The 5-Stage Big Shot Classification
Dex
There's this thing called the so-called '5-Stage Big Shot Classification'.
Naturally, it's not a formally recognized theory anywhere in the world, and it was my own classification method that I wrote down in my early survival strategy post on the Fusion Punk Apocalypse community.
Big Shot, High Shot, Mid Shot, Plain Shot, and Junk Shot.
If you dig deep, there are exceptional stages, but the big division into these five criteria was a guideline I made to apply different attitudes toward the NPCs I encounter in games.
Because my response depends on the opponent's rank, the way to handle them changes slightly.
In that sense, the old man in front of me is likely at least 'High Shot' or even 'Big Shot'.
According to the classification, when I heard that this old man was the disciple of the Junk Shot level gang subordinate, I was about to lick his shoes in apology and leave.
Those Junk Shots never treat normal people that way.
In the 5-Stage Big Shot Classification, the most cautious opponent is the 'Big Shot'.
But to grow quickly, it's best to receive support from a High Shot or Big Shot.
Being treated well by a Big Shot isn't bad, but I must absolutely avoid getting too deeply entangled with them.
The best direction is to become trading partners who can coexist.
So, what should I do now?
I slowly started analyzing the old man in front of me.
Glancing at his face, his eyes were modified with ocular implants.
'Huh? Looks like a technician-specific ocular implant from Synix.'
Synix.
In the Fusion Punk Apocalypse where most megacorps were destroyed, this super-giant megacorp that divides Gaon Mega City into thirds was mentioned incredibly often.
Since it's something of that level, it's hard to get intact ones, so they cover with various parts to restore, so this is the first time I've seen a truly intact item from this era.
'Even a character who survived 100 years in Fusion Punk couldn't get this kind of item properly...'
Items like that are technician items, but since real Big Shots use them, I had given up on using them early on.
Instead, there was one time I repaired a Big Shot's used item, so it stuck in my memory.
Actually, I prefer using the items I personally modify rather than fixing corporate ones.
Glancing down, the prosthetic arm was also a corporate product.
Hyunseong Mechanics.
One of the three megacorps that divide Gaon Mega City into thirds, but not as high as Synix, yet in the field of precision processing and maintenance prosthetics, it's a mid-to-upper tier megacorp with a unique position.
The highest precision work prosthetic, 'Hyunseong Meister' lineup, estimated to be of that level, was revealed from under the old coat's sleeve.
I need to check what level of Hyunseong Meister lineup it is, but just seeing that he uses Synix and Hyunseong products, I can guess the old man's power.
'This old man. He seems like a Big Shot.'
If it were the era of the game I was playing, Fusion Punk, in 2333, I could have been sure this old man is a Big Shot, but now it's 300 years earlier, 2033.
I lack information about this era.
But just having corporate products, isn't it safe to say he's at least High Shot or above?
Large burn scar on the face, megacorp technician equipment, casually saying he's my disciple.
Thinking about how his skill impressed me, it's highly likely he's a typical artisan-type technician.
Thinking that far, I decided to extort starting costs from this Big Shot.
Because in this world right now, as someone who fell from the sky without anyone, I can't even secure a place to stay today.
But I couldn't let it become the form of becoming the old man's disciple.
Disciples receive one-way teachings from the master, so I can never sever ties with this Big Shot.
One of the most important parts when establishing a relationship with a Big Shot is to create a hole to sever the relationship.
That's why I said this.
"Sorry, but I don't think I can become the old man's disciple."
"... Hooh?"
In the old man's eyes, waiting for my answer, a flicker passed.
It seemed he hadn't expected to be flatly rejected.
"If I say make you my disciple, there are hundreds of guys in this area who would lick my shoes.
Do you know who I am, brat?"
"I just saw that the old man rules over the Ground Zero gang with a finger, so I get it."
I showed a relaxed expression as much as possible while being nonchalant.
Due to the Extreme Muscle Loss trait, my physique is at the level where it would fly away with just a breeze, so I wouldn't look that strong, but I absolutely couldn't lose in a verbal battle.
Even if I was about to die, I had to show that I had something.
"But I don't need to learn anything from anyone."
"Don't need to learn from anyone... Huh. Really."
The old man laughed mockingly at me.
"The first time in Ground Zero that someone told me such cheeky words, brat. You were thinking ahead, weren't you?"
The old man's glaring eyes made my spine tingle.
I said, trying not to look too hasty.
"The old man is also a technician, right? Someone skilled enough to personally tune and maintain high-performance corporate equipment like the Hyunseong Meister prosthetic arm from Hyunseong Mechanics and the Synix precision ocular implant in the right eye."
The old man's eyes flashed sharply for a moment.
I continued.
"But the old man's way and my way are fundamentally different.
By entering under the old man, it means there would be nothing to learn or teach each other."
From the prosthetic and ocular implant, you can tell the direction of the technician.
The old man and I have completely different technologies.
I am a magitech technician, completely different from a tech technician like the old man.
Strictly speaking, the old man could teach me experience, but I can obtain it alone anyway.
"Ha! Different ways? Very arrogant, but... not wrong."
Fortunately, the real technician old man also understood my words.
Seeing the old man's expression soften, I let out a breath.
"So, I have a proposal.
Instead of making you my disciple... how about hiring me as a technician?"
"What? Hire? Uahahahaha! Rejecting being a disciple, and making an equal technician contract?"
The old man laughed loudly at me.
But I didn't miss that the old man's expression was slightly softer than before.
"Look at this sly guy? Rejecting the disciple talk but asking for the name 'independent technician'?
Isn't it basically saying you'll come into my workshop and live off my materials and equipment while using them?
To me, whether you're a disciple or a hired technician, it's the same, brat."
In the old man's eyes, my request seemed like just a young one's pride or a joke.
But to me, it was heaven and earth apart.
Disciples can't easily leave the master, but a temporarily hired technician becomes a justification to leave anytime when the situation changes or in a Big Shot war.
"Well, good.
If it looks that way to the old man, that's enough."
"Tsk tsk, a guy who only calculates quickly."
The old man clicked his tongue and pointed inside the alley with his chin.
"Good.
Whether disciple or technician, I'll give you a spot in the workshop.
But since you declared it as a hiring relationship, you have to demonstrate that much skill."
"Of course.
Well, please take care of me, old man."
"It's a bit early to say please take care of me.
You're not fully hired yet.
I need to check if you're skilled enough to act like that."
"Of course.
Feel free to test me."
Looking at the old man's back walking into the alley, I finally exhaled the breath I had been holding.
'For now, the first hurdle is cleared.'
"What's your name?"
At that point, I briefly thought.
Should I say my real name, or this world's name?
"Seol Gyehyeon."
The thought was short.
Since I was transmigrated into this body, I have to live as Seol Gyehyeon from now on.
"Life must have been tough."
This was Gordon's evaluation of my name.
Only Seol Gyehyeon used a Korean name in the orphanage in Ground Zero where he lived.
That's why he heard a lot of discriminatory words.
"Then, what's the old man's name?
No matter what, I can't use the investor's name without knowing it."
"Go Jin-tae."
Oh.
He was from the East Asian cultural sphere.
The burn scar was so thick I couldn't recognize well, but there was still a remnant of Asian features in the skeleton and facial features.
Not a complete Asian, seemed mixed.
"But in this underworld, everyone calls you Gordon.
If you don't want to die on the streets, don't casually use your real name."
Unexpected advice.
I didn't quite understand why, but since nothing useless would come from this old man's mouth, I obediently nodded.
"Then, can you give me a nickname?"
"What were you called until now?"
I briefly searched Seol Gyehyeon's mind.
In this messy world, even in the lowest slum orphanage, memories of being called by a proper name are few.
Instead, filled with dirty slurs.
Weakling, idiot, Oriental, yellow monkey, etc.
"I was called by nicknames rather than names.
You might not like hearing it."
At my words, the old man took a deep puff of his cigar and exhaled.
Through the thick smoke, the old man's ocular implant swept over my appearance.
"Dex.
From today, call me Dex."