Tap, tap.
A station employee wearing plastic goggles tapped away at a keypad. After a moment, he glanced alternately between Kim Ihyeon's face and his device, his eyes crusted with sleep.
"Kim Ihyeon, fourth-tier citizen. You look better in person than in your photo."
"I was in a rough state when that was taken."
"When it was taken…? The issue date is today."
"I just arrived in Kilicia today."
"Huh. Why not go sightseeing, then?"
The station employee looked at Kim Ihyeon as if he were some sort of rare creature. He adjusted the nose pads on his goggles and spoke again.
"Kilicia is full of entertainment. You'll lose track of time. Most locals complain about their hometowns having nothing, but not here."
He looked up at the enclosed ceiling.
"Men and women of all skin colors, a variety of drinks and foods. Something new comes in every day. Just when you think you're getting bored, something fresh shows up. And every year, new rookies flood the League, so it's hard to get tired of it."
"You don't seem to enjoy being a station worker, though."
"Good observation. I hate the underground. If my wallet were fatter, I wouldn't be down here."
"So, do I."
Kim Ihyeon's response left the station employee momentarily stunned before he burst into laughter.
"Haha. Money's the root of all evil. Still, no matter how badly you need quick cash, coming to the underground on your first day is rare. Most people would aim to become League players."
"Is this an interrogation?"
"Ah, sorry if it came off that way."
The station worker scratched his shaggy head.
"You see, working down here messes with your mind. Bounty hunters are especially strange. I don't like talking to those who are already too far gone, so I like chatting with fresh faces like you."
The chatty station worker continued to talk while operating his device. Despite his unprofessional demeanor, he seemed proficient at his job.
Kim Ihyeon decided to engage with him. He would be frequenting Metrocity for a while, so building rapport couldn't hurt.
"I don't like flashy jobs like competing. And I have no desire to do mercenary work."
"Haha, popular athletes have no privacy. Just going to a club can spark a scandal, so I can see why you'd be annoyed."
Beep, beep.
The device beeped. The station worker handed Kim Ihyeon a pen and a device to sign.
Kim Ihyeon quickly skimmed through and signed without hesitation.
There was no need for a thorough read. If any casualties occurred during operations, he would bear the responsibility. The authorities were not obligated to ensure his safety…
It was all standard fare.
"Registration is complete. Normally, I'd send some data to your device… Do you have one?"
"No."
Kilicia's version of a smartphone, it synced with the bracelet ID issued at entry and also functioned as a phone.
Of course, he didn't have one.
"If you can, get one soon. Any specific job you're looking for?"
"Something without a long wait."
"Let's see… Ah, here we go. There's a cargo escort job in two hours. It might be uneventful, but it's perfect for a first job."
Bounty hunters do more than just hunt outlaws. More often than not, they do odd jobs.
In fact, escort jobs for corporations usually pay better and are safer than hunting outlaws.
Freelancers like Kim Ihyeon usually get jobs from station workers, while some get scouted by security companies or PMCs.
No need to think about that now. He was just a newbie who arrived in Kilicia today.
"I'll take it."
Right now, results were what mattered.
* * *
Clang, clang.
A railcar loaded with wooden crates clattered along the tracks.
The tunnel stretched endlessly. The further they went, the harder it was to see far ahead. The lights grew sparser as they moved away from the city center.
Most of Kilicia's underground rail stations were used solely for transporting goods. Metrocity was the only place developed as vibrantly as the downtown.
Compared to the surface, it was dark and damp. This was the workplace of bounty hunters.
'This suits me better.'
A city where countless people strolled under neon lights. Though there were familiar Asians, they were a minority.
Walking those streets felt alien, like he was being swept away by currents in a distant land.
'Maybe this is a form of social anxiety. Now I understand why Asterike was so panicked earlier.'
The humid air underground was much preferable to the overwhelming scents of mixed perfumes. The tranquility provided comfort.
But not everyone felt the same.
"Damn, why does this old railcar shake so much? And it's slow as hell."
The man sitting in front of the wooden crates grumbled.
There were three bounty hunters, including Kim Ihyeon, in the cargo compartment.
"Doesn't this bother you guys?"
"I don't care about the ride, but this nail gun… I'm not confident with it. I've barely used it."
A young white man clicked his tongue, spinning the nail gun in his hands. It was issued by the 'team leader' for the escort job.
The team leader managed the bounty hunters and was either dispatched by the contracting company or pre-arranged with freelancers.
This team leader showed no signs of enforcing discipline. After briefing them, he chewed gum in the control cabin.
Seeing the leader's behavior, the bounty hunters began chatting among themselves.
"This nail gun is supposed to be the standard issue, right? I once broke one by accident and they charged me 150,000 credits for it."
"150,000? That's harsh. Your whole day's pay gone, huh?"
"Yeah, I went unpaid that day. I can't say which company, but they were being unreasonable. If it's such an expensive item, why not give us real guns? Right?"
"There's a lot of talk about that. Sometimes it feels like they're purposely leaving outlaws unchecked. What do you think?"
Suddenly, all eyes were on Kim Ihyeon.
"Now that I think about it, I haven't seen you before."
"Yeah. Are you new?"
Kim Ihyeon sighed inwardly. He had been silent to avoid attention, yet here he was.
"Yes, I am."
"Why'd you come underground?"
"Obviously for the money. We're all in the same boat. What's your name? Ever seen outlaws before? Is this your first job?"
A barrage of questions came from one particularly talkative man.
He didn't even wait for answers.
"I'm not that experienced, but as your senior, here's some advice. When you see outlaws, just shoot them. Don't think of them as people like you. That'll get you killed."
"True. They're criminals, after all."
"Some fools act all scholarly, saying outlaws are a necessary evil and that we owe them for our livelihoods. It's all bullshit. Guards don't thank criminals."
Kim Ihyeon silently nodded.
They weren't wrong. But the world didn't run on right and wrong alone.
Outlaws, bounty hunters.
Security companies, Metrocity.
This was business in Kilicia, regardless of morality.
Clang, clang!
The railcar continued to jolt.
The chatter didn't stop. Seeing Kim Ihyeon's lukewarm reaction, the two continued their conversation.
'All small jobs are like this, I guess.'
There was no air of solemnity. This was a simple task—just transporting some crates. They weren't even going into a danger zone.
A newbie like him being included meant it wasn't a serious job. The others weren't veterans either.
'If nothing happens, it's easy money.'
Just a short ride for a day's pay. The promised payment was 200,000. The others seemed reasonably satisfied.
They likely earned that much regularly. Even if they doubted the nail gun, it was enough for dealing with a couple of thugs.
Again, it was an easy job.
Assuming nothing happened.
Bounty hunter pay included hazard pay. Even for simple tasks like transporting a few crates.
"…This is quite far."
Kim Ihyeon was the first to notice. He mapped Kilicia's underground routes in his mind. He had been briefed on the destination before departing.
It was close on the map. Yet, they had been traveling for about an hour.
"Pardon?"
"The distance shouldn't be this long."
"What are you talking about?"
The young man looked around and chuckled.
"First-timer jitters, huh? Everyone feels that way. The slow, bumpy ride makes an hour feel like several."
"It's been about an hour. We're running late. We should arrive after this tunnel."
"The underground's a maze outside Metrocity. Let's ask the leader."
Just as the young man stood up.
Screech!
A harsh screeching sound erupted.
Sparks flew from the rails. The sudden stop caused the young man to fall on his backside.
"Ouch! What the hell?"
"You can't stop like that suddenly!"
The two bounty hunters struggled to steady themselves, shouting angrily.
In contrast, Kim Ihyeon crouched low, ready for the impact. His finger hovered over the nail gun's trigger.
He heard a faint, sharp sound from a distance. The tunnel lights were shattering one by one.
Their vision quickly narrowed.
The remaining lights were the railcar's headlights and a few nearby bulbs.
Shadows emerged from the darkness.
Figures in drab gray clothes stepped out from behind the columns lining the tracks.
"Outlaws?"
"Where did these bastards come from…?"
Their faces drained of color within seconds. They
frantically swiveled their heads, clutching their nail guns with both hands.
Their focus was solely on the attackers. Meanwhile, Kim Ihyeon was more wary of the front of the vehicle than the outlaws.
Clack.
Suddenly, the headlights went out. Their main source of light vanished.
The control cabin door opened, and the team leader walked out confidently.
He raised his nail gun, not at the outlaws surrounding the vehicle, but at the bounty hunters in the cargo compartment.
"Kneel. Drop your weapons…"
His command was cut off. The team leader hadn't expected someone to act first.
Kim Ihyeon had already aimed at the leader's head.
"Hmm. I thought I was the only one who cared."
Despite the team leader's words, Kim Ihyeon remained unfazed, keeping his nail gun ready.
He positioned himself using the vehicle's railing, minimizing exposure to the outlaws.
"So, what's your next move?"
The team leader smirked confidently.
"Even without me, there are seven more of them. All you've got are two complainers. Do you think you can walk away unscathed?"
Unfazed, the leader pointed his nail gun back at Kim Ihyeon. Kim Ihyeon didn't stop him.
That was his answer.
"You think I won't kill you?"
"I don't care about you."
Kim Ihyeon considered his options. His conclusion came quickly. He lowered his nail gun.
"A wise choice."
Naturally, the team leader assumed Kim Ihyeon had surrendered, seeing no chance of winning.
He wasn't entirely wrong.
Shooting the leader would mean risking his life. Even with his skills, it wouldn't turn the tide.
The outlaws' skills were unknown. Their weapons were unconfirmed. The claim of seven might be a bluff.
Survival chances were low. But there was another reason.
'I saw it clearly.'
The leader's sleeve revealed a tattoo on his wrist. A rare white tattoo.
Kim Ihyeon recognized it.
'Could it be linked to that story?'
Unknowingly, he might have been drawn into a grand scheme.
He faintly heard the sound of gears turning in his head.