Dirty Job Done Dirt Cheap (1)

Walking through the streets littered with trash and filth, Jin couldn't help but try his very best to ignore it. His nature as a clean freak was acting up again, making it nigh impossible to ignore the filth.

'It's such a pain to look at… urghhh,' raged Jin inwardly, though he knew he couldn't change it. 

He opened his holographic map on his watch once again. Jin always had trouble traversing without a map, as he could easily get lost without Thirteen's assistance.

He held a disposable plastic bag to carry the remaining two slices of pizza.

'I want to eat this other two…' He was agonizing over the pieces he wanted to eat, but he promised Thirteen these last two slices so he continued his journey to his house while trying his best to ignore the delicious smell of the two cheesy slices.

Continuing his journey while glancing at his holographic watch, Jin couldn't ignore the crimson hue of his hands.

Having devoured six slices of pizza, he had scrubbed his hands repeatedly in the restaurant's washroom.

He had been walking for a while now and he could see that the sun was rising in the distance, it was around 5:30 am and he still had not slept.

'I think I can go on for another day, I need to get some money before I can even think about resting.' 

*Sigh*

"This is going to be a long day," Jin thought, sighing inwardly as he brushed off the mind-numbing pain from the two bullets lodged in him, his pain resistance granting him temporary relief.

After nearly half an hour of steady walking, he arrived at an apartment complex—the very one where Thirteen and he resided.

Similar to other buildings in the Tenth District, it was rundown, its condition worse than some. Yet, this deterioration meant cheaper rent.

Jin entered the building, greeted by a staircase that seemed to stretch endlessly upward. Each step intensified the pain from the bullets lodged within him.

'Hurts so damn much…' Jin gritted his teeth against the agony, but he knew that he can take a handful of painkillers once he reached his room. He was prepared to consume a handful in an attempt to dull the immense pain.

Finally reaching the fourth floor, he was confronted with two hallways. Their room lay at the end of the right hallway, labeled with the number 404.

He was walking towards it while holding his wound in pain.

Using his watch to activate the terminal next to the door, it obediently slid open. Jin stepped inside, immediately greeted by the lingering scent of cigarettes.

'I asked him to quit... it's such a foul smell,' Jin thought, moving swiftly to open the windows and dispel the smell.

Then, he walked to Thirteen room, the door was closed but he opened it without a care in the world.

Just next to the Door, there was Thirteen sleeping in his bed, he was covered by a thick blanket, and only his black hair was visible underneath it, but Jin could see how pale he was.

'We are running out of time… he needs better medicine than this trash Med X…' Thought Jin while sighing and rubbing the back of his neck.

He placed the Med X he brought from the pharmacy down on the ground, just beside Thirteen's bed, and walked to the back of the room, it was a large desk that reached from one of the walls to the other one.

It was filled with a monitor, too much to even want to count.

At the far end of the room, Jin noticed a mini-fridge tucked into the corner beside Thirteen's chair. Opening it, he deposited the two slices of pizza inside. Inside, he found only four bottles of water and another uneaten slice he had purchased earlier.

'He doesn't even eat now… fuck.' He closed the door of the mini fridge and began to leave the room silently, trying to not wake Thirteen up.

Then, he walked into the other room, his own. It was mostly empty, with a single bed and a nightstand beside it. Other than that, the room was filled with various weights for weightlifting.

Ignoring the decaying walls and the peeling tape, Jin focused on getting painkillers. 

Hastening to his nightstand, Jin flung it open, revealing a white carton box. Without hesitation, he ripped it open it, finding two rows of painkillers neatly arranged inside.

He took out three pills and put them in his mouth, without even drinking water, he swallowed them without a second thought.

'I hope it's going to take effect soon, this is terrible.' Agonized Jin while walking to the washroom to freshen up a bit and wash his face.

He began to open the dirty sink and he cupped his hands under the stream, relishing the cold sensation as it washed over him. 

Leaning forward, he splashed the frigid water onto his face, feeling its refreshing touch awaken his senses. 

After the water helped him wake up, Jin reached for the blue towel tucked beneath the sink, drying his face and hands with its familiar softness. 

*Sigh* 

'Let's go,' Jin muttered, exiting the building and closing the door behind him. He swiftly activated his holographic map on his watch, searching for the nearest Contractor Hub—a hotspot for mercenaries like him and Thirteen to find lucrative jobs.

Locating one just a five-minute walk away, Jin quickened his pace, almost jogging. To onlookers, he appeared to be moving at an extraordinary speed.

Thankfully, the painkillers already took effect, lessening the pain he felt from the gunshot wounds that he still had not cleaned out, he only had a bandage around it to stop the bleeding.

With his swift pace, Jin arrived at the Contractor Hub in just half a minute, eager to complete his task before Thirteen woke up.

Unlike the majority of buildings in the Tenth District, this one stood apart with its superior construction materials and clean state.

It was a fully modern building with a pristine white material that resembled some metal, but Jin had no idea about it, nor did he care, but the building was pleasant for his eyes.

'I need the highest-paying job,' Jin thought as he stepped into the building, instantly drawing the attention of many eyes.

Well-known in this establishment, Jin had built a reputation for always following every mission he undertook.

Navigating through the bustling hub, Jin approached the holographic board in the center of the room, displaying a variety of available jobs.

Looking for bodyguard 

Difficulty - E 

Pay 830 Credit

Hunting Down the Cerberus Gang

Difficulty - C 

Pay: 1910 Credit

Putting Down a Cypher 

Difficulty - C

Pay: 1870 Credit

'No way I'm settling for a measly bodyguard gig... let's go for both C-rated jobs,' Jin decided, selecting the two most challenging assignments available.

Checking his watch for his current account balance, Jin frowned at the sight of only 1270 credits.

'Nowhere near enough... Anyways, let's get this done.'