Soon, after wandering around the nearby cyberspace for a short while, Rain Vermillars began to increase his home’s computing output.
Immediately after, his figure began to rapidly retreat—or rather, move forward.
When everything around him solidified again, all that remained was a vast black-and-red cyber-plain and a towering data Blackwall that pierced the clouds.
After glancing at the Blackwall, Rain Vermillars looked away and began to wander and observe the vicinity.
He didn’t intend to seek death by using his home equipment to touch the Blackwall, even with the [No Place to Stand] talent active.
Crossing the Blackwall to mine Old Net data was a risk he wouldn’t take without sufficient computing power.
His main purpose for coming here from home was to observe the Blackwall and look for any traces or data fragments left behind by other rogue AIs in the area.
Indeed, after the Blackwall had existed for so many years, it was no longer omnipotent.
Occasionally, vulnerabilities would appear, allowing some rogue AIs to bypass the Blackwall and enter human society…
Of course, a large part of it was also due to human interference; those who craved the power of the Blackwall and AIs ended up causing some AIs to escape.
“Hmm…
looks like I’ve made a bit of a harvest…”
Noticing a flickering and shifting data fragment left nearby, Rain Vermillars instantly moved to its side.
After collecting and deconstructing it, he left the area.
On the other side of the Blackwall, a humanoid AI silently watched Rain Vermillars’ receding back.
If Rain Vermillars were there, he would most likely recognize it as the AI he encountered while data mining at Arasaka.
That time…
he had used his talent to narrowly escape its pursuit.
Whoosh—
Returning to reality, Rain Vermillars first opened his eyes to adjust for a moment before slowly standing up and disconnecting from the Netrunner Chair.
He checked the contents of the data fragment before taking off his Netrunning Suit to go wash up.
The contents were mostly some technology and biological information left over from the Old Net era, which for him was better than nothing.
It’s worth mentioning that high-end Netrunner Chairs aren’t equipment that every netrunner owns.
Therefore, street netrunners often use ice cubes and ice water to ensure they stay cool during deep dives.
After washing up, Rain Vermillars went straight back to his room.
Next, it was time for a good rest.
…
*Hiss…
Phew…*
“Did you take a new job?”
“Didn’t take it.
That job Faraday sent out is clearly something that can’t be touched.”
“Oh?
How so?”
In a corner of this group, a large, muscular man with blonde hair, dark skin, and sunglasses sat quietly on the steps, speaking to a sturdy blonde woman beside him.
“See for yourself.”
As he spoke, Maine transferred his communication logs with Faraday to Dorio.
Dorio’s eyes lit up slightly.
[Any plans lately?]
[Nothing for now.
Got a job?]
[In a way.
You can give it a try; whether you take it is up to you.
Arasaka recently appointed a new head of a department directly under the Security Department.
Our client wants intel on this guy: habits, hobbies, schedule, residence, security detail, comms number…
anything, as long as it’s info about him.
Of course, it has to be stuff we don’t know.
The specific reward will depend on the intel you provide.]
[Go f*** yourself, Faraday.
You’re playing games with the wrong person!
I don’t do suicide runs!]
[Suit yourself.]
“Tch…
that bastard…”
“It’s no big deal.
This guy is just the same bastard as always.
I just wonder if some unlucky rookie who doesn’t know the business took the job.”
Maine took a large gulp of the beer in his hand and shook his head.
“With jobs like this, the looser the conditions and the more generous the pay, the higher the danger factor.
Especially since this is an Arasaka Corporation executive.
A department head…
a big shot like that could probably crush us like ants with the flick of a finger.
You made the smart choice in refusing the job, Maine.”
“Ah, it’s you, Sasha.”
Suddenly hearing someone speak, Maine turned to look.
He saw a girl with a black bob cut, wearing a pink jacket over a black one-piece form-fitting Netrunning Suit, with cat-whisker-like tattoos on her face, slowly walking over.
Beside her was an exceptionally petite, pale-skinned girl with teal twin-tails, wearing an oversized black coat.
Her skin was covered in large red tattoos, and she currently had her hands in her pockets while chewing bubblegum.
“Yeah.
Where’s my bastard brother?”
“There, over that way.”
Maine nodded toward the center of the crowd.
There, a man with extremely long modified arms, a black mohawk, and specialized scanning goggles was holding a tray of beers and joking around.
Seeing this, Rebecca roared toward him, “Hey, you bastard, get over here right now, or do you want me to put a hole in your head?!”
“What’s this?
Does our little Rebecca-chan miss her dear big brother?”
*Bang!*
“Whoa, whoa!
Careful there!
You almost hit my little brother!!”
Hearing this, Rebecca immediately flipped Pilar the bird.
“Speaking of which, since you didn’t take that job, why did you call us over?”
Rebecca looked at Maine with some confusion and couldn’t help but ask.
“Well…
because I took another job.
It’s not from Faraday; it’s from Wakako.”
“Ah, that old lady…”
“Next time you say that, make sure Wakako isn’t listening.”
“I know, I know.”
“So, what’s the job about?”
Sasha asked curiously at this point.
“Some guy from the Tyger Claws teamed up with the Scavengers and dragged someone’s daughter into their mess.
They filmed Blackwalls and stripped her cyberware.
Now that grieving father has put up all his savings to ask Wakako for help.
That’s pretty much it.”
“…Tch, scum!”
“That’s just how this city is.
But since we’ve run into it, we might as well teach that group a lesson, including that bastard from the Tyger Claws.”
Maine gave a non-committal shrug but stood up to signal his intent.
“Today is just for a briefing.
We’ll handle the business tomorrow.
Sasha, I might need to trouble you tonight.”
“Mm, no problem.”
Sasha nodded after listening.