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Five Eyes.

The origin of that name is exactly what everyone thinks it is.

The five most powerful allied nations that formed a mutual intelligence alliance with the United States, a hegemonic power of the old generation. However, unlike its original motive, the reason it has become a rebel-leaning underground organization in the present is simple.

Taking advantage of the mutual destruction of the main government forces in each country, various logistics warehouses and power plants, which are nothing less than the last legacy, have been seized by corporations, filling the void of the ruling class.

In the end, the remaining members of the old generation were forced to make a choice.

Whether to conform to the new order of the new era or to resist in pursuit of nostalgia or glory from the past.

Thus, various anti-corporate underground organizations, including Five Eyes, were established.

Among them, this group focuses not on directly attacking society or infrastructure, but on monitoring the five Mega Corps and disseminating various democratic propaganda.

…Well, that’s the basic stance, but if you look at the scale of the offensives they show during the main story or the profiles of the corporate personnel they have recruited, they are well aware that physical strength and coercion will be necessary in the end.

However, since the time is not yet ripe, as is often the case, they give hints that the current life of democracy and… natural human rights is flawed.

Five Eyes’ ‘resistance movement’ had a minor change limited to Harvest Planet, where they had to stir up the latent discontent among citizens and create opportunities to add new faces to the organization.

“A notice of criminal activity and a statement were released simultaneously. They claim that the incident at the checkpoint is absolutely not their doing, and as a price for the false accusation, they will interfere not only in the virtual world this year but also in the Christmas parade.”

“……Hah.”

As I stepped up the worn-out stairs, I listened to the broker’s additional explanation.

The butterfly effect… Why does such a thing even exist…?

Originally, I was supposed to comfortably sit in the provided situation room, just monitoring illegal posts coming through the communication network, but now I had to add offline counter-terrorism duties to the year-end special part-time job for Network Hackers.

…I won’t accept the criticism that I brought this upon myself.

I’ve already suffered enough from innocent soliloquies.

Initiating information search through the keyword checkpoint. …If there is another emerging organization capable of committing such a bold act due to the large-scale blackout and equipment malfunctions, it’s understandable that Five Eyes would feel a sense of crisis. –

“Yeah, yeah… It’s all my fault….”

I didn’t elaborate on my lengthy backstory or the development of my abilities to the tin can.

I thought those things could be figured out gradually while acting together, so I only touched on the important parts.

For example, the process of how I got involved with Valentine… or the connection with the McQueen family, whom I would owe a favor to in Neo Haven. And that even if I were to clash with Paradise, there would be a channel to resolve it amicably.

“I hadn’t seen you in the mercenary market for a few months… Did you suddenly earn enough to buy and maintain this escort robot? I guess that’s why kids these days rush to Elysium for aptitude tests as soon as they reach a certain age.”

To my unexpected companion… or rather, to the smell of money emanating from the still shiny gloves of the tin can, I reminded him of the harsh reality.

“…If there’s a hacker around you who earns like me, they’re definitely all financial criminals, so don’t get involved. If I had that much surplus, I would be resting on my day off instead of coming to work, right?”

“Is that so? Hmm….”

He tilted his head, but it seemed he couldn’t think of anything to refute, so he accepted it.

It’s quite unfortunate that the number one dream of 22nd-century teenagers is to be a well-paid shut-in, but that’s not why I took the tin can out with me.

The first reason is that I thought it would be better for him to experience the world under the care of a guardian rather than just learning continuously in a data-only network.

The second reason is that I will have to navigate many dangerous and precarious situations in the future, so I chose a place where there wouldn’t be much risk to help him get used to it.

And the last reason is….

“Alright, over here are the remaining field-deployed mercenaries….”

Clang—!!

As soon as I reached the top of the stairs, a glass bottle suddenly flew toward my head, and the tin can deflected it.

He stepped forward to ensure that the shards that broke upon hitting his arm wouldn’t touch me, absorbing all the bouncing glass with his body.

The broker… thanks to the unwanted decoration, his suit and hair became a bit shiny.

Ah, right. The last reason isn’t anything else, but I was worried that the mercenaries with good guts might disregard me, who has no decent physical abilities.

To avoid unnecessary trouble, I wanted to show that I also had a reliable means of self-defense.

But I never expected to be subjected to such a thing before even getting a proper look at their faces!

Asha, I will respond immediately. Please take cover on the lower floor and wait. –

With no warning, the declaration of war in the city filled the Care Bot with venom.

The creaking joints and the flashing lights of the external sensors, as if ready to be launched forward at any moment, were truly reassuring.

It was as if the vanguard was asking to be entrusted to him. I felt my heart race at the sight of the tin can standing proudly.

…Hey, you foolish idiot! You’re just a household robot equipped with extra gloves, you know?!

“Wait a moment…!”

I urgently stopped the body that was pulled back like a bowstring just before being launched.

Having crossed several battle lines and situations, I had developed a sense to distinguish between manageable situations and those that were completely ruined.

In my opinion, throwing a bottle was more of a form of intimidation or venting frustration rather than a duel where it was a matter of life and death.

Look, as evidence, didn’t they seem quite flustered over there?

“Puhaha!! You crazy bastard! The broker is here too! What do you mean Droid airstrike…!”

“Did you think I would know that there’s a bourgeois mercenary who carries around a robot that’s not even used for public funds? Ugh….”

“Huh…?”

Not flustered, but laughing.

The cheerful nonsense that was hard to believe was echoing in the desolate building, as if someone had just thrown a dangerous object at a person.

With a boisterous laugh, two of them were patting each other on the knees or backs.

The other mercenaries seemed to be watching the situation unfold, maintaining a posture that they were unrelated, casting strange glances at them and me.

…I was, after all, extremely reasonable.

Even if there was some misunderstanding or error, I thought they must have had a basis for their actions.

So… are they saying that just because they heard mechanical sounds mixed with footsteps on the landing, if they were mercenaries, they would avoid it, and if not, they would just throw it for fun?

What a ridiculous display of turf dominance…?

“…….”

Even though the unidentified liquid remaining in the bottle was smeared on the surface, I glanced at the tin can, which remained motionless in a ready stance at my single word, and then looked back at the two who had thrown etiquette to the dogs.

I weighed the importance of early education and the impact of violent problem-solving methods on his identity.

Hmm….

“……Just don’t kill them.”

Command received clearly. –

Seeing my distorted expression, the remaining humans, sensing the impending fight, happily took a step back and formed a semicircle.

The two involved, unable to utter a word, seemed to be caught off guard as they slowly got up.

Creeeak—!!

Observing the Care Bot, which was not just running but sliding across the ground with a deadly intent, I thought there was no need to endure such a trivial quarrel, but on the other hand, it was also a good opportunity, so I let the leash loose.

The tin can’s condition and specifications are somewhat complex.

Thanks to its sleek multi-purpose composite gloves, there was no way to tell at a glance that what was inside was a non-combat model.

However, it’s also true that the lack of basic hardware performance is serious for just throwing it into a fierce battlefield. But the software inside is specialized for combat, to the point that it would be a waste to tease it.

Compared to the old body, it’s lighter, but whether it can fight properly with its insufficient output and durability is a decision I made to see… but it seems a bit difficult to judge with these clumsy clowns…?

Thud!!

“Gehk!”

Before I could even figure out how to position myself, the guy who got kicked at a right angle at the ankle let out a pitiful cry and fell over.

It wasn’t a serious attack; it was more accurate to say I just used the acceleration to tackle him… but seeing him spin in the air and crash to the ground was a bit pitiful.

“Damn…! My leg!!”

While his friend was spinning like an Olympic hopeful doing a triple axel.

Along with a rough curse, a machete was drawn.

It’s commendable that he didn’t pull out the gun strapped to his back. The moment he pulls it out, it would no longer be a matter of pride, so it’s a wise decision in its own way.

Of course, that wouldn’t solve the crisis.

A typical robot or escort Droid would have naturally blocked the swinging blade.

If it were a crude machine that couldn’t even calculate the threat level of the incoming attack, it would have carried out the order to incapacitate the enemy, regardless of whether its sensors or limbs were torn apart.

On the other hand… our clever tin can has always known how to catch the enemy off guard.

Creeeak!!

“What?!”

The steel shoulder that was thrust in at an angle deflected the machete blade that had rushed in too hastily.

Amidst the clashing metals, loud sparks flew, blurring my vision, and the weighty blow caused the upper body of the man to lean forward.

Naturally, the tin can’s arm, which had caught up with the mercenary’s back, gently cradled his head as he fell.

Hmm. Since the outcome was already decided, there was no need to inflict further injury.

Seeing him already showing mercy made me feel quite emotional….

Bang!!

“…Tin can?”

I didn’t kill him. I was just being cautious to incapacitate him. –

The tin can calmly replied as it withdrew its hand from the back of the man’s head, which was buried face-first into the floor of the building, and returned to my side as if nothing had happened.

In the end, what remained was… one ruffian groaning while clutching his ankle.

Another fool who had fainted without moving.

“…A combat Droid equipped with advanced AI? That’s fierce.”

“I’ve heard about it. They say a supernova hacker who can even command the Daredevil gang has entered the industry. I’m sure the name is….”

…Many of the other mercenaries wore expressions of shock at the unexpectedly one-sided battle.

It didn’t seem like the atmosphere was right for a casual introduction and laughter, so I should probably head back.

After all, most of them would be on parade duty, while I would be in the situation room waiting and acting as a censor, so it should be fine.

“…Take the repair costs for this guy out of the pay for those two and put it here.”

I patted the slightly dented shoulder of the tin can and made a proper request to the broker, who was busy brushing off the shards of glass that had settled on his suit.

“That doesn’t matter, but… please understand that I can’t increase your pay just because you’re bringing a weapon like that.”

“Hmm….”

I mentally replay the brief skirmish that just occurred.

I knew it was capable of subduing clumsy mercenaries, but…. Compared to how it fought against the Tracker in the past, moving at speeds difficult to follow with the eye, I could clearly feel that its combat power had been downgraded.

It could fight with its ingenious combat sense, but its limit was still that of a household Care Bot.

So, rather than dragging it to dangerous places for no reason, it would be better to divide roles according to its purpose.

…But would it get angry if I told it to stay quietly at the clinic and play with Jenny while I work on Christmas Day?