OLD-WORLD EXTRA

Chapter 67  Old-World

Upon bidding farewell to Mariana, Emir hastened his steps towards the delivery garage, eager to retrieve his newly acquired motorcycle.

Once he arrived, a security guard conducted a brief identification process before granting him access.

With the gate now open, he walked inside to find an impressive bike with a stunning black and red design that immediately captured his attention.

The mere sight of it sent a surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins, compelling him to hop onto the seat.

With a smooth connection to his neural network, Emir accessed the bike's systems and received instant instructions on how to operate it.

After completing the process, he commanded the bike to turn on, and the engine roared to life as he revved the handles.

The sound was music to his ears and confirmed that everything was working perfectly.

[Lyra, you can control the bike too, right?] n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

[Yes, anything connected to your neural network is something that I can control, with the same limitations as before.]

[Good to know, and thanks for the clarification my dear jailer.]

[Of course.]

With their brief exchange over, spanning only a few hundred milliseconds, Emir tightened his grip on the handles and issued a command for the bike to start moving.

And like a loyal steed, the bike obeyed, slowly making its way towards the exit of the garage.

After confirming his purchase with the security guards, he expressed his gratitude and exited the giant warehouse.

Emir set his course towards the wasteland, skillfully maneuvering his way through the moderate traffic, never exceeding the speed limit of 60 km/h set by the UEF.

The UEF had installed drones and sensors to monitor all vehicles on the road.

If someone was caught speeding for an extended period of time, the drones would be alerted, and the UEF would send a squad to apprehend them.

So he knew better than to show up on their radar.

…

As Emir reached the eastern border of the sector, he entered a shop to purchase some hunter rations, ensuring that he was fully prepared for any potential emergencies that might arise.

The rations cost him a few thousand UC, but it was a small price to pay for his safety.

With everything in order, Emir continued on his way, exiting the sector and venturing towards 'Arcadia's Bazaar,' a well-known ruin for hunters ranked 20 and above.

Emir activated his augmented suit's combat mode and replaced his potential hostile spotting radar with a GPS map that displayed multiple paths towards the bazaar.

The old-world maps were readily available on the network due to the hunter association.

Their daily patrols in the wasteland were driven not solely by the need to protect the sector but also by their need for revenue.

They were no charity after all.

So, during these patrols, the association collected data on the monsters, terrain, likelihood of acid rain, and other factors, which were then utilized to update the pre-existing maps, selling them at a price.

Many hunters who specialized in information gathering also sold their knowledge on routes and ruins, including details on monster numbers, rank, risk assessment, and interior terrain.

Since the nearby paths were frequently traveled, the information wasn't too expensive, costing him only 10,000 UC.

Emir opted for a moderately challenging path, with some mud and a slight chance of running into monsters.

The shorter paths were riskier, while the longer ones were safer, so he figured the middle ground would be his best bet.

Emir anticipated encountering monsters on his journey, so he propped up his weapons, leaving the handles of his bike as it wasn't necessary for him to physically drive it, he could just issue instructions using his neural network.

The bike followed his commands to the tiniest detail, allowing him to focus on the path ahead and any potential threats.

Emir traveled down the route at maximum speeds, dodging debris, rocks, and similar structures scattered about, causing mud to constantly splatter everywhere against the force of the bike's wheels.

[Lyra can you use my terminal and accept a general monster subjugation request?]

[Consider it done.]

…

Fortunately, and to his surprise, he managed to reach the ruin without encountering one monster on the way, which was unexpected given his history of encountering life-threatening situations at every turn.

From what he understood, the ruins were a vast subterranean labyrinth, comprised of interconnected buildings, tunnels, and facilities.

The complex underground train system, which was commonly constructed in the western part of the old world, now served as the connection between some to most of these ruins.

Despite the devastating effects of the nuclear war and natural decay over time, some parts of the ruins still managed to maintain a relatively intact appearance.

This was partly due to the cleaning systems that were still operational in some areas. These systems were designed to remove debris, dust, and other contaminants to maintain a clean and hygienic environment for the people who used to live or work in the old world.

The cleaning systems used advanced technologies such as automated robots, drones, air filters, and water treatment facilities to maintain the cleanliness of the ruin.

And the robots were programmed to detect and remove any foreign objects or materials that may be harmful to the environment or pose a threat to human health.

The air filters and water treatment facilities, crucial to maintaining a healthy environment, have, however, been destroyed in most of the ruins discovered so far.

As a result, even though some areas may appear relatively clean and well-maintained, there were still many hidden dangers lurking just beneath the surface.

These included mutated creatures, radiation pockets that could interfere with information gathering devices and even the possibility of the systems themselves turning against you for reasons that were not yet fully understood.

More dangerous than all of that was the unknown.

The things that lurked in the depths of the ruins.

While Emir approached the entrance of the ruin, he couldn't help but be surprised by the wide entry point that had been constructed by the UEF.

Typically, unexplored ruin entrances were nothing more than a basement or a small opening connecting to the upper floors of the buildings they once were, and hunters would have to dig through the rubble to find them.

However, after a ruin is claimed by the UEF or one of the big eight corporations, they spare no expense in constructing and clearing the entrance to massive proportions.

In this case, there was even a parking area placed right next to the entrance, indicating the scale of the operation within.

Slowing down his bike, Emir pulled up to the security cubicle, wanting to request access to the parking lot, which appeared to span several underground floors and looked like it could fit a fleet of spaceships, let alone a few hunters' vehicles.

Peering through the glass, he saw the cyborg guarding the entrance, decked out in full UEF gear and insignia on his breastplate.

"Welcome to Arcadia's Bazaar. Parking here will cost you an arm and a leg—100,000 UC a day, to be precise. And don't even think about overstaying for a second longer, or you'll have to pay for the next day." He said with a monotone voice, while rolling down his window.

Emir handed him his hunter ID while muttering under his breath:

"Well, that's daylight robbery. What do you think this is—a five-star hotel? Man, with prices like that, you must be a millionaire by now, guarding this place like it's the academy."

The cyborg guard scanned his ID and handed it back to Emir, unfazed by his comments.

"This is a UEF-owned ruin, and they set the prices, buddy. The rules are the rules. Don't like it? Tough luck."

'Well, aren't you the friendliest piece of cybernetic hardware?'

Emir was not able to resist the opportunity to make a snarky comeback:

"Oh, I see... So how about I sell you one of my kidneys to park here for today? It looks like you already sold yours; I bet you got connections."

The guard chuckled, his metallic voice echoing in the cubicle.

"Hey, hey, don't give me any ideas, not that I have any. But seriously, be careful down there, and don't forget to get out before twenty four hours are up."

"Sure thing, Tin boy." He quipped.

The cyborg shook his head and snickered: "Ah, the joys of dealing with hunters."

Emir flipped him off as he drove into the parking lot while shouting:

"And thanks for the warm welcome, you lanky piece of metal scrap!"

Bootleg R*bocop didn't even react.

'What a guy.'

Descending from the bike, Emir slung his rucksack over his shoulder, strapped it on his back, and proceeded towards the entrance.

It resembled the bunker from the sectors, with a grand staircase leading downward and a separate section complete with a ramp for vehicles to descend.

The exterior was teeming with shops peddling all kinds of equipment, restaurants serving takeout, and insurance agencies staffed with the customary shady individuals one would encounter in any realm.

Arcadia's Bazaar was a remnant of the old world—a once grand shopping mall now buried deep underground.

According to the information package Emir received, the mall's floors had been swallowed by the earth due to the passage of time, creating a labyrinthine underground.

The mall tried to repair itself, and as a result, it had transformed into a vast underground district with interconnected walkways leading from shop to shop.

Quite unlike the traditional floors expected from shopping complexes.

But one shouldn't let the term 'district' fool them; this subterranean world was anything but flat.

Some of the shops were stacked on top of each other, forming multi-level structures, and with multiple entry and exit points leading to vast open areas.

Exploring Arcadia's Bazaar was like embarking on a treasure hunt through a maze.

'Now then...'

Descending down the stairs, Emir braced himself for the unknown dangers lurking in the depths of the ruin.

It had only been discovered a year ago, which meant there were likely still countless relics and treasures hidden away, waiting for the right hunter to uncover them.

With his rail gun and minigun securely fastened to his augmented suit and his trusty assault rifle at the ready...

Emir ventured forth into his first ever dive.