Loved by the War Machine

6 – From Corporate Soldier to Renowned Mercenary (3)

He walked through the seemingly endless distance, relying solely on the HUD embedded in his helmet.

In the old days, he could enjoy the surrounding scenery, but now, looking at the completely polluted city, all he could do was sigh.

On days when he received requests related to corporate matters, he had a brief opportunity to taste a clean area, but…

Seeing things that were once taken for granted gradually entering the realm of luxury made him sigh.

Of course, new things were pouring in day by day.

“Ugh.”

It was difficult to move something in this hazy weather.

If it were an ordinary area, considering using a car for transportation might have been an option, but in this place where his hand naturally went to the handgun at his waist every time gunshots echoed, the road was not a safe place.

Thanks to that, his worn-out knees were steadily swelling.

＜Obstacle detected ahead＞

Red letters flashed in front of his eyes, followed by the sight of black smoke spreading.

It was an annoying place that inevitably made him reach for his gun.

People wearing gas masks were urgently running somewhere, and those coming towards him all held something in their hands.

“Today’s my lucky day. What’s this unexpected surprise?!”

Tianhu Group.

Boxes with that label were held in the hands of the people.

In the game, they shouted as if they were tearing open boxes, just like pulling gacha.

Someone got a gun,

someone got home appliances,

someone got a drone.

Even boys who seemed quite tough were embracing something in the midst of this chaos, running out.

As I moved forward a bit more, a broken-down truck came into view.

Did someone crash into it?

Whether it was intentionally blocking the road or illegal parking, it seemed to be a quite noisy day for those around here.

“What the hell, can’t you let go?”

“I grabbed it first -“

In a place where looting always occurred, gunfights were bound to happen.

I hid my body in the chaos that began with a single gunshot.

It would be good if I could turn around and go, but the severe sandstorm that intensified after the corporate war messed up everything.

If I didn’t get out as quickly as possible, I was likely to run into someone.

If I was lucky, it might be the police, but if I was unlucky, it could be corporate mercenaries.

＜Police forces nearby. Recommend detour.＞

And today, it seemed like luck was quite on my side.

Patrol cars passing by with sirens blaring loudly scattered people.

“Phew.”

Fortunately, it seemed like there was no one coming towards me.

Except for a few young boys and girls who were running ahead, perhaps interns from the Tech Boys.

With that thought in mind, I continued to move my feet.

＜Destination: 200m＞

How many steps had I taken?

Just as I leaned against the wall to catch my breath, tapping my aching knees –

Something flew towards me, emitting light.

“…Surprised me.”

It was fortunate I hadn’t put my finger on the trigger of the drawn gun.

I almost destroyed the Tech Boys’ drone.

[You arrived quite early, huh? Heard that the Tonhu truck nearby got wrecked.]

A cheerful voice mixed with a confident mechanical tone.

It seemed to be a guy named Dojun, whom I always bumped into at the main gate.

Now they even used drones for security.

“Just saw your guys picking up stuff there.”

[Sharp eyes you’ve got. The interns just arrived.]

[These guys are quick-witted and agile.]

“Handy skills would be useful.”

[We can teach them that.]

[Your knees still not doing well?]

– Thud.

A chilling sound echoes as I straighten my knees.

Still, thanks to the somewhat relieving sensation, I could adjust my posture.

“Get rid of the drone. The weather’s not good, and messing around like this might cause trouble.”

[Sent the drone since the weather’s bad. It’s also for checking on the kids.]

“Got it. I’ll go quickly. Let’s discuss it inside.”

The drone, winking at me by closing and reopening its light, vanished into the yellowish air like an arrow.

There’s no sign of the weather getting better.

If anything, it might become more dreadful.

Tightening my outerwear, I lowered my head and headed towards the building across the alley.

Faintly flickering letters of various colors were piercing through the yellow haze.

That light sign, always tacky, no matter how many times I see it.

***

“Place your weapons down here, hand over your outerwear, and… spread your arms!”

A fierce wind shoots towards the helmet and body.

Young ones standing beside the tall Dojun, looking quite tough, grab the nozzles and spray wildly.

“You have to brush off the dust and sand thoroughly from left to right. Isn’t this fun? It’s an essential skill even when dealing with parts later!”

A smile appeared on the face aiming with a tiny hand, drawing patterns in the air.

Well, shooting something that looks like a gun with the air in your hand, would it not be boring?

At that age, anything would be enjoyable.

“Now that you’re roughly done, turn around!”

With both hands raised, I turned around and felt the remaining dust fall off.

However, the creatures that had crawled into my clothes didn’t easily come off due to sticking to the sweat.

I guess I’ll wash this later.

“It’s done! Weapons will be taken care of later – well, you know, right, Gunner?”

“Yeah.”

Receiving a coat and an envelope containing memory chips,

I saluted the young ones who showed me their waving hands and was about to move my feet when –

“Oh, be careful!”

I caught a child who almost tripped and fell onto my leg.

Very young, small in stature… there were still traces of baby fat on their face.

“T-Thank you…”

“Oh, come here. I’m sorry.

Didn’t I tell you to watch where you’re going!”

Is this a child that Dojun knows? I hastily ran over and embraced the child.

I shook the hand of the kid who was trying to bow with a lowered head, then turned my gaze to the helmet’s screen.

＜Synchronization complete＞

Is the client, Matthew Vance, on the 2nd floor?

Enjoying the noisy sounds of welding and tools, I stepped onto the lift and closed the door.

It was always more lively than dark in here.

I don’t know if it’s because I’m an orphan like these guys.

Still, I couldn’t quite understand it, just like the neon sign.

“Hey.”

Unlike the kids and boys and girls working below, Matthew was quite old.

Impressively, he had a thick beard, typical of someone from a foreign country.

“Seems like you’re getting used to Korean?”

“I can’t help but get used to it when I’m with the kids here. My boss uses Korean too, why shouldn’t I?”

After a handshake, I quickly took a seat at the designated spot.

As the tension released from my knees, I felt a bit better.

I found a gap in the helmet, slipped my fingers in, and placed it on the desk.

A strong smell of iron wafted through my nose.

“First things first, giving you money would make it easier for you, right? Oh, before that.

Our kids added a request with extra payment, I heard.”

Handing me an envelope, Matthew immediately poured out its contents and started counting. Then, he turned his eyes to the computer.

As the keyboard was rapidly tapped – the door opened soon after.

It was a girl with her long hair tied.

“Alright, take this and analyze it.

One is, uh… a spy, but the rest you might like. Exo – so, I mean, so -“

“Exoskeleton.”

“Yeah. Exoskeleton suit. That’s the memory chip. Interesting. Give it a touch.”

The girl, tilting her head, carefully put it in her pocket and then turned to me.

A neat face and attire caught my eye, unlike the kids below with dirt-stained faces.

“This person… a gunslinger…”

“That’s right. A gunslinger from the West. A cowboy who just fires revolvers.”

“It doesn’t feel like that.”

I prefer neatly inserting one bullet into each bullet hole in my head.

But somehow, this guy was turning me into a gunslinger scattering bullets.

“Thanks for taking care of this matter. If you ever need help again, can I ask for it?”

“As long as you pay.”

Usually, when money is mentioned, faces get stiff.

With a faint smile, she nodded and, trying to turn away, handed me something.

It was a business card.

The name… Go Dayeon?

Affiliated with the IT team.

“Then, take mine too.”

She tried to pull out a nearly depleted business card and handed it to me, but instead of showing it to me, she shook her head, making a rustling sound.

“Ah, but I already have one -“

As soon as those words were heard, the hand that was about to retreat was firmly grasped by Nam Jeong-ne’s hairy hand.

The business card was snatched away, held firmly in his black sleeve.

“Hey, give it back!”

“Take it, take it. Opportunities like this don’t come often. It’s a business card of a rising star, you know. It’s a hot item.”

“Hey, let go!”

The guy who was touching the computer had disgustingly sweaty hands.

His right hand was fine. But thinking about how his left hand used to be like that gave him goosebumps.

Hastily wiping his arms with his body, the girl named Go Da-yeon held the business card in both hands, not knowing what to do with it.

“How did your hand become so repulsive?

Ah, right.

Take it. It’s okay. If you’re going to be in charge of work from now on, it’s good to have a business card, right?”

“Thank you…”

He shook hands and watched her as she went into the office.

Were the Tech Boys getting bigger and bigger?

The name IT Team felt fresh.

“Why, do you like that kid? Well, she’s a tough one.

She just turned 21. Wasn’t her birthday a few months ago? I remember.”

“She’s sitting here with her 21-year-old self. Stop talking nonsense and put some money in.”

“Why, are you offended? You seem to like her a lot?”

He laughed as he raised his fist once, and on the screen, he brought up a calculator.

Tapping his fingers quickly on the number pad, he soon displayed the numbers.

“Gig, no, um – what’s it called in Korean, work? Job? What did Taehyuk say?”

“Just call it a job.”

“Alright. Basic pay is fifty million won. Plus, here.

Three chips, four phones, one watch. Total of eight.

Hundred thousand each. How’s that?”

“We also secured the transport.”

“Oh, that – that wasn’t part of the deal.”

“Then your guys did mention there was an AT?

Thanks to that, I almost melted turning off the ignition with the helmet on.”

Due to excitement, an old word I used to use slipped out.

AT, the term for abbreviation of airborne transport.

It was something the late squad leader often used.

Well, Matthew preferred it when I used English, anyway.

“Um… We’re a bit short on bullets.”

Look at how my fingers form a round shape.

But it was quite amusing that Korean came out of my mouth.

“Where did you learn to call money bullets?”

“I told you. These guys here are fun.”

Anyway, then it’s 6,500.”

“7,000.”

“You’re sitting here talking about 7,000, did you sell your conscience?

You bought that Mircis CI robot here and even got a new body as a service.”

I burst into laughter again at his skillful use of Korean insults.

I wonder if his way of gnawing at his lower lip while raising his eyebrows is a sight that can only be seen here.

“You paid for it, you bastard.”

“Our kids went through a lot. Especially working overtime to make it compatible with the AI.

Think of it as a tip and give me 6,500.”

“You slyly cut it down to 6,000. Is the transport fee only 200 for you?”

“No bullets? And I even provide AS service. Why are you like this?”

Finally, I raised both hands in surrender, laughing and tapping my shoulder.

The hand that pressed the enter key was annoyingly fast.

“6,000. Check if it’s been deposited.”

My pocket shook six times, and numbers appeared on the screen.

[Deposit: ENTECH 10,000,000]

[Deposit: Mars Construction 10,000,000]

[4 other transactions]

And one more time, my phone vibrated violently.

It was Ilia.

‘Time is getting late. Are you okay?’

Is it really something to worry about?

Despite asking to wait, they sent another message.

“Hmm? Where is this message from?”

“Illya.”

“Your robot friend talking? Already contacting and all that from the beginning? Seems quite close.”

“If we’re not close, should I not send messages? It’s artificial intelligence.”

The guy shook his finger at me, as if saying, “I don’t know anything,” and tensed his shoulders.

Whether he’s pretending or not, his face was really annoying.

“Because it’s artificial intelligence. It has a kind of familiarity system. If you treat it like sh*t, it just provides basic services. But if you treat it really well, it takes care of all sorts of things. They say Mirsis has excellent details. Bullsh*t, right?”

“You, talking like that, used to work at Tenhu, right?”

“They fired me just because I became too good with my hands. Not my boss, those bastards.”

“Weren’t Mirsis employees the same?”

“A bit different. There, if you get treated with Sabi, they allow you to return.”

Well, in the end, aren’t they all just jerks? Even if one side is a bit better, it’s still the difference between trash and glamorous trash.

But well, what can I say if they say it’s better.

Now I’m an individual without a company and a year.

“But anyway, back then, I had no money, so I couldn’t go to Mirsiss either.

In the end, here, Tech Boys?”

Matthew nodded as he raised his thumb, tapping the mechanical fingers wildly.

“Oh, by the way, I have something to ask. By any chance -“

Once again, the phone rang several times.

The trembling of the thigh’s flesh was unsettling.

‘The weather is worsening.’

‘We recommend returning quickly.’

‘TaeHyuk-nim, are you okay?’

Even when he had many acquaintances, he didn’t receive calls this frequently.

Though it seemed a bit severe, considering the content of the messages, it made sense.

“Is it that robot again?”

“Yeah. I need to go back quickly. They say the weather is bad.”

“There seems to be too many messages. Should I check if there’s an error?”

An error.

But it didn’t seem like it, particularly.

As long as you exclude things that are very human-like.

And…

“In the self-diagnosis results, there doesn’t seem to be anything unusual.

There shouldn’t be any problems, well, I’ll go before it gets too late.”

“If the customer says so, it must be true.”

As I pressed the button for the lift, Matthew flicked his wrist.

Nodding at him, I put on my street helmet.

＜A message has arrived＞

Now, even notifications appear on the HUD.

In the end, I had no choice but to pick up my phone.

“Shall I move to your location, Taehyuk?”

“No, it’s okay. I’m on my way now. It’ll take about 10 minutes.”

“I’ll wait.”

Why say you’ll wait if you’re not really waiting at all?

I received my weapon and put on my outerwear.

I needed to get back home quickly.

Looks like I won’t be able to buy that chicken, damn it.

***

“If a bug explodes, it could be a bit tricky.”

Matthew said that while rubbing his nose.

Moving the vintage devices arranged to his liking, he displayed a window on the screen, examining numerous codes with his eyes.

“If it’s not confirmed here… maybe it’s the program used during compatibility.”

A ‘vintage artificial intelligence compatibility system’ hastily acquired through online transactions, not developed by oneself.

Despite tirelessly resolving the issue that kept causing errors, it inexplicably showed no response after a single execution.

“Well, if a problem arises, I’ll deal with it then.”

Saying so, he opened a file, placed it in a corner, and nonchalantly left it there.

Sipping on his drink, he moved his feet towards the IT team’s office.

“Let’s see how the chip is doing. It would be nice if Dayeon and the IT team handle it well.”

The opened file closed on its own.

Matthew didn’t witness that scene.