Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Talking Machine (6)
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(Photos of various beauties)
Are your lonely nights sleeping alone getting to you?
Afraid of gang attacks and want a safe place for a comfortable rest?
Got some secret tastes you can't tell anyone about?
You've come to the right place!!
Hole◎Paradise can take care of all those worries!
We stock the latest android models from megacorps!
Special outcall service for customers scared to go out!
Affordable prices!
Amazing service!
Satisfying results!
Contact us now by phone or message.
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(This post has been deleted by the author.)
Walter and I are nothing more than a simple business relationship.
Selling goods, buying goods.
A seller and buyer.
From his perspective, I'm the enemy who haggled a $1,200 terminal down to $500, then even negotiated the speaker and connectors afterward—a total pain in the ass.
At best, a familiar customer.
But even so.
- Daughter... take her... cough!!
Walter asked me for a favor.
Of course, in that situation, I was the only one he could ask.
They say even the RCPD (Risk City Police Department) doesn't patrol Area 49.
A lonely old man with nowhere to turn handed me the kidnapper's business card in desperation to save his abducted daughter—like grasping at the last straw on the edge of a cliff.
And I, too,
had no intention of refusing Walter's request.
Honestly, it wasn't an easy choice.
People who steal and kidnap androids.
They reeked of crime from a mile away.
But right after checking Walter's condition, I moved without a second's hesitation.
The treatment's side effects making my temperament a bit hot-blooded was one reason.
'...It happened to someone around me.'
What should I call this feeling?
Probably like an animal whose territory has been invaded.
In words, closest to a sense of responsibility.
One thing was certain: if I didn't go save Walter's daughter now, I'd regret it for a long time.
For now, that was enough.
On my way back down the alley I'd come from,
"Huff, huff... Fuck, I'm dying..."
I spotted Michael bracing against a filthy wall, retching.
Michael, breathing raggedly, looked up at me with trembling eyes.
"...What, huff, Hotdog Man. Huff, what's, going on...? Anyway, I, I can, urk, help you..."
His stamina's shit, but somehow he ran here without stopping.
Unfortunately, no time to admire that.
"Details later."
I summed up the essentials.
"Head into that alley—there's an injured guy and Liberra. Take care of them for me."
"Huff, injured...?"
"Walter."
That should be enough for him to get it.
He looks like a total softie, but Michael's survived as a cold city man in this place before.
A bottom-feeder in the cyberpunk world.
Hate to imagine it.
"Got it... huff."
"Thanks."
And breathe properly.
I relayed the same instructions to Michael as I had to Liberra, then tossed him the pistol Christine gave me—just in case.
With things so rough lately, I'd kept it, but better if he had it.
Then checked the terminal's nav app I'd preset earlier.
[About 24 minutes to destination...]
The position and time were a bit iffy.
Wanted to go back to the grocery store and grab the truck, but no telling what might happen to Walter's kidnapped daughter.
'Like last time, ramming the entrance would end it in one shot.'
People learn through experience.
As someone who's been hit by a truck into a grocery store building, I knew how devastating that was.
'Too bad, next time then.'
If I ever raid another gang, I'll bring the truck next time.
Thinking ends here.
I moved fast along the displayed route.
Today it's Run, not Walk.
The nav time ticked down in real-time.
[About 21 minutes to destination...]
[About 17 minutes to destination...]
[About 11 minutes to destination...]
[About destin...]
No time to even look.
Old Town streets are a maze—walls and fences pop up where they shouldn't—but I didn't need to be Iron Man or Captain America to hop them.
Batman was just a regular human anyway.
Relies on gear, that's all.
Though after the treatment serum boosted my athleticism, I'm closer to Captain America than Batman.
Damn, DC boom incoming...
Anyway.
Soon, a fancy hotel building out of place with the street appeared ahead.
But unlike the sleek design, maintenance was filthy—like a patchwork quilt of rags.
Steel plates slapped everywhere.
The sign had over ten numbers easily, all glowing different colors lighting the street—but
every sign bore one name.
《Hole Paradise》 『Hole◎Paradise』 「Hole Heaven」 〔Hole@Paradise〕 【Hole Paradise】...
First thought when I saw the card holds true: blatantly obvious name.
Downright explicit.
Then, a tout at the entrance approached me.
"Yo, bro. Here to drain some? Ran all the way—must be urgent."
He tapped his fist with his palm in an obscene gesture.
Probably like the guy who came to the grocery store before.
"Our place is that damn good. Tech these days, fuck. Can match any taste. Holes so tight... Just tell me a bit. Personality, gender, face, tits, ass. Anything. Or ASFR fetish? Peel the skin for doll face, fur, or metal lump..."
"You're it."
Look on his face.
I cut him off mid-sentence; he frowned in confusion.
"What the fuck. Don't you know we only do androids? And a fine-looking guy like you likes girls, not dudes. What bullshit is 'you're it'."
I cut him off again.
Not with words—with action.
BAM!!!
In wuxia terms, a true strike.
In subculture terms, ground rumble.
The tout's head slowly drooped.
He looked down at his foot.
"...??"
There, with his leather shoe, was his foot completely flattened.
Cracks spread unrealistically wide.
Belated scream.
"F-Fuck!!!"
The tout topples backward.
Foot paper-thin, can't run even if he wants.
The commotion drew guards rushing toward me.
"Customer! Don't touch our staff!"
"Step back!"
I calmly scanned around.
Some touts eyed me boredly; others curiously.
No female androids or Anna in sight.
'Androids must all be inside.'
Quick judgment.
At the same time, my heart started beating terrifyingly slow.
—Thump.
In slowed time,
my fist smashed into a guard's face.
One, two, three, four, five.
Noses crumpling circularly, red blood droplets sprayed into the air.
Light shockwaves burst around their faces as a bonus.
Bigger guys than me spun half-turns, heads hitting pavement first.
Then,
time resumed normal flow.
Crack!!
Delayed impact sounds echoed.
Five guards at the entrance; now five groaning on the ground.
More security inside, sure—but for now, not a breath anywhere.
Just heavy silence.
"...Huh?"
Someone's surprised voice burst out, then
"...Raid."
"Fuck, run!!"
A beat later, people at the entrance scattered.
Except the one whose foot I stomped first.
I wiped blood from my knuckles on my pants, walked to the fallen tout looking up.
"S-Spare me..."
"Won't kill you."
"...!! Th-Thank..."
"If you do exactly what I say."
Hope flickered on his face, then despair again at my words.
I grabbed his collar, hoisted him to shoulder height.
Not tall; his feet dangled in the air.
Gulp.
Loud swallow from tension.
Not missing a chance to live, he stared seriously.
"...What do I need to do."
"Where you took the kidnapped girls."
"Th-That's."
Seemed like he might hesitate again, so I shook his collar side to side hard.
Whoosh, whoosh—!!
His body sliced the air.
Luckily, tough clothes didn't rip.
Unlucky for him, though.
"I-I'll, glrk, tell, kek! I'll tell!!"
"Okay."
Stopped.
Seconds passed, but his face looked years older, drenched in sweat.
Foot pain must cloud judgment.
Dry lightning for him, but as I said first, he's my guide.
Could sneak in specifying an android, but with time limit, had to go aggressive.
I spoke to the retching tout.
"Guide me now."
"P-Put, urk, me down..."
Tsk.
Nav app backtalk?
"That'd be slow. I'll carry you like this— just directions."
"...Got it. First, that way."
Tears welled in his eyes.
But guys who make money off others' tears bear their karma.