Chapter 25
Delivery Agency (3)
Crunch─!
“These bastards… are they making fun of me?”
Chester’s brow furrowed as he flipped through the contract.
The words were different, but the contents of the commission were exactly the same.
And when Chester checked the time the request had been submitted, his irritation flared even more.
“Two days, huh?”
The moment things went wrong, they had dumped it onto Phantom as if they’d been waiting for the chance.
This was nothing less than a blatant disregard for both Chester and his delivery agency.
“Why think too hard? You failed, so they came to me.”
“Shut it!! You think this is something to dismiss so easily?”
Failure?
Nonsense.
If anything, given the unexpected variable that had cropped up, he should have been demanding an extra fee.
On the request form, there was a section where ‘risk factors’ had to be specified.
Depending on what was written there, the advance payment and difficulty rating would change drastically.
On Chester’s request form, there had been no mention of any risk factors.
Naturally, nothing about the existence of Players either.
But given the circumstances, it was obvious that Players were involved.
And a request involving Players was fundamentally different from an ordinary one.
The risks to account for were immense.
“If this goes wrong, we might clash with the Foundation…”
In that case, forget about fees—the very survival of his agency, and even his own life, would be at stake.
He had thought this was just another corporate espionage job.
To Chester, it felt like he had touched a boiling kettle without realizing it.
“Heh. That’s what happens when you take every request that comes your way. You should’ve been more selective.”
“Hah… you think I can afford to pick and choose like you?”
Chester’s Delivery Agency Network was a kind of mercenary group.
Made up of Out-Players from all sorts of backgrounds, they handled anything from small errands to large commissions without discrimination.
If they only took jobs that suited their taste, the profits wouldn’t add up, and their reputation as reliable mercenaries would take a hit.
And though Chester hated to admit it, the number one in the industry was Phantom, standing tall and unshaken. For business strategy reasons alone, Chester had no choice but to stick with his current policy.
Quantity over quality.
Truth be told, requests being different from what was written on the form was nothing unusual, but this time it was too much.
This went beyond what he could simply grit his teeth and accept.
“…Damn.”
Chester handed the contract back to Phantom and turned to leave.
“Just walking away?”
“What else can I do?”
Phantom shouted at his back, disappointed.
“You’re really just gonna let this go? What happened to the old Chester?”
“So what are you suggesting?”
“Well, what if we teamed up? Maybe we could make it work.”
“…If you’re gonna spout nonsense, I’m leaving.”
Annoyed, Chester pulled down the visor on his helmet.
“Tracking down the client’s identity will be hell. And even if we find them and complain, they’ll just say the deposit covers it. Why invite trouble? And most importantly…”
Chester turned his head directly toward Phantom.
Even with the visor down, it was clear what kind of look he was giving him.
“…I despise the idea of working with you.”
“Aw, why so cold?”
“…What about your partner here? What do you think?”
“Me?”
Sehyun tilted his head when Chester nodded toward him.
“That guy? It’s obvious he’ll just charge in without thinking.”
“Hey! What do you take me for?!”
While Phantom protested, Chester ignored him.
Sehyun thought for a moment before speaking.
“There are two options.”
“…Two?”
Curious now, Chester lifted his visor again.
“First, since this is a double commission set up without our consent, we cooperate to complete the request and then both extort double pay using the double contract as leverage.”
Their completion conditions were essentially the same.
So, if they worked together, they could succeed and then use the overlapping contracts to demand payment from both sides.
“It’ll be easier if we cooperate. And then—”
“Hold it, hold it.”
Chester quickly cut him off.
“You’re telling me to share the work with this lunatic? I’d sooner die than get tangled up with her.”
“I’m just saying it’s an option.”
“Spare me. What’s the second option?”
Smirk—
Got him.
“We’ll still complete the commission, but leave that part to us.”
“Huh? Without even talking to me first….”
Ignoring Phantom’s protest, Sehyun continued.
“In return, you track down the client and figure out what their true purpose is. That shouldn’t be too hard for you, right?”
“…Hmm. It’s doable. But what’s your game?”
“They toyed with the contract. Don’t you think it’s only fair we give them a taste of their own medicine?”
Whatever this world’s exact rules were, if someone went to the trouble of hiring either Phantom or Chester, it definitely wasn’t a trivial matter.
The fact that the condition was “retrieve or destroy” clearly showed they didn’t want the target falling into anyone else’s hands.
So, why not exploit that?
“We secure the target, then use it to blackmail them.”
“Wow!”
Phantom let out a whistle.
Not just squeezing out a bit more money, but plotting to seize their weakness and bleed them dry.
“Knew it. You’ve got a talent for this world.”
“Don’t say stupid things.”
He was just following through on the deal he’d made with Phantom, nothing more.
Even if the method was a bit extreme, he had no desire to stir up pointless chaos.
Chester stared at Sehyun before finally speaking.
“…You’re just as crazy as Phantom.”
“So, are you in or out?”
Chester snapped his visor down again and turned without hesitation.
“No need to hear more. You two can handle your own madness.”
Mounting his bike, he muttered in a low voice as the engine roared to life:
“…We’ll do our part. Half a day, and we’ll have the client. Do whatever you want until then.”
Vroooom—!
A dozen motorcycles followed Chester as they left the café terrace.
“Honestly, he’s such a stubborn bastard.”
Phantom chuckled, watching him go.
“Let’s go, Phantom.”
“Where?”
As Sehyun strode ahead, Phantom tilted his head in confusion.
“I’ve got a hunch where to start.”
After all, he hadn’t taken on the job for nothing.
Sehyun already knew about Chester.
The most famous Out-Player was Phantom, but the one considered the representative of Out-Players was always Chester.
“Delivery Agency Network, huh. Compared to my past life, it’s nothing.”
For now, it was just a small outfit running errands.
But as time passed, things would change.
Chester’s network would create an unwritten code among the lawless Out-Players, growing into an organization with enough influence to unite them.
And the classified intel they accumulated through countless requests would become their greatest weapon, forming the foundation of their independent power.
“They may only be active in the metro area right now, but… plenty useful.”
The intel they dealt in was often little more than rumors, but even those were valuable in Sehyun’s hands.
This case was no different.
Sehyun had already drawn his own conclusion.
That was why he had suggested something as drastic as blackmail.
“Those bastards deserve it.”
A delivery job involving a Player’s package.
And the cargo seemed to be a person.
On top of that, they had even gone so far as to hide it behind double contracts.
Put the pieces together, and the conclusion was obvious.
“If they went out of their way to hide the Player angle, it must be something the Foundation can’t know about, yet precious to a Player. And if it’s not a mere ‘thing’… there’s only one possibility.”
A Soul Stone.
Sehyun guessed this incident was tied to one of those.
Not a monster’s Soul Stone, but a Player’s.
Monster Soul Stones were openly traded under Foundation supervision.
The issue was what kind of Soul Stone it was.
Unless there were special circumstances, Soul Stones left behind when Players died were nearly impossible to trade.
Because that was like…
“…the same as trafficking human corpses.”
A vile, disgusting business.
It was one of the taboos even among Out-Players, and of course violated the principles set by the Foundation.
Only the most depraved would dare such a thing.
Which meant the destination was obvious.
“Hey, so where are we going?”
“A club.”
“A club?”
It was a name anyone who used social media would have heard at least once.
Evening fell.
A neon sign blazed: Club Moonshine.
Crowds of young men and women came and went, eager to fill their feeds with photos.
When Sehyun tried to walk straight inside, a guard stopped him.
“Hold on.”
He scanned Sehyun up and down.
“Sorry, we’re full. Try somewhere else.”
“…Huh?”
Sehyun, momentarily confused, noticed the others going in and realized the problem.
Dressed plainly, completely unsuited for a club, there was no way he’d be let inside.
“Of course. I’ve never set foot in a place like this.”
In his past life, he’d been too focused on work. And after the Apocalypse, needless to say, such places were gone.
“Pfft! No wonder. You’re dressed like that.”
Phantom waved a hand dismissively and stepped forward confidently.
The guard started to speak again.
“I told you—”
“Here, take this and let us in, yeah?”
Phantom handed him something.
Money, maybe?
But instead of looking pleased, the guard went pale.
It was a black business card.
He turned and urgently spoke into his earpiece.
“V… VIP!”
Immediately, the same guard who had been so arrogant opened the way with a nervous bow.
“P-please, come in. Would you like me to escort—”
“No need.”
With a sharp refusal, Phantom grinned at Sehyun.
“Let’s go, nerd.”
“…Tch.”
Inside, flashing lights dazzled the eyes, and pounding music battered the chest.
Heavy perfume stung the nose. No sane person could relax here.
“What’s so popular about this place anyway?”
Sehyun grimaced and covered his ears.
They pushed through the crowd and entered the VIP area.
This was where guests enjoyed the club’s “special packages.”
Sehyun addressed the guard at the VIP entrance.
“I’d like to order a package.”
“…You?”
The man frowned unconsciously.
Hah.
Why was he constantly being judged for his outfit?
“No. Him.”
Sehyun jerked his thumb back at Phantom.
Phantom’s eyes gleamed sharply, and the guard flinched, hurriedly handing over a catalog.
“Hmph, should’ve done that earlier.”
Ignoring Phantom’s sneer, Sehyun flipped through the catalog.
Fine liquors, luxurious snacks, various sets.
But what he wanted was on the last page.
“What’s this? No price?”
“That means it isn’t fixed.”
It was the ultimate package, above all others: the Soulmate Package.
To meet him, they had to order this one.
“So… you got any money?”
“Huh? How much?”
“About a billion.”
“…What?”
For the first time, Phantom’s smug face twisted in dismay.
