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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Simzy
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A murmur arose.
“What? What’s going on?”
In front of the dungeon, always bustling with people.
Even at night, the dungeon entrance was crowded with explorers.
An ordinary, unremarkable day.
But that day was a little different.
Vrooom!!
“Move! It’s D4C!! Everyone, back!!”
A flying vehicle landed at the dungeon entrance, and operatives poured out.
Clad head-to-toe in superalloy ballistic visors and NIJ Level 5 body armor, the operatives immediately took up defensive positions upon exiting the vehicle.
They scanned their surroundings with a chilling intensity.
The vehicle projected an exclusion zone line with a beam projector, aiming their taser cannons as if ready to subdue anyone who crossed the line.
A red cross logo was emblazoned on their arms and the vehicle, with white lettering inside the cross.
D4C
Dangerous & Difficult & Dirty Deeds For Cost
A motto that conveyed their willingness to undertake any task, no matter how dangerous, difficult, or dirty, for the right price.
Based on their name alone, they sounded like some illegal enterprise, but surprisingly, this company was a medical provider.
A company that automatically received information the moment a client’s life was in danger, and offered a radical refund policy of 10% for every minute they arrived after the initial 3-minute response window.
Simultaneously, it was a company most explorers, who befriended death and lived day by day, would never encounter in their lifetime.
“I never thought I’d see D4C in front of the dungeon.”
An explorer muttered.
The explorers next to him nodded in agreement.
“Is a top-tier explorer dying or something?”
The explorers offered their own speculations while observing D4C.
Despite the vehicle being parked brazenly at the entrance, blocking anyone from entering the dungeon, no one could protest.
While infinitely loyal to their clients, D4C was ruthlessly harsh to those who hindered their rescue efforts.
There had been a ludicrous incident where D4C clashed with the H.O.D because a terrorist being subdued by the H.O.D happened to be a D4C client, resulting in the annihilation of both units. Their military prowess was undeniable.
[Client’s location signal acquired! They’re emerging from the dungeon!]
Upon receiving information from the Netwalker, the operatives immediately began setting up a makeshift operating room inside the transport vehicle parked at the dungeon entrance.
Soon, a group emerged from the entrance.
“Help!! Please help!!”
At the front of the five-person group, Amon waved his phone.
Amon, the least injured, carried the yellow-haired Evan, while the vanguard Tori, blind but with arms intact, carried the mage, Paul.
The blue-haired Hale, having lost both arms, waddled behind them like a duck.
The D4C operatives, after cross-referencing the phone’s location information and confirming the client’s identity, rushed out.
“Rescue team! We’ve confirmed the four individuals requiring rescue!”
With an urgent yet polite tone, they took over care of the injured.
They received the mage, Paul, and the yellow-haired Evan first.
“Abdominal injury confirmed! Report vitals!”
“Pulse is 25!! We have AA and Perfo!”
“Start surgery immediately!”
“This one has a Speedware short circuit!”
“Initiating Blocking and Reincar!”
After receiving those two, they immediately began treating Tori and Hale, whose conditions were less urgent.
As soon as he handed his party members over to the operatives, Amon collapsed to his knees, retching.
“Ugh!!”
He had run to the mini-boss room, immediately engaged in battle upon arrival, and then carried an adult out right after the fight.
His heart screamed for mercy.
“Cough! Ugh!! Cough!”
Clang, clatter…
While Amon was incapacitated and retching, the equipment he and his party members had carried tumbled from his body.
Expensive swords, daggers, shotguns, grenades, and more.
The mercenaries’ eyes lit up with greed at the sight of the items rolling off Amon.
Most suppressed their desire, but a select few couldn’t resist.
‘No one will notice anyway.’
Taking advantage of the chaotic scene, they reached out for Amon and his party’s equipment.
That’s when it happened.
“Get your filthy hands off, you son of a bitch!”
The operative who had been polite to the party members just a moment ago suddenly transformed, aiming between the mercenary’s eyes.
“Eek!”
The mercenary blanched and disappeared into the crowd.
Seeing this, the operative gestured with his chin, and the other operatives gathered the scattered equipment and carefully stored it in a case.
As the client’s belongings and assets were included in the rescue operation, this was a standard ‘service’ provided.
However, the purpose of providing this service wasn’t solely out of love for their clients.
It was also to seize these assets and equipment in the unlikely event the client couldn’t afford payment.
In other words, they meticulously protected these items because they could become their own assets in the future.
While the four were being rescued, the leader of the response team approached Amon, rubbing his hands together.
“Client. How would you like to make the payment?”
It didn’t matter if Amon was broke.
They could just take the patients’ implants.
If that wasn’t enough… well, they could always take their organs.
For this reason, D4C was also known as the legal scavengers.
Fortunately, Amon had enough money to encounter excellent paramedics rather than scavengers.
“It’s $100,000 for four people, right?”
“Yes. Installments are available.”
“I’ll pay in full.”
Amon’s hand trembled slightly as he handed over his phone.
Even though Amon was relatively wealthy, $100,000 wasn’t an insignificant sum.
Still…
‘Life is priceless.’
Convincing himself that it was a worthwhile expense, he resolutely opened the payment app.
The leader scanned the code displayed on the app screen with his eyes and completed the payment in an instant.
Ding!
A notification arrived on Amon’s phone.
“Payment confirmed, client. We will save your companions, no matter what.”
The leader then verbally recited the terms and conditions of the service Amon had purchased.
The arrival time was 2 minutes and 28 seconds, so there was no refund; a 30% refund of the cost for one patient would be issued per patient death; hospitalization costs were separate; and so on.
Even though Amon felt like he was dying, he diligently listened to the terms and conditions, aware of the world’s tendency to exploit even in moments of vulnerability.
After explaining the terms, the leader briefly scanned Amon’s body.
Then he offered him some regenerative ointment and a bottle of water.
Amon refused with a grimace.
“I’m fine. Please take care of my companions.”
It was an expression of his unwillingness to incur additional costs.
Understanding his intention, the leader spoke with a genial smile.
“Water and basic ointment provided to the patient’s guardian are all complimentary. We also offer glucose candy if you need sugar. That’s free too.”
At his explanation, Amon hesitantly took a sip of water.
Once the water helped Amon regain his composure, the leader invited him to board the flying vehicle.
“Guardian accompaniment is a standard option.”
Only after confirming that this was also free did Amon board the transport vehicle.
The vehicle carrying the two critically injured individuals had already departed, and Amon joined the one carrying the two less severely injured.
The vehicle doors closed, and a floating sensation followed.
‘Paying in full is nice.’
Their friendliness surged as soon as they confirmed his ability to pay.
It was a world endlessly kind to the wealthy.
But Amon didn’t find it particularly pleasant.
As Amon’s body swayed slightly back and forth, the leader, sitting next to him, held out a tablet.
“Client…”
“Yes?”
“We’ve confirmed that you are subscribed to our premium package. This package offers discounts on dispatch and hospitalization costs for the guardian as well.”
“Oh, right.”
Amon then remembered the package he had subscribed to.
In this world, where getting shot on the street was commonplace, subscribing to D4C was common sense for those with money.
It was the premium package Amon had signed up for with Sonia as soon as he had acquired some wealth.
“Then please apply the discount.”
“Certainly. Also, since this is your first time using our service…”
The leader manipulated the tablet, changed the screen, and carefully presented it.
“You contacted us using your phone this time. According to our internal statistics, the mortality rate for those using the 24-hour monitoring implant is 20% lower compared to phone users…”
“I’m not getting an implant.”
“Ah, for those who are uncomfortable with cyberware, we also offer compatible magic tattoos.”
“No, thank you.”
Cyberware or tattoos weren’t the issue.
Ultimately, D4C was a megacorp.
24-hour monitoring meant collecting everything from private life to biometric and magical energy information, which Amon absolutely refused.
“Then how about a smart watch…”
“I’m fine.”
The leader persistently continued to offer Amon various products.
Pushing product subscriptions right next to dying patients.
‘Damn cyberpunk.’
Of course, he understood.
From D4C’s perspective, this leader was just another cog, and he needed to meet his quotas.
Still, the rising misanthropy was unavoidable.
Amon arrived at the hospital in 3 minutes.
The conversation with the leader during the trip had been entirely about products.
There was no reassuring talk about the patients’ well-being or Amon’s own comfort.
It was as if they were saying, you paid, and we’ll provide the service accordingly.
Disgust welled up within him at the operatives’ indifference towards life.
Instead of a sense of superiority from his wealth, he felt suffocated by the callousness.
Yet even amidst this bleakness, Amon didn’t lose his conviction.
“Thank you.”
Words of gratitude, a rarity in this world.
Even though it was a service he had rightfully received after handing over a wad of cash, they were still his saviors.
Amon bowed his head to the operatives.
“Thanks to you, they’re alive.”
Amon’s words of gratitude caused the operatives to pause momentarily.
Their expressions were hidden behind their dark visors.
The leader, the only one without a visor, stared at Amon as if lost in thought, then suddenly bit his lip.
He briefly deactivated the camera on his chest and spoke.
“Your companions will be alright.”
“Thank you again.”
Amon bowed his head once more to the operatives and headed into the hospital.
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