T⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌L/E⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌D: Hamsterm⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌inator

At the heart of Downtown, there is a massive commercial complex.

It is known as Junk Plaza.

Looking at the chicken coop-like buildings, packed tightly from east to west and north to south, exceeding a floor area ratio of 1,000%, one could not help but feel suffocated.

On the shadowed streets, deprived of sunlight, neon signs of various colors replaced the sun, casting a gloomy glow. Coupled with the murky weather caused by pollution, Junk Plaza was always a place where it was difficult to distinguish bet⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌ween day and night.

It was not without reason that Jin was reminded of Kowloon Walled City when looking at Downtown's landscape.

The infamous den of Hong Kong, which disappeared in 1993, was here.

Only more dazzling. Only more chaotic.

"Hey there, handsome oppa."

At the sultry voice, Jin turned his head.

In a dark alley, a woman sitting atop a green trash bin smiled seductively.

"Hello? Want to spend some time with me? I'll give you a discount."

She then tapped the air with a curved hand near her mouth, pressing her tongue against the inside of her cheek in rhythm.

Jin did not fail to understand what that meant.

However, he shook his head.

"I have no money."

"Even with a discount? With a face like yours, it wouldn't even feel like work for me."

"I can't get it up."

"...? Seriously?"

"Seriously."

As the woman momentarily fell speechless, Jin gave her a thumbs-up before turning away.

Sadly, he was not lying.

His pockets were empty, and he genuinely could not get it up.

Ah, not when he lived in Korea.

But ever since he had fallen into this game.

At first, he thought it was just psychological. However, as time passed without any change, he began to suspect that it was due to none other than his Irregular trait.

A trait that had saved his life numerous times.

Recalling the now-faint description of it, he remembered it mentioned self-consumption, maximized energy efficiency, and evolution. Based on this, he theorized that the energy required for reproduction was being redirected elsewhere.

For recovery, muscle enhancement, or something along those lines.

Over the past year, despite no significant increase in muscle mass, his strength had steadily grown, making it all but certain.

For ordinary humans, regardless of age or gender, muscle could only generate about 4 kgf of force per square centimeter. However, Jin had long surpassed such common sense.

And recently, he had broken through to the Superhuman perk, making him even stronger.

Wait a second.

Even as a superhuman, his reproductive function had not recovered?

Jin stroked his chin with a serious expression.

Of course, given his personality, he did not dwell on the issue for long.

It would work out somehow.

There were still many constellations he had yet to activate.

Who knew? One of them might hold the solution.

In fact, Jin had many constellations within him that remained unlit.

The problem was that he did not know the conditions for unlocking them.

Considering that the [Rapid Recovery] perk he chose at the start of the game was the first star of a fist-shaped constellation, it was clear that unlocking the most fundamental perks was the key to moving forward. But for now, he had no idea what that might be.

If he had known it would be like this, he would have studied the guides more thoroughly.

Not that regretting it now would do any good.

"...By the way, where am I?"

Jin halted his steps and scanned his surroundings.

[Junk Plaza, Block 4, Zone A]

Judging by the high-hanging sign, he had arrived at the location the hot dog vendor had described. However, the streets were so chaotic that his mind went blank.

Every path looked the same, every alley indistinguishable from the next.

Wow. Hold on a second, I feel dizzy.

As Jin, momentarily stunned, blinked in confusion,

Thud!

A dull impact struck his back.

Followed by an annoyed voice.

"Ah, damn..."

Jin turned his head.

Before him stood a man.

Sharp, blade-like eyes, a goblin mask covering his lower face. A height rivaling Jin’s own, and at his waist... hmm. He was carrying a sword.

And not just a small knife like some back-alley thug looking to stab someone, but a longsword so long that, even when slung diagonally, its tip nearly touched the ground.

If one were to classify it, the shape of the sword resembled a Hwandao or a Katana, but its length was closer to that of a two-handed sword. It made Jin think that if Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s Twin Dragon Sword, which had been missing for a hundred years, were to appear, it would probably look just like that.

How does he even draw something that long?

The blade seems longer than the range of his arm movement.

As Jin was pondering this,

"Why the fuck did you suddenly stop?"

At the man’s remark, Jin scratched the back of his head. His tone was irritating, but it was true that Jin had come to a sudden halt.

"My bad. I'm not familiar with this area."

"Move."

The man bumped Jin’s shoulder as he passed by.

And then he staggered.

As he recovered from the unexpected recoil and turned back slowly, his gaze was fierce.

Jin did not look away.

What’s with this weakling?

Why throw a shoulder check when you can’t even win the clash?

But their stare-down did not last long.

A noisy crowd passed between them, cutting off their line of sight.

And by the time they disappeared, the man was gone as well.

"...What the hell?"

Jin, feeling a little let down, loosened his clenched fist.

Well, in the end, that sword of his was probably just a decoration he couldn't even draw. Others might have been intimidated, but not him.

With a scoff, Jin scanned his surroundings again.

And immediately felt dizzy.

"Seriously, where the hell am I?"

***

After circling what felt like the same place ten times,

Jin finally found the location the hot dog vendor had described.

It was not even some hidden gourmet spot in a marketplace, yet the entire area was a tangled mess of alleys and street stalls, turning what should have been a simple one- or two-minute walk into a frustrating maze.

For most people, this would have been a non-issue. All they had to do was activate their navigation app, just input the address, and the shortest route would be projected as a hologram in their field of vision.

But for Jin, who had never implanted a BCI chip, such an option was out of the question from the start.

After repeatedly asking unhelpful passersby, he finally arrived at the bar and narrowed his eyes to check the sign.

[Anecdote]

Anecdote. This is the place.

Jin immediately opened the door and stepped inside.

A bell jingled in greeting, and at the same time, a young bartender polishing a glass behind the long counter turned his head.

"Welcome. Please, have a seat."

Jin took in the interior as he received the bartender’s greeting.

The wooden tables had round, backless stools arranged at even intervals.

The dim lighting, provided only by wall-mounted lamps and footlights, gave the bar a drowsy ambiance, so much so that Jin momentarily doubted whether he was still in Downtown.

After struggling through the chaotic market streets just moments ago, the sudden shift in atmosphere gave him a sense of cognitive dissonance. But he quickly pulled himself together and settled into a seat.

Then, he spoke to the bartender, who was silently observing him.

"Are you the Linker?"

At that, the bartender blinked. Then, with a faint smile, he replied.

"Are you a Solo?"

"Hmm, yeah. I’ve taken on a commission before, so I guess that makes me one."

"Your name?"

Name? The bartender's overly polite tone made Jin instinctively scratch his ear before answering.

"Jin."

"Understood, Jin. Please wait a moment."

As he spoke, the bartender momentarily froze.

For a brief moment, though his gaze was fixed on Jin, his eyes took on a mysterious sheen, as if he were peering into another space.

Then, as his focus sharpened again, he spoke.

"My apologies, but after searching the Solo Intranet, I could not find a matching entry. Are you perhaps a Level 5 or higher Solo? If so, a simple lookup is not possible. Please forgive my rudeness."

Jin scratched his cheek in confusion.

"I don’t think I have anything like that."

"What do you mean?"

"I came here to become a real Solo. I don’t have any kind of certification or anything. I didn’t even know that was a thing."

"Ah. Understood."

Just as the bartender nodded in understanding,

A conversation drifted over from a short distance away.

"How about Zone 49?"

"The worst. Ever since Taha unified all the clans, that place is practically a miniature dictatorship."

"Taha. He was an ambitious man. You should be careful too."

"Careful? For what? At the end of the day, he's just another corporate lackey."

"I wonder if you'd say that in front of Taha himself."

From behind the central shelf, where bottles of liquor were displayed, a man and a woman emerged.

Jin’s brow twitched.

Not because of the woman with the stunningly rich red hair, but because of the man walking beside her.

Sharp eyes, a goblin mask covering his lower face.

And that absurdly long longsword.

He was the same man who had shoulder-checked Jin in the street.

"...Hmm?"

The man saw Jin as well. Displeasure flickered in his eyes above the mask, and beside him, the woman naturally turned her head to follow his gaze.

"Oh? We have a guest."

"This is Jin," the bartender informed her.

"He came here hoping to become a Solo. I believe he wishes to make a contract."

At that, the woman raised an eyebrow.

"Is that so?"

S⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌he then took wider strides and approached the seat across from Jin.

With each click of her heels, a smoky yet sweet fragrance wafted toward him.

"So, Jin. You came here because you want to become a Solo?"

Jin, who had been locked in a second staring contest with the masked man, reluctantly broke his gaze and turned to her.

"Ah, yeah."

"Do you want something to drink first?"

"I don’t have any money."

At Jin’s words, the woman smirked.

Whether she thought he was joking or simply intended to treat him, she casually turned around and grabbed a bottle from the shelf.

Should I just ask for a cola?

Jin hesitated for a moment but ultimately accepted the drink she handed him. He figured it would be ungrateful to be picky when he was getting a free drink.

"Shall we start with introductions? I’m Khalifa. As you can see, I'm the manager of Anecdote."

"Jin. The man who will become the Solo King."

Pirate King, Mercenary King, Knight King, and so on-

Having grown up consuming all sorts of snack culture filled with "King" titles, Jin simply slapped "King" onto "Solo" to declare his ambition.

Technically, Solo King would be the more accurate term, but whatever.

If loot could be called gettem, and bad control could be foot control, then why not? (TL: So when translated it is Solo King but in original it is Solo Wang and in technically part it is mentioned as Solo King. And these terms mentioned in this line are korean versions of gaming terms)

That confidence seemed to amuse Khalifa.

"...Solo King?"

Rolling the unfamiliar term on her tongue, Khalifa then threw her head back in laughter. It was a surprisingly hearty and pleasant laugh, quite contrary to her delicate frame.

"Interesting. I like it. Makes me want to bring out a contract right this moment. But Jin, being good at humor alone won’t make you a Solo. More precisely, it won’t get you a contract with me. Anecdote doesn’t do business with just anyone."

For a brief moment, Jin caught a flash of red gleaming in her irises. Cybernetic eyes? No, they writhed as if alive.

"To assess your skill, why don’t we start with a few simple-"

"There’s no need."

Khalifa’s words were abruptly cut off.

The one who interrupted was the masked man.

He had remained standing like an unmoving statue ever since laying eyes on Jin, but now that the opportunity arose, he seized it without hesitation.

"Rather than wasting time on pointless detours, just fight me. I already had something I wanted to confirm with this bastard."