Moon’s Labyrinths - Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

After ordering the food, the three of them carried on a conversation until the food came out . No, it was wrong to say that the three of them spoke . To be precise, Chelsea spoke continuously with Jimin, and Jimin would occasionally answer her .

In many ways, Sungyoon had turned into a third wheel, but he preferred this . Also, Chelsea was quite entertaining . She spoke about her research on the moon, mostly spoke about the inconveniences of living on the moon . It was useful information for him since he was going to be living on the moon and would be raiding the labyrinth .  

Still, it wasn’t as if Sungyoon was completely shut out from the conversation . Jimin and Chelsea occasionally asked him a question .

He could feel everyone staring at them . He was sitting with two beauties, both on a different level . Everyone kept stealing glances towards them, yet the two women remained cool under their gazes . Jimin and Chelsea was used to it .

People looked at Sungyoon too . However, it wasn’t the amorous glances sent towards Jimin and Chelsea . Most of them were glaring at him with jealousy in their eyes . Unlike what those men thought, Sungyoon wasn't feeling welcome being in this situation .

After a certain amount of time had passed, their food started to come out . A good looking waiter and waitress started to bring out their food .

“Wow . It smells so good . ”

Chelsea sounded as if she was in ecstasy as she looked at the steak in front of her . She lowered her nose towards the steak and inhaled . She looked like she was about to drool from her open mouth .

“Please mind your manners . ”

“Ahahaha! Manners? If I was going to mind my manners, I wouldn’t have come here wearing this . ”

Chelsea was undaunted by Jimin’s criticism . She shook her dirty lab coat as she let out a hearty laughter . Then, taking up her fork and knife, she started to dissect the steak .

Sungyoon also cut up his steak and placed a piece in his mouth .

‘Wow!’

The juice from the meat flooded his mouth . Was the price of the steak influencing how it tasted? It would be unfortunate if the food in the range of 10 million won wasn’t delicious . The reason didn’t matter . In the end, it was delicious .

“Kooo! As expected of this restaurant, they have the best chefs in Armstrong!”

Chelsea pounded the table with her fork . Jimin once again told her to quiet down . However, the smile never left Chelsea’s face .

‘A top-notch chef made this . ’

Fortunately, his brain hadn’t tricked his taste buds . He once again put more food in his mouth . Even during his more successful days, it was extremely rare for him to eat food this good .

“How’s the food? Is it good?”

“Yes, it is delicious . ”

As he answered Jimin’s question, he once again used his fork and knife on the meat .

“I never expected us to eat such a gourmet meal on the moon . I wouldn’t have minded if we went to a cheaper restaurant . ”

A single piece of steak was like shoving a couple hundred dollars into his stomach . The thought made him flinch inside .

“There are no cheap restaurants here . Most of the stores in Armstrong are at this level . ”

Something unbelievable was said by Chelsea .

“…they are all on this level?”

“Yes . The eye popping price comes from the cost of transporting the ingredients, and the cost of the chef living on the moon . The original cost of the ingredients are a very small percentage of the sales margin and the operating expense . Of course, it is a lot of money, but the cost of living and transportation is too high here . That is why the profit margin doesn’t change much even if they use high quality ingredients and the best chefs . Would it matter if it was 1,001 million, 1,050 million or 1,000 million won? The difference is small in the grand scheme of things . What would happen if such foods were tasteless?”

Chelsea waved her fork as she gave an explanation . Jimin was glaring at her once again, so she discreetly put down her fork .

“…I see . Everything is expensive, so great service is required . ”

“That’s right . ”

“In addition, each country chose the people that get to come up here . It means only those with proven skills get to come up here . ”

Jimin gave an additional explanation .

“Well, politics also plays a big part too . ”

“Politics?”

Chelsea had put a piece of steak in her mouth . She chewed as she spoke . Sungyoon responded to her statement .  

“Yes . Politics . You do know that it isn’t good for an economy if money is gathered in one place? In the case of Connectors, they make a massive amount of money . This is especially true for the high ranked Connectors . A massive amount of money is tied up in their bank accounts . The amount of income brought in by the 1st Gen Connectors… Whew . It is ridiculous . ”

She fluttered her hand .

“Every government would want to extract those money in any way possible . The governments could tax them, but there is a limit . They can’t be unreasonable by taxing them 70-80% of their income . There would be an incredible amount of backlash . That is why the governments try to make the Connectors spend their money . Places of entertainment are set up anywhere the Connectors reside for an extended amount of time . The Connectors put their lives on the line to raid the labyrinths . This is why most of them are compulsive spenders . They don’t know when they will die, so many of them are loose with their money . Of course, the entertainment industry is a booming success here . Moreover, they price the services high, so the stores are able to have high profit margins . It would be called rip-off on earth, but no one would complain here . There is THE place to make a profit . ”

Sungyoon looked down at his place . He could still see steam rising up from his half eaten steak . In his eyes, the steam looked like money evaporating into the air .

It seemed he would have to change his mindset if he wanted to live in the Lunar city of Armstrong . He made a resolve to do so .

* * *

“Ah! The food was great!”

When Chelsea exited the restaurant, she stretched her two arms as she let out a shout .

“I had given up on eating good food until the next time I would've gone back to earth . This is why it is good to have a well-off friend!”

Chelsea hugged Jimin . Chelsea was much taller, so Jimin was engulfed in her hug . Jimin said she couldn’t breathe, so she tried to push Chelsea away . But Chelsea was like a tick . She wouldn’t let go of Jimin .

Sungyoon let the two friends have their moment of skinship . He looked up at the dome’s ceiling .

The intensity of the light within the city was getting weaker . It seemed this was how they differentiated day and night . They didn’t completely turn off the light, but if one closed the curtain, it was dark enough to sleep .

The surrounding streets had become busy . It was like any other city . Bars and shops turned their lights on, and they greeted the customers . People were already drunk on the street . Their faces were red as they laughed madly .

“People should be returning from the labyrinths . ”

Chelsea let go of Jimin as she spoke . Jimin’s hair was all disheveled, so she rearranged it . Her eyes narrowed as she pinched Chelsea’s arm . Chelsea let out a scream, exaggerating her pain .

“It’s time for me to go . If I stay any longer, I’m afraid I’ll be murdered by my friend . ”

She covered the location where she had been pinched . She acted as if she had been knifed or shot by a gun . She staggered on her feet .

“Yes . Leave . I won’t buy you anything next time, you wench . ”

“Ooh hue hue . Please show me a good time next time we meet!”

Chelsea once again hugged Jimin . The hug was part of the goodbye, so Jimin didn’t resist this time .

“Let’s do well in our future endeavors, Mr Sungyoon . ”

After she moved away from Jimin, she pushed her hand out toward Sungyoon .

“Please look after me . ”

Sungyoon grabbed her hand lightly, and he shook it .

Chelsea let out a bright smile as she looked at Sungyoon . However, Sungyoon had a vague idea that there was a coldness hiding behind her smiling face . Her cold eyes were dissecting him . She hid it behind her bright and energetic personality . However, she was a scientist, and she was dispassionately dissecting and assessing him . He was a stranger . She wasn’t ready to put her guard down in front of him .

‘That’s great . ’

It was good news for Sungyoon .

Chelsea waved with both hands as she walked away . Jimin gave a small wave . When Chelsea disappeared from their sight, Jimin put down her hand .

“She’s a whirlwind, right?”

Jimin let out a bitter laughter . She looked like a big sister watching her immature younger sister play at the pool . However, there was true affection within her voice . They were true friends .

“She is a bit of a whirlwind . I can also tell that she really likes you . ”

“She is a really affectionate person . I was lucky to have met her . If something happens later, you can consult Chelsea . She is a researcher, so she’s been here for a while . She knows a lot about this city . ”

“Understood . ”

“Shall we get moving? I want to show you something before we return to our lodging . ”

The two of them started walking the streets of the city once again .

The people around them acted the same as the people on earth . They had safely finished their work today, so they were excited . They wanted to let some steam off, so the people around them wanted to enjoy their night . In fact, the people were more excited here compared to earth .

He remembered what Chelsea had said earlier . The Connectors risked their lives to raid the labyrinths, and many of them pursued pleasure afterwards . Since they didn’t lose their lives today, they were happy and excited . Sungyoon guessed they wanted to celebrate that fact .

It sounded as if there was an argument in the front . Sungyoon could hear shouts and cursing . Sungyoon saw a man with two women in his arms . The women were showing a lot of skin on the side . The man laughed out loud as he walked by Sungyoon . He talked about how much he had gained and lost in the casino .

Basically, this place was a vortex of basic human desires .

However, it became quiet once again after Sungyoon and Jimin left downtown .

“Not all Connectors live their lives like that . The ones that can’t bring in an absurd amount of income live normally . No, I guess it is a bit of a sad life . Most of the normal Connectors have to live in small lodgings . They eat the minimal amount of food by supplementing their diet with vitamin packs . Of course, all the facilities within Armstrong are above average compared to earth . The normal Connectors may be able live the high life on earth, but they have to live like normal people in Armstrong . This city revolves solely around money . This place has the most disparity between the haves and have nots . ”

As he heard more about the city, he realized Armstrong was a terrifying city . He shook his head . He wondered if he’ll be fine living here .

* * *

The last place Jimin wanted to visit was the outer wall of the dome . He could see many vehicles and people move in and out through a massive tunnel that went through the wall . Sungyoon recognized it in a single glance . This was the entrance that connected the city of Armstrong and the outside . If they went through this tunnel, they would be able to walk on the surface of the moon .

“Are you ready?”

It didn’t take long for Jimin to put on another space suit . Sungyoon nodded .

The two of them moved towards the entrance . The large wall started to open, and Sungyoon gulped . As soon as the wall was opened, Sungyoon and Jimin moved with the cars and a crowd of people . When the wall was closed once again, the two of them started climbing the wall from the outside .

Hoo-oong!

Wind started to blow in their surrounding . Wind shrieked as air exited out into the dark space . Soon, his ears couldn’t pick up any sound . He slowly started seeing the outside as the gap in the wall widened .

The gray desolate field of the moon was revealed .

The people and the vehicles started to move as one . Sungyoon and Jimin slowly exited towards the outside .

The first thing he noticed was the moon’s gravity . It was ⅙ the gravity of earth . It was as if steel weights were lifted from his body and his body felt light . Then he stepped onto the surface of the moon . The moon had been bombarded by meteor through the long years, so the ground was covered with dust . Due to the lack of winds, there were deep footprints everywhere .

Sungyoon looked at his surroundings . The vast and desolate field of the moon stretched out in front of him . At his back, the enormous city of Armstrong obstructed his view . On top of the horizon, he could see the lights of stars .  

Tap! Tap!

Jimin tapped on his shoulder . When he looked at her, he saw her pointing towards the sky .

This was the last thing Jimin wanted to show Sungyoon . He realized what it was .

Earth was floating above them in the sky .