Chapter 9 : Apprenticeship – 1

“Welcome to Red Dog.”

I stared blankly at the large hand extended toward me.
Only when I saw Lycan’s warm smile and kind eyes did I realize this was real.

I’d actually joined Red Dog, the top mercenary team in Rat Town.

Belatedly, I gripped his hand.
It still didn’t feel real, but I finally felt like I’d reached the starting line.

I don’t know what future awaits, but as I promised Ruby last night while gazing at the cityscape, I’ll succeed and escape this underground slum.

“For the first month, you’ll work as a trainee.
Since mercenary work is new to you, learn fast.”

“Uh… does that mean I won’t earn money during the trainee period?”

Hesitating, I asked, and he patted my shoulder as he spoke.

“I know your situation.
You need to scrape together 100 million by the end of this month, right?”

“Yes.
That’s right.”

“Now that you’re a comrade, I’ll help, of course, but I’m not handing out cash for free with no strings attached.”

“I’m not looking for charity either.”

“Prove your worth during the trainee period.
Show you’re not just some kid who got lucky with a Stone, but a reliable comrade and mercenary I can trust with my back.
Then I’ll back you.”

That was exactly what I wanted.
To protect Ruby, I needed to get stronger anyway.

Master the Stone’s use and earn Lycan’s approval.
I only had three weeks.
There was no time to slack.

As I steeled my resolve, Lycan chuckled and spoke up.

“Alright, first test.”

“Test?”

“Yup.
What do you think is the most important thing for a mercenary?”

The question was easy.
Thanks to the original novel, I knew exactly what Lycan wanted to hear.

“Obviously, comrades.”

“Good.
People might have different answers, but for me, that’s the best one.
Our team always puts teamwork with comrades first.
That’s the biggest reason Red Dog made a name for itself.”

His words weren’t just empty talk.
Red Dog’s influence on the mercenary world was beyond imagination.
In short, the mercenary market can be divided into before and after Red Dog’s rise.

Before, mercenaries mostly worked solo.
For big missions, they’d team up, but only temporarily, and since money was their top priority, cooperation was practically nonexistent.

But Lycan focused on the mission itself, not cash.
He always thought about the best way to complete a job, which led him to form a team.

Splitting the reward with teammates?
A method most Rat Town mercenaries, obsessed with profit, would despise.
But Lycan’s choice was proven right in no time.

A mission success rate nearing 90%.
With achievements on a different level from other mercenaries, clients only sought Red Dog.
From there, the scale of their missions started to grow.

What began as individual-to-individual mercenary contracts evolved into deals between corporations and mercenary teams.

Now, even major corporations in Neotopia hire mercenaries for jobs.
The fierce wars between corporations are fought by mercenaries.

That’s also why Rat Town, the so-called slum of sewer rats, still exists.
Corporations need mercenaries to clean up their messes, so they keep Rat Town, the mercenary hub, intact.

At the heart of this transformation are Lycan and Red Dog, now revered as living legends in the mercenary world.
Of course, that fame comes with jealous rivals who resent the legend.

“You seem to know the deal, so I’ll skip the details.
Now, here’s the test.”

“Wait?
Wasn’t that question the test?”

“You think you’d pass with one easy question?
That’d be a bit disappointing, kid.”

“…Fine, what is it?”

“Greet all our team members and come back.
They’re all in here, so no need to go outside.”

Hearing the test, I frowned.

Glancing around, the bar was packed with customers.

As I said, a bar run by the legendary Lycan naturally draws a crowd.
Last night’s empty hall was probably a precaution in case Ikazuchi came sniffing around because of me.

Anyway, I’m supposed to greet the team among this crowd with no hints.
What does this have to do with comrades being important?

“You’ve already met Karen and Mary, so it should be easy.”

“Haa… No hints?”

“Didn’t I just give you one?
They’re all in the bar.
Stop whining like a kid and get moving.”

Unable to resist Lycan’s urging, I reluctantly stood from the counter.

The silver lining?
Thanks to reading the novel, I roughly know Red Dog’s members.
The problem is, those were text descriptions, so recognizing faces is tricky.

Like with Karen and Mary, focusing on their traits should help me spot them.
Probably.

I started with familiar faces.
As if on purpose, the two were sitting at the same table.
The way they waved cheerily as I approached was annoyingly smug.

“You knew I was being tested, didn’t you?”

“Oh?
No clue what you’re talking about!”

“Hehe… Fighting!
I’m rooting for you!”

Karen shamelessly played dumb, while Mary clenched her fists, cheering me on.

“Any hint about where they’re sitting?
Please?”

“Sorry.
The leader told us not to say.”

Talk about thorough.
Gritting my teeth, I turned sharply.

Fine.
I didn’t expect much anyway.
Since I found these two, only one member remains.
And with distinct traits, they might be easier to spot than I thought.

Let’s see…

The biggest traits?
A bulging beer belly and a balding head.
Just those two descriptions point to a middle-aged man.

Sadly, reality is harsh—plenty of people fit those traits.
But there was one extra clue.

While scanning the crowd, I spotted a man drinking so heavily it seemed dangerous and headed over.

The stench of alcohol hit me as I got close.
I spoke to the middle-aged man, his face red and eyes glassy, glancing at me.

“You’re the guy, right?”

My confident question made him widen his eyes slightly.
He soon chuckled and admitted it readily.

“How’d you guess?”

“I’ve got a good instinct.”

“Heh.
Hope that sharp instinct kicks in during battle too.
Burp.
Now find the last one!
…Hic!”

“…What?”

I frowned.
There’s another one?
I thought Red Dog only had four members.

Sure, they have partners they work with, but the novel only lists official members as Lycan, Mary, Karen, and Franklin—just four.

It didn’t make sense at first, but thinking it over, I got the gist.

This must be a time before the original novel.

To me, Ruby’s just a kind, innocent kid, but in the novel, she’s Neotopia’s worst terrorist.
That time gap is showing up here too.

A fifth Red Dog member, not in the original.

I tried to find them, but it was impossible.
How do you find someone in this crowd with no hints?
If they had a tattoo or emblem, maybe, but nothing.

Sighing, I started back to the counter when a man’s amused voice called out from behind.

“Giving up too easy, aren’t you?”

“…You’re the one?”

Turning, I saw a guy who screamed unique at first glance.

A cowboy hat pulled low over his eyes, a yellow leather vest, rodeo pants, and riding boots.
Why’s a Wild West cowboy sitting in a cyberpunk world?

He was playing a card game with others at a table.

“Well, why do you think it’s me?”

“I just asked if it was you.
If you weren’t, most people would ask ‘What do you mean?’ not question why I think it’s you.”

“Not bad reasoning.
Name’s Spade.
Here’s to working together.”

He had a sly yet detached vibe, this cowboy.
I wanted to chat more, but Spade dove back into his card game after introducing himself.
The table clearly had a hefty pot at stake.

I’d get another chance to talk later.
For now, I decided not to disturb him and returned to Lycan at the counter.

“Good job.
What’d you think of them?”

“They’re all… unique.”

Maybe it’s a coincidence, but Red Dog’s members share a common theme.
The four things that typically ruin a person’s life.

Booze, smoking, gambling, and lust.

It’s actually something the protagonist notes in the original novel.
Though back then, there was no Spade to represent gambling.

But if you look at it that way, what does Lycan, Red Dog’s leader, represent?

Lost in pointless thoughts, I snapped back.

“By the way, what’s the little kid up to?”

“Huh?
Oh, Ruby?
Probably waiting for me at home.”

“Tch.
After everything that happened yesterday, you’re leaving her alone?
Got any sense?”

“But keeping her home is safer than dragging her out…”

“Bring her here.
Stay here from now on.
We’ve got plenty of empty rooms.”

I stared at him blankly, then nodded slowly.
He’s right—I can’t rule out another psycho breaking down the door.
Staying here would be a surer way to protect Ruby.

Thanking Lycan for his thoughtfulness, I headed home to get Ruby.

And then,

“…Hey.
Hold up.”

Those damn thugs blocked my path again.