A Useful Dog
Jackson was a continental from Zone 6,700. That meant he had lived in Zone 6,700 ever since the eighth Atlantis began.
Zone 6,700 looked glamorous on the surface, but dig even a little deeper and it was filthy enough to make your teeth grind.
Jackson had been through situations like this a few times before.
This is exactly when I need to stay calm. First, back everything up to the server…
He hammered at the keys while glancing out the window. Black cars pulled up in front of the studio, and men in suits poured out. At their center stood Manager David.
Gray hair slicked neatly back, pale white skin, sunken cheekbones, deep-set eyes. The suit, of course, was black. An impression that made you think of the reaper himself.
Shit. He even brought the thugs…
Zone 6,700 was safer than most other zones. At least, that was what most people living there believed. Look closer, though, and even that was a lie. Crime of every kind happened in Zone 6,700. It just stayed out of sight.
The Kingdom of Entertainment earned AP every month based on popularity.
AP.
Atlantis Points.
A currency ranked higher than the common Atlantis currency, the Penny.
In Zone 6,700, simply maintaining popularity was enough to rake in AP every month. Big agencies pulled in hundreds of thousands of AP as a baseline. That put them on the level of rulers of most other zones.
AP you could earn relatively easily just by doing entertainment work. Low risk, high return. That was why the flies swarmed.
Fucking thug bastards…
Most of the thugs were exiles from outside. Guys with physical abilities stronger than ordinary humans who had lucked into entry tickets to Zone 6,700 and settled down. The only ones who could handle them were other thugs—or the police who kept order in Zone 6,700.
And the cops are pieces of shit too, which is the real problem.
Still, he clung to a faint hope and called the police. Of course it went the way he expected. The line cut before the second ring even finished. The cops had hung up on purpose.
Thud thud thud!
“Director Jackson. It’s David. I know you’re inside. I even brought a gift for you, so… please open the door.”
“……!”
Jackson sucked in a breath. His heart hammered like it was trying to break free. If it was Manager David, the man might bury him tonight. Should he just tell David everything?
…No. If I do that, that crazy bastard will…
The image of Seong Yujin torturing and killing Robert AD with sadistic glee flashed through his mind. His fingers trembled at the memory of that manic face. Jackson was more terrified of Seong Yujin than of Manager David.
“Director Jackson. Are you in danger? If you don’t answer within ten seconds… I’ll force the door open! Ten. Nine. Eight…”
“Stop! I’m opening it right now, so don’t do anything!”
“Ah, you’re safe. What a relief.”
Jackson checked his phone as he headed for the front door. Seong Yujin had read the message, but there was no reply. Whether he was deliberately ignoring it or already on his way here, Jackson couldn’t tell. If he was coming, it would take at least ten minutes.
Jackson grabbed the doorknob and forced his expression under control. Manager David had shown up more peacefully than expected. That meant he was willing to talk. Jackson could buy time until Seong Yujin arrived.
He opened the door. Manager David smiled faintly and gave a slight bow.
“Director, I’m sorry for coming so late at night. I felt bad showing up empty-handed, so I brought gifts as well. Please take a look.”
“Gifts?”
Jackson’s gaze shifted past David. The thugs in suits were holding boxes. Not just one or two, either.
“What did you bring?”
“The latest electronics that just came out, and seasonal fruit.”
Gifts.
The usual Jackson would have whooped with joy. Right now, though, he felt like he was sitting on a bed of nails.
David, manager of Naar Entertainment, had originally been an exile who worked as a mercenary in the outer zones.
He had been happy to come to Atlantis. With his skills and brains, he had thought he would be able to run wild here. Reality, however, had other plans.
Atlantis was a world of savagery.
Fists closer than the law? Hilarious. Blades were closer than the law. Power, money—none of it mattered as much as raw force.
Smart? That only got you so far against someone stronger. One word from a strong man could rewrite any clever plan.
David had come to Zone 6,700 because there weren’t many strong people here. The zone was full of restrictions, so the powerful found its safety more stifling than appealing.
Better to be the head of a snake than the tail of a dragon. That’s my motto.
David looked at Jackson sitting across from him. Jackson was putting on an arrogant front, but the fear in his eyes was impossible to hide.
David smirked and narrowed his eyes. He activated his unique trait.
Lie Detector
Can determine whether a statement is a lie.
Type: Unique Trait
Rank: A
“About the job I asked you to handle…”
“I’m working on it. Don’t interfere.”
“Understood.”
David’s expression didn’t change at Jackson’s snippy reply, but his mind was racing. The job he had given Jackson was simple: half-ass the music video for Four Beats. Literally just do a sloppy job.
And it wasn’t going well? Something was off.
David decided to start with a different topic.
“Do you know where Robert AD is right now?”
“How the hell would I know? The bastard vanished without a word in the middle of work. He’s probably sleeping it off at home.”
Jackson’s voice trembled.
Thick fear.
David had thought it was fear of him… but if Jackson truly feared him, he wouldn’t even be able to meet his eyes. Jackson was afraid of something else.
“Director Jackson. Even something small is fine. Give me any information you have on Robert AD. Are you hiding him, by any chance?”
“Me hide that guy? Why would I?”
That wasn’t a lie.
Jackson wasn’t hiding Robert.
“…Actually, I asked Robert AD to do a separate job. Did you know about that?”
“No idea. How would I know? Stop asking about Robert.”
“So you do know. I asked Robert AD to secretly film Four Beats changing clothes.”
“…You had him do something filthy. David. This has nothing to do with me.”
“Director Jackson, you’ve been afraid of something this whole time. What are you so scared of? Is Robert AD dead?”
“…….”
Jackson’s pupils shook violently.
“If not, then say so.”
“I-I don’t know. Robert probably took your money and went into hiding. He’s the type.”
“He’s dead, then.”
“I said I don’t know.”
“Lilith Entertainment’s doing? They’re coming on pretty strong this time. I already knew Lilith Entertainment doesn’t shy away from dirty work, but I never expected murder…”
“Fuck. I said I don’t know! If you’re just going to jump to conclusions, get the hell out!”
“Are you being threatened by Lilith Entertainment? Director, take my hand. I’ll keep you alive. Trust me and follow my instructions. Lilith Entertainment won’t be able to lay a finger on you. I swear it on my name.”
David bowed his head to Jackson, already savoring the thought of putting a collar on him. Lilith Entertainment’s extreme response? He had predicted something like it, so it was fine. No—he had actually been hoping for it. This would make Lilith Entertainment stagger, even if only a little.
Lilith Entertainment moved too hastily. That’s their mistake. If they want to fight dirty… I’ll welcome it. First, coax Jackson into spilling everything…
Thud.
A dull sound came from behind.
When David looked up, something dropped from above. A severed human head. The face belonged to a bodyguard he knew well.
Jackson’s face entered his field of vision. The director’s expression was deathly pale, twisted with pure terror. The bodyguards moved before they could even scream.
Thud. Splat. Thump.
There was no sound of combat.
Only the sound of bodies hitting the floor. Heads fell. Blood filled the ground. Every one of his bodyguards was dead. Footsteps. Someone walked through the pool of blood toward David.
Cold sweat ran down David’s nape. It felt like a sharp blade was wrapping around his entire body.
“Hey.”
“…….”
At the voice calling him, he slowly turned his head. A man holding a red sword stood among the corpses.
“You David?”
“…Yes. I’m David, working at Naar Entertainment. And you are…”
“How should I kill you? You touched my women… don’t expect to die easy.”
“…I haven’t met any women recently. There must be some misunderstanding…”
“Four Beats. You tried to film them with hidden cameras, you piece of shit. That Robert bastard or whatever his name was spilled everything.”
Seong Yujin clicked his tongue in irritation and swung Hwaryeon Bido. The bodyguard’s corpse lying nearby was cleanly bisected, spilling blood and guts.
David grabbed his own trembling hands. He knew the type the moment he saw him. This was a madman you couldn’t reason with. The same stench as the two madmen he had run into during his mercenary days. One only killed little boys. The other enjoyed cannibalism. And both of those madmen had been stronger than David.
“…Please… please spare me. I’ll do… I’ll do anything.”
David got down from the chair and dropped to his knees on the floor.
“Oh. Bowing right away? You’re a smart one. Good that we can talk. I’ll spare you.”
I’m going to die.
This man has zero intention of letting me live.
David snapped to full alert. He had faced madmen twice before and survived both times. If he just kept his wits about him, he could survive this too.
“I’ll truly do anything. I’ll offer up every bit of wealth I have. Just… just spare me.”
“I said I’ll spare you. Lift your head. Let me see your face.”
David raised his head.
The madmen he had met hated being told the same thing twice.
“It’s been a long time since I got this pissed off. I probably won’t forget your face for a while. Right arm or left arm. Which one should I cut first? Hmm?”
“My unique trait is Lie Detector. I can judge whether someone is lying by hearing their voice in person.”
“…Oh. Interesting. And?”
“I’ll become your personal lie detector. Please spare me.”
“I said I’ll spare you?”
“If you tell me to bark, I’ll bark. If you tell me to kneel, I’ll kneel. I’ll tell you every dirty secret of Naar Entertainment. I will definitely be useful.”
“Naar Entertainment’s secrets, huh… Suddenly I’m interested. The celebrities there… can you arrange sexual favors?”
“Yes. If you want, I’ll call them right away.”
“I did need a useful dog… I like you. I’ll spare you.”