In this world, it’s inevitable to frequently mention the existence of ‘mercenaries’ and ‘clients.’
Most cities in the cyberpunk world can be said to be deeply imbued with the spirit of capitalism.
Some might even call it a meritocratic society.
Because in this world, credits equate to ability.
Thus, the people of this world naturally prefer more efficient choices. It’s become a sort of societal trend.
Just like how it’s common for the upper class with lots of credits to hire mercenaries to handle their troublesome tasks.
Therefore, the presence of mercenaries and clients stands out in this world of cyberpunk, or in other subcultures, for those reasons.
Of course, there’s also the possibility that the planner who designed the game world was just thinking, “I want to get off work…”
But for someone like me, who has directly fallen into this game world, I have no choice but to ponder these matters.
So, the existence of various clients, who commission different jobs, keeps changing.
Mercenaries belonging to the security department under a company like Monolith would have a different status, but we’re still just ordinary mercenaries (currently home security).
Naturally, we’ll take various types of commissions.
That could involve a job mixed with a huge conspiracy from the megacorp, or it could be a request from a little one (a clueless kid from my lower-class days) asking to steal candy from another little one.
(Obviously, I did take the candy.)
However.
Even in this world, it was very rare for a commission to come directly from the ‘city.’
It’s understandable when you think about it.
Given that there’s a dedicated security department in the city, there was no reason to hire mercenaries who might risk spreading stories outside.
Unless there was an absolute necessity to commission ‘that mercenary.’
Upon hearing my brief explanation, the famous mercenary (and famous singer) Andrea tilted her head slightly.
“…So, what does that have to do with what kind of daily life the security department person had?”
“Oh, to explain that, I have to talk about the friend Gable recently made—”
“Stop.”
“Yup.”
Two times won’t work, huh?
“First, I get it.”
“What do you mean?”
Andrea crossed her arms and neatly summarized what I had said.
“That security department person got into bowling because they lacked credits, has been enjoying my song climbing the charts, needs caffeine shots added to their molecular coffee in the morning, and likes some food called pierogi with potatoes, which is all unnecessary information.”
“Oh.”
She was listening intently, huh?
I nodded in admiration for Andrea.
“You didn’t let it slip through one ear.”
With a mind a little lighter after passing the garbage information off to someone else, Andrea looked pleased with my compliment, shrugging her shoulders and striking a confident pose.
“Of course. Who told me this story?”
“The AI also listened attentively.”
Of course, not everyone was as focused on my story as Andrea or Eve.
Julia and Maya were rolling their eyes and complaining of dizziness, while Natasha and the chairman were merely handling their work, occasionally throwing in a “…Huh,” or “Really?” as interjections.
They probably noticed right away that my story had no nutritional value.
Tch, sharp-eyed, aren’t they….
By the way, Catherine went to sleep after skipping a meal because she was tired.
“- Are you sick? Catherine, are you skipping meals?”
“- …Hmm, a bit.”
Catherine’s response to that question made everyone’s gaze momentarily serious.
Anyway.
Recalling what happened a moment ago and not continuing my reply, Andrea neatly placed the cleaned dishes on the table and said to me.
“Anyway, I heard you well.”
“Really?”
“…No, actually, I didn’t hear that well.”
Andrea playfully frowned while mixing in puns.
With a deep sigh, she continued.
“…So, what’s the conclusion?”
“Hmm?”
“You’ve only been talking about that worthless security department person. You haven’t even mentioned what the commission was.”
“Ah.”
How could I make such a rookie mistake?
Scratching my head, I replied to Andrea.
“I should’ve mentioned it earlier. I forgot. So, up until now, it was all about the security department person—”
“……”
“I’m sorry.”
I should probably stop jesting soon.
Andrea’s reaction was too amusing, and I almost crossed the line. If I went one step further, it felt like Andrea would pull out her special equipment.
I quickly continued the story.
“So, it’s about a commission related to corporate terrorism.”
At my words, Andrea squinted her eyes slightly and looked at me.
“…Isn’t that the one making a lot of noise in the news lately?”
“Yeah, that corporate terrorism.”
I felt like my explanation might be short, so I decided to add a few more words.
“Things were chaotic during our engagement ceremony recently.”
“…That’s right.”
“Gable said that their superior calculated that if they gave us the commission, Monolith would also lend a hand.”
The one who reacted to my words was the chairman, who had finished eating and was leisurely having tea.
“That’s true. Since we’ve already had an engagement ceremony with everyone, they can’t just ignore it. Probably the public thinks so, too.”
The chairman casually tilted his head and slyly asked me.
“What do you think, want my help?”
But I already knew the hidden truth of the commission through Gable.
“No, it’s okay. Chairman—”
“Taylor.”
“…Taylor, you—”
“Taylor.”
“……Even if Taylor doesn’t help.”
I felt a bit drained after a few words.
However, it was I who responded by calling out names.
I let out a small sigh inwardly.
Andrea listened to the conversation between the chairman and me with a suspicious expression, alternating her gaze between us.
Then she turned her gaze back to me.
“Why? It’d be good to receive the chairman’s help.”
I shook my head in response to Andrea’s words.
“No, after hearing the rest of the security department explanation from Gable, it seems their situation is complicated too.”
Thinking back on the things Gable had mentioned, I continued my explanation.
“…Well. Gable mentioned that it seems the higher-ups already know the cause and instigator of the attacks.”
“……Why do you remember that strange bowling story clearly, but fail to recall the important stuff?”
I lightly ignored Andrea’s mumbling.
“Anyway, that’s what I heard.”
Even though it was off the record.
Unlike when I was sharing useless stories a while ago, everyone was now focused on me.
“So you all don’t need to worry. They said they don’t need to operate specifically to resolve the commission.”
Especially looking at Eve, Natasha, and the chairman, who could specifically help with the commission, I said.
Julia, who seemed like an ordinary troublemaker, and Maya, who worked part-time at a regular sushi restaurant, both looked a bit relieved as they heard my explanation about it being a ‘city commission.’
“……Hmm.”
However.
Andrea’s expression, who had heard my entire story, seemed a bit perplexed.
I asked Andrea.
“Why, do you know something?”
“No, um……”
She seemed to want to say something but was pondering whether to say it or not.
I gestured for Andrea to speak comfortably, intending to make her feel a bit more at ease.
Would she be more willing to speak if I mixed in some fun?
“Oh, what is it? The ‘super celebrity’ and ‘the famous singer’ who charts on NCB24 can’t say what they want?”
“……It’s noisy.”
Fortunately, my joke seemed to work.
Andrea whispered with a slightly relieved expression.
“Back then.”
“Back then?”
“…At the engagement ceremony.”
“Yeah.”
That’s right.
Thinking back, it was probably the first time everyone except me actually witnessed corporate terrorism.
“Did you see something strange by any chance?”
Honestly, the likelihood of that was quite low.
Even Eve, the super AI of the cyberpunk world, didn’t find anything strange.
“…No, um……. It could just be my feeling. So, keep it light.”
“What is it? Just tell me.”
I couldn’t quite grasp what Andrea saw that made her choose her words so carefully.
At my words, Andrea took a light breath and then closed her eyes tightly before spitting out what had been bottled up inside.
“……Maybe it was a ghost?”
“?”
What the heck does that mean, Andrea….
Where in this world do ghosts even exist?
Discussing such occult, supernatural phenomena in a cyberpunk world makes no sense.
It was on par with arguing that the Earth is flat. That much.
“…You still believe in ghosts?”
What a pure-hearted kid she is.
I could understand the feelings of parents being asked if Santa exists by their kids.
“…No, but I really saw something.”
“……?”
Pardon?
“Something was coming out of the vehicle’s engine room.”
“Could it be a malfunction in your eye implant?”
“…I had it checked just recently by Drake.”
Hmm.
……
Even so, there’s no way there would really be ghosts—.
“I also didn’t believe that magic existed until I met you. …But magic did exist. If I wasn’t mistaken, then ghosts also……”
Andrea continued her excuse, lowering her voice gradually. It seemed she thought her reasoning sounded a bit strange even to herself.
Yet, on the contrary, as I listened to Andrea, I began to think that perhaps it could be possible.
After all, considering I was using magic in this cyberpunk world, I felt a bit hesitant to confidently say there were no ghosts.
There could be things I don’t know out there….
I thought there might be a value in pondering Andrea’s words a little more seriously.
*
Still, this doesn’t feel right.
【New Age, Future Shamanism, and the Fusion of Vodou Culture, Psychic Spiritual Clinic (※Paid※)】
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