Chapter 7 : Deals – 2

“Follow me.”

I trailed Karen out of the room.

Passing through a dim corridor, we entered a spacious hall, and I let out a small gasp.

Soft lighting gave off a secretive yet cozy hideout vibe.
But it must not be business hours, as all the tables in the hall were empty.

Except for one spot.

Three people huddled at the counter.
Ruby and Mary sat side by side, sipping orange juice and chatting.

‘They look close.’

Did they bond while nursing me when I was out?

We naturally headed their way.

“Oh, big sister!”

“Juice taste good?”

“Yup!
It’s super yummy!”

A bittersweet smile crept up.
The past month, we’ve been so strapped for cash that I focused on filling our stomachs.
Luxuries like tasty treats were barely on my radar.

“Finally awake?”

A deep, heavy voice from across pulled my attention from Ruby.

A middle-aged man stood at the counter, wiping a glass.
His massive frame, packed with muscle even through his clothes, and his shaggy beard radiated a macho aura.

Like a cross between a wolf and a bear.
When he looked up at me, a scar across his eye came into view.

I know who this bartender is.
The man hailed as the greatest mercenary not just in Rat Town, but all of Neotopia.

The leader of Red Dog.

“Lycan.
I like this one.”

“That’s great news.
Just a bit ago, you were ranting about teaching a lesson to the thief who stole your Stone.”

“I thought about it.
But her eyes—they’re something else.
So, here’s the thing…”

Karen trailed off slightly before cutting straight to it.

“How about letting her join our team?”

“Karen.
You know what that means, right?”

“What’s the big deal?
She used a Stone and came out fine—that’s proof of her skill.”

Pausing his cleanup, Lycan turned to me.

“What’s your take?”

“If you’ll have me, I’ll work hard.”

“Do you know the mess you’re in?”

The bar’s mood grew a bit heavier.

“You stirred up a massive storm.”

“It was to protect my sister.”

Ruby looked up at me with anxious eyes.
All I could do was squeeze her small hand, silently telling her not to worry.

“Whatever the reason, the outcome doesn’t change.
You think even a lawless place like Rat Town can just shrug off the death of an Ikazuchi bigwig?”

“…”

“The head being completely blown off probably means no brain chip survived.
But dig deep enough, and they’ll eventually trace it back to you.”

His brutal honesty hit hard.
Ironically, Mary stepped in to defend me, despite having no stake in this.

“Lycan, they’re still just kids.”

“…True.
I respect your resolve.
Using a Stone to save your sister?
Honestly, I’d love to take you in.
But it’s too risky.
I can’t drag my crew into danger for your sake.”

I couldn’t argue.
Everything he said was spot-on.

It wasn’t just some lowlife employee—an inspection chief died.
Ikazuchi would hunt down the culprit, if only to make an example.
Anyone around me could get caught in the crossfire.

Just bringing me here and nursing me might’ve already put them at risk.
Stubbornly insisting on becoming a mercenary now would be a reckless nuisance, endangering lives.

Now I get it.
The nagging unease and dread I’ve felt since waking up.
I’d been avoiding it, but the moment I got tangled with Ikazuchi, my fate was sealed.

I hung my head low.
I shouldn’t let Ruby see me like this.

“So… what do I do now?”

“Big sister…”

Just then, a glass slid toward me.
Orange juice, sparkling vividly through the glass.

“No matter how hopeless it seems, don’t give up.
The moment you do, the last shred of hope you have vanishes.”

The words sounded familiar.
I realized late that they’re the exact advice Lycan gives the protagonist in the original.

Back then, the protagonist, Ellen, was drowning in despair and grief after losing her parents to Ruby.
But Lycan’s words helped her rise again, overcome her pain, and grow stronger.

So what about me now?
Will I give up and collapse here, or stand up and overcome this like the protagonist?

“Karen said she moved you two and went back to the park.
The body was gone.
Any guesses where it went?”

“…The body disappeared?”

Did the police collect it?
No, if that were the case, they’d be scouring the park now.
Taking just the body and vanishing doesn’t add up.

Lost in thought, Ruby tugged at my clothes, catching my eye.

“Hm?
What’s up?”

She put a hand to her mouth, leaned close, and whispered in my ear.

As she spoke, my emotions shifted wildly.
Even after her whispers ended, I stood frozen like a statue for a long while.

“Um… Lapis?
Is something wrong?”

Mary’s worried question snapped me out.
I grabbed the glass, chugged the orange juice in one go, and slammed it down.

Bang!

“I think I found a way,” I said to Lycan.

Late at night.
Cap pulled low, I slipped through dark alleys to reach my destination.

The company name stylishly etched at the building’s entrance.

[Equal Capital]

Never imagined I’d come here on my own accord.
In memories of the past or visions of the future, it was always him coming to me.

Inside, an android, indistinguishable from a human, greeted me politely.
I’d seen it a few times over the past month, but it still amazed me.
How do they make it so lifelike?

“It’s after business hours.
What brings you here?”

“I’m here to see your boss.”

“Please input your identity code.”

I held my wrist out to the android.

Moments like this really drive home that this is a cyberpunk world.
Rat Town’s so crappy it’s hard to feel it in daily life.

But this place?
Decked out with cutting-edge tech from the entrance.
Feels like they’re bragging about their wealth, which kinda irks me.

Beep!

“Customer Lapis.
Verified.
Please take the elevator.”

Huh?
They’re letting me in this easily?
Honestly, I didn’t expect to get a meeting right away.

Anyway, I rode the elevator, staring blankly at the cityscape outside.
From up here, this neighborhood looks pathetic.
The view below felt like nothing, even though I’m down there, scraping by like everyone else.

Ding!

I strode forward and flung open the tightly shut door to the president’s office without knocking.

The interior was pitch dark.
I nearly blurted, “Turn on a light!
What are you, some creature of the dark?”

Then again, he might be.
His looks kinda fit that vibe.

“Didn’t expect you to show up unannounced this late.”

“I heard everything from my sister.
You’re the one who brought that bstard* to our house.”

Shadows cloaked the reaper’s face, making his expression unreadable.
He replied in his usual, unbothered tone.

“Here to settle that score?”

“No.
I’m not here to bicker over what’s done.
I’ve got one goal.”

Truthfully, I’m not sure if this plan will work.
But after racking my brain, this is the only option I’ve got.

“Let’s make a deal.”

“A deal?
Don’t we already have one to settle first?”

“That’s why I’m here.
At this rate, I’ll die before I can pay off the debt.”

“Let’s hear it, then.
I hope it piques my interest.”

Taking a small breath, I voiced the plan I’d rehearsed.

“Help me this once.
In return, I’ll pay you back with 1 billion.”

“Hm…”

He let out a soft hum, seemingly lost in thought.

“You cleaned up that body, didn’t you?
You did it ‘cause you’ve got something to hide, right?
An Ikazuchi inspection chief’s corpse found in Rat Town would be a headache.
Am I right?”

“An amusing theory.
If that’s true, wouldn’t turning you over to Ikazuchi be safer for me?”

“Maybe.
I don’t know the details.
What matters is you hid the body, and half a day’s passed without reporting me.”

“I only make choices that benefit me.
What’s in it for me if I help you?”

“I told you.
I’ll pay 1 billion, not just 130 million.”

“Words are cheap.
What matters is proof you can keep that promise.”

Proof?
That’s easy.
No need to waste breath—I just showed him the back of my hand.
The reaper stared at the ring’s gem, glowing brilliantly even in the dark, and let out a low, eerie chuckle.

“I see.
So that’s how you killed him.
This is truly surprising.”

“I saw it on my way here.
Ruby said that pervert smashed our door, but when I checked, it was fixed.
You did that too, right?”

“Yes.
Correct.
I erased as much evidence of your crime as I could.
Though there’s still a risk of getting caught.”

“Why go that far?”

“I told you.
I only make choices that benefit me.”

“…”

He’s always so damn ominous, like a grim reaper.
I can’t get a read on what he’s planning.
But right now, I have no choice but to rely on him.

“Indeed.
If I keep my mouth shut in this situation, you could go back to your normal life as if nothing happened.
Live happily with your sister, pay off the debt.
You’d be free after that.”

I want to dream of that future.
When I lie in bed thinking of tomorrow, I want to feel hope, not anxiety.

I want to live happily with Ruby.
Is it too greedy to wish for such a small dream?

…No matter how hopeless it seems, I mustn’t give up.
The moment I do, the last flicker of hope I have will vanish.

The reaper’s pitch-black eyes fixed on me.
As if ready to pronounce a death sentence.
Finally, he opened his mouth slowly.