The Gamer Was Rigged From the Start (Gamer SI, Currently: WURM)

3: Title below

Asia is a terrible place to farm exp. Unless it's russia in specific situations. You know what? Not even russia. All of this Asia sucks

-5 days later-​

It was pouring today. That much the cabbie could tell you without a doubt. Unfortunately, it had this side effect of hurting his business to the point of ending it for the day as he listened to the radio to pass the time. However, due to his obvious economic standing, his daughter's education, and her special condition, he was forced to work the entire shift. He would work overtime if he could, but he wouldn't do it no matter how many times his boss would threaten him. He would immediately bring up the last four times he did so was still not paid, shutting him up as bringing up legal charges would be considered an interesting case of M.A.D. that would ruin the both in their own way due to the country's shitty social economic situation.

He couldn't afford it, not with his daughter relying on him and his attempts to find an equal or better paying job becoming unsuccessful so far. Thus, he is stuck where he is. His lovely little girl's offer of assistance was rebuffed on the simple grounds that she is a young blooming lady that should enjoy her youth. Even with the skills he lovingly taught her to be a capable mechanic, he wouldn't let her due to her new trick giving their so-called masters a reason to bring their scrutiny upon her.

She didn't know yet, but the devils that served their oppressors were looking for the slightest hint of people like her daughter. The best she can do for him is to live the best life possible and succeed in school and live her life relatively free. While he bides his time finding a way to improve their situation while ensuring a stable livelihood.

*Knock knock*

He broke out of his thoughts of a potential customer knocking on his door. He doesn't leave it open anymore and he learnt his lesson quite well no matter what company policy was. He looked in the right-side view mirror, the cold rain fogging it up a bit while making everything seem as a blur. But it seemed he was an alright individual even with all the city lights drowning everything in ambient lights as the city was forced into nighttime ahead of schedule.

Seeing his potential customer patiently waiting under the dowsing rain, he unlocked the door and regretted it immediately. The man(?) stepping inside before quickly shutting the door in an understood simplicity of common kindness was missed by him. The first thing he noticed were the slightly glowing red eyes bringing in a sense of foreboding dread on his futuristic gas mask. Further assisted by the rough, immaculate adorned clothing hiding the clothing underneath really well in the twilight. Hid it well it did, but he was still able to see small glimpses of some kind of armor forming underneath.

'So, this is it. They have found her...' There was nothing left to be said as he watched him dead in the eyes as his would-be killer was rummaging in his coat for what he would assume to be his murder weapon. Unaware he is holding his breath, hopeful this is one of the higher ups that love to use guns rather than the lower ranked "noble" officials who were so pragmatic to the point of sociopathic behavior where they would kill them by whatever powers they have if it wouldn't be a mess or just stab them in the neck at stare at them until they were sure their victim was dead before stabbing them again where they think it's extremely painful just to make sure.

And instead, to his complete and utter surprise a wrapped stack of 1K yuan bills was brought out. "Is this enough to go anywhere?" He spoke in a simple gruff tone. His mandarin was just like his clothing, immaculate without any accent or dialect whatsoever.

"Uh. Y-yes..." He hesitantly took the stack, unsure what to do with it exactly. Since it was more money than he has put together in his whole life. Whole. Life. In cold, hard, cash. "Where exactly do you want to go?" As he put it under the passenger's seat next to him, failing that, he just left it on the floor to keep it out of sight.

"How well do you know the harbors of Shanghai?"

"I- what?"

"The most beautiful one. Without any of the pollution if there is such a one." The strange man patiently pointed out. He did know what he was talking about, but it was mighty peculiar that a man dressed like him would ask for such a thing. Even if he has heard of the extremely rare foreign tourists, he has never heard of one dressed as him. It didn't make sense for a noble officer to take the taxi either since it would damage their already fragilely low public image even further. If it were even possible...

"Sure. I'll take you there right away." He robotically responded. His heart was beating him with trepidation , yet he followed habit as habit made it simple enough to be. Even if his current customer was an illegal super, it seemed to have nothing to do with him and it wasn't any of his business. He wasn't in any hurry to be a rat whatsoever and the man was nice enough to pay him real well. So why make things harder for himself when he can just be on his way after doing his job, no one can blame him otherwise right?

Besides, the so-called rulers of this country can take a long walk off the short pier for all he cares. Whoever they are, they sure helped everyone when the 18 hells let every sinner through.

He checked all mirrors with practice ease with a simple side-eye before crossing into the fluorescent neon lights. They were halfway through in silence listening to the radio before the stranger spoke up once more. "Turn up the radio a bit please." He did so without question, unaware of what he was about to hear.

"-reaking news. Our glorious leaders have announced an important notice." The lady in the box said "There have been an alarming amount of nuclear waste facilities emptied. It was only discovered this morning when a routine check revealed-" His passenger Audibly snorted at that "-that the waste amongst other hazardous byproducts were completely cleaned out. Investigators have a lead-'' A chuckle was loosened "-on who is responsible. The same culprit who our magnanimous peacekeepers are led to believe are the same ones responsible for systematically eradicating pollution all over our glorious country. Authorities have told us that although they have done good, it is done without the consent or authorization of the people. Especially since they were led to believe it was done with the aid of the powered." He could only shake his head in disgust of the amount of bullshit the woman was most likely forced to say.

It was just typical of them. Anything done good is either because it was all because of their "generosity" and no one has credit to it but them, or radical criminals who must submit to the will of the government for their own "safety". To better use it for the "people" of this "glorious" country that somehow everyone is somehow "benefitting" from. Unfortunately, that's how they built and raised this country to be.

He understood the hard way what his father was trying to pass on to him. When it cost his father's life and the consequences that followed opened his eyes wide to his teachings. That this country is a prison in its mockery of civilization. Nothing changed when the so-called royal family came into power if they even existed. That is incorrect. It changed from bad to worse. There's nothing he can do about it now. No matter how much he wanted to.

The rain poured on and on. Uncaring of the feelings of both the just and unjust alike. It was strange for him, even for a port city like Shanghai. The city had its fair share of heavy pouring whether it'd be from torrential storms or the occasional hurricanes, everything went on for everyone as business as usual. But not today. Today was something different. Even with the government continuing the previous one's commitment to denying and punishing any mention of the supernatural.

It felt an omen of something to come with how the heavens attempted to drown it all.

The radio droned on and on of similar things happening to military installations and even points of interest such as certain companies and corporations missing everything that wasn't bolted down secure enough to the ground, along with all their accounts emptied and properties sold. Whatever or whichever group was responsible shall soon face their hypothetical wrath. And judging from his passengers' reactions, he has a pretty good idea what, or rather who is responsible.

He wouldn't have any chance of going against him, and it wouldn't look good on his character for attempting to turn on his well-paying customer like that.

"We're here." He pulled into the marina, driving in till his passenger gestured towards the one boardwalk he wanted to stop at.

"Thanks for the trip. Here's a tip." He gave another stack of 1K yuan bills towards the shocked man. He opens the door yet stops right before getting out. Lifting a finger up as if to remember something "Almost forgot!" He reached into his coat, uncaring that he flinched, and pulled out a makeshift handheld device with a big red button on it. He looked him straight in the eyes as pressed it. Then proceeded to double bag it in ziplocks before handing it to him. "This will be a whole lot more later. Or maybe not and it will get you killed. Who knows? Keep it safe for me, will ya?" Stepping out of the car and closing it. A couple seconds later the radio fizzled its connection before he couldn't hear the station at all. He flipped through the stations only to find that every station was nothing but the sound of static.
'What a strange man...'