*

Sarah hurriedly took Doby out of Anima and connected life-support devices to his mouth and nose.

Click.

It was done in an instant, resembling a gas mask. Sarah, who had been waiting for this, lifted Doby in her arms.

“Did Allen’s men invade?”

“That is unknown.”

The response was as curt as ever. Even if Sarah had noticed something, Ga-on knew she couldn’t reveal it.

In truth, it was a question that didn’t need asking. The process was just not refined. It was an attack with a strong self-assertion, as if wanting to leave a trace.

“Do they want to claim later that they’re unrelated?”

Suddenly, a stray bullet hit Anima. It was clear who the target was. It was evidence that the group attacking the mansion was getting closer. There was no time to waste.

Ga-on wasn’t the only one who made this judgment. Sarah did too.

“I heard you are a fixer, Mr. Ga-on. Judging by your past actions, I believe you are friendly towards Master Doby.”

“That’s true.”

As soon as he answered, numbers appeared on his retina.

[243,780,000 Pia]

Ga-on, who realized this was Sarah’s balance through close-range communication, widened his eyes. He had a sense of what she was going to say.

“This is my entire fortune, saved while serving Master Doby. I am requesting your services. Please save the young master.”

*

As Ga-on stepped out of the room, a faint scent of blood brushed past his nose. The gunfire that had been ringing out until just moments ago was starting to subside, pointing to only one conclusion.

“Did the guards get hit?”

Additionally, the androids were nowhere to be seen. There were no allies. Holding out using the mansion as a shield would be the best option, but the opponents were professionals. Moreover, there was someone here who needed protection, someone whose consciousness was unclear.

Changing the stage was a given.

“Miss Siri.”

“Siri? My name is Sarah, though.”

“Anyway, you said there’s a van in the underground parking, right?”

“Yes, they probably haven’t noticed it yet.”

With all functions in the mansion shut down and even the emergency generator not working, they had to descend via the stairs. Following Sarah, who was quickly running while carrying Doby, Ga-on spoke.

“Where is it?”

“There it is.”

As Sarah pointed in one direction with her index finger, the headlights of a parked vehicle flashed. It was a familiar shape.

A multi-purpose van announced by the mega-corp R&C, which manufactures anything that moves—

“Railly Pro.”

Zero to sixty in just 1.3 seconds. The built-in battery pack guaranteed a range of 10,000 kilometers.

However, even considering it was a van, it seemed unusually large. To put it simply, it wasn’t in its original form when it was released.

“Did you modify it?”

“We don’t have the leisure to admire it.”

Sarah, who had securely fastened Doby in the back seat, naturally climbed into the passenger seat. Ga-on, who followed her into the driver’s seat, stepped on the accelerator without even fastening his seatbelt.

Screech.

Getting out of the mansion as quickly as possible was the priority. He smashed through the parking barrier blocking the way. Though startled groups appeared here and there, the van had already accelerated.

Crash.

It pushed through the main gate and entered the road. Though the sound of bullets hitting the reinforced body was heard from behind, it was too much to cause damage.

Having confirmed the van’s durability, Ga-on drove more aggressively.

Reporting to the police or expecting reinforcements was not an option. Sarah couldn’t even counterattack.

Relying on the autonomous driving mode was impossible. Not only could it not exceed the speed limit, but the concept of reckless driving wasn’t even programmed into it.

What was needed now was pure skill.

Sarah, checking the vehicles visible in the side mirrors, spoke.

“There is a safe house registered under a different name in Zone 36. If we get there, we can shake off the pursuers.”

“Indeed, Siri.”

“Let’s stop with the incomprehensible talk.”

Ga-on was already familiar with the terrain of Zone 43. The nearby mansions had vague boundaries, thinking that guards and police would keep intruders out.

Naturally, there were places without any walls. Designs that didn’t assume the presence of uninvited guests.

It wasn’t a wrong thought.

If only it weren’t for a day like today.

“Hold tight.”

Crash!

Veering off the road, they cut through the garden of an unknown mansion. As long as there was space for the four wheels, they forced the vehicle through.

The van shook up and down as if driving off-road, but the speed didn’t drop at all.

Centuries of accumulated experience made it possible.

Among living humans, very few could match Ga-on.

That’s why there was bound to be doubt.

Despite having passed through several properties, the number of pursuing vehicles wasn’t decreasing. Moreover, it felt like they were being herded into a corner.

There was only one situation to assume.

“We’re caught.”

“What do you mean?”

It was Allen who had been waiting for this day. The cards in his hand would match his obsession.

“The safe house in Zone 36, it seems they’ve found it.”

Sarah, realizing the movements of the trailing vehicles, let out a sigh.

“I’d like to deny it, but denying won’t solve the problem.”

“Is there nowhere else?”

“Going directly to the main house or the company is one option, but…”

“Without the chairman, it’s useless.”

And they couldn’t keep running forever. Even if they managed to shake them off smoothly—

“If Allen reports to the police, it’ll be hard to escape the accusation of kidnapping Doby.”

In that case, official and legal punishment would be possible. Using the colony’s manpower, no less.

“It can’t be helped.”

Ga-on sharply turned the steering wheel. Entering the colony was a suicidal act. In that case, they had no choice but to head outside.

Yes, towards the vast red soil beyond the Seed Colony.

But there was a concern.

“We have to pass through the checkpoint, is that okay?”

“It’s a corporate vehicle owned by Maximum Noise. Naturally, it’s a free pass.”

“Not a mega-corp, but still a big company, huh.”

Even while talking, the leeches persistently clung on.

Despite the speedometer needle pointing at its limit, the distance was narrowing every moment.

An inherent limitation of a van.

Yet, the delicate standoff continued.

Just until they left the Seed Colony.

The forest of buildings that had surrounded them disappeared, and an endless road unfolded.

All that was visible was red soil tinged with iron oxide.

A perfect no-man’s land.

As soon as the traces of civilization vanished, a chilling sound rained down. With the downpour of bullets, Sarah cast her gaze at Ga-on. The opponent’s offensive was becoming more intense. It was clear that there would come a point where the van couldn’t hold out.

“Can we reach another colony?”

“We don’t even need to go that far. What I want is a place, a place with no one watching.”

“What do you mean…”

Sarah couldn’t finish her sentence. A foreboding scene was reflected in the side mirror.

Though it was just a man sticking his upper body out of a pursuing vehicle, she was overwhelmed by an unusual sense of crisis.

The weapon the man had on his shoulder was a portable anti-tank weapon.

Seeing such a thing, which would typically be used on a battlefield, Ga-on couldn’t just sit back.

“Grab the wheel.”

“W-Wait a minute…”

Leaving the bewildered Sarah behind, Ga-on opened the window and climbed onto the van’s roof, spinning like a top.

With three steps, he generated centrifugal force. The roof shrieked as it dented under the fierce inertia.

The blade caught between his fingers left Ga-on’s hand almost simultaneously with the sound of a shot.

Crash!

The projectile, struck by the folding knife, exploded mid-air without reaching its target.

The explosion and the shockwave that followed shook the surroundings.

Though the van, unable to escape the range, jolted slightly late, it was within expectations.

Sarah, who had witnessed the series of events, exclaimed in astonishment.

“What…”

To shoot down an incoming projectile head-on was an unheard-of skill. But before she could savor the extraordinariness, she had to hit the brakes.

A group that had been waiting in advance blocked the road.

What should they do?

As she hesitated, Ga-on, having descended from the roof, earnestly requested.

“Don’t come out until I say it’s okay.”

*

The sudden chase ended in an open field where the Seed Colony was just a dot in the distance. Only dry wind blew.

The group that had chased them from the mansion naturally surrounded the van.

Despite being overwhelmingly outnumbered, Ga-on showed no signs of tension and merely sighed deeply.

“Who is it? Who’s in charge here?”

A man with his hair slicked back with pomade stepped forward. Though his appearance was neat, what caught Ga-on’s attention was his leg. A prosthetic leg made of metal was visible through the hem of his pants.

Moreover, the frame was that of a beast, not a human.

Perhaps because he wasn’t wearing shoes, it seemed to shine exceptionally.

“Sprinter, Norman Sanders. As you can see, I’m handling a request.”

“I see.”

“You’re not surprised.”

“Should I be?”

Not all fixers operating in the Seed Colony knew each other’s faces. The number alone reached thousands, tens of thousands.

But those with abilities exceptional enough to earn a nickname were always noticed.

Norman was one of them.

‘Sprinter’ was a name known to everyone. Moreover, he had recently come into prominence. If one was sensitive to rumors, they couldn’t help but know.

Yet, the fact that someone was unaware meant they were a newcomer from somewhere.

“A rookie, huh.”

Still, he seemed to have some sense. As soon as he was cornered, he boldly revealed himself. It was a clear sign of surrender.

As a senior, he could afford to show some generosity.

“You might not know, but this is already a matter handled by Maximum Noise. Chairman Colin has approved it.”

“Are you saying he’s bent on killing his own child? You don’t expect me to believe that, do you?”

“That’s beyond my concern. I just work for the amount I’m paid.”

It seemed Maximum Noise had fallen into Allen’s hands. Most likely, Allen knew Colin’s whereabouts too.

It was an intriguing topic, so Ga-on listened intently, but Norman, as if unwilling to say more, changed the subject.

“Seeing you come out in person, you must be willing to negotiate. I’ll give you three times whatever you’re being paid. How about it? It’s better than making things complicated.”

But unfortunately, Ga-on stood before them to put an end to things.

Therefore, his words were far from kind.

“Why is there no option for you guys to back off?”