Chapter 187 – Cyberpunk: Edgerunner (2)
Seojun, who entered the cyberpunk world, planned what to do first.
Becoming a famous problem solver.
That way, it will be easier to contact heroines.
From Edge Runner’s point of view, he returned to the past 10 years ago and went solo, chopping everything up with a knife and successfully completing many requests.
A whopping 100% success rate!
Now, there are very few people on this floor who don’t know Seojun, and at some point, they call him ‘Fixer B.’
Another nickname is ‘Geomgwi (劍鬼)’.
This name was given by people of Asian descent, including Japanese, Chinese, and Korean.
The way he wields the sword looks like a ghost.
Both of these nicknames I really like.
‘Personally, the latter makes more sense.’
Sword Demon!
It’s a good sound.
Step by step-
Seojun came out after clearing out the gang’s drug factory.
Blood-red footprints are left wherever he goes.
“Hey. The request is over. Check it out.”
Seojun contacted me somewhere.
-Haha! As expected, work is done quickly.
The voice of ‘Sebastián Padre Ibarra’, a fixer in the Heywood area, rang in my ears.
It seems he really liked the quick turnaround of work.
-Good. Confirmation is complete. It was handled very neatly. I like it!
“I’m done flattering you. Deposit the money quickly.”
-Let’s do that.
Immediately after, a notification appeared in the corner of Seojun’s vision
[+€15,000$]
15,000 euro dollars.
It is a currency unit used in the cyberpunk world.
15,000 is enough to buy one of the cheapest compact cars in this world.
Well, it’s a fair price since I killed a gang of less than 50 people.
-If you want to receive a request from the Heywood area, come see me again.
“Sure.”
Drop.
Broken connection.
Seojun shook his head and led the way.
“Let’s go back soon.”
He used remote calling.
Then, a parked bike came to a stop in front of Seojun.
『Yaiba Kusanagi CT-3X』
It is the most expensive and fastest bike in the cyberpunk world.
This is a hit product that played a decisive role in the comeback of Arasaka, who was expelled from NUSA after losing in the 4th Corporate War.
As a side note, contrary to the description that it is the most expensive motorcycle, you can get it for 66,000 Euro dollars.
“It’s amazing as always.”
Seojun smiled.
The original Kusanagi was red, but Seojun tuned it to black.
So it became much more luxurious and stylish.
Buaaaaang-!!
When he pulled the throttle, a loud exhaust sound sounded.
The bike went at a high speed.
‘Has it already been a year?’
A year has already passed since I entered this work.
In the meantime, I gradually adapted to this world and completed various preparations.
Now Edge Runner’s heroine.
The time has come to save Lucy.
***
Super large corporation.
In English, it’s Megacorps.
The dictionary meaning ‘a very large company’, but it is usually used to refer to virtual companies that do things that are difficult even for large companies such as today’s multinational companies.
A science fiction genre that warns against domination by a few… In particular, it appears frequently in cyberpunk, and is often portrayed as a villain because it often takes the position of a ruler.
And of course Megacorp existed in this worldview.
If you were to name the most representative and famous Megacorp, six out of ten would have this company in their name.
Arasaka (荒坂, Arasaka)
It is a global megacorp that deals with corporate security, production, finance, defense industry, and manufacturing, and ranks 2nd among the top 200 global companies, with 600,000 employees and a market capitalization of 890 billion euros.
It is famous as a company that wields enormous financial power incomparable to most Megacorps and is influencing the world by using conquest tactics that will do anything for profit, including blackmail, extortion, and bribery.
To put it simply, these guys are the ones who did all the dirty things.
For that reason, it plays the role of the final boss in the cyberpunk worldview. Edge Runner’s heroine, ‘Lucy’, is also a victim of Arasaka.
Arasaka gathered her orphans, selected those who passed the netrunner test, and put them through rigorous netrunning training. At this time, she used gaslighting to psychologically induce the children to voluntarily submit to Arasaka, turning them into Janggi horses.
The children completely trusted Arasaka, who provided them with clothing, food, and a place to sleep as they were orphans.
The destination for children who became netrunners through training is ‘Oldnet.’
In the 〈Cyberpunk 2077〉 worldview, the Old Net is the Internet world that was ruined by a virus that was spread in 2013 by a legendary hacker named ‘Raich Bartmos’ with the intention of liberating the Internet itself from corporate monopoly.
The Internet currently used in this worldview is an intranet that is controlled and operated by each country and company after restoring only part of it and shielding it through a firewall called ‘Blackwall’.
The Old Net outside the Blackwall is literally Skynet, filled with viruses spread by Raych Bartmos and malware, malicious code, crazy artificial intelligence, and runaway AI used for net terrorism and defense during several corporate wars. It is a place no different from cyberspace hell, filled with absurd things.
No matter how skilled a netrunner is, if he or she is attacked by various viruses, malware, and malicious programs that fill the old net, he or she will not be able to survive for even a minute and his or her mind will be trapped in the old net and his or her body will die.
The reason why Arasaka sends trained children to such a dangerous place is simple. To excavate the legacy left behind in the Old Net.
It is none of their business if children die in the process.
Because children were nothing more than expendable supplies, a kind of child soldier suicide unit.
“Trash bastards.”
My teeth suddenly ground.
Seojun looked at Arasaka’s facility built in the wasteland with cold eyes.
His blade flashed as if he wanted to drink the blood of trash.
Tap, tap, tap.
He headed to the front door.
The guards guarding the entrance spotted Seojun and aimed their guns.
“Stop! This is Arasaka’s private land! If you don’t want to get shot, go back now!”
“I know.”
Seojun did not stop after answering.
The guard frowned at that action and pulled the trigger.
“Shoot!”
Tudadadada-!
The muzzle spewed fire.
At the same time,
Ting ting ting ───!
The blade, swung at an invisible speed, knocked away all the flying bullets.
The guards stopped shooting at the unbelievable sight. Seojun was not one to miss that opportunity.
Tadat!
Seojun’s new model hit the ground and was fired like a cannonball.
In a split second, Seojun’s blade, which arrived within a stone’s throw of the guard, drew a silver trail.
Let’s go!
The four guards guarding the entrance were reduced to 17 pieces of meat.
The security guard who was watching the scene on CCTV immediately rang the siren.
Why!
In less than a minute, Arasaka’s security guards, drones, and military robots arrived.
The number is approximately 100.
Seojun grinned as he looked at them flocking towards him.
“Is that really all you can do to stop me?”
Sereung.
His sword radiated anticipation.
