Cyberpunk: From Dogville to Legend

Chapter 52 Unlocking the Reaction! [Please Read On!]

[Character Valerie (V)'s affinity has been updated]

【Favourability: 20】

[Rewards: Composure +1, Reaction +1, unlock Reaction feat, gain an additional Reaction feat point. Receive 200000 Euros, prosthetic body repair and upgrade...]

Lin Yue: ?
Lin Yue felt like he was stealing the spotlight from this "good employee" of Arasaka's counterintelligence department. "This can even be updated?" Lin Yue was speechless at the woman in front of him, whose mind seemed to be wandering.

But with V still in front of him, he couldn't immediately get excited and check the reaction specialty; he could only call Jenkins first.

After all, V is still waiting.

"I am Jenkins." The male voice on the other end was steady and powerful. If Lin Yue did not know about his assassination attempt at the European Space Council, he would have thought that this slightly gloomy man was a reliable company manager.

Lin Yue watched as Jenkins sat calmly behind his desk, his expression unperturbed.

"Rin, real name Lin Yue. Field team of the Arasaka Counterintelligence Department, number 01344."

Jenkins was very satisfied with V's eye for talent. He appreciated Lin Yue's decisive and straightforward attitude, as that was his own style.

If it weren't for his overseas business, he would have personally taken on the task of investigating the mess in Dogtown. But he never expected that in just over a month, this young man with deep-set eyes in the video call would be able to uncover such important information.

“V did a great job, knowing what that hacker in Dogtown is up to. You… are also very good.” Jenkins spread his hands. “Welcome to Arasaka. You are now the counterintelligence department’s information section’s specialist in Dogtown—my capable subordinate V… is your peer. I need you to know every detail about Dogtown and report to me when I need you to. Can you do that?”

Lin Yue didn't say anything. This is the most ridiculous thing about the company... They didn't say anything, but they still asked people to do the work.

“Mr. Jenkins, I would like you to reply to what V wanted to discuss with you first.”

Jenkins paused for a moment, unsure whether to be sarcastic or amused, then laughed, "Arasaka has raised wolves in sheep's clothing. I know how to satisfy you. V will remove the tracking program on you, and you can also find a trusted hacker to check. Arasaka won't be able to track you anymore. You now have an indefinite-term employment contract with us, so you have to be loyal."

In 2075, the company no longer had the concept of resigning or changing jobs.

The HR department is armed, and they kidnap and coerce executives and technical leaders of rival companies—or are responsible for dealing with "rebellious" employees. The business information investigation department has also become a counterintelligence department, and the security department is even more outrageous, full of private soldiers and agents employed by the company... But doing business to the point where everyone speaks with guns is pretty good. If the business fails, the people are gone too, clean and efficient.

It's not very humane; there's no retirement standard.

The optimistic Lin Yue could only smile bitterly to himself, “I understand, Mr. Jenkins. If I were out of control… you would use various methods to kill me, or send someone to deal with me directly—you don’t have to be so subtle.”

Chicken feathers have no fixed lifespan, but a dog leash is.

As long as Lin Yue isn't treated like a stray dog ​​that can be bullied at any time, the less restrictions Arasaka places on him, the more ways he'll be able to break free from his control.

Jenkins gave the young man in front of him a second look; if he understood how the company operated, there would be far fewer problems.

"Good to know. I don't need to go into details about the compensation; HR will take care of that. I've agreed to your request now, and Arasaka will also back you up in Dogtown when you need it. But there's one thing—I hope you can gather as much information as possible about the Ghost Hounds. If you want equal cooperation, then show me what you're capable of!"

"Okay." After Lin Yue agreed, the other end of the phone hung up immediately.

V crossed his arms and looked at Lin Yue with a playful expression, "Hmm, being able to chat with Jenkins... your heart is pretty dirty too, you're more suited to Arasaka than me."

Lin Yue pretended not to understand what she meant, "Then, Miss V, why don't you go home, wash up, and go to bed?"

"No rush, let them go in and check the location of the sliding strip." V clapped his hands, casually telling Lin Yue to move aside part of the large rock under his buttocks, his neat suit completely unconcerned about getting dusty.

She exudes a faint, sweet fragrance of a forest after the rain and sandalwood, which, combined with her cool profile, creates an alluring beauty that keeps strangers at bay.

Even though they live close by, they don't even have a good relationship.

V's refusal to reveal her real name indicates that she doesn't trust this person, as evidenced by her allowing Agent Arasaka into the puppet workshop.

Lin Yue glanced discreetly at the overgrown grass not far away, where behavioral signatures were hidden. He hoped these Arasaka agents wouldn't find any information about the signatures, even though Lin Yue had already searched and processed them beforehand. These keen-nosed hounds weren't so easily fooled.

"Why are you so eager to run off to Ara-saka? Dogtown isn't a good place either. It's much easier to eat in the city than here."

V looked at the stars in the sky and asked Lin Yue a question.

"To have freedom, you have to accept disorder and chaos."

Lin Yue stretched his sore and numb arms. "Dogtown is just a run-down place that nobody takes care of. Don't bother the Colonel while he's doing business. There are far fewer restrictions there than in the city."

He would never say anything like, "With Arasaka watching over me in the city, I won't be able to fully utilize my abilities."

They certainly wouldn't childishly shout out, "I'm going to be the underground king of Dogtown!"
“I have a friend who, like you, enjoys scavenging for food on the streets—carefree and always talking about becoming a legendary figure who will make a name for himself. You're like him, once you set your sights on something, you don't know when to let go, but you're not as naive as him…”

Lin Yue didn't respond to V's comment.

The affection level assessment panel is too accurate; V doesn't even want to say that his friend is [Jack Wells].

Unexpectedly, V, who is somewhat humane, also has a charmingly naive quality when it comes to keeping secrets.

Indeed, cybernetic beauties are truly a pleasure to behold.

Changing the subject—

“I’m V, and we’re officially colleagues now—though you probably won’t be coming to the office often.” V composed himself and extended his left hand, which was decorated with pale gold prosthetic markings.

Lin Yue chuckled, then extended his scarred gorilla prosthetic hand and joined it with the noble hand, producing a soft clinking sound.

"cold."

Just then, a car drove up from the road in the distance, painted with the Voodoo Gang's logo.

V released Lin Yue's hand, stood up, and said slowly, "These hackers are too slow."

Lin Yue leaned against a rock, looking like he was watching a performance. "The slider's gone, but the people below are coming—this hacker certainly knows how to handle things."

These people are utterly ruthless! Lin Yue felt disgusted.

The slider sent the remaining people to their deaths so that no one would expose his whereabouts when he ran away.

Why is everyone so calculating? Can't they be a little more "simple" like me?

“I heard that Slide doesn’t have many people under him anymore. This should be the last batch. Let’s finish this and get off work early.” V’s eyes lit up.

Lin Yue was stunned for a moment—

boom!
Suddenly, the vehicles in the distance began to lose control, accelerating and crashing into the flowerbed on the side, causing a loud noise.

I'm such a good boy!
Lin Yue felt a cold sweat break out on his back.

The Voodoo gang, dazed and confused after the collision, swayed and cursed as they got out of the car, completely unaware that the woman from the company, just a few dozen meters away, was the culprit.

They are still trying to figure out who hacked the car.

Meanwhile, the renowned counterintelligence agency V patiently waited for these hackers, who had few tricks up their sleeves, to slowly track her location.

Lin Yue closed his eyes, the gunshots and curses of the Voodoo Gang filling his ears. V stood in front of him, his ghostly crimson eyes fixed on the darkness, until the men fell silent one by one…

(End of this chapter)