12 – Seeking a New Weapon (Part 1)
“I arrived much faster than I thought.”
The junk shop in the evening was much quieter than during the day. Jason was wearing a welding helmet and cutting pipes. The typical appearance of the junk shop owner. No one would think that the current Jason was a high-ranking officer of the La Plage Mercenary Corps.
“Good fortune smiled upon me.”
“Very much so.”
Jason chuckled and stood up.
The request for hostage rescue was not as easy as he had thought.
Not only did it take a long time to locate the kidnapper, but also if the rescue target died during the battle, he would be held responsible for it. Most mercenaries avoided taking on rescue missions for this reason.
And the fact that it involved a considerable amount of 5 million cells was another reason.
However, Lianne had managed to solve the request in just half a day.
Although Harang had followed as a sniper, Jason knew better than anyone what kind of person she was. She was kind for a mercenary, but that was about it. She wasn’t someone who would take on annoying tasks just to help a newcomer.
In that case…
“Does this mean she received help from someone else?”
It meant that there was someone by Lianne’s side who was skilled enough to penetrate Harang’s detection and provide location information.
He hadn’t done any background checks, but if the other party appeared so openly, pretending to be ignorant had its limits.
“How will you receive the payment?”
“Cash is preferred.”
“Isn’t that inconvenient?”
“I have personal reasons for it.”
Jason had a rough idea of what those reasons were.
Social status.
‘I’ve laundered my identity to the extent that there’s no trace in the database, so using the account should be discreet.’
Asking for cash might be due to that as well.
‘It was a good call to be prepared in advance.’
Jason casually pulled out a card from his pocket, disguised as nonchalant.
Even though there’s a behemoth behind Lian, he’s also a reputable officer in the formidable Laphlas Mercenary Corps.
He had no intention of letting go of the initiative.
“This card is linked to a pseudonymous account. The money you earn will be deposited into this account for a while, so be aware of that.”
“….”
“I handled it neatly, so don’t worry.”
“Thank you.”
Lian nodded and received the card. It didn’t look entirely legal at first glance, but good things are good.
‘He seems to have taken care of it in his own way.’
Thanks to that, he didn’t have to carry around millions in cash.
The card itself wasn’t significantly different from those on Earth. Fortunately, it seemed like there was no need to learn how to use it separately.
“And, from now on, come in through the adjacent building. Coming in dressed like this might easily lead to misunderstandings and scams.”
Jason pointed towards the old building at the end of the alley as he spoke. The faint music flowing out indicated that the building was a pub.
How did so many mercenaries come and go like that? Were there multiple entrances from the beginning? Lian squinted his eyes and looked at the pub.
Certainly, the building itself was cleverly positioned. If you didn’t concentrate, you wouldn’t even know there was a pub.
“Can minors enter?”
“If you were going to be concerned about that, you shouldn’t have become a mercenary in the first place.”
Sure.
With a smirk, Lian flicked the card in her hand.
“500,000 cells, right?”
Finally, she could buy a proper weapon.
*****
Parting ways with Jason, Lian headed straight to the firearms store.
It was an illegal place, considering the purchase of firearms for a child, but at least it was a proper place that wouldn’t exploit a paying customer, no matter how illicit.
From Noble mtl dot com
There were additional fees, but Lian had no other choice at the moment.
“Do I have to go all the way to the Western Sector?”
The downside was that it was damn far. If she could cross the barrier, it would be different, but going around took several times more time.
That’s why she took a taxi.
[Where would you like to go?]
“Western Sector. 31st Street.”
[I will take you there safely. It will take approximately 40 minutes to arrive.]
The distinct mechanical sound of AI emanated from the vehicle. Looking at the driver’s seat, or the lack thereof, reminded her once again that this world had advanced civilization beyond Earth.
Lian mumbled while gazing out the window.
“Still, everything’s here.”
The atmosphere in the Western Sector was quite different from the trash-filled Eastern Sector.
Apart from the absence of towering corporate buildings, all the usual amenities were present.
“Not bad.”
Lian exclaimed in awe at the vast expanse of the highway before her eyes. Sixteen lanes brimming with cars. It gave her a tangible sense of the population of Tuuras.
Well, even in the outlying sectors left unmanaged, there must be millions living. So, it’s only logical that at least as many reside inside the barriers.
[Have a great time.]
As she closed the car door and stepped out, a far more intricate scenery unfolded before her.
[For a brighter future! – Decard Academy]
[Faster, Stronger. Towards an unlimited physique. – Adriana Arms]
[New model guided shotgun. – Calic Polaridnik]
Beneath neon-lit billboards, people with various parts attached to their bodies hurriedly crossed the crosswalks. Police controlled the roads, and children held their parents’ hands as they wandered around.
Such a scene would never be visible if not for the maintained security.
Lian quickly realized the reason behind it.
Not far ahead, she saw an entrance leading inside the barriers. A massive passage allowing dozens of vehicles to pass at once.
‘Perhaps they’re conscious of external perception because it’s an entrance?’
As evidence, the attire of the pedestrians walking the streets differed from that of the east. How should she put it? It was more sophisticated.
‘Is this the place?’
While walking, relying on the signs scattered around, a spark flickered before her eyes.
Zap!
“Screaam!”
“We’ve subdued one illegal resident.”
“Take them away.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, the officers fired their tasers at the troublemakers. Lian rolled her eyes at the excessively aggressive demeanor of the police.
“There will be a brief inspection. Please cooperate.”
“Damn it. How many inspections is it today?”
As the police blocked the street, pedestrians furrowed their brows.
“Fortunately, he’s just a kid.”
No police officer would be ruthless enough to demand an ID from a 10-year-old.
Of course, if their demeanor seemed suspicious, it might have been impossible even then.
While walking, thoughts organized themselves, and before I knew it, I had reached my destination.
Opening a rusty iron gate and descending the stairs, I encountered an old man with a rugged face.
In the moment of contemplation about whether I had come to the right place, the old man, who had been chin in hand, spoke.
“No proxy purchases. Go back and come yourself, as told by the one who sent you.”
“I came with a referral from Jason.”
“…That junk dealer has finally gone insane, recommending firearms to a kid like this.”
The old man operated the data cube, sticking out his tongue.
Clang!
With a loud noise, the wooden walls flipped, revealing various types of firearms.
“Heavy or light, which one do you prefer?”
“I’d prefer a lighter one.”
“Still, I know my business.”
Saying so, the old man placed one of the displayed pistols on the counter.
“Redliner-777. It’s not just a guided bullet, but also a weapon with a 4x scope attached to the top. Because of that, it’s longer than a typical handgun and expensive, but there’s nothing better for beginners to use.”
Guided bullets, huh? My interest piqued for a moment, but as soon as I saw the terrifying price of 30,000 Cells per shot, my desire to purchase vanished.
“I don’t need the guided function. The same goes for additional customizations like the scope.”
“You’re a rare purist.”
The old man, who had been examining Lian up and down, furrowed his brow.
“It seems like you’ve studied somewhere, but do you know how to shoot a gun?”
“Yes.”
“Then a rifle would be more suitable than a handgun.”
“Isn’t it inconvenient to carry?”
“….”
The old man, who had been deep in thought for a moment, grabbed a handgun from the display case and threw it to Lian.
“….?”
Lian, caught off guard, widened his eyes for a moment as he caught the handgun.
“Try aiming. Just by looking at that, I can tell if it’s genuine or fake.”
The old couple had a more eccentric side than Lian had expected.
Lian gripped the handle with his right hand. It had the familiar texture grip. He thought it was just any gun thrown at him, but as he touched it, he realized it wasn’t.
“Hmm.”
Lian let out a short exclamation and adjusted his stance. The trembling of the aiming line subsided for a moment, and as he regulated his breathing, the trembling became less frequent, like a lie.
Click!
The sound of the slider reverberated in the silent space. Lian felt the familiar weight with both hands and swiftly adjusted his stance.
Tak. Click!
A set of professional movements to the extent that even ordinary people, who knew nothing, would marvel. Changing the magazine and pulling the slider – a series of actions that had reached an artistic pinnacle.
Even for laymen, it was impressive, but what about for an expert?
“…Huh.”
The old man watching from beyond the iron bars exclaimed with his mouth agape. His face, unable to remember what I had just muttered, was a picture of bewilderment.
As the saying goes, you see as much as you know.
There was not a single hitch in transitioning from one movement to another. The process of changing posture, firing, and reloading flowed as smoothly and seamlessly as water.
Click!
Unbelievably swift.
The old man swallowed dry saliva. He still thought he was active at least as far as his eyesight went. Naturally, he expected some hotshot who would fire a few shots at the shooting range and boast about it.
“I completely misjudged.”
The posture that those who had experienced a day or two on the battlefield could have was not something these guys possessed.
At least ten years. And not in an ordinary battlefield, but a true veteran who had experienced fierce battles.
Whether the shock was significant or not, the old man seriously pondered if it had become a trend among veteran mercenaries to modify their bodies like young children.
Now, there was no need to see more.
Having enjoyed the spectacle, it was only fitting to pay the corresponding price.
“How much are you thinking?”
Excluding accommodation, meals, and other emergency funds…
After a moment of contemplation, Rian opened his mouth.
“At the moment, it’s 4 million cells.”
“4 million. Just 4 million…”
If it were a cheap mass-produced firearm, you could buy dozens with that amount, but it falls short for acquiring a properly luxurious piece.
However,
“Lucky me. It’s something I luckily obtained last week. Not only does it embody all the advantages of Plex Corp, the top player in this industry, but it’s also a monster with enhanced firepower, solving the persistent issues.”
The old man spoke as he placed an elegant wooden box on the counter. Upon lifting the lid, a pistol coated in black metal revealed itself.
Decent balance. Not a bad weight. And even surpassing the pistol I held just before in grip.
I like it. But…
If this were all, it would be a bit disappointing. No matter how luxurious, it doesn’t make sense for a handgun to be priced in the millions.
As if anticipating such thoughts, the old man nodded.
“Of course, the most important thing is still left.”
Bang!
At that moment, the gun barrel began to shine with a blue color.