Malfunctioning Utopia

Chapter 31: Compensation

Hearing Tapai's sarcastic tone, Song 6's face flushed for once, unable to muster the courage to lie.

"Yeah, yeah, it was my fault. I cut corners and went cheap on critical intel this time. Next time, I'll spend more on proper information!"

"Next time? Are you kidding me?"

Sun Jack's cybernetic eyes flared as his prosthetic fingers extended outward, shoving a cannon barrel against Song 6's cheek.

"Do you even realize we nearly lost all four of our lives because of you?"

"Wait, wait, bro! I'll pay, okay? I'll pay compensation!"

Hearing this, Sun Jack immediately straightened his posture, an air of calm returning.

"Pay... how much?"

"What?! Our lives are only worth that much?" Tapai grabbed a sake bottle nearby and smashed it over Song 6's head.

"Thank you for your continued patronage~" A spending notification drifted lazily before Sun Jack's eyes.

"Why should I pay for what you broke?" Sun Jack shot a disgruntled glance at Tapai, then picked up another sake bottle and cracked it over Song 6's head.

"Why should I pay when you're the one smashing things?" Tapai grabbed a saucer of soy sauce and slammed it down on Song 6.

"Do you guys have to break stuff just to squeeze out more money? What are we, rolling in cash? Can't you learn to save like I do?" Sun Jack hefted a chair and swung it against Song 6's back.

"Fine, fine! 10@! That's all I have!"

Just as Tapai grabbed a chair to emulate Sun Jack, ready to hammer it onto Song 6's head, a transfer notification popped up. "Song 6PUS has sent you 14.491@."

"It's everything! That's all the money I have left! I'm broke, seriously broke!" Song 6PUS cried out desperately from the ground, clutching his face with both hands.

"If you had given it earlier, we wouldn't have had to hit you! Do you think you're a game boss who only drops loot after a beating?"

Satisfied by the transfer's precise numbers, Sun Jack lowered the chair and sat back down.

"Also, you're paying for this meal."

"I gave you all my money! How am I supposed to pay?"

"No cash? Pawn an organ! Can't you take out a loan? You've been in The Metropolis for so long—do I really have to explain how to survive when broke?"

Tapai plugged into a charging port nearby and pointed at Song 6PUS. "And the electricity I'm using? Charge him for that too."

Song 6PUS, sprawled on the ground, looked utterly stunned at how shameless his companions could be.

After wringing some extra credits out of Song 6, Sun Jack stood in the subway, a noticeably lighter mood as he checked his account balance: 19.442@.

Being a mercenary sure paid well. At this rate, the 80@ surgery fee wasn't far off—one job alone had netted him this much.

"Why'd you ask Song 6 for compensation? I thought you'd just beat the crap out of him," Tapai asked curiously.

"No big reason. I'm just starting to adapt to how things work in this city." Sun Jack quickly explained the events leading up to their current situation. 𝔯ÃꞐô𝐛Ёs

"I need to save up enough money quickly. Here, money solves everything else."

"So, you really plan to keep working as a mercenary? You almost died this time."

"What other options do we have? If not this, what else could we do?"

Sun Jack got off the subway, but the station was a mess of homeless people and trash.

Uncertain of his location, he activated his system's navigation feature, following the on-screen arrows toward the subway exit.

"I need to earn enough for the surgery. That's my priority."

"And after the surgery?"

"After the surgery, I'll upgrade your memory."

"And after upgrading my memory?"

"After that, we'll save up a big chunk of money, get out of this hellhole, and live somewhere peaceful. I'd rather take my chances surviving in the wild than stay here. This place suffocates me."

When no response came for a while, Sun Jack turned to Tapai with a raised brow.

"What's with you? Did you break your brain adding those extra details?"

"Can't I just ask?"

"Fine, fine. Are you done asking? If so, let's go."

Sun Jack led Tapai out of the subway station.

Outside, rain poured down heavily. Sun Jack glanced around before scanning a transparent raincoat from a nearby vending machine and throwing it on.

He headed toward a nearby abandoned building, Tapai trailing close behind.

As they reached the elevator, they noticed Linda-Linda, the cyber-cat girl they'd met a few times, also waiting there.

"Hey, Xiao Deng! Just got off work? You're early today!" Tapai waved energetically, much to Sun Jack's confusion.

"What are you doing? Why are you trying to talk to her?" Sun Jack sent a neural message to Tapai.

"Didn't you tell me to act more human? Isn’t it normal to greet your neighbors?"

"Who says? Am I not normal? I don't greet my neighbors, do I?"

"That's because you're uncivilized. I'm not like you!"

After roasting Sun Jack online, Tapai continued chatting with Linda-Linda.

"How's business lately?"

Chewing her gum, Linda-Linda glanced at Tapai like he was an idiot. After a long pause, she replied with a perfunctory "Alright, I guess."

The elevator dinged open, but Tapai still didn’t stop his awkward small talk.

"This line of work must be tough, huh? Do you get health insurance?"

Linda-Linda tossed her glittery purse over her shoulder, clicking her transparent high heels as she exited the elevator.

"It is tough, but the pay’s decent. At least it's better than risking your life as a mercenary. I always remind myself not to stoop to such a lowly job."

"..."

Tapai turned to Sun Jack in astonishment. "Jack! Is our profession really that low in status? Even worse than a prostitute?"

Sun Jack sighed. "You should probably shut off your reserved memory. You're acting super weird."

"So, you turn it on when you want and off when you want? What am I, a circus monkey?"

Just then, Song 6PUS called again.

"Shh."

Watching Song 6PUS’s avatar flash on the call screen, Sun Jack frowned. Why was this guy calling so soon after they’d parted ways?

When the call connected, Song 6PUS’s grinning face appeared, not a hint of guilt visible.

"Bro, I thought it over and realized I was totally in the wrong earlier. I shouldn’t just compensate you; I should make it up to the Four Ai team too. So, tonight, let’s have dinner—my treat!"

Sun Jack was immediately suspicious. This cheapskate offering to treat them? What was going on?

"Bro, last mission wouldn’t have been possible without you! To show my sincerity, I even picked a Chinese restaurant for you!"

"A Chinese restaurant?" Sun Jack couldn’t help swallowing. "Which one? Sichuan? Cantonese?"

"Ke-style cuisine."