NOVEL NEXT Chapter 17
It was only a few minutes ago that I had greeted Grandfather Heinrich in a settlement where outlaws like vigilantes really existed, reminiscent of the pioneer era. Now, just a few kilometers away, the atmosphere here was completely different.
Patter… patter….
A group of individuals clad in black uniforms and bulletproof vests approached the driver’s side, wearing visor helmets that obscured their faces and jaws.
To be honest… they were not a group that could be praised for being orderly or synchronized, even as a kind compliment. The majority of them were openly swinging truncheons and the rifles they carried clanged loudly.
Were there any remnants of the black society left? Absolutely not. They might have instilled a sense of intimidation with their black attire, but these individuals mimicking border security at the gateway to Harvest Planet were all city combat police.
However, as I watched the shadowy forces wriggling under the dazzling spotlight… it occurred to me that there was no real difference between them and the other thugs from outside the city.
Knock knock knock…!!
“…We will conduct citizen ID and cargo inspections. Please open the rear door of the truck and cooperate slowly with the procedure, and there will be no issues whatsoever.”
A voice so heavily distorted it felt more mechanical than the voice module used by robots flowed out.
No matter how much this profession was hated, seeing a few remaining quasi-public workers in this twisted society go to such lengths for their own protection was chilling. I suddenly felt a shiver at the thought of the world I was about to step into…
“Let’s wrap this up quickly. At this rate, we’ll miss the train…!”
“Shh! You’ll wake Mary.”
Mr. Schneider and Ms. Sylvia, sitting in the front, calmly opened the door and got out of the truck.
A couple standing in casual clothes right in the middle of the fully armed intruders.
Even taking into account that the man was a somewhat famous mercenary, it seemed like a very dangerous situation at first glance. So, was Mr. Schneider gambling with the safety of his family? …That couldn’t be right.
Beep beep…!
The scanner installed at the gate activated.
The police officer, who had been acting as the commanding officer, read the data collected from the implant and barcode of the outstretched arm.
“…Schneider McQueen, a blue-rated citizen guaranteed by Heylong Corporation, and his wife Sylvia McQueen. Confirmation complete. Thank you for your cooperation.”
“…Tch.”
The police, who had been maintaining a threatening posture without knowing who was before them, holstered their weapons in unison. Even those who had been approaching with the intent to rummage through the organized moving boxes stepped back and closed the door quietly.
Among them, one person clicked his tongue in disappointment. I wondered what he would have done if he had found an illegal immigrant or an unregistered person. There had to be some level of strength and weakness, and it was clear that he was someone who would have already been in prison if he hadn’t been a police officer.
“According to the records… it seems you do not have any plans to stay on Harvest Planet. To prevent any inconveniences on your way to Neo Haven, may I transmit the inquiry results to the train station?”
“…Hmph! Do as you please.”
“…Transmission complete. The scan results suggest there are a considerable number of firearms among the cargo. Is it acceptable to report them all as personal items with no intent to sell?”
Whether other colleagues were intimidated by the blue-rated citizenship or lost interest, the head officer continued with his duties.
In the citizen rights system of the game Neo Haven, there were ratings assigned to people in addition to credits.
Black was the absolute authority held by the heads of each mega corp.
Red was a designation given to institutions or key talents deemed necessary for maintaining this society by corporations.
Blue was a shield for those formally affiliated with or protected by corporations.
Green consisted of ordinary citizens who made up the vast majority of the population.
Yellow was the mere label given to humans who were born within the city walls.
By following the main quest and scenario smoothly, players would achieve a twisted version of the American dream, starting from green and rising to red… Well, there were endings where one could completely shatter the system, but still.
Mr. Schneider seemed to maintain his blue rating thanks to his illustrious past as a mercenary. There was a reason for his overflowing confidence. Thank goodness.
“Well then… I have one last question. It’s registered that you have one child. So, may I ask what your relationship is with the other person in the back seat?”
“…She’s like a biological daughter who lived next door. She said she wanted to live in the city this time, so we came together.”
…The problem was that I was the one who had several things to feel guilty about. I was worried that my forced defense might inadvertently affect Mr. Schneider’s family. Just because he had blue-rated citizenship didn’t grant immunity from crimes.
Clunk…!
Hearing the ambiguous answer, the police opened the car door. The overly meticulous captain seemed to think he had spotted something suspicious, and the thugs who were merely keeping their posts started to eye us discreetly.
“…Could you extend your arm outside?”
“…Yes.”
Upon seeing my difficulty with movement, he only requested minimal cooperation that was needed for data scanning.
In fact, I thought it would be best to create distance, pretending that I had nothing to do with Mary, Mr. Schneider, or Ms. Sylvia, in case something went wrong even at this point.
…The only thing was that the girl, who had woken up at dawn, remained blissfully asleep due to the truck’s cozy vibrations and had no intention of letting go of my body, and out of nervousness from this first experience with illegal immigration, I inadvertently pulled Mary closer, so now… I could only trust Grandfather’s skill.
The beam from the scanner swept over my arm, zinging as it passed.
“…Is there a problem?”
“…….”
The head officer, with an unreadable expression, stared blankly at the holographic pad in his hand.
I tried to speak naturally to ease the tension, but it seemed to only fuel suspicion. If you have something to say, just say it! Don’t keep me in suspense…!
“Ugh… Anastasia sis… I can’t breathe….”
“Ah…?! Sorry, Mary!”
I let go of Mary’s head, which had been tightly pressed against my chest due to my excessive grip. While she mumbled with her face buried, it felt much more ticklish than I expected… but it worked out well.
I just had to relax and respond to the identity investigation results. After all, registering for citizenship and the subsidiary business of Paradise was all about attracting more potential customers inward, so there shouldn’t be any issues from the entrance of the city.
So… if I could just get Mary to move aside a bit and cooperate…
Kuuuh…
If I cooperated…
“…Mary?”
“Umm… why are you pushing me away, sis…? I want to sleep more with you….”
No, I’ve been wide awake…?!
It seemed she didn’t want to let go, despite not wanting to feel suffocated. I never thought I would experience the struggles of parenthood in this way.
“It’s not a good time right now…!”
“Don’t say that… Your arms are soft… warm… and smell nice…”
“…Smell?!”
“If you pull me, I’ll try to escape, and if you push me away, I’ll burrow in. The police watching our little tug-of-war with this willful little princess finally let out a laugh.
Since there hadn’t been any issues with the inquiry results from the beginning, I didn’t know whether they were just dragging this out unnecessarily or if Mary’s sleepy protests had erased any faint suspicion. This pressure-filled immigration inspection ended surprisingly lightly.
“Confirmation complete for Mary McQueen and green-rated citizen Anastasia Valentine. Cyber engineer, so I presume you won’t have any employment worries. Welcome to Harvest Planet. …Opening the internal gate!! After watching them leave, let the next team in. If you cause any more trouble, remember your pension is over…!”
Clank! Kuuugung…!!
As the locking mechanism that had attached to the truck’s wheels was removed and the loud noise accompanied the upward rise of the front barricade that had secured our group at the gate…
“…Wow.”
The majestic city of Harvest Planet slowly unveiled itself beyond the barrier.
There were many brightly colored lights, but what caught my eye first was the ominous and treacherous purple lighting enveloping the entire structure. The dawn cityscape of the metropolis mixed with twilight was extraordinarily beautiful.
The towering skyscrapers and large antennas soaring above were particularly impressive in this cutting-edge future city, seemingly promising various dreams… hopes… and a brilliant future, yet my eyes, which had navigated through Neo Haven completing quests, could glimpse its darker side.
The substantial concrete jungle occupying the closest ground to the surface.
A residential complex and industrial district reminiscent of a bygone era… Even from afar, I felt the bustle of the people packed inside.
I understood why Harvest Planet boasted the highest productivity and output among all metropolises.
Why, while pretending to manage its population meticulously, it was accepting people in droves from behind.
…Cheap and overflowing labor was always a feast for big capital.
“…Lift your head and have some confidence. With someone like you, you’ll soon find your place in the city and be successful… Of course, I do worry a bit about how tender-hearted you are…”
“Oh? Where did the gentleman who was praising Miss Anastasia’s character go…?”
“…Cough. It’s all out of concern.”
By now, Mr. Schneider, who had grabbed the steering wheel again, and Ms. Sylvia, sitting in the passenger seat, realized my tense demeanor and reached out to speak. …The kind couple had been acting like this since I politely declined to accompany them to Neo Haven and their new pub job offer.
“…Once I have enough credits for train tickets in my bank account, I’ll rush over, so don’t worry too much.”
“…Right. And… I don’t know about myself, but be sure to keep in touch with Sylvia and Mary often.”
If I followed Mr. Schneider’s lead, I would be able to get by just fine until the original action of Neo Haven began to unfold.
However, considering the changes and distortions that could arise from my existence, lingering around a stage that had yet to start… it might be best to stay hidden on this Harvest Planet and sharpen my claws until that necessary moment arrived.
Vrooom…!
The truck’s engine groaned as it powerfully entered the elevated road towards the upper levels of Harvest Planet, the train station.
This isn’t a farewell. It’s rather a new beginning. In a world where you can even make a call by merely blinking, we can hear each other’s voices anytime.
“Huuh….”
“…….”
Wriggle, wriggle.
Feeling somewhat mischievous, I messed up Mary’s dreamy hair. …She merely begged for more petting. Meanwhile, the lovebird couple in the front seat should start seriously contemplating how to separate this clingy princess from me.
★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★
“Ah~~ Um— Ah, ah!”
Clatter….
In case there were any other officers hiding in the restroom, the captain briefly checked the interior, placed the provided holographic pad next to the sink, and unmuted his voice modulation.
While the lower half of his face was still obscured by a mask, making it hard to be precise, a somewhat husky voice emerged, sounding pretty nice and melodious.
There was no need to flip through the pages of the cyberware contact list. The target was, after all, right at the very top.
Beep… The signal tone sounded, and as the only… or, rather, the only family member picked up the call, she cheerfully exclaimed.
“Ah, Grandpa!! Where on earth did you find such a pretty and cute girl? Huh?! Can’t I come over first?? Really?!”