*

Although it became clear that this wasn’t just a simple kidnapping case, Baek Ga-on’s pursuit didn’t stop. It was just one more special condition added to the mix. There was no reason to halt halfway through.

Moreover, he was just one step away from seeing the fruits of his labor.

The measures the kidnappers took to hide their crimes had ironically become a guidepost.

Tap.

After confirming that there were no more broken CCTVs, Baek Ga-on recorded the path he had traversed.

The destination was a point in Zone 39.

Someone had created a blind spot, forming a perfect circle, as if to avoid external scrutiny.

The missing people were likely somewhere within.

What Baek Ga-on couldn’t understand was the motive. In an era where Devices were commercialized, kidnapping others had a low success rate and required a lot of preliminary work.

Yet, the kidnappers didn’t demand ransom, maintaining silence until the situation became severe enough to surface.

In hindsight, it wasn’t so strange. They had selectively taken only those from vulnerable groups, out of the public eye. Money wasn’t their concern from the start.

This meant they had achieved their goal the moment they kidnapped them.

What could the kidnappers possibly want from ordinary people with no special abilities?

As Baek Ga-on pondered deeply, a man caught his eye.

“Gek.”

The man seemed to have noticed Baek Ga-on too and took a step back. But Baek Ga-on wasn’t one to just watch as his opponent fled.

Baek Ga-on, now shoulder-to-shoulder with the man, Tug, smirked slyly.

“Thanks for yesterday. Thanks to you, I found a good place. Perfect to become a regular. But why are you here?”

“Even if I tell you, this is our territory…”

“Watch your tone.”

“…Yes.”

“So, this is under the control of the Pier Gang?”

“Yes, it is.”

Come to think of it, the unlicensed clinic he visited last night wasn’t far from here. Tug’s words didn’t seem contradictory.

The indiscriminate extortion by Gesto. The vulnerable people disappearing from the area controlled by the Pier Gang, and the timely appearance of Fernandez.

Something smelled fishy.

*

There were various forms of criminal organizations.

From the mafia, who valued rules, to the triads and yakuza with strict hierarchies, to syndicates gathered for specific purposes, and even simple thugs, each pursued different paths.

Among them, street gangs were characterized by their lawless spirit.

Their reckless way of living as if there were no tomorrow was unmatched. Although they couldn’t thrive due to their inherently poor foundation, that was a thing of the past.

With the implementation of a basic income system ensuring minimum livelihood, they rapidly expanded. Now, they could cause chaos without worrying about three meals a day.

It was undeniable that they had risen as a major evil in society.

Unlike other criminal organizations, they grew like weeds no matter how much they were uprooted.

The Pier Gang, which had recently made a name for itself, was also a typical street gang.

Anyone could join, and they didn’t interfere if members formed other crews.

The Pier Gang demanded only one thing from its members.

To participate unconditionally in power struggles with other organizations.

Their simple yet powerful guideline allowed them to establish a foothold, albeit small, in Zone 39.

“That’s all I know.”

After listening to Tug’s explanation, Baek Ga-on let out a sigh. He persistently questioned, wondering if there was anything Tug was intentionally hiding, but the answers remained consistent.

Tug seemed unaware of the detailed circumstances. He had only joined three months ago, making him the lowest of the low within the Pier Gang.

For Baek Ga-on, who was experiencing everything for the first time on Mars, there was a mountain of things to learn about the underworld and which areas were under whose control.

However, it was clear that the Pier Gang’s growth was abnormal. It was hard to believe they were thriving just because of good unity.

Despite their rapid expansion, they were always on the offensive, as if someone was guiding them.

From Baek Ga-on’s perspective, who had discovered evidence of police involvement, it wasn’t a difficult conclusion to reach.

“So, can I go now?”

“Just a word of caution, it’s best not to spread rumors about me. If word gets out, I’ll know it was you and come looking for you.”

“That’s unfair…”

“Just shut up and say okay.”

“Okay.”

*

After parting ways with Tug, Baek Ga-on climbed up to a building overlooking the intersection. Lying flat on the rooftop, he prepared to stake out.

It was now a battle against time.

The fact that a kidnapping had occurred once meant it could happen again, and if it was happening repeatedly in an organized manner, it would continue until discovered.

Now that he knew the route they used, all that was left was to catch them in the act.

It was about a week since the missing person report had been filed.

If the Pier Gang was indeed behind the kidnappings, the bait would soon be taken.

Snow began to fall from the sky at that moment.

Though his black coat turned white, Baek Ga-on didn’t budge, keeping his eyes on the street.

How much time had passed?

Suddenly, three pairs of headlights appeared in the dimly lit street.

The lights, swimming through the piled-up snow, passed precisely through the route where the CCTVs were broken.

‘They’re here.’

Baek Ga-on, rising from his spot, quickly chased after them, leaping between buildings. Due to the heavy snowfall, the vans couldn’t speed up recklessly.

The strange standoff ended after five blocks.

The three vans suddenly turned and entered a parking lot in a line. Pressing himself against a nearby wall to observe, Baek Ga-on cautiously peeked out.

At that moment, a figure emerged from the van at the front.

Or rather, was dragged out.

A man, bound and with a hexagonal Device attached to the back of his neck, resembling a nut.

‘Lock Down?’

It was a Device that restricted most functions of another Device.

A tool used by public or enforcement agencies for detaining individuals. It was not something that should be in the hands of civilians, but it seemed the underworld residents had crossed the final line.

“Don’t… want…”

The man mumbled, as if under the influence of a muscle relaxant.

But even that seemed to annoy the large man approaching him, who mercilessly struck his head.

“Shut up.”

A sawed-off shotgun dangled like an accessory. A unit mounted around his trapezius. And a hook-shaped tattoo stretching across his entire cheek.

Baek Ga-on recognized him.

The man Fernandez referred to as Gesto.

He was the enforcer of the Pier Gang.

*

After Gesto and the other gangsters disappeared, Baek Ga-on recalled the scene he had just witnessed.

The Pier Gang had kidnapped a total of five people.

It could be considered few or many, depending on perspective. The important thing was that the gangsters’ movements seemed familiar. It was likely not their first time committing such acts.

It was clear that swift action was needed, so Baek Ga-on jumped over the fence and surveyed the building.

Peeling paint and shabby exterior materials.

It was either an abandoned place or an old one, but the estate was as spacious as any mansion.

He remained vigilant, wondering if there might be a group standing guard against intruders, but Baek Ga-on realized it was pointless before he even completed a round.

True to their nature as a rootless gang, there was no sign of any presence.

Of course, there were booby traps scattered throughout the building. Whether they purchased parts to make them or not, the crude aspects stood out.

Cutting the wires with a folding knife, Baek Ga-on headed upstairs indifferently.

But there was no trace of the gangsters anywhere. There were no wallpapers, and not even household appliances.

But that didn’t make sense.

He had seen the Pier Gang members enter en masse with his own eyes.

‘Could it be?’

Descending to the first floor, Baek Ga-on quickly scanned the floor. They must have left tracks since they came in through the snow.

Sure enough, the snow they had brought in pointed to the first-floor storage room.

There was nothing inside, but Baek Ga-on wasn’t surprised. If they weren’t above, they were below.

Feeling along the wall, he finally found a button and pressed it, confirming his suspicion as the ground split open to reveal stairs leading underground.

Baek Ga-on opened the holster cover and unlocked his gun, ready to fire at any moment.

The root of all the incidents lay at the bottom.

Calmly descending and entering the passage, Baek Ga-on shivered. The underground seemed colder than the snowy outside. It was proof that it was air-conditioned.

What stopped Baek Ga-on in his tracks was a sign labeled “Storage Room.”

A chilling sensation brushed past his mind for a moment.

As if possessed, Baek Ga-on opened the door and entered. The inside was illuminated by a bluish light. It felt dark despite the light, as if he had entered the deep sea.

Pop.

As he took a step, the lights inside intensified, as if sensing someone’s presence.

As a result, the glass tubes lined up beyond came into view.

It was an overwhelming sight. Each glass tube in the storage room was a life-support system.

About a hundred, perhaps?

It was an extravagant setup for a mere gang to own.

“Ha.”

Now it seemed they were controlling the underground temperature to dissipate the heat generated by these systems.

At this point, questions naturally arose.

Why create such an environment?

Wiping the moisture off the surface by rubbing the glass tube, its contents became visible.

Inside was a flat, round device resembling a button. The pseudo-nervous system connected to it wiggled like jellyfish tentacles.

“…”

Having witnessed countless human figures over the centuries, Baek Ga-on had never seen such a blatant display of malice.

The Pier Gang’s business was Device extraction.

It was an undeniable major crime.