An Unexpected Bond (3)
An Unexpected Bond (3)
Was it because typing chat on a keyboard—an outdated input device by cyberpunk standards—was too uncomfortable?
An informant....
Among them, the informant asked if we could discuss the rest of the information-related story directly over a call.
It didn't matter as long as I hid my face and voice.
I readily accepted.
I placed a call to the number he gave me.
Eve helped me hide my number.
A short connection tone rang out.
It was the default connection tone I hadn't even set.
The call connected a moment later.
A simple picture appeared on the other party's screen where a holographic face should have been visible.
It was a cute picture shaped like a crawling puppy.
I heard the informant's voice.
[Hello~, can you hear me?]
His voice was modulated so his gender couldn't be identified.
"Yes, I can hear you clearly."
And my voice was the same.
It was one of the functions of the mask I wore—a voice modulation module.
[Ah, yes. I'm the one they call... Info Seller No. 7. ...Well, that's just a game ID; others call me 'Underdog'.]
He spoke briefly.
[Haha, you've heard of me, right?]
Of course, it was the first time I'd heard that name.
But what is social life?
The true essence of social life is pretending to know what you don't.
So first, I complimented him.
"Ohh, the rising star of the information world they talk about...!"
[...I haven't exactly heard that myself, but it's true I've been doing quite well lately.]
Maybe I overdid it a bit.
I cleared my throat briefly and waited for him to continue.
[Ah, and I'm telling you just in case.]
No. 7's voice dropped.
Though modulated, a certain sharpness lingered.
[Tracing me will be impossible. My number, my account—I recommend you don't even try.]
Then a confident voice followed.
[I've blocked everything that can be blocked anyway. And if you try, I'll probably notice, so let's not waste each other's time or energy in so many ways, all right?]
Certainly.
He wasn't wrong.
But...
Eve was already telling me.
[Alias Underdog, real name Dominic Martin, human male, residing in Saint Hills in the Middle Layer.]
Naturally, Eve's voice didn't reach No. 7.
[When you're in the information business, doing things this way turned out to be the cleanest. Isn't that right? Just exchanging information—how wonderful is that.]
[His favorite food is pizza, with the highest order rate for LAD Company's soybean pizza near his home. He's also deeply into a hobby—so much that he runs a small club for it.]
[Even for the Guild Master-nim, this is a part I can't concede.]
...
It was distracting, hearing both of them at once.
Hey, Eve.
Just how much did you dig up in that short time....
Maybe getting caught hacking Smile Zone had spurred her. I felt like Eve's hacking skills had leveled up even further.
[So, call me Underdog. Ah, or No. 7 is fine too. And as a bonus... you can speak comfortably with me.]
"......Alright, No. 7."
I wondered if he had any idea how much of his information had already been leaked.
[Good! Then from now on, I'll explain to you first how I came to know this information.]
He began.
8. An Unexpected Connection (3)
So, as the Guild Master also knows.
When it comes to proper black markets in the Lower Layer,
there are exactly two places that exist, you know?
One is Heijiaohei (黑交易) in Chinatown,
and the other is Banta Market, located in Little Shinjuku.
This is something I experienced at Banta Market—
"......Wait."
Having listened up to that point, I paused for a moment.
I cut him off.
"Is this explanation really necessary?"
[Of course.]
"Alright, then continue."
[Got it!]
Little Shinjuku—a district that always reeks of money and oil.
Because it's a black market in such a place,
we often stumble onto completely unpredictable items. Seriously.
That's why I prefer Little Shinjuku's black market over Heijiaohei in Chinatown.
Just a quick look, you'll see.
Sometimes military surplus from wars elsewhere in the world flows in.
And often, experimental corporate products that haven't passed safety checks appear.
That day was the same.
I went to Banta Market to look around, thinking of it as a light stroll.
Wondering if there were any new items—
Having listened up to that point again, I had to ask.
"This is really a necessary explanation, right?"
[Ah, I told you it is.]
"......."
Just then,
the owner of a shop I frequented called me over.
'Hey, regular! Come here—hack.'
Ahem, sorry.
Voice imitation isn't my forte.
I'll try again.
'Hey, regular! Come here! Some seriously legit goods came in today!'
I said,
'What is it? What kind of item made you call me like that?'
Half anticipation, half tension.
With that heart, I went to the old man's shop.
There was a small drone there.
Small, but only about the size of my head.
And no ordinary drone either.
Product name: 'Lone Spider'.
Model: 'K2N-7757'.
Hacking and infiltration were just the basics.
It was a killer unit capable of other tactical actions as well.
I couldn't believe my eyes.
Buying that product was fate.
The price was steep,
but also incredibly reasonable.
Sophisticated design, overwhelming practicality!
I was mesmerized by its engineering design and form—
"For real."
[What's what?]
"This is the last time: Is this really a necessary explanation?"
[Haha, of course! The main part is coming up.]
"......Fine."
Actually, not to brag,
but I'm pretty good at hacking myself.
And if my skills and this robot worked together?
There'd be no impenetrable firewall in the world.
Realizing that, I shivered—
I wanted to test this robot and my skills right then and there.
That was when
my sharp senses kicked in.
In Little Shinjuku, at Banta Market, I spotted people you don't usually see there.
They were dressed in high-end suits.
I got a suspicious vibe.
And what did they pull out?
Exactly the 'Lone Spi—' I had bought.
"Stop, stop."
[Huh? But there's still a lot more?]
"I can't take it anymore."
I said firmly.
"Skip it."
[Excuse me?]
"Just give me the information!"
It burst out of me because I couldn't hold back my frustration.
To my outburst, No. 7 replied.
[...No, but listen, Guild Master. This is where it gets really important....]
"Do you want to hear what I have to say first?"
I explained calmly.
"In the end, isn't the story that you outsmarted those suspicious guys using that robot thingamajig?"
Before I knew it, my tone had heated up.
"You tailed them, hacked them, and somehow got the info—that's the story, right?"
[...Well, if you skip the whole process, that's technically correct.]
"......."
I really felt like saying something nasty.
But I'd held back for quite a while.
I felt my patience reaching its limit.
"......That's enough. Just give me the information."
[Hmm, you won't regret it, right?]
"Absolutely not."
I could swear on it.
[Since that's what the Guild Master wants, I'll just talk about the results as you wish.]
"I'm begging you."
I was sincere.
It felt like my ears were going to bleed.
The introduction was way, way too long.
And listening back, none of it was truly necessary.
[Ahem, I said it's info only I know, but it's not earth-shattering information.]
"Can't you just give me the bottom line?"
[...Near the end of this month, they say a secret party will be held at a certain hotel in the Upper Layer.]
No. 7 continued cautiously.
[They say it's a gathering where only corporate insiders—chief secretaries and other high-ranking personnel—meet. Sometimes even Mega Corp chairmen show up.]
"So?"
[Here's the kicker. Smile Zone themselves is said to be attending that party.]
No. 7 took a short breath and said,
[That means their hidden identity is some high-ranking corporate employee!]
I waited for him to continue.
However.
No matter how long I waited, no more words came.
What he'd just said was the whole thing.
"......."
[.......]
"That's it?"
[Yes.]
Ah, so he'd dragged it out that long just to tell me this.
I nearly sighed but stopped.
It was indeed good intel.
Putting aside the accuracy, it did narrow down Smile Zone's real identity.
"Then the guest list or the party location—you at least know that, right?"
[Nope.]
"Huh?"
[Haha, no idea.]
No. 7 said shamelessly.
[It's a party thrown by top officials, so hacking into it would be tough. And invitations are delivered secretly to each individual, so the attendees can change every time.]
He spoke casually, like it was none of his business.
Somehow, I could imagine No. 7 behind that holographic puppy picture, smiling.
[And the venue is in the Upper Layer—how am I supposed to find out? I don't know either.]
"So that's it?"
[Yes! You might be a bit disappointed, but I've already received the credits and told you everything I know, so I'll be off now.]
No. 7 bid farewell.
[Thank you for your patronage!]
- Ttuk.
Ttu, ttu, ttu.
The disconnect tone continued.
.......
I quietly thought.
"Eve."
[I am waiting.]
"Earlier, you said No. 7 lives somewhere?"
I'd have to step out for a bit.
* * *
[ P2034871140(Warrior): Oh dear, looks like we can't do that party hunt we planned. Too bad. ]
[ I am a real mage(Warrior): Hoo, why's that? ]
[ P2034871140(Warrior): They say a problem happened with that info broker we saw last time. ]
[ I am a real mage(Warrior): Really? What a shame. ]
[ P2034871140(Warrior): Seems like the power went out, all his electronics broke, and his prized robot disappeared—some spider drone or something. Big deal. ]
[ I am a real mage(Warrior): Exactly. A hunt's going to be real hard. ]
I stretched, feeling refreshed.
The stress melted away.
I had resolved one problem, and now it was time to think about the next task.
A party limited to corporate high-rollers, huh.
Even the location is a problem.
The Upper Layer is hard for citizens from other layers to access.
"......Hmm."
Since only corporate figures can attend,
even Andrea, famous as a singer, wouldn't be much help.
Unless there's a special celebratory performance at the party.
But I don't have any info on that either.
I mulled it over.
Was this the right approach?
"......I don't know if I should contact them."
[I ask who you are referring to.]
There was someone.
I checked my saved contacts in my vision interface.
Among them, I focused on a short name.
【Chairman-nim】
"......."
I didn't know if I was stirring up unnecessary trouble.