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Beep beep beep beep—!!

“Ugh….”

I barely opened my eyes to the alarm that was mercilessly pecking at my ears.

For a moment, my hazy mind couldn’t grasp the situation and tried to fall back asleep, but… I saw the motorcycle helmet carefully placed in the corner of the sofa and jolted awake.

I gathered my scattering consciousness and molded it into student mode.

Today was the interview for the combat police engineer position.

…Helena, clearly understanding that I wanted to work in the same place as her, immediately gifted me a helmet, saying we could commute together every day.

It was true that I applied with that purpose and motivation…! But seeing her go to work every morning with light steps, oblivious to my worries, I had to swallow the words that rose to my lips several times.

Instead of worrying about me, she should look closely at her own surroundings…! I’m the one who’s worried to death!

“Ughhh…!”

I stretched my arms and legs wide, feeling refreshed.

Perhaps it was the effect of working out like crazy lately, but the response from each part of my body felt sharper.

…I hope no one says I’m showing off with something trivial, considering I woke up much closer to lunchtime than morning, and I’m living with a true early bird.

Working with Helena is synonymous with forcing my poor body to fit into that brutal schedule, which I only realized belatedly….

Thump….

I threw off my pajamas and put on my comfortable Combat Suit.

Even so, my empty hands opened the refrigerator to see if there was anything to fill my empty stomach… but all that was in this hopeless house, where delivery and takeout were practically the main source of food, were drinks and alcohol.

…No, this is perfect.

I couldn’t live forever with a condescending attitude, just because I had some talent and uncertain future information.

No more worrying to rationalize my precarious position and existence. At least until the immediate problem is solved, I’m just like any other ordinary citizen in the city.

So… let’s just buy something to eat at a restaurant or street stall on the way to the interview.

…My mouth has already been exposed to all sorts of unidentified chemical seasonings and ingredients for a long time.

With a click, I equipped my soulmate, the pistol, and after checking that the door was properly locked, I left the villa.

I glanced at the countless vehicles speeding down the road and the equally impressive pedestrians, and hurried along.

My current destination… first, the internal circulation train station of Harvest Planet, which will transport this body near the interview location.

It was ironic that even after a century, most of humanity still moved around with their sturdy legs and developed public transportation.

Even though resources might be scarce, technology is abundant, so I wondered why this scene was still maintained….

Baaang—!

“Can’t you drive properly!! You moronic bastard?!”

“Isn’t it more idiotic to almost crash into a car that’s in autonomous driving mode, you idiot?!”

“Ah….”

Immediately after narrowly avoiding a collision, the two drivers, without waiting for the other, stopped on the shoulder and grabbed each other by the collar. I nodded my head.

If the people living inside seemed to have changed but were still similar… it wasn’t hard to understand. It was just a little bitter and funny.

I turned my eyes away from them, who had started a lively brawl, and looked at the people walking by, but… as expected.

There were people overflowing with self-love and self-esteem. Conversely, there were people who looked gloomy and suspicious, but the unchanging commonality was that they were all looking ahead but too busy looking at something else.

…If modern people were looking down at their smartphones, at least the people in this neighborhood were too busy looking at the Cyberware imprinted on their retinas, which was a minor difference.

“…They’re using their time efficiently.”

Beep….

[ Welcome to the Green Sector 46 Residential Area Station in the Middle Stratum! ]

Unlike the trains going outside, a message appeared as I passed through the station entrance with sensors, without needing to do anything separately.

I thought it was more friendly than expected for mere public transportation. But seeing the Credits charged displayed in small letters in the corner while I was distracted by the welcome message… it just seemed like a petty marketing tactic…?

There weren’t any people who seemed particularly interested in others, but to avoid any physical altercations that might occur during boarding and alighting, I leaned against a corner wall and watched the people around me.

“…. Cough…!”

A hacking cough came out involuntarily from the acrid smell tickling my nose.

There were quite a few haggard prospective passengers silently smoking, with almost dead eyes, even though it was still midday.

…Well, since at least half of them seemed to be smoking something that was definitely not ordinary cigarettes, there was no reason to get involved.

“Eek…!”

I quickly turned my head away from the person who was looking around to find the person who was watching him, as he was sensitive to gazes even in his intoxicated state.

As I looked around awkwardly to pretend to be doing something else, the flashing station signboard constantly displayed train schedules and corporate-approved product advertisements, while the dark walls, where neither sunlight nor lighting properly reached, were covered with outdated posters for loans, information trading, and ‘amazing drugs that corporations will never sell’….

…It’s very suspicious, but I memorized the number listed as an information broker.

It would be much more accurate for me to investigate the network directly than to seek help from such a place… but you never know.

Thump… Thump…! Thump thump!!

“Whoa…… Whoa?!”

My bangs shot up with a strong gust of wind.

Following the example of the people who covered their faces and the cigarette butts in their mouths, I covered my eyes with one hand and watched the train coming in.

The design didn’t have any antique charm, but the sleek and smooth surface, as if it was too good to waste fuel on air resistance, was quite… nice. All I knew was Neo Haven’s square subway.

I naturally followed the crowd that had gathered and boarded the circulation train.

…An empty seat? That’s for weaklings to sit on. This body, with two weeks of exercise experience, will stand to train my legs…!

Thump… Thump…!

Thump…….

…….

“…You idiot…!!”

I wanted to beat up the me from ten minutes ago who made the wrong decision, intoxicated by the warm sunlight after so long.

This circulation train… I don’t know if it’s the time or the station that’s the problem, but people just keep getting on and don’t get off. I’m so miserable, huddled in the corner of the car after being pushed and shoved.

…No, more accurately, the station where I need to get off is getting closer, so I need to figure out how to escape this box quickly.

If that’s not possible, I need to come up with a plan to avoid being crushed to death….

• The next station is the Combat Police Branch 2 station in the Middle Stratum Public Sector. We hope you have a rewarding day at Harvest Planet! –

“…Huh?”

The passengers suddenly moved busily, and the pressure that had been applied to the corner suddenly disappeared.

Regardless of their size, whether they were bulky or skinny, they reacted to the announcement and prepared to get off.

As the train doors opened with the sound of air leaking, I managed to get off, following the people who were disembarking as if the tide was receding.

“……”

I left the station as if possessed by a ghost, and followed the direction where the crowd was heading with my eyes.

…Police Station Branch 2, today’s destination and the interview location I was informed of. It’s not inside the police station, but in an annex connected to the branch, anyway.

Surely they’re not all criminals who are excited to turn themselves in on a warm day… A sense of unease crept up on me, wondering if I might have made a huge mistake.

“Welcome, miss…! What would you like to order?”

“…Fried noodles, please.”

I grabbed my dazed mind and trudged over to the food truck with a savory smell, taking a seat.

…It’s okay. There are still 30 minutes left until the notified time, so there’s plenty of time to think.

Sizzle…!

“……”

From the cartridge material input to the iron plate cooking to the final packaging.

I quietly watched my lunch, which was flying through the air according to the perfectly automated process of the machine chef… and then I realized that a local was right in front of me and opened my mouth.

“Excuse me… sir? Can I ask you something…?

“…No refunds for food that has already started cooking.”

“No, no?! I was just wondering if the police interview is usually this popular! …I thought everyone hated the police.”

The food truck owner with a bushy beard looked at the people still entering the police station building once, and then at me, who was confused, and burst into a hearty laugh as if he had heard the most ridiculous question.

“Heh heh!! Who would like the police or corporations? But isn’t it the best job to earn Credits and make a living?”

“Ah…?”

I accepted the offered paper box (To Go Box) with my mouth open.

…Right, when have I ever seen people who hate working for the government or big corporations just because they complain about them?

But… did even this have to be similar to the old days?!

To realize that the helmet I received as a gift was actually a good luck charm of sorts just before the interview started… great job, really.

“…Thank you for the meal.”

“…? Heh heh!! Don’t be too discouraged if you fail, miss!”

“Ha….”

Instead of savoring the familiar and nostalgic soy sauce flavor, I roughly poured it down my throat, and the owner, who noticed the situation when he saw me heading weakly towards my destination, gave me some really unlucky encouragement.

Still… still determined that I wouldn’t be second to anyone in cyber engineering skills, I entered the branch.

“…Anastasia Valentine, applying for the 06:00 to 14:00, Cyber Engineer Division of the Gate Guard… is that correct? The cyber engineer interview will be conducted in a private room with interviewers directly dispatched from Paradise and Elysium Corporation, so please pay special attention to your words and actions.”

“Yes… thank you….”

“Then, please pick up the firearm you submitted at the counter after the interview… and wait until your name is called.”

…I remembered that the interview wasn’t just a practical exam, but also included a conversation with the interviewers. …Damn it.

I bowed my head to the person in charge of the annex counter, who must have repeated the same words hundreds of times today.

And as punishment for leisurely eating lunch and then showing up, I went to the corner of the waiting room and squatted down again.

There were people who were neatly dressed in suits, and people who were casually wearing hoodies, but most of them had surgical marks around their heads or eyes and skin replaced with mechanical parts… I wondered if all the crazy people from the hacker community had gathered here.

• Nazir El Sadat, inside. –

A dark-skinned man in neat attire disappeared inside with a dignified air, and then….

“Eeeek?!”

Crash…!!

A few minutes later, he was ejected into the hallway, pale and practically rolling.

Just then, two riot police appeared from the other end and grabbed his arms, one on each side, as he lay prone.

“…Nazir El Sadat. You are under arrest for continuously posting defamatory articles about Paradise and hacking the city network.”

“”……””

The atmosphere in the waiting room became quite warm and fuzzy after seeing the first interviewee being dragged away.

But if it’s hacking the city network… maybe it’s in my best interest to just leave now…?

• Marina Serrano, inside. –

“…Heh.”

A woman with an impressive afro hairstyle stood up lightly, then sprinted out of the annex.

Of course, a police officer wielding a baton immediately followed, but… considering I haven’t heard any screams even by the time the next name was called, she must be quite physically capable.

…Is this an interview or an execution ground?

I was already scolding myself for being too naive, but you guys are just absurd….

• Phillip Novek, inside. –

• Dan Hilty, inside. –

I watched the headache-inducing spectacle for quite a while.

Some were over in an instant, while others had silent turns lasting 20 or 30 minutes.

But eventually, the applicants who had filled the waiting room to the point of overflowing into the hallway were whittled down until only a handful remained.

But… something feels off.

Applicants who arrived later than me have gone in and out, so why hasn’t my name been called yet?

Now there are only three people left….

• Cirillo Masi, inside. –

……Two.

• Tahara Kohei, inside. –

……Shit.

Even though the Japanese applicant left with a gloomy expression, and even though the only sounds in the annex were the breathing of the police officer at the window and myself, the installed speaker still didn’t utter my name.

As I was contemplating what to do amidst the tension, anxiety, and the blatant signs of manipulation and traps… the police officer who had taken my application spoke to me.

“…Anastasia Valentine, you may go inside.”

“…If you’re going to arrest me, just do it now, okay?”

“…?”

He tilted his head as if wondering what I was talking about.

It wasn’t so much pure curiosity as… a sort of awkwardness, like he’d received a bizarre question from someone difficult to deal with.

“…I’m just a low-ranking officer, so I can’t say anything. Mr. Dreyfus is waiting for you inside.”