NOVEL NEXT Chapter 243
“Hey, little lady. You look like you have something to say, so if you want to, go ahead and…”
It might sound a bit out of place, but could I take a moment?
What I mean is… I’d like to briefly talk about the petty crimes in the open-world genre that many people overlook and the punishment systems related to them, as one gamer to another.
Despite its flaws, I personally think that Neo Haven has done a remarkable job balancing game permissiveness and realism.
I was quite satisfied with the intention to moderately limit lawless play and impose appropriate penalties.
Is the police rushing in, foaming at the mouth, because a user’s character accidentally hit an NPC or an animal a few times? …On the contrary, the NHPD folks behaved so flexibly that it made exploitation easier.
“…Hmm? Hey, wait a minute. Hold on, hold on, hold on…!!”
So how is it now that I’ve become a local?
It might be surprising to say this, but… it’s become more comfortable.
CCTV cameras are scattered everywhere? Ahem, if I committed something that seems problematic, I can just sweep it under the rug later.
The anti-corporate sentiment is so rampant that the places where such damages could occur don’t even exist. It’s likely that South Korea’s surveillance network is more dense.
Witness testimonies? I won’t trust the police unless it’s a private detective.
Since mutual trust is practically nonexistent, it’s rare for anyone to cooperate actively unless they are the victim.
“What the hell, Ooooh!? Let go! Let gooo!!”
Moreover, humans have succeeded in revival, but in comparison to the entire population of the metropolis, the manpower for enforcement powers is chronically lacking.
It’s not for no reason that there are many lowlifes among the police! They hire based on criminal records, using them as leverage for recruitment.
As a result, fists have naturally gotten closer to real-life law than abstract law. In other words, the boundary of violence has become vague.
I had no idea that even the police guidelines I received said, ‘If it’s a usual quarrel, ignore it or beat both parties until their will to fight dissipates.’
At that time, I had no choice but to enter because my options were severely limited.
While it’s a bit embarrassing to admit I have just over a month of experience, which I’d rather not write on my resume… it turned out to be good experience for when I need to consider various things, so maybe the elders are right to advise just trying things out?
“Gbaaah?! I think I’m really thinking about this all wrong! Pretty lady!! Here!! I feel like I’m going to break apart! If you pull like that, I’m going to snap!!”
Ah, so what I ultimately wanted to say was.
Grabbing the head with one hand while not injuring them, and keeping the other hand on the ankle with a bit of force up and down is more like a kind of medical act than violence, right…?
Just like that.
Why it’s similar to someone unfamiliar screaming as if they are about to die while getting their first massage or scrub! Um!
“Uh… You’re not actually breaking anything, right?”
– I am fully controlling my strength considering the subject’s underdeveloped cartilage and other physical conditions. Don’t be fooled by their groaning. –
“I can’t! I’m not so old that I’m gonna do this poorly—!! I got it! I understood!!”
Still, because Hemet’s scream, which was flailing, seemed so pitiful.
I asked our physical therapist Zero, who was working hard to inject sincerity into my proposal by pulling out just the impertinent passenger from the activity-supporting exoskeleton, but the answer was still “not yet.”
Hmm… Is that so?
Certainly. While dwarf Hemet might be razor-sharp when it comes to earnings, it was a little hard to trust him on other matters related to self-preservation.
Right now, he came here deliberately because he could smell money and would rush in on a ghost, but didn’t he treat me like a kid right off the bat? So, it makes sense to follow Zero’s words, which have a higher credit score here.
…I’m definitely not harassing him in a fit of rage, okay? Just because a dwarf with dwarfism goes “little, little” makes it ironic. Hmm.
But this cold, iron-fisted enforcement location was right in the middle of the store.
Even the grabbed individual was the esteemed store owner. For a moment everyone froze seeing his dazed expression, but soon a staff member approached us to stop.
Thus, I was prepared to back off with the intention of not genuinely hurting anyone.
“No matter how much the boss might have talked nonsense, you can’t just rip someone’s head off! If you’re going to do it, please do it after we clock out!”
“…Ah, okay.”
– Analysis of the staff member’s expression detected approximately 98% joy and 2% concern. Proceeding with the task. –
“Tommy! You selfish dog… Ugh! Let me finish what I was saying…! Oof! Sorry! Pl-please just let me live!”
Is this a stopping or cheering?
Seeing that face full of glee makes me feel like I’m subtly encouraging him, doesn’t it?
It seems like the part-time worker’s task of rescuing the employer from a murderous droid wasn’t included, as he mercilessly gave the closing time notice, glancing at the man.
I gave a cold look to the overly uncharismatic Hemet once again and gestured with my chin to return that little fluffball to his place.
Clank, fluff!
“Ugh… Ahn……”
“…Sigh.”
The overalls that seemed to have grown longer found their way safely onto the cockpit.
Meanwhile, the color of Hemet’s face became pale in comparison to the expanded pupils as he caught his breath with sounds similar to air escaping from a balloon. I quietly popped up the hacker ID from the black market in the data list that could verify identity, then had it recognized by the scanner installed at the counter. The credentials barely appeared on the monitor across from him.
In fact, the mercenary ID didn’t include a proper photo like a citizen card, so it could have been tough to prove… but conversely, showing the skill or guts to forge it might be the technician’s qualification to have one foot in!
Moreover—at least as far as I remember—while I didn’t show off or deliberately compare it to industry standards, there was a belief that my briefly displayed experience was quite splendid.
I preferred non-face-to-face requests. Due to my concern for problematic traits, I was a bit picky about job choices, which led to a lower total number of commissions in comparison to the activity period, but with a 100% success rate in missions and an average satisfaction survey score of about 9.72, wasn’t that a sign of a rising powerhouse?
…That 0.28 points was due to a data recovery request that I could do at home for a little pocket money, and I forgot a bit.
Due to security issues, they didn’t let me know the contents accurately, so I salvaged everything I could find, which ended up exposing unnecessary data, causing trouble, or so they say? Customers can be so troublesome; self-employment is this harsh. Ugh.
Anyway, in addition, there were the certifications from Harvest Planet and the authentication marks left by a major operation experience under Megacorp, and if I throw in the certified mercenary (Partnership Mercenary) rank that I suspect Leonar slyly updated recently, voila—a dazzling professional hacker named Ivory has been completed!
“This is… much more of a genuine expert than I expected?”
“Really? If you think that way, I appreciate it, and I won’t decline.”
With a noticeable change in expression, I subtly lowered my voice towards Hemet.
Though I wasn’t particularly familiar with it, I leaned over the desk a bit while resting one arm to appear skilled in flirting.
I added detail as if whispering, recalling the moves that game characters took.
“Anyway, I came to sell a piece of software. …Ah, I’m not saying I’m completely transferring copyright, but I want to contract it in a way that uses the infrastructure for distribution. Can I have a consultation right now?”
“A piece of software… Not bad at all, huh? I think I can expect great things from this! There’s a delicious scent to it… Hey! Tommy! Keep an eye on the register!”
Well, to be honest, I came empty-handed without properly making a real program, which to scout the on-site situation, but isn’t it just perfect to create it around the time I need to hand it over?
Oh, right, consulting in front of everyone is a bit awkward.
Carefully, I gestured with my finger. Following Hemet’s gesture to continue talking inside, I stepped in.
Of course, intending to clear our not-so-good first impression before sitting at the table, I added some small talk as well.
“You seem quite busy lately with that new virus or whatever? If scammers are coming in droves, it must be.”
“Ahem… Well, it’s not like we’re testing it in our own room or a closed network. Boldly attacking corporations—especially with the high-priced products, of course, someone would show up spreading viruses! If this isn’t a leak… then speculation about trial operations for real use or a showcase to raise the selling price is rampant, isn’t it?”
“Uh… I see. Yeah.”
Clap!
When they said “crazy guy…” with a light-hearted but somewhat aggressive expression, I quickly slapped Zero’s extending arm down to stop him, responding in a tone devoid of spirit.
Our internet warrior hacker friends were in an atmosphere of being overwhelmed by excitement that someone was finally energetic enough to have fun!
Meanwhile, the hard-working engineers in the bright place seemed to take the situation quite seriously, busy analyzing it from various angles.
This is a matter of perspective. Infusing too much meaning into something akin to pepper spray, which is close to just a self-defense weapon, seems excessive, but information is more powerful when asymmetric, so there’s no need to stick my neck out to correct it.
If I propose a solution directly, the problem could easily be resolved anyway.
“If this field has been quiet for a month or so, it would indeed be akin to achieving world peace, so it’s not that surprising. However, this time it’s quite special! They placed a big bounty on it from Elysium!”
“Hmm… A bounty from Elysium physically…”
……Wait a minute, what did you just say?
What on earth have you been doing?
“Um… I thought I heard that Elysium hasn’t stepped forward on broadcasts yet.”
“What do you mean, those who’ve programmed algorithms to automatically capture shared new viruses or programs? I reckon there’s been no official request, but all sorts of IT and data mining companies, including everything underground, must be running mad!”
As I pondered the trend of a customer having an entranced expression with mouth pulled into an upward arc and a slow pace,
Hemet, who seemed to be enjoying the interesting turn of events, only further mixed things up.
Hmm.