From Gotham to Night City, my infamy is known to all.

Before Leo could even utter his insults, he abruptly switched to issuing a warning.

The cleaners couldn't catch up for a long time, so they started to act desperately!

The passenger window rolled down, and the side of the car was kicked open. Two armed scavengers leaned out and aimed directly at the taxi.

"A serious threat has been detected. Passengers, please fasten your seatbelts. An attack is imminent."

Delaman swerved the steering wheel, and the vehicle swerved nimbly on the road, weaving left and right through the dense barrage of fire.

Stray bullets grazed the bulletproof car cover from time to time, making a series of loud thuds.

"Damn...they really are like a pack of hyenas that have seen blood!" V kept his eyes wide open, quickly found the button to control the window, and pressed it a few times but there was no response.

"No... Delaman, don't lock the car windows! We can't just take this beating without fighting back!"

Nobody: Chapter Thirty-Two: Mud Cart Iaijutsu, kid!

"Opening the car window could pose a safety risk to our VIP client, Mr. Leonardo, due to stray bullets and dangerous gases. I apologize for refusing your request."

Please don't worry, I've already called the police, and the NCPD has been dispatched.

V was amused by Delaman's words: "What good is the NCPD? By the time they get here, we'll be dead!"

Leo was shocked to notice that Dlaman was speechless after being confronted by V, and his lips trembled slightly.

The NCPD's credibility is absolutely outrageous!

V gripped the back of the chair with one hand and looked back at the small truck.

"When we reach the intersection ahead, roll down your window as you turn, and I'll use my charged weapon to shoot that driver dead in one shot!"

"I maintain my previous view that the Dlaman chauffeur service should prioritize passenger safety."

"Holy crap!" V quickly lowered his head. "Leo, say something too!"

What could Leo say? He thought Delaman's words made sense...

But V's concerns are not unreasonable...

After thinking for a moment, he looked at the monitor: "Delaman, doesn't my Perfection Package include a 'Battle Mode'? Since your 'Escape Mode' isn't working, I demand an immediate change to the mode!"

"Request received, calculation in progress..."

A massive stream of data flashed through Delaman's eyes, and the result was obtained in just a few seconds.

"Your request is reasonable. Under the Second Amendment, we have the right to retaliate without restriction when our property and personal safety are under deadly threat."

I reiterate, please fasten your seatbelts, we are about to enter "battle mode."

"A taxi has a combat mode?" V asked in surprise.

"Please fasten your seatbelts and adjust to the impact-resistant position."

The display screen automatically played out so-called impact-resistant postures, providing on-site instruction.

V had no choice but to comply with the instructions of this "self-aware" taxi.

After both of them acted as instructed, the bezel of the display screen glowed red, indicating that an emergency had been activated.

"The counterattack begins!"

Dellaman's voice turned cold and hard.

Leo and V both chose the "backrest support" option, with their faces pressed against the monitor, allowing them to see exactly what he was doing.

The rear of the taxi swayed rapidly, leaving a layer of dark, shiny engine oil covering the road.

"You've been hit and the oil is leaking!?" V exclaimed.

"Please don't worry, this is an oil spill protection system. It creates barriers on the road surface using two oil sprayers inside the rear tires to prevent vehicles from following behind."

This is a protective measure I learned from analyzing the official cars of past US presidents.

As they were talking, the small truck behind them, with its accelerator floored, crashed headfirst into the oil slick.

The drawbacks of cheap, used cars begin to emerge – the already worn-out tires have a rapidly decreasing friction with the ground, causing the vehicle to slip.

The small truck then performed a 360-degree endless spin, rotating like a top.

The black guy in the front row was okay; he just dropped his gun. The black guy standing on the outside of the carriage screamed as he was thrown out.

Hearing his loud "Ahhh!" echoing as he sped away, Leo laughed rather immorally.

"It's not over yet," Delaman shouted a warning. "We're about to turn around and launch the second phase of the counterattack to completely stop the thugs' attack on the VIPs. Please remain calm; there may be some bumps."

The dark brown Delaman van drifted and made a U-turn on a deserted road, aiming its front at the cleaner's van.

The engine roared, and the accelerator was floored!

Leo's eyes widened as he watched the speed display in the upper right corner of the screen instantly spike to three digits.

The footage from the vehicle's onboard monitor zoomed in rapidly.

He saw the unconscious black man in the passenger seat and the scavenger driver in the driver's seat.

He was wearing only a blood-stained white lab coat and a tacky LED mask, and he was yelling and screaming like a madman, trying to stabilize the out-of-control vehicle.

Their eyes met, his bloodshot, swollen eyes were filled with blood vessels, and a suspicious sticky liquid dripped from the corner of his mouth, it was hard to tell if it was saliva or something he had drunk.

In his eyes, Leo could only see pure madness and hatred.

"Damn it, that stupid street cleaner actually hates us!"

He cursed under his breath, his gaze towards the other person devoid of any pity.

This is Night City. Forget about those pointless moral constraints—"Go for it!"

boom--

The front bumper of the truck struck the side of the small truck precisely, causing the already unstable truck to flip over and spin on the ground like an overturned turtle.

"Brilliant!!"

V excitedly got up and peered at the small truck with cracked metal sheets and a severely dented cargo box.

"Open the car window, I have a grenade on me, let's blast their shells into the sky!"

Delaman ignored her: "The enemy has lost its ability to attack, please don't retaliate excessively. At this point, the police won't bother the two guests, but that might change after the grenades are thrown."

"Uh...that's right."

V sullenly shrank back.

"The danger has passed. We will maintain the highest speed allowed by the road and get our distinguished guests to their destination as soon as possible."

Delaman maneuvered the vehicle around, quickly moving away from the battlefield.

Leo regained his composure, leaned back in his chair, and pressed his hand against his wildly beating heart.

That was so exciting...

He knew Night City was chaotic, but the extent to which kidnappings were committed in broad daylight was truly beyond his control.

Those damn street sweepers, I'll slaughter them all sooner or later...

On the way back, NCPD police cars passed by them but did not stop the vehicle with minor damage to its front bumper and hood.

Delaman told them that the police had already taken care of the follow-up matters and that what happened next was none of their business.

"Not even a written statement is needed?"

"No need. I have already sent the entire video to the police. It is enough evidence to convict them."

"How many years could he be sentenced to?"

"I'm sorry, I don't have any knowledge of criminal law."

Delaman couldn't answer, so Leo looked at V.

V rubbed the gun handle in his hand and replied, "It depends on whether they have a criminal record and whether they have the money to pay the fine. In this situation, where they were dealt with before they could successfully tie you up, they'll be fined for a year or two if they don't pay the fine, and two or three months if they do."

"So light!?" Leo couldn't believe it.

"What else? If crimes were punished by execution, Night City's population would be reduced by at least 50%."

"What kind of place is this...?"

Leo closed his eyes, feeling utterly powerless.

*

Soon after, they arrived safely at Leo's hotel.

Delaman didn't even overcharge him, and sincerely apologized, promising to avoid such situations that would upset the VIP.

V only withdrew his longing gaze after the taxi disappeared at the end of the street.

"What a great vehicle! It's amazing that there's a vehicle that can fight autonomously. If you mounted a heavy machine gun on the roof and added two rocket launchers, this vehicle could wipe out an entire army by itself!"

When I have money, I want to buy one of these amazing self-driving cars!

Nobody: Chapter Thirty-Three: Acquainted for Four Hours, Immediately Moving In Together!

Return to the apartment.

Leo took three steps at a time and went straight to the sofa.

After sitting down, he realized that his back seemed a little wet—he reached back and touched it, and found his back covered in cold sweat.

Depend on……

Life in Night City is so exciting! I almost got kidnapped by the Cleaners just by going out. It's unimaginable how ordinary people survive in an environment where order is on the verge of collapse.

The piercing gunshot and the strange noise of bullets hitting the car body still seemed to echo in his ears, making him feel unavoidably anxious.

Da da da--

The slightly chaotic footsteps came and went, circling around the room.

Leo turned his head and saw his equally anxious companion.

"V, come and sit down for a while, everything is fine now."

V paused, her deep red hair swaying gently: "You don't understand, this isn't over yet."

"They still dare to come after us?!"

"No, it was those bastards who broke the rules. According to 'tradition,' I have to go and get revenge. You... why don't you stay home today? I'll go back to the Ant Nest and take care of the 'business.'"

Leo was stunned. Was V really such a vengeful person?

Revenge should not be delayed overnight!

V could tell from his expression that he had misunderstood.

"It's not what you think. It's not just a personal grudge; it's a 'tradition.'"

She explained to the naive but wealthy young master...

"Watson District is the poorest and most chaotic place in Night City, but because of this, the lower classes have gradually developed a tacit rule—that is, you can't eat the grass near your own nest."

Simply put, you can't harm your neighbor, at least not to the point of killing them. Otherwise, everyone will live in fear, and the security situation will be ten times worse than it is now.

“But those scavengers… live in the anthill, and they even dare to stake out the anthill to find targets. They’ve broken the rules. I’m a local from the anthill, so I have to step in and take charge of this!”

That might be true, but Leo was still worried, so as V passed by, he grabbed her wrist.

"You—uh, what's wrong?"

V's hand trembled, and she reflexively frowned and glared. But when she saw the concern in Leo's eyes, her tone softened.

"It's too dangerous for you to go alone, and you don't have any intelligence."

“I have inside information—you made purchases at the gun shop and the boxing ring today, so you're considered their ‘customer.’ I’ll ask Wilson and Fred; they’ll definitely tell me if they know anything.”

"You only answered the second half of the question. What about the first half? Aren't you still acting alone?"

“I’m a lone wolf, and I’ve dealt with cleaners before.” V patted his holster. “Besides, I have a good gun that can go through walls, so taking care of them will be a piece of cake.”

"That won't do either. You're my bodyguard, your job is to protect me, right? — Think about your salary!"

The killer move had an immediate and noticeable effect.

The thought of the beautiful... ugh, the filthy Euro made V's resolve waver.