Cyberpunk All Masters - Episode 16
16. It's Called Renting
Park Hyung-rok nodded and answered my request with a smile.
“You an Uncle Chang-su, right?”
Yes, that was the na. Kim Chang-su, to be exact. Though his nickna "ister" was more morable.
He was a top-notch engineer who maintained vehicles, following you wherever you moved.
For soone like , who constantly needed to run raids, vehicle upgrades were a necessity, not a choice.
In the world of Seoul 2056, even motorcycles with almost tank-like protection could easily get wrecked. Surviving efficiently in such a harsh environnt ant vehicle modifications were mandatory.
However, given the late hour, I thought it would be best to rest and visit him tomorrow.
“Well, well, of all the engineers you could find, you picked . You’ve got a good eye, young man.”
“Uncle Chang-su?”
“It just so happens that I’m on duty tonight. Park Hyung-rok, have you beco so lax that you don’t even know who’s on duty?”
“Oh.”
Despite the dim lighting, his impressive fra was evident. Even Park Hyung-rok, who had a soldier-like build, looked like a twig next to him.
ister Kim Chang-su.
He was Seoul 2056's official jack-of-all-trades engineer, capable of fixing anything from small electric scooters to fighter jet engines. The only thing he couldn’t fix was his shiny bald head.
I stood up and extended my hand to Kim Chang-su.
“I’m Lee Do-jin, a hunter from the Chilgok Guild.”
“Kim Chang-su. Even after the world turned upside down, you’ve managed to keep your bike in top condition.”
Of course, I wasn’t the one who maintained it. It was the legacy of a now-deceased biker gang leader, but Kim Chang-su had no way of knowing that. He showed a very favorable reaction.
“Most hunters don’t realize how important their vehicles are. They don’t understand that their lives depend on them.”
Naturally, Kim Chang-su was a staunch engine fanatic.
Quotes from Kim Chang-su:
“Obviously, the engine is the problem! Add fifty million won and I’ll install a brand-new engine.”
“What? The electromagnetic armor plate was ripped off by a high-level mutant? That’s because your engine is old. With a new engine, it can withstand even a top-tier mutant!”
“Engine! Always the engine modification!”
In the ga, he was known for his obsession with engines, leading to countless s of him combined with the bald actor from Mad Max.
He was probably reacting this way because the engine on my Halberd was in excellent condition.
“So, you want an estimate, right?”
“Yes, as a hunter, I tend to use it roughly. I want to get it checked out in advance.”
“With that statent, you’ve just earned yourself another life. I’ll give you a good price on the engine and auxiliary weapons.”
“Uh-oh, Uncle’s switch has been flipped again.”
“Quiet, you kid! Not knowing the importance of maintenance is courting death. Proper maintenance is life itself...!”
There was sothing refreshing about this human interaction. It was a vibe that was absent inside the Green Zone.
Maybe it was because the essence of cyberpunk is dystopian. Despite living quietly outside the walls, they seed to find their own happiness.
“Alright, enough for now! Hunter Do-jin must be tired. We can et again tomorrow.”
“Aww, it was just getting fun with the new face.”
“Can’t be helped.”
Eventually, the late-night eting concluded with Park Hyung-rok dragging both Kim Chang-su and Yoo Hyun-ah out of the tent.
I closed my eyes in the now quiet makeshift tent.
Although I had already slept once, the fatigue from the battle lingered.
Dealing with the Dead Runners was quite the ordeal, thanks to the troubleso ‘Zombie Land’ encounter in the Microstorm.
I had only intended to complete Reverend Joo’s request for a disposable phone and virtual account, but it led
all the way to Liberation Village.
“Well, it turned out for the best.”
I quickly resigned myself to sleep. Establishing connections with key mbers of Sky Road was a significant achievent.
The next morning.
The start of a day in Sky Road was not much different from the Green Zone.
Waking up on a surprisingly comfortable field bed, I heard the sounds of people bustling outside the tent.
As I got dressed and stepped outside, I saw n in old military uniforms, heavily ard.
Their uniforms were slightly different from the Daegu Defense Forces, using old Air Force uniforms from before the chaos.
“You’re up early.”
“Oh, Hyung-rok.”
Park Hyung-rok greeted
with a smile among the n in military uniforms.
“Did you sleep well?”
“It was like a five-star hotel compared to the ground. The bed sank a bit, but it’s no big deal.”
I patted my back as I spoke.
“If you were uncomfortable, I could have gotten you a new bed. That’s within my authority.”
“No, I slept well. By the way, where’s the workshop?”
“Do you see that hangar-like building? Next to the wrecked civilian aircraft.”
Where Hyung-rok pointed was a small do-shaped building. It looked like it had been a hangar before the chaos.
“Uncle Chang-su should be there. Since you t him last night, now’s a good ti.”
“Thank you.”
“Are you leaving after the repairs?”
“I’ll have to.”
I glanced at the heavy bag. It contained the soul stones I had collected from the battle last night, in addition to Reverend Joo’s request.
Being from a Liberation Village was just a part of the ga’s setting. The main stage of Seoul 2056 was the Green Zone.
There was no reason to stay here indefinitely.
What mattered most now was how to ‘escape Daegu Green Zone,’ which would fall in a few weeks.
“I see.”
Hyung-rok adjusted his rifle and saluted
with a precise motion.
“Thank you again for last night. I hope you return safely.”
“Stay healthy, Hyung-rok. I’ll visit occasionally.”
“Please do. You’re always welco.”
With a final smile, Hyung-rok walked away. At least I had built a solid rapport.
Now, all that was left was to upgrade my gear and return.
I mounted my beloved bike and started it up.
“Hmm... It’s an off-road bike with high-end sports wheels. But given the nature of two-wheelers, it’s vulnerable to projectiles from mutants.”
Following Hyung-rok’s directions, I found Kim Chang-su at the hangar.
Seeing him working on a military vehicle early in the morning reminded
of my pre-possession military days.
Of course, his appearance, swinging a pipe wrench and running towards
as soon as I brought the bike in, was intimidating.
“You’ll need so armor plating.”
“What about bulletproof tires?”
“You’ll have to go to Daejeon for that. The best we can do in Daegu is just enough to get by.”
“Hmm...”
“Do you think the armor plating won’t be enough?”
I nodded. The fall of Daegu Green Zone was no small matter.
Not only would there be mutants, but there would also be hunters from the Daegu Industrial Union who would start rampaging after losing their backing.
And I had to be prepared for clashes with rioters and gang mbers causing chaos.
Simple armor plating wouldn’t cut it against madn with tech bodies firing high-caliber bullets.
Moreover, there were mutants that could only be hunted with a two-wheeler.
You never know when they’ll pop up, but at least the thod to counter them was clear.
“The price doesn’t matter. Just et all my requirents.”
I grabbed a piece of paper lying around and scribbled on it before handing it to him.
“Can you modify it to these specifications?”
“...What?”
Kim Chang-su’s face contorted as he read it. He looked at
like I was crazy.
“A rocket launcher with thermobaric rounds? And tank-grade smoke grenades?”
“They’re essential. Especially the thermobaric rounds. Even if the blast radius is small, they’re crucial.”
“I’ve been a chanic in Daegu for decades, and I’ve never had anyone ask to turn a bike into an anti-tank vehicle.”
It wasn’t an exaggeration.
Bulletproof tires and armor plating were basics, along with an electromagnetic pulse generator that could withstand small-caliber rounds.
Add to that a portable thermobaric missile launcher and a K-442 66mm smoke grenade launcher.
These were specs you’d find on an armored personnel carrier, so it’s no wonder Kim Chang-su was taken aback.
But despite his gruff tone, his eyes sparkled with excitent.
“If it were any other chanic, they’d call you crazy and kick you out.”
“So, can you do it?”
“Hah! Do you know who I am? Crazy projects like this are what I live for!”
I knew he would accept. In Seoul 2056, the more bizarre and excessive the vehicle modifications, the higher his approval rating.
“This beast has a ferocious exhaust sound. I’ll turn it into a real monster.”
“I’m counting on you.”
“But I’ll charge you a bit more than cost price. These parts are hard to co by. But in the anti, you can use this vehicle.”
Following his gaze, I saw a white off-road vehicle parked in the hangar.
It was a Rex Sports Off-Road model, a four-wheel-drive SUV with excellent performance even in Seoul 2056.
“It’s also off-road, so if you can drive, you’re good. I’ve equipped it with top-notch options.”
I caught the keys Kim Chang-su tossed to .
As I stood there, puzzled by the sudden rental offer, the middle-aged chanic grinned and added,
“What, were you planning to walk back to the Green Zone? Just know that if you scratch it, I’ll do the sa to you!”
His words were half-joking, half-serious. I gratefully accepted his offer and made my way back to the Daegu Green Zone.
Thanks to the active trade between Sky Road and the Green Zone, the connecting roads were in decent condition, allowing the large SUV to navigate easily.
Driving the vehicle, I found it more stable than a motorcycle.
And indeed, Kim Chang-su wasn’t lying about the top-notch options.
It had everything, from a roof-mounted remote-controlled high-speed grenade machine gun to a nitro turbo engine.
A perfect raid vehicle with both offensive and defensive capabilities.
However, no matter how great this car was, using the bike was the most efficient in Daegu.
The mutants I had to face next weren’t just Gargoyles or Hellcats.
If those were the ones to bring down the Daegu Green Zone, it would have fallen long ago.
The worst mutant that sealed Daegu Green Zone’s fate was a colossal mutant.
A creature 350 ters long, the legendary beast that single-handedly decimated Gyeongbuk’s defense line 15 years ago.
In Seoul 2056, it was called the “Crawling Catastrophe.”
Facing such a monster in a regular vehicle would be a death sentence.
“Two weeks until the Crawling Catastrophe reappears.”
I had to complete my ultimate weapon to fight against it.
No matter what, I had to.
Reviews
All reviews (0)