avoided John’s gaze with a slightly tired face.
“ruler. Wrong. I’ll tell you everything. Yo, please forgive me.”
Looking at the man who was muttering something wet all over his body, Lucas clicked his tongue.
John’s torture wasn’t really that great or anything.
It was just a common trick, like plunging your face into the water, slicing the flesh with a small knife and sprinkling salt on it, or scratching your nerves with a hook or something.
Of course, from the point of view of the general public, it was a frightening thing, but isn’t this Luna?
In this place where extraordinary torture methods are rampant, John’s technique even had a classic taste, so it is actually difficult to say that John is such an outstanding expert in terms of technology.
but.
John’s skills were sophisticated.
It was as if he knew that if he touched this place at this timing, the other party would surely succumb, and a word he threw from time to time had the power to push the other person’s psychology to the limit, so you could see it collapsing in real time.
“It was hard. zone.”
“It’s the client’s request.”
Watching John avoid the seat while answering calmly, Lucas approached the trembling man with a slightly pitiful gaze.
***
“I hope for good results.”
The party, who looked nervous and nodded to the public security officer who allowed entry, crossed the aisle and appeared out of despair.
“Hmm.”
Standing proudly with a spear slung over his shoulder, Pei-Lung looked away and made an interesting expression.
Slum.
It was a different feeling to step into a slum that ordinary Luna people would never come to, and even if they were uninhabited, it wasn’t much different.
Numerous people were moving vigorously, and looking at the solicitors who seduced passers-by and the pickpockets aiming for the gap, it didn’t seem to be that much different from Luna.
Of course, there was a clear difference in the appearance of those who proudly exposed their heinous weapons and roamed around with illegally remodeled implants, but looking at the atmosphere, it is a story.
“Is there anything wrong?”
Zhao, a warrior who seemed unarmed on the outside, tilted his head and muttered, and the other party members were no different.
I don’t know what they mean, but John was the only one who had officially been to the slums.
“It’s because it’s near the immigration office. No matter how slum they are, they’re not idiots enough to cause accidents in a place where public security is concentrated. And.”
John’s gaze scanned his surroundings.
In terms of time, it is about half a year, but I captured the scene of the slum with the feeling that a lot more time had passed than that.
“You should also consider that this is Area 61. At least in a slum, it’s a good place to live.”
In Luna, where the value goes up as the number gets smaller, District 1 has a special meaning.
If the 70th district is created as planned, the first place to be incorporated into Luna is district 61, so it is still more orderly than other slums.
but.
“Still, a slum is a slum. If you go inside, all kinds of guys will come out. It’s good to just go to work and go back quickly.”
The party nodded and agreed to John’s cynical words, and Lucas, who saw the party, looked at John and opened his mouth.
“then. zone. Please guide me.”
Nodding his head, John took the lead, and the place where the party followed him was where there were a lot of cars.
“It’s bloody.”
Even if it wasn’t Peirung’s murmur, the appearance of heavily armed vehicles that were completely unrecognizable due to all kinds of iron plates attached to them and armed on the outside, even though they looked crude, gave a sense of intimidation.
“I can’t walk all the way to the outskirts of the slums. I will use a means of transportation.”
“That means this armored vehicle.”
Fioren, the wizard, clicked his tongue and said at the appearance of the vicious knights glaring at them with an ambiguous attitude, whether they were trying to attract guests or threaten them.
“Then, should I choose a sturdy one?”
At Peirong’s words, the party looked at the armed vehicles with their eyes shining.
They do not pay attention to the fact that ordinary vehicles are armed for their own reasons.
“That’s fine. It looks strong.”
Feilong and Fioren looked at the vehicle Zhao pointed at and nodded.
The vehicle, heavily armed and reminiscent of a tank, looked as if it were going to run in the middle of a battlefield under bombardment.
“That doesn’t work.”
But John shook his head and led the group to one side.
“Looking at it, it looks like the maintenance cost is high. The price will be that high. Well, I’m not in a position to worry about the price.”
“Then what are you worried about? At least the article looks neat.”
Not to mention, the driver of the vehicle that Zhao had pointed out had a clean impression.
“If you look tidy in a slum, be suspicious.”
“······ What?”
Looking at Zhao with a startled expression, John continued.
“It means that you have room in your life, and having room in your life means that your income is good. So what does it mean if earning is okay in the slums?”
John’s cryptic question raised questions on everyone’s faces, but soon Peirung made an expression that he realized something.
“······ no way.”
“yes. There’s a high probability it’s a robber. Maybe they put some sort of nerve gas in the back seat of the car. I won’t fall for that, but it’s better to avoid bothering me.”
John, who took a peek at the knight with a grim face, continued.
“There must be a gang. No matter how talented you are, unless you are a superman, there is no business in quantity.”
At John’s words, the group hardened their faces.
The ability is a target that everyone looks down on, but that’s why there are many people who aim for the ability.
This is because if you are lucky enough to capture a talented person, there are infinite things to pick and eat.
The things you have on your body are basic, and you can disassemble and sell the knowledge and information you have, down to the ends of your body, including your DNA.
If you can brainwash by taking special measures, you can use the ability for free, so that would be fine.
“Don’t be careless saying it’s a slum. A person with abilities is also a person, and if he is a person, he can find a way to subdue them somehow.”
John’s words put tension on the faces of the party, and Lucas put on a satisfied expression.
***
John, who carefully checked the armed vehicles lined up, chose one, and the driver with a shameless expression called for a price gouging, but the party did not hesitate.
The car of the driver who grumbled with a sorry expression after paying the fare was neither good nor bad.
Appropriate armament and adequate armor were added, and it was able to run without difficulty on the dirt roads of the slums, probably paying attention to the suspension.
Of course, the riding comfort was close to the worst, and the party frowned, but that was not a consideration for the driver.
As soon as I went out to the outskirts, vehicles armed with all kinds of weapons and bikers wandered around, but mysteriously, they did not get attacked and continued to run for about an hour.
It was getting less and less human, but the vehicle that had entered the wilderness arrived at what seemed to be its destination.
The appearance of a bunch of improvised camps gathered around a small hill in the middle of the wilderness reminded me of an excavation site, but since those gathered there were holding each other in check with vicious weapons, the party knew at once that they had reached their destination. could
“Then ask again.”
“······ Travel expenses are expensive, big breasts.”
“I can’t take that much.”
“I get it. Contact me.”
After receiving a business card from the grumbling knight, everyone got out of the car for the last time, and as if they had been waiting for it, the car roared and ran across the wilderness.
There was no doubt on the faces of the party who looked at John as he put his business card in his arms and turned around.
Regardless of ability, everyone realized that there was no guarantee how long it would take to reach this dungeon if John had not led them.
“It’s a pretty usable car.”
“Well?”
Doyle, a man who looked like a soldier who had been silent without saying a word, opened his mouth.
“On the surface, it was just that, but each and every part was at a decent level. The outer armor was also reinforced, and the armament was reliable.”
It was as reliable as his words, having replaced his whole body with implants, and John, conscious of Doyle’s gaze, shrugged his shoulders and opened his mouth.
“It’s a driver gang. They do business throughout the 60th District.”
“… are you saying that you came in a mafia vehicle?”
Looking at Feilong, whose face hardened, John answered calmly.
“It’s safer to organize and trade in the slums. It’s a bit pricey, but it’s worth it. Isn’t Luna the same?”
Seeing John answer so calmly, Feilong clicked his tongue and turned his head away, and at that moment Lucas stepped forward.
“Anyway, I hope you came this far. Don’t forget that our goal is a dungeon.”
He was smiling brightly, but there was madness in his eyes, and the party focused their eyes on Lucas with hard faces.
The leader of this group is Lucas.
Not only Feilong, who seemed proud, but everyone who had formidable skills recognized it.
It is the same for John.
I don’t know Lucas’s exact capabilities, but I never ignored the killer feeling that emanated from him.
Sensing the appearance of such a party, Lucas continued with a satisfied expression.
“great. Then go through it again. In the dungeon, obey my words. If there is loot, secure it first and share it. As I said, we distribute them equally, and if there is an item appropriate to each person’s abilities, we will take priority.”
Everyone in the party nodded in agreement, and the smile on Lucas’ face grew brighter.
“Now then, let’s begin. Pei Lung.”
“Tell me.”
“Let the worms figure out the subject.”
Hearing the murderous voice, Feilong turned his gaze around the camp.
Everyone was paying attention to the sudden appearance of the party, and some of them were openly raising their weapons, so no matter how good they tried to talk, the atmosphere was never welcoming.
“That’s always welcome.”
A fishy smile caught on Peirung’s lips, and Peirung, who firmly gripped the spear slung over his shoulder, stepped forward.
Seeing Peirung walking forward alone with a confident attitude, the people gathered in the camp began to be shaken, and Peirung smiled brightly when he reached the place where a group of men gathered.
“······ What?”
“ah. It’s nothing.”
Peirung’s face contorted viciously.
“Just think of it as being unlucky.”
Kwaeng!
With the sound of tearing through space, Pei-Lung’s spear shot out in all directions at blinding speed.
＜ Episode 40 ＞ End