Chapter 222
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 222
Handicraft Industry was located on the outskirts of Border City.
Its grounds consisted of nothing more than a single factory reeking of rust, a four-story office building, and a shabby dormitory.
It's not a very large company.
Handicraft Industry's employees were both its combatants and its production workers. Some of the fighters who had just been pointing guns at me had already changed their clothes and were heading into the factory.
They aren't professional combatants?
For non-professionals, their level of training was exceptionally high. I had assumed they were professional mercenaries or former soldiers.
“…If you pay them the same wage to do two jobs, the company’s efficiency doubles. That’s the entrepreneurial spirit. I honestly don’t get why everyone hires separate combat staff. Hmph, do they just have money to burn?”
Noticing my gaze, Son Seok-jae offered an explanation. His logic was absurd—the kind of thinking that would run a business into the ground in no time.
But Son Seok-jae is no fool. There must be another reason.
I narrowed my eyes. Though I had slept for thirty minutes, I was still exhausted. My headache was severe, and an intense pressure was building inside my skull. I felt like something terrible was about to happen.
“I’d like to wash up.”
With an important negotiation ahead, I needed to clean myself up. Son Seok-jae’s shoulders shook as he laughed. He was keeping his distance from me because of his cigar smoke, though the smell still drifted over.
“There’s a communal bath for the employees on the second floor of the dormitory. No one should be there right now, so go ahead. Ah, we’ve turned off the boiler for the season, so there won’t be any hot water. It’s not like the weather is cold, anyway.”
He was… quite the cheapskate. It was a stark contrast to Japa, who spent money on employee welfare like it was water.
“Do you have a medical drill? Just in case.”
“There’s an emergency room on the first floor of the dormitory. If it’s not there, we don’t have one.”
Son Seok-jae didn’t ask for details. He, too, belonged to the category of so-called extraordinary individuals. Even in our brief encounter, I could sense a strange, formidable aura from him.
Above all, Handicraft Industry is tiny compared to Japa Trading. Yet Japa is wary of Son Seok-jae.
Japa didn’t look down on him. This meant Son Seok-jae was the type of person who could drive a dagger into Japa’s back.
I need to align myself with a force that can keep Japa in check. Until now, my dependence on him has been far too high.
I thought as I walked toward the dormitory. I intended to bring in Handicraft Industry as a third party to balance the scales.
I must ensure neither Japa nor Son Seok-jae can easily lay a hand on me.
I would deliberately create a conflict that entangled their interests, then slip into the ensuing chaos to carve out a safe zone for myself.
…Ah, yes. This was exactly what Kinuan had done in the Empire.
Memories of my youth warmed me. Heat rushed to my ears, and my headache intensified.
My vision blurred, splitting in two. The sounds of the world grew faint, as if someone had turned down the volume. Smells merged, becoming indistinguishable. My senses were dulling.
Step.
The dormitory didn't even have automatic doors, let alone basic security.
They're running a factory on the outskirts of Border City, where public safety is terrible, without proper walls or security.
The conclusion was simple. Handicraft Industry must be a group feared by the locals. Terrible rumors probably kept even the thugs away.
Throb.
A sharp pain flared in my temples.
I frowned. Stop thinking. First, emergency first aid.
I pushed open the dirty glass door and stepped inside. A hallway that looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in a decade stretched out before me. Grime caked between the tiles gave off a musty odor.
I already miss Japa Trading's headquarters.
Japa Trading’s headquarters was practically a luxury hotel in comparison.
Squeak, squeak.
The floor was slippery beneath my feet.
Passing through the grease-layered hallway, I entered the first-floor emergency room.
…Handicraft Industry is bizarre.
Contrary to its shabby exterior, the room was packed with professional-grade pharmaceuticals. I looked at the “medical tools” hanging on the wall.
[Sanitize before use.]
The tools weren't kept in a sterile environment. They were just hanging haphazardly in a row on the wall, with a spray bottle of disinfectant sitting underneath them.
Furthermore, most of what hung there as “medical tools” were originally manufactured as industrial hardware. To be fair, the line between surgical instruments and power tools wasn't that wide, so they were technically compatible, but…
“…What kind of company is this?”
Calm down, Luka.
Having been in blessed environments lately, I was reacting with revulsion to such a filthy place. The facilities of the Imperial Guard and Japa Trading were top-tier even by the standards of Planet Novas. I shouldn’t view the world through such high standards. I knew that, and yet…
Isn't Handicraft Industry a bit too extreme?
This is a medical drill…?
This must be how a young noble master from the Empire feels when visiting the Lower District for the first time.
The handle of the drill proudly declared it was for industrial use. Even without the text, anyone could tell it wasn't medical. The drill was painted a garish yellow.
And the drill bits were even more of a spectacle.
“Ha, damn it…”
I stared at a drill bit that looked like it had been used by who-knows-who, who-knows-when. Dried blood and flesh were caked onto it. It had been left there without even a proper washing.
[Sanitize before use.]
I reread the sign. Anyone looking at this mess would scrub it raw with disinfectant without being told.
I picked the “cleanest” and “thinnest” bit available. After washing and sanitizing it, I locked the bit into the drill.
“Whew…”
I knew this was insane. But I had to stay active for several more hours. I needed to draw out the insight required to read the subtle currents of the situation.
Looking into the mirror, I pressed the drill against the area just above my temple—the upper right corner of my forehead. If this were a gun, it would look like I was committing suicide.
“Nothing to be nervous about, Luka. It’s not like this is your first time doing something this stupid…”
I hoped these wouldn’t be my last words.
Click.
I pulled the trigger.
Whirrrrr!
Oh, my god.
Rattle-rattle-rattle!
Even my front teeth vibrated.
Screeech!
What a horrific sound.
Pshhh!
It was almost over.
I drilled a hole in my skull. The moment it pierced through, viscous blood squirted out like a water gun, propelled by the elevated intracranial pressure.
As the blood drained, the pressure subsided.
Hssssss.
A soothing sound, like a gentle breeze, echoed in my head. If my skull were a balloon, this was the sound of it deflating.
It felt as though my cluttered mind had been washed clean. The stiff fatigue in my eyes vanished, and my senses grew sharp once more.
“Much better.”
I muttered, looking into the mirror. A man bleeding profusely, as if he had a bullet hole in his head, stared back at me.
Now that the world was clear, the rest was easy. I slowly wiped away the blood, disinfected the area, and placed a piece of gauze over the perforation, securing it with tape.
With a clear head, the seemingly complex problems began to untangle. My thoughts flowed smoothly. I could see exactly what I needed to do.
Splash.
I roughly washed the blood off my face at the sink, then wiped my neck and chin with a smelly towel.
Once my mind cleared, pain signals began firing from all over my body. I lifted my shirt and slapped pain-relief patches everywhere I could reach. As the medication absorbed, a wave of relief washed over me.
This is the best I can do for now.
Life is full of sudden events, and they are usually bad. Consequently, you’re forced to confront obstacles and despair completely unprepared. It’s an incredibly shitty situation.
But even if it’s shitty, there’s nothing to be done. If you don’t want to be swallowed whole by this world, you have to grit your teeth and keep moving, even if you feel like dying. Stand still, and you’ll only get eaten. The world won’t wait for you just because you’re struggling.
This was one of those moments.
Step, step.
Having finished my emergency treatment, I stepped out of the dormitory.
A dispute was unfolding in the open lot. I saw an aerial vehicle sent by Japa Trading, its snake emblem recognizable even from a distance.
“This is private property, my Equesian friends. No matter how rough Border City is, corporate mercenaries shouldn’t be trespassing like this.”
Son Seok-jae was confronting the Equesian mercenaries, flanked by armed employees.
“Heh, heh. I merely wish to have a brief chat, President Son.”
A life-sized hologram of Japa moved in front of Son Seok-jae.
“Seeing as you deployed your hounds right away, you must be in quite a hurry.”
Son Seok-jae chuckled, puffing on his cigar. He wasn’t intimidated in the slightest, even standing before Japa.
The Equesian, En.
I walked forward, my eyes fixed on En. He was staring back at me. A palpable rage, which even his combat helmet couldn’t conceal, radiated from him.
He probably thinks I’m a traitor.
Of course, it wasn’t a betrayal. Japa wouldn’t think so, either. He was a clever businessman.
Japa must have realized I'm trying to strike a balance with this situation.
Including En, there were five Equesian mercenaries. Even without drawing their weapons, they exuded a heavy pressure.
“Mr. Luka is currently my employee. He belongs to Japa Trading. Therefore, Japa Trading has priority rights over Mr. Luka’s spoils and salvage.”
“I didn’t know Mr. Luka belonged to Japa Trading. I thought that place was just crawling with aliens. At any rate, we have a contract regarding the remains of Mushir Al-Kashura…”
“A contract regarding transport rights, surely. I believe that is separate from ownership.”
“Since we, Handicraft Industry, handled the transport, we can implicitly claim priority over ownership.”
Implicit ownership. I hadn't realized he had that card up his sleeve. The two businessmen were bickering over legalities.
“Ah, the man of the hour has arrived. Mr. Luka, let us have a word,” the hologram of Japa said upon spotting me. I stepped into the middle of the confrontation.
“Ah, glad you’re here. This snake-head keeps making absurd demands.”
Son Seok-jae handed his cigar to his secretary and approached me. He slung an arm over my shoulder, acting as if we were close.
My voice was calm as I spoke. “What you two want isn’t the physical remains of Mushir Al-Kashura, but the technology and designs contained within them. If I’m wrong, speak up now.”
I brushed Son Seok-jae’s hand off my shoulder, maintaining a composed demeanor.
Neither of them denied it. They waited for me to continue. I took a breath.
“I intend to give Handicraft Industry priority in this negotiation. However, Japa, you have a point. I have no intention of making an enemy of you, and I will continue to carry out my duties.”
Son Seok-jae laughed heartily. “Do go on. Indeed, it is about time we renegotiated.”
“Send Lapis Lazuli here. Lapis will participate in analyzing and reverse-engineering Mushir Al-Kashura’s remains. That way, Japa Trading can also acquire the reverse-engineered technology and blueprints. Whether you use them or sell them for profit is entirely up to you.”
Son Seok-jae’s smile faltered for a second before returning. “Wait a minute. Even if we get priority…”
“I heard Handicraft Industry is bidding on a weapons development project in Federal territory. Japa Trading won’t sell the technology before that bidding process is over; we can include a clause for that. Even if Japa Trading breaks faith and leaks the tech to a competitor through a backroom deal, they’ll still be slower than you. Your patent registration will be faster, giving you the upper hand in the bidding war. Or is Handicraft Industry so incompetent that you can’t maintain an advantage even with a head start?”
I laid it all out.
Son Seok-jae stroked his stubble, which was thick enough to give his jaw a bluish tint.
“Understood. I’ll concede on that. Then what do you want in exchange for handing over Mushir Al-Kashura’s remains? If the conditions aren’t too excessive, we can make a deal right now.”
I gestured to En. He clicked his tongue, turned off the hologram device, and stepped back.
Fzzzt.
The signal cut out, and Japa’s hologram flickered before vanishing.
…From here on, it was a deal between just the two of us.