Chapter 2

1. Ash Ronmore (1)

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Jinhyun was just an ordinary person. He grew up in a typical family, went to school like everyone else, and worked a regular job to make a living, being one of the many cogs in the wheel of society.

He thought his entire life would continue to flow so ordinarily.

...Until he became one of the characters he created and was dropped into the world of the game.

Who said it?

"Life can be more dramatic than drama and more unrealistic than fiction."

It was a phrase Jinhyun, now known as Ash Ronmore, had once read and found deeply moving.

But even Jinhyun, who remembered this phrase, never imagined it would point to such a reality.

To think that a real person could become a game character and live in the game world. That was not just unrealistic but purely fictional, something that could only happen in a novel.

After setting the character for the next round and being dropped into the game world, specifically into a slum, Jinhyun was plunged into confusion for a while.

He lost his family, friends, assets, and even his own body.

Amidst this, thieves attacked him almost daily, and the slum residents, seeing his clean appearance and neat basic outfit, showed him hostility.

It would be strange not to be confused at this point.

But after a brief period of wandering, he ultimately abandoned the real Jinhyun and adapted to the game world as 'Ash Ronmore.'

Whether it was due to the 'Chaotic – Neutral' alignment he set when creating the character sheet, or because Jinhyun himself was that kind of person, once he made up his mind, adapting as 'Ash Ronmore' was not difficult.

Most importantly, the power 'Ash Ronmore' possessed made it possible.

Physical abilities that far surpassed even the cyborgs and enhanced humans created by top-tier technology companies.

A sword and blade proficiency level of 12, exceeding the maximum level of 10 in a world where level 8 was considered the best.

The character he set for the second round was so powerful that he could be called a superhuman, and not only survive in the jungle-like slum but also stand at its peak.

It was truly fortunate. If the character he created had all abilities and proficiencies at levels 1 or 2, or if he had created a genius hacker instead of a swordsman, he would most likely have died or been captured by a gang and used like a slave.

Now, Ash, who had become one of the powerful figures in the slum solely through his personal might, realized how much life can change with a single choice. If he had made a wrong decision in reality, the outcome would not have been good.

Despite his superhuman power, he had a significant problem.

It was the lack of identity.

For some reason, the identity and initial companions that existed in the first round of the game were missing for Ash after he entered the game world.

In the world of cyberpunk, the existence of identity was perhaps even more important than the existence of power.

The central areas of the five cities in the federation, including Wayne City where he was, had a level of security that could not be compared to 21st-century modern Earth.

AI-controlled security drones flew in swarms, and CCTV cameras with facial recognition capabilities that could access the city government's database were densely installed.

Without any identity, it was almost impossible to walk around the city without the help of a highly skilled hacker.

That was why, despite having power and wealth, he had been living in the dirty outskirts of the slum for three years instead of the clean city center.

If he had known he would end up in the game world, he would not have created a character with a completely one-sided, deformed setup.

When setting the character for the second round, he did not create an overly overpowered character to avoid ruining the game's fun, but now he regretted it.

Of course, he did not regret it to the point of feeling sorry.

At first, he found the slum disgusting and hated it, but with power, the slum could be a paradise compared to the city.

Here, power was everything.

A world of brutal survival of the fittest, where the strong could devour the weak at will.

Ash Ronmore, the superhuman, was like the king of this world of survival of the fittest.

Look at him now. Over the past three years, he had gained a reputation in the slum and was being treated to expensive drinks and beautiful women, something he could only dream of on Earth.

"So?"

"Those guys keep trying to cross over. If you could take care of them, they won't dare to look this way again..."

A man in a neat suit gestured to a blonde high-class hostess. She poured the drink gently and caressed Ash Ronmore's shoulder.

This place was in the entertainment district of Sector 63, near the slum where Ash stayed. It was one of the areas where his influence was strong.

Ash enjoyed the hostess's touch and asked, "What's the payment?"

"We have prepared about 300,000 credits. It's the limit of what we can afford right now."

"300,000 credits..."

Ash repeated the amount, thinking about it.

300,000 credits. In the currency of the Earth where he used to live, it was equivalent to about 600 million won. It was a significant amount, one of the larger commissions he had received as a fixer.

An amount that could not be earned in a single moment from a business in the outskirts of the entertainment district. The man was likely a wealthy individual with considerable influence in the entertainment district.

The entertainment district, while less brutal than the slum, was still a world of survival of the fittest. For a man with some influence to invite him for help meant that the opponent was even stronger.

"Who are they affiliated with?"

When Ash asked, the man hesitated for a moment before answering, looking uneasy.

"From what I've heard, they are the 'Vampires.'"

"Vampires?"

"Yes..."

Indeed. Ash nodded.

The 'Vampires' were one of the largest gangs in the slum, dominating Sectors 72 and 73. The gang leader had apparently named them after a romance movie he found impressive.

There were also rumors that the gang leader was a woman.

Hearing the name 'Vampires,' it made sense why he was called.

Even with considerable capital and influence, a wealthy individual in the entertainment district could not stand up to a giant gang that controlled two sectors.

He must have done his research before coming to Ash. He might have sought help from other influential figures in the same sector or proposed an alliance to those in similar positions.

But they all likely refused. The immediate fear of standing up to the giant gang was greater than the future risk of becoming a target.

The gang members were not only powerful but also terrifying because once they started, they wouldn't stop until one side was completely finished.

The giant gangs that dominated the slum were so powerful that it was almost impossible to drive them out of this giant city, Wayne City, without the direct intervention of the military. The threat they posed to small and medium-sized wealthy individuals was significant.

But that aside, he couldn't let it pass as if they were just some random guys from the neighboring sector. If he hadn't asked, it might have slipped by.

"Hey, you want me to take on those guys for just 300,000?"

"No, no! I didn't mean to offer such a small amount! I can offer free access to my establishments for five years..."

"No, forget that."

Ash cut off the man's hurried response.

"Let's make it 3 million."

"3 million?"

3 million credits. An astronomical amount, equivalent to 6 billion won on Earth. When he demanded ten times the initial offer, the man was speechless, staring at Ash. The hostess sitting next to Ash was also shocked. The man had probably never even seen such a large sum of money in cash.

"300,000 now, and the rest in installments over three years."

"But, but I'm not sure it's the 'Vampires'..."

"What if it is? What if I just leave now?"

"Well..."

The man couldn't respond to Ash's almost threatening words. He was half-convinced anyway.

Only a giant gang or a madman would have the nerve to reach into the entertainment district of Sector 63.

If he refused Ash's offer now, the loss would be so great that the 3 million credits would seem trivial.

He would lose the ownership of seven buildings worth 9 million credits and, more importantly, his life.

3 million credits.

A huge sum even for the man. Could he handle it on his own without hiring this fixer?

The man briefly considered this but relying on luck in such matters was foolish.

The man looked at Ash with trembling eyes. Ash ignored his desperate gaze and fondled the thigh of the high-class hostess sitting next to him.

"3 million... I'll pay. But can you extend the installment period to five years?"

"Sure."

Ash readily agreed, as if he knew the man would say that. The 3 million credits were a punishment for the man trying to use him cheaply by hiding the details.

If he hadn't hidden the details, he would have asked for less than 1.5 million.

The man's income would likely bottom out over the five years of installments.

But it was better than losing everything.

"Then I'll be going."

"...Yes. Take care."

"Yes, sir."

The man left the room with a heavy step. As the door closed, Ash Ronmore's voice and the high-class hostess's laughter echoed.

After the man left, his subordinate, who had been waiting outside, approached.

"Sir, how did it go? Did he accept the commission?"

"...Yes, he accepted it."

"Thank goodness..."

The subordinate, who had suggested calling Ash Ronmore, the notorious fixer, breathed a sigh of relief. He might faint if he heard about the 3 million credit fee.

The man sighed deeply at the sudden debt.

"Phew..."

But he was also relieved in a way.

Ash Ronmore.

The infamous fixer, known as the 'Mad Swordsman,' the best and worst fixer in the slum.

He had appeared out of nowhere three years ago and proved himself to the point where no further explanation was needed.

The most shocking was the reason he gained his reputation.

He single-handedly dismantled the giant gang 'Omar's Hammer,' which dominated Sectors 71 and 63.

The month and a half-long war was already a legend in the slum. It was also why Sectors 71 and 63, where he stayed, were relatively free from the influence of other gangs.

About two and a half years after 'Omar's Hammer' disappeared, other gangs were starting to reach for the two unclaimed sectors. But if he intervened, it would likely be resolved without much trouble.

"I'll have to tighten my belt for a while..."

"Excuse me?"

"That's the way it is."

"Ah... Yes."

The man left the establishment, leaving his confused subordinate behind.

With Ash Ronmore taking the case, the problem was as good as solved. He would go home and have a glass of premium brandy to soothe his aching heart.

It was all the man's own doing.

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