Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Cybernetic Witness
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Cybernetic eye.
Or mechanical eye, as it's sometimes called. Naturally, it's based on a camera. No need for complicated explanations—it's just the primary storage for visual data.
That fake eyeball down there, with thin wires dangling in place of an optic nerve, still looking like it might twitch at any moment—that was the sole witness and clue to the Rum Pump Pump Pump terror incident.
How on earth did he think to pick that up?
Jin was genuinely impressed.
"Jeki. Finally, you're earning your keep!"
"... Huh? What do you mean, how do you usually see me?"
Jeki looked hurt for a split second, but when Jin thrust out his scarlet right hand from the water and gave a thumbs-up, he finally cracked an awkward smile.
The reckless guy was thrilled,
the timid one grinning sheepishly.
In the midst of the chaos, the only techie stepped up.
"Hand it over."
Jenny snatched the cybernetic eye from her brother's hand and examined it carefully from every angle. Then she abruptly stood up.
Jin started to rise with her.
"You lie back down there for another hour. Just try coming out."
A pointed finger jabbed at him like a gun, accompanied by icy words of warning. Jin awkwardly settled back into the ice water.
Ah, it's cold.
Am I gonna shrink or something?
he thought.
The Jeki-Jenny siblings' place was a detached studio apartment on the outskirts of South Downtown.
To Jin, who had lived alone before, it was a familiar size. Maybe 8 or 9 pyeong?
They had roughly split the perfect solo-living space in two for themselves.
Even then, there was only one single bed.
They took turns, one sleeping on the sofa every other day.
Anyway, that's where Jin ended up visiting.
As soon as he came out of the bathroom, he regretted it: 'Ah, shoulda grabbed a box of fruit juice or something.' He looked every bit the typical Korean guy blaming his empty hands.
The siblings, meanwhile, couldn't care less about that.
Jin, now changed into clothes Jeki had given him (his originals had burned away), quietly plopped down on the sofa.
As he awkwardly scanned the room, someone tapped his shoulder.
It was Jeki.
Without a word, he slid over a bag of potato chips. Jin took it reflexively, his mind a bit foggy. Have I ever been to someone's house before?
As he tilted his head and instinctively tore open the bag,
"Feeling better?"
Jenny asked, eyes glued to her monitor. The question came with the rhythmic tap-tap-tap of her keyboard as background music.
Her voice was casual, detached from her busy fingers, so Jin grabbed a handful of chips and replied.
"I did my hour. Can't do more."
"Yeah, yeah. Good job."
Jenny chuckled dismissively, and Jin got up from the sofa, walking over to the triple-monitor setup.
He draped his arm over the back of her chair and asked,
"Find anything good?"
"Not much. It was infected with malware—most of the data's wiped. Oh, and this logic? Berserk."
She hit a key with a clack.
A program window popped up on the center monitor, showing a red blob with a net-like surface divided into tight grids.
It stretched and shrank its shapeless body.
Stretched and shrank again.
Then it suddenly slammed into the inside of the program window—wild and violent.
Jin blinked and asked,
"That's Berserk?"
"Yep. Illegal malware banned by the city government."
Jenny sighed, pointing at something with her fingertip.
His gaze followed, landing on the cybernetic eye connected to the computer via cable.
"The second it linked to the device, it smashed the security program and invaded. Barely stopped it. When I checked externally multiple times, it was dormant... If not coincidence, it's using a stealth process."
Stealth process.
It sounded familiar somehow. Probably overheard it from Poh.
As Jin nodded, Jenny fiddled with the eye and continued,
"If the Junk Plaza shooter had the same issue, like you said, this might really be terrorism. Random people suddenly rampaging indiscriminately..."
She bit her lower lip, staring at the monitor, then turned to Jin.
"Anyway, as I said, Berserk wiped most data—98.7% loss. Can't guarantee full recovery on what's left. But if you want, I'll try. What do you say?"
Jin answered without hesitation.
"Please do."
Rum Pump Pump Pump had been hit by terror.
His blind rage had calmed, but just thinking of the shop engulfed in flames brought it bubbling back. He needed a target to unleash it on.
All because he'd grown attached to that dingy place with its lousy food and service, knowingly or not.
He hated dwelling on his tough past, but it was the first shop he'd walked into clutching unfamiliar bills.
Smelly and filthy, people indifferent,
an old speaker crooning lullabies nearby,
the waffles shoved in his mouth somehow choking him bite by bite...
Ugh. Stop thinking.
Makes me wanna smash everything.
So Jin flopped back onto the sofa. Munch munch. As he vented on innocent chips, Jeki, watching quietly, timely opened some new snacks or canned goods and pushed them over. They'd known each other over a month now. Sensing the fury blazing in Jin's glaring eyes, it was thoughtful and perceptive—easing his anger. Though devouring enough to bankrupt the household was a wildcard. Right. This guy's a big eater. As Jeki grew anxious and moved to go buy more, "...Got something. Big time."
His sister's words saved him. Jin hurried to the computer, sighing in relief. Draping his arm over the chair back again, he focused on the video Jenny showed.
Crackle—
Crackle crackle—
The glitchy screen distortion lasted a while before shakily focusing. Beyond the first-person view, like a game, a man's face—blurred out—opened his mouth.
A short silence.
The man stared into space, then nodded.
His expression was unclear, but his voice suggested a smile.
The man slid a small case across the table.
The video owner took it with trembling hands, stroking the flame-emblazoned emblem on its surface. Then the screen glitched out again.
"...Solad."
Jeki, now beside him, muttered lowly.
Jenny's shocked lips trembled too.
"Heard rumors of black-market sales of leaked secret magic, but I didn't think it was real..."
Jin wrinkled his nose at that.
No wonder it felt familiar. Same setup as that bastard Edmund Nielsen.
For a moment, his eyes gleamed at the lead—but he narrowed his brows and asked,
"Why's the seller's face so blurry?"
"Illegal dealings. Probably a scrambler. This is decent, though. Sometimes faces and voices get wiped entirely."
"Can't track him?"
"Nah. Ways around it."
Jenny gripped keyboard and mouse.
Here's what followed:
From the 30-second clip, she scraped backgrounds and ambient sounds like collage pieces, building a 3D overview. Then connected to Downtown's network, searching for high-similarity buildings based on her file.
To clueless Jin, it looked like Google Image Search—and on a big level, it was.
Soon, Jenny spoke.
"Three matches. Only one's over 70% similarity—here."
"...Vape Shop?"
Jin's eyes hit a flashy ad.
The ultimate flavor this world can't match!
888 mix recipes! Private rooms! Tons of sex toys!
All at Kingsroom!
Ugh. Overkill.
Jin straightened up from the monitor, rubbing his eyes. Jenny leaned back into the chair.
"That's as far as I go. Hope it helps."
"Helps big time. Thanks."
"...Wait, leaving now?"
Jin, heading for the door, turned at her voice over his shoulder.
"Yeah."
"Think about your body—rest tonight, move tomorrow? It's late."
Jin shrugged, flexing his right arm—now molting white skin—showing off his solid bicep.
"See? All healed. Catch you later."
"Wait, Jin?"
Ignoring her panicked call, he opened the door and stepped out.
The siblings exchanged helpless laughs, watching his vanishing back.
Kingsroom.
Officially a vape shop, but really an underground club mixing and selling all sorts of liquid drugs.
Once you entered, your mind melted—you wouldn't know if it was floor or bed, or if the lips on yours belonged to man or woman. Infamous for that.
And Jin appeared at the entrance!
"...Cleared."
The guarding bouncer nodded his chin.
Like Steel Night before, Kingsroom now—Jin breezed through inspections.
Call it VIP free pass confidence.
Handsome face, tall, built body. Women in line had been eyeing him sticky-sweet.
What's a door cut? He strode in boldly, like who could stop him.
Then, out of nowhere, a hand gripped his shoulder—
"Leave weapons at the door."
The low-voiced guard's order. Jin sheepishly unholstered from his waist and handed it over.
"...!"
Unexpected weight?
The guard's face stiffened momentarily. Confirming Gravis 707 stowed, Jin smiled faintly and moved on.
Through the long hallway, past a bowing staffer opening glass doors—dreamy sights unfolded.
In purple haze under dim lights, patrons lounged, puffing deep with dazed eyes.
The echoing song's slow tempo kept the vibe far from typical clubs.
Though the writhing folks made it as unhinged as Steel Night.
Jin stood pondering.
What now?
He'd made it here, but next steps? Stumped.
Hand on hip, thinking—then arms snaked around his waist.
"First time? Want a guide?"
A woman with chrome-replaced skin. Her glossy face nuzzled his shoulder.
"Huh?"
Jin recoiled. Way beyond his aesthetic tolerance.
White makes white, black makes black.
What do you call shiny chrome?
Chrome-kin? Insane. "So shy, handsome." She clung tighter, snaking hands like a serpent—brushing dangerous spots. Jin blurted, "You sell illegal data chips here?" "..." Chrome-woman's eyes chilled. "...Who the hell are you." And a status window popped up.
「(Omen!) Infecting Will 2」
Investigate traces of Berserk.
⏰ Reward: Perk XP 2,500
"Don't move. For your sake."
Feeling the blade at his throat, Jin turned. Ironically relieved.
So this is the place?
Simple then.
"Time to trash it."
"What?"
Next instant, Jin snapped her wrist with a crack, headbutting her screaming face.
Spraying blood arced red—not silver, thankfully.
Thinking that, Jin kneed her gut as she clutched her nose.
Her body crashed into the wall amid clatters. Gasping, he bellowed,
"Boss! Get out here—!!"