As far as Lils knew, Danan was a young man who never trusted anyone, his heart sealed tighter than an oyster’s shell. Even Liars, who had known him for years, or the old woman he dealt with, never earned his full trust. He dismissed the death of the weapons shop owner he’d grown familiar with as a matter of course—a cold-blooded man. His heart, shut so tightly that no one could find a crack to slip through, might as well have been forged from ultra-dense carbon steel.

  Arms crossed, puffing purple smoke, Danan stared at Eve, her face contorted in pain, while tapping the armor of his mechanical arm. Watching from the side, Liars opened his attaché case to prepare for Eve’s examination, tossing out a teasing remark. “What’s up, Danan-chan? You’re pacing like a man waiting for his wife to give birth.”

  “I’m not pacing,” Danan replied.

  “Really? Something on your mind?”

  “Nothing.”

  Liar. Glancing at Danan while typing, Lils eavesdropped on their conversation, picking up on a subtle dissonance in his words.

  To an outsider, Danan’s curt, disinterested tone might seem like a reflection of his cold nature. But Lils noticed he was smoking faster than usual—a telltale sign something was off.

  “Danan,” she said.

  “What?”

  “What happened in the ruins… in Sector M?”

  “Like I said before. Nothing else worth mentioning.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah.”

  What happened in Sector M was known only to Danan and Eve. Lils had no way of understanding the sector’s abnormal toxin levels or the constant threat to life it posed. The communication devices embedded in Danan’s mechanical arm and the private channels using the local network became useless as the distance grew and the ruins’ toxins interfered.

  Looking between Eve and Danan, Lils hugged her knees and sighed. There was too much to think about. Before reporting the exploration results to their client, she needed to connect Danan’s mechanical arm to the PC and check the backdoor program’s functionality. Data processing, analyzing and vetting valuable information… If Eve hadn’t collapsed, the mountain of tasks Lils was mentally sorting through would’ve been done by today or tomorrow. Her gaze drifted to the girl hooked up to the diagnostic equipment, waiting alongside Danan for Liars’ verdict.

  A series of short electronic beeps sounded. A monitor arm extended from the attaché case, displaying encrypted data. Liars, connected to Eve’s body via a cable and his mechanical eye, scribbled chaotic notes on a piece of paper. After a long silence, he let out a heavy sigh, disconnected the cable, and spoke.

  “Danan-chan, Lils-chan.”

  He exhaled in awe. “Who is this girl?”

  “What do you mean?” Lils asked.

  “Let me be clear: I can’t fix her. The gap in technical expertise is like heaven and earth.”

  “Liars, explain,” Danan demanded.

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  “Danan-chan, do you think an animal could perform surgery on a human? Could a wild dog from the undercity put on a white coat and flawlessly operate on a patient? The nanomachines running through Eve-chan’s body are unknown technology—akin to the relics we call ‘ruins’ artifacts.’ It’s something no human today can touch.”

  “But—”

  “No buts. Impossible is impossible. Only a god—or a ruins relic—could make the impossible possible.” Packing his tools back into the case, Liars stood, glancing at Danan, who clenched his teeth. With a casual wave, he continued, “But…”

  “…”

  “I’m not saying there’s no way to treat her.”

  “Spit it out.”

  “Find a Hakara Deck. With that, even I might be able to do something.”

  “What’s that?” Danan asked.

  “A Deck. I bet there’s at least one left in the undercity—probably with Aeshma’s prostitutes.”

  A Deck—a neural-interface immersion device. A tool for the weak who couldn’t endure the real world’s suffering, escaping into a virtual one. By swapping software, it served various purposes. Buying one required immense credits, and those without money used their bodies as collateral for fleeting relief.

  Of course, Danan and Lils had no funds to purchase a Deck. And if the software was held by Aeshma, one of the three organizations ruling the undercity—a leader of the crucible of carnal desire—their chances were slim at best. Tossing his burnt-out cigarette into the trash, Danan hesitated before saying to Lils, “I’m stepping out.”

  “Danan, hold on! Calm down!” Lils urged.

  “I am calm.”

  “No calm person talks like that. Do you understand? You’re talking about Aeshma. This isn’t a joke—it’s reckless!”

  “If you don’t take, you get taken. If you don’t kill, you get killed. I’m going to take it—because I don’t want to lose her.”

  “But—!” Lils protested.

  Stopping him wouldn’t work. He wouldn’t accept it. No matter who tried to hold him back, he’d act. Pushing past Lils’ outstretched hand, Danan headed for the door, raised his gun, and fired into empty space.

  “…”

  A trick of the mind? No. The thick stench of blood stung his nostrils, and the cold edge of a blade pressed against his throat.

  “A deal, relic hunter. You want a Deck, right? I’ll give it to you. But first, let’s talk business.”

  A strange sensation, like static noise flooding his vision. It felt like an analog circuit’s knob had been twisted, blending flickering lights and a sandstorm of discomfort. A man clad entirely in black, unnoticed by the three in the room, stared at Danan with eyes glowing like dim lightbulbs in the darkness. His blade sliced thinly through the skin and flesh of Danan’s neck.

  “The Parade of the Dead…” Liars muttered, and the man sighed.

  “Don’t say any more, Liars. It’s better for both of us if you stay quiet, ignorant, blind, and unaware, don’t you think? So, keep it shut… I don’t want to lose a dear friend for no reason.”

  Speaking in a voice like a synthetic mix of man, woman, machine, and flesh, the man sheathed his knife and vanished as if dissolving into the air. No footsteps, no breath, no presence. When he reappeared, he stood behind Lils, twirling a knife between his fingers.

  Some kind of enhancement procedure or a ruins relic? Danan aimed his gun at the man, signaling Lils with his eyes. “A deal? What does the Parade of the Dead want?” he asked, peering through the sight.

  “Simple job, relic hunter. Go to the pleasure district and bring back my sister. Do that, and I’ll give you the Deck.”

  “That’s unbalanced. There’s no logic to it.”

  “True, my terms are close to an unfair contract—hell, they are one. But isn’t it a steal? Danan.”

  “How do you know my name? If it’s a job, shove it onto some other relic hunter or ruffian.”

  “That’s why I chose you. Originally, I had business with that little girl, but since she can’t move, I’ll use someone close by. The client isn’t me—it’s my sister.”

  “Are you even aware of how nonsensical you sound, Parade of the Dead?”

  “Doubt me all you want. We don’t lie about deals, and we prefer methods that benefit both sides. What’s there to hesitate about? Got the credits to buy a Deck? Connections to the mid-level city? Can you procure everything you need on your own? The answer’s no. I checked your records and work history—you’ve got no shot at getting a Deck otherwise.”

  “…”

  No time to think. Danan’s gaze flicked between the knife teetering in the man’s fingers and Lils. With a quiet murmur, he said, “I’ll take the job.”

  “Deal’s done. My sister’s got a nano-GPS and an electric shocker implanted. I’ll send the tracking code and deactivation key later—get them from Lils. See ya, relic hunter.”

  The man vanished in an instant, leaving the room. Exhaling a heavy breath and feigning calm, Danan prepared his gear. “I’m counting on you, Lils. And Liars, protect her.” Leaving Lils, Liars, and the unconscious Eve behind, he exited the room.