Chương 44: Chapter 44: Echoes in the Dark I

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Chapter 44: Echoes in the Dark I

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"I've decided to take the gig," Said X.

"Oh my, that's good news. Still doesn't explain why you're here," Wakako wasn't surprised, merely confused, "I've already given you the shard. Need something else?"

"The shard isn't enough. I need more, something about Militech that could give me a headstart," X stated, "Otherwise, making any progress would just be a pipe dream."

"Hmm, why do I have this feeling that you're confident you can complete the gig," Wakako was curious, leaning forward as she clasped her hands together, scrutinizing X.

"I have some ideas, just need a little push," X shrugged, not giving out any hints.

Wakako's eyes flashed blue as she sent out an order to her Netrunners, "Had you not shown your value by making the clinic what it is, it wouldn't have considered this, but you are indeed deserving of a little push."

"I'm honored you think of me so highly, lady Wakako," X let out a faint smile.

"Your clinic has quickly monopolized the field in Japantown. You've performed way above my expectations, whether it is by luck or skill... So, well done," Wakako gracefully complimented him.

"Skill, mostly by skill," X corrected her. Relying on luck isn't within his vocabulary.

"Oh? Indeed, you do not, so please solve my doubt," Wakaka smiled, her eyes fixing upon X like a snake that glimpsed its prey, "Why are you so lucky?"

"Lucky? I'm not sure I understand your question," X raised a brow, truly surprised by the question, "Mind clarifying."

"Fingers is dead. Every other Ripperdoc in Japantown has had accidents that either interrupted their work or sank their reputation,"

"I investigated the incidents, and they seem to have something with a rising gang named Little Monsters. Mr. M is your alias on the Net. The individual behind the Little Monsters is called Monster."

"I hope you can see where the confusion came from... Do you have any association with the Monster, and did you in any way contribute to the said incidents?"

Wakako leaned further forward, her piercing eyes scanning X for any signs of deception or hesitation.

"Monster? The serial killer?" X blinked twice, asking with uncertainty.

"I believe so, his targets happened to coincide with Little Monsters' 'enemies', but still didn't answer my question," Wakako stated.

"The only one I contributed to was Fingers. I fixed one of his patients, a patient he messed up, thus revenge," X frowned as he responded, stroking his chin in deep thought.

"But you suspect someone," Wakako pointed after analyzing X's expression.

It was by that point that a lady entered the shop and placed a shard in front of X.

"It's complicated. I will look into it, and investigate the Little Monsters, but I certainly do not have anything to do with them," X shook his head as he picked up the shard.

"Very well," If Wakako doubted him, she didn't show it as she added, "The shard has information that my people managed to scratch off Militech's Data fortress. See if it can be of any use to you."

"Thank you," X nodded and stood up, "The gig will take time, a long time, months to a couple of years, so don't expect the good news anytime soon."

Wakako merely nodded and watched him leave, soon turning her attention to the Netrunner beside her, "What're the results?"

"The scans showed no signs of deceit," The Netrunner responded.

"I see," Wakoko gently and repeatedly tapped the table, seeming in deep thought before instructing, "Keep an eye on him."

X stepped outside, getting a breath of freshly polluted air, his eyes eerily void of emotions, just tracing his eyes around.

X's vision coincided with two special individuals heading his way, or likely, heading to Wakako's office.

The individuals were a man and a woman, the former looking especially notable, a young man with light brown eyes and dark brown hair that he modeled in a quaffed hairstyle, with the sides shaved.

He sported a yellow EMT jacket over a black t-shirt, two golden chain necklaces, gray cropped sweatpants with two yellow straps on the sides, and white tennis shoes with blue straps.

Most importantly, he has quite the heavy build, which X's eyes clearly noted to be a result of cyberware, a lot of cyberware, more than X has ever seen in a single person.

His practiced eyes allowed him to catalog each piece of cyberware almost instantly.

The arms stood out first; heavy-duty Gorilla Arms rigged with a Projectile Launch System.

His legs bore Fortified Ankles, giving him stability and explosive speed, which paired well with the Linear Frame that reinforced his entire skeletal structure.

The optics were unmistakable; dual Kiroshi Cyberoptics, engineered to detect weaknesses, map heat signatures, and process data overlays at a glance.

There seem to be many more signs of cyberware, hidden beneath his exterior synthetic flesh.

The lady beside him was... She was gorgeous, a young woman of slender build with light skin.

She has white hair and red-purple eyes, complimented with red lip makeup.

Her hair is cut in a split bob; with her left side left longer, and dyed with a colorful pastel rainbow gradient. Her eyes appear to reflect with the colors of her hair.

"David," The girl questioned with puzzlement, turning her eyes to the man beside her in reaction to his hand falling on her shoulder and stopping her from moving.

The man named David had a serious look on his face, pulling the girl back a bit as he eyed X, "Danger."

The girl instantly had her guard up, yet strangely, X's eyes had left them, now looking into the void, the side of the street where no one stood, "Him?" The girl was surprised.

Her surprise is warranted because a simple scan would show that X exhibits little to no signs of cyberware.

"Maybe I read it wrong," David frowned, though catching a glimpse of X's eyes made him realize why he felt such a threat.

X's eyes were... They were that of a cold killing machine with a purpose for slaughter.

Indeed, X paid them no heed, having only eyed them for no more than a second.

Now, his vision was on the corner of the street. There, he walked into the darkness, and asked seemingly no one, "Explain yourself."

[Is this truly the place to have the conversation?] Y questioned, standing right by X's side, though Z was nowhere to be seen.

X stayed silent, soon turning around and walking away, making his way home.

He couldn't help but rub his head on the way, feeling a headache, no, a war rising in his head.

X was disoriented, certainly not in the right state of mind, especially as he started noticing memories that he didn't have before.

'M. Monster. M. Monster. M. Monster. M. Monster...' X repeated in his mind endlessly, questioning how he didn't realize it before, and making sure he didn't forget again.