Cyberpunk: Nirvana of Shoko Toyokawa

Page 268

In this sense, we are all grateful for the opening of [Reclamation New Land Phase 2].

On TV, some critics said that this is the future of the city of joy: build a new piece of land, drive the redundant and eliminated cheap labor there, and store it. When it is needed, it will be extracted in batches. If there is too much storage and there is not enough space, open a new piece of land and drive the extra people there - just like those old city parking lots that are not planned well, keep increasing, and eventually become like pieces of dog-skin plasters.

“[The seven bands] reached a consensus.”

Critics raged on the radio.

"There will no longer be large-scale band wars like the ones during the [Early Stage of the City of Music] and the [Phase 1 of the Reclamation Land]. The [Phase 2 of the Reclamation Land] has not caused any problems so far, which is an example. The City of Music will not trigger a third large-scale band war. I can guarantee it. Because the power of each band has been determined, once the third band war comes, it will surely destroy the entire City of Music..."

This sounds a bit like how people thought about the world wars 30 years ago.

This was not auspicious because, as we all know, corporate wars broke out later.

It almost became World War III - it almost did.

Is it really as the critics say?

Major events that will affect the City of Joy may actually be happening every day.

But people who eat multivitamin pills and canned meals every day don’t know this.

But no one will say anything about it.

The night passed and the dawn came. The gray day did not last long before it was taken away by the colorful night.

The days passed by.

As long as the City of Joy is still there, it will not be considered a day when "something big happens".

……

City of joy.

Central District.

Wide roads connect with each other, meet at a huge roundabout, and then branch out from there in layers.

This is the main road of Lezhicheng, the city’s main artery, Lezhicheng Avenue.

This avenue named "Avenue" that leads directly to Toyokawa Building is the best location in the city.

Old commercial complex, bar, cafe...

And that building.

White exterior facade, red eaves, and black house numbers.

On the doorplate, the name of the building is marked in red and yellow letters:

LIVE HOUSE:CiRCLE.

The main venue for Poppin'Party's live events.

This iconic building, which is well-known to everyone in the City of Joy, is not as tall as many people imagine. It has only three floors, which is not very high, and most of the functional areas are below ground.

...However, not many people know what its functional areas are.

If we filter out those who are no longer alive, the number may be even lower.

"Wow……"

Looking out from the window of the moon-white [Curtis V5000], Aine sighed.

"This is my first time at CiRCLE..." She leaned against the brown one-way visual glass, looking at the CiRCLE getting closer and closer, and said, "How should I put it... It doesn't feel as impressive as RiNG..."

"RiNG was built later." Li Xi, who was sitting in the passenger seat, said in a hard tone, "The rooms there are bigger, and they only have one function, a livehouse. Therefore, most of the facilities are placed on the surface."

"You mean CiRCLE is more than just a livehouse?"

Aine just asked casually.

however.

"No one knows how many floors there are underground in CiRCLE, and what is deep inside." Su Shi, who was sitting in the driver's seat, said, "CiRCLE has all the functions you can think of as a building where important people reside."

Su Shi was sitting in the driver's seat. However, she was not driving. This [Curtis V5000] was in automatic driving mode. Su Shi was folding her arms and closing her eyes to rest.

"Hiss...it sounds so scary..."

Aine had never thought she would hear this. She crossed her arms dramatically.

"You are just here to participate in the performance today." Li Xi said, "No one wants you to experience the so-called 'all functions'."

Li Xi still spoke in a choking tone. However, her tone was obviously more blunt than necessary. It was obvious that she was also nervous.

After all, the show that Poppin'Party had invited me to was about to begin in less than four hours.

"MC's lines..."

Looking closely, Li Xi was using a virtual interface and gesturing in the densely packed fields in front of her.

No matter how nervous you are, what is coming will come. [Curtis V5000] drove towards CiRCLE and slowly entered the parking lot entrance.

The vehicle continues forward and merges into the winding parking lot lane and goes down.

The inorganic lighting in the parking lot leaves spots of light on the car windows.

"..."

No one spoke.

Aine really felt herself getting more and more nervous.

She looked to her right.

Le Na, who was in a completely different state from Li Xi, sat next to Aine. Her eyes followed the bright spots on the car window, and her head swayed back and forth because of the shaking of those bright spots.

"(…Runa-chan won't be nervous, will she…)"

Aiyin thought about it and laughed dryly.

The vehicle slid forward and entered the second underground floor.

This is the drop-off area.

The drop-off area is less than 500 square meters. As an underground parking lot of Lezhicheng, the area is not large. Because it is an old building, CiRCLE does not reserve many parking spaces. Therefore, external vehicles cannot park in the building of CiRCLE. They can only get on and off here, then leave, and pick up people here when they leave.

Now, there are some cars parked in front of the [Curtis V5000] of MyGO!!!!!.

Chapter 2: CiRCLE's Performance (2k Blade Extra)

There were four black cars parked in the drop-off area. Just looking at the model, it was very similar to the Curtis V5000 that the MyGO!!!!! group was riding in.

"A taxi from Delamain...?"

Aine could recognize those cars. After all, she had also called the services of Delaman Company.

However, it is rare to see so many taxis at the same time.

Aine looked around curiously.

"!"

Aine saw some people in grey business suits escorting a man also in a grey suit as they got out of the taxi.

The middle-aged man was neither tall nor short, neither fat nor thin, with his hair combed back, and there was nothing memorable about him...

...For Aine, the most important thing is the people around him.

Those people had weapons in their hands.

[Curtis V5000] slowly stopped at a certain distance from the four taxis.

Su Shi and Li Xi, who were sitting in the front row, also noticed them.

"Single-molecule samurai swords, soft sticks, [Heckler & Koch MPK-9], [Heckler & Koch MP-2020]...even chainsaws?"

Li Xi, who was using a police-grade artificial eye, was the first to analyze the enemy's weapons.

"There are samurai swords, blunt weapons, and assault rifles. It's really a mix of things." Li Xi raised his eyebrows and said, "Is there a [big shot] coming?"

"They are from the Toyokawa family, right?" Su Shi, whose mother was a high-ranking member of the Toyokawa family, was more familiar with this kind of clothing. She took a look and said calmly.

"Um……"

It was not particularly strange that someone from the Toyokawa family appeared in the Poppin'Party livehouse.

The Toyokawa family was originally the public manager of the City of Music. They would greet the Seven Bands from time to time and enter their territory. Sometimes it was a discussion about municipal planning, sometimes it was an inspection of site safety and compliance regulations, and sometimes it was some more secretive discussions that could not be known to outsiders.

CiRCLE has multiple functions. It is entirely possible that when a live is being held in the livehouse venue, other meetings are taking place in other rooms.

Of course, everyone in MyGO!!!!! is aware of these things.

However, seeing the people from the Toyokawa family made them a little more nervous before going on stage.

After all, the other party is armed.

It would be bad if you caused unnecessary trouble.

"Stop outside a little more."

Li Xi said to Su Shi.

Su Shi didn't answer, but his brain computer lit up slightly.

The Curtis V5000 responded. It slid to the side and stopped at the place farthest from those people.

The car door slowly opened.

Lenai, who had been staring at the car door—or rather, the bright spot on the car door—was the first to jump down.

Su Shi and Li Xi followed closely and went to the trunk to get their instruments.

"..."

Aine was still sitting in the car.

…She wanted to stand up, but her legs were a little out of control.

“(Oops… Wow, no way, at this point, you’re still…?”

Aine lowered her head.

She tried a wry smile.

There was no problem with the emotions, but the pupils were still trembling.

A message popped up inside the orbital implant. Physiological indicators - hard to read - dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin levels are dropping sharply -

"(It's more serious than I thought...)"

Aine felt like she was fine.

At least, before arriving here today, she felt that she had no problems.

but……

About to participate in a stage performance.

In the background, people are seen holding multiple weapons.

All this began to awaken Aine's bad memories - she still remembered the events of Tsuki Castle -

She had seen this before, before she had stepped onto that stage, ignorant of everything—men with weapons—

After that—

"..."

Aiyin's sweaty hand was suddenly held.

Aine turned her head.