Cyberpunk: From Dogville to Legend

Chapter 284 Hunger
DAR (DREAMER) is the company name.

Lin Yue never imagined that his survival path in this cyber world would be like this. A company born in a chaotic land, although driven by the powerful figures within the giant corporation, at least in Night City, Lin Yue is no longer a street kid who worries about stray bullets and chaotic gang battles.

The downside is that he will be facing an even more powerful enemy.

Lai Xuan…

Lin Yue found the ruler of Arasaka to be terrifyingly stubborn. He dared to transfer a huge amount of assets that should have been Arasaka's to the hands of a dangerous samurai he had never even met, all for the sake of a vague agreement.

Perhaps it was confidence, but Lai Xuan felt that he could easily handle a disobedient pawn.

Lin Yue understood Lai Xuan's intentions. Perhaps when everything exploded, he, as an external factor, would be Lai Xuan's surprise move, or perhaps the final straw that broke Arasaka's back...

If he were a mercenary, Lin Yue might never have thought about the world, but he was in a position to fulfill his duties, and he was now inextricably bound to Lai Xuan—meaning that he needed to think, plan, and consider future changes at the appropriate time.

Looking back on memories.

Lin Yue never quite understood why Lai Xuan was in such a hurry.

In fact, after he had contact with Lai Xuan, he felt that the Lai Xuan in his memory, who was impulsive and suddenly launched internal reforms, was completely different from the high-risk gambler who was able to accomplish all of this!

In fact, Lin Yue could sense that something about Lai Xuan was changing.

He even started plotting against his own father.

In fact, when I first saw Saburo Arasaka in the Arasaka courtyard, he was a more imposing figure than I remembered. He was the most powerful person on the planet, and he could do anything he wanted, just because this was Night City; the checks and balances between companies had created a free and chaotic environment here—which is why Saburo abided by the rules of the game.

But when things become unavoidable, and war breaks out, Arasaka will become a nation's military strength, even if he is the carrier of the Black Wall... Unless the Black Wall is broken, large-caliber weapons will show individual soldiers the difference between combat and war.

Lin Yue's intuition told him that Lai Xuan had won.

Although he couldn't see how Lai Xuan won, he had already entered the most dangerous period. One wrong move and the whole game would be lost. If it were discovered by a dictator like Saburo who still firmly controlled the company, it would be a disaster.

"What are you thinking about?"

The weathered voice in his ear brought Lin Yue back to his senses in an instant.

"Ah, it's you, Old Wei..."

Lin Yue's tense nerves instantly relaxed. Looking at the gentle wrinkles etched on Old Wei's face by age, Lin Yue also noticed the weariness in his eyes...

"It's time to rest, look at Professor Shidao."

The two looked in unison at the round man lying on the table inside. Some researchers who hadn't followed the others were still busy around the instruments around Sasha.

“Go and rest, child. It’s not good for you to stay here. Such nerve preparation can take anywhere from three months to a year. We’ve never done this kind of nerve surgery before. There are many unknowns in the process, and we lack a lot of large instruments that can ensure the success of the surgery. To put it simply, only those five monster corporations in Night City can afford those things.”

Old Wei could tell that the man was overwhelmed by guilt.

The most frightening thing in this world is being in debt. You can repay money debts, but it's really hard to say what you can do about debts of gratitude.

Seeing that Lin Yue remained unmoved, Old Wei leaned against the table, shrugged, and said, "I should be holed up in the clinic watching the boxing match at this hour. I was in such a hurry that I didn't even call Misty."

Lin Yue's brows twitched slightly.

"Old Wei, we're all on the same side, you can contact us."

Old Wei said seriously, "No, it's because I know what kind of behavior the company will have when it suffers a loss. They'll stop at nothing and do no wrong. Let Mistian be quiet for a while. Jack took your job and he's rich. At least Mrs. Wells can have some peace of mind for a while."

Lin Yue had forgotten how long it had been since an older person had talked to him so at length.

After each period of intense effort, the feeling of confusion and emptiness should definitely be discussed with an experienced uncle.

“You’ve suffered a lot. You’re the most daring street kid I’ve ever seen, and you’re also the fastest climber. To be honest, when I first saw you, there was a strange program inside your body. I thought to myself, ‘This kid is doomed.’”

“I tried many methods, all of which were the best I could muster. I had to think about whether I could save the situation if it were V or Jack.”

Lin Yue looked earnestly at this doctor, the most conscientious doctor in Watson District, and said, "Old Wei, thank you."

Old Wei seemed surprised that Lin Yue was going to say this, and gently shook his head, "It's common for street urchins to run into debt, but you don't owe me anything. Your medical expenses are substantial, making you the most sought-after client for us 'heartless doctors'."

Lin Yue didn't act coy.

Old Wei continued, "I heard from V that you guys caused quite a stir?"

Lin Yue was about to speak when Lao Wei quickly waved his hand, "This old man can't handle such a big thing. What if the company comes knocking on our door one day? It'll be trouble for both of us."

Lin Yue felt it was a bit excessive to involve a dedicated prosthetic doctor like Lao Wei, so he added, "Lao Wei, I hope you can stay here. Firstly, it's safe enough, and secondly—"

“Kid, there are gunfights every day in Watson District, and then someone becomes just another number in the deadly lottery.” Old Wei interrupted Lin Yue. “I haven’t paid Misty’s rent yet. Those reckless kids who got shot even though they didn’t cause any trouble can’t afford to pay. The other prosthetic doctors will make these street urchins bleed money and lose their lives—”

"Rin, I appreciate your kind offer."

Lin Yue added, "I'll have Suzuki make some arrangements to at least ensure the safety of Little Chinatown."

Old Wei shook his head again.

"If you dare to clash with the company, there must be an even bigger fish stirring things up inside. I won't ask, but at least if you make any moves, it will be too obvious. Let's leave it to that person."

Old Wei winked after he finished speaking, and Lin Yue was taken aback. "You can see through everything."

It seems that Lao Wei guessed that Lai Xuan wouldn't do anything to leak traces.

Have you figured out how to tell V?

Old Wei suddenly asked a question out of the blue.

Lin Yue's expression stiffened. "Uh..."

Old Wei gave him a look that said, "You little brat, why are you so eager to get yourself killed?" "V is a very picky girl, not picky about life, but picky about relationships."

But when the prosthetic doctor saw the unnatural expression on Lin Yue's face, he suddenly realized what was going on.

"That's really something."

It seems V knows?

Lin Yue felt his head was spinning.

Old Wei didn't know how to talk about the affairs of young people. When he was young, he couldn't see the complexities of love. Boxing, gangs, and drunkenness were his whole life.

But only when a person picks up a scalpel does he feel satisfied and that he has gotten his money's worth.

"Sorry, Lao Wei..."

Lin Yue felt a pang of guilt, like he was apologizing to his father-in-law. This puzzled the North American, whose culture was so different from that of the ancient Eastern country. "There's nothing to apologize for. It's just that V is a naturally withdrawn girl. The company is her everything. Take good care of her."

"Honestly, haven't you considered letting V leave there?"

Upon hearing Lao Wei's question, Lin Yue thought about it carefully and shook his head.

Old Wei was somewhat taken aback. In a den of wolves like Arasaka, the higher a girl like V climbs, the more the pressure and risks will likely increase exponentially.

Lin Yue explained, "Old V, V told me she wants to make a name for herself in Arakasa; of course I'll suggest it to her, but I don't think she'll do it."

At this point, a man with rich experience can offer advice to a younger man.

"The world is terrible, life is terrible, and you have neighbors who might turn into cyberpsychotics at any time, and criminal gang members who roam the streets—everyone wants to make themselves look decent. No matter what, as long as you feel you're living the right life, you don't need to think too much."

"Cherish everything, you know what I mean."

After leaving Lao Wei's place, Lin Yue looked at the sky in a daze.

He now has his own company in Night City, and the story of DAR is now officially underway.

[Incoming caller ID: V]

Lin Yue admitted that he felt a tightness in his chest again.

"How about it?"

Lin Yue would think carefully about any answer V gave, so he was probably referring to the company he was working for recently.

"It's started. Suzuki is preparing the documents, and the entire company has been thoroughly investigated. He hasn't slept for days—"

V: "That's not what I'm asking about. I'm asking about Sasha Yakovlevva, the cybersecurity expert who kissed her boss in a car in the underground parking lot of the company's apartment complex 35 days ago."

"..."

Lin Yue felt that if he didn't think of these words in his head, they would be awkward to say.

"Old Wei's skills are quite good. With the help of the professor from the lost island of Benshu, everything is fine... and the nanobots, we have to thank Lai Xuan for his generous contribution."

V nodded, but didn't intend to hang up. Lin Yue, initially confused, then carefully recalled something and suddenly remembered something.

Got it!

Ever since that skirmish outside the city, Lin Yue has been so busy that he hasn't had a moment to spare and hasn't remembered to deal with what Li De had told V before.

Could it be... this?
But V didn't seem to mention it either.

"Um... are you free?"

V thinks someone isn't stupid, but she wants to punish them.

Hearing Lin Yue's hesitant question, she replied, "I'm busy."

Lin Yue thought V was great in every way, except that when he had a cold face, he felt like he was inexplicably about to confess.

But I have to say, it's pleasing to look at beautiful people, and I don't mind looking at them for a while longer.

"What about tomorrow?"

V narrowed his eyes, and the other party immediately changed his tune.

"Sorry, V, I've been really busy lately."

Upon hearing this, V's attitude immediately changed completely. He was just busy with other things and hadn't forgotten to teach her a lesson; making things too ugly wasn't her intention.

After all, she should cherish this relationship.

"Okay, I suddenly have some free time."

Lin Yue laughed and said, "Then I'll go pack now, and it'll be like a holiday, right?"

V nodded, expressionless, but her eyebrows curved slightly as she hung up the phone.

"See you."

Is he laughing?

I must say, my "older girlfriend" is quite cute...

At least the girl was honest and didn't hold a grudge.

Lin Yue was in a rather cheerful mood. Ever since the last life-or-death battle, he hadn't been able to relax.

Looking at the neatly arranged courtyard of the company's factory, Lin Yue had a fleeting illusion of returning to his familiar world. But behind that wall, the demons and monsters, and the tragic stories of the streets, continued to unfold.

Lin Yue took a step forward.

"Take care of yourself first."

……

Since he didn't have time to prepare last time, Lin Yue decided to cook a big meal this time.

Since the mass extinction in Night City, food has only been supplied in two ways.

One type is paste-like or liquid food that ignores texture and taste and simply provides poor nutrition; the other type is plants and animals that have been preserved by biotechnology and still retain their food properties.

Expensive is their most prominent characteristic.

“The price of stem crops has reached a point where ordinary people cannot afford them.”

The potatoes in Lin Yue's hand were of good appearance, and when he weighed them, he could faintly smell an earthy odor...

Vast amounts of land have become wheat-growing land, and the patents on diwheat have allowed energy companies and biotechnology companies to amass wealth at the cost of a monotonous diet.

"Meow!"

The little guy at Lin Yue's feet had a softness that was uniquely adorable, even through his trouser legs.

"Want to eat?"

Lin Yue deliberately mischievously held a potato covered in mud to the cat's wet nose. Sure enough, the cat sniffed it twice and then started burrowing around Lin Yue's legs, seemingly asking him to give it something better to eat.

"You're quite clever, aren't you? You know I'm your master!"

Lin Yue still prefers to speak Chinese when he is alone and talking to himself.

The cat leaped lightly and stood on the integrated counter, which was as tall as Lin Yue's waist, and nudged him with its paws.

This is a warning, you damned humans!
Lin Yue, of course, looked down on this guy, and continued washing the vegetables patiently without stopping.

This world clearly possesses far superior technology, yet people have lived like this. When Lin Yue was learning about this world, he had heard about the Crystal Palace and that there were pollution-free ranches and farms on the surface supplying raw materials to the space station.

Humans have also become a kind of resource, just like machines.

company…

Lin Yue suddenly remembered the chip that Pila had kept. It was technology dug out of the Black Wall. What would it be like if the things inside were actually realized?
The two of them, one man and one cat, were either teasing the cat by having Lin Yue flick water droplets onto its head, or the cat was constantly moving around while grabbing round food.

"You still want to shake off the water even though there's no fur."

The cat tilted its head and looked at the human who was all bark and no bite, appearing fearless.

But its little paws kept moving when the man wasn't looking, repeatedly knocking the vegetables to the ground.

"Hey, my chili pepper!"

Lin Yue looked helpless as he bent down to pick up the vegetables from the ground, thinking that this guy was just as bad as Rebecca.

As Lin Yue bent over, a bright color caught his eye out of the corner of his eye. Turning his head, he found a pair of eyes watching him from the restaurant bar, with a hand on their chin and an expression of great interest.

"You're really fast."

I thought this busy person would be working late into the night in Arasaka.

"The headquarters has issued its decision. I was investigated for more than ten days for taking away Jenkins' power, but the headquarters has not said anything about the follow-up."

V's voice was calm, but this was probably the best she had been in the past few days, because before coming here she didn't even want to say a word... She casually pointed to the red wine beside her, which was tied with an exquisite red ribbon, a standard Western gift.

But V was reluctant to talk about other things related to headquarters, so he swallowed the words back down his throat.

She also wanted to have some peace and quiet without thinking about anything.

Lin Yue smiled and turned back to continue fiddling with his things. The faucet was running, and although the well-made shirt wasn't an expensive brand—it was a company uniform—it flattered his figure very well.

The tap was running, and someone's eyes never left his busy figure with his sleeves rolled up.

"Please sit for a moment. You've been working hard lately. I'll try to be as quick as possible."

Lin Yue shook the water off his hands, rolled up his suit sleeves, and focused on the task at hand.

But the sunlight perfectly complemented his focused expression.

Young V believed she would never experience love. Arasaka worked more than 14 hours a day, and the cutthroat competition within the company made V feel that love was an ephemeral thing. But sometimes love is not something you can control; hormones will remain absolutely loyal.

"I'm hungry."

The woman's voice was light and airy.

Lin Yue naturally didn't notice the burning gaze. "I'm trying my best."

But then she heard a crisp tapping sound from the floor, and a slightly hoarse voice behind her stubbornly said, "I'm very hungry."

Lin Yue turned his head and noticed that V was wrapped tightly in a black coat, with the hem just revealing a flawless, light, misty black fabric.

"Wait patiently, you can hang the clothes over there—"

Before Lin Yue could finish speaking, the woman's aggressive smile deepened, and she suddenly opened her hand that was holding the waist button of her coat.

"Jinguji's new design."

Lin Yue stared intently, but a bead of sweat appeared on his forehead. "Where...did you learn all this?"

V stepped forward. "Compared to Mewtwo from Night City, I think it's quite gentle. Shall we eat something else first?"

……

……

(End of this chapter)