Paranormal Link-18
The mercenary friends turned out to be way better guys than I'd thought. I'd suspected one of them was a traitor earlier, but judging people based on first impressions or names alone is no way to live. That's the kind of shit conscienceless barbarians pull. People can have crappy names sometimes—who cares? The world's gone to hell because everyone keeps doubting folks without looking deeper. Huh? People are people, after all.
"Then drink up! Come on?!"
"Uh... you sure you're okay?"
"Looks like you had a bit too much..."
No, no, I'm not drunk at all!
"Hey... say something, man. It's scary when you just stare without a word."
"Dude, how do we stop this guy if he goes berserk drunk? Dex went down in one punch barehanded, and even if he's a psycho, his implants were decent, right? Barehanded?"
"......"
What are they whispering about over there?
"...Why are you staring at me?"
"Nah, we were just wondering if we could borrow a cat's paw maybe..."
"Cat's paw? You wanna die?"
"...Just a figure of speech. But what if he really snaps?"
"Hey! Why are you all whispering except me?!"
"Oh! We were just asking for drink recommendations! Right?"
"...Maybe we should cut him off."
"Hahaha! What?!"
Thud thud!
"Ugh! Urk...! Why's a bare fist hit so heavy? My guts are rumbling."
Oh, shit. Got carried away and used a light tapping technique from my martial arts.
Thud thud!
"Grahk...! My spine...!"
"This side's my friend now! Know that even the cat ears are mine!"
"H-Heh, he's fine... Implants take getting used to; accidents happen."
"Told ya he's good people! Here! Four shots! On me!"
"...Me too?"
"You refusing the Thunderclap Sword... no, wait, I can't call thunder anymore! Sword... Sovereign? What Sword Sovereign from a third-rate hack?!"
"...You're pretty wasted."
"You can't drink my booze?!"
"......"
"If you can't drink, don't!"
"Haa..."
Clink. She reluctantly took the shot, but since my own glass was empty, I raised it high anyway.
"One shot! For the four seas as brothers!"
"Another! For the heroic spirits who gave their lives for the cause!"
"And another...! If you survive, drink to me!"
"The final one... ...... ...I love you!"
This is the last one, so bottoms up!
Thud thud!
"Grahk!"
"Urk!"
"I tapped to get you drinking faster, so hurry up and chug like me."
"...Sigh..."
The cat-eared girl let out a sigh too as she drank.
"Anyway, where'd they go?"
"Ah... That's what we came to talk about."
"...Huh?"
"You're so wasted, you might not remember..."
"I'm drunk, not drunk."
"...So you are drunk?"
"Just tell me. You two look like you'll puke if I tap a couple more times."
"Bella, your face is red too. Won't drink when we offer, but downs it from a handsome young guy?"
"Hey, punk. Better than us scrubs, right? Gotta get Bella hitched sometime."
"Age matters!"
"Shut up and get to business."
They shut up.
"Truth is, we don't care much, but you look new around here—probably just started, right?"
"So you don't know many people, no sources for info."
"Guild info costs money."
"...You say that right in front of their shop?"
"Everyone knows; paying feels like a rip-off. Guild stays neutral, so they gotta charge."
"You seem promising—good to make friends now."
"It's just 'cause you're Los Amigos fanboys."
"Why not? Legendary duo! Los Amigos! And a newbie shows up in their gear!"
"A new legend begins!"
"Uahaha!"
"Uahaha!"
Hahaha!
Thud thud!
"Ugh...!"
"Urk...!"
"...Clean up if you puke."
"Can't waste good booze by puking!"
"...Urp... Anyway, word is some corp dumped a ton of implants recently."
"Not scrapped to junk—disposed as-is 'cause of issues."
"And get this."
"Rumor says they got tossed somewhere in the outskirts dump."
"Mercs are swarming it now 'cause they've got nothing better—!"
"......!!"
"...Tell me more. That story."
The booze cleared right up.
"Dump's Iron Valley?"
"...Y-Yeah... right?"
"Don't know the corp, but implants? Salvage parts alone fetch good cred."
"Lucky, you might even use one. Unlucky? Straight to Psychotic."
"...Mercs are heading there now?"
"Y-Yeah?"
"To dig up Cyberware?"
"Y-Yeah."
Damn it all. Was having a nice break for once.
I pulled out my terminal, circulating internal energy through my body. Not thick enough to purge deadly poison, but enough for booze. Thumb worked the device while I forced the alcohol from my index finger. Condensed droplets formed, dripping off with a foul whiskey stench.
"Got urgent business—gotta run. Was fun, friends. Catch you later."
With that, Isan bolted from the bar. Didn't seem rushed, but each step stretched farther, vanishing in a blink.
"......"
"......"
Wind-like, Isan was gone. Silence blanketed the bar table amid the thumping beat from someone's forgotten tune. Jonathan broke it first.
"Whoa... insane. See that look in his eyes?"
"Nearly pissed myself. Total beast mode. Beast man."
"Why the sudden switch? And his eyes glowed, right? Not implants, though?"
"That, and wasn't he wasted? Totally sloshed. Acting?"
"Nah, how do you fake eyes like that? Pupils were blown."
"So..."
Bella cut in amid their back-and-forth.
"Who's paying?"
"...Paying?"
"You drank a lot. 700 cred."
"......"
"......"
The two mercs eyed each other.
'You got cash?'
'You?'
After a glance exchange, they chimed in unison.
""Mind if we hit the bathroom...?""
Bella smiled sweetly at them. Her eyes didn't.
Should've gotten their numbers. Too late now, but I'd been too nonchalant. For now, I messaged Rom to contact Blanca, then unleashed my lightness skill.
Damn heavy! One arm and leg swapped for metal chunks—flying far on footwork was brutal. Short combat dashes hid it, but long hauls felt like sprinting on one leg.
There was this Demonic Cult arms dealer boss. Not a real merchant—nicknamed that 'cause he lugged weapons everywhere like one. I'd always carried just my sword on footwork, clueless. Now dangling scrap, I realized that bastard was no ordinary lunatic!
"Huuu..."
Stumped leg and cyberware junction throbbed; I swallowed the pain with deep breaths. Shoddy surgery from that prick—after a good run, every landing zapped like hell. Still, I'd covered distance; foot traffic thinned into rundown streets.
Iron Valley loomed ahead. A canyon of discarded metal.
I realized the commotion too late. Stuck mid-project, I'd missed the outside racket.
Thud thud.
I glanced from blueprints and notes to the door at the heavy booms.
Only then did she notice the weird outside noise.
'...What's that?'
Multitudes of footsteps, voices.
[Looks like it? These assholes lock dumps too?]
"......?"
[Hate us scavenging, I guess. Come out!]
A rough voice barked, then BOOM!!
"......!!"
Blanca clamped her ears at the room-shaking roar, stifling a scream.
'...W-What?'
The steel door dented visibly—even she could tell.
[Fuck, tough bastard!]
More curses and fury outside, then BOOM!! again.
"......"
Whatever was happening, Blanca grabbed the pipe wrench nearby. Balance all wrong vs. a sword, but more familiar than her new blade. Gripping tight, she crept silently.
Beep!
"Ah...!"
The sudden ring startled a yelp from her.
[...! Shit, someone's inside! Early bird?!]
[Damn it! Bust it open!]
[Blast it! Won't total the place!]
"W-Wait...!"
Desperate voices outside; Blanca blurted out. No clue what, but vibe was bad—had to stall.
And then.
[Wh-What?!]
[Who is that!!]
[Agh! Gyaaaaah!!]
Screams and yells erupted beyond the door.