District 49's scrap metal heap is a massive waste landfill.
Though called waste, it was mostly a place where metals were discarded.
It created an isolated ecosystem, and those who lived there showed extreme exclusivity.
'The backstory of how such a place came to accumulate so much waste has never been revealed.'
Still, if it was to be considered a proper district, it must have tried to establish basic infrastructure for people to live.
However, like most districts in the 40s range, the scrap metal heap met the same fate.
A place where discarded items pile up.
At the same time, as those who fled or were abandoned gathered there, it formed its own independent environment.
'Information about District 49 is quite well known comparatively.'
Even just looking at the materials Basilio provided, there was rough information about District 49 recorded.It was somewhat different from District 45.
'District 45 was an excessively isolated environment. As a result, even if something happened inside, news rarely leaked to the outside.'
But District 49 wasn't quite to that extent.
'It was the same during Ena's asylum incident. District 49's biker gang accepted the request, and that caused friction with the North Blinders.'
What this meant was simple.
Even the gangs of District 49 conducted external activities.
Just the fact that they came outside was evidence that the scrap metal heap wasn't an overly closed environment.
'The problem is that while it's fine for them to come out, getting in isn't so easy.'
It was originally a place sensitive about outsiders entering, but recently, for whatever reason, they've become even more serious about it.
Could it really be a coincidence that this situation arose right when the major corporation gave the request?
'Whatever the case, I've accepted the request. For that, I need to get to District 49 first.'
District 49 cannot be entered through normal means.
The IDs and access passes he possessed were only useful for accessing districts in the 20s range, not places like this.
If anything, they could even backfire.
But there was a way.
If information about District 49 was leaked to the outside to this extent, it meant there must be some way to get inside.
And now, Osian was at the place that would guide him to that path.
It was an abandoned underground tunnel.
This place was once where subway trains passed through carrying goods to District 49, but now its usefulness had clearly ended.
Old and deteriorated, slowly crumbling in time without anyone passing through this place was Osian's secret passage into District 49, commonly known as the 'rat hole.'
'I heard a guide would appear if I came here.'
Of course, Ronan was the one who recommended this place.
While there was help from Lorraine and others too, his contribution in connecting with the guide was significant.
The time was slightly earlier than the appointment, and if he hadn't mistaken the location, this should be the right place.
Just as Osian thought that, a small squeaking sound was heard from somewhere.
While it wouldn't be strange for rats to live in an abandoned passage, Osian's instinct told him that wasn't the case.
"Checking out a guest before greeting them seems quite rude, don't you think?"
To others, it might sound like talking to oneself after hearing a rat, but not from the other party's perspective.
"Oh, I'm sorry. We have to be extremely careful about security, you see."
The one who revealed himself was a middle-aged man who appeared to be in his mid-40s.
His head was half-bald and his build was quite small.
Though he looked like a simple laborer, that wasn't actually the case.
He wore dusty work clothes, but through those baggy clothes, a certain firmness could be felt.
"A therianthrope, huh."
He had wondered how they made such good rat noises, but it turned out he was a therianthrope.
It wasn't hard to tell.
The long rat whiskers extending from either side of his nose weren't something a human could possess.
"Name's Mark. Ah, perhaps you're uncomfortable with therianthropes?"
"I don't particularly mind."
"That's a relief. Just looking at you, I thought you were some uptight high-ranking official, so I was being cautious from the start."
The guide who introduced himself as Mark said with a chuckle.
However, wariness still lingered in his eyes, which must be his own way of survival.
'He's someone who secretly guides people inside. If he's been doing it for a very long time, he must have his own way of dealing with things.'
Even his current wariness towards Osian was the same.
It could be considered an admirable attitude to not immediately trust someone just because a request came in.
"Didn't you receive any word from the request form?"
"Well, I did hear. But still, shouldn't we need some additional procedures just in case?"
Several presences could be felt around them.
They must be people working with Mark.
At a glance, figures wearing hard hats, work clothes, and masks could be seen.
'Well, this is troublesome. They won't believe I'm a fixer.'
Actually, it wasn't unreasonable for Mark to react this way.
Osian's appearance was far from what one would expect of a fixer no matter how generously you looked at it.
Rather, with such an elegant person wearing a coat, it would be inexcusable not to suspect them of being a high-ranking city official.
What would be the reason for a high-ranking government official to appear? Wouldn't it be to target them for illegally sending people into District 49?
Of course, while their power might only amount to that of a rat, the real issue would be the current situation in District 49.
"You see, the atmosphere inside is quite different from usual, more unsettled. We have to be a bit more careful."
What Osian had overlooked was that District 49 was experiencing more problems than usual.
No matter how much prior discussion there had been, they couldn't fully trust Osian.
'Well, I vaguely expected that too.'
It was right then that the helper who had been waiting appeared.
"Take it easy, why don't you? When we have a guest, instead of treating them well, you start with suspicion. What use is that?"
"Who else..."
Mark, who had been frowning, widened his eyes when he saw the newly arrived person.
"You, David?"
Once a fixer who handled automatons, but now a trainee knight following Osian.
Wearing the same outfit from his fixer days, he grinned at Mark.
"Mark. Haven't you become too timid while I was away?"
"David. Why on earth are you here?"
Mark clearly hadn't expected David to appear.
'No, more surprising is that these two know each other.'
Osian recalled a recent conversation.
-First, I'll try to make contact with the guide, but there's no guarantee we'll definitely use the secret passage.
That was what Ronan had said with a somewhat anxious voice when introducing this place.
There was a high possibility that even the usually used secret passage might be completely closed depending on what was happening in District 49.
So when they were considering whether they needed to prepare a new method, commonly called a backup plan, that's when David stepped forward.
-I think I can help.
His expression and voice were so confident that they brought him along without asking for details, but truthfully, Osian had been skeptical.
However, seeing the scene unfolding before his eyes now, bringing David seemed to have been an excellent choice.
"David, you. What made you come back here after leaving this place?"
"That's a silly question, Mark. If a fixer came here, wouldn't it obviously be related to work?"
"I heard the news. That you've been living quite decently as a fixer since leaving. But what made you think of coming here? If anything, becoming a fixer should have made you avoid this place more."
Just from their conversation, it was clear they had a connection from long ago.
The two exchanged several more words before reaching a conclusion.
"Damn it. If you say so, then this person's identity is verified."
"Mark. Why did you have to make things so complicated when it was like this from the start?"
"I told you. The situation inside isn't very good."
"Worse than when we escaped?"
At David's meaningful question, Mark thought for a moment before nodding.
David stroked his chin with his hand before turning to speak to Osian.
"In any case, it looks like we'll be able to get inside."
Mark looked puzzled when David used formal speech.
David clearly looked much older.
Of course, not everything in the world goes by age, but David's behavior toward Osian was excessively polite.
"So you stepped up confidently offering help because of this. You're from District 49?"
"Yes, well. It's a place I was involved with in my foolish days. Both me and Mark here."
And probably the presences around working with Mark were the same.
"District 49 was such a mess of a place that Mark and I had to leave to survive. So we worked together and chose to escape."
"Is leaving the district such a big deal that it counts as escape?"
He thought District 49 didn't particularly restrict internal personnel from going outside.
"Even now, only those who earn money can go out, residents can't escape. And the organization we were involved with was even less tolerant of that."
"Damn. Bringing up those nasty memories."
Mark wrinkled his nose and crossed his arms.
"While escaping, several others died, and only we two barely made it out. Then well, I ended up like this."
Mark rolled up one side of his pants.
Inside was a makeshift prosthetic leg made of cheap parts.
David explained from the side.
"Because his leg ended up like that, it would be hard to make a living even if he went to another district, so he's working secretly in a place like this."
"Well, while also getting some revenge by secretly sending people into District 49."
While doing work secretly sending people in and out, Mark was able to build his own organization of sorts.
"Haven't you thought about changing the prosthetic?"
Osian asked, thinking of various prosthetic limbs people use.
"Maybe because I'm a therianthrope, but my mechanical compatibility is rock bottom. Even if I attached something else, well, it wouldn't be much different from this. Might as well use something cheap."
"Despite how he looks, he's quite nimble on that one foot, so you don't need to worry."
"Damn. While I'm happy to see an old colleague after so long, it's strange to meet in these circumstances. Hey David, are you really planning to go inside?"
David nodded at Mark's question.
"That's not even worth asking. I didn't just come here for nothing."
"Are you really sure about this?"
Osian asked.
Judging from their conversation, David was from District 49 but was a traitor who had escaped from there.
If such a person returns, who knows what might happen to him.
"It's fine. It was a long time ago anyway. And when I have a chance to help the successor, how could I pass up such an opportunity?"
"Since you put it that way, I won't force you to back down."
David isn't a child. And he is also a knight receiving Osian's teachings.
Osian respected David's choice.
"So there are two people going in. Out of concern, you're not thinking of going back permanently, right?"
Mark asked just in case, but naturally, he didn't get the answer he wanted.
"Ah, this is driving me crazy."
"Mark. Seeing you talk like this, it seems something really is happening inside."
"Yeah. Other guys would just let people in after getting paid, but since it's you asking, I'm warning you out of old friendship. I absolutely don't recommend it."
"If you say so, it must really be dangerous. But still..."
David turned to look at Osian and said.
"...I now have my own reasons to go."
"Damn bastard. You've become quite romantic while I haven't seen you."
"Well, somehow it turned out that way."
"And you seem much sturdier than before. Are you working out or something? Where's the automaton you used to carry around?"
"It's about time I fought with my own strength. I've been working out hard for that."
David looked like he wanted to take off his shirt and show off his muscles right there.
But given the situation, he had to restrain himself with desperate patience.
"Can't be helped. Hey! Get ready."
When Mark gave the signal, his team members moved.
As people wearing work clothes, hard hats, and masks busily moved around touching some machinery, a small tram approached from beyond the tunnel.
"This will take you inside."
"Thanks, Mark."
"Don't mention it. I'm getting paid for this. If you really want to thank me, make sure you come back alive. You're the only one I know now."
"I'll try my best."
Mark tried to say something to David but let out a deep sigh and spoke to Osian.
"Take good care of that guy."
Unlike at first, his words were shorter, but his voice carried deeper sincerity.
Osian silently nodded. Whether the meaning was conveyed or not, Mark slowly stepped back.
The tram carrying Osian and David slowly moved.
Though not fast, the tram steadily crossed through the passage filled with darkness.
Eventually, the tram slowly reduced speed and stopped.
"Looks like we've arrived."
"Yes."
What greeted the two was an iron door with faint light leaking through.
"Let's go."
The moment Osian opened the door, light flooded in.
What spread before their eyes was a massive ochre-colored mountain of steel made up of metal heaps.