2077: V really knows how awesome he is

"It's simple. Someone helped us before, but she recently died. She was killed by the people of Arasaka, so we decided to avenge her."

"That's it?" Lucy exclaimed incredulously. "You guys are crazy to provoke Arasaka for the sake of a dead person? That's Arasaka!"

But David expressed his understanding: "I was also helped by someone who saved me and my mother from a car accident. If she were murdered, I would risk everything to avenge her."

"Damn it, are you two fucking idiots?!" Lucy cursed.

"Haha, there are too many smart people in this world. It's good to have a few fools to balance things out." Mann laughed and said proudly to David, "Kid, it's rare to see someone as loyal and righteous as me. Don't you admire me a lot?"

David nodded: "Yes, I see you in a different light now, Mr. Mann."

“Goodness, Mr. Mann, this is the first time someone has called me that.” Mann shouted excitedly to the passenger seat, “Did you hear that, Dorio? This kid called me ‘Mr.’ Now I’m a respectable person too.”

"Shut the fuck up!" Dorio slapped Mann hard across the face, then said to David, "Don't listen to his nonsense. Our mission this time is to gather information on an Arasaka executive. What revenge? That's just empty talk, pure bragging!"

David looked at Mann in surprise, while Mann complained, "Why did you expose me, Dorio? Aren't you my girlfriend?!"

"Of course I'm your girlfriend, and one day I'll be your wife and the mother of your son. Any objections?"

"No, no objection."

David was both amused and exasperated by their bickering.

But he didn't dislike the atmosphere.

I even like it a little bit.

David instinctively wanted to look at Lucy, but ultimately restrained himself.

He's a man, and now he has responsibilities, so he shouldn't ruin good girls' lives.

Okay, Lucy isn't exactly a good girl; she's just a thief.

He was just a thief who haunted his dreams.

The car was parked on the side of the road, and Mann sat inside, using an infrared night vision device to observe the upscale apartments not far away.

David observed for two hours, and almost fell asleep.

*Smack!* A light slap landed on David's face.

“Go home and sleep if you want!” Mann said, dissatisfied.

"Sorry, I'm not used to staying up late yet." David quickly perked up.

"Alright, that's enough for today." Mann waved his hand. "You did a good job. Wait for my call tomorrow."

"Oh, okay, okay."

David was kicked off the bus, along with Lucy.

The two looked at each other and spoke at the same time: "I..."

To everyone's surprise, they spoke again at the same time: "You go first."

In the end, they both laughed.

"Let's go together, before the subway stops." Lucy stretched and walked forward, and David followed.

Lucy lit a cigarette: "You're planning to join them?"

“Yes.” David nodded.

"It would be dangerous."

"I had no choice."

"Countless people want to escape that circle, but you're like an idiot jumping in."

David gave a wry smile: "Probably because I really am an idiot."

subway station.

“I’ll take Line 2,” Lucy said, pointing to the entrance on the left.

David pointed to the entrance on the right: "I'm on Line 1."

After a moment of silence, Lucy turned around and said, "Let's go."

“Hey!” David couldn’t help but speak up.

"What?" Lucy stopped in her tracks.

"Can you stop being a thief?"

"If I don't steal, will you support me?"

David gave an awkward laugh; he couldn't even support himself.

"I'm leaving." Lucy turned around again.

David stared greedily at the figure, wanting to memorize her, because he knew that this was their last encounter.

"Idiot." Lucy walked on as usual, but spoke in a low, guttural voice through her teeth: "Stay here with me!"

As if by telepathy, David suddenly reached out his hand and called out, "Lu..."

Before they could finish speaking, a violent explosion rang out from just outside an intersection, and flames shot into the sky in an instant. David and Lucy were both thrown back by the shockwave.

They stared in astonishment at the direction of the explosion and exclaimed in unison, "It's Mann!"

“Damn it, he’s lying to us!” David understood everything.

Mann wasn't just bragging; he really was going to avenge his benefactor!

The reason I lied to myself was simply to avoid implicating myself.

David stood up and ran toward the fire, but Lucy stopped him.

"You've only known him for a day!"

“I’ve only known you for a day.” David pulled Lucy into his arms, kissed her passionately, and then declared loudly, “I love you, Lucy, and if I don’t die, I’ll take care of you!”

Lucy's eyes widened, her heart pounding, and she gripped David's hand even tighter.

"I must have caught the virus," Lucy said. "Let's go together. Whether we live or die, I'll be with you until the very end!"

David was overjoyed. He had never believed in love at first sight, but the facts were right in front of him, leaving him no choice but to believe.

"Mann, we're here!" David and Lucy rushed into the firelight.

"Damn it, let's go!" Mann was covered in blood, Dorio was also seriously injured, and Rebecca was pinned to the ground by several Arasaka soldiers, with even her prosthetic hands being removed.

"Mann, I'm here to help you!" David activated Krenzikov and instantly knocked down two Arasaka soldiers, but was immediately knocked down by another soldier. Just as that man was about to shoot David, a puff of black smoke came out of his head and he fell down.

"Hurry and save them, David! I can't hold them off for much longer!" Lucy's eyes flashed blue as she used Quick Break to take down several more Arasaka soldiers.

David rushed over and hoisted Mann onto his back. Mann, bewildered, exclaimed, "Kid, you shouldn't have come back!"

"You shouldn't have come to kill the Arasaka executive!"

"I have a reason to do this!"

"Then I have a reason to come back!"

A hint of relief appeared in Mann's eyes. He was about to say something when his gaze sharpened, and he pulled David behind him.

"Bang bang bang!"

The bullet struck Mann, splattering blood.

"Mann!"

David had barely shouted when the bullet struck him.

Blood gushed from his body, both cool and hot, making him feel as if he were in a dream.

"David!"

A girl in light blue ran towards them.

David gave a wry smile; once again, he was powerless.

"Run, Lucy, don't look back!!!"

The girl hesitated for a moment, then finally ran in the opposite direction.

David smiled, a smile of satisfaction.

He protected love, and then died alongside righteousness; that was all he could do.

With a hard slap from the butt of his rifle by the Arasaka soldier, his vision dimmed.

Abernathy strode in like an emperor, and the Arasaka soldiers present all bowed in salute.

"Did you absorb too much of Blink's energy? How dare you come to kill me?" Abernathy asked Mann with a look of utter contempt. "Tell me, who sent you?"

Mann raised his middle finger: "Fuck your mother!"

With a thud, the butt of the rifle slammed into Mann, his face covered in blood.

Abernathy had no time for verbal sparring with these street mercenaries, and waved his hand, ordering, "Tanaka."

“I’m here, Director Abernathy,” a middle-aged Japanese man replied humbly.

"It's up to you. Squeeze every last drop of value out of them."

"Yes, please rest assured, I guarantee I will complete the mission."

Abernathy left, and Tanaka became the highest-ranking person present. He looked around, his previous humility turning into arrogance.

"Take them all away and interrogate them thoroughly."

"Yes. In addition, based on the network signal, we also caught a hacker."

Sasha was pushed to the ground.

“Take them with us.” Tanaka didn’t care at all. His mind was now filled with obtaining the combat data of the cybernetic body, because that was the mission given by Abernathy.

He glanced at David, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration: "My son was beaten by him? He's so young yet so skilled at using Krenchikov, he's got real talent... so..."

"Hello everyone, this is WNS News. The violent attack at the company square has been quickly stopped. The NCPD advises residents to be careful when traveling at night. Now, we have a weather report..."

When feelings and loyalty are mixed together, they only result in a cup of bland water; revenge, which was risked for everything, is dissolved in a news article of less than 20 words.

This is Night City.

The second day of the three days ended.

Chapter 20 Living Louder

This is the third day of the three days.

As the sun rises, the barren land begins to be gradually filled with sunlight.

"So beautiful," V exclaimed.

"What?" Meredith Stock looked puzzled.

"Don't you think the sunrise is beautiful?"

"I don't think so. Aren't these things available every day?"

V countered with, "Then what is beauty in your eyes?"

"Of course, that goes without saying..."

Meredith Stock pointed behind him to the massive force of soldiers and vehicles equipped with military technology that filled the entire high ground.

V chuckled softly: "Indeed, it is more beautiful than the sun."

“Of course, my men are all elites.” Meredith Stock was quite proud, and she said confidently, “That bastard Anthony is dead this time!”

"And then?" V asked. "Don't you want to take it a step further?"

Meredith Stock's eyes narrowed: "What are you trying to say?"

"What Abernathy and Anthony can do, we can do too."

"Impossible! I've said it before, this is the only time we'll work together!"

V raised an eyebrow and said, "Anyone who can get military technology into the company alliance can be promoted to the next level, and I happen to be the host of the alliance. Are you really going to give up such an opportunity?"

Meredith Stock's expression was uncertain. She knew this was V's sugar-coated bullet, but after careful consideration, she believed that she had a firm will and could withstand such a test. She could eat the sugar coating and then fire the bullet back.