𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟑: 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐚𝐫
“A, Alright, next up is this one, Fu-he.”
ㅤ
Chihaya sinisterly smiles as she detaches the arm of a Berlette equipped with a machine gun.
In the New World, Actanoid parts sell at high prices. Since they cannot be sent to the New World unless sterilized, they are always in short supply.
The All-Rounder that Chihaya is currently using is only operational through cannibalistic maintenance.
In other words, the defeated Berlette is fully convertible into parts that are monetary assets.
ㅤ
“It would have had unbroken parts if I could have offered a surrender before blowing it up.”
ㅤ
It feels a bit wasteful, but it’s a better outcome than mutual destruction.
The Psycholon and Husaria from Unison Human-Machine Technology will be picked up by the recovery team later. The All-Rounder operated by Chihaya is strong enough, but it’s impossible to transport four other units in addition to the Berlette.
ㅤ
“Wow, let’s tie it up with wire. Huh? There’s a message coming in.”
ㅤ
While looking at a message that has come into Actor’s Quest, she hoists the disassembled Berlette onto a crevasse with the wire winding function of the All-Rounder, which carries the Berlette on its back.
ㅤ
The message was from Unison Human-Machine Technology.
They want to buy the entire attacker Berlette, including the black box.
If they examine the communication records stored in the black box, they may be able to identify its affiliation. Although it’s likely to be disguised, information can also be extracted from the parts.
ㅤ
Chihaya thinks for a moment and agrees.
If selling the parts, they must be taken to the nearest garage. There, usable parts will be selected, and prices evaluated.
However, if she deals with Unison Human-Machine Technology here, there’s no need to transport them. Moreover, even unusable parts will be bought, as the purpose is to investigate the parts used, not reuse.
ㅤ
By the way, the purchase price seems to be $10,476. It’s just a bit higher than fair for the Berlette destroyed with a hand grenade. Parts like the legs that are typical of the Sprinter series are bent by the impact of the fall and can’t be reused.
ㅤ
Chihaya, away from the crevasse and aware that other attackers may still come, decides to transport the heavily damaged Psycholon and Husaria to a safe place.
Since there’s a transport vehicle loaded with equipment for surveying rare metal deposits, she plans to put them in there and advances the All-Rounder.
ㅤ
There is a transport vehicle near the forest. The vehicle that has been driven up here along the Wakan River is about the size of a compact car.
That transport vehicle was lying on its side.
ㅤ
“. . . . . .Fu, Fuhe.”
ㅤ
Seeing a fern-legged scorpion dragging the contents out of the transport vehicle, Chihaya lets out a dry laugh.
What the fern-legged scorpion had pulled out was excavation explosives.
Any way you look at it, it’s dangerous. A big explosion if you even shoot at it. An avalanche wouldn’t be surprising.
Chihaya quietly takes the All-Rounder into the crevasse to take cover.
ㅤ
“Why is it here. . . . . .”
ㅤ
Muttering, Chihaya turns off the All-Rounder’s lights and grabs a coffee.
ㅤ
“Calm down, it hasn’t noticed us; we’re fine.”
ㅤ
She has accepted the guide request but not the one to guard the cargo. What happens to those excavation explosives is not Chihaya’s concern.
Slowly, she sticks the All-Rounder’s head out of the edge of the crevasse to observe the fern-legged scorpion.
ㅤ
Realizing that there was no food, the fern-legged scorpion went away with drilling explosives hooked to its tail from the transport vehicle.
Where that explosive is going, only the fern-legged scorpion knows. Hopefully, it won’t be buried like an unexploded landmine.
ㅤ
As a matter of courtesy, she sent a video to Unison Human-Machine Technology.
Had Chihaya been more focused on preservation rather than recovering the Berlette, the situation of the drilling explosives being taken wouldn’t have occurred, but they seem to understand that it’s a moot point, and only responded with thanks for the information.
Chihaya breathes a sigh of relief that she wasn’t blamed and lifts the All-Rounder on top of the crevasse and loaded the Actanoids into the transport vehicle.
After firmly closing the door, Chihaya sets up a wire perimeter to guard against an attack by the fern-legged scorpion and is left to wait for dawn.
ㅤ
“I, I can’t let my guard down. . . . . .ever.”
ㅤ
Even though the mission was completed and a spontaneous battle was won, the tension hasn’t changed.
Still, it’s the All-Rounder that fights, not Chihaya herself in the flesh. It’s a blessing that it doesn’t have to be life-threatening.
Chihaya decides to order takeout for a late-night meal, feeling like she can’t go on without eating something delicious.
With the reward and unexpected income, she’s in the black by a significant margin. A little luxury is allowed today.
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“. . . . . .but eating at this time might make me gain weight. . . . . . also, I don’t really want to meet the delivery person. . . . . .um.”
ㅤ
Her indecisive and wishy-washy fretting was far from the decisive and judicious Actor’s image that the Berlette’s Actor, Kan’no ki, imagined.
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