"Hmm, let me see. No virus, the firewall is pitifully weak. Alright, it's open."
A professional is a professional. BUG's eyes glowed yellow, and in less than three seconds, she had cracked the computer. "Berry, I really thank you. A street repairman could handle this level of cracking."
"Alright, thank you so much, BUG." Berry watched as the computer desktop appeared on the screen, her voice filled with excitement.
"Remember, next time I'll charge you."
With a beep, BUG went offline.
Berry shrugged. Don't worry, she would still freeload next time.
Retrieving the data cable, Berry stood in front of the computer, manipulating the mouse to search for documents inside.
After a while, Berry's eyes lit up; she found it.
In her email, Berry found a suspicious email, a conversation between Charles and a person named LD Lawrence.
"...Lawrence, what about the agreed-upon split for the goods from Chinatown? I took such a big risk; you should at least give me 30%. I paid the deposit."
"...Charles, don't forget your place. You weren't the one who hijacked the truck. You get 10%. Come get it yourself through the 'secret passage' below. I don't offer home delivery."
The email was dated three days ago, just a day or two after the truck hijacking, so the timing matched.
This meant that the theft of the goods was indeed a setup by Charles and the Scavengers working together. First, they proposed a deal, then looted Berry's goods. However, it seemed there was a conflict between the two parties regarding the division of spoils, and Charles only received 10%, which he was very dissatisfied with.
It also mentioned the "secret passage" below.
There was a lot of information, so Berry rubbed her forehead, summarizing the collected messages.
It seemed the bulk of her stolen goods were with the Scavengers, and Charles and the Scavengers used a "secret passage" for deliveries. The key was this "secret passage"; finding it should allow her to follow the clues and uncover that gang of Scavengers.
Berry moved the mouse, trying to find more information about the "secret passage," but she had no luck. Perhaps Charles had deleted all previous transaction records with the Scavengers, leaving only this most recent email.
This "secret passage" might be very close, either in Charles's home or in a nearby alley. After all, this city still had to abide by overt laws, so Charles and the Scavengers' transactions could only be conducted discreetly.
Never mind, first, she would search Charles's clinic. The email just mentioned Charles getting 10% of the goods, but earlier when she pretended to be a patient, he said he had no goods from Chinatown. This piqued Berry's curiosity.
And so, Berry continued to search Charles's small clinic.
The clinic wasn't large. Berry searched thoroughly but didn't find a single piece of cyberware she had created. Finally, she found an empty cardboard box under Charles's bed.
This cardboard box was very familiar; it had the little coca-cola pattern on it. Berry's goods were packaged in the leftover little coca-cola boxes she had, so how could she not recognize it?
Now the box was empty, and the cyberware inside had vanished. It seemed Charles either resold them or destroyed them all, but given a Cyberware Doctor's greedy nature, the former was more likely.
"Damn it!"
Seeing the clue break again, Berry punched the wall.
Impossible, absolutely impossible.
These dirty kidney-harvesting transactions couldn't possibly leave no trace at all. Berry didn't believe it.
She turned around and surveyed the clinic, which she had already searched twice. She didn't believe the clues would end here.
Charles's clinic wasn't big, with only one consultation room, one lounge, and a toilet, all of which Berry had searched, but...
Wait.
Berry suddenly stopped.
She quietly walked to a corner of the consultation room and reached out to lift a blue plastic film.
An old door appeared before her.
Hmm? A hidden door?
Berry couldn't believe she hadn't noticed anything suspicious here earlier.
However, it wasn't too late to remedy the situation now.
Berry silently touched the doorknob. She tried to turn it slightly, but it wouldn't budge; it was locked.
She looked again. The metal door was old and dilapidated, covered with much red rust and black stains. The doorknob was also mottled, but there was no dust on it.
Old, but no dust, indicating that this door had been used recently.
Berry felt a stir of suspicion, subconsciously linking this door to the "secret passage" mentioned in the email.
No way, was Charles the black market doctor so bold as to have a secret passage right in his clinic?
Berry became alert, slowly tightening her grip on her gun.
She would know if she opened it.
She sent Arno forward, holding a kinetic shotgun for cover, while Berry herself crouched down, pulled out a wire, and began to pick the lock.
She had learned a few tricks while helping people clear out their unimportant household possessions.
With a faint click, the lock opened.
As the door slowly opened, a cold, bloody wind rushed out through the gap.
Berry frowned. She finally understood why there was a lingering smell of blood in Charles's clinic; it was all emanating from behind the door.
It seemed she had indeed found the so-called "secret passage."
Behind the door, it was incredibly dim, with only a staircase leading downwards. In the deep darkness, it was as if a man-eating beast lurked, and faint wails could be heard. Just looking at it sent shivers down Berry's spine.
As a precaution, Arno cautiously walked inside with his gun. As the scene below became clearer, Berry tensed up.
"...This guy stinks. Where did Adam drag him back from? What bad luck."
"...Quiet down, finish quickly so I can go up and get a few hits."
Arno reached the end of the stairs. To the left was a room, from which came sounds of conversation and intermittent cutting of flesh.
Carefully peeking in, the basement was glaringly lit by fluorescent lights, with blue plastic membranes hanging every few steps, fluttering like scenes found in a freezer.
Through the membranes, Arno could vaguely see stacked shelves, a few operating chairs, and two or three Scavengers busy cutting, complaining as they worked.
"Damn it, those guys are up there with Girls, playing braindance, and they make us work down here. Why should we?"
The dissatisfied person was still complaining, pulling out a dark red object and tossing it into a bucket full of ice at his feet.
"That's Boss Lawrence's order. If you're unhappy, go tell him."
Another person, annoyed with his complaining comrade, retorted.
"Hey, I was just saying. Why bring up the boss?"
Hearing the boss's name, the guy shrank back, not daring to say anything more.
The three continued to chat idly afterwards, but they didn't complain anymore. It seemed their boss commanded great respect.
Berry then remembered the origin of these Scavengers.
Scavengers have no specific beliefs; they only care about their own lives and money.
They are ruthless, morally bankrupt, and their methods are not sophisticated at all; they do all the dirty and hard work—but this incredibly loose gang monopolizes the trade in human body parts.
Scavengers have no fixed "scope of business." Their organization is spread throughout the city, often using markings and graffiti to assert their presence. Due to their decentralized nature, Scavengers tend to gather in small groups, with no hierarchy or seniority, and are often led by the most reckless, savage, and cunning individuals among them.
Despite their lack of organization, no one should ever ignore the existence of Scavengers or take them lightly. Their only capital is their terrifying reputation, and they will ensure that anyone who dares to cross them or steal their business is "dismembered."
The Scavengers who offended her should also be a similar gang, a small group managed by a cruel leader, but this gang had enlisted a Cyberware Doctor to fence their stolen goods, and they had also offended Berry.
What to do next, Berry wondered.
The answer was simple: blood for blood. Those who dared to covet her goods should be prepared to lose their teeth.
Berry controlled Arno to stealthily move behind an empty box.
She was about to make her move.