Sisters' Ambitions Unveiled
Drafting the commission contract with Yoo Seung-ah goes off without a hitch. It's possible only because she's the team leader of the ECPD headquarters investigation division. People think you need a strong body to make it in the ECPD, but a strong body alone won't get you to team leader. And to climb there on your own, without any backers, you need a very sharp mind. Not the book-smart kind, of course. In this world, nano-computers let you remember anything you've seen until the day you die. No one bothers memorizing or studying knowledge like what I knew from my old life—they pick it up easily enough.
So what kind of smarts are we talking about? Knowing which cases to steer clear of. Holding firm without crossing lines. In other words, the wisdom to bolt when you're about to lose money or your life. Yoo Seung-ah excels at that sort.
"—That's the full original text of the contract, right? It's not like it looks on the surface. More thorough than I expected... A deal where neither the client nor the fixer takes a loss, where you both end up smiling. Impressive contract."
I'd asked just in case if she understood the clauses, and she rattled them off crystal clear. She even grasped the true intent by the end and let out a sigh of admiration.
"Seung-ah's impressive too."
I clap—clap clap.
For reference, Enoch got lost starting at Article 1, Clause 3.
"Hmph, hrm. You see countless contracts like this in investigations, so you pick it up inevitably."
"Humble too." Clap clap—my applause continues.
Yoo Seung-ah scratches her cheek, suddenly embarrassed.
"Um, if it's not too rude a question..."
"I'll answer since you've stamped the contract."
Her voice is innocent, but the words pack a punch. Calling it just a "contract" instead of a "commission contract" makes it sound like we're in on something shady...
"Who proposed a contract like this?"
"All three of us worked hard on it."
"I see..."
Wariness and goodwill rise in Yoo Seung-ah's mind at once. The wariness from her ECPD investigation team leader side, the goodwill from her as an individual. They haven't officially opened shop yet, but handling business this way will build massive trust. Mercs live on trust. Thick trust piles up money, money draws people, and bit by bit, they make a name in Eden, growing influence until they become more than just "mercs."
Should she be glad to have spotted such an existence early, or disgusted at herself for feeling uneasy with it right in front of her? Yoo Seung-ah doesn't know yet.
"Shall I explain the commission details now?"
"Yeah."
"First... I'll start with the background on how I came to investigate the Martin Etmuller case. It began with a cert—"
"Earring, right?"
"—earring...?"
Yoo Seung-ah's mouth flops open. Her eyes blink too. Soon even that's impossible.
The earring in my hand catches her eye—a crystal one snapped clean in half.
"Th-that... th-th-th, that's it! That's the one!"
"The one you were looking for?"
"Yes!"
She shoots up from her seat.
"H-how, that thing! Why'd you... break it...?"
Her words won't form sentences. She's that shocked, that stunned. Shocked that the earring she'd desperately hunted is right there, stunned that it's shattered.
"Why were you looking for this?"
My voice stays lazy as ever. Even Angela, who always smiles, startles at Yoo Seung-ah's intense reaction—but I react like I knew it all along.
"Ah... ahem."
Taking in my demeanor, Yoo Seung-ah forces herself to calm down and sits.
"...Guess I have to tell you everything."
"If you want the commission to truly succeed."
She wets her parched lips with coffee and speaks with effort.
"To cut to the chase, it's... to save my little sister."
"Little sister?"
Only now do my eyes light up. Angela's, meanwhile, cloud with worry.
"Yes. My sister craves the family's approval—a cute ambition, in many ways."
"'Craved'?"
"It's been so long since we've met that I can't be sure, but I think it's probably still the same."
Angela mulls over the note in her pocket. It's definitely a NeoNic network block. Too far over the line for "cute ambition," isn't it? Even Angela now couldn't siphon NeoNic's network for personal lines. But her sister not only did, she got caught.
Deeper ties to NeoNic would make this a dangerous commission. Still, my eyes sparkle.
I beat Zailek and Luthien four times each, but haven't touched NeoNic once. That's what I said when asked what I'd do about a NeoNic-tied commission.
Even Angela, who softens others' words, breaks into a cold sweat at that.
"How's she trying to earn that approval?"
"Wealth, of course. The most straightforward, tangible result—one that ties into running a company."
"Sis runs a business?"
"Yes, a small company."
"She's got talent."
"She built it into something decent without a drop of family help, so yes. Such a proud little sister."
A gentle smile graces Yoo Seung-ah's lips. It had started softening when she began talking about her sister, but now it's purely bright. Remembering the past? They must've been close back then. Sisters are usually at odds, right? What was the family like? Her sister's name probably starts with "Yoo" too—a familiar Korean name in this cyberpunk world. Family approval. Wealth. Cute ambition.
Aha.
The questions swirling in my head finally converge.
"Seung-ah, you climbed to team leader without family help too, right?"
My smile deepens a bit. Beside me, Angela steels herself. Whenever I smile like that, I pull some stunt or drop a bombshell. What now? Kill Yoo Seung-ah outright? Doesn't feel like it. Or maybe say I already killed her sister. Way over the line, astronomically over... If so, how to handle it?
As Angela racks her brain, Yoo Seung-ah opens her mouth with a wry smile.
"I'm just a coward."
Self-mockery, too.
"As the big sister who should protect her, all I do is join ECPD investigations and pass on scraps of info..."
"Still, you stayed clean—no bribes, incorruptible. Isn't that worth being proud of?"
"I'm past the age to feel proud of the bare minimum."
"Got it."
ECPD keeps Eden's peace. Formally a government corp prioritizing citizen safety over corporate overreach. But now? Not worse than corps, but close. Eden's enforcers always back them.
Even there, Yoo Seung-ah stayed spotless. True to her duty, honest. Until recently, I thought her survival was a miracle. But if a clean person surviving is miraculous, isn't that a messed-up view?
My gaze drifts to Yoo Seung-ah's lips. A tear like from a slap. Lower, swollen hands and a worn, frayed suit. And the name Yoo Seung-ah.
My eyes crinkle softly.
"What's the commission completion condition?"
"...Convince her to drop the dangerous stuff and focus on running her company."
"Why hunt the earring?"
"Someone said it was her weakness. Don't know who. Just an email from 'EZ-M'..."
Angela's breath hitches briefly. I ignore it and keep going.
"Mm... So first, clear threats around her sis."
Yoo Seung-ah's pupils tremble fiercely.
"Is my sister in danger?"
"Dunno. But probably."
Someone grabbing a weakness means they want to harm her. Obvious without thinking. So how'd they plan to use just the info that she tapped NeoNic's IP as leverage? Better go ask her myself.
"Let's go, Angela."
I stand. Somehow I've connected the call already, and speak to Enoch, who's been waiting quietly.
"Enoch, stay put."
Details are better in person, he figures, and hangs up.
"Soo?"
"Yeah."
"Heading to Wolha now?"
Angela tilts her head, face asking why.
"Seung-ah's sis is the rep there."
"...Rep? Yoo Sena?"
Angela, who's looked up Wolha in the meantime, widens her eyes.
"Yeah."
"How'd you know that, Soo?"
"Familiar name."
"Familiar? Yoo Seung-ah, Yoo Sena..."
Mulling the names, Angela shudders.
"...Soo."
"Yeah."
"No way..."
"Yup. The NeoNic chairman Yoo Seung-chul's clan. Distant branch, sure."
Angela flops back onto the sofa.