Chapter 5

1. Ash Ronmore (4)

* * *

What also left a strong impression was the cross-sections of their bodies.

Just cutting a human neck with a knife? That was something even she, who had only ever held a combat knife, could do.

Anyone with enhanced strength, whether a cyborg or an augmented human, could probably do it.

It was something that could be done with just a certain amount of force.

However, what about the severed limbs and the cyborg-enhanced bodies inside them?

The modified bodies of the 'Omar's Hammer' officers were so solid that they could block large-caliber bullets. Naturally, cutting them with a blade was unimaginable.

But that man, Ash Ronmore, had done the impossible in reality. He had cut them as cleanly as if with an industrial cutter, so clean that his face was reflected in the cuts.

Was such a thing physically possible?

"Hmm…"

Click, click. Leila flicked the ash off her cigarette with her pale, delicate fingertips. Leaning back in her chair, her body relaxed from the drug, she thought.

They had successfully taken over a significant portion of Sector 63's outskirts, but after probing through Virey, it was clear that any further expansion would inevitably lead to a clash with Ash Ronmore.

But that was too unsettling.

There were too many mysterious points about Ash Ronmore, and each one could potentially lead to a major problem if ignored.

Ash Ronmore's personal combat prowess, and the possible allies and background he might have.

In the end, she couldn't come to any conclusion while sitting here.

Leila, who had already finished her cigarette, crushed it in the ashtray and spoke.

"I'll have to see him in person soon."

"Isn't that dangerous?"

"…Dangerous? Of course it is."

Leila chuckled at Virey's words.

Worries about danger. How long had it been since she had heard such a thing?

Virey seemed to be genuinely concerned about her, but to her, taking a certain level of risk was as routine as daily life.

Throughout her life, every moment of choice had been a gamble with her life. And she had won all those gambles to reach her current position.

If she had always avoided danger out of fear, she could never have become the leader of such a large gang as a woman.

You had to take risks to receive the corresponding rewards.

She looked out the window and said,

"But if you don't take risks, you can't climb any higher."

* * *

"See you later."

"Yes! Whenever you visit our establishment, we will serve you with the best service!"

"Uh-huh."

As always, Ash waved his hand in response, his back turned, and headed toward his home and office.

There were a few things he needed to do after being away from his employer's business for a few days.

He caught an AI-driven autonomous taxi and pulled out an old mobile phone to call someone.

­ Yes, this is the Ronmore Detective Agency! How can I assist you?

"I'm on my way back after finishing the job."

­ Oh, Boss! Good job. I'll prepare the ledger and the requests that have come in over the past few days!

"Alright."

The energetic voice of the boy, Shine, came through the phone. He was an orphan from the slums that Ash had hired.

The boy's clear and strong voice had a way of invigorating the listener. Ash smiled to himself, imagining the boy waiting for him, and ended the call.

The autonomous taxi drove smoothly through the streets.

*

Sector 71, Ronmore Office.

­ Ring, ring.

"Yes, this is the Ronmore Detective Agency!"

­ I want to talk to your boss about some business. Is he around?

"No, he's currently out but is expected to return soon. Would you like me to contact you when he's back?"

­ Sure.

"Could you please provide your name?"

­ Leila Floris.

"Ah, yes. Thank you for calling. I'll contact you when the boss is back."

­ Alright.

Click. The boy with light brown hair and eyes, Shine, put down the phone and wrote down the number from the old landline in his notebook.

It had been a few days since the boss, Ash Ronmore, had been away.

But the Ronmore Detective Agency was still busy, receiving dozens of calls for requests and inquiries every day.

The name 'Ash Ronmore' was well-known throughout the slums, and because the boss, Ash Ronmore, was famous, many people wanted to hire him.

"Let's see… 1872…"

He wrote down the number in his always-carry notebook, and next to it, he wrote 'Leila Floris' and 'Tell the boss when he's back!' with a small star.

The notebook and the old landline were relics of a bygone era, rarely used even in the slums, but the boy had adapted because his employer, the boss, had a preference for such things.

After writing down the contact information, the boy reviewed and confirmed the contents of the requests he had received over the past few days.

Find a precious cat – 5,000 Credits

Please find our butterfly that disappeared in the red-light district.

Collect a debt – 10,000 Credits

A gang member borrowed money and hasn't paid it back. Please collect it.

Bodyguard – 12,000 Credits

I've received death threats. Please protect me for a few days.

……

……

…

Of course, he didn't transcribe the requests verbatim. He summarized the key points for Ash's convenience.

Ash preferred to see the summarized list rather than the actual requests.

It felt like receiving quests in a game.

While the sentiment was incomprehensible to Shine, he did it because the boss, Ash, wanted it that way.

Just as Shine was finishing his review of the requests, the small bell on the office door jingled.

Ash, carrying bags that smelled delicious, entered the office and handed them to Shine.

"Welcome back, Boss!"

"Hey, kid, here's a snack."

"Thank you."

Shine bowed in gratitude and took the bags.

Soon, they sat down and enjoyed the snacks and drinks while starting a conversation.

"Shine, how many requests did you get while I was away?"

"About thirty. Here you go."

In response to Ash's question, Shine handed over the notebook where he had summarized the requests.

Ash, who had received the notebook, frowned at the first request.

"What's this, find a cat? Do they think this is a delivery center?"

He sounded exasperated.

Shine, as usual, couldn't fully empathize, but the boss had said that a detective agency and a delivery center were worlds apart.

A delivery center was run by amateurs, while the Ronmore Detective Agency was the best of the best.

In reality, the difference in skill was far greater than just amateur versus professional, but from an outsider's perspective, a delivery center and a detective agency might seem the same.

Still, Ash would often frown when he received trivial requests like finding a cat or a lost item.

The reward wasn't bad, though. Shine thought to himself.

The reward for finding the cat was a whopping 5,000 Credits.

It must have been a very precious cat, but the boss, Ash, dismissed it.

"Hmm… None of these really catch my eye. Good job."

"Thank you."

Ash returned the notebook to Shine and leaned back on the sofa, crossing his legs. Shine, who had received the notebook back, informed Ash about the call he had received earlier.

"By the way, Boss, I received a call."

"A call?"

"Yes. A woman said she wanted to talk to you about business."

"Business…"

Ash thought for a moment. Nothing came to mind. He asked Shine,

"Name?"

"She said her name was Leila Floris."

"Never heard of her."

Ash had no one who would meet him privately to discuss business.

Seeing Ash's confusion, Shine suggested,

"Should I call her back? Maybe her voice will jog your memory."

"Sure. Let's hear her out."

"Alright, one moment."

Shine took out his phone and called the number he had written down, then handed it to Ash.

But the other party didn't answer.

­ Ring, ring… The other party is unavailable…

"Didn't answer?"

After listening to the automated message for a moment, Ash ended the call and handed the phone back to Shine.

"Right? She specifically asked to be contacted…."

Shine, who had taken back the phone, was puzzled. It had been less than an hour. Why wasn't she answering?

He checked the number in his notebook and his call log, but it was correct.

After thinking for a moment, Shine had an idea.

"Ah, she called the office phone. Maybe that's why she's not answering my personal phone."

"That's pretty picky."

Sometimes people were like that. They wouldn't answer if the number was unknown. Ash was one of those people, but he complained about others doing it.

"I'll try the office phone again."

Shine used the phone on the office desk to call again.

Before the ringing could even finish, the other party answered.

"Hello?"

­ Is your boss there?

"Yes. I'll put you through right away."

­ Okay.

It was the same woman's voice he had heard earlier. Confirmed, Shine handed the phone to Ash. Ash took it.

"Who is this?"

­ Is this Ash Ronmore?

A slightly husky, pleasant female voice. Just from her voice, he could picture her. She must be beautiful.

Ash, feeling a bit more relaxed, responded.

"So, what's up?"

­ Hmm. I thought you'd be rougher, but your voice is better than I expected.

"Thanks for the compliment. Yours is nice too. So, who are you?"

Returning the compliment, Ash asked. Her voice was indeed soothing to listen to.

But her response shattered his good mood.

­ I'm Leila Floris, the boss of 'Vampire'.

"Huh?"

­ I'll be visiting soon.

"What?"

Click. The other party, who had identified herself as the boss of 'Vampire', hung up without waiting for Ash's response.

Ash stared at the disconnected phone for a moment before putting it down. Her voice was really nice.

"Probably just a prank call."

"Huh?"

* * *

Oh.