After a day and a half crossing the desert and sleeping under the stars, they reached their first map point: the underground trading hub called Nexon City. Like Neropolis, it was a melting pot for all three factions, serving as a vital commercial center. It was already well inside Vorg territory. They stopped at a ruined building with a sign that read "Nexon City," complete with a hand pointing down, indicating the subterranean location.
"What was that again? Why did we have to come here?" Sasha asked.
"Jeez… I said we need supplies for the long haul. And we need a vehicle, at least a Jeep. We can't get to the Wall on a bike and a half-horse, got it?" Slade retorted.
"Hmm, yeah, but we need money for all that, don't we?" Selene asked.
"Right. We'll get it. Either we work for it, or we grab that 20,000 chip reward at the Guild," Slade said.
"How?" Sasha asked.
"Finish the job," Slade replied.
"Are you nuts? What if we get exposed?" Sasha challenged.
"That's why only I, Sasha, and Celes are going in. Selene, you wait outside and keep watch," Slade laid out the plan.
"Hmm, I agree. It's too risky for me to go in with Sasha," Selene conceded.
"Exactly. Understand, Sasha?" Slade asked.
"Isn't there another way? I'm willing to forfeit the 20,000 chips," Sasha admitted.
"There is. We hunt a big bounty—two or three should cover the car and supplies. How about that?" Slade suggested.
"The risk is too high for Celes," Selene interjected.
"Uuuh, fine… we'll stick to the first plan," Sasha agreed.
"Okay, let's head in," Slade said.
Slade parked his bike, tossed a coin to the guard outside, and entered the ruins. Sasha, Selene, and Celes followed. Slade pressed the wall with his bare, synthetic hand, and the lift opened. They stepped inside to descend to Nexon. "Ting." The lift arrived. Sasha, Selene, and Celes, having never been here, were momentarily stunned by the sheer number of billboards, neon signs, and even advertising Zeppelins floating above.
"Oi, don't zone out. Let's move," Slade urged.
"Right," Sasha and Selene replied, holding Celes's hands.
They walked past rusty iron buildings and the lower sections of sunken ruins, all now repurposed as entertainment venues. People from all three factions—Vorg, Zoan, and Noz—mingled openly: a Vorg trader dealing with a Noz customer, a Zoan man holding hands with a Noz woman. They also saw mixed-faction gangs, unified by their matching outfits.
Slade walked casually in front, whistling and greeting people he knew. Sasha and Selene whispered to each other behind his back.
"Do you think we can trust him?" Sasha asked.
"I don't know, but I feel like I know him, too. I just can't place where," Selene answered.
"Exactly! I feel the same way about him, and I feel like I know you too. It's driving me crazy," Sasha confessed.
"He's nice," Celes chirped.
"Oh," the two women said, looking at Celes.
"Well, if Celes-chan says so…" Selene shrugged.
"Okay, okay… I'll go along with it for now, but the second something feels off, I'm acting," Sasha warned.
Meanwhile, Slade, walking ahead, glanced back and smiled. He pulled a cigarette from his duster and lit it.
"Still suspicious of me, huh?" Slade thought as he walked.
They finally reached a four-story iron building marked with a "BOUNTY GUILD" sign. Slade stopped and turned to the others.
"From here, it's just me, Sasha, and Celes. Selene, wait here and keep your hood up," Slade instructed.
"Fine, but don't mess this up," Selene warned.
"I've got this, don't worry," Sasha assured her.
The three went inside, while Selene leaned against the wall, pulling her hood up to shield her face. Inside, Sasha and Slade saw a familiar sight: a messy room with flickering neon lights casting long shadows. Slade walked up to the counter. Behind it sat a blonde-mohawk-haired man in shades, his feet propped up on the desk, looking at a tablet.
"Yo, Frank," Slade greeted him.
The man, Frank, looked up and took off his shades to look at Slade.
"Yo, Slade. What brings you to this part of town? You never visit," Frank asked.
"I'm here to file a job report," Slade said, gesturing with his thumb.
Frank craned his neck and saw Sasha holding Celes behind Slade. Sasha raised a hand in a small wave. Frank turned back to Slade.
"What job?" Frank asked.
"The one Jack gave me in Neropolis. To escort that kid to her bodyguard. Well, here they are," Slade answered.
"Hold on, let me check," Frank replied.
He grabbed his tablet and quickly swiped at the screen. "piip," the tablet chimed. Frank's brow furrowed, and his expression turned serious.
"Oi, Slade, look at this," Frank said, sliding the tablet under the bars.
Slade picked it up and read the screen. Now it was Slade's turn to frown as he glanced at Sasha and Celes.
"Hmm… I see. Alright, I'm not filing the report," Slade stated.
"What? Are you crazy? You brought them all the way here! Look at the payout: 300,000 chips!" Frank exclaimed.
"Yep. Don't need it right now. I'm out," Slade said.
Slade immediately spun around, grabbed Sasha, and hurried her toward the exit. Sasha was confused.
"Hey, what's going on?" Sasha asked.
"We have to leave the city now. Come on," Slade urged.
"Oi! You sure about this, Slade? They're going to put a price on your head too!" Frank yelled.
"Fine by me! I'm gone!" Slade yelled back.
Slade dragged Sasha out, then grabbed Selene, who was startled from her post. Slade rushed Sasha (who was holding Celes) and Selene along.
"Hey! What the hell is going on? Explain!" Selene yelled.
"Yeah, spill it!" Sasha echoed.
"We need to get out of here first. I'll explain later," Slade replied.
But when they reached the lift entrance, Slade instantly pulled them into a side alley and peeked out. Several drones were circling the lift entrance that went to the surface. Slade turned to Sasha.
"Sasha, what was your deadline?" Slade asked.
"Um… today is the last day," Sasha replied.
"That's bad news," Slade muttered.
"What is it?" Selene asked, demanding an answer.
"The Noz put a bounty on both your heads, and Celes alive. Got it? Now we need to figure out how to get out of here," Slade explained.
Sasha, Selene, and Celes instantly fell silent, watching Slade watch the lift entrance. He then turned and walked deeper into the alley.
"Follow me," Slade told Selene and Sasha.
"Where?" Sasha asked.
"Just follow. Don't ask questions. Move it," Slade commanded.
"Hah," Sasha and Selene murmured.
Slade carefully peeked out of the alley. Seeing the coast clear, they walked out, passing behind buildings on a makeshift floor of dirty, slick metal sheeting. After a while, they reached a large sewer pipe big enough to walk through. Slade quickly forced the grate open and waved the two women inside.
He followed, closing the grate. Slade walked in front, his eyes serving as a flashlight to illuminate the pipe. After walking and turning corners for some time, they hit a dead end. Slade pressed the wall, and it slid open. They stepped inside. Sasha and Selene saw a surprisingly neat room, though weapons were laid out on a table, and steel shelves were stacked with old-world artifacts. The room was dim, lit by a single neon bulb. In front of them, several old monitors displayed surveillance footage of the outside sewer and the entire city from hidden cameras.
"We're safe here," Slade said.
"What is this place?" Selene asked.
"My home," Slade answered.
"Your home? Why all the monitors, the guns and ammo on the table, and the shelves full of ancient junk?" Sasha asked.
"The monitors are just to make sure no one comes in and to watch the city for my work. The other stuff is just my collection," Slade explained.
"Work? What kind of work requires you to watch the entire city? Aren't you just a bounty hunter?" Selene pressed.
"I'm a bounty hunter, but I'm also a detective. Now, here's the problem: we need to leave this city immediately. Frank saw me with Sasha and Celes, which means I'll have a price on my head soon, too," Slade warned.
"But how do we get out of here?" Sasha asked.
"I have a way, but I don't think you're going to like it," Slade replied.
"What is it?" Sasha and Selene asked in unison.
"We go through the sewer all the way to the reservoir by the oasis. I know someone there. But you know what that means, right? We'll have to be ready to fight the bio-monsters—the green slime things that live in the sewers," Slade said.
"Gulp." Sasha and Selene swallowed hard. The bio-monsters, used to clean the water, were notoriously vicious, consuming anything in the sewer, and they were abundant.