Chapter 1820 – [Cyberpunk: Dimension Runner]

Arjuna died in despair as he watched her body and her main servers gradually being destroyed.

Normally, the expression “Destroyed” Would be a more appropriate way to describe artificial intelligence, but he realized feelings of fear and despair. So, since he evolved from an object to a person, he was said to be dead.

-Oh, no. I do it for the prosperity of Shanghai Group. Ahhh.

“It’s the result of my mother’s terrible home education. Oh, you don’t have a mother in the first place, right?”

-Aaaaa…

Arjuna died by destroying the last main server. To make sure I get a kill just in case, I spread deadly force and sweep up the wreckage of the broken server.

Because extreme killing has physical effects… I can’t say I’m a fan of delicate things like killing the person I want or destroying only the data I want on a computer, but destroying precision equipment is easy.

Even if it is recovered, the data will not be restored. Even if you collect the pieces together, Arjuna will not be able to be resurrected again. So this incident could be concluded with this.

“It’s over now… The job and the Shanghai Group.”

“Now that the request is over, let’s go to Jack Knife and have a drink later. The bartender will be waiting for you.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I’ll bring good alcohol with me, so don’t think about committing suicide.”

“No matter how it ended, I have no intention of ending it that way. At least I got my revenge.”

Since he brought destruction to one of the targets of revenge… I understand his feelings to some extent. Even though he couldn’t lead it, he still stands up in his name because he exerted some effort at the scene of destruction.

In the end, I just helped him to avoid becoming a cyberpath. In that case, it’s okay because there are spirit tears. Besides that, there are many means to restore humanity.

After that, we came up to the ground. It was nice because it was comfortable when going up, unlike when coming down, but it was even more of a problem after going up.

“Don’t move!!!! If you move, I’ll shoot!!!!!!”

Hey, you bastards. Is what comes after work is done a police cliché or a proprietary patent?

Seeing that there were numerous police officers pointing their guns at us who had finished work… And that there was even an army, the situation seemed to have been conveyed in some way. But in the end, that problem was solved thanks to the name of Naomoto Company.

Still, given the situation, I had no choice but to talk to Chairman Naomoto. Wouldn’t it be possible to handle things only after at least explaining the situation?

-What on earth happened? Something happened there and the Shanghai Group…

“Arjuna, Chairman Wang Chen’s bodyguard, went on a rampage, took over the Shanghai Group, and caused chaos. I destroyed the Shanghai Group’s main server before that to stop Arjuna’s rampage.”

-Haa… It’s going to be a big job. There must be a lot to handle.

“On the other hand, it is possible to absorb what is left of the Shanghai Group. Why not just take away the valuable assets, increase the size, and invest in ecosystem restoration projects?”

-I don’t think that’s bad either. If we gain the power of the Shanghai Group, it will not be too late to restore the Earth. In case of emergency, there is no one to interfere…

“With the stock price soaring, I think we need to think about opening a third Garden of Eden store. At least for Naomoto Company employees.”

-That will be done within a few days. So, come back before things get worse.

“Yes, I understand.”

We went back leisurely. Now that work is over, it’s time to really rest.

John went back with us. The situation is like this, and if I just go back, I’ll probably get into trouble again because of the Shanghai group or those people. In any case, the penthouse that Chairman Naomoto rented was an entire building, so there would be no shortage of rooms as all you had to do was rent one floor.

“You can catch the bluefin tuna now, which is the reward for a successful request, but it would be better if you catch it for me later. Even if I eat something delicious when it’s this messy, I can’t even taste it properly.”

“That’s true. But there’s no need to tell the bartender that the request has been completed.”

“I know that. I’ll bring some good alcohol with me, so let’s drink that and then continue.”

John looked much more relieved. Is it the satisfaction of getting revenge by taking down the Shanghai Group? Naomoto Company still remains, but at least I am part of it and I feel like I have relieved some of my lingering feelings because I can deal with an opponent that would normally be difficult to take revenge on.

If I have any remaining feelings toward Naomoto Company, I’ll have to try to mediate it somehow. It may have been before, but the current Chairman Naomoto has reformed and is reflecting to some extent, so if he is determined to change things regardless of the fact that he is just an acquaintance, you can give him a chance. Still, in the end, the decision is up to you.

Leaving that to its own devices, John and I headed back to Jackknife the next day. However, the atmosphere was quite different from before. It was messy and there were some bad guys, but they didn’t pick a fight with me.

“Those two can’t believe…”

“Don’t make eye contact. They are two guys who destroyed the Shanghai Group. One of them is even from Naomoto’s side.”

“What the fuck can we do to take down the Shanghai Group? Blowing up the main server? Is that even possible?”

“When I spoke to my contacts with the police, they said there were hundreds and thousands of military weapons, but they were all destroyed. I guess he’s a real monster.”

“Abyss City’s new, unbreakable legend…”

Ah, the rumor has already spread.

The speed at which rumors spread even in Moorim, where there is no internet, is no joke. It’s amazing here. Even if he doesn’t know the details, he seems to at least know our faces.

John made a subtle expression at the reactions of those people and freelancers. It’s nice to be praised, but since he didn’t actually do much, he seemed emotionally complicated.

“Actually, you did everything…”

“What do you think? I had a good time this time, so I should retire.”

“That’s because I don’t have any savings. I decided this time and got new implants, so I’m really broke.”

“Hey, I can’t help it about the money problem.”

“And the biggest problem is…”

“Don’t worry about that.”

Jack Knife, where the bartender is located, didn’t change much from when I saw it before, but it was quieter than before. It wasn’t too early, and there were only one or two people there, and even they were so surprised when we came in that they paid the bill and left.

I think I kicked out a customer unintentionally… Well, that’s okay.

The bartender, who saw us again, looked quite surprised but happy. It’s only natural that we’ve accomplished so much in such a short period of time.

“It’s good to see you both again, but what on earth did you do?”

“A lot has happened. Call me John Connor, who stopped the artificial intelligence rebellion.”

“Was there a Terminator? Wait, wasn’t that an old work by here standards?”

“I often go around looking up classic movies. Actually, it’s just a name to call him John Connor.”

“Now that I think about it, what was your last name? I heard it before.”

“My last name? Ah, now that I think about it, I didn’t realize I had told you at the time… My last name is Fujikido. John Fujikido.”

… Why is that your last name?! Do-Mo Ninja = A ninja slayer, and he looks like he can do Aisatsu?!

Considering Chairman Naomoto, that is a very strange match. Perhaps, if we hadn’t come to this world, John wouldn’t have attempted suicide and terrorized Naomoto Corporation before becoming a cyberpath?

Now that I think about it, I’ve never seen Chairman Naomoto’s life curve, but somehow it feels like it was like that. Well, if you think about it, the situation we were in was much better than without us.

Anyway, the bartender brought out the liquor we had bottled and poured it into our glasses. John and I looked around the empty bar and talked while drinking the drinks we had completed.

“Anyway, it looks like there were only a few customers, but there seems to be a lot of work to do.”

“Yes, thanks to you, the bottles of alcohol I kept having filled an entire cupboard. I don’t know how much it will return, but at least it’s good to have a lot of work… But what really happened at the Shanghai Group?”

“Chairman Wang Chen’s android secretary started a machine rebellion, and my friend and I destroyed the group’s main server to stop it. Thanks to this, the Shanghai Group collapsed, but it was much better than the destruction of humanity.”

“You’ve become a true legend. It’s a good thing to have as your last job.”

“Oh, about that.”

I took out the spirit tears I had brought to drink.

This is an item that will revive John, who has lost his humanity and has become a machine-like cyberpath. It has already been effective on the undead lich wizard Kristoff, so it will be effective on John as well.

“I brought some alcohol. Let’s have a drink and then talk.”

“Isn’t it a bit rude to bring alcohol to a bar?”

“I feel sorry for the bartender. I’ll get you a few bottles of this drink later, so please forgive me.”

“But this is a label I’ve never seen before… What kind of alcohol is it? No, really?”

“This is alcohol from our side. Let’s try it first.”

I opened the bottle right away. Because it is spirit tears, not fairy tears, from the moment you pick them, you will feel the enchanting scent of fairy tears, as well as the feeling of stimulating the spiritual senses unique to Yeongja cuisine.

That sensation is a new sensation that cannot be felt in a world like this. You probably don’t feel it in things like cyberspace and virtual reality, right? This is a much more essential feeling conveyed to the soul than manipulating the body or brain waves.

“This is?!”

“What?! Did Naomoto develop a new drug?!”

“Hey, I don’t play with food. If you ask me to put poison in what I eat or drink, I would rather commit suicide or kill the guy who told me to put poison in it. I don’t take drugs or anything like that.”

“Then what on earth is this feeling…”

“Try it first and then judge. It will be good.”

I pour my share, John’s share, and even the bartender’s share. There’s plenty of alcohol anyway, so it doesn’t really matter.

Each person looks at the spirit tears poured into their cup with interest. The light blue, clear liquor is beautiful in itself and is fun to look at.

And after a brief viewing, we begin the tasting as if we had been waiting. It wasn’t much, but John took a single shot of the drink in his glass and the bartender took a sip as if he was savoring it.

“Oh, oh oh oh oh…!!!”

“Ah, it’s sweet…”

“The kids here who ate delicious food said that.”

Is it a drip, or is it really something similar to Wapanism that was created by mixing Japanese and American culture because of Naomoto… Anyway.

For a while, the two enjoyed the taste of alcohol. As expected, one sip wasn’t enough, so I pour a generous amount into my glass as I keep drinking it. Although it has a higher alcohol content compared to sweets, it doesn’t matter to people with implants.

“This, this, seems like something that goes beyond alcohol. I’ve never experienced so many sweet and sour flavors, and I can see real forests and natural environments that I’ve only seen in virtual reality…”

“… What I’ve been drinking so far hasn’t been alcohol, but something like rubbing alcohol.”

“The alcohol here was pretty good to drink. This alcohol deserves to be considered the best alcohol, so don’t be too picky.”

Fairy tears, the original source of spirit tears, are famous in dimensional civilization, and spirit tears made with spirit-aged liquor are even more highly regarded. What a surprise, the absolute being of nature must have visited when this was made.

Even though the drinks on this Earth were just alcohol mixed with seasoning, if the object of comparison was Spirit Tears, it was no different from comparing them to the top of the industry. The bartender seems to have chosen the drinks well at this store, and I was able to drink them, so there is no need to feel ashamed.

“Anyway, John, has anything changed?”

“What’s changed… Hmm?”

Although he had only had a few drinks, he seemed to feel a strange sensation as he clenched and opened his hand.

Although it’s not like you can’t feel anything like an undead, it’s enough to make you feel uncomfortable. Then, as if he had noticed something, he shouted with a shocked face.

“No way!!!!!”

“The additional effect of this alcohol is that it restores your humanity. If you can drink this alcohol regularly, you will not become a cyberpath.”

“That’s possible?!?!”

“If you’ve seen it before, you’ll know that this side can do things that ignore common sense. I’ll give it to you often, so take it and drink it.”

“It will be the most delicious medicine in the world… Even things like suppressants have their limits.”

“The bartender will also prepare a few bottles for you, so if there is a good person among the customers, give them to him. Why wouldn’t he be there? He’s a good person like John, but he’s a problem because of his cyberpass.”

“Yes, yes. There was… Thank you. That must have been an expensive drink.”

“It’s good, but use it.”

He has a certain belief in his work, and when he takes requests and finishes them, he makes them drink… If you look at that, the bartender is also a good person. Although spirit tears are said to be relatively rare, they are not so much that you can’t share them with your friends, so you can share them in plenty.

It’s good as a drink, but it would be nice to give a drink or two to kids like John who are struggling with CyberPass. Or, you can use it as a bottle keep for requests that you expect to be very successful.

“Oh, that’s right, and John. I’m talking about the bluefin tuna that is the reward for the request.”

“Um, okay, why is that?”

“I set aside a separate day to eat. This time, Naomoto Company will announce the Garden of Eden, so let’s eat there then.”

“Garden of Eden…? You mean the one in the Bible?”

“It’s from there, but it’s different. It’s a place where we restored the ecosystem. Let’s catch bluefin tuna there and drink the tears of the spirits.”

“… This will be the best day of my life.”

Soon, Keter’s third branch in the Garden of Eden will open. At first, we plan to present only people from Naomoto Company, but we plan to gradually increase the scope of disclosure.

In this cyberpunk world, the reason people are losing their peace of mind and humanity may be because they cannot feel the beautiful nature. In addition, there is despair in this world that is heading towards its end… I hope that the Garden of Eden will bring some hope and change the world.

If this world continues as it is, there will be nothing but destruction in one way or another. Perhaps, if the world were like this even if the natural environment was restored and humanity did not destroy itself, the Great Demon King would be summoned, and he would be found guilty.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing what the Naomoto executives who attended the event will do. Won’t they cry like children?”

“I’m going to go to that extent.”

“At least I think so.”

You’ll know that when the time comes. I’m really looking forward to it.