Cyberpunk: From Dogville to Legend

Chapter 237 Life is Like Wild Grass (Part 1)

"Lord Rin, shall we go back to the company?"

Lin Yue, who has been born, is currently sitting in the back seat.

Suzuki had already taken care of things at Arasaka Academy and handed everything over to V. The unreliable security department at Arasaka Academy was bound to be purged by the counterintelligence department, whose power was half internal, euphemistically called "internal investigation."

Of course, Lin Yue wouldn't make baseless accusations, and V wouldn't appear at that event.

The counterintelligence department had obtained information about the impending attack on Arasaka Academy a month ago. V had been monitoring the case for some time, and the forces behind it were said to be anti-company. Lin Yue didn't ask for details. In short, one should be prepared to come out. He didn't expect V to tell him everything in detail.

Looking at Lin Yue in the rearview mirror, whose hairstyle was neat and whose eyes seemed to be in a daze, Suzuki silently turned his head and patiently waited for his boss's reply.

Even his subordinate felt that Rin had been too busy lately...

He was carried out from the pile of dead bodies in Dogtown with almost no hope of waking up—just being able to crawl out of the hospital bed was considered incredibly lucky. Now he was working non-stop to try to get the most impactful event on Night City's businesses and the holdout residents of Dogtown to a safe conclusion.

So many people are connected to Rin, yet he managed to do it all.

He couldn't imagine how much pressure Rin-sama was under when facing headquarters. He had deduced many things from the smallest details, and even if Suzuki wanted to share the burden, he couldn't.

"Night City..."

Lin Yue watched over the city from the small courtyard behind the house.

It seems he has never experienced that part of the city that everyone pursues: dreams.

Through the car window, the sound of the floating car could still be clearly heard. Advertisements in various languages ​​but with the same fast pace came from the streets and alleys. There were bustling crowds at the entrance of the alley, and occasionally the faint laughter of women with a hint of drunkenness could be heard from the dark alley. The light and shadow of the skyscrapers were reflected on the ground where sewage flowed freely, and then obscured by the mist spraying from the manhole covers.

This was the first time he had looked at the city with such serious eyes.

In contrast, Lin Yue remembered Dogtown better: the dilapidated graffiti, the people's lifeless eyes, the long-neglected buildings, and the symphony of gunfire.

Suzuki listened as his boss muttered the name of the city. Without saying a word, he gently started the car and drove it out of the backyard of the afterlife with the smoothest driving skills, slowly making his way through the crowded streets of Night City.

"call…"

The Suzuki gently rolled down the car window, and as a slightly fishy smell filled the car, the gloom on Lin Yue's face seemed to dissipate somewhat.

The loyal samurai's cleverness lies in knowing what his superior needs. It's clear that Rin is fascinated by Night City and has a rare sense of excitement about seeing the city, which puzzles Suzuki—in his eyes, Rin seems like a stranger, seeing the city for the first time.

In fact, Lin Yue didn't think as much as Suzuki did.

He just felt that it was good to be alive. The feeling of surviving the ordeal made it even stronger. Now he had done everything he could and needed a good rest.

The scenery outside the car window flashed by, and Lin Yue understood for the first time why this city attracted so many people willing to take risks to pursue their dreams.

It's like a child in a remote mountain village seeing a skyscraper for the first time, with all sorts of things beyond their past memories becoming tangible, high-tech advertising everywhere, and an open and bold culture—all of which have a fatal attraction for a closed-off soul.

He even had an urge to experience firsthand why this city inspired so many to flock there, even in death, to leave their mark on history.

As the car entered the Japanese street, a strange synthetic scent wafted into the not-so-pleasant air of Night City—at first glance, it did smell like the aroma of delicious food, but in reality, it had a strong meat flavor and a pungent smell that could only be produced through deliberate synthesis.

Lin Yue then remembered that he had only eaten a few bites of the food V had given him last night, and hadn't eaten a single grain of rice since he had been busy all this time.

"Suzuki?"

Suzuki rolled up the car window. "Lord Rin, please speak."

Lin Yue stared at the vendors setting up stalls in the Japanese street outside the window. "Let's go down and get something to eat."

The car slowly came to a stop, and Suzuki remained silent for a long time. Only then did Lin Yue lean forward and curiously glance at Suzuki, whose face looked troubled.

"Didn't bring any money?"

Lin Yue reached out and patted Suzuki on the shoulder. "I wouldn't deduct your salary to buy you food. Get out of the car."

"Please wait, Lord Rin!"

Suzuki turned his head to the side, hesitated for a while, and said, "Forgive me, I'm going to swear."

Lin Yue found this methodical guy excessively adorable, even needing to ask his boss for permission to complain.

"The Japanese food here is absolutely awful! I ate it once when I was on a field mission... I don't know how I could possibly get it into my stomach. If it were grown by farmers who worked so hard, I would call them bastards who waste food."

Lin Yue was stunned for a long time.

Strangely, this is probably the longest sentence Suzuki has ever uttered while emotional.

"How could it be Suzuki..."

Listening to his superior's words, Suzuki wondered if this man had some problem with his sense of taste, and was about to speak—

Lin Yue continued, "How could it be a waste of food? Don't worry, it's all additives and artificial synthesis, without any natural elements, so you can eat it with peace of mind."

Suzuki Takeyoshi was dumbfounded.

"get off!"

Just as Lin Yue was about to crawl out, Suzuki shouted "Wait!" again. Even Lin Yue was getting fed up with this kind of idiotic feeling in Japanese workplace culture where you can't just say whatever you want all at once. "You better be in trouble, Suzuki."

Suzuki, looking embarrassed, pointed to Lin Yue's well-tailored suit. "There's something wrong with your prosthetic body. Aside from the company square, there are frequent signs of gang activity in other areas of Night City..."

Lin Yue thought Suzuki was probably just memorizing too many rigid security plans; he didn't think any gang could get close to him.

However, it's true that lower-level employees are hostile to company employees. If you don't want to become known to everyone in Japan or cause a big news story, it's best to dress sloppily. At least your suit should be wrinkled to give off a cheap vibe. You can also wear kitsch trendy clothes. In short, just don't look like a company dog ​​who's always looking to cause trouble for others.

Lin Yue shook his head and took out a jacket from behind him.

Looking at the familiar pattern on the jacket, Lin Yue couldn't help but think of the time when V and he went to Dogtown to settle Ping Anqi's score. He quickly changed his clothes, a cigarette dangling from his lips, and crawled out from behind the car.

A cacophony of sounds swept in from all directions, while sunlight shone through the slightly overcast sky, creating a sense of being in another world. Although the Oracle of the Crossroads, whose senses and eyes were no different from the true eye, had not regained its powerful combat functions, its basic physiological functions were normal, resulting in a slightly dazzling sensation.

Lin Yue shielded his forehead with his hand, gradually adjusting to the light. Just as he was about to take a step, he saw something dark in the corner of his eye.

"Ok?"

Looking at those big eyes on that dirty face, Lin Yue was a little puzzled.

The child's clothes looked like they were made of plastic, and he did have the air of a street performer, but they were really dirty. Except for his eyes, the rest of his body was obviously covered in grime, making him look dark brown. He was looking at the tall man getting out of the car with a hopeful expression.

"Damn it! Who gave you permission to stand here?"

Suzuki, with his imposing gait, circled around from behind the car. His eyebrows were horizontal, and the scar at the corner of his eye and the mark of the prosthetic on his neck gave him a fierce and menacing look.

As he spoke, he tried to pick up the brat and throw him aside—

"Tiger Claw Gang!"

The child was startled by Suzuki's growl and instinctively tried to turn around, but the uneven surface of the Japanese street caused him to fall to the ground with a thud. Even after this fall, Suzuki quickly walked to his side.

"We are not the Tiger Claw Gang."

Lin Yue, who was still wondering whether it was a boy or a girl, was stunned for a moment, not understanding why he was so afraid... Then he realized that Suzuki was using Japanese to drive the child away.

"No charge!"

The child's eyes darted around; he was clearly a clever little devil. "This time, I'm giving it away to the two older brothers for free!"

TOLL?

Lin Yue's expression was somewhat strange.

This child is exceptionally clever. "Is he a distinguished guest visiting from Japan?"

tourism?

Lin Yue never imagined that Night City, where people often collapse on the streets every night, would have a tourism industry. Stopping Suzuki was a way to relax, and Lin Yue slightly bent his knees and joked, "I've been to Japan Street before, but I've never heard of parking fees—are you working for the NCPD? They love issuing tickets, but this is a pedestrian street, can you really control that?"

The child, surprisingly easy to talk to, puffed out his chest slightly and said disdainfully, "Tch! Who works for those bastards at the NCPD? Don't insult me, okay?"

"You said there would be a fee, I want to see how you're going to take the money from me?"

Lin Yue held a hundred-euro note between two fingers, smiled, and glanced at it. The child was immediately drawn to the color of the note.

Surprisingly, this guy still had some self-control. He swallowed hard, but Suzuki stopped him from behind, saying, "He's just a little swindler who cheats people out of money... There are plenty of kids like this in the streets of Japan."

Lin Yue shook his head. Where isn't there to relieve boredom? Besides, he usually deals with mercenaries or corporate dogs. Compared to them, this kid is much more interesting.

Seeing that Rin was determined to talk to the child, Suzuki lowered his head slightly and stepped back, though he didn't understand why.

"I guarantee your precious baby won't get scratched on this street... I'm the king of the kids around here, they all listen to me. The leader of the Tiger Claw Gang told me that as long as I'm an adult, I can join them and become a big shot in this area!"

Tiger Claw Gang…

It seems that the biggest power entrenched in Westbrook makes the local children not see gangs as criminal groups that exploit people. In a social atmosphere where people can hardly protect themselves, weapons and power are often objects of worship rather than objects of consideration for conflict.

"The Tiger Claw Gang collects protection money; that's not exactly a respectable business."

The child scratched his head, realizing he wasn't smart enough to answer what the guy in front of him was saying.

Seemingly afraid of an awkward silence, the young man turned around and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Come out, everyone!"

In a small alley next to an adult product store, many children's heads peeked out—

At this age, he subconsciously wants to see where his parents are...

They all stared curiously at the man squatting and laughing, and the bun-haired samurai behind him who was even more ferocious than the Tiger Claw Gang rangers. Their eyes shrank back, as if they dared not come out.

“If any car around here doesn’t stay in the club’s parking lot, we’ll deflate its tires or damage it, and it’ll end up at the Tiger Claw Gang’s repair shop… We get a five-euro kickback per car, but you’re in luck today. One hundred euros to keep your precious little one safe and sound—oh no, fifty!”

Lin Yue was amused by this sly fellow.

Good heavens, these gang parasites will plunder anywhere, even this kind of thing.

"Okay, one last question, what about you... and their parents?"

The child pouted. "My dad runs a Japanese restaurant over there on the street. They... well, they're all kids from the Tiger Claw Gang club. They know who my mom is, but as for my biological father—I don't know either."

"Unexpected things are bound to happen! You know what I mean!"

Lin Yue's expression was strange...

This guy knows quite a lot.

When this topic came up, the young man surprisingly displayed a maturity beyond his years.

Lin Yue's expression gradually changed, and the boy thought to himself, "This is bad... I've heard that some of the big shots in the Tiger Claw Gang are unpredictable. Could it be them?"
The child quickly covered his face with his hands.

However, the crumpling sound of the banknotes, accompanied by a slight push in my chest, revealed that the coveted one hundred euro note, now slightly wrinkled, lay quietly in my arms…

Lin Yue, who had just stood up, said, "Let's go." Suzuki pointed a finger at the little brat as a warning.

Once the guy had gone far away, the children gathered together, staring longingly at the banknote that was circling around them.

Lin Yue didn't even consider the car; he just treated it as money to buy food for these children who were practically beggars. One hundred euros was just right—it wouldn't be easy to rob, and it would be enough for several children to share.

Although he was already aware of the situation, Lin Yue still felt that the scene just now was in stark contrast to the high-end sports car advertisements hanging above the streets of Japan. If he remembered correctly, the children in the alley even had traces of prosthetic modifications.

It seemed they felt the atmosphere was too heavy.

"Suzuki, you won't mind if I take you to eat synthetic food, will you? You were quite opposed to it just now."

Suzuki's lips twitched, how could he dare to say no... It seems that powerful people all have some quirks, it's just that Lord Rin is a bit special.

Lin Yue could always see traces of someone else in this guy, very much like him, holding up a skewer of synthetic chicken meatballs and cursing that it was shit, Goro...

Seeing Lin Yue's lips curl into a smile.

Suzuki: "What are you laughing at?"

Lin Yue glanced at him sideways and said, "There's a guy who's just as picky as you. He's an interesting person, but unfortunately, he's a bit foolish."

Whether it was because of the child's reminder or not, Lin Yue inexplicably walked to the street corner he had mentioned, where only a simple, dilapidated food cart was parked.

"Huh? So this is it."

What a coincidence! This is the very place where Lin Yue first ate ramen in Night City!
The slightly overweight chef wiped the sweat from his forehead with a towel draped over his shoulder. "Welcome, our guest!"

They're so busy even though there are no customers; it seems they're preparing a batch of takeaway fast food.

"Please have a seat!"

After Lin Yue sat down, he pointed to the ramen and said, "I'd like one of these."

After much deliberation, Suzuki, in a dilemma, finally chose a few chicken skewers that seemed to have the "least toxicity".

The owner nodded, glanced at the new customer, and said, "Strange, is this customer's second time eating here?"

Lin Yue was looking around at the scenery when he realized that he remembered this guy he had only met once. After a slight silence, he nodded and replied, "I guess so."

The owner smiled and nodded, skillfully scooping out the salad dressing. "Looks like my memory is right."

That's where the conversation ends.

When the steaming hot ramen was placed in front of Lin Yue, he deliberately stirred it a few times with his chopsticks, and only after finding that no cockroaches or anything like that floated to the surface did he feel relieved and lower his head to take a sip.

After finishing his work, the owner wiped his hands and asked in Japanese-accented English, "Is the taste right?"

Suzuki took a bite of the chicken skewer, and after a long pause, he managed to swallow it, forcing out a strange smile that was more threatening than complimentary. The shop owner unconsciously moved closer to Lin Yue.

Lin Yue nodded several times, "The products made from genuine pure wheat are quite good."

The chef's eyes lit up. "The guests have excellent taste."

Suzuki's eyes widened, and he subconsciously looked at the chicken skewer in his hand. So, after all this time, the thing in his hand was synthetic?
Depend on…

Lin Yue suppressed a laugh as he tasted the not-so-delicious ramen. He was more relaxed than ever before and ate very quickly.

As he swallowed the last mouthful of ramen, Lin Yue tilted his head back and let out a long, satisfied sigh.

Suzuki felt a greasy sensation on the plastic stool beneath him. After waiting patiently for the adults to finish eating, he hurriedly stood up, intending to transfer the money and leave.

Lin Yue turned his head, just about to get up and leave.

A dark, indistinct object was thrown over, rolling several times on the ground before finally coming to a stop.

Suzuki instantly stepped in front of him, while Lin Yue wiped his lips with a rough, cheap napkin, his expression calm.

He shifted his gaze upwards, coldly watching as several members of the Tiger Claw Gang, with their brightly colored hair, surrounded him.

Suzuki glanced down at the thing on the ground—no, the corpse—and his eyelids twitched.

It's...that child?!

……

……

(End of this chapter)