Chapter 5 : Cyber-hedgehog

The first thought I had when I saw the Circuit Rams’ hideout was:

“Wow, how did they even decorate the whole building to look exactly like themselves?”

Normally, gangs at least try to hide their hideouts so others won’t find them. But these guys weren’t even trying. It was like they were

shouting, “This is the Circuit Rams’ base! Please notice us!”

Everyone passing by kept sneaking glances at the place.

Well, I couldn’t blame them.

The entire building was covered wall-to-wall with antennas and all sorts of electrical parts. There were no windows. It looked like a 30-meter-

tall cyber-porcupine.

Maybe they wanted to turn the building into some kind of artistic landmark?

Try to bring some life to this gloomy Zone 9?

Hmm… considering they’re obsessed with their weird cult, maybe that’s not too far-fetched after all.

Anyway, that’s not what matters right now.

What matters is that if I want to get paid, I have to walk right into the mouth of that porcupine.

“…How did you get here?”

The Circuit Rams’ gatekeeper, who had been watching me approach from afar, asked cautiously.

I was in a bad state — my clothes were all torn, covered in radioactive dust and blood. Definitely not your average visitor.

“Oh, at least you guys don’t start cussing at strangers like other gangs do.”

“We’re not like other gangs that rob civilians. We make a living doing business, so we have to treat customers decently.”

When I gave him that compliment, the guy — who looked half-machine from all his body modifications — shrugged his shoulders proudly.

“So, what brings you here?”

“I saw a request you posted on Veilboard. Something about finding a 9-year-old kid.”

“Really?”

The gatekeeper tilted his head, like he hadn’t heard about it.

“I’m just a grunt, so I don’t know everything the boss is up to. Hold on a sec.

Hey! You — the one doing nothing — get over here!”

“What?

A big, muscular Circuit Rams member came out, scratching his butt.

“It’s a visitor. Take her to the boss.”

“Alright.”

Despite his scary looks, the guy nodded and obediently followed the gatekeeper’s instructions.

“Follow me.”

“Thanks.”

I gave the gatekeeper a light nod and entered the building.

Everything was going too smoothly. Was this for real?

Whether I doubted their unexpected hospitality or not, the big guy silently led me deep inside, stopping in front of a fancy door decorated

with electrical components.

“This is the boss’s room. Leave all your weapons outside.”

Should I hand them over or not?

Even though they were a gang, they had shown me nothing but hospitality. Barging in with weapons now would be odd.

I felt a bit trapped but handed over my weapons anyway, removing my combat belt and pulling out Dali, placing them all into the basket the

big guy held.

“Boss, the visitor is here.”

“Come in.”

As the door slid open, I finally stepped into the deepest part of the Circuit Rams’ hideout.

“Alright, guest. What brings you here?”

I was a little surprised.

Since all his subordinates looked like cyborgs, I half-expected the boss to be a full android.

But the man in front of me looked completely human — no artificial body parts or cyberware at all.

“Your subordinates love piercings. Don’t you like that stuff?”

“Piercings? Oh, you mean cyberware? Hahaha!”

The Circuit Rams’ boss laughed heartily at my question.

“You’ve got a funny way of speaking. See, the cheaper body modifications are easy to spot, but the high-end stuff? It becomes invisible.

I may look normal, but let’s just say I’ve got the most expensive body in this organization.

So, what’s your business?”

“I saw your request on Veilboard.”

“Ah, so you’re not just a visitor — you’re a Veilboard mercenary. Perfect timing, I’ve been worrying about that issue.”

He smiled and stood up, walking toward me with large strides.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Wolfhild.”

Is this guy crazy? Why is he acting all friendly all of a sudden?

“Mercenary.”

“Oh, playing it like that, huh?”

When I ignored both his handshake and introduction, Wolfhild frowned slightly.

“Well then, mercenary, since you don’t seem interested in small talk, let’s get to business.

You mentioned the request — you’re talking about finding the 9-year-old kid, right?

But I don’t see any kid, nor any body parts or anything. Did you even read the request properly?”

“No need to.”

I pulled out the black device I had taken from Yuna’s stomach.

“You weren’t really looking for the kid anyway — you wanted this, right?”

Wolfhild’s face froze instantly.

“What’s with the shock? Any half-decent mercenary would’ve realized there was a big machine inside that kid.”

“…True.

Though I didn’t expect the delivery person to slice open the kid and bring back only the contents.”

He didn’t seem angry or annoyed, just a little troubled.

“You’ve got a mean streak, lady. I was wondering why you were covered in blood — was that all from the 9-year-old?”

“Some of it.”

Actually, most of it was from fighting raiders, but there was plenty of Yuna’s blood from the emergency surgery too.

Wolfhild seemed to slightly misunderstand, clicking his tongue.

“The world’s gone to hell.

How are mercenaries more ruthless than gangs these days?”

“So, are you going to pay me or not?”

He stared at me for a moment, then calmly activated his multi-chip to transfer the money.

“We’re both professionals who’ve been through the grinder.

No point arguing over why you didn’t bring the kid.

Ten million dollars. Take it.”

“Oh? For real?”

I was surprised.

I’d never had a Veilboard job involving gangs end smoothly.

I thought they’d either refuse to pay or only give me five million at most.

I had prepared all kinds of threats in advance, but I didn’t need any of them.

Beep.

Ten million dollars were deposited into my nearly empty account.

“Didn’t expect you to be such a decent guy.”

“…The way you say that doesn’t really sound like a compliment.”

“Don’t sweat the details. Here, it got a little bloody but still works fine.”

Beep.

Now that I had my full payment, I handed him the round machine, which was still making electronic noises.

“Well, the deal’s done. I’ll be off now. Bye!”

“What?”

“We’re done here, right? I’m going home to take a shower.”

I heard his confused voice behind me, but that wasn’t my problem anymore.

Rule number one for seasoned Veilboard mercenaries:

Once the deal is over, don’t get involved any further.

In this filthy world, knowing too much only gets you in trouble.

Curiosity leads straight to the grave, as they say.

Of course, even if I try my best to stay uninvolved, things happen if the other party decides otherwise.

For example:

“But hey…”

When a gang leader starts a sentence like that, it’s never good.

“Aren’t you curious what this device is, or why it was inside that kid?”

“…Like you said, I’m a professional. Why complicate a job that’s already done?”

“The machine itself isn’t that important.

Think of it as a kind of bridge that allows the human body and data to connect.”

I tried to leave, basically telling him to talk to himself — but the door wouldn’t open. Of course. Damn it.

Wolfhild twisted the machine, splitting it open and revealing its contents.

Inside was a tiny chip, no bigger than a fingernail.

“You’ve heard of the Saint that’s all over the media these days, right?

This chip is the Saint.”

“What?”

“More precisely, it’s a ‘core’ — a scientific analysis and condensed data version of the Saint’s miracles and divine power.

Though it’s just a copy, it cost a fortune to steal from a major corporation’s lab.”

I had somewhat expected it.

Berry had openly cooperated in analyzing her miracles to prove they were real, not tricks.

But even after a year, no corporation had claimed they cracked her powers.

I assumed they failed.

Yet somehow, part of Berry was now floating around cheap enough to end up in the hands of scumbags like these.

I clenched my fist, anger rising.

“But you know what?”

Wolfhild casually inserted the chip into a port behind his ear.

“Ta-da. Even after plugging it in, nothing happens.

That’s what drives people crazy.

This ‘divine power’ isn’t simple data you can just read or write.”

He pulled the chip back out, rolling it in his hand.

“Turns out, to use this, you have to overcome a crazy contradiction.

The Saint channels divine power through a human body — which is like being both alive and dead at the same time.

The big corporations couldn’t solve this problem, which is how the chip eventually ended up here.”

“That’s why they call it a miracle.”

Thinking of Berry’s brilliant light made my heart race for a moment.

“That’s what makes her a Saint.”

“But what if — instead of just reading it — we inject this data directly into someone’s genes?

Could we create an entirely new kind of being?”

“What?”

What the hell is this madman saying?

“I’m going to create God.”

Wolfhild’s eyes gleamed with a madness I hadn’t seen before.

“A God who controls all data and networks.

A God who exists everywhere but can never be found anywhere!

A God who will lead us to heaven through the Cloud!

Why does only the Kiro Sect have the Saint?

Why doesn’t Connect even get the chance?! Why?!”

Their cult was called Connect, wasn’t it?

Ever since Berry started working publicly, the Kiro Sect grew rapidly, claiming they had proof of God’s existence.

Meanwhile, the other religions lost followers.

Wolfhild collapsed back into his chair, exhausted.

“Because you cut open the kid’s stomach and killed her while retrieving this data injector, we have to start the experiment all over again with

a new child.

But that’s none of your business.”

Snap.

At his finger snap, twelve automated turrets popped up from the seemingly plain floor and walls, all pointing straight at me.

“You’ll die here.

But thanks for bringing me the chip.”

“So you never planned to let me live once I got involved.

Then why bother paying me the ten million dollars?”

“It’s part of our faith to prepare generous travel funds for the afterlife.

See you in Cyber-Heaven.”

The turrets’ barrels began spinning ominously.

‘Neural Overclock.’

At the same time, electric current surged violently through my brain—