I stayed quietly in the hotel for a few days.
It was a luxurious facility. Even in a lawless area, people live together in a society. Naturally, there are classes and there are also luxury accommodations.
The name written at check-in was Karajam. It was written exactly as it was on the fake ID. While working in Banjar, Kim I-Hyun will be called Karajam.
And it was while I was eating breakfast.
"...It's a surprise."
Kim Yi-hyeon looked down at the bowl with a trembling face. He found some paper inside the bread he had torn with his hands. Instead of looking around, he calmly checked the note with his hands.
"PM 11:30, Alchata Textile Factory, Drug Trafficking Prevention. And a Good Meal."
"A good meal, really."
I put it in my head and swallowed it with my food. I guess I should tell him to contact me in a different way from now on.
'What if I eat it without even looking at it?'
Anyway, the instructions themselves were concise.
Stopping drug trafficking. It's something the police would do, but the means may be extreme. Echidna's goal is not to maintain law and order.
'It's probably something like trying to cut off the enemy organization's funding source.'
In the end, it's the mafia. There are no good groups in Banjar. Even if they do good things on the outside, their higher-ups are connected to criminal groups.
'Besides, it's becoming increasingly difficult for me to talk to others.'
I don't even remember the number of people I killed. Even if you think you are keeping good, the standards are relative. To some, you might seem like an outrageous villain.
What remains is understanding and loss.
What sets Echidna apart from a mere punk is that she has a vision. Their direction is also the same. That's why Kim Yi-hyun decided to stick under her.
Of course, that would require raising the stock price further.
'While we're at it, let's do it fancy.'
When he got the estimate, it seemed like preparations would be over in no time. With the brakes off, he had more than enough tools at his disposal.
* * *
PM 11:34.
"Okay, that's for sure."
Boohoo!
One man zipped up his bag, leaving six men standing in line. A middle-aged woman sighed as she watched him put the strap on his shoulder.
"Did you sit down and count all that again?"
"Okay, then. If even one sheet is missing, I'll be in trouble."
"Are you stupid? Okay, just give me the stuff."
"Yeah, yeah."
The woman received another bag from the man. She took a quick look inside and a smile appeared on her face.
This was her means of trade and her future.
"You don't have to check it?"
"What would I know? I can tell by looking at the color and smelling it."
"You'll know if you try it yourself."
"No problem. I grew up seeing those drug dealers. What do you mean?"
"Haha. I was just saying."
In the first place, the organization does not assign the job of transport to a drug dealer. She is a person of sound mind who knows how to be satisfied within a reasonable limit even if it means looking after her own interests. That is the reason why she is highly regarded.
"Well, I wasn't messing around, so don't worry."
It also takes effort to distribute it to the market. Even if the middleman takes a small margin, customers who buy in bulk and cleanly are precious. The interests of both parties are aligned.
The man clicked his tongue as he lit a cigarette.
"Ugh, we need to expand our business quickly. Why are we just hiding away and wasting time here?"
Nuova Era. They've always been the problem.
The guys absolutely hate drugs. It's the boss's nature. Not only do they thoroughly train their members, but they also keep a close eye on them to make sure no drugs are floating around their territory.
Even though growth has slowed down compared to before, Nuova Era's territory is still expanding little by little. As a result, the pies of other organizations are getting smaller...
"I don't know what the people above think."
"That bitch must have gotten some exercise. Her face is half-and-half─"
Beep beep beep!
A sudden electronic sound broke the silence of the night.
"What, what is it!"
The man pulled out a gun and shouted. He wasn't alone. The heads of the dozen or so people gathered in the factory turned almost simultaneously.
The sound was coming from a shelf in the corner.
"Hey, go check it out."
"Am I the one talking?"
"Then what should I do? Hurry up, kid!"
The young man who had been kicked in the buttocks approached the shelf hesitantly. It was not difficult to find the source, since the electronic sound was still continuing.
The footsteps stopped in front of a cardboard box.
For some reason, I had an ominous feeling. I felt like I shouldn't open it rashly. However, I couldn't just sit still because I felt eyes stabbing my back.
"Fuck, youngest, come in and see…."
The young man muttered and put the flashlight in his mouth. He took a folding knife out of his pocket and opened the box. White light poured in from above, illuminating the dark interior.
Beep, beep!
There was a frog-shaped toy there.
"...Ha, who would play such a prank."
The young man, whose tension had completely eased, let out a breath. His frowning eyes captured the specific appearance of the toy. It had a central display structure, like a character alarm clock.
The number displayed is 15. It decreases by 1 every second.
"Was there anything?"
"It was nothing special. I guess some kid just stopped by."
He picked up the toy, and a thin string came out.
"응?"
The string was led into the box.
Upon closer inspection, the height of the box and the floor did not match. The inside of the box was shallow. The field of vision was limited, so I couldn't see it clearly, but there was a board stuck in the middle.
The moment the plank was lifted, the young man's mouth dropped open.
A cylindrical stick wrapped in bright red paper. A wick sticking out of the center of the bundle, tightly tied with string. It is tied with a knot to the string that hangs the toy.
"All, all, diner…!"
The young man was so startled that he fell backwards.
Half-consciously, his eyes rolled back. The number on the toy. The number that had dropped to 2 at some point changed back to 1.
and.
Beep!
It was the last sound he ever heard in his life.
* * *
The difference between 3 stars and 4 stars in Polaris is quite large.
The decisive difference is the means of acquisition. Whether it's an agent or a special weapon, if it's up to 3 stars, you can obtain it through content in addition to drawing. In other words, it's a non-paying area.
From 4 stars onwards, the acquisition path is limited.
Except for events or monthly mileage distribution, it is always a draw. Although it is not to the extent that non-paying users cannot touch it, usually the goods are used to hire agents.
Equipment draws are known to be exclusive to paying users.
but....
'Once you taste it, you can't escape.'
Only those who have tried it out will know. Of course, it may not be essential. You often hear people say, "You can beat it even without high-grade equipment," but if you turn it around, it means this.
'It's easier to break if you have it.'
As the level goes up, not only does the variety increase, but performance also improves significantly. There are many 4-star equipment with excellent performance, even without going all the way to 6-star.
[Dynamite] and [Alarmbot] are examples.
─Kwaaaaang!
"휘유."
Kim I-hyeon, with his hat pulled down low, whistled. The sight of the entire factory blowing away was a sight that was hard to see even once in a lifetime.
* * *
Fortunately, Kim Hyun-hyun became a member of Nuova Era. A position far higher than that of a mere member of the organization. Instead of having direct subordinates, he was granted the right to have a private conversation with Echidna.
I heard there was some noise within the organization, but it wasn't Alba.
'I'll figure it out.'
Kim Ihyeon had two main reasons for coming to Banjar.
The first is the accumulation of experience. Although I have fought in various places here and there, my career is still short. I absolutely lack experience. Not only in combat, but also in overall operations.
Secondly, there are items that must be taken care of. This is a goal that cannot be achieved in Timorta. It was a preliminary stage for going further in.
Rumors were rife on the streets.
"They say a crazy guy came into Nuova Era."
"Hey, even so, aren't you a third-rate mafia with women as your heads?"
"Shh, shh! You're going to be in big trouble…!"
"Brother, don't make a fuss. I'm from Trapani too, and I know that if the real punks saw that, they'd laugh. The sight of the city thugs walking around with their shoulders hunched over..."
"Oh, oh oh oh!"
A bike rushed in front of the young man who was showing off. The two of them jumped back to the sides in shock. Soon, the bike passed by the young man's spot.
"Ouch, oh my. What the fuck…."
Hit-and-runs are common in Timorta. It could have been a coincidence. But the young man couldn't help but reflect on his own behavior of badmouthing Nuova Era.
influence.
The key was influence. There was no single, large force dominating the city, and various groups were running wild. If one of them started to stand out, it would naturally attract attention.
The newcomer who recently joined Nuova Era was carrying fear and caution all at once. At the same time, he was also the main culprit who caused Echidna a headache.
"Oh, you crazy kid. What are you? Is your hobby like setting off bombs?"
"No way. I'm not some pervert."
"But why do you keep doing this…!"
"Because it's comfortable?"
"I'm uncomfortable! Do you know how difficult it is to clean up an explosion scene?"
Kim Lee-hyun tilted his head.
"You're not going to do it."
"Instead, give orders. All the complaints come to me."
"Were you the type who lives by being held captive by your subordinates?"
"All the complaints coming from below can be shut up. But this world, fucking as it is, isn't made up of only top and bottom."
Echidna swept her bangs hysterically.
"There's a kind of unwritten rule. If you and I were to lay mines and throw grenades at each other over trivial disputes, what would the city look like? It's not like it's a battlefield."
"hmm."
"If you understand, then say it clearly."
"I understand."
Even as he said that, he showed no sign of reflection. This attitude was the problem. No matter how outstanding one's abilities are, they are meaningless if they cannot be controlled.
Should I throw it away? That was when Echidna's eyes grew cold.
"When did you say you were coming here?"
"It's been about 3 years. Why is that?"
"Three years is quite a long time."
"What are you trying to say?"
"No, it seems I still didn't know the direction of the organization."
Kim Lee-hyun added casually.
"Are you saying that the current condition is just right?"
"what?"
"One of the relatively large powers in Timorta. A stable life like before, collecting rent, doing odd jobs, and running a hotel. It's comfortable and good."
It wasn't meant to be a derogatory tone. The expression 'one of the relatively large forces' was also accurate. He has been increasing his wallet in the way he said and is living without any lack.
Even though it was just the truth, Echidna frowned without realizing it. 3 years. She had grown up quickly, but last year wasn't much different from now.
Before we knew it, the organization had become stagnant.
"I'm sorry if I went off topic. I'll exercise self-restraint in the future."
"...No. No, some degree of self-control is necessary."
He presses the space between his eyebrows and lets out a huge sigh.
"Okay, I'll go now."
"What's next?"
"There isn't any yet, so rest comfortably. Don't cause trouble in strange places."
When Kim I-hyeon left, Echidna was left alone.
She sat down on the chair and looked around the room with her eyes.
The penthouse where I usually live. It has a sophisticated interior that is rare to see in Timorta. The display case is filled with high-quality wines that are hard to get.
I could confidently say that I had succeeded. However, it was far from my original goal.
"Yeah, if I was going to be satisfied with this, I wouldn't have come here in the first place."
She recalled her original intention. She wasn't out of her mind because she had been criticized by a man she had only known for a short time. She was already feeling dissatisfied with her current situation.
Even in lawless areas, there is some kind of order.
Power balance between forces. You can kick away the ladder to prevent a latecomer from growing, but it is difficult to hit a force that has already grown. Cartels are naturally formed.
"I thought you were a bunch of corrupt bastards with no desire to improve. But that's what happened to me."
Echidna twisted her temple with her index finger. A habit that came out when she was deep in thought. It was a routine she was aware of.
And I realized that it had been a long time since I'd seen this.
It is proof that I have been living comfortably and thoughtlessly. It was like that even when I first met Karajam. This is not the case. There are still many stairs to climb before I can stop.
"Okay, what should we do?"
Karajam literally detonated a bomb. The organizations that were already dissatisfied with Nuova Era will start to resent it.
What they want is a 'sincere attitude'.
By cooperating with the cartel, monopolizing Timorta's interests without encroaching on each other's territories, without being greedy, and while maintaining a similar weight class among members.
'It can be learned.'
If you kick out Karajam, that's it. It's just a matter of deciding how to treat one person. Even if it's not a big action, the fact that you're sending a gesture of reconciliation is important.
'But, why bother?'
We need to raise our sights a little higher. Even if they are powerful figures in Timorta, they are seen from the outside as rural mafia. There is no reason to bend down and join.
And one more thing.
'Even though he's a bit rude, he's my family now.'
It's too good to throw away.