Chapter 73: You, Become My Comrade (1)

Under the blazing sunset, jagged skyscrapers like shark teeth clustered beyond the lake.

Today, the harmony of the city and sky was especially dazzling. Crowds thronged the streets, keeping the city government’s guards too busy to catch their breath.

Thanks to that, Lee Taebaek and Seo Punggae moved smoothly through blind spots in the guards’ line of sight.

They’d left Red Hare with Jang Chwiyen. Seo Punggae had suggested it, saying he could draw attention, so better to leave it behind. In this neighborhood, drawing aggro only invited trouble. It could even put their safety at risk.

‘Better than getting randomly searched like spies.’

During inspections, guards check for net sockets behind the ear. No socket? No warrant needed—they just drag you off.

“Let go, let go! I didn’t get that procedure—!”

Right on cue, a man in the crowd was being detained. Two guards with caps pulled low menacingly gripped his arms and hauled him away.

“…Is that kind of thing everyday here?”

“Nah. It’s way lighter today.”

“What the hell kind of place is the upper layer?”

He realized it was a stupid question as soon as it left his mouth. You built this place back in the day, Lee Taebaek!

“Heh heh, my friend. We’re not in the upper layer yet.”

To be precise, they were only at the gateway to it. The border zone between upper and lower layers. And yet it was flashy—overly so.

The passionately burning western sky warmed their profiles. Moments later, they arrived at the subway station.

“Taking the subway to meet the kingpin.”

Lee Taebaek muttered absently.

“What was that?”

“Just saying even the station name fits perfectly.”

“Heh heh, what a novel observation.”

The station interior brimmed with a dusky haze. It lacked any sense of life. Eerily pristine, one might say. But that was nothing compared to the facilities.

The commuters’ faces were utterly expressionless. Their gaits, uniform despite varied appearances, betrayed not a hint of disorder—like dolls stamped out from the same factory.

“Are those… really people…?”

“What do you think?”

“They don’t look human, that’s all.”

“Good eye. They used to be human. Not anymore. Take a good look. That’s the City’s future.”

Megacorp was covertly advancing its Personality Annihilation Policy. As the developer, he knew the inside story all too well. The issue was the timing.

It was supposed to happen in the main story—five years from now. And even then, only in its early stages.

‘The scenario’s been accelerated.’

Way too early. Judging by the subway riders, they’d already hit at least half their target for the policy. Lee Taebaek felt the gravity of the situation.

He lowered his eyes and let out a groan. In this space, he and Seo Punggae stuck out like sore thumbs. Eyes followed them.

Even out of sight, heads swiveled to stare. Like a flock of human owls.

“Creepy.”

As Lee Taebaek’s gaze hardened, Seo Punggae chuckled.

“They won’t swarm like zombies, so relax. It’s just unconscious residue. They reflexively look because you don’t act like them.”

“Thanks for the kind explanation…”

“Ah, and no station staff or CCTV here, so you’re safe. That’s why I picked this spot.”

No need to ask why.

‘Pointless for them.’

Commuters were little more than ambulatory plants. Surveillance would’ve been a waste.

No Line 1 Villains like in Seoul here. Shame.

‘Cyberpunk needs those subway villains for flavor. That’s why I saved the Personality Annihilation Policy for the late game.’

Too rigid an atmosphere kills the fun. NPCs like that—crude as they might be—lubricate the experience, keeping players engaged. Non-stop grimdark just wears you out.

‘Gotta tweak this somehow.’

Lee Taebaek smacked his lips inwardly. Then Seo Punggae halted at the turnstile, tapping his device to open the gate.

“Go on in.”

He nodded ahead.

“Guess I’m going solo from here.”

“Great Existence wants a one-on-one.”

“For someone who wants to see me alone, odd choice of venue.”

The platform teemed with people—or whatever they were. Hard to ignore.

Dark-under-the-lamp strategy? Crowds make hiding easier. But this was no lamp—it was a campfire. One slip, and you’d be toast.

“Meeting Dragon Head Chief Great Existence doesn’t mean I bow. I’m Seo Punggae, after all. I invoked the Hyeopjeon you gave me.”

Lee Taebaek furrowed his brow.

“And awkward as it is to say, I’m helping the Beggar Clan. I avoid anything risking my safety if I can.”

He stood tall. Time to take credit. Otherwise, they treat you like a sucker.

“Hahaha, you’re all tensed up. Loosen those shoulders. I said we’re not in the upper layer yet. You think I’d throw you to the wolves? Lee Taebaek, I get your caution, but ease up. Doubting me insults the Beggar Clan’s honor. I can vouch—”

“A promise.”

“Wh-what…?”

Lee Taebaek breezed past like wind. Through the gate, he stepped onto the escalator without pause, eyes wide.

“Guar-an-tee.”

Each syllable drilled into the ear.

The escalator hummed, carrying him down into the depths. Left behind, Seo Punggae found his voice a beat late.

“…Never seen such a robber…”

He chuckled wryly, then soon spread a mat by the gate. Time for business.

Tip: The key to nerfs and buffs is balance. Use Restrictions for greater effects. Aim for golden balance in adjusting Laykuns’ equilibrium 🙂

Lee Taebaek scanned his surroundings. Aside from the dead waiting for the train, nothing stood out.

As expected. He wasn’t the only one on guard. The other had never seen him, so they’d be lurking, presence concealed.

Great Existence held the strategic edge—unavoidable. The privilege of the strong. One flick, and his skull would burst.

Hmm…

Maybe not one—three, at least.

Anyway.

Great Existence was modeled as a reclusive master. Beggar Clan leader reimagined modern-style: mysteriously aloof yet folksy.

Elderly man in his seventies. Nailed the transcendent powerhouse who clung to neutrality.

‘Leans neither way.’

Sides with no one, enemies with none. Live long and thick(?). Turtle grandpa life. Inspired by DrXgon Ball’s Mux Xiansa—fitting metaphor.

“…Phew. Tense.”

Lee Taebaek aimed to win him over. No sloppy mental nerfs.

That grandpa’s Mental Stats were 80 minimum. Living history of the Central Plains, detached from the era—mind like a plant.

‘Petty nerf won’t even scratch.’

One whiff of tampering, game over. Beggar Clan ties too valuable—pure talk it is. Time to show his true colors as a possessor.

He sat on the bench. Screen doors reflected the row of passengers, eerily still.

[Beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-]

Different vibe from upstairs. More doll-like…

‘Wrong.’

Visible play in joints—no human trait. Eyes should’ve had some focus, dull or not. Theirs were just for show.

“Fuck.”

So that’s why Seo Punggae said no worries about stares. Caught off guard.

Beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-

As he jabbed the button, the train pulled in.

[Screen doors opening.]

The mechanical voice echoed hollowly.

[Mind the gap. Mind the gap.]

No one crossed.

[Screen doors closing.]

One man stepped off.

“Sorry to keep ya waitin’.”

Under the shabby hat, purple gums.

“Don’t stare so.”

A wrinkled right hand swirled the air. Silver threads like capillaries spilled from his fingertips.

Then the lined-up figures by the doors slumped like marionettes with cut strings.

Emphasizing again: passengers looked like puppets with severed strings. They were puppets from the start.

An entrance way beyond expectations. Chills different from Sword Master. A world-devouring monster—no surprise beyond the ordinary.

Even regret at the hasty meeting. Terror crushed his back, yet deep inside, thrill surged.

To operate in the upper district, navigate looming variables and bugs ahead…

“Our kin owe ya big.”

The world’s sole, strongest puppeteer.

“Speak. What d’ya want?”

He had to be an ally.