TL/ED: Hamsterminator

Back in Jin's world, there was an irreverent way of proving one's innocence: swearing on your mother's honor.

The implication being that your words were so true, you were staking your own mother's good name on them. Please, just believe me already.

Of course, from an observer's perspective, it could come across as rather offensive.

What did your poor mother ever do to deserve this?

But Jin only let out a faint scoff. He didn't launch into his usual internal lecture about Confucian values and respect for elders.

Because DeAndre's words had taken him straight back to elementary, middle, and high school.

His own childhood, in other words.

Back then, whenever boys found themselves in even slightly unfair situations, didn't they immediately stick out their thumb and pinky from a clenched fist, pressing them to tongue and forehead like stamps?

Not that it was anything to brag about, but that was how things were.

Come to think of it, there was that boy detective from the neighboring country who swore on his grandfather's name at the drop of a hat. Different flavor, sure, but tying family honor to personal conviction seemed like a universal trait of clueless youth across all nations. (TL: Talking about "The Kindaichi Case Files" anime.)

Anyway.

As Jin found himself lost in nostalgia, the corner of his mouth lifting, DeAndre apparently took it as a sign the conversation was going well.

"So? Interested?"

"I'm curious."

"Great. Then let's talk details inside. Follow me."

DeAndre spun on his heel and strode down the alley.

Watching that broad back march away, Jin tilted his head.

He calle⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠d out from behind. Hey, hey, hey.

"We're not doing this at Anecdote? It's right there."

"What? Why would we go there? I have my own office. Got booze too!"

He seemed oddly wounded in his pride.

Was suggesting Anecdote really something to get so touchy about?

Jin blinked and added,

"I came here for the cookies Khalifa makes, you know."

"Ah, cookies? I can give you cookies too! A ton of them. I'll pile them up like a goddamn mountain, so let's just go."

Well. Hard to argue with that.

Jin shrugged and followed DeAndre.

And so they arrived at Junk Plaza Block 5.

About a twenty-minute walk from Block 2, where Anecdote was located.

DeAndre's footsteps led to a cramped, claustrophobic tenement building that made Jin's chest tighten just looking at it.

No elevator, not even a basic one. They climbed the stairs to the third floor, walked to the end of the right corridor.

A small sign on the wall greeted them.

[DeAndre's Dumbass Linker Office]

"......?"

Jin doubted his own eyes.

Dumbass?

Remarkably, it really did say that.

Someone had carved knife marks between [DeAndre] and [Linker], adding the extra word.

Even more embarrassing were the black marker lines scrawled through it, apparently meant as strikethroughs.

And that wasn't all.

The sign hung slightly crooked, which somehow made it more heartbreaking. It was covered in circular cigarette burns.

At this point, had he made enemies with everyone in the neighborhood?

While Jin was thinking this, DeAndre opened the door without any reaction.

"I'm back."

A booming voice answered.

"Welcome back, Boss!"

With a line straight out of some third-rate gangster movie, a man bowed at a perfect ninety-degree angle.

"Yeah. Yeah."

DeAndre waved his hand dismissively, and only then did the man straighten up.

But on second look, he wasn't human.

Steel features without synthetic skin covering turned toward Jin.

"It is an honor to serve you!"

"Ah, uh. Hello."

Jin waved awkwardly, and the android snapped to an at-ease position.

"...Is he always like this?"

"No idea. I updated his personality data recently, and there must've been some error because he ended up like this."

DeAndre answered while plopping his ass down on the sofa.

"Make yourself comfortable."

Jin sat across from him, following the gesture of gold-adorned fingers, and swept his gaze around the room.

No pleasant surprises here.

The office was as worn and dirty inside as out, reeking of musty mildew.

DeAndre, decked out in flashy bling that didn't match the decrepit surroundings, spoke up.

"Want me to send out for cookies?"

"Forget it. Just cont⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠inue what you were saying."

Jin answered flatly.

The Linker had made such a fuss about an amazing jo⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠b, so Jin had let his expectations rise a bit. But seeing this subpar office had deflated him completely.

Tch, tch. What a letdown.

Perhaps reading that sour expression, DeAndre flinched and said,

"Hey, friend. I haven't even started talking yet. It's not too late to be disappointed after you hear everything."

Jin jerked his chin as if to say, let's hear it then.

DeAndre turned his head toward the back of the sofa and clapped his hands twice.

"Hooker! The files!"

"Yes, Boss!"

With a crisp response, the android called Hooker respectfully placed a file folder in DeAndre's hands.

DeAndre then extended it toward Jin.

"Read it."

The title was visible.

[Top Secret]

"...What's with this pretentious crap?"

"P-pretentious? The contents are worth it, I'm telling you."

"That so?"

Jin snorted dismissively and opened the folder.

No three-line summary, of course.

Minus ten points.

Still, the organization was decent...

Just as he was admiring the clean paragraph divisions and well-placed photos that made the material readable, Jin's brow twitched.

His ash-gray eyes slowly moved left and right.

Watching this, tension crept across DeAndre's face.

Like a chef who'd served a dish to an honored guest.

It would be nice if they'd just say whether it was good or bad.

But the guest just sat there silently chewing, and that expressionless face gave no clue to their thoughts, leaving him on edge.

Just as DeAndre swallowed hard, the guest finally set down his spoon and spoke.

"...Underground Ruins?"

DeAndre nodded with a face full of conviction.

"That's right. Amazing, isn't it?"

"Hmmmm."

Jin let out a breath through his nose.

Not "hm," not "hmm," but "hmmmm."

At this ambiguous reaction that suggested he wasn't entirely sold, DeAndre shifted restlessly.

"What? What don't you like?"

"No. It's not that. Just give me a moment......"

Jin trailed off.

His lukewarm attitude was driving DeAndre crazy, but the Linker had no idea.

That at this very moment, Jin was holding back his irritation.

「The Buried」──────────────

Find ??? in the Underground Ruins.

-Declining the request results in failure

-This quest cannot be postponed.

*Reward: Perk XP 14,000

*(Unknown) will proceed.

────────────────────

The Status Window had appeared out of nowhere.

Not even a few seconds after opening the folder, it popped up with a peek-a-boo. Jin had been so busy glaring at that rectangular face that he hadn't even read more than a few words of the actual material.

This was exactly what pissed him off.

The way it showed up as if forcing his behavior.

It could have appeared after he heard the explanation.

What was he supposed to do when it appeared out of the blue like this?

A vein bulged on his forehead.

Even if he was going to do it anyway, there was an order to things.

Not respecting that was bound to make him furious.

Seriously, this thing had no manners and zero sense of timing.

Though rage was boiling inside, Jin believed that emotions shouldn't dictate actions. So he slowly addressed DeAndre.

"Sorry, but could you explain it to me verbally?"

"Ah. Of course."

DeAndre nodded.

He couldn't quite understand why Jin would stare at the documents so intently only to ask for another explanation, but this was far better than rejection.

He resolved to give a proper briefing while he was at it.

"Do you know about Lost City's underground tunnels?"

"N⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠o?"

"Well, that's fair. Hooker? Pull up the footage."

DeAndre snapped his fingers.

Light beamed from the mechanical eyes of the android called Hooker.

It projected a neat rectangular image onto the wall.

"Ooh."

Jin whistled at the built-in projector function.

A concentric circle-shaped map appeared on the wall, with red lines branching out in complex yet precise patterns beneath it.

"That's Lost City's underground rail network. The Metro Web. Supposedly super comfortable, but it's got nothing to do with us. As a Downtown resident yourself, you'd know. There's no underground transit in the 40s District."

"Why?"

"The war. The unprecedented bloodbath between the Megacorps and the Houses. Obviously, it was a fight that couldn't be allowed to produce a clear winner. The City Government dropped everything else just to mediate."

Jin nodded at that.

Mute Town alone proved the point.

Look how much TB had grown in just one year after winning their war.

A war between Megacorps and Houses?

One wrong move and the city's balance would collapse entirely.

From the City Government's perspective, abandoning the 40s District made sense.

"Thanks to that, the underground tunnels under construction were put on hold. They've been left abandoned for decades."

DeAndre pulled out a cigarette pack as he spoke.

He put a long cigarette in his mouth, lit it, hollowed his cheeks drawing in smoke, then continued.

"What do you think happened? To those abandoned tunnels."

"Someone probably moved in. Just like people flooded into the 40s District when everyone expected them to become ghost towns."

"Exactl⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠y. Sharp, aren't you?"

DeAndre clapped twice.

Behind him, Hooker clapped twice too.

Jin shrugged.

They say praise makes even whales dance.

"I am pretty sharp."

Even his simple speculation earned such a satisfying reaction. Jin was feeling pretty good about himself.

Of course, this was all DeAndre's calculated flattery to lift Jin's mood. It stemmed from his desperate desire to build a connection with a Solo being hailed as an incredible rising star.

He hadn't spent over two weeks staking out Anecdote, eyes straining for a glimpse of Jin, for nothing.

"Like you said, those tunnels filled up with criminals. Mole-like bastards made it their own kingdom. Under the name Underheart."

Jin, now absorbed in the story, urged him to continue.

"...Underheart. And then?"

"Honestly, who's gonna care about tunnels crawling with bounty-heads? Up until now, it was treated as half a den of thieves. Too dirty to bother with. But recently, something happened."

DeAndre paused there and glanced around.

Then, as if someone might be listening, he lowered his voice.

"The Underheart guys had an accident while expanding their tunnels. But it wasn't just a regular man-made disaster. Who could've known? That beneath the collapsed ground, there were Underground Ruins buried underneath."

"...Ruins?"

"Yeah. And the architectural style apparently dates back to the Age of Light and Roses. Think about it. A structure at least a thousand years old. Can you imagine what kind of treasures might be inside?"

"Ooh."

Jin nodded with intense focus.

But only for a moment.

His arms naturally crossed.

"...Wait. How do you know this kind of insider information?"

"I've got a connection among the Underheart crew members. Guy named Henato. I knew him before he started living in those tunnels, and somehow we've kept in touch for over four years now. He's a piece of shit, but the intel he feeds me is reliable."

DeAndre continued.

"...And while we're on the subject. This isn't exactly my secret anymore. It just hasn't gone public yet. Rumors are already spreading through the grapevine. Recently there's even been talk of some mercs forming teams to go into the tunnels—"

"Whoa, hold on."

Jin raised his palm.

Then, folding all fingers except his index, he pointed at the [Top Secret] on the desk.

"Something's off here. Even if I write that off as bluster, since when do people call commonly known information 'amazing'? Don't tell me you actually swore on your mother's honor for—"

DeAndre waved his hands frantically.

"It's a misunderstanding! I just couldn't get the jump on it. I first got this info nearly three weeks ago!"

"Hm? Three weeks ago..."

"That's right. The same day you and I first met. I swallowed my pride and proposed a partnership with Khalifa, but that woman said she couldn't trust me and shot me down! But look. I was right! Aaargh!"

DeAndre beat his chest in frustration and continued.

"And so what if the word's gotten out a bit? It's still premium intel. Information worth selling for a fortune."

"Really?"

Jin watched the Linker stub out his cigarette in the ashtray and continued.

"But why me of all people? You said you had three weeks. What happened to the Solos you work with?"

"Well, they're too shit... I mean, not quite ready. Uh, yeah. They still need more time, and uh, anyway, it's..."

Shit? They?

Beyond the cheap word choice, something about the sentence structure sounded odd. Jin mulled it over and asked.

"Don't tell me you haven't managed to sign any Solos Level 3 or higher?"

DeAndre's head drooped instantly.

As if an invisible bullet had pierced his heart.

Hooker screamed.

"Boss!!!"

He rushed over and shook those slumped shoulders. Should Jin laugh or cry?

While Jin seriously pondered this, a voice emerged.

"...There's one."

DeAndre spoke as if waking from a coma, barely lifting his eyelids.

"No. 'Only one'. And even that one doesn't listen to me. That son of a bitch."

After the colorful profanity came the lament.

"...How did it come to this? All I wanted was to stand out as a Linker who processes jobs quickly. But somehow only small-fry bastards kept flocking to me... Every damn day it's 'Boss! Boss!' Am I a Linker or some two-bit gangster? Huh?"

"Boss...!"

"Shut up, you bastard! Why do you have to copy that of all things? It's not really because of the update, is it? You're just messing with me on purpose... Urk."

DeAndre clutched his neck, unable to contain his frustration.

Once again came Hooker's roar: Boss!!!

At the same time, Jin reached his conclusion.

Just laugh.

How could anyone hold it in?

He threw his head back and burst out laughing. DeAndre closed his eyes in resignation.

"Go ahead, laugh at me. You bastard."

Having finally given up on impressing the rising star, he found the situation funny himself.

A deflating pfff of laughter escaped naturally.

Watching the two of them crack up, Hooker tactfully joined in: Ha ha ha ha.

And so three idiots laughed their asses off for a good while.

Finally, Jin was the first to stop laughing and wiped the tears from his eyes.

He silently glared at the Status Window flickering in the corner of his vision, waiting for an answer.

Then he turned back to DeAndre and spoke.

"It's still not too late, right?"

"What isn't?"

To the Linker's clueless expression, Jin replied.

"I'll check it out. Those tunnels."