Titan Repair Shop (Part 2)
Gordon looked at the report he had received from Vivian.
The condition of Dex's body recorded in the report was so miserable that it was beyond just saying it was pitiful.
In addition to the broken heart and damaged abdomen that Gordon knew about, the body had been mutated so that muscle growth was impossible, and even the basal metabolism required by the body had been abnormally increased—an evil mutation.
It looked like someone had maliciously remodeled a human to make their life uncomfortable.
Especially to survive in the depths of the bottom like Ground Zero with such a body, one had no choice but to crawl quietly on the floor like a dead rat, barely surviving.
'If you fall to the lower levels in this state, you'll usually sink into despair and go mad, or die soon after.'
Not only was there no way to return to the upper layers, but in the Ground Zero where strength rules, this cursed body couldn't become a true powerhouse.
What more gruesome punishment could there be for someone who had enjoyed the comfortable life of the upper layers?
For someone who had already tasted the brilliant sky, being thrown into a lightless underground dungeon to rot for the rest of their life was a torture worse than death.
But Gordon's gaze shifted to the next part, and interest sparkled in his eyes.
Inside the broken heart, there were faintly engraved traces of four magic systems: emission, detection, recovery, and regulation.
After completely shattering the abdomen and blocking the body's growth, he had learned low-level magic to survive and climb up, stuffing them into his heart somehow.
Despite wearing these heavy shackles, he was looking for a way to break through the sky with his own strength.
'Interesting. This... It's a lot more valuable to watch than I thought.'
Long ago, the one who had fallen from the highest place to the bottom was Gordon, a guy who reminded him of his old memories.
So he was heading to see that guy now. To check what he had been doing in the meantime and how he had been living.
Since he liked him, he planned to help him live a bit safer.
At the end of the alley in Ground Zero where thick smog had settled.
When Gordon's footsteps reached the front of the Titan Repair Shop, he had no choice but to stop.
Because he could confirm that the guy he had come to see was coming out of the shop and doing something.
“Hey, brat. What are you doing?”
Right at that moment.
An old neon sign on the outer wall of the shop was flickering and emitting red light.
[Titan Repair Shop]
It was the name Dex had put up himself when he first started crawling up from the bottom of this pit decades ago.
That old sign, buried in dust in a warehouse corner for decades, had been found by that brat and hung on the building's outer wall.
“Hah, hahaha!”
A laugh burst from Gordon's mouth.
A frail guy who would fly away with a gust of wind had put up such a heavy and grand name.
But perhaps for that villain who, despite wearing the cursed shackle that prevented him from rising again, was desperately trying to break through the sky, it might be the most fitting sign in the world.
Surprised by Gordon's sudden laughter, Dex, who had been fiddling with the wiring of the neon sign, turned around looking bewildered.
“...Sir? Why are you laughing like a madman the moment you arrive?”
A smile curved Gordon's lips at those words.
This crazy guy calls me 'elder' but speaks to me quite familiarly. That's interesting too.
“No. The sign seems to have found its owner quite properly, so I laughed.”
Then, after a while, Gordon's voice came out.
“What do you mean by that?”
Gordon suddenly came and laughed boisterously, saying things I couldn't understand.
“You. You didn't hang that up thinking of using this place as a repair shop, did you?”
Only then could I understand Gordon's words.
“Ah. This? Yeah. Well, I don't have any particularly memorable name. Since making a new one is troublesome... Is it okay if I don't?”
Thinking about it, the landlord didn't say I could use it as a shop... Can I just modify it as I like?
“No. Since I lent it to you, you can use it as you like.”
Whoa. As expected, Gordon sir. You're quite something.
Just as I was thinking that.
“But... Did you properly do what I asked you to?”
I had no choice but to shut my mouth at those words.
Actually, there were many excuses.
During this time, there were too many customers suddenly coming to this place, so there wasn't much time to work, or there was too much to clean, so even though I only cleaned, two days passed...
But instinctively, I felt that it couldn't be like that. Gordon sir wouldn't accept such lame excuses.
Previously, I had thought of using mana batteries to clean my mouth when he came, but now that the sir was right in front of me, I felt it was also something I couldn't do.
The sir wanted solid results rather than excuses or information.
So I chose the third option.
“You said to make something that could become money.”
“Yeah, that's right.”
“Instead, how about just money?”
“What?”
I swept my wrist and transferred the 200,000 credits I had received from Vivian as a consulting fee the other day to Gordon sir's account.
“Hm? What is this?”
“The money I earned while staying here for the past two days. Please take it first.”
“I told you to make something that could become money, not money itself, right?”
At Gordon sir's sharp words, I unconsciously swallowed.
This was the important part. How I spoke here would completely change Gordon sir's evaluation of me.
“Of course, I made something. It's just not visible.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Today, I repaired the doctor's eyes that the doctor you called, sir. So the doctor said, 'There is clearly a defect in the mega corp's product, so I'll sue the mega corp.'”
At my words, interest appeared on Gordon sir's face.
“What? You discovered the defect in the mega corp's product?”
Got it. Almost succeeded.
“Yes. So I made a technical opinion letter about that defective product. And the 200,000 credits I just gave you are the consulting fee I received for making that document. Isn't that enough to say I made something that can become money?”
At my bold attitude, another burst of laughter exploded from Gordon sir's face, which had been stiff.
“Hahaha! Really, a guy with guts. There's no one else who can package the words 'I didn't do anything' so impressively.”
I shuddered at Gordon sir's words.
As expected, since he's a big shot, such packaging doesn't work on him.
“But if I can package excuses with this much guts and skill, I can't help but acknowledge it. Good. I'll give you a bit more time because of your dedication. Since what you did is quite to my liking. You made the mega corp guys suffer, so I should do something like this.”
Click. Sizzle-
Gordon sir, who had a cigar in his mouth and lit it, blew smoke into the air with a 'whoosh'.
“This time, I'll give you a week's time. At that time too, give me 200,000 credits or more like now, or make one thing that I like.”
Okay. This time, I somehow got by.
“And the operation of the repair shop...”
Gordon sir, who was looking through the organized interior, smiled wickedly.
“I'll help a little.”
“Yes? What do you mean you'll help?”
“You'll find out soon.”
With those words, Gordon sir started moving and left.
“Eh? Sir? Hey?”
Actually, there were a few locked doors inside, and the second floor door was also locked. I wanted to ask how to use them.
If I forced it, I could open it, but if the landlord locked it, there must be a reason. I should ask before opening.
But... Seeing Gordon sir leave as if the matter was over, I thought I should ask next time.
There was no need to use the internal doors or the second floor right now.
Moreover, since sir was in a good mood and being flexible, there was a hidden warning that I hadn't fully succeeded in the task I was given. In such a situation, there was no need to scratch the scab.
Once the tension eased, it was time to eat dinner, and my stomach rumbled noisily.
“Hey. Should I try some spiced syrup jelly?”
Curious how effective the spiced syrup the shopkeeper gave as service would be.
I closed the front door and went inside.
Clunk.
By the way, what exactly did he mean by helping? Is he sending customers? Or supporting with some useful equipment?
Thinking about it, didn't Vivian say she helped with starting the business? It must mean the same for me.
The next day after that day passed, I could immediately realize what kind of help Gordon sir had meant the day before.
Knock knock knock knock-!
“Is the owner of Titan Repair Shop home!”
The next morning, someone sent by Gordon sir came right here.
“Nice to meet you, boss! My name is Rita, who will be working at this repair shop starting today according to Gordon's command. Please take care of me from now on.”
Right when I opened the door, a cheerful voice rushed in.
... Did Gordon sir mean sending a person when he said he'd help?