Cyberpunk: From Dogville to Legend

Chapter 417 The Road Home [1 words]

Gunshots shattered the tranquility of the entire interview floor.

Then came a sharp scream. The girl looked down at the limp corpse on the floor, her cold eyes sweeping over the source of the scream.

One girl's legs were trembling, and if her fellow interviewee hadn't reached out to support her, she probably would have collapsed to the ground.

This is reality.

Since the beginning of the last century, the job of a company employee has long ceased to be simply a nine-to-five office worker…

Bloodshed is the most common occurrence in companies; students in ivory towers probably see far less blood than street thugs…

But companies don't want people who only scream; they want followers, executioners, and people who obey the collective.

No words are needed; this is the most authentic onboarding training at the Night City branch.

To do this job well in one of the worst places in North America, you have to get used to this kind of situation.

The silver-haired girl deftly tucked her pistol into the side of her waist, tossed the brown paper bag in her hand, and David caught it instinctively.

You forgot your things.

David's throat felt like it was blocked by a brick; he had barely uttered a syllable when he saw the girl's threatening expression and quickly withdrew his hand—the surrounding chaos was immediately contained; as a job seeker, that was all he could see.

His heart was pounding wildly, and he felt as if he had grasped something he had lost and found again. He hurriedly sat down on the sofa and opened the brown paper bag.

No one but my mom can wrap things like that.

Upon opening the bag, I found three sandwiches inside, along with a small note placed on the still slightly warm food.

"After the results come out, come find me on the 70th floor terrace of Arasaka Tower."

"ばか(idiot)"

……
-
"Did David still go to the abandoned version?"

The only change that two years brought to Lin's face was Hu Qing; otherwise, there were no other signs of aging.

Gloria looked at the phone that Rin had hung up on, her expression a mixture of confusion and delight.

"Just make a phone call."

"Westbrook isn't a great place; it's crowded and noisy."

Lin Yue shrugged. "I'm not exactly a good person either."

Gloria chuckled. "What you're saying... Oh, by the way, did you come specifically for David? It's alright, he's quite smart, and..."

Looking at the furnishings of Gloria's new rented room, Lin Yue turned to the hesitant Gloria and said meaningfully, "You're saying you don't care whether David gets into Arasaka or not? You're practically wearing your anxiety on your sleeve. But you really should have faith in David. Although he's not the best... he's definitely good enough for Arasaka."

Gloria blushed slightly.

"It's a pity you're no longer in the wasteland. David wasn't actually a rebellious kid; he might have been able to help you... I also believe he could have learned more if he had followed you."

"Oh, by the way, please have a seat."

As she spoke, Gloria glanced outside a few more times.

"It's just me."

Gloria listened to Rin's voice thoughtfully and said, "I thought the cute little girl who always follows you around was here too..."

When Rebecca was mentioned, a barely perceptible frown appeared on Lin Yue's brow.

"Sit down, no need for special treatment. I came here specifically to see you about David."

Gloria also composed herself and listened attentively to Lin Yue.

"From what I've observed, and from my friends in Arakasa, it seems this kid isn't very enthusiastic about getting into Arakasa, so I'm not sure if I can get him a job there. After all, he could get into other companies too. I just wanted to see what you think, Madam."

"Personally, I believe that if a child has his own ideas, then he should choose according to his own wishes. I don't need you and your child to repay anything for me—"

Gloria sighed, a little anxious despite rarely interrupting others.

“David is not like that.”

"It's just because of you..."

Lin Yue was stunned.

"mine?"

Gloria stared earnestly into Rin's eyes. "Yes. This child has said many times that he wants to be like Mr. Rin... but as you know, all he can access is the news from Night City."

“Perhaps you are no longer in his eyes, which is why he feels lost... Plus that girl, perhaps because she wanted to do something for you, also said something like breaking up to my silly son... It’s really something.”

Lin Yue was both amused and exasperated.

"I'm not really curious about campus romances... but how did you know Lucy was doing something for me?"

Gloria gave Rin a reproachful look.

"If I didn't know you well, I would never have known you weren't as heartless as you seem. You just scared that girl. Why can't you treat your juniors with the same gentleness you show me?"

"The girl just came to me crying, saying silly things like we should stay together forever..."

Lin Yue picked up the thread, "So..."

Gloria shrugged. "So I sent her to find David and try to persuade the kid to go to Arasaka!"

Lin Yue was at a loss for words, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"Actually, the phone call you just received was sent by a rich kid who has some grudge against David. He wanted to tarnish David's reputation so that he wouldn't pass Arasaka's interview."

"V said it could be resolved, and I didn't want to trouble you."

Gloria immediately turned pale with fright.

Lin Yue offered a few words of reassurance before solemnly saying, "No matter what, I need to meet David... Whether David is willing to work in Arasaka depends on him."

However, Gloria wasn't worried. Instead, she got up and tied her hair up. "This kid will probably jump higher than the ceiling when he sees you. It's still early, let me make you something to eat. I reckon you don't really like eating things bought from outside."

"Should we make a copy for your friends at work as well?"

Just as Lin Yue was about to refuse, feeling he was bothering others, the decisive woman, wearing an apron, had already disappeared into the kitchen. "I just bought some real meat sausages that were shipped from the east. They taste so much better than those from Whole Foods."

"Never mind! There aren't many people anyway, let's all come and eat together."

Lin Yue hurriedly got up to stop her, but Gloria had already dialed the phone number.

After half an hour.

Lin Yue awkwardly rubbed his forehead on the sofa, while Rebecca lay on the side of the sofa with her arm behind her head, legs crossed, looking quite pleased with herself.

Then look at Sasha. No matter what food or drink Gloria offers her, she stands up and bows repeatedly.

This made Gloria a little hesitant to hand anything to the girl…

Qi Wei was even stranger—

Gloria looked at the woman's pale yellow eyes, which were like those of a cheetah. She sat at the dining table with her arms crossed, and the mask prevented her from eating properly, but in reality, she was quite decent in her interactions with others...

It was this maroon trench coat paired with Qi Wei's tall figure that gave her an extremely strong sense of pressure when she looked at people.

Fortunately…

Even more embarrassingly, Pila didn't come. Rebecca said that the guy was busy working on new technology again. When she looked for him, he was bent over fiddling with the wiring and didn't even turn his head.

Gloria and Lin Yue exchanged a glance, both seeing the miscalculation in each other's eyes.

Rebecca swung her legs and hummed a song, the hit single "Bang Bang Chicken" by the three fierce sisters, which had been a global sensation for three years. The classic Japanese electronic music combined with her soft, sweet voice had won over countless fans, and Rebecca was clearly one of them.

"Hmph hmph hmph... Bang Bang Chicken! Bang Bang Chicken!"

Lin Yue's smoking motion was slightly forceful.

Zhula…

Just as Rebecca was resting her head comfortably, the wall suddenly started flickering, as if something had been torn apart, and then a guy with his arms crossed and leaning against the wall appeared.

Seemingly to counter Rebecca's song, this guy hummed a section of the Martial Attendant's Supreme Song, and the two of them essentially had a vocal showdown.

As expected, Johnny's gruff rock voice really annoyed Rebecca, who was immersing herself in the experience of having a "perfect voice."

He immediately stared at Johnny with wide eyes, giving him an expression that said he was about to say something nasty.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk..."

Johnny's sarcastic tone came through.

"What a joyful and wonderful scene of a dinner party, it's just a pity it's the office worker's doghouse, I wonder how long they'll have to wear this hypocritical mask..."

"I have to thank those stupid Japanese scientists, so I can have some peace and quiet when you're dating and sleeping with this corporate dog."

Rebecca's mouth wasn't exactly "kind" either.

"Ha, the famous rock star, the fearless corporate vanguard, is standing here watching us corporate dogs eat—you must be thrilled, right?"

"To be honest, you're a terrible waiter, not even as good as the receptionist at the entrance of the Big Gun Showroom."

"Besides, I haven't rolled on yet. If I do, I'll turn the volume up to the maximum so you can hear it properly, you damn thing!"

The voice just fell.

The two men simultaneously raised their middle fingers without looking at each other.

"Hahaha!"

Johnny gave a forced smile, walked behind the sofa cushions, propped his elbows on the cushions, and pointed with his chin at Rin, who was smoking.

"I'm serious, if you have so much potential, why are you hanging out with this guy? Starting tomorrow, bring your stuff and those two bottles of medicine."

“I’ll take care of gathering Rogge, and you take care of the work. Wouldn’t it be better to let what happened decades ago repeat itself than to just sit here and wait to die?”

Rebecca had heard this bastard spout countless similar nonsense over the past two years; her ears were calloused, and she had absolutely no interest in responding.

Admittedly, Rebecca initially tried to explain the Dreamers' business and its operations, but by now she was too lazy to say anything normal to this rock star who found fault with everything.

"Rogge?"

"Are you referring to the Queen of the Next Life who did all the 'dirty work' for the dreamers?"

Johnny paced back and forth with his hands on his hips. "A company dog ​​is still a company dog ​​no matter what. He never tells the truth."

Rebecca rolled her eyes.

She would never consider taking this rock star who thinks the whole world is his enemy to find Roger; it would only make her miserable.

"Putting everything else aside, when you have money and power, would you choose to work for the working class? Don't be silly, little girl. Look at him... He's already turned into a greedy, hypocritical corporate dog. All your team's work is assassinating high-ranking company executives and carrying out purges. Can't you see that? Hmm?"

Rebecca can tolerate this guy talking about anyone, except Rin.

"Shut up, Johnny!"

Johnny sighed, strode through the wall, and vanished instantly.

But this time, when Johnny left, Rebecca, who had been pretending not to care with her eyes closed, opened them...

But soon, the little girl, whose head was so small it could only fit one person, shook her head.

So what if I'm a company dog? I like it.

Not long after the little incident, everyone was able to exchange a few words with each other, and they all sat together happily eating the desserts Gloria had made.

Rebecca, in particular, who often chews bubble gum and loves sweet things, had her eyes light up the moment she bit into a pastry.

Sasha, who was usually very particular about etiquette, also relaxed and the two of them busied themselves in the kitchen. Not to mention, the clever Sasha learns everything quickly. She helped out and even took on the challenge of baking a batch of cookies herself.

Rebecca immediately stuffed several into her mouth.

Lin Yue didn't dare say anything, but subconsciously reached out to catch her so she wouldn't fall onto the sofa.

Unbeknownst to them, some of the habits Lin Yue brought from China were etched into the behavior of the team members. For example, they would help clean up before meals, say they were full and leave while eating, and even take some food with them.

Rebecca smiled sheepishly and snuggled closer to Lin Yue.

This action, however, made a guy who had just felt a great sense of accomplishment run back to the kitchen with a sour look on his face, pursing his lips and squeezing more and more bitter chocolate sauce onto the cookies...

This was the only form of revenge Sasha could think of.

Gloria, who is very perceptive of emotions, pretended to be busy cleaning up the baking pan and molds that were stained with egg liquid, but her eyes were actually fixed on the girl's slightly vigorous movements.

really…

Sasha's steel mold, which she used to shape objects, was bent...

Gloria felt a pang of heartache, not because she was heartbroken that her mold was broken, but because these guys covered in combat cybernetic bodies were truly terrifying.

As a medical expert accompanying the team on missions, in addition to being equipped with intelligent weapons and reinforced tendons, she also had some assistive prosthetics...

Seeing such power in person evoked mixed feelings, let alone considering it was just a hacker.

"You and that girl are good friends... um, her name is Rebecca, right?"

Sasha straightened the things back to their normal state. "Hmm."

Seeing that the girl wasn't in a good mood, Gloria took the soiled mold from her and, while washing it, whispered, "The kind of guy who attracts too many girls is the most annoying, right?"

Sasha wrinkled her nose and nodded repeatedly, "Mmm-hmm!"

"how about you?"

Sasha: "Hmm..."

Gloria enjoys teasing these young girls; after all, there are very few such...traditional and innocent girls in this city.
"Have you ever held hands or kissed?"

The girl seemed to have instantly changed color; leaning against the wall, the color of her ears and the pink jacket she was wearing were now indistinguishable.

"Ah~"

Gloria's cry of "Ah!" was more like the fuse that broke down Sasha's last line of defense.

"That's not the case."

Gloria, a slight smile playing on her lips, diligently washed the pots and pans. It always takes time to adjust, doesn't it? Unrequited love poses no obstacle for a young soul, but for a life already riddled with wounds, it's something unattainable.

Gloria's kitchen utensils clattered in her hands, and the girl's expression grew increasingly gloomy.

Just as the girl's face was almost hidden in the shadows, Gloria, who had wiped her wet hands on her apron, bent down slightly and pinched the girl's cheek.

This physical contact startled Sasha; her face still carried the faint scent of detergent and pastries, cool and refreshing.

"It looks a lot like the kittens drawn in anime."

"Some people don't know how to appreciate something so cute."

Sasha sighed. "But you know, Rebecca was a huge help... well, maybe you don't know, but anyway, she had some serious health problems."

"actually…"

“I think these are all trivial matters, it’s okay, I don’t care.”

Unexpectedly, Gloria smiled and said, "You don't even have the courage to be honest. You're not much older than my child."

"Five years old."

The answer that came out of her mouth startled Sasha, and she immediately felt a little embarrassed to continue looking into the eyes of the gentle lady in front of her.

"Are you paying attention to me? Does that mean you know about how old I am?"

Gloria, deliberately being mischievous, made the girl nod repeatedly and whisper apologies.

"Okay..."

"Being thirty-eight years old is nothing to be ashamed of."

Gloria asked curiously, "I just want to know why you're paying attention to me and my son? Is it Rin's doing?"

Upon hearing that Gloria had misunderstood Rin, Sasha waved her arms in front of her chest like a propeller.

"no no!"

"Well... I thought there was something between you and Rin... uh, I didn't mean it."

Gloria immediately put on a knowing expression, "Oh, so that's the reason."

Sasha breathed a sigh of relief, "Mmm!"

Before Sasha could finish nodding, she heard the woman who had stood up say, "You're absolutely right, I really admire and like this person."

Sasha felt like her brain couldn't keep up, and subconsciously glanced at the living room.

Fortunately, Gloria and David moved to a fairly large house in Westbrook, so the relaxed group in the living room, each chatting amongst themselves, didn't notice the whispers in the kitchenette.

Gloria sensed the girl's unease behind her, calmly took the dried kitchenware out of the dishwasher, and smiled, "Don't be so nervous. Being willing to admit it and being willing to do it are two different things."

The only difference between women and girls is that women are capable of acknowledging their feelings.

Sasha, who wasn't usually very proactive, moved closer to Gloria this time, looking curiously at this woman who wasn't exactly middle-aged in Night City...

“Rin’s reasons for helping me at the beginning were indeed puzzling to me, and I even selfishly wondered if he had any other thoughts about me… But now I understand, in my opinion… it was David who gave him his favor, not me.”

"Although he always tells David to think of his mother in everything he does, which sounds like an adult, he is actually a young guy—but very smart."

"Intelligence can cover up the flaw of naivety."

Sasha felt that her future was bleak.

Already preoccupied with a relationship problem even more mind-numbing than deciphering an ICE port code, instead of finding any relief, it has led to new...

"Love rival"?
This might be a bit inappropriate to say, but logically speaking, the meaning is correct.

"what…"

Listening to Gloria's words, Sasha felt that this woman seemed to have a significant connection with Rin, after all, Rin had feelings for her child, so what about Lady Gloria...?

It has to be admitted that women who are generous and outgoing are more attractive, and Sasha felt that she had lost again.

"Don't worry about this. I... I just admit it's a thing, but I would never do it, or even think about it."

Now it was Sasha's turn to be puzzled.

"Why?" "Since he can have feelings for your child, you should be even more confident, right?"

Gloria smiled.

“A greedy person will never be satisfied.” The gentle woman untied her apron. “My life has become so rich and colorful, and I have the confidence to live with dignity in this city, all thanks to Mr. Rin.”

"That's why I sincerely wish him happiness and health... You see, you are all young guys with unlimited potential, while I am already bound by my past... No matter how good it is, I can't get rid of it and can only stand still."

“There’s another woman as smart as her, and you should know who I’m talking about.”

Sasha seemed to understand, then looked at Gloria with a dazed expression.

Just as the two were talking, the doorbell rang in the living room. Gloria hurriedly came out of the kitchen and gave Sasha an encouraging look.

……
-
[Arakasako News]

【您在今日09：37参加的荒坂终面成绩合格，经人事部门判定，以‘业务实习生’身份在3.13日08.00前往荒坂塔21层参加入职培训】

Please be sure to comply with the subnet reminders and regulations. Do not go to the restricted area of ​​Arasaka Tower without authorization. You may go anywhere except for the red area marked by the holographic icon.

Congratulations again on becoming a member of Arasaka! Let's work together for technological innovation and global progress.

David figured he probably hadn't taken off the Mewtwo headband.

Sheng Nan was actually killed just like that, and by Lucy no less.

David knew nothing about Lucy's past, only that... there were people everywhere who wanted her dead. Now, he saw her in the very organization Lucy hated and resisted most, wearing the uniform of Arasaka's counterintelligence department. This was no less than seeing a burly young man from Valentino in the Uzumaki Gang...

David glanced at the floor number on the note, his eagerness reaching its peak. Confirming that this was a non-restricted area of ​​the subnet, he hurriedly squeezed into the elevator.

"Please give way."

David paid no attention to the strange looks from the Arasaka employees around him, only thinking about finding the elevator in Zone C8 to go upstairs. However, the impatient young man didn't notice that the building was marked:

Counterintelligence Department - Open Area

When he squeezed into an elevator, David realized what was wrong.

A slightly dark-skinned man coughed softly, and David immediately felt someone pressing down on his shoulder…

Harry, Senior Cyber ​​Advisor, Counterintelligence Team; Head of Counterintelligence Group 1

"Hey kid, don't you check your number before squeezing into the elevator?"

"They really dare to do that—"

When David turned around, he saw a large group of agents in suits with their red collars turned up, each about 1.8 meters tall, looking down at him.

Harry, this tech-savvy agent, might look like a typical nerd, wearing a cotton shirt, but there's one thing to know... those in Arasaka who don't wear suits are usually not to be trifled with.

David then realized he had squeezed into elevator C-19…

"Fuck!"

Harry pointed at the young man wearing a suit that wasn't part of the Arasaka uniform, and two agents immediately stepped forward and covered his mouth.

David's eyes widened in disbelief, and he could only watch helplessly as the agent inserted the human-machine interface cable into his neck.

The main problem was that David didn't dare to move...

The data boxes floating above the prosthetic eye are filled with prosthetic device prompts such as "[Seanwistan Type I]" and "[Unknown Device]"...

If you take action, the consequences will likely be worse than death.

Harry was sweating profusely.

"I'll ask you, and all you need to do is nod or shake your head, understand?"

David nodded eagerly.

"Are you a new employee?"

David nodded frantically.

Do you know what mission we're on?

David shook his head like a rattle-drum.

The gleam in the agents' eyes as they read data had faded considerably…

"The truth."

“Boss, we’re using the elevator reserved for regular employees and low-risk visitors… This kid wandered in by mistake, and we don’t know why the elevator is stopped on this floor.”

"It's probably a hacker error that modified the command."

Harry cursed several times, paced back and forth in frustration, and then pointed at David.

"Get him under control first, then go up there and deal with him!"

David was carried to the back like a chick, and from the few bits of information he gleaned, he realized that he was probably involved in the so-called internal purge of Arasaka.

Inside this elevator stands the department that Arasaka employees fear most, also known as the Internal Inspection Department, a hellish place where you'll either die or be skinned alive if you go in…

"Where's Tanaka?"

Harry inquired about the progress over there.

The agent honestly replied, "He's dead. When we detained him at the meeting, that old bastard resisted... which saved us a lot of trouble."

"Speaking of which... this kid is the one who watched Oda Tsuki kill Tanaka's son."

Harry then turned his head, squinted, and took another look at the hothead...

"Damn, they joined the company just three months apart... some have already shot and killed someone, and some are still here taking the wrong elevator. What kind of bastards did they hire?"

David dared not speak.

Oda Moon...

This is Lucy's alias at the Abandoned Academy... He seems to have lost his mind because of his lover, and he almost thought he would never see the girl again. It's really a bastard that he could do such a thing.

However, Harry stood with his hands on his hips, deep in thought for a long time, before pointing at David's nose and saying, "Listen, no matter what happens later, you'd better stay here obediently, don't wander off, and don't use your damn communication device."

“We’ve been waiting for this man all the way from Europe, and this is the last chance. If things go wrong, I’ll be the first to kill you.”

David nodded again.

Ding-dong-

After the elevator arrived, David was escorted by security, and Harry put down the Shingen submachine gun from behind. The three of them formed a group, with soldiers in the front holding their guns, those in the middle holding the shoulders of the soldiers in front, and those in the back ready to prevent any sudden situations from the sides.

This is to ensure uninterrupted firepower under maximum conditions. You should know that eliminating an enemy with a single bullet is something only a lone wolf can accomplish.

In most situations where a direct assault isn't necessary, a burst of fire is sufficient, even if it fills the corpse with bullets...

David was temporarily sandwiched between two agents. He felt his legs go weak and his heart was about to jump out of his throat.

The three squads ahead stopped. The soldiers in the front pointed to two passageways on the side. Outside the shatterable glass surrounding the large conference room, the soldiers immediately crouched down and took their firing positions.

David watched this scene, breathing heavily, and covered his mouth tightly to prevent himself from making a sound.

One of the agents' prosthetic eyes is quite strange. When it glows red, the positions of everyone inside are highlighted, and it can also display some of the prosthetic body levels.

There were many people sitting around the conference table, but the target was the figure at the head of the table and the two security guards behind him.

"3...2...1!"

The instant Harry made the hand gesture, almost all the gun barrels lit up, and the privacy glass in front of them, which was as thin as paper, was shattered in an instant, with a terrified scream and shout coming from inside.

He couldn't see anything clearly, only countless intelligent weapon bullets whistling through the air, several grazing just short of David's head...

This wasn't some street chase; this was a legitimate assassination plot part of a company purge.

David blinked, and whether it was his imagination or not, he saw a blurry shadow in the distance of the corridor, but it quickly returned to normal.

"Everyone get down!"

"The financial director of Arasaka's Italian branch is involved in selling Arasaka scientific research secrets and intends to defect. He colluded with the executive director of Arasaka Academy. The evidence is clear, and unrelated personnel are under investigation."

Harry, gun in hand, glanced coldly at the expensively dressed men lurking under the table, surveying his surroundings.

The situation was immediately brought under control…

David's attention remained fixed on the end of the corridor, where it seemed to be...

The young man glanced at the map that Arasaka could access at any time on the network, confirming that this corridor could be directly accessed via the B21 elevator to the Arasaka Hangar, which meant…

If that place wasn't defended, would they let people escape?

However, the corridor there was completely unobstructed, and the emergency exits were sealed off immediately upon the counterintelligence operation, unless…

Unless the entire operation is over, that place will not be cleaned, so it's possible to get away with it!

Thinking of this, David did not act rashly immediately, but instead tried to look at the two agents guarding him.

"Kid... if you don't want to die, keep your head down and don't fucking look around!"

The counterintelligence department kept David around simply because he was an employee of Arasaka Tower, and also because he was honest and didn't cause any trouble.

When David heard the agent grit his teeth and whisper those words, he whispered back, "Eleven o'clock, in the corridor... there's someone!"

David felt the security guard tighten his grip on his arm.

"Are you trying to cause trouble? Trying to pull some dirty tricks—"

David was extremely anxious as he listened to the agent's threatening words. "You can take control of your teammates at the scene to check! Damn it! The two teams on the left are so close together, it's okay if two fewer people go to clear and scout, right..."

However, his voice grew softer and softer as he spoke, his confidence clearly waning.

However, David's statement was from a defense and assault professional perspective.
The two security guards exchanged a glance before speaking to their teammates over the intercom: "90 and 87, go check the passage at six o'clock—"

"You're dead if you dare mess with me, you idiot!"

Harry naturally overheard the team's conversation, but he assumed it was just routine cleaning and risk mitigation. Staring at the corpses at his feet, he wondered why the resistance he encountered was so mild.

It's worth noting that the Italian branch's CEO, Shivara, and Lai Xuan had disagreements on many business matters in western Europe. He shouldn't have brought so few people with him to Night City for the project approval process…

Something was wrong, but Harry wasn't quite sure what was wrong.

Two soldiers advanced side by side with their guns raised. When they were about four or five meters away from the blast-proof steel isolation door, they lowered their guns and shook their heads, because there was nothing but empty walls and floors in front of them except for the door.

Even optical camouflage cannot escape the naked eye at such close range.

"No abnormalities were found in the report."

Upon hearing the soldier's report, the agent's brow immediately furrowed. Just as he suspected this dishonest fellow was a collaborator with the enemy…

The soldier reporting suddenly sensed something was amiss.

He noticed that the wall nearby was slightly crooked.

Of course, such details are not noticeable at first glance. However, in an architecture like Arasaka Tower that strictly adheres to straight lines and curves, the bends in the corridor walls seem somewhat abrupt.

So he took a step forward, and increasingly felt as if something blurry was shrouding him in front of him…

The soldier had just reached out to touch it when he noticed that the thing in front of him, which looked like a holographic screen, was rippled!
It's like a stone being thrown into a calm lake—

"Hold!"

His reaction was quick; he leaned back instantly, a subconscious reaction stemming from his long combat experience.

But even as the curtain was torn apart so quickly, the soldier was still hit…

A curved, sharp mantis knife, freed from the blurring of optical camouflage, was used by a samurai to lift a soldier up and then blow his head off with a single shot. The entire polished corridor was splashed with crimson, like a painting, centered on the soldier.

This…

David was dumbfounded.

Is this inside Arasaka Tower?!
How is it even more chaotic than the streets?!
Anyone would have their worldview shattered by such a series of shocks—

The samurai, who had just lashed out and killed one man, hadn't even launched his second mantis-blade charge when he saw Harry in the distance, simply staring towards the corridor…

In David's panicked gaze.

The samurai who had just been violently killing people suddenly began to convulse on the spot like a machine out of control.

Harry was straining with both hands, and his dark skin made the rapidly cracking light in his eyes seem even more eerie…

The samurai was convulsing, and the surrounding soldiers just kept firing their guns!

This was the first time David had ever seen someone with skin that was almost bulletproof, like the one in Rin's dream. Bullets could only make the guy's body sway, and bullets that hit his face could only cause a slight misalignment of the prosthetic body's patterns...

But as the light in Harry's eyes faded...

The warrior cursed fiercely in Italian.

"Go to hell with your counterintelligence department, you good dog of Lai Xuan!"

The blade on his arm began to move uncontrollably toward his neck…

[Self-destruction]!
This method of killing, which forces the enemy to commit suicide, can only be used by highly skilled hackers!
What happened next seemed entirely predictable; David watched as the blade, capable of cutting through most military equipment, pressed against the samurai's neck...

David dared not look anymore.

However, the knight beside him reached out and lifted David's head from under his neck, forcing him to look in that direction.

"It's all thanks to you."

The simple four words sum up the company's internal system for calculating military merit: watching the enemy die and reaping the benefits that belong to you.

Until we become numb to death…

David watched helplessly as the blade slowly sliced ​​off the head despite the samurai's resistance. As the round thing rolled on the ground, the bionic milky-white liquid inside the prosthetic body sprayed everywhere, but to David it was no different from bright red...

……

"David? David?"

David, who was enjoying the breeze on the connecting bridge to the rooftop terrace of Arasaka Tower, was jolted awake by the girl beside him calling his name several times.

“Lucy… oh no, Oda.”

David's absent-mindedness clearly affected the girl's joy at suddenly seeing her beloved after so long.

"Hey, what's wrong with you... why are you like this?"

Lucy leaned against the railing, letting the wind from dozens of stories high blow through her hair. With her eyes half-closed, she seemed to enjoy the feeling of being pulled down by gravity.

"what are you doing?!"

David was startled and quickly wrapped his arms around the girl's slender waist.

Seeing the boy's nervous expression, her resentment instantly dissipated. She sat gracefully on the railing, cupped David's face in her hands, and looked into the boy's blank eyes...

“Hey David…”

"Haven't you always hoped there would be fewer guys like Tanaka? Why aren't you happy?"

Speaking of which…

David even forgot to savor the exquisite sensation of the girl cupping his face, and simply whispered, "No, it's not that, I just..."

"You just thought everyone here was a respectable person?"

Lucy's smile widened.

“Go back, my dear. This is not the place for you. My life is a transaction... You saw it yourself. Rin and his men saved me, and I have to take the same risks to repay them.”

"I like the real world, I like... feeling the wind, and listening to you talk."

"The enemy's malice is even more obvious here—but I need to quickly finalize the terms of the deal that Rin and I agreed on from the beginning in the online world."

“It’s worse there.”

David stared blankly at the girl who was smiling brightly but speaking the most honest truth of the situation.

"No... Lucy."

"If my initial dream of entering Arasaka Tower was definitely because of Rin-san, then... things changed too quickly. I lost my reason for wanting to enter Arasaka Tower, except for my mother."

Lucy listened intently with her eyes lowered.

David's voice grew softer and softer, almost blending into the sound of the wind.

"But I must stay inside the Arakazama Tower!"

"for you!"

Startled by the boy's loud voice, Lucy raised an eyebrow, burst into laughter, and her smile remained as unrestrained and bright as ever. "What are you suddenly saying now?"

David was eager to explain, but Lucy suddenly leaned closer, and David smelled the sweet scent of her fruity cigarettes—

"David, who do you think is more important, me or Rin?"

David was a little confused, but he still thought about it seriously.

"They're all equally important. Even if Mr. Rin is gone, I will still stand tall and grit my teeth to face trouble, just as he and his boss taught me—"

"You taught me this too. You...you are all the most important people in my life!"

"My mom, my friends, and the people who take care of me are the most important people to me. I will not give up."

This time, Lucy didn't smile. Instead, she twitched the corners of her mouth and suddenly, amidst the howling wind, cupped the boy's face and leaned in.

a long time.

When the girl moved her hand away, she nimbly grabbed the boy's hand like an elf.

"David, let's go home."

"There's a surprise waiting for you."

……

……

(End of this chapter)