*

“Yeah, I figured someone like you would come along. In fact, it would be troublesome if you didn’t show up.”

“You know who I am?”

“Either a broker or someone in a related field, right? It wouldn’t be bad if it turns out you’re an acquaintance of Sprinter.”

“If I really had a grudge against you, you might want to hold back on those words.”

“Why?”

“Because I’d exploit any weakness.”

“That’s why I said it wouldn’t be bad. I can take every penny from you fair and square.”

The middle-aged man chuckled at the audacity. He approached out of curiosity about who dealt with Sprinter, but he didn’t expect this kind of personality.

Well, achieving something at a young age might give one confidence, but to him, it seemed immature.

Wandering the streets at night without knowing where to go was proof enough.

“Living in your own world, huh? Well, your origins are quite mysterious. Like you just dropped from the sky. Maybe that’s why you can charge forward without looking back.”

Unfortunately, even Ga-on didn’t know much about that. If Thomas were alive, he might have heard a summary—

“Do I need to prove that to you?”

“Who knows? People in the industry have their theories about you. Some even say you’re a figure prepared by Maximum Noise. They speculate that your fight with Sprinter might just be part of image-making.”

“So, I’m just a figurehead.”

It wasn’t uncommon. Creating a fixer to suit one’s needs was more efficient than finding one. Especially when dealing with corporate secrets.

Without knowing the details, one might easily be mistaken.

“There’s no effect without a cause.”

“Exactly.”

No matter how exceptional one’s talent, it didn’t make sense for an unknown to eliminate a seasoned fixer.

“Looks like it’s your first time with cybernetic surgery. You don’t have the distinct scent of genetic modification. Are you hiding it? Well, these days, deodorants are quite advanced. It must be tough for someone like you to live a normal life.”

“Let’s stop there.”

At Ga-on’s warning, the middle-aged man retracted his tongue.

“Anyway, if you’re going to be in this industry, you’ll need a broker. But those at your level have high standards. You never know how much verification you’ll have to go through to win their favor.”

He was right.

Publicly, Ga-on was just a rookie who had just stepped into the world. He was in a thoroughly subordinate position.

Therefore, he had to prove himself.

Endure the tedious process repeatedly.

“But I’m different. If you agree, I’ll employ you right away.”

“You’re volunteering to be a benefactor? I thought all the kind brokers were long gone.”

“I pride myself on living quite earnestly.”

“From the moment you approached, your true intentions were bound to be questioned.”

Ga-on’s gaze turned cold at that moment.

“And you’re missing the most important thing.”

“Care to enlighten me?”

“Your ability. An unknown broker in this area is synonymous with a promising con artist, isn’t it?”

It was an unexpected test, but the middle-aged man answered without hesitation.

“Can’t you tell from the fact that the Pier Gang quietly backed down? Not just anyone can do that.”

“So, you’re not just full of hot air.”

Though they couldn’t hide the fact that Sprinter was dead, Collen managed to keep who killed him under wraps.

Identifying Baek Ga-on meant he had his own information network.

As he confidently claimed, he seemed capable of securing a reliable commission.

His proactive approach in seeking out talent was a plus. It showed he was willing to go the extra mile to recruit capable individuals.

It’s human nature to want to work with competent people.

Especially considering the original ‘purpose,’ there couldn’t be a better choice.

“Fixer, Baek Ga-on. As you guessed, I haven’t been here long.”

“Finally accepting my greeting. I’m Fernandez Peroma. I connect various commissions to fixers.”

“Then, Mr. Pepe.”

“Pepe? Didn’t I introduce myself? My name is…”

Fernandez tried to protest, but Ga-on continued as if it didn’t matter.

“More importantly, I’d like you to introduce me to a nearby gun shop. Preferably one where I can get a discount under your name. I’m a bit short on cash.”

“What on earth…”

“Then lead the way. I’m curious about how good our broker’s connections are.”

Though it was only a verbal agreement, Ga-on acted as if he was already in charge.

Fernandez couldn’t help but worry if he had chosen the wrong person.

*

Humanity’s expansion to Mars marked a significant growth. As if to vent the frustrations of being confined to a frigid land.

The population exploded like ink spreading in clean water.

The history of the Seed Colony was one of expansion.

Areas that once remained in single digits had now grown to the 40s. The radially spread infrastructure vividly showcased its prosperity.

However, rapid development didn’t come without drawbacks.

Where there’s light, there’s shadow.

As things changed rapidly, some places had to alter their initial plans. What was once optimal design became outdated due to swift changes, missing the chance for maintenance.

The 38th district, where Ga-on arrived, was one such place hit by the backlash. Originally intended as an industrial complex, it was repurposed for residential use to cope with the population surge.

Moreover, the 38th district was adjacent to the 39th district, known for its underworld connections, making it relatively unsafe. Frequent incidents naturally lowered property values.

Yet, for those wanting to utilize space extensively, it was a hot spot. With a bit of inconvenience, one could acquire a building rivaling any mansion.

Columbus, the bar run by Fernandez, was an extension of that.

The next day, Ga-on headed straight there and received an overview of the current commission from Fernandez.

“Half a year ago, a teenage girl from a single-parent household disappeared. At the time, everyone thought it was just a simple runaway.”

“Wasn’t it just a case of teenage rebellion?”

“Quite the opposite, actually. Her father was an alcoholic. She couldn’t endure the violence and left.”

A common human story. In the past, one had to endure until adulthood, but with the basic income system now in place, things had changed.

Many young people chose independence at an early age.

“I can’t picture someone like that father filing a missing person report.”

“Exactly, if it were just him. But as I mentioned, she disappeared half a year ago. Since then, similar cases have emerged one after another.”

Suddenly, new information updated through his Device.

A teenage boy who just left an orphanage, a solitary elderly person living apart from family, a man in his 50s living in capsule hotels as a parasite, and so on—

As the examples piled up, a common denominator began to emerge.

“Socially vulnerable groups.”

“From a certain point, they stopped appearing altogether.”

“Could they have disappeared on their own?”

“If that were the case, they would have shown noticeable signs or behaved differently. But those who vanished simply went out quietly and never returned. As if they encountered an unexpected incident.”

“An unexpected incident, like an abduction.”

“That’s the most likely scenario.”

It was certainly suspicious.

The last traces of the missing were found in the 38th district, right next to the crime-prone 39th district.

“If you bring them back alive, it’s 40 million pia. Even if you just uncover the truth, it’s 20 million pia.”

“That’s quite a sum.”

“There are people who sincerely hope for their safe return.”

It wasn’t an unreasonable amount.

In a society with a basic income system, pooling resources could easily fund a commission to a renowned fixer.

“Care for a drink before you head out?”

“Vodka martini, shaken, not stirred.”

Hearing the order for the first time, Fernandez blinked his large eyes.

“Is that a meaningful request?”

*

To carry out the commission, Ga-on left Columbus and connected the information received from Fernandez to his map app. Simultaneously, the movements of the missing persons appeared on his retina.

Though they seemed scattered randomly, they couldn’t escape Ga-on’s eyes. If it was a planned abduction, some pattern would inevitably emerge.

Sure enough, a common denominator, absent in spontaneous actions, caught his eye.

Privet Road, 128th Street.

Moving to the intersection where the paths of the missing intertwined, Ga-on surveyed the surroundings.

Though it was a remote area without landmarks, it wasn’t without potential.

From patrol drones to vehicles and buildings, modern society was like a tangled web.

So, no matter how discreetly they moved, traces would be left somewhere.

Ga-on’s confidence in this thought solidified as he entered the alley connected to 128th Street.

Unable to shake the impression of being oddly controlled, he stopped investigating and lingered in place.

What was it?

The discomfort tickling his temples made Ga-on’s eyes flash. Leaping off the wall, he landed atop a streetlamp.

Yes, this was it.

‘CCTV.’

Coincidentally, this was the only one in the vicinity. The number of surveillance devices that had been rampant until just now seemed irrelevant.

A minor but clear discrepancy had triggered his instincts. It was obvious that someone had intentionally limited it.

Could there be a better route to take the missing than this?

“It’s empty.”

As expected, the CCTV was just a shell. They might have prided themselves on perfect cleanup, but it was over.

The starting point was revealed.

Once the trail was caught, everything would proceed smoothly.

At every fork, Ga-on checked the CCTV. Following the ones left broken, the route converged into one. Such a coincidence couldn’t happen by chance.

This was not a natural disaster but a man-made one. CCTV management was the jurisdiction of the public security.

While it was possible to remove them, hiding the anomaly of an unrecorded area was difficult without cooperation.

Now he understood why a fixer was called in.

This case involved the public security as well.