095
The night deepens in Akbaran.
Iskan and I were watching Bao Zakanaan’s house.
Bao Jakanaan’s home was a penthouse in a luxury apartment. The penthouse on the 52nd floor was large enough to occupy an entire floor, but even that house was just for Bao Jakanaan to commute to and from work. It was enough to gauge his status and wealth.
We were on top of a skyscraper, overlooking even Bao Jakannan’s penthouse. The place I was standing was a temporary passageway that had been abandoned during construction.
The passage was so narrow that only one or two people could pass through. The floor was made of wire mesh, so it creaked, and the half-unscrewed railing was so flimsy that it was scary to lean on.
And then, of all things, it started raining.
Swish!
It was unpleasant weather.
Among the citizens of Akbaran, there are probably not many who like rain. Rain has a negative effect on the body and machinery. In particular, Akbaran’s rain is more turbid due to the large amount of foreign substances mixed in. If left uncleaned, it leaves black stains.
‘Lukewarm rain.’
I saw the black rain flowing down my shoulder. The rainwater was worse today.
Rainwater is full of unrefined chemicals and fine metals. Dust and other foreign substances are not even included.
“Akbaran has changed a lot, too. Luca, do you know why the upper and lower areas are divided?”
Iskan looked down at the city vaguely.
The building we were in was the tallest in the area. If the weather was good, we could see the outer border of Akbaran.
“To protect the nobles from those bastards?”
Iskan is an Irregular from the lower sector. You’ll laugh if I say this. I’ve spent a few days with Iskan and have gotten a rough idea of his tendencies. He’ll be the same.
“Haha, that’s true. But the biggest reason is to leave room for chaos. The Empire has an overly refined system. Like a machine that doesn’t allow for errors. But the innovations that change the era are born from chaos that can’t be calculated. The Empire seeks change, not stagnation, by incorporating the Irregulars who crawl out of that chaos and chaos into the upper class.”
It was a difficult statement, but it struck a chord with me.
As Iran Irregular entered the upper class of the empire, many changes occurred and incidents occurred.
‘The empire is not perfect. But it should not be destroyed just because it is not perfect.’
Kinuan’s words came to mind.
“If it were perfect, there would be no need to change, right?”
I said, staring at the window of Bao Zakanaan’s house. There was still movement inside.
“No matter how sophisticated a machine is, or how perfect a society or system seems… … as time passes, it becomes worn out and imperfect. In some ways, change is the closest word to perfection.”
“Hmm, I didn’t know you were a philosopher.”
“If you live for eighty years, you’ll learn a lot of things even if you don’t want to know them. Those who have lived through the ages will probably think of me as young… … Eighty is not a young age for a human being. It’s enough time to become well-versed in the ways of the world. Oh, and eat something now.”
As he spoke, Iskan took out a candy the size of a fingernail and put it in his mouth. It was a liver transplant containing the nutrients needed for the brain. He could survive the whole day by eating just one candy.
The energy sources of the whole body are various. Basically, the whole body has an artificial digestive system that converts the calories of food into electricity. In daily life, there is no need for separate charging as the electricity accumulated in the battery through food intake is enough.
However, the fastest way is to charge via external power.
Iskan would have recharged his entire body before the mission. If he could just supply his brain with proper nutrients, he could easily last for two weeks or a month.
But I am not a full-body prosthesis. Only my limbs are prosthetic, and the organ systems necessary for survival are still living.
Rustle.
I took out the liver transplant and opened the package. No matter how convenient the military liver transplant is, there must be a separate meal time. It also has to be digested, so the energy supply speed is also slow.
Iskan continued to watch over Bao Zakanaan’s house while I was eating. I felt the inferiority of my body for the first time in a while. It was a feeling I had never felt when I was with the cadets.
“Luka, even though we’ve been converted to full-body prosthetics, we still maintain our complex and cumbersome digestive system. It would be more useful to install another power source in its place. However, humans need to eat. No matter how much you turn your body into a machine, your brain is still human. You don’t have to be ashamed of eating.”
Iskan spoke as if he had read my mind. I thought I knew why he said that.
“Senior, you too have been embarrassed like me.”
“Because most of the emotions and thoughts you experience are ones I have already experienced.”
“But we must become soldiers before we become human beings. For soldiers, the simpler the energy supply process, the better.”
“That’s why the youth are happy. But those who say such things are quickly eaten by the Legion.”
Iskan said, his gaze fixed on Bao Zakanaan’s house.
The longer you use the Legion, the more your spirit breaks down. It was an open secret among the guards.
‘Eat by the Legion.’
I heard that from Haylas too. Grace’s words also came to mind.
Ugh, ugh.
I ate the bar-shaped liver transplant more quickly than usual. I thought I would feel bloated today.
“You’re going to get sick from eating like that, you punk.”
Iskan chuckled.
“Excuse me, can I ask you something?”
“Well, I don’t really have anything to do, so tell me. It seems like it’ll be boring.”
“Do you know a guard named Lowzen?”
Iskan tilted his head at first, but soon he opened his mouth as if he remembered.
“Ah, Lowzen, Lowzen. I remember that time. He was an irregular like you and me. That’s why I remember him. But how do you know Lowzen?”
“Someone I know is curious about Lowzen’s recent activities. If it’s not confidential, I’d like to let you know.”
Grace has been a great help to me in many ways.
“Well, he died. He was too sincere and didn’t have the personality to last long. A guard has to have a wicked spirit like you. Sometimes, you have to harbor the venom to the point where you feel like stabbing your superiors and all.”
“I didn’t know that the Royal Guard encouraged insubordination.”
“There is no need for someone so incompetent that they would be humiliated by their subordinates. That is one of the strengths of the Royal Guard. Unlike other units, there is no one who takes on important positions based solely on the glory of their family.”
I agree. It was the same during the training process for the guards. No matter how great a family you are, if you fall short of the standards, you won’t be able to endure.
‘Rozen is dead.’
I should let Grace know. She’ll want to know what’s going on, whether she’s alive or dead.
“… …Enough small talk, Luca. Get ready. Bao Zakanaan is on the move.”
Iskan’s eyes shone as if they were drawing in the surrounding light.
* * *
Bao Zakanaan finally showed signs of deviation.
In the distance, a black taxi was approaching the rooftop landing pad. At first, it was hard to see the black taxi, as if it was melting into the rainy night sky.
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Iskan noticed the black taxi before I did, took out several sticks from his bosom and assembled them. Judging by the outline, it was a sniper rifle.
Creak, creak.
Iskan fiddled with the assembled sniper rifle and loaded it with tracer bullets. He was so quick that it took less than ten seconds from assembly to loading. It would have taken me thirty seconds.
Keying.
Iskan braced his sniper rifle against his arm. He stared at the black taxi with the muzzle tilted obliquely. At first glance, it seemed motionless, but it was because he was aiming very precisely.
P- shoot!
A thin gunshot cut across the rainy night sky.
Beep.
There was a buzz from Iskan’s terminal. The tracker was properly attached to the black taxi and was working.
‘The security of the black taxi must be excellent, but… … .’
We are using the Guard’s tracking equipment. Black taxis are notorious, but they are at best private companies. They cannot detect and destroy our equipment.
The black taxi landed on the rooftop landing pad, seemingly undetected by the tracker.
OMG.
Iskan stared at the rooftop with shining eyes. His pupils were dilated to the point where they seemed to consume the entire white of his eye.
I could also vaguely see Bao Zakannan’s figure. Bao Zakannan got into the black taxi.
“We are moving too.”
Iskan jumped down the outer wall of the building as rain poured down. He slowed down by grabbing onto the protruding structures here and there.
“… … Sigh.”
The damn senior jumped down as if it was so obvious. I had no choice but to follow him.
I also grabbed the railing and jumped down. The surrounding scenery changed rapidly. It almost felt like I was free falling.
‘It’s dizzying.’
Honestly, if I were alone, I wouldn’t have made such a bold move. And as I said before, it’s raining right now!
If I slipped or made a mistake even a little, I would die instantly. My body parts are fragile. If I were to get pierced by a protruding rebar, I could die instantly.
Iskan, who had started before me, slowed down a bit and landed gently.
thud!
I barely managed to land and grabbed my knees. A sharp shock hit my scalp.
I stood up and stared at the floor where my footprints had been. I, who was much lighter, fell with more noise. I could see how skilled Iskan was at using the body.
How much more do I have to refine myself before I can keep up with them?
Deep down, I was confident in my abilities after my fight with Rick Silva Nunez. I felt like I could win against any of the guards.
But when I think about it, I had prepared my gear and even did simulation training for a fight with Rick Silva Nunez, so I was able to face it.
‘Assuming I fight another guard, if the odds are in my favor and I have luck, I should be able to win.’
However, the probability of defeat is higher. Just by looking at the landing motion, I could tell that Iskan’s class was higher than mine.
“You managed to keep up.”
Iskan looked at me and licked his lips. He seemed very amused.
“I hate losing.”
“I can tell you’re stubborn just by looking at your face. Anyway, we’re going to pursue on foot without a mount. You’ve learned adaptive cubic maneuvers, right?”
“I was second in the three-dimensional maneuver test.”
The chief at that time was Ilay.
“Okay, let’s get started.”
Iskan advanced as if testing me. He climbed up the single-story building, stepping from wall to wall. Soon, he began to move quickly, going from building to building.
Adaptive dimensional maneuvering is a maneuvering formula for navigating rough terrain such as urban areas, jungles, and rocky areas filled with irregular obstacles.
It is characterized by not simply running on rough terrain, but by using various facilities and environments to move at a faster speed than on flat ground. To do this, a strengthened nervous system like that of a guard is required.
Whirl!
I too followed Iskan and ran between the buildings, crossing the upper areas.
“Just follow the path I’ve laid out, Luca. It’s going to be tough on you, with the rain.”
Iskan said in front of a building.
Adaptive 3D maneuvering is important for recognizing terrain features in real time and finding the optimal path. Therefore, it is efficient for someone with excellent path-finding ability to take the lead and the rest to follow.
If it’s just chasing, it’s not difficult. Even an ordinary person without strengthened nervous system can do it if they have the physical ability to support it.
‘It’ll be a hassle for you.’
The words lingered in my mind. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get angry. But I’m on a mission right now. It’s not the time to be competitive.
“I will watch carefully and follow along.”
I spoke obediently, but my bad habit was taking over.
… … I wanted to show my abilities to Iskan, who was looking down at me for a long time.
