TL/ED: Hamsterminator

The reason Jin flinched was because of déjà vu.

A sensation he had felt once before.

It was similar to the moment when Lokan brought down the monster. The intense atmosphere from that day was now emanating from the woman standing alone over there.

But only for a moment.

Jin instinctively realized that she did not measure up to Lokan.

Unlike Lokan, who was so perfectly composed that he evoked the image of a master, her aura was more candidly illuminating her surroundings, yet it lacked the overwhelming force of that lightning.

And so, Jin felt relieved.

You're not Lokan?

The tension in his shoulders, which had stiffened for a moment, naturally eased, and his hand settled on his thigh instead of on the Gravis.

But it seemed the other two still needed some time.

Eric had plastered the visor surface with a bunch of question marks, and even Poe, who always greeted guests with a gentle smile, was keeping a brief silence this time.

In the end, it was Jin who responded to the woman's words.

"Yeah. Anecdote."

At the same time, a gaze turned this way.

Eyes filled with white flame.

That heat.

Simultaneously, Jin’s optic nerves reacted.

Without even realizing it himself, crackle!, a flash of purple light gently wrapped aro⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌und his face and disappeared, and the woman, the only one who noticed, had a subtle change in expression.

Then she asked in a low voice,

"Are you the owner of this place?"

"Nope? I'm just a low-level employee."

"...What?"

A wrinkle formed between the woman’s brows.

"Are you trying to mess with me?"

"...Which part made you think that?"

This time, Jin tilted his head.

Mess with her? Over what?

The bartender behind me is the owner's right-hand man,

And that helmet-head over there is a Level 4 Solo.

No matter how ridiculous I might look...

How could you not even glance their way?

Muttering to himself, Jin glanced toward Eric and saw the screen still filled with question marks, so he subtly looked away.

Damn, why is he still like that?

I can't cover for this.

He himself looked just as bad, his hair was a mess like a bird’s nest, and he even had eye boogers.

All because he rushed out to get breakfast without even washing up.

The person in question wasn't interested in such things and was only confident, so he opened his mouth toward the woman who was quietly looking at him.

"Anyway, it’s not me. The owner is s⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌omeone else."

"Then call your owner. I need to speak with them."

"You’re looking for me?"

Just then, a voice came from behind, drawing near with a distinctive sweet yet smoky scent, along with the click-clack of approaching steps.

"I'm Khalifa, the manager of Anecdote. How can I help you?"

As Khalifa spoke, the woman’s gaze slowly turned to her.

"You're the Linker?"

"I live half my life as one. Do you want to see that side of me?"

The two women’s gazes met midair.

In the silence, Ji⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌n sipped his milk.

It was only a short moment, so short that someone spoke before he could even put the glass down on the table.

It was Khalifa.

"...I didn’t think you’d come all the way here."

She spoke in a tone that suggested she recognized the woman.

And the reply followed.

"Because you're being frustratingly slow."

The woman approached the table.

She sat down on a round stool without a backrest, and only then did Jin finally notice her overall appearance, which he hadn’t focused on due to her intense eyes.

Straight black hair that reached her lower back, a deeply worn ball cap and a mask, a white T-shirt, and jeans.

Somehow, it felt familiar to Jin.

Back home, when celebrities were secretly photographed in their private lives, they often showed up in articles wearing exactly this kind of outfit, splashed across the page.

She dressed plainly, but her figure wasn’t plain, so she actually stood out even more.

They say really beautiful or handsome people still stand out even if half their face is covered by a ball cap.

But seriously, why does she keep sneaking glances?

While Jin wore a reluctant expression, the woman turned her head toward Khalifa, taking her eyes off him.

"Why is there no real progress? You said you'd captured the broker."

At the same time, in a corner of Jin’s vision, a gaudy rainbow-colored light flickered, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.

Ugh. That’s distracting.

If she keeps looking at me first, it might become a bad habit.

Even as she kept talking, her eyes involuntarily darted over, just as expected, Eric was communicating with his face.

[→ → Client → →]

‘I know.’

Jin replied by only moving his lips.

What, does he think I'm stupid?

Then the text changed again.

[→ → Solard → →]

This too was within expectations.

Why else would he have seen a glimpse of Lokan in that woman?

And those eye⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌s burning with flame.

Jin may not have had any knowledge about white flame, but when combining the keyword “flame” with a noble family, only one name came to mind.

‘I said I know.’

Finishing the profound moment of meaningful eye contact and silent lip-syncing with his overly helpful sunbae, Jin refocused on the ongoing conversation.

Just in time, Khalifa had opened her mouth.

“We caught him last night. Not even a full day has passed. Give us a little more time-”

“No.”

The woman cut her off firmly.

“Even now, Walter is probably suffering. From the moment I learned about his condition, time has flowed differently for me than for you. I’ve already waited long enough. Don’t test my patience any further.”

Jin narrowed his eyes.

Just by what she said, it was clear she wasn’t Walter’s enemy.

Then maybe family? A younger sister?

[ Daughter? Daughter? ]

Oh, shit. My eyes keep drifting that way.

Just as Jin tried to turn his head away from the human LED sign.

“Does that patience of yours last until this evening?”

The woman remained silent for a while at Khalifa’s question, then slowly spoke.

“I’ll come back before it gets dark.”

“It’s always dark here.”

“I know.”

In other words, she wouldn’t wait until evening.

After that, the woman stood up and left the shop without looking back, and in the silence that followed, the only thing that saw her off was the soft ring of the bell.

"Completely unreasonable. This is why children from wealthy families..."

Khalifa sighed as she stared at the closed door.

Then, as usual, she pulled a bottle from the display shelf. While she prepared a drink for herself, Eric lifted himself from the sofa and planted his butt on a chair at the table.

Even though Jin had already finished eating, he remained in place.

Neither of them said a word, but both were clearly waiting for the follow-up. Only Khalifa, rinsing her mouth with liquor from early in the day, gave a faint smile.

“Our Solo friends sure seem curious about a lot today.”

At that, Jin simply shrugged in response, and Eric displayed an ECG graph on his visor. Naturally, Khalifa’s words continued.

"As you probably expected to some degree, our client is a big shot. If I had to be precise, I should say she's a promising sprout who will become a big shot?"

“Who is she?”

It was Poe who answered Jin’s question.

“Eanna Solard. The youngest daughter of the former family head. I never imagined she’d show up here in person.”

Jin’s eyes widened. It wasn’t because the background was more impressive than expected, but because his guess had been wrong.

Wait, so she’s not family to Walter?

If not family and not an enemy, then...

Jin opened his mouth while ignoring the steadily accelerating beeping of the ECG right beside him.

“...Wait, no way, right?”

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but yes, they’re in love.”

Jin flinched at the unexpected answer and cautiously spoke.

“Isn’t that... not allowed? They’re related, aren’t they?”

“Jin. What do you think of the history of the Seven Families? Take the shortest estimate, it’s a thousand years.”

"Ah, right."

Jin made an awkward face.

In his homeland, over a hundred years had passed since the 518-year-long Joseon dynasty ended, and there were 2.6 million people with the surname Yi from Jeonju. Just going back two generations on the maternal side made people practically strangers, and even same-name same-clan restrictions had been abolished, he’d gotten worked up for no reason.

Of course, the collateral branches of the Seven Families probably didn’t number in the millions, but considering the span of time, the number certainly wasn’t small either.

So the issue in this case wasn’t about sharing the same name and origin, it was about love between a direct and a collateral line.

The love between a woman who inherited history and tradition, and a wretched mercenary cast out from her family.

“Walter awakened his bloodline a long time ago, and his parents entrusted their young son to the family. He spent his childhood there.”

Even among diluted bloodlines, talent can still emerge, Khalifa had once said that this is the only moment when the family embraces the collateral branches.

And Jin understood the situation by comparing it to martial arts novels.

Wasn’t it common in traditional sects to gather talented kids, label them as nth-generation disciples, feed them, teach them, and shelter them?

The truly gifted ones would catch the eye of some elder, receive instruction in advanced techniques, and flip their lives around in one stroke.

The ones who fell short? Even after years, they'd be stuck cleaning the ancestor tablets.

From that perspective, Walter was closer to the latter group.

Someone who, even as time passed, didn’t show great progress. While others advanced to higher levels, he was stuck holding a broom, sweeping leaves in autumn and snow in winter.

Of course, that was a bit harsh, Walter actually did have a fair amount of talent, but in the end, he reportedly failed to overcome the final gate.

And in the midst of all that, he caught the eye of the former head's youngest daughter. If anything, that made him the real winner, didn’t it?

Jin stifled a yawn.

It was a cliché story. Walter got kicked out, Eanna never forgot him, the two continued their love in secret outside the family, blah blah blah.

So Jin poked the face of the "Dragon of Cliché" square in the eye.

“The one who kidnapped Walter, it's not the former head, is it?”

“...Wouldn’t it be quicker to crush him with a fingertip?”

“I was just saying.”

Jin waved his hand like it wasn’t worth paying attention to,

And Khalifa wrapped up what she’d been saying.

“The client's request is simple. Hand over the location where Walter was taken. She’ll handle the destruction herself.”

At that, Jin looked over at Poe and asked,

“Didn’t you say we got something from the bald guy? Is that...?”

“Yes. The location of the lab.”

“...Then what the hell. It's all over already. Why didn’t you tell us earlier? Don’t tell me, you were saving it to tell me first?”

To that, Poe shook his head with a helpless expression.

“That would’ve been a nice reason, but this time, it’s a bit different. It felt like a trap.”

“A trap?”

Jin asked back with a puzzled expression, and Khalifa slowly nodded before speaking.

“It’s just a hunch. I placed multiple layers of security on the neural net, but if someone really put their mind to it, it wouldn’t be impossible to crack. And for that level of effort, the intel we found inside just happened to be exactly what we needed. That’s a little too convenient, don’t you think?”

“You’re saying it’s suspiciously well-timed?”

Jin’s words made Khalifa nod.

“Exactly. We can’t rule out worst-case scenarios.”

At the same time, Eric erased the ECG graph and displayed a sentence, unusually, it was one long line without repetition.

[Whatever happens, it's that woman’s responsibility]

“Exactly. My part ends with handing over the intel. That was the deal from the start. But I don’t want this to be a one-time transactional relationship.”

[Looking to maintain good ties moving forward?]

“Yeah. We’re talking about establishing a connection with Solard here. That’s why I wanted to provide solid intel that wouldn't leave any doubt. I needed more time to verify it properly. But our client says she can’t wait anymore.”

After saying that, Khalifa brought the glass to her lips.

Watching her down the drink in one go, Jin thought to himself.

Sh⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌e sure lives a complicated life.

Is that just how Linkers are?

Jin, being someone completely unsuited for waiting, was already thinking about storming the place the moment Poe gave him the coordinates.

There's a reason people say hesitation leads to bad decisions.

In Jin’s opinion, if something happened to Walter while they were hesitating, it would hit the client even harder. And just as that thought passed, his eyes met Khalifa’s, and as if she’d read his mind, she slowly opened her mouth.

“What are you thinking?”

“A famous quote from a certain Linker, ‘Controlling variables is a matter of personal skill.’”

“You, seriously...”

A certain Linker let out a brief chuckle. Then, after quietly glancing back and forth between Jin and Eric, she opened her mouth with a face that showed her thoughts had come together.

“Alright, let’s do it like this. The client could probably destroy the lab on her own anyway, but since we don’t know what variables might pop up, you two handle those.”

At the same time, a quest window appeared in front of Jin’s eyes.

「(Omen!)(Updated!) Contagious Will(?)」──────

Find Walter together with the client.

*Fails if Eanna Solard dies.

*Reward Perk XP 10,000

───────────────────

Wait a sec.

Why is the XP reward higher?