Cyberpunk: I didn't cheat.

Chapter 117 Now a flame is burning in my heart

The high-rise apartments in the city center are bright and airy, with floor-to-ceiling bulletproof glass isolating the hustle and bustle of the lower levels of the city.

This is Romano's newly acquired campaign headquarters, overlooking the entire central business district, and he's even neighbors with star councilor Perales on the same floor.

Romano, dressed in a well-tailored matte dark suit, had shed his usual impetuousness and gained a more composed and sharp political aura.

He was standing in front of a holographic sand table, pointing to the floating map of the city's electoral districts. His campaign team members were doing their jobs: some were compiling press releases, some were verifying public support data, and some were coordinating resource support plans for neutral neighborhoods.

"Vito, Jack, you've come!"

Upon seeing Vito and Jack enter, Romano greeted them warmly and invited them to sit on the sofa.

Settling into the sofa, Vito leaned back lazily, casually holding a glass of whiskey on the rocks, his gaze fixed on the bustling crowd.

"So you've changed your identity so quickly? Or is being a righteous media personality just a limited-edition skin for you?"

Romano chuckled softly.

"My father was right. One or two reports can't wake up the public. My report was popular for a while, but Night City didn't change much. At most, some people got to know Romano Musso."

The political arena will offer me a much wider scope; I will initiate a reform there and transform Night City.

"That's great, that's great. We are all changing Night City, and we all have a bright future."

Vito took a sip of whiskey, and Jack sat beside him, legs crossed casually, watching the well-organized campaign preparations and clicking his tongue in amazement.

"I used to think I could run for office, but with this kind of opponent, I probably wouldn't get a single vote."

Vito patted Jack on the shoulder.

"Don't think so badly. Mrs. Wells, Misty, and old Wie will all support Member Wells."

"If Romano really secures his position, things might change a bit in Night City."

Jack spoke in a relaxed tone, full of anticipation for the future.

Vito did not respond.

No matter how determined Romano is to reform, he is nothing more than a young politician controlled by Zeta Corporation.

Vito continued sipping his whiskey, but his thoughts drifted away.

Qiwei, who seemed detached from all the conflicts, cold and insightful, and always kept her emotions at bay, betrayed him.

He had witnessed the despicable betrayals of Night City, the middlemen who would sacrifice their lives and relationships for the Euro, and the homeless who would sell out their families for fear of being exposed for their drug use.

But this time, betrayal from someone he had previously worked with gave him a sense of absurd dismay.

He didn't know many people in Night City, and even fewer he could really talk to. Deep down, he still cared a lot about those he could chat with.

Pity.

[Bug, have you found Qiwei?]

[I'm watching her closely, waiting for her to go online.]

[If she's on the cybernetic network, find a way to burn her.]

A few days ago, in the old town of Night City.

The Faraday sedan was parked quietly at the alley entrance, its headlights off, completely blending into the deep night.

Faraday recalled his previous meeting with David in the afterlife, where David had taken over Mann's position and was doing a good job.

Faraday gave David a mission involving military technology, but on the condition that he persuade Lucy to return as a hacker. Faraday's real purpose was to obtain the hidden data. David agreed, and Faraday could tell that he needed money and power.

-

Faraday, the middleman, originally worked for military technology, but military technology became increasingly stingy and demanding.

In his distress, Arasaka even attacked him, and he was almost captured.

So when he met with the people from Arasaka, he quickly accepted their terms because they offered a considerable amount of money.

Arasaka's condition is to erase all people, events, and traces related to "Cyborg," including all those who know about it.

Tanaka's files contained information about a hacker named Arasaka who had been deliberately damaged and was burned to death in a hacker chair while trying to repair them.

Araka believed this was definitely related to the Tanaka incident, so he gave Faraday this ultimate order.

My thoughts returned to the present.

It doesn't matter, it's almost irrelevant to me now; turning these people into cold, hard euros is the most important thing.

Faraday got out of the car and went to Qiwei's house. He wanted to have a good talk with this acquaintance.

Half an hour later, Faraday got back into his car.

Unexpectedly, there was an additional benefit. He had heard about the feud between Arasaka and the blocky-headed guy, and Arasaka would definitely be happy to acquire this information.

After Faraday left, Qiwei sat back down in the ice bathtub.

David did a good job, but he was still quite concerned about Lucy's refusal to return to the team. The kid had confessed to him a while ago that he had become stronger, but he couldn't keep Lucy.

The emotional barrier was working; Qiwei lit a cigarette, inserted it into her mask, and slowly closed her eyes.

Mann's squad treated her like family, but without Mann, what would Mann's squad be?

In Night City, everyone betrays, and everyone will be betrayed by others.

As for Vito, he was a good man, but to her, he was just a good man.

At this very moment, at the Romano Apartments.

"Hey, Mano, what are you daydreaming about! Romano's called you several times already!"

Jack snapped Vito out of his reverie.

"Oh? Sorry, I'm messaging a bug."

Vito explained.

"Message the bug? Aren't the network security personnel here Romano's own people?"

Jack was somewhat puzzled.

"Regarding another mission, by the way, Romano, why did you call me?"

Vito quickly changed the subject, saying that Qiwei had worked well with them before, so there was no need to tell Jack about this.

"It's alright, you guys have a seat. I need to go over and discuss the campaign video with the team. Would you like something to drink? Cissimito?"

"No need, this is fine. I'm going to the restroom."

Vito went to the bathroom and faced the mirror.

beep~ beep~

"Hey kid, don't you know about time zones?"

"How can you sleep at your age? Don't you all suffer from insomnia all night?"

"You have no idea how tired I am. Digging those things is no joke. Tell me, what happened?"

"Find me a safe house, preferably one that only you know about, so that if I get betrayed, I can come directly to you."

"Are you about to take action?"

"Someone sold me out. The longer I delay, the more dangerous it becomes for the people I know. You should hand over the Romano matter to someone else. Also, I need an advance on some money."

"You're about to die, how are you going to pay back the money you borrowed in advance?"

"Even if you die, I won't die!"

"So confident? You little brat, I think you're getting a bit arrogant."

"Don't you dare take a gamble?"

"Alright, alright, considering our friendship, how much do you want?"

"One hundred million."

'

"No! Three million at most!"

"Then three million."

"Damn it! You little brat, you've got to wait here! I'll arrange a safe house for you in Dogtown, ever heard of Gemstone Blue? I've never been this attentive to you, not even when I'm taking care of my own son."

"Thanks, Thomasino."

"You're welcome. Before you become a human bomb, tell Romano to stay far away so he doesn't blow up the future of the Mussol family."