Cyberpunk: From Dogville to Legend

Chapter 301 City of Evil

Good morning, Night City!

"Hey! I woke up this morning feeling super energetic!"

The fast-talking program, the Night City Express News Freelancer, and the Dead Man's Lottery Gold Buyer are all in particularly high spirits today.

Want to know why I changed my opening remarks today?

"Because the first-ever, oh no, the awesome Dead Man's Lotto is here!"

"Those guys who got themselves all drunk and bought the wrong number are in luck, because even I've never seen a number like this before—it's a full 137!"

Immediately someone cursed, followed by the sound of something breaking.

Stan was still rambling on, "Ever since the bill defining military and civilian cybernetic bodies in Night City was amended, this is a new high for the number of deaths in a single day! Not only are there endless gang fights, but there are also some audacious idiots who have installed countless backdoors on their eight-handed Stanwaysteins, that's right, just as many as the Tatoo on the Watson District girls!"

"More than fifty of Heywood's men have died right under the company's nose, along with three police officers—don't worry, the NCPD is having a staff shortage, so we can still open for business as scheduled!"

"The Westbrook trauma team is so busy they don't even have time to breathe; they're all slaughtering people by cyber lunatics. The trauma team on the Heywood is practically eating, drinking, and relieving themselves on the floating vehicle, all to preserve the clients' bodies as well as possible—"

"Another internal gang fight in Santo Domingo, all the work of military cybernetic bodies."

"What about Taipingzhou?"

"Oh! I'm very sorry—Taipingzhou is not under the jurisdiction of Night City, otherwise the guy who bought the large amount would be one step closer to becoming a millionaire!"

"I'm your good buddy Stan! Let's start a new round of dreams on this beautiful land of Night City!"

……

……

[Location of record: Haywood //…]

[Time: 5:34:02 AM]

[Prosthetic Body: "Sentinel Type I" Usage Record]

[Video recording]

The scene shows a garbage-strewn alley in Heywood, and you can almost smell the stench through the screen. The drunkard lying on the ground is probably dead from drinking.

In short—this is the scene in the cesspool near the bar every night.

"What's up, buddy?"

The swaying Haywood kid carried cheap alcohol in his hand. His neck was covered with distinctive Valentino Gang tattoos, and the prosthetic texture on his face was accentuated by the alcohol-reddened cheeks. Despite his tall and muscular build, the alcohol made his legs tremble uncontrollably.

The other guy next to him looked like the giant had shrunk to half his size, gritting his teeth as he supported the man who had almost crushed him like a grandson.

"屮!"

"Can you please stop drinking it?!"

Heywood's generous drinking prowess was on full display; even when his throat was burning, he would keep going.

"We can... do it again!"

"Next time I run into those idiots from the Sixth Street Gang, I'll beat them so badly their own mothers won't recognize them!"

The thin man gritted his teeth and agreed, and the two staggered forward—

"and many more!"

The dazed guy started groping around in his waistband, looking like he was about to relieve himself.

The skinny man looked miserable. "Damn it... fine, fine, this is it! Stop swaying! Stand still!"

The burly man, completely satisfied, shook his head, his mouth half-open, looking up in a daze. The world was spinning around him, and he kept exhaling the smell of alcohol.

Wow…

The splashed liquid made a constant noise on the stained floor.

The burly man's foot was wobbling, and the skinny man was in agony, yelling, "Damn it, my shoe is on!"

"Spinning around..."

Alcohol reduces a person's ability to control their behavior to an extreme degree.

But as it swayed, a shoe toe appeared in its field of vision.

"belch…"

The big man burped, squinted, and looked up, trying to see who was in front of him.

The skinny man tried to push the guy away, "Where did you come from?"

As a result, his hand remained completely still, as if it were pressed against a wall…

The water was still splashing, and the old military boots issued to new American soldiers more than a decade ago were being drenched—

"Who are you?!"

There was an inconsiderate person blocking the way, standing there silently like a piece of wood.

The burly man slowly raised the hand holding the bottle, his limp fingers waving in front of the calm-looking fellow. "I...I'm warning you, whose territory is this area? Get...get out of here!"

The thin man frowned, already annoyed by the drunkard, and now that he'd had a few drinks himself, he…

"Damn it! Are you deaf?"

If a normal person had peed all over their shoes, wouldn't they be able to stay still?
"Are you trying to look like a sculpture? You son of a bitch—"

The skinny man, like an enraged chicken, stiffened his neck and was about to push someone, but then he noticed that the guy with lifeless eyes suddenly moved his eyeballs, and the large prosthetic eye's pupil was staring intently at the man, and an indescribable sense of eeriness and terror rose from his tailbone.

Immediately afterwards…

Wow!

The pupils seemed to be projecting an afterimage, flashing rapidly.

The skinny man's scalp exploded instantly!

"Cyber ​​madman!"

Wow!
It's impossible to know when the man's hand moved, but the thin man's feet slowly began to dangle in the air, trembling incessantly. Under the hazy moonlight and neon lights, a curved blade pierced through the thin man's stomach.

The drunkard, now without support, immediately collapsed to the ground. His hands were wet, and he shook them off, waving them around while cursing.

The frail man's weak, waving hand was less dazzling than the neon lights in the drunkard's eyes.

The shadow of the giant man's head on the wall vanished instantly, and the Valentino graffiti was splattered with red paint. Some fragments clung to the wall and slowly slid down, "drawing freely" on it...

[Sentinel Type I, data collection complete]

[Sending //...]

……

……

"Are the viewers of Night City still reminiscing about the case three days ago where the company's employee subdued a bumbling robber on the streets of Japan?"

Karina sports her signature afro. If you were to ask what show in Night City is the most alarming, it would undoubtedly be "Intubation."

This show, which aims to promote implants and eliminate cyberpsychosis panic, is highly praised. It provides detailed data parameters for all sorts of novelties that you've never seen before, and it's also the only show in Night City that encourages legitimate implants.

The biggest source of cyberpsychosis: you bought the blackboard.

That's right, that's what the company's ads say anyway, so who cares?
Amidst applause, Karina, having whetted everyone's appetite, began the main event.

"If you haven't heard of it before, then come and feast your eyes!"

on the screen.

A violent explosion followed!

The bustling, human-shaped streets were filled with people scattering and fleeing for their lives.

As the crowd surged, a blonde woman dressed in a well-fitting black business suit immediately crouched down and put her hands behind her back.

Two brightly colored guys, who looked like members of the Mox gang, were firing guns at the crowd!
Clearly, this woman had caught the attention of one of the guys!

Before the woman could make a move, the man suddenly appeared behind her, leaving a blurry afterimage. He held a gun in one hand, pointing it at the surroundings, while his accomplice provided cover by firing into the air. His other hand was tightly gripping the woman's neck...

The police officers who surrounded them dared not fire easily and could only watch as the woman kept slapping the man's arm.

However, seemingly driven to desperation by the police, the man who had the gun on the woman's waist suddenly fired!

At the same time, he kept pulling the woman around in circles, trying to use the women in the company as human shields...

Perhaps due to nervousness, the thug dropped his grip. The woman's hand suddenly emerged from under her neck, giving her room to breathe, followed by a perfect turn!

Suddenly, a cannonball shot out from her raised right hand. The thug in front of her was clearly stunned. As the scene flashed, the man was torn to pieces everywhere. Then, the woman jumped up as if defying gravity and smashed another man's lower body to pieces.

The whole process takes only a few seconds.

The scene stopped abruptly.

Karina exclaimed excitedly, "This girl is awesome!"

"Swish, swish, swish! Just like playing a video game!"

This is a typical case of turning killing into entertainment, and the criticism of intubation is not without reason.

"So many of you must be itching to buy it all! Want to know what kind of prosthetic body this girl is using and what model it is?"

"Fortunately, your Karina is a master of detail. I watched this video repeatedly and consulted many prosthetic experts. I can say with 100% certainty that this is the Destroyer series projectile launching system produced with military technology—"

"Includes a pair of [Bio-Powered Bouncer II]!"

"According to insiders, military technology has equipped mid-level field personnel and security systems with this valuable tool—it even comes bundled with a complete set of neural response chips, behavioral chips, and more..."

"However, please don't be discouraged. The company has opened up the sales rights for related prosthetics. As long as you are a legal resident of Night City, you can buy this reassuring item to improve your personal safety."

"But you have to be able to afford the price!"

Karina's eyes seemed to be observing the audience's reactions, accompanied by sighs of longing—

She cheerfully said her farewell.

Thank you for watching this program!

"Don't forget, the intubation modification must continue!"

……

……

Jefferson was like a warrior, ready to die at any moment.

Although that's a bit of an exaggeration, the recent public opinion is not favorable to him at all. Most of Night City's tax revenue was only obtained by the Night City Hall after Jefferson's instigation, when they reluctantly made a few people in Company Square hand over their money.

But right now…

I don't know if it's Wilton Holt's doing, but the public opinion in Night City has been getting weirder lately.

First, the citizens grew increasingly dissatisfied with the unsettling situation. Following the usual pattern, one would expect Night City officials to be heavily criticized soon. However, public opinion seemed to be twisted by a powerful hand, with no one criticizing the incompetence of Night City's municipal government.

On the contrary, there is a growing voice against corporations and against corporate taxes.

Jefferson wholeheartedly supported opposing corporations, but the key question was: where did the voices opposing raising corporate taxes come from?
Jefferson couldn't let things get any worse. He had to prepare for the future that might come at any time. The fewer people who supported him, the more secure Holt's position would be. He planned to use a private fundraising interview to bolster his voter confidence.

call…

Jefferson let out a deep breath. Standing behind the curtain, his face was grim, and the commotion outside made him uneasy.

Because those were all questions, anger, and disappointment.

There's no time for despondency; when the curtain rises, he must be at his most confident.

He responded to his supporters with a polite smile and brisk steps, waving his arms. However, when the flashbulbs went off like a bomb, Jefferson realized that the number of media present at this heart-to-heart talk had exceeded his expectations.

The sounds of boos, shouts, and the hysterical cheers of enthusiastic supporters blended together, making my eardrums buzz.

Jefferson took it all as a show of support, pressing his hands down to signal everyone to be quiet.

Accompanied by scattered voices and instructions from security personnel, the densely packed crowd sat down.

This wasn't a debate, and Jefferson should have been more confident, but his racing heart and bad premonition made him feel uneasy.

"Citizens, I am Jefferson Peralez."

"We have come together to regain our confidence and for a brighter future for Night City."

"As we approach 2077, I will continue to listen to your voices and contribute my efforts to the progress of Night City and human rights!"

"..."

Looking at the teleprompter on his prosthetic eye, Jefferson, now in the zone, delivered a series of inspiring words.

However, as Jefferson continued to paint a picture of the future for his supporters, a shrill voice shattered everything.

It was just people screaming with their own voices, accompanied by bursts of commotion and shouts.

"Liar! Liars who don't care whether we live or die!"

The shirtless man was covered in the word "lie," and the banner read, "Take responsibility for personal safety that cannot be guaranteed."

The ISS security personnel exchanged glances and began walking into the crowd, quickly reaching the agitated man—seemingly advising him to leave gracefully.

No matter how time changes, the new America and Night City are always like this, a scene of "freedom".

Jefferson was a seasoned politician who knew the dangers of maintaining a respectable image. He glanced at the empty podium, then looked over there with a calm gaze.

"Jefferson! You're the executioner! Increase the company's taxes so they'll sell those deadly weapons for money!"

These words caused Jefferson's expression to change drastically in an instant.

To see if someone is right or wrong, you have to look at how quickly the security guards cover their mouths.

This undoubtedly hastened the security's actions against him. Two burly men immediately lifted him up, the man still shouting at the top of his lungs. The media below erupted instantly, the flashing lights of drones turning the surroundings into daytime…

Jefferson listened blankly to the voice—

It seems that people who already harbored resentment are now starting to retaliate.

“Jefferson, you’re a coward! Hiding in the arms of a security company.”

Simply put, the person behind it all is obvious.

Jefferson's secrets have been exposed.

Supporters stood up and shouted that the company was brainwashing them, while opponents loudly accused Jefferson of not stopping the company, even after removing the crime rate from Night City Pacific, Night City's crime rate still soared by ten points after the bill was amended.

Meanwhile, the most in-demand products are cybernetic bodies, weapons, and private security teams related to personal security, which have been launched by various companies one after another.

Jefferson looked down at his hands, which were gripping the edge so tightly that his knuckles were white.

He couldn't refute it because he had indeed signed an indefinite contract with a small security company for personal safety reasons.

If even councilors need to act this way, what about ordinary citizens?

Jefferson represents two groups whose interests conflict with those of the corporation: those who own assets and those who own nothing…

Now, he has lost half of it.

Amidst the rising and falling voices, and the sounds of security escorting people out one after another, even after the opponents were "asked to leave," the venue became so quiet that only the sounds of the media's cameras operating could be heard. Jefferson didn't know what to say.

This city, which carries their hopes, is indeed as they say; their angry voices are full of reason…

Jefferson felt a ringing in his ears, a throbbing headache, as if he had forgotten something, and the feeling of being unable to breathe made his performance on the podium visibly worse.

"Hey!"

Jefferson heard someone shouting.

He looked up abruptly, and a sound he had never heard before rang out from below the stage, accompanied by gunshots. The weapon was the cheap gun sold in the vending machine that Jefferson had criticized more than once, costing only the price of a bottle of Coke.

Jefferson finally succumbed when the bullet pierced his shoulder.

He felt as if his head was about to split open, and could only let himself spin and fall down, hearing only the shouts of security guards surrounding him, and... Elizabeth's sorrowful sobs—

at last.

Jefferson's worst fears have come true.

The city of dreams has become a city of utter evil...

It became the worst region for crushing the spirit of any innovator.

……

……

　[Intubation]: Karina's "Intubation" program is comparable to a TV shopping channel, showcasing a dazzling array of implants with remarkable expertise. From the mantis knife that cuts through iron like mud, to the all-seeing electronic eye, the leaping leg that leaps across the earth, to the earth-shattering gorilla fist, the latest and coolest implant information is all covered. Even a robbery tragedy can become a marketing point for the mantis knife. However, the "Intubation" program, belonging to N54, shows no favoritism towards Arasaka Gunko, reporting on implants from both sides. Just like the program's slogan: "Intubation modifications never stop." Implants are not only your trendy gear, but also your money-making tools, and even your self-defense weapons and lifeline—of course, the best is always the best, regardless of the price.

　　【Biodynamic Bouncer II】: The leg prosthetic that appears in the intubation segment of the game 2077.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)