Chapter 6
Chapter 6
It's Me
* * *
Shin, who had snapped back mockingly, stomped hard on Gerald’s ankle.
“This is messed up, seriously. You can’t even tell who’s the victim and who’s the attacker.”
“I recorded everything.”
“Oh, with your device?”
It was more annoying than anything.
With cybernetic surgery becoming widespread, human life had become even more convenient. The infrastructure was in place to stay connected to the internet anytime, anywhere.
Now that countless electronic devices were implanted and used inside the body, separating humans from machines was nonsense. It might seem like the chances of getting involved in crime had gone down, but the actual probability hadn’t changed much.
That was because the methods to evade it had also evolved.
‘Noise Worm.’
That was the name of the device Shin always carried. Its function was nothing special. It simply emitted a special interference signal to distort visuals and sound.
Even just watching the footage Gerald had recorded, the face and voice would be strangely warped. It wouldn’t be accepted as evidence in court.
One’s capability as a Fixer was determined by this sort of thing. Anyone could exact private justice, but not getting caught was twice as hard.
Naturally, Shin had more countermeasures besides the Noise Worm.
“I don’t know who you are or what you do, but be ready. I’ll track you down and end you no matter what.”
As expected.
Even cornered, the bastard didn’t shrink back. In fact, he didn’t even show a hint of remorse.
A seed of evil, with no hope of redemption.
Shin had hoped he might reflect, even just a little, on the wrongs he had committed so far. But that was probably just a personal wish that would never come true.
Still―
“Not bad.”
“What?”
“I like you.”
When Shin suddenly expressed fondness, a flicker of hope lit up in Gerald’s eyes. But that was merely a prelude to destruction.
At the next words, Gerald’s expression turned cold.
“Because people like you are the reason others seek out Fixers.”
Law should apply to everyone.
Judgment should be delivered to all.
But irregulars existed everywhere. Because of that, there were always people desperate for salvation.
An ideal environment—for a Fixer.
“Your name was Michelle, right?”
“Yes? Yes!”
Though no one was watching her, Michelle nodded eagerly.
“Mind closing your eyes for a moment?”
Of course.
The one who saved her was asking—such a small favor wasn’t too much.
Soon after, a tremendous noise rang out near her ear, but Michelle pretended she hadn’t heard it.
* * *
Sheriff Jeremy Murphy, upon hearing that his younger brother had been hospitalized, dropped everything and headed straight to the hospital. Gerald might’ve caused trouble plenty of times before, but this was the first he’d heard of him getting hurt.
Still, he figured it was probably just a fight between students.
At least until he saw Gerald’s vacant expression.
“Both his legs are broken?”
According to the doctor, it seemed like a malfunctioning patrol drone had hit him. But for a drone to fly up to a factory roof—a location not even in its programmed route—and ram into someone at full speed?
It was a situation Jeremy simply couldn’t accept with common sense.
Apparently, the Public Enforcement Corps felt the same, as they dispatched an investigator to the scene.
Even so, he couldn’t exactly welcome them.
Because he belatedly realized that the controller registered under his name had been the cause.
Jeremy, using his position, forcefully sent the investigator away and let out a deep sigh.
It seemed like he needed to have an honest talk with Gerald.
“He looked like a Fixer?”
“Yeah. He easily took down the other kids too.”
Slumped shoulders.
A lifeless tone.
The younger brother he faced for the first time in days was a completely different person. It wasn’t that he’d matured. It felt like something fundamental had changed.
“He’s probably someone Winter hired.”
“Winter?”
Jeremy knew him well. He was the student who had been caught up in the incident Gerald had caused.
“He’s got plenty of motive.”
It wouldn’t take much digging to get a clearer picture.
“Can’t we just drop this one and move on?”
When Gerald, so unlike himself, let out such a feeble remark, Jeremy flinched involuntarily. It wasn’t that Gerald’s suggestion was unreasonable. If Winter was truly behind it, then technically this was just retribution.
But—
“You know that our Murphy family has served in the Public Enforcement Corps for generations, protecting the safety of the Dome. We’ve sacrificed to create today’s peace. To repay that with revenge? That’s unacceptable.”
“Still……”
“You don’t have to do anything. I’ll handle it.”
Drawing a firm line, Jeremy left the hospital room.
The schedule for synthetic tissue cultivation and implant surgery had already been set.
Wasn’t it supposed to be a one-month recovery including rehab?
It was a situation that called for nothing but deep sighs.
Enough to make him reach for a cigarette he hadn’t touched in ages.
As he stood at the outdoor terrace, trying to collect himself while looking out at the view, a young man he’d never seen before approached.
“It’s me.”
It was a confession with no introduction or explanation, but Jeremy instantly realized—this was the man who had hurt Gerald. It was a conclusion born from the experience he’d gained as a Sheriff. A moment where his finely honed intuition kicked in.
Jeremy broke the cigarette in his hand in half and let out a hollow laugh.
“Should I say you’re fearless? You really do live up to being the guy who beat up innocent students in broad daylight.”
“Guess people treat mad dogs like children these days? And it was the patrol drone that attacked him, not me. You’ll see if you check the report.”
“Yeah, keep flapping your mouth all you want. I’ll use every means possible to drag you into the gutter.”
The young man standing before Jeremy, Shin, replied nonchalantly.
“Before you lose yourself in that sweet dream, shouldn’t you be wondering why I showed up in the first place?”
“Don’t give me advice. I’ve spent my whole life fighting guys like you. You probably think you covered your tracks well. That’s why you’re strutting around like this, huh?”
“Just because your brother turned out that way doesn’t mean you had to, too.”
“If you’re here to ask for forgiveness, let me be clear—you’re too late.”
“Forgiveness? Please. I came to have a productive conversation.”
“A productive conversation?”
Jeremy’s glare, sharp like a viper’s, was deeply hostile.
In truth, there were few in the Dome who could evade a Sheriff’s attention. If Shin were alone, he could’ve severed all ties and vanished easily.
But Winter wasn’t like that. He had a grudge against Gerald. It would only take Jeremy an instant to make the connection. The rest was just a matter of time. And if it got out of hand, even Arnold could get dragged into the fire.
That was why Shin had come forward.
He could only say the job was complete once every loose end was tied off cleanly.
“If you’re ready to throw away your badge to avenge a wayward kid, I’ll play along. But I doubt you want that. So let’s end this peacefully.”
“And if I don’t want to?”
“I thought you’d be more reasonable, seeing as you made Sheriff at such a young age. But turns out, your ears are broken. Do I look like I’m here to beg?”
Shin dropped his smile and leaned in, close enough for Jeremy to feel his breath.
“You’ve been letting vagrants into the outskirts from time to time in exchange for bribes, haven’t you?”
The ecosystem within the Dome was flawless. That was the purpose and principle of an arcology. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a kind of terrarium.
Naturally, there shouldn’t have been any room for foreign contaminants.
But contrary to the original design, parts of the Dome had already been tainted by darkness. A deviation caused by the gap between theory and reality.
Who would’ve thought that internal members were accepting compensation to let in refugees?
“Of course, I’m human too, so I’m not here to criticize you for pocketing a little on the side. But colluding with the Striders? That’s something I can’t overlook.”
The nature of the Striders was not something a structured society could tolerate.
The group that ambushed Shin outside the pawnshop had been one example.
It was laughable, but the rise of such drifters was heavily influenced by people like Jeremy and other Sheriffs.
“What a ridiculous accusation.”
“Oh? It’s not true? Then how about I dig a little deeper? It just so happens that I’m very good at that sort of thing—it’s part of the job.”
Jeremy bit his lip under Shin’s gaze, as if the man could see right through him.
“I could arrest you right here, you know. Are you so confident because you’re aware of that?”
Jeremy looked ready to summon a patrol drone at any moment.
The Public Enforcement Corps could drop even a flying bird from the sky.
Let alone someone like Shin, who wasn’t even a registered citizen—he might as well have been death itself to such people.
The only reason they didn’t arrest those without a device was a matter of humanitarian practice, nothing more.
If done through official procedures, someone like a Fixer could be eliminated without anyone ever knowing.
“Sure, going in together wouldn’t be the worst thing. I’ll probably get released for lack of evidence anyway.”
“I can fabricate evidence if I have to.”
“Go ahead, then. I don’t like overtime, but I don’t shy away from it either. It’s best to take care of things when they’re in sight, isn’t it?”
It wasn’t bluffing or arrogance—Shin’s face was filled with composure. He’d already demonstrated his capabilities firsthand through Gerald.
That was why Jeremy couldn’t hide his inner turmoil. He just couldn’t understand. What was driving someone to show this level of self-sacrificing dedication?
Naturally, curiosity began to rise.
“Why are you going so far with this?”
“Why are you going so far with it?”
To Shin, Jeremy was just as incomprehensible. The Public Enforcement Corps, who were supposed to protect victims, were the ones pressing down on them.
Abusing their rights while abandoning responsibility.
It could only be described as warped.
But Shin wasn’t a philosopher or a theorist. He was just a Fixer who carried out his jobs faithfully.
“I’m saying I’ll overlook your misconduct, and you overlook my retribution. Was I being too indirect?”
“Hm.”
When Jeremy looked conflicted, Shin didn’t hesitate to add more.
“If you let this slide, we won’t be pressing any charges either.”
Neither Winter nor Arnold had expressed such intentions, but a bit of bluffing never hurt.
Even if the case went to court, it likely wouldn’t yield any significant results. Still, no one wanted to deal with unnecessary hassle if they could avoid it.
As expected, Jeremy’s attitude began to shift.
Now that he was face-to-face with Shin, he instinctively understood this wouldn’t be an easy fight.
As someone still solidifying his position after becoming Sheriff, a meaningless war of attrition would do him no favors.
The moment his ambition for upward mobility outweighed his concern for his brother, Jeremy finally opened his mouth.
“Stick to your word.”
“As long as you keep your brother in line, we won’t have a reason to meet again. I get paid to do this—pissing off a Sheriff isn’t part of the job description.”
“Your words are inappropriate, but I’ll let it slide.”
“Then I’ll express my gratitude for your generous treatment.”
Just as Shin turned his back, having wrapped up the matter, and Jeremy nodded in response—it happened almost simultaneously.
“Your name. What’s your name?”
“Shin.”
“Shin, you said?”
He’d heard it before. A name quietly making the rounds within the Public Enforcement Corps.
Some said he’d wiped out a group of thirty Striders. Others claimed he fell from the tenth floor without injury. Ridiculous rumors to anyone on the outside.
But after facing him in person, Jeremy knew—it wasn’t a lie. In this era, Shin was the real deal, a rare breed.
“You are…”
Jeremy opened his mouth again, wanting to confirm it one more time.
But Shin had already vanished, leaving not even a shadow behind.