Cyberpunk: I didn't cheat.

Chapter 118

Nightfall bathed the city, and tonight, even the stench seemed to have lessened.

The Wild Wolf Bar is noisy and bustling yet also safe and familiar, a haven where mercenaries can temporarily let down their guard.

Jack took a big gulp of beer, while Vincent raised his glass to him, and the two chatted about the recent mess of commissions and the endless troubles in Night City.

It's been a long time since I've had such a peaceful moment. Night City is a place of constant fighting, scheming, and betrayal. Only at the Wild Wolf Bar can I temporarily forget all of this.

Vincent looked up at the two enormous wolf heads hanging from the ceiling.

"Jack, I was wondering why these two heads were so creepy. I don't mean creepy in the conventional sense, but the kind that makes me feel a little threatened."

Jack said in a low voice.

"It was Vito's idea; he mounted heavy machine guns under those two heads."

"Holy crap!"

At that moment, Pepi, the bartender, shouted enthusiastically.

"Hey, Vito, long time no see!"

Vito, who hadn't been here for a long time, slowly walked into the bar.

"Long time no see, Peppy! You look radiant!"

"Ah, thanks to you guys, I can now support my family just from the transaction fees."

Jack and Vincent turned around, and Jack told Vito to come and sit down quickly, opening a bottle of beer for him.

"Mano, you haven't been to Wild Wolf in ages! V and I have been talking about you every day."

Vito felt a sense of relief seeing that Jack and Vincent had become good friends again.

At this moment, two new guests entered the Wild Wolf area. They were dressed in sharp suits and seemed somewhat out of place among the mercenaries around them.

Valerie and Anne, who was about to travel to Europe, were stepping into the Wolf Bar for the first time.

Jack greeted him warmly.

"Hi, uh, Valerie! Anne!"

Valerie walked over to the bar.

"Jack, don't you always call me V?"

"Your name is V too?"

Vincent was somewhat curious.

"also?"

"My name is Vincent, but my friends call me V."

Valerie sized up Vincent, who was also named V, while Vincent observed Valerie in return.

Vito watched this meeting of the century, sipping his beer, and considered whether to take a picture.

Jack scratched his head.

"I've never noticed anything wrong with it before. It even comes out quite naturally. V, uh, Vincent, let me introduce you. This is Valerie, Valerie, and this is Vincent. Both V's are my friends."

Valerie chuckled softly. She was somewhat curious about Vincent because she had a strange feeling that Vincent possessed a quality that was very similar to her own.

Vincent felt the same way; he didn't really like wearing suits, but he didn't feel that same aversion towards Valerie.

At this moment, Vito, who was standing nearby, spoke up.

"It's rare for us all to get together, let's go to the private room on the second floor, I'll get the drinks!"

After saying that, Vito braced himself with his hand and jumped over the bar.

"Hey, Vito, watch out! Use the side planks! Mrs. Wells recently got some good wine for the mercenaries who get big jobs, don't break it!"

"Haha, Peppy, are you tipping off my two drunken lads?"

Mrs. Wells walked over to the bar and saw Vito; her smile deepened.

"You haven't been here in a long time, Vito. I heard the young lady was injured?"

"Liying was shot, and Gloria had surgery and is much better now."

Mrs. Wells sighed softly.

"Give my regards to my girl, Jack, and bring up the best wine to entertain your friends; I haven't met these two new friends yet."

Valerie realized that the person in front of her was Jack's mother.

"Hello, Mrs. Wells, I'm Valerie, and this is Anne."

Mrs. Wells smiled and nodded.

"Jack's good at making friends. You guys enjoy your drinks; I won't bother the young people. Jack, I'll allow you to empty the bar, but you need to stay a bit sober so Vito can go home, understand?"

'

Jack saluted.

"receive!"

The group chatted and laughed as they went up to the second floor. On the way, several mercenaries greeted Vito, who was a prominent figure in the Wild Wolves.

After everyone had been drinking for a while, Vito took a sip of strong liquor and spoke calmly.

"I've been too tired lately, there's been too much going on in Night City, I'm planning to take a break for a while. Maybe—I'll have to leave this city temporarily."

Jack's smile vanished instantly, his eyes filled with disappointment and sadness. To say goodbye to his brother, with whom he had shared life and death day and night, was still incredibly difficult, even though Night City was used to the coming together and parting.

J

Mano, don't keep everything bottled up inside. If something's wrong, talk to me, and we'll solve it together.

Vito shook his head.

"It's nothing, I'm just too tired and want to rest for a while. I'll be back in a bit."

1

Jack clinked his cup against Vito's.

"You always say that Liying has to shoulder everything on her own, but aren't you the same? Even though you're a couple, just let me know if anything happens, and Jack Wells will definitely help you right away."

"Thanks, Jack."

Vincent silently raised his glass, his eyes filled with regret. As a fellow mercenary, he knew all too well what leaving meant: the future was unknown, and there was no hope of ever meeting again.

He also wanted to get to know Vito better. He felt at home in the Wild Wolves, and perhaps one day in the future, he would join Vito's team.

Valerie looked at Vito quietly, a hint of understanding flashing in her eyes. She thought that Vito had finally heeded her advice, temporarily avoiding the limelight, staying away from the Arasaka vortex, and protecting himself.

Anne asked the question.

Where are you going?

Vito answered casually.

"Next to Taiping Prefecture."

Anne thought Vito was playing a trick on her again, so she slammed her hand on Vito's cup.

"Have a great vacation! I'm going much farther than you, to Europe!"

"Your royal relatives want you to go back and inherit the throne?"

"no!"

As the wine flowed and the night deepened, the atmosphere became increasingly lively.

No one was too drunk. Valerie was seeing Anne off at the airport tomorrow, so they left first.

Vito then invited Jack and Vincent to his place.

The three of them got into Delaman's taxi.

"Welcome back, Vito, it's been a long time."

Upon arriving at the Gunfire Children's Clinic, Vito took two gun cases out of the gun cabinet.

The slightly larger one was given to Jack.

"There's a Defender inside, as you probably know. I'm leaving the squad for a while, and Little Cha is coming with me. Bug's been wanting to retire for a while, so—"

Jack patted the gun case.

"It's okay! We've been through the same thing before. I'll wait for you to come back sometime."

Vincent also said.

"Jack is my buddy, we can go on missions together from now on."

Vito nodded and handed the other gun case to Vincent.

"V, this is for you. I feel quite at ease with you and Jack around. Misty says Jack is a tank, he always wants to be a legend, you have to help hold him back. Sometimes slowing down is more important than rushing forward."

Vincent nodded.

"Don't worry, by the time you come back, we might be a team together."

1

Vito smiled.

"In this box is my submachine gun captain and a Lexington pistol custom-made for you, called Choice."

"Thank you, Vito."

"It's not over yet. I ordered a Crossroads Eye from Old Vina. Go get it installed when you have time, Jack. Go to the repair shop; your gift is there."

The group then went to the repair shop, where a motorcycle was covered with a red cloth.

"Open it."

Jack lifted the red cloth, revealing a Shizuku White Bird racing car underneath.

"I couldn't find anything for Shotaro, so I was thinking of buying you a car, but when I saw this, I bought this first. I think you'll like it even more."

Seeing Vito looking like he was making his final arrangements, Jack couldn't help but hug Vito and ask.

"Mano, tell me straight, are you not coming back?"

Vito patted Jack on the shoulder.

"Of course I'll come back! I still have so much to do!"

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