I had often heard in movies and novels that the smell of a rotting corpse was truly repulsive.
Yet, I had never actually smelled it myself.
The world Soo had inhabited was not one overflowing with enough corpses to rot.
“Ugh…”
This place, however, was precisely such a world.
A sickeningly sweet yet foul, fishy odor, mingling with a pungent, acrid scent, assaulted the nostrils with a nauseating intensity.
One might describe it as the horrific stench of putrid meat marinated in honey. It began with a deceptive sweetness, only to swiftly claw at the throat with its sour bite, an abominable reek that the living were instinctively compelled to reject.
“Ugh…”
Soo’s tail, which she had so carefully concealed until now, involuntarily sprang forth. It trembled violently, stiffening in disgust, a clear sign that this was no ordinary foul odor.
Even Enoch, who had encountered the stench of countless corpses, struggled to maintain his composure, making further explanation unnecessary.
Yet, Enoch did not allow his expression to falter.
To show any sign of distaste in front of a novice mercenary, one who was just starting their work today, would surely compromise his prestige.
In truth, he was, if only marginally, accustomed to it.
Enoch had been carrying out ‘clean-up’ operations for the past year, and throughout that time, he had frequently encountered the putrid scent of decaying bodies.
With a concerted effort, Enoch composed his features, his gaze meeting Soo’s subtly contorted face.
“Hm.”
Then, a faint chuckle escaped him as he resumed walking.
“If you’re going to work as a mercenary, it’s best to get used to smells like this.”
“Are you alright, Enoch?”
“Of course, I am.”
“Oh.”
“Hm.”
Enoch chuckled faintly once more, then sent a message to the Connector confirming their arrival at the scene before surveying the building’s interior.
While the origin of the blue smoke remained unknown, it was undeniably clear that the target had killed numerous people.
The shallow pools of blood collecting on the floor bore silent witness to the sheer number of victims. So too did the nauseating scent of entrails, wafting amidst the reek of decay.
This target was a madman, not content with merely killing humans and animals, but treating their demise as a badge of honor.
‘That’s why he must have rammed into the cat.’
Clicking his tongue in mild exasperation, Enoch glanced over at Soo.
‘How old could she be?’
Outwardly, she appeared to be, at most, around eighteen years old.
Her immediate retching upon encountering the foul stench was, in many ways, proof of her limited experience.
‘Worrying…’
‘What was the point? Was it not presumptuous?’
‘Though she seemed young and inexperienced, considering her formidable power and the way she had dealt with Karchas’s corpse…’
‘I just need to do my part well.’
Watching Soo approach, seemingly unaffected moments later, Enoch performed one final check of his equipment before moving forward.
“You don’t need to step in.”
As Enoch lowered his voice, Soo whispered her reply.
“Can you do it alone?”
“Yes, and since I’ve offered this and we’ve agreed to be partners, it would be good to show that I’m capable of earning my keep.”
“They say confidence is a one-way ticket to the underworld for a mercenary.”
“It’s not confidence.”
Enoch checked a message he had received from the Connector, then continued.
“It’s somewhat embarrassing to say in front of you, but what I possess is conviction.”
Through countless clean-up operations, Enoch had never once failed. He had handled every process impeccably, leaving no discord in his wake.
This time would be no different.
Though it was a task typically relegated to low-ranking mercenaries, a mere chore of disposing of trash, Enoch could still declare with unwavering pride.
“Against those who had abandoned their humanity and devolved into refuse, I will make no mistakes.”
“So this time… my… abili… ties…”
“Enoch?”
Enoch’s expression, which had been so confidently setting the mood just moments before, now hardened.
“What’s wrong?”
“Just a moment.”
A phone rang within his mind.
After a brief moment of deliberation, Enoch connected the line to Soo and then answered the call.
[–This is Connector Irina Tish Morozova. Are you the mercenary who accepted the clean-up request for Southpeak District 11?–]
Soo’s eyes widened at the sudden sound of a woman’s voice. In response, Enoch raised an index finger to his lips, speaking in a tense whisper.
“I am Enoch, not ‘the mercenary’.”
[–That’s not something I particularly need to remember. Anyway, are you the mercenary who accepted the clean-up request for Southpeak District 11?–]
“–…Yes.–”
[–Have you not yet located the target, Hakon Chase?–]
“–That’s right.–”
[–Well, that’s why I called, then. Good.–]
“–…What do you mean?–”
[–This current request is deemed the work of a Chrome Psycho.–]
“–A Chrome Psycho…?–”
[–According to Southpeak legal standards, Hakon Chase is presumed to be a Class 6 Chrome Psycho.–]
Class 6.
It was a lower-tier rank among the Chrome Psycho classifications, which ranged from Class 1 to Class 7.
While that might seem insignificant on its own, it was a problem that required three ECPD police teams to resolve.
With two officers per team, this meant six armed police officers were needed for ‘elimination.’ If the goal was subdue, at least twice that number would be required.
[–Furthermore, there’s a possibility that the three major corporations are involved, a factor that must be considered. Therefore, you must evacuate the site immediately.–]
Enoch and Soo’s eyes met.
Though their shared time was far too brief for a conversation to unfold solely through gazes, in this moment, it was possible.
‘This means extra pay.’
‘The nature of the request has completely changed.’
‘At least five times the amount.’
‘A Chrome Psycho cannot be handled by just the two of us.’
‘If we play this right, we might even get an additional request.’
‘They say the three major corporations might be involved.’
‘Let’s finish this quickly.’
‘Let’s retreat quickly.’
Exchanging vastly different unspoken thoughts, they both nodded, as if in complete understanding.
Consequently, their actions diverged.
With a soft *slosh*, Soo strode forward, while Enoch stepped back.
“No.”
Enoch involuntarily blurted out the word.
Had her nod moments ago not meant to retreat? Could it have possibly meant to simply push forward? Against a Class 6 Chrome Psycho, especially one potentially entangled with the three major corporations?
[–No? What do you mean ‘no’? I am the Connector who gave you this request. If you get tangled up with the three major corporations and get screwed, I get screwed too. Don’t even think about it, just get out of there!–]
“–I wasn’t talking to you―”
Enoch couldn’t finish his sentence.
In the distance, he saw someone stumbling, approaching them.
“Huh.”
He, too, saw Enoch.
One step, two steps, three steps. And then four.
A hulking man, clearly not in his right mind, began to charge towards them with alarming speed.
This was not a speed a normal human could achieve.
Even with reinforced tendons, such velocity was impossible.
This was a Chrome Psycho, augmented with neural acceleration implants.
While escape was possible, fleeing now would mean the deaths of countless civilians. Even setting that aside, if this thing were allowed to get outside, Enoch himself would become entangled in the fallout.
Therefore, it had to be dealt with here.
“–Target Hakon Chase confirmed. Egress is deemed impossible.–”
[–What?–]
“–Engaging in combat.–”
[–You son of a bi―–]
Just as the word ‘b*tch’ was about to escape.
A surge of electricity erupted from Enoch’s spine.
The current, spreading along the hode (TL Note: likely a slang or technical term for a neural network or implant component), scoured every muscle fiber. It traveled through blood vessels, over bone, and pierced every nerve throughout his body. All of this transpired in an instant. By the time Enoch registered it, the electricity had already saturated his brain.
A crackling *fizz*—a bolt of lightning seemed to strike within his vision.
And then.
‘This… is incredible.’
Everything slowed. No, it was closer to complete stillness. Dust motes, suspended in the air, were clearly visible. The movements of the Chrome Psycho, Hakon, who had now reached him and was throwing a punch, became infinitely sluggish.
Before, his speed was barely discernible to the naked eye, but now, it was slow enough to induce a yawn.
Could his body, then, move?
Could he dodge the punch currently hurtling towards him?
Enoch decided to move immediately.
His body moved, and it moved exceptionally well.
In a world seemingly frozen, Enoch took two steps sideways, clenching his fist.
‘I couldn’t possibly lose.’
The performance was astounding. To have such a significant difference even among users of the same neural acceleration implants.
While he was astonished to be using such an implant himself, he also felt a simultaneous wave of fear.
For if he were to misuse an implant of this caliber, he was all but guaranteed to end up like Hakon, who was now charging at him head-on.
‘What’s the point now?’
He had chosen to confront those who were no longer human.
To desire to remain human until the very end was merely greed.
Enoch’s fist connected with Hakon’s cheek. With a heavy impact, Hakon’s massive frame staggered.
‘Damn it, my hand hurts more.’
It seemed he had quite a good subcutaneous armor implant.
Still, it was fine. No matter how thick the subcutaneous armor, the joints were bound to be thinner.
Enoch kicked Hakon’s hamstrings. He raised his elbow and slammed it down onto his shoulder. With a clenched fist, he struck upwards at his Adam’s apple.
A *thwack*—Hakon’s disheveled head snapped backward. Immediately, Enoch tried to jab his fingers into Hakon’s eyes.
He couldn’t.
Blood burst from Hakon’s eyes, nose, and mouth. It was a side effect of the neural acceleration implant’s over-activation.
Yet, his movements grew even faster.
Hakon, who had appeared so sluggish, now moved at a speed roughly comparable to Enoch’s.
He ducked to avoid the incoming punch. The wind generated by that blow ruffled Enoch’s collar. Had it connected, his jaw would likely have been shattered.
Still, it was fine.
Enoch was still faster.
He kicked Hakon’s hamstrings again as the man regained his stance. After throwing a throwing knife as a diversion, he created distance. He drew the Moonlight (TL Note: likely a specific weapon) from its holster and aimed it at Hakon.
The sights were aligned with his eyes.
Other areas were protected by thick subcutaneous armor, making it possible for bullets to ricochet. To embed a lead bullet into his skull, the eyes were the optimal target.
Just as Enoch’s finger reached for the trigger―
Before he could pull it.
*Thwack*—
A ripple of ash-gray light unfurled.
In a world where only Enoch should have been moving normally, Soo gracefully glided forward.
Her gait was incredibly unhurried, yet her speed was easily twice Enoch’s.
‘Time for an additional request.’
Soo met Enoch’s gaze, mouthed those words, and then extended her hand forward.
*CRUNCH.*
Simultaneously, the duration of the neural acceleration ended. Being a state-of-the-art model, it seemed to cut off precisely at the point where it wouldn’t overtax the body.
It was a needless consideration.
He hadn’t seen what Soo had done, or how.
What Enoch saw now was…
The unconscious form of the Chrome Psycho, Hakon Chase, his limbs clearly broken.
[–―Don’t do anything crazy, just run!–]
Enoch snapped a photo of the unconscious Hakon and sent it, accompanied by the brief message: ‘Request complete.’
[–A completion message…? Mercenary, have you lost your mind? What completion? It hasn’t even been three seconds! You’re telling me it’s complete before I even finish my sentence? Ha! You bastard, do you really want to die…!–]
Connector Irina’s words abruptly cut off.
[–…What is this?–]
“–This is Hakon Chase, a Class 6 Chrome Psycho. A photo of him… after non-lethal subdue has been completed.–”
[–Oh, holy shit. This… Mercenary, did you do this yourself?–]
Enoch’s gaze shifted to Soo.
Soo smiled brightly and nodded.
“–…I am Enoch, not ‘the mercenary’.–”
[–Huh.–]
Irina, speechless for a moment, let out a hollow laugh before speaking.
[–Understood, Enoch.–]
Finally.
He was finally called by his name.
The man who had lived until now merely as ‘the mercenary’ was, for the very first time, addressed as ‘Enoch’.
[–…Enoch, I will send you the office location. Come as quickly as possible, and safely. And, of course, you must bring Hakon with you.–]
“–…Yes, I understand.–”
Irina Tish Morozova. She was a mid-tier Connector, if not top-tier. To have his name remembered by such a Connector was certainly cause for celebration.
Soo, who understood his sentiment, gave him two thumbs up. Enoch, releasing the laugh he had been trying to suppress, returned a thumbs-up with his tattered hand.
