Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: How to Survive in Fusion Punk
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The Lost City is a colossal mega-city.
Its history is as ancient as its overwhelming scale, stretching all the way back to an era when dragons—yes, the dragons you're picturing—actually existed.
This was a very long time ago.
It began when the great seven families banded together with humanity's first visionary, the one who discovered cyberspace.
...
After countless conflicts and compromises, the Lost City shifted from an unstable centralized system to decentralized district autonomy. This change is widely seen as the root cause of the bitter power struggles between the city government, the families, and the corporations.
...
As time passed and population density became a massive issue, the city government decided to expand new residential zones to address it.
But during that process, war broke out between corporations and families. Investors pulled their funding, and the ambitious government-led project collapsed overnight.
The abandoned district became what we now know as the 40s Area.
Afterward, countless gangs and war criminals took it over...
...
...
Jin swiped the display from bottom to top.
He flicked his thumb away once it wouldn't scroll any further, and a message appeared asking him to subscribe and enable notifications if he liked the post.
Instead of complying, Jin opened the comments section.
Same shit here.
Jin grimaced sourly before shutting off the screen and tucking the terminal into his pocket.
He then flicked his eyes sideways, stealing a glance at Fenrir gripping the steering wheel.
This is awkward as hell.
Jin turned his gaze out the window and let out a sigh.
How long had it been since he'd been stuck in a car with this kind of uncomfortable vibe?
Probably the time he gave a ride home to his girlfriend who'd been caught cheating on a trip. Even now, he thought she was a total bitch—relationship over or not, she hopped out without so much as a "thanks," "sorry," or "take care."
Bet she called her new guy right after, all "we're done, let's meet up now that I'm free."
Should've ditched her at the rest stop.
"Hoo."
Jin sighed again.
Not because of that ex's bullshit in a changed world this time, but because the heavy air reminded him of it and felt just as stifling.
Pretending to search random info on the terminal network, spacing out, staring out the window—it all had its limits.
So Jin steeled himself.
Like it or not, they were in the same boat now. No way he could keep sulking forever like some petty kid with a dick.
He cleared his throat with a cough and opened his mouth.
"Uh... how much longer to the rendezvous?"
"..."
"Pretty far?"
Fenrir had ignored him the first time, but not the second.
The bridge of his nose twitched visibly above the goblin mask, then came a curt reply.
"We need at least two more hours."
"Still?"
"Anyone listening would think we're heading to the next town over for fun."
"Fair point. But honestly, it's kinda new to me. First time leaving Downtown."
Fenrir narrowed his eyes at Jin's words as he gazed at the passing scenery outside.
"Is Downtown your hometown?"
"Nah. Got a separate one for that."
Fenrir shot him a look like What the hell is this guy on about? before shaking his head.
He fixed his gaze forward again, and silence threatened to return.
Desperate, Jin spoke up.
"Hey! Got a question."
"...What."
Fenrir scowled as he asked, and Jin wracked his brain for a question that wasn't even there.
"Does your underwear rip every time you transform into a beastman?"
"..."
And silence descended once more.
Entry to all districts is strictly through gates by principle.
Obviously, that was what Fenrir and Jin needed to avoid.
They were heading to Mute Town to destroy a logistics warehouse, so getting their faces caught on cameras during gate passage was a disaster waiting to happen.
That's why they had a rendezvous point.
Unable to use the legit paths, they'd take an illegal route.
And the one helping them was a resistance member who'd introduced himself as Albus.
"Put this on first."
The man they met at the rendezvous handed over gas masks right after confirming identities.
"Hm?"
Jin puzzled it out as he fumbled the mask on.
For hiding our faces?
No.
The spot Albus led them to was an old sewer where polluted water gurgled along.
"Nearby factory dumps waste illegally. No purification at all—heavy metals mixed in is standard, and COD levels blow past 300. Stuff's basically straight poison."
Jin flinched.
This is full-on Fallout territory.
"...Hold up. If they dump waste suddenly, won't we all get swept away?"
"Don't worry. Dump day's the day after tomorrow."
Still sketchy.
Jin furrowed his brow, but the gas mask hid it.
"And outside places like this, dodging The Beast's eyes ain't easy."
Albus kept walking deeper into the sewer as he spoke.
How long had they trudged with narrowed vision and labored breaths?
Albus halted before an iron ladder leading to the surface.
He pointed to two large bags laid side by side on the floor—clearly prepped ahead.
"Our guys shat bricks hauling those. You two should manage easy, unlike us."
Jin hefted a bag to check.
Heavy as hell. Felt like 50kg, and even lighter actual weight would tax a normal adult male.
Of course, irrelevant for superhumans.
Jin slung it over his shoulder like a kindergartener's picnic pack and looked at Albus nonchalantly. Fenrir, the enhanced human, did the same.
"...Figures."
Albus muttered, impressed, then spoke.
"Inside are two high-yield structure charges and a remote detonator. Detonator range is 100m, set to blow exactly 120 seconds after. Install right, and it'll drop the building in seconds. Don't forget to evac to safety first. You'll handle it fine, I'm sure."
He added tips on placement and the re-rendezvous spot, then clapped his palms lightly.
"That's me done. Questions? No? Then we're splitting."
He turned to leave, tossing one last line.
"Good luck out there."
After Albus left.
Jin and Fenrir climbed the ladder, shoved open the manhole cover, and stepped onto the surface.
Jin yanked off the stifling gas mask and looked up. The sky had already deepened to heavy indigo.
Fenrir, goblin mask secured, jerked his head.
"Let's move."
Mute Town wasn't anything special.
The dank alleys that could spit out trouble any second were just like Downtown.
Sure, differences existed if you hunted for them, but Jin reminded himself he wasn't here to sightsee—he had a job to do.
That the bags on his shoulders held building-busting bombs, not mats and lunchboxes.
Maybe that's why.
The odd tension sharpened his focus, making the surroundings hit his senses crystal clear.
The moon weeping coldly overhead.
Darkness seeping into his skin.
His heart thudding quietly.
Guards' chatter thick with tobacco.
"Confirmed. Six of 'em."
Jin pulled his head back from peeking around the wall and spoke. Fenrir, arms crossed beside him, responded.
"Two fireteams of three. No AI turrets. Defenses are lax."
"Lax? They're all beastmen, right?"
Like you.
He skipped the last bit.
Sounded kinda racist.
Fenrir answered.
"You're misunderstanding something. The Beast isn't a beastman outfit anymore. More precisely, not just beastmen. Covering a whole district means you can't be picky with recruits—efficiency suffers. Those guys? Opportunists sucking up to winners or hired mercs for cash. TB originals all climbed to exec ranks ages ago. They don't patrol nights."
"Makes sense."
Jin nodded.
No wonder "founding fathers" is a thing.
They stuck through thick and thin, so even if not blood, we're brothers! That brotherhood flex from ancient victors was timeless tradition.
"Course, could be an exec inside the warehouse. Doesn't matter. Run into one, we kill 'em. Simple."
Fenrir peeled off the wall as he spoke.
"Time to move. You remember the plan?"
"Install charges at marked spots, bail the building ASAP. Press detonators together after linking up. If no show in 15 minutes, trigger solo. Right?"
"Right."
Fenrir nodded, cracking his neck side to side.
"Don't hold me back."
Next instant, his form vanished under the moonlight.
Dust billowed white. His back was already far ahead.
Incredible speed. Hard to believe with dozens of kilos of explosives.
Wolves hit 60 kph, right?
Fenrir reached the chatting guards in a flash.
"Who—!"
Guards whipped around late, sensing presence.
Fenrir was already behind them.
"Gurk!"
"Keurk!"
Guards crumpled clutching necks—no telling who first. Blood dripped from hands behind them.
Sharp claws at the tips.
Partial transformation.
Jin admired as he cinched his strap tight.
No time to gawk.
The agreed 15 minutes started now.
Bam!
Jin kicked off the ground and bolted.
Not the front door Fenrir charged, but looping wide to the back.
A 4-story concrete logistics warehouse wouldn't crumble from one or two charges easy. Needed something like an earthquake bomb or bunker buster for that in one go.
That's why they'd gotten structural weak points from the resistance ahead of time.
Fenrir on basement and first floor.
Jin on second and third.
No overlap in zones.
Couldn't afford any.
Two solos stirring chaos in separate spots would throw them into total disarray.
Jin tensed his advancing toes.
The warehouse rear loomed closer. Parked cargo trucks lined up long, guards smoking there.
"Sssip. Fwooo—"
Blissfully unaware of doom, the guy's face was pure chill.
Chill enough to offer his pack to his buddy.
"Want one?"
"Sure."
"Fucking filthy."
The guard grimaced as his pal plucked a cig with front teeth, then fished out a lighter.
Flicked the flint.
The moment he went to light it.
Krunch!
The cig-biting buddy's face slammed into the wall.
Blood sprayed.
"...Huh?"
The guard stared dazed at his crushed buddy's head, then spotted the hand gripping the twitching skull—a beat late.
"Enemy...!"
No chance to raise and fire his gun reflexively.
A flying fist cratered his face first.
Thud.
Face caved in, he slumped.
Exp incoming—no need to check if alive.
Jin threw open the shut iron door and slipped inside the building.