Cyberpunk: From Dogville to Legend

Chapter 228 Valentino's Past

The Wild Wolf Bar was filled with Latin American music that blended Native American and African American styles.

Pepi glanced down at the date on his phone—

It's Wednesday.

Although there are very few legitimate jobs in Night City, and Haywood is frequented by gangsters and thugs, there shouldn't be a distinction between weekdays and holidays, but in reality, the bar doesn't do very well on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Not to mention that Heywood has had the Terrorist Squad hanging over its head every day lately. According to those well-informed guys, the cyber lunatics of Night City seem to have all crowded into the territory of the Valentino gang in Watson District, causing panic and making it difficult for anyone to come and have fun—which has really worried some handsome men and beautiful women with cosmetic surgery loans.

Ding ding…

The doorbell, clearly Mexican in style, at the entrance of the Wild Wolf Bar was disturbed by the automatic door. Pepi looked up... and saw an old acquaintance, then continued wiping the glasses with his head down.

"Hi Peipei—uh? Where's my mom?"

Jack plopped down on a high stool at the bar, grabbed a bottle of vodka from Peppy's side, and twisted the cork with his large, gold-and-silver-jeweled hands. "Phew, this is fucking exhausting!"

Pepi made a shushing gesture, looked around, and especially since his face didn't look like a good person, all his actions became somewhat suspicious.

"Mrs. Wells's looking for you... but you're in luck, she just went out, and she's got some good guys from the bar with her, don't worry." Peppy picked up a lemon squeezer. "Want some? You seem to be in a good mood..."

A simple, honest smile appeared on the burly man's face.

Jack slapped his thigh. "Damn, I knew you understood me. Lime juice, fill it up... It's so sour, my mouth is watering."

The two rough men, like mischievous kids sneaking out to play behind their mothers' backs, poured themselves a full glass of strong liquor and clinked it against each other with their shot glasses.

Jack wiped the stinging, burning taste of alcohol from his lips. "You have no idea what happened. Last time I went to Watson District to run a job for a friend, and it took me ages to sneak in. I even bought a high-end suit that I'll probably never wear again... and I didn't get a single cent!"

Was he sold?
Or are you still embroiled in trouble?

Peggy: "Explain in detail."

Jack looked helpless. "It's simple... I just don't know how to put it. Anyway, it's a friend of the guy who asked me to do this job, and also a very close friend of mine. She already took care of it for him. Uh... he made a wasted trip! But you know, Pepe; I don't like to take advantage of others. I only do fair-priced jobs in Night City, and of course, I didn't ask for any payment."

Peppy nodded; he knew that was just Jack's personality.

Do not covet what does not belong to you, and once you've set your mind on something, give it your all.

"It's a bit of a pity. Night City still has the concept of 'hardship allowance,' which is why people say it's hard to do business with acquaintances."

Pepi may seem dull, but he has a very clear understanding of things.

Jack waved his hand, almost thinking that the sullen guy in front of him, who reeked of alcohol, had been possessed by his mother. In Jack's view, doing business is only safe if the relationship is right, and one should always be wary of others, but that doesn't mean that one should do something together without any understanding of the other person.

At least in the last few years, Jack's set of standards for conduct has not had any negative impact.

Jack tilted his head back and downed his second glass of wine.

Anyone could see the confusion on this guy's face...

Peppy thought Jack shouldn't be so strapped for cash. Everyone in the bar was saying that Jack had pulled off a big heist. He'd completely upgraded and modified his motorcycle, and even went to the well-known weapons shop in Watson District, somewhere near where the priests held their events, to get two guns modified... They said they were gleaming and incredibly awesome!
Jack silently followed Peppy's gaze and noticed that he kept staring at the gun holster on his waist.

He pulled out the two heavy, large-caliber pistols, whose appearance could be described as "magnificent," and placed them on the counter. The heavy metal and wooden bar counter made a muffled sound. The basic model was a pistol from Haishao Military Industry.

"That's awesome."

Peppy seemed quite at ease in Jack's presence. He reached out and touched a gun, then looked closely at the barrel. It had an unidentified bronze-colored spray paint, and beneath that opulent hue were patterns reminiscent of leopard-print stockings often worn by young women—

"This feel...tsk tsk."

Jack was incredibly proud of himself as he watched others marvel at the weapons he had modified. "Golden Fierce Woman, that's her name. Touch her all you want, but don't throw the gun or take off the safety."

Peppy pursed his lips, immediately tossed the gun back onto the counter, and silently continued wiping the cups he hadn't cleaned properly.

Jack chuckled; Peppy just couldn't take a joke...

"What does my mom want? She's been calling me nonstop and texting me all over the place, telling me to go back to the second floor of Wild Wolf... It's making me really nervous."

Pepi looked up, his smile somewhat strange.

Jack inadvertently caught Peppy's knowing but unspoken expression, and hesitated several times before saying something. "It's just a few jobs. As for the people... they're definitely the kind of people my mom wouldn't approve of. But you know there are bastards at the bottom of Night City, and even more at the top. But I still trust V and that guy."

Peppy: "So...V? And that...company, Mrs. Wells's anger is not without reason."

Jack silently took out a cigarette, lit it, and casually tossed one to his friend as well.

There were only two people in the huge bar.

"Hmm... how should I put it? I can recite the stage play that News Channel 54 played that criticized Arasaka backwards. In Arasaka, everyone is a bootlicker for Saburo. The company bullies people a lot, treating people like livestock. Land, resources, money... once they're in their pockets, there's no way they'll get them back."

"Everyone curses stupid company dogs, and I curse them too, but the problem is that people are different."

“Hey… Peppy, I’m not a writer or a journalist, so I can’t really explain these things clearly. Arasaka is a bastard, but at least I can tell good people from bad.”

Peppy nodded. So, after all that, Jack hadn't mentioned how decisive the company dog ​​was when he sold people off.

The dead lottery doesn't include those unfortunate souls who were poured cement by corporate killers and then thrown into the river; in a way, Jack had seen how corporate dogs ran rampant on the streets, getting away with it thanks to corporate immunity.

Peppy sighed. "Hmm, V and your new friend, that young man from the Wild Wolf Bar—you think you're on the same wavelength, right?"

Jack replied, "Of course!"

Peppy: "Prejudice is a mountain in people's hearts. I bet Mrs. Wells doesn't think they are reliable friends, just like Valentino helps those drug dealers. Would you trust your cousin who has failed to quit drugs several times?"

Jack was stunned.

After a long pause, he asked, "Peipei, where did you learn that? It's so damn pretentious."

To everyone's surprise, Peppy broke down in an instant, scratching his head sheepishly and saying, "You should think about how to deal with Mrs. Wells. If she finds out you're still hanging around with those people from the company, I think you'll be in big trouble."

"But you've definitely made a name for yourself. The new recruits in the Valentino gang all call you, this guy who left halfway through, the number one outsider in the gang; and you've been busy making connections lately, haven't you? Switching to being a middleman?"

Jack stretched his waist.

"Just one last thing, and the Wolf Bar property will be ours; I also need to modify my beloved motorcycle a bit more to try and get it into the '77 Guns N' Roses show... Oh right, buy a nice car, Misty doesn't really like motorcycles."

No wonder, in Peppy's eyes, Jack was a very hardworking guy, but he was always worried about money.

Jack sat back down in his chair, busy dealing with messages from Misty and others in his email inbox.

Peppy continued working, and the bar was quiet for a short while.

It wasn't until midnight that the automatic door responded. Jack instinctively thought his mother had returned and craned his neck to look.

It turned out to be a bunch of Valentino gangsters.

"Hey, there's trouble—"

Pepi muttered something under his breath.

Jack was completely unfamiliar with the person who came in... It's difficult for outsiders to distinguish the status of these Latin American gang members, but Jack could tell which guy was the most powerful from his jewelry, tattoos, and other things—with just a quick scan, Jack immediately read the guy's information.

Hector Salikstein…

The leader, dressed in Mexican leather pants, had large tattoos of San Murti and Jesus Malverde on his arms; a gilded pistol that looked like it was made of gold was on his waist; and a well-groomed Mexican mustache. He looked like a poorly built "Zorro".

This is not good news.

You should know that Jack knows most of the big names in the Valentino gang, but he has no recollection of ever seeing this person before.

It seems he's still a cadre.

The gaunt man had a hooked nose that accentuated his sinister aura. He hooked his sunglasses down with his golden prosthetic finger, gave the two men in front of the counter a malicious look, and let out a muffled snort.

Jack didn't even need to guess what kind of shit these idiots were going to poop as soon as they bent over.

"Jack Wells?"

Hector strolled leisurely towards Jack, his gait and behavior completely devoid of any respect...

Jack looked at the hand in front of him. Peppy hadn't wiped the cup for a long time, and the towel he was holding probably contained his "things".

“Hector…excuse me, this is our first meeting.” The Valentino Gang [adheres to values ​​such as honor, justice, and brotherhood, and commands its members with strict moral standards and traditions]; therefore, family is an important concept in the group, and even though Jack has taken off the Valentino ring, he won’t immediately put on a sour face.

not to mention…

Jack has a benefactor in the Valentino gang.

If it were the Whirlpool Gang standing in front of him, Jack would have cracked their heads open in an instant!

The other person casually grabbed Jack's hand and shook it. "I've heard there's a good fighter at the Wild Wolf Bar... but that's not what I'm here for today. Where's Mrs. Wells?"

Jack shrugged. “Amigo… I’m not some kid who helps Mom sell candy; whatever you want to talk about, talk here.”

It wasn't a big deal that Hector didn't recognize Jack; his vassals knew Jack was a skilled fighter, and they all remained silent.

This guy acted like he belonged there, pulling over a chair and sitting down casually, his pointed leather shoes stepping on the wooden chair, which made Jack frown.

“Let’s be frank. We need to redraw the boundaries of Wild Wolf Bar, Haywood’s territory. I don’t know how Mrs. Wells negotiated before, but anyway, we won’t cause you any trouble. Brothers, you can get a discount on drinks here and have a great time.”

Hector continued, “But now the Valentino gang is starting to have bigger problems; Campo is still in jail, and his distant cousin is disregarding brotherhood… that guy is more suited to being a love poem prince than to roam this area.”

As Jack listened, his expression grew calmer, which was actually a sign that he was getting angry.

"Whoa!—"

"I don't know where you're from, but Uncle Campbell will be released from prison in 2081... You can't wait to cause trouble, can you?"

A loud noise.

Jack made no big move, just stood up. Everyone put their hands on his waist, and one of the gang members who was relatively familiar with Jack reached out to stop them, saying, "Hey! Jack... let's calm down and listen to what he has to say, okay?"

Haywood looked around at the group and remained silent for a long time.

After a cold laugh, he said, "No wonder that name sounded so familiar. Turns out it's that damn drug dealer—my cousin, Sami. Do you know him?!"

Jack's cousin failed to quit drugs many times, and it seems that this guy played a significant role in that.

Hector wasn't afraid of anything Jack might do next to him. "I've noticed... whether it's Campo, or [Gustavo]... or the old-fashioned guys, they all like to blame me. Did I make them fail? You need to know what makes the most money—Jack, I have a lot of people who eat with me. Wild Wolves is a good place for trading, so let's sit down and talk."

"It's fine if you don't want to talk about it, but Valentino can't take care of the wolves, and there's nothing I can do about it."

Pepi was behind him—

"No... Jack."

Hearing the voice, Hector turned to look at the bartender, seemingly finding it amusing. "Cambo almost treated you like a brother, Jack... you did the most to kill the Vortex Gang for him, and the Valentino Gang also took care of you, Mrs. Wells, and this bar out of consideration for those brotherhoods."

"But nothing is permanent. I'm just here to remind you not to make things difficult for me; Mrs. Wells is getting old and can't take a scare."

Jack Wells was quite famous in the Valentino gang, and Hector wanted to push him to the point of being unyielding so that those below him who were unwilling to take action would break off all ties for profit.

Poisons seduce the nerves and brain, while profit seduce the heart.

"Oh shit…"

Peppy watched Jack's expression and his chest rise and fall.

He knew it was all over.

Of all people to do, that guy used Jack's mother to threaten this lone wolf who had risked countless lives in street brawls...

then--

No one could clearly see what Jack was doing...

The golden-haired shrew's gun slammed into the guy's head the next second!
"屮!"

As his sunglasses slipped off the floor, Hector fell backward, clutching his forehead with his hand, blood seeping from between his fingers.

The two guns, their black muzzles pointed at Hector.

"Come on, Jack!"

Hector, that drug dealer, was a complete ruthless scoundrel. "Look how long Valentino has helped you, how are you going to repay us? How are you going to repay your brothers?"

Jack opened his mouth—

"Fuck your brother!"

Pepi immediately reached out to grab the gun, and the Valentino gang members were all dumbfounded, not expecting things to escalate so much!

"Jack!"

A sound, neither too loud nor too soft, came from outside.

The bar's security escorted Mrs. Wells in from outside. The old woman was dressed simply, but she resembled a strict, traditional old mother from a traditional family.

“Put the gun down! Is this how Campbell teaches you to deal with your brothers? He didn’t draw his gun—don’t make me say it again, Jack.”

Jack's expression changed.

The lone wolves on the street have all sorts of tempers, but Jack is undoubtedly the kind of guy who can't stand being provoked. If Lin Yue were here, he could easily connect this furious guy with his good buddy from the Whirlpool Gang at the Whole Foods Factory...

"Fuck you."

Jack holstered his gun, crossed his arms, and stood to the side.

Seemingly still angry, he shook his head and tried to walk outside.

"Stop right there, Jack. I have something to say to you."

Hector lowered his head, a smug smile playing on his lips, and waited quietly for Mrs. Wells to come over. He reached out and pulled her up, his expression still that infuriatingly sinister look.

Mrs. Wells took a handkerchief from her bosom and pressed it to Hector's head.

"Thanks…"

Mrs. Wells was quite influential in the Valentino gang, and Hector certainly put on a convincing act.

After tidying up, Mrs. Wells put on her usual faint smile.

"Sit down, children."

Hector, who had just sat down, seemed to be losing patience.

“I respect you, Mrs. Wells, but I still hope you can be more decisive about this matter today.”

Mrs. Wells merely glanced at him without saying a word.

"Everyone sit down!"

So the others, who were still stunned, did as instructed.

As Mrs. Wells sat back in Jack's chair, her hands on his shoulders, the serious woman slowly said, "Hector, I can grant you what you asked for."

These words stunned everyone, especially Jack, whose expression was filled with confusion and anxiety.

Mrs. Wells pressed her hand down harder on Jack's shoulder.

Jack, along with the other familiar faces who had come here somewhat reluctantly, all wanted to know why Mrs. Wells, known for her peaceful nature, would agree to such a thing at a clean place like Wild Wolf's...

……

……

　[Hector Salixstein]: In the Shadows of the Past side quest in 2077, the female prosecutor in the case is pursuing evidence of the crimes committed by this Valentino gang leader.

　　【Campo Gustavo】: A high-ranking member of the Valentino Gang in prison, who greatly admires Jack because of his bravery in the fight against the Vortex Gang. Since Jack left Valentino to avoid worrying his mother, Campo has provided him with a lot of help.

　　[Distant Cousin], [Gustavo Horta]: One of Valentino's high-ranking members, he falls in love with the daughter of Nolan Franks, a high-ranking member of the Sixth Street Gang. His daughter is shot in the head during the Sixth Street Gang's operation against Valentino. In the main 2077 storyline, there's a quest called "Bring Gustavo's Head," where the priest accepts a commission from a Sixth Street Gang leader to make Gustavo pay (there's some fan-made content explaining the reasons behind this; please be patient).

　　
　
(End of this chapter)