DIGIMON SEEKERS

A wireframe T-Rex runs.

Tyrannosaurus Rex.

This carnivorous reptile reigned over the Cretaceous earth approximately 67 million years ago. It measured up to 13 meters in length and weighed 9 tons.

Dinosaur.

But this one was a bit different from the imagined reconstructions based on fossils by scholars.

It was much smaller than a T-Rex.

Nevertheless, its forelimbs were significantly developed, and the three sharp claws would likely tear through the flesh of its prey with ease.

- Tyrannomon

- Adult stage

- Dinosaur type

- Data species

The texture of the skin is applied to the wireframe 3D body, mapping—bringing about the texture. A red T-Rex imitation runs. They were in a pack. One pursues prey, one lures, and another waits—a hunt orchestrated by a group based on advanced intelligence. The prey is cornered. Deeper and deeper into the tunnel. When the approaching Tyrannomon's sharp claws finally attempted to catch the prey,

Boom—

With a deafening roar, a square-shaped massive object passes by at high speed. It's the subway. The subway, drawn in wireframe—the Tyrannomon that dodged the train in a split second, only the area within visual range is painted in vermillion, indicating the route with line colors. The destination display, seeming familiar from somewhere, shows an incomprehensible string of characters.

This is not an ancient jungle but a concrete underground space constructed in lines.

The three Tyrannomons once again pursue the fleeing prey. Turning at the tunnel's branching, further into the depths underground. Splash. The sound of water being stepped on. It leads to a vast sewer. The surroundings are engulfed in darkness, not even the stretched fingertips are visible. But the Tyrannomons perceive it. The stagnant wind carrying the smell of filth, the footsteps of the prey cleverly darting through the waterways... in other words, the air.

Gyah!

The Tyrannomon playing the waiting game screams.

Suddenly, a tornado forms, and the vortex of swirling water knocks the Tyrannomon away. Losing balance, the Tyrannomon falls into the waterway from its back, exposing its belly as it flips over. Crash! There's a shockwave of a counterattack from close range, delivering a powerful final blow by surprise. The Tyrannomon, counterattacked by the prey, falls silent, its red skin marked—noise spreading out.

A jumping billboard—3D digital signage advertisement.

A strong-faced kabuki-style shop mascot, with panda-like makeup, leaps from the store onto the road, energetically promoting the newly released "Something Meat 4x Burger".

"Is there any good part-time job story out there~?"

Eji Nagasu settles in the corner seat of the second floor of the fast food restaurant, lingering with a drink he got with a coupon.

With his smartphone in one hand, he scrolls through the topics of the SNS—GrIMM (Grim).

GrIMM is a worldwide communication tool. It offers basic short messages, voice chat, video/live streaming features, and various communities based on group channels. Its total user base is probably among the top of all SNS platforms. Its biggest feature is its unique cryptocurrency, DC (Digicoin), which serves as a financial settlement tool, forming its own economic sphere.

However, it's half illegal.

"The cost of tools isn't cheap, and you have to really learn programming instead of outsourcing... Huh... The tips are going up again? Is our industry finally entering a red ocean?"

He muttered something resembling that to himself.

For information gathering, personal transactions, and crowdsourcing, GrIMM is essential for freelancers like Eiji

GrIMM is like a republic on the network based on new values.

...That's not an overstatement. Its economic scale is now threatening real-world nations.

"Breeding breeders... That's a high hurdle. Maybe capturing prey for collectors would be a quicker way to earn money. But if you want to be a full-time hunter, you need to secure customers and sales routes... Black Agumon? Capture reward: 1 billion DC!?"

"Agumon" refers to data traded by crackers like Eiji who come and go on GrIMM—It's a name used in the network's illicit labor market.

—"Agumon Black" "Only undamaged specimens"

The recruitment content and note were accompanied by a silhouette of a dinosaur.

1 billion DC is roughly over 1 billion yen...? Eiji couldn't even imagine such a large sum of money, but will it be enough to live on for over 10 years without working?

But as Eiji looked at the replies hanging on the original post, his excitement quickly faded.

All of them were either abusive or for the purpose of mischief, asking for money...

GrIMM is lawless. It's a network dumping ground.

"Oh, is this some famous urban legend? 1 billion seems unrealistic, and besides, if it's black, it's not Agumon... Wait, noo!! My Tyrannomon No. 3!"

He exclaimed inadvertently.

A group of high school students on the same floor glanced at Eiji.

Until last year—

Eiji also wore a high school uniform like them.

Having fun without much sense of reality, without goals, without worries about the future...

When he stopped swiping on his smartphone, he touched another gadget he had placed on the table with his other hand.

Palm-sized, with a monochrome LCD screen and control buttons. At first glance, it looks like an electronic toy—like a toy.

On the screen, there was a deformed dinosaur-like figure displayed in so-called dot art.

—Tyrannomon

The name was displayed. But it was marked with a cross on the eyes and down.

"I was so focused on finding a part-time job that I wasted my part-time pay... Stupid, stupid, I'm an idiot!"

Eiji beat his head by himself.

The other two—Tyrannomon No. 1 and No. 2, looked at Eiji alternately from the small monochrome screens.

They seemed troubled, as if waiting for instructions.

"I'm counting on you! I can't afford any more mistakes...!"

Eiji operated the gadget and replaced the downed Tyrannomon with another individual.

—"If the target isn't captured, you guys will go without food! Or rather, if I can't capture it, I'll go without side dishes this month."

Seems like he was thought to be a dangerous guy getting excited over a game. The high schoolers frowned and moved to another seat.

But this isn't a game.

It's not play.

Eiji is a cracker.

While people with exceptional computer-related skills are called hackers, crackers are those who don't mind engaging in "illegal" or "gray zone" activities even among hackers, they are the jacks-of-all-trades in the network world.

"Tool setting: Capture! Target reassignment: Pseudo Beta Mon! Don't underestimate Cracker "Fang" Eji Nagasu... Command executed! & Leave it!"

He pressed the execute button with a click.

The Tyrannomons on the monochrome LCD screen disappeared somewhere.

They went out to work. All that's left is for the AI to capture the "prey" as specified in advance by the tool.

After finishing his drink in the soggy paper cup, Eiji began scrolling through GrIMM again.