Cyberpunk: From Dogville to Legend

Chapter 263 Similar Stories [6K]

"Night City's public network computer system has been attacked twice in the past six months."

"Do you remember the 'Safety Spirit' incident that caused such a stir a few months ago?"

Zig Q, sporting his signature flamboyant green hair and a relaxed sitting posture, gestured with one hand as he recounted the amusing events that occurred at dawn in Night City.

"Luckily, everyone was fast asleep, and the streets were full of drunkards—but this time, the information leaked by the mysterious hacker seems to be even more exciting than last time! Someone attacked the facilities in the Arasaka Park! Bang bang bang, boom boom boom... a barrage of explosions."

"Is it true? Let's invite Ms. Lawrence, the renowned corporate intelligence expert and freelance writer from Night City, to tell us about this!"

Amidst cheers and applause, the slightly short and plump woman walked along, bowing and waving, saying, "Hello everyone, hello everyone!"

Zig Q also clapped his hands.

Welcome, ma'am!

Lawrence sat on the pink sofa with a look of novelty on her face. "Wow, it's hard to believe that 'Tonight's Talk Show' is taking over the morning news schedule! This is the first time I've ever been on this show in the morning—Hi baby, Mommy's recording a show here."

Lawrence, waving at the camera, explained, "My child really likes you."

Zieg smiled politely. "I can see that you're in a very good mood, so let's get straight to the point! You must have seen the news that dominated the web and Night City's public media this morning, right?"

Lawrence's previously radiant expression vanished, and he clearly began to take things seriously.

"Yes, and I was eating bread while reading it—I even brought a little gift with me for that."

Zieg looked at the book in Lawrence's hand—

"Night City stopped ranking the Top Ten Lone Wolves a long time ago, do you remember?"

Zieg nodded. "Of course, of course! But what does this have to do with whether the Arasaka Industrial Park was attacked?"

Lawrence raised his hand, and a figure that would almost be mistaken for a robot appeared on the hovercraft in the center of the program.

"Adam Hammer!"

He was ranked as the second lone wolf in Night City for five consecutive years, with the first being the untouchable and invisible Morgan Blackhand. Do you remember that?

Zig rubbed his forehead. “The Black Hand? My God, when I was ten, my mom would tell me these kinds of stories every day like they were from a Western movie—but look, I’ve never seen this kind of person at the entrance of Arasaka Tower, and neither have my colleagues, the broadcasters of the ‘Intubation’ program.”

Lawrence shook his head.

“Darling, this isn’t armor or anything, it’s a prosthetic body.”

Zieg made an exaggerated expression, which caused an uproar among the audience!
"Excuse my bluntness, but if a person's body were covered in all these things, wouldn't they turn themselves into... uh, a hybrid? That's absurd! So you're saying that this Mr. Adam Hammer (a pun) who appears in the magazine is some kind of secret weapon or something?"

The audience roared with laughter, and Zieg was pleased with himself for the positive response to his humor.

However, Lawrence said with a serious expression, "You could say that."

Zieg concealed his emotions well, spreading his hands and bowing his head to indicate that he had lost, but in reality, he was finding it difficult to withstand the woman's attacks.

"I believe that companies would train such humanoid monsters in order to protect their own legitimate interests. Obviously, this scene is very realistic, and there was indeed a large-scale firefight in the direction of the Arasaka Industrial Park in Watson District. The nearby network and power were paralyzed at one point, and Arasaka's security forces did seal off that area, didn't they?"

The atmosphere-building team members remained silent, as if by unspoken agreement.

Lawrence was left alone to articulate his own ideas.

Zig simply let the woman finish speaking to avoid her coming up with anything even more terrible.

"The growing number of extreme opinions indicates that the world we live in is controlled by corporate interests. Your wallet and your investments are all taken by companies in this extreme, barbaric and violent way. The public thinks that the factors causing instability come from reduced security funding, crime rates and other issues—but they ignore the fact that companies are the real culprits."

Lawrence said a lot in one breath.

Zieg spread his hands, revealing that as Night City’s seemingly “boldest” program, he had a unique understanding of how to sway public opinion.

"So you're saying Arasaka is the root of the unease? The high-end shops selling weapons in Night City's corporate plaza mostly sell military technology, while the cheap firepower from the Kijitsukasa—which you can buy for a can of cola from a vending machine on the street—aren't they all sources of insecurity?"

Boos erupted from the crowd.

Lawrence was clearly panicked. "But with such cybernetic modifications appearing right under our noses, there will only be more and more cybernetic lunatics! You—"

Only Zieg's voice remained on the screen: "In the blink of an eye, the golden minutes of tonight's chat have passed. As Ms. Lawrence said, all the major news reports indicate that Arasaka may have been attacked by a suspected KB organization, but it is unlikely to be those street racers, pickpockets, and self-proclaimed cyberpunks."

"Let's move on to the next program!"

Immediately afterwards, Sieg flew into the sky in the scene.

Behind them is the space station, shaped like a spinning top, colorful and situated in the tranquil space.

"Still complaining about the air quality in Night City, the constant clanging and banging from your neighbors in the morning, the inedible food, and the musty water—why not give yourself a break and come to Crystal Palace to enjoy the life you deserve!"

……
-
Chiba straightened his bow tie.

Fujino's face was not much different from the color of the floor of Arasaka Tower.

"How is the situation now?"

Chiba did this to avoid being questioned at the press conference, and he needed to know what measures Arakasaka had to take now.

Fujino adjusted his glasses.

"The adversaries all know what's going on; there are endless spies... you understand. The damage is under control now. Besides the network, there's also some hardware damage in the industrial park, but headquarters will handle that."

"But the key point is..."

Chiba lit a cigarette, frowned, and said, "This manuscript seems more like an attempt to cover up the truth."

Fujino's hair looked completely dull.

The scene of that arrogant young man suddenly making a move was still vivid in his mind. Fujino found it very novel—almost no one would so blatantly steal meat from Arasaka's mouth. Even though that guy had retreated, Fujino still believed that he would die sooner or later in the company's encirclement and assassination.

It just came too fast—

Half an hour after he fell asleep after working overtime, a notification from Arakako on the internet almost made him lose his mind!

Incredibly, the traitor, who was supposedly modified with Honshu cybernetic implants, deliberately provoked the backyard of the Night City Arasaka branch and even injured Adam Heavy Hammer, the top fighter in Arasaka.

"Heavy Hammer said he's dead...is it true?"

Chiba asked in a low voice.

Fujino shook his head. "If the body isn't found, it proves that Arasaka's technology may have created a formidable adversary—you and I both understand what that means. His skillful manipulation of public opinion is nothing like someone who crawled and rolled around in the mud of Dogtown!"

Chiba fell silent and let out a long sigh.

"I still think this manuscript isn't quite right."

As a ministerial-level figure, Fujino should have simply asked Chiba to read the press release issued by the public relations department. However, for some reason, Fujino felt that taking obstructive actions under the current circumstances would be more like trying to cover up the truth.

If other companies become aware of Arasaka's recent problems, they will quickly take advantage of his misfortune!
Chiba stubbed out his cigarette and held out his hand, saying, "Give me the information about Heavy Hammer that can be made public internally."

Fujino was stunned for a long time, when Arasaka's agent came to urge him on.

"Minister, Mr. Chiba, it's time to go on stage."

After staring at each other for a good three or four seconds, Fujino finally collected the data, put it into a separate chip, and handed it to Chiba—his prosthetic body, a brain-computer interface that could perform information filtering and collection.

When Chiba stepped onto the stage, the dense array of cameras and lighting equipment made one's eyes feel dizzy.

Some impatient smaller media outlets, disregarding the obstruction of Arasaka Security, loudly asked, "Has your company been attacked and suffered significant asset losses?!"

"Adam Hammer! Is this the legendary figure mentioned in the magazine's rankings? Could you elaborate on what happened in the early morning?"

"Is it true, as rumored, that Arakawa is currently in a difficult situation?!"

Chiba ignored these questions and quietly waited for the noise in the venue to subside.

After the room quieted down, a file bearing the Arasaka logo appeared behind him, showing the figure—

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be the Adam Hammer that had been making headlines online.

The scene was in an uproar!
Chiba spoke in a steady and confident voice.

"First of all, it is true that Night City's assets were attacked last night. It was a malicious attack stemming from a dispute over assets. The perpetrators were not the so-called terrorist forces, nor the criminals of Night City, nor the homeless."

"Instead, it's the company."

Fujino behind her slowly gripped her wrist.

He hadn't expected Chiba's drastic medicine to be so potent!

"Isn't the company taking a huge disregard for public safety and being irresponsible?"

Chiba looked at the guy who asked the question. Arasaka security guards, who were maintaining order, reminded him that it wasn't time to ask questions yet. Unexpectedly, Chiba stopped the security guards who were maintaining order.

"These are images of the goods that were attacked in the industrial park last night. These goods are not only Arasaka's assets. Wherever Arasaka is located, we are committed to a peaceful and stable situation, just like our Arasaka Police Service's slogan - Wherever we are, there is stability."

"Most of the goods were humanitarian supplies destined for Panama, but they were deliberately and violently damaged during a dispute over company assets."

Chiba glanced at the information on Adam Hammer behind him.

"In our business, most of the cutting-edge technologies, especially prosthetics in the military field, are tested on outstanding soldiers. As the media friend just mentioned, this former top ten lone wolf loyal soldier of Night City is our responsible security officer."

"However, this act of self-defense has been exploited by some individuals through hacking to create the image of Arasaka acting arbitrarily and disregarding the safety of citizens. I ask you, which cost more: the destruction of this batch of supplies or the zero-casualty blockade operation?"

"Who exactly is neglecting safety?!"

Chiba's voice resonated throughout the entire studio via the amplification equipment...

What they see is what the company wants them to see; that's just how it is.

Looking back now, Fujino realizes that his hasty contingency plan was indeed inferior to Chiba's improvisation.

Things proceeded as expected, except that Chiba received a piece of news.

To prevent other companies from uncovering Dogtown's operations and putting them on the table, Arasaka was helpless against the assets that the traitor had taken and could only let time pass—this was an order from headquarters.

For Arakawa to hand it over so easily was an unprecedented first for him.

If other companies in Night City were to find out that Arasaka was the undisputed leader in that small town that served as Night City's "black market" export port, the trouble would probably be far greater than making an enemy.

The headquarters' consideration was correct.

But for Chiba and Fujino, who had a strong sense of corporate responsibility... it was a deep disgrace.

The guy who brought these things is named Rin.

……
-
In the next life, there will be a stranger as a guest today.

He was dressed in a black suit, ordinary yet meticulous, generous with his money, and his eyes shone brightly—and even the security guards of the next life couldn't stop him.

However, Roger felt that it wasn't a bad thing that a new big shot had arrived at his establishment—

As expected, it was someone from the company.

Roger thought the idea of ​​turning a morgue into a bar was absolutely brilliant.

Because in the next life, you will be the underground signboard of Night City, unique and unparalleled.

"The Ye family..."

It seems that as Roger got older, he liked to sit with one leg on the sofa and his arm supporting him on the sofa cushion.

She was trying hard to recall the company's business, but in the end she couldn't even think of a few flattering words. However, the stranger on the other end of the line, who seemed to be constantly online, humorously filled in the gaps.

The man's eyes gleamed with a deep blue light as he chuckled, "Like Ms. Roger, our company excels at investing. We have shrewd minds and are adept at identifying anything with potential. We are the creators of this city."

"It's the Ye family you're talking about."

Roger opened his mouth.

For the first time, she realized that a corporate employee could possess the shrewdness of a politician.

"Aren't you welcome?"

Roger took a sip of his drink. "Whether I welcome them or not is not a question. I've seen all kinds of people in business. If a customer makes a request, I'll do it. If the money is good, I'll do it well. If the money isn't good... then I won't do it or I'll do it slowly."

"Speaking of which, they're just like the girls in my establishment."

The blue-eyed guy had a gentle smile and, like Roger, crossed one leg over his knee.

“There is a difference between a beautiful lady like Roger and them—I’m here for two things, the first is not in a hurry, the second is very urgent.”

Then a chip was placed on the table.

Rogge wasn't some novice who would make definitive statements just because he saw a chip.

After checking it, she tossed the chip back onto the coffee table.

"First of all, it's too much, so much that even I, a layman, think you've tampered with the chip and changed a number to your liking. Secondly, you haven't even said what the job is, yet you've already thrown down so much money. I don't do this kind of business."

Mr. Blue Eyes shook his head, seemingly helpless.

He beckoned with his finger, and his attendant carried two large trunks. When they were opened, they were filled with gleaming banknotes.

Roger frowned deeply; the more generous the customer, the more trouble he would encounter.

She knows this.

"I wasn't planning to come this early, but... I came anyway."

Standard nonsense.

The blue-eyed oddball didn't reveal his name either. "I'd like to ask Ms. Rogge, is there the strongest guy in your Night City Sanctuary?"

The strongest...?
Rogge didn't quite understand the point of this topic.

"You're looking for a really good guy to solve your problem? But judging from the amount of money you're offering, one person probably isn't enough, right? At least... a team?"

The blue-eyed man extended a finger.

"Only one person is needed."

Rogge pondered for a moment. Since the nuclear explosion, the legends of Night City seemed to have vanished without a trace... But today, a guy did show up, a guy Rogge didn't want to mention and who had a secret.

Adam Hammer…

"Not much. If you're in a hurry, I might not be able to do it, because people worth that much money would have already caused huge financial problems in Night City—"

Mr. Blue Eyes didn't give Roger a chance to finish his sentence.

"Ah, the King of the City?"

Roger was very interested in this guy's adaptability.

"Yes, the pinnacle of the next life, the most awesome guy in this city. Different standards for judging people naturally lead to different recommended candidates."

Blue eyes see through things but don't say anything.

He knew the woman was being evasive, but he was patient and had plenty of time.

"Then let me explain my evaluation criteria."

"The guy who escaped unscathed from Dogtown, who single-handedly formed an army against the company's force, and made Hammer kneel on the ground."

Roger's nerves tightened instantly.

Did Rin injure Heavy Hammer?

This is you!
impossible…

The strange man seemed oblivious to Rogge's tension. "That kind of guy is practically the king of the city, right? And I heard he owes you a favor. This money can buy that favor, can't it?"

Roger knew this deal had nothing to do with him anymore.

Because she wasn't capable enough to influence the company's employees based on personal relationships.

Mr. Blue Eyes knew that his generosity might have made the other person feel uneasy, or even more wary, so he said, "Of course, I understand your difficulties. If you find it too difficult, I won't let you keep your eyes on him. What if there's someone stronger?"

"So this is not something I'm in a hurry for, Ms. Roger. This job has a long timeframe, maybe a year... or even two years."

"But some things... happened as expected."

Roger shook his head. "Then let's wait until the time is right to get the money. I don't have the habit of collecting money so early."

Mr. Blue Eyes suddenly realized.

"The second thing is more urgent, but of course you have the right to refuse."

Roger listened attentively.

The blue-eyed man said, "Help me get rid of someone, specifically as a gift. I want to use this great gift to get Mr. Rin and me to meet."

"If you're uncomfortable with the money, then I'll pay according to the rules."

Roger felt his curiosity getting hard to contain. "Who?"

The blue-eyed figure pulled a photograph from the inside pocket of the suit. It was truly bizarre that people were still using photographs to exchange information in this day and age.

“A certain agent of the internet surveillance has learned some things he shouldn’t have, so I have to help him turn back from the wrong path.”

"You don't care if it's dirty or not, do you?"

Roger shrugged. She was somewhat interested in the job, but killing a hacker from the Internet Police would be quite difficult. After all, the Internet Police were a well-known force in Night City, and outside the city, they were real international police.

"How long?"

The blue-eyed man smiled. "Within a month."

Roger thought that was enough.

However, when she received the advance payment, she added, "I can't guarantee that Rin will meet with anyone from the company; he's the most cautious person I've ever met."

Mr. Blue Eyes just stared straight at Roger.

Just when Roger was about to lose his temper, this guy smiled and said, "Don't worry, we're the same kind... no, the same type of guys, we'll get along very well."

Why do I feel a little creeped out?

But I thought it was a fool not to make money, and besides, my son liked to drive sports cars and look at the stars.

Roger was at the age where he was ready to make his way in the world.

Fine, for the sake of the money—

The Queen nodded, and the man didn't linger. Before leaving, he said that the extra money was for the security guard's medical expenses, and then disappeared into the street.

In a quiet alleyway of Night City, in an unassuming car, a blue-eyed man gazes at the world outside the window.

However… he seems to have encountered an obstacle while carrying out some activity.

The driverless car had no one to talk to, but he kept muttering to himself, "This thing keeps breaking down. Let's exchange information using a public channel."

So he plugged the interconnect cable into the multimedia port on the car's infotainment system, and as his eyes flickered, his lips moved, seemingly engaged in normal network activity—

But the risk is very high; even residents' radios can hear what he's doing.

There are plenty of beggars in Little Chinatown.

Anyway, the personal bankruptcy system is dead. If you have no food and nowhere to live, you can only move a discarded mattress and lie in a box crawling with cockroaches.

The creature in the shiny felt hat was half-asleep, its fingers unconsciously teasing a dying little reptile beside it. A worn-out pink radio kept it entertained, but its noises were mostly drowned out by the sounds of sex from the nearby sex club.

However, life is already pretty good, because at least there's no bullet hole in my head today.

As static began to emanate from the radio, the homeless man's eyes slowly widened. He picked up the radio, brought it to his ear, and tapped it. His expression shifted from confusion to fear, as if a corpse lay before him...

"This world is worse than we imagine, so it's up to us to take control. Humans can't do it, but as transcendent beings, we can learn from the best among them."

"Is not it?"

The noise subsided.

……

(End of this chapter)