Cyberpunk: From Dogville to Legend

Chapter 309 Best Employer

[Night City General Broadcast]:
[Cyberpsychiatry at Night City 76-0387 has been deactivated//…]

[The danger level of skyscraper H8 in Japan has been downgraded; NCPD provides real-time updates...]

Crimson stains still remain on the pavement, blackened by the friction of industrial rubber soles worn by residents of the Japanese town. NCPD tow trucks are hauling away the burnt remains, reduced to mere frames, one by one.

If it were Tai Ping Chau, these roadblocks and trash would only be permanently preserved, washed away by acid rain until they decay to the same state as the city.

Lin Yue ate the fast food outside the H8 skyscraper bit by bit, while listening to the police announcements on the radio.

Across from her, Rebecca, her mouth bulging, was swinging her legs in an extremely good mood. She and Lin Yue had encountered the Cyber ​​Mentally Ill, and now they'd been stuck in the Japanese district for two days…

The reason Lin Yue wanted to find out was that he wanted to find some clues about Mann here.

"Eat slowly, we'll go check on Brandon later." Lin Yue said helplessly. It seemed like nothing could affect Rebecca's mood.

"If the NCPD hadn't put up security tape there, I would have sneaked over that night to ask Brandon if he was alright—"

"But considering that the trauma team and those jumping meat guys have both been here, are you sure they'll leave anything behind?"

Lin Yue shook his head.

"Let's see how it goes. We're bound to find something eventually. But I heard from Jack Wells that Mann has been secretly looking for cyberpsychotics when he's not on duty."

“I’m very happy if my good friend has a decent and valuable job and is healthy… but you know, Dorio, Kivi and Pila told us that Mann is like a different person.”

Something must have happened; we need to find out why.

Rebecca slowed down her chewing and thought about it carefully; it really made sense.

"Won't this affect your trip to the Badlands?"

Lin Yue: "I'll wait for Rogge's news, first—"

Before he could finish speaking, Lin Yue's phone suddenly rang.

[Unknown caller ID]?
Lin Yue frowned slightly, thinking that V had changed his contact information.

"Hey?"

A strong voice came from the other end; it was a woman, but her tone carried a hint of heroism.

"Hi, stranger; I'm Regina..."

"I hope you don't mind how I address you, after all, it went to a lot of trouble for me to get your contact information—are you interested in doing me a favor?"

is her?

The only middleman in Night City interested in cyberpsychosis.

Lin Yue didn't have any preconceived notions about him; it was just that things were going on in a complicated time, and he didn't want to cause any unnecessary trouble.

Regardless of how Regina got his contact information, Lin Yue was no longer a big-time mercenary in Night City who made a living by taking on jobs. He had no interest in this commission, and with Mann still on his mind, he wanted to refuse immediately.

"I'm sorry, Regina, I'm not very interested in your suggestion. Also... please tell your friend who has the connections to get my contact information that if the call goes through my brain-computer interface, I will definitely come to visit him."

Night City is a place teeming with hidden talents, and while he had caused quite a stir, ultimately Lin Yue didn't want to be exposed to the public eye.

This is detrimental to many people.

Seemingly sensing the warning in Lin Yue's words, Regina quickly said, "You misunderstood. If you're not particularly interested in my suggestion, you might want to take a look at this."

An attachment notification message appeared on the screen.

Regina on the other end of the line didn't seem to be in a hurry to hang up. Just like her style, she would only do something if she was sure of its success.

After reading the brief attachment, Lin Yue indeed did not take the phone away from his ear.

How did you get the information on the Terrorist Mobile Unit?

Regina clearly mistook Lin Yue for someone she didn't know at all, so she introduced herself: "I've worked for a newspaper and have accumulated debts of gratitude, but I do things with a clear conscience—to put it another way, I need you."

"There are more and more cyber lunatics in Night City, and this situation will only get worse. Do you really believe that cybernetic bodies are the root cause of cyber psychosis?"

"And you also have questions you need to investigate, so I think we can definitely hit it off."

Lin Yue fell silent.

My time in Dogtown is still vivid in my mind. The chances of surviving in this city through legitimate means and remaining safe from instability on the streets are extremely slim.

Looking at Regina's standard Asian face, she seemed completely unafraid to show her face.

Of course, Lin Yue knew that Regina's office in the Kabuki district had security facilities that could only be described as luxurious.

After a moment's thought, Lin Yue said, "Regina, that guy named Nadson has too many prosthetics. The Tiger Claw Gang has done a lot of work in this mess."

A gang is a gang.

Their fundamental nature cannot be changed.

"uh-huh."

Regina was pleased that Lin Yue got to the point so quickly, "But there's something I don't understand. I've got some firsthand information, and those prosthetics shouldn't be something he can afford with his income."

It seems Regina wants me to investigate further.

Lin Yue shook his head. "If you're really interested in this, consider it my way of thanking you for giving me this internal information that I can't verify yet—if you need to contact Wakako, I can help you."

Regina: "Wakako can't control all these bastards. The Tiger Claw Gang, the Whirlpool Gang, they're all scum... If there's a first time, there will be a second. Do you really think Wakako doesn't know anything?"

"I need a trustworthy and capable person to help me, and you are just the right person."

“There are so many bastards in Night City, but not all of them are… Nadson won’t be the last victim. What happened to your friend? Is the company really the only thing behind these cyberpsychotics…?”

"The amount of money entrusted may not be much to you. I have time to help you investigate your friend's affairs, and you also have the ability I need."

After saying so much in one breath, Regina patted her chest, which was covered by a bulletproof vest.

"In short, I don't believe you can stand to watch these atrocities."

Lin Yue had witnessed countless cannibalistic tragedies in Night City, and he didn't know how many people he and Regina could actually prevent.

The pressure to survive, the cramped urban structure, the chaos of order... all weighed heavily on Lin Yue, making it hard for him to breathe.

"You want to punish evil and promote good?"

Reggie looked noncommittal. "Don't you want to? The company and the gangs have already made this city a mess. Your friends are part of it. This is my business, and I have to do it. Besides—I need more intelligence to determine the intentions of the Terrorist Mobile Unit."

Lin Yue nodded.

"I agree."

Regina breathed a sigh of relief. "It seems you value your friends a lot? I used to be in charge of the newspaper and did odd jobs for the senior management of Kangtao... but now I want to take responsibility for myself and do something meaningful."

Lin Yue had a burning desire inside him.

Especially when he recalled Naderson's helpless look, he became even more convinced of this belief.

"friend--"

"Call me Rin."

Regina smiled and said, "Rin, you have a great reputation in Night City. I believe our cooperation will not disappoint me. I will pay the money as agreed."

She received the lowest pay among the middlemen in Night City.

Lin Yue knew that without a profit-making motivation, it would be difficult to hire excellent mercenaries to capture the cyber madman.

"Money is another matter. I just hope that the information about Mann in this attachment you gave me is true and that you can help me find out the truth."

"But since you know the company's background isn't exactly clean, why do you still want to cooperate with me? Aren't you afraid the company's cronies will rip you off?"

He found himself unable to see through this guy.

Regina was quite frank, "Of course I'm betting that your company won't be able to fight back against those big corporations. What if you end up working in this bottom-tier pit in the future?"

It was clearly said in a joking tone.

“Okay, actually I investigated people more thoroughly than you think. I dared to go to dangerous areas that those suit-wearing reporters in Night City would never set foot in their entire lives… uh, war correspondent? Anyway, I don’t think you’re one of those corporate dogs in Night City.” After negotiating the details of the cooperation with Regina.

Before Lin Yue could even ask Regina how she planned to investigate Mann, they preemptively struck.

“Rin, I need to know what happened to Nadson, the Tiger Claw gang and everything about him.”

Lin Yue nodded.

"I have a separation chip here. I found it among the dead bodies after the attack that night."

"There are prescriptions in the access logs on the last floor. This guy got a lot of inhibitors from a shady clinic in Night City, they're biotech-produced... As for some details, you'll have to investigate them yourself."

After examining the discrete chip, Regina muttered a curse under her breath, calling the person a scumbag.

"It looks like Nadson's kids got killed by the Tiger Claw Gang..."

Lin Yue replied, "That's all I know, but is that Jotaro [Seifu Jotaro]?"

Regina was surprised that Lin Yue knew about this guy in the Tiger Claw Gang. "I've been keeping an eye on this bastard for a long time, hoping I won't catch him—but unfortunately, this Taro is not that Taro... He's a small boss in the Tiger Claw Gang in Japan Street. He used to be in Genting Highlands, and later he managed a few clubs and a prosthetic clinic."

Is not it?
"Whatever it is, we need to get Taro to talk and ask the Tiger Claw Gang if they know anything else."

Regina seemed to be well aware of the deal between Lin Yue and Wakako.

“There are few clean gang scum, and Wakako knows it very well. Without crime, her people would starve. But like the Whirlpool Gang, who capture passersby, cut off their arms, and rehabilitate them, the Tiger Claw Gang has gone too far from beginning to end.”

It seems Regina is very afraid that Lin Yue will choose Kako's side.

“Your past tells me you’re not one of those thugs and scum.”

If Lin Yue's guess is correct, perhaps this Night City war correspondent middleman seems to have determined that he is a guy with some humanity.

That's interesting.

A person who kills without hesitation and eliminates all obstacles in order to survive will be considered a "good person" who hates evil.

"Regina, you and Kangtao seem to get along well?"

Regina nodded.

"Don't worry, whether Wakako can control the Tiger Claw Gang is another matter, but as you said, these gangs did get rich through these methods. Of course, I wouldn't be stupid enough to ask Wakako anything—Mrs. Westbrook will probably choose to clean up the mess. This matter can't be rushed."

Wakako's style is to leave no trace. If she finds out that Lin Yue is interested in her people again, she will not hesitate to get rid of all the "Taro".

After all, several of her husbands, who were also leaders of the Tiger Claw Gang, had died at her hands.

A collaboration based on shared values ​​was reached, giving Lin Yue a greater sense of drive than ever before.

"Let's go."

Rebecca, who had no interest in eating, was called by Lin Yue.

"Where?"

Lin Yue pulled out a napkin and handed it to Rebecca, then wiped his hands and looked up, saying, "Dealing with a bunch of thugs is a good opportunity to investigate Mann—but before that, let's go check on Brandon. I'll take care of the NCPD patrols around there."

Rebecca was taken aback for a moment, then her expression became excited.

"Great!"

……

The corner next to the H8 escalator in the skyscraper was blocked by many shipping containers, and two NCPD officers were smoking in the passageway made up of the containers.

As they switched shifts at the last minute, they complained about the ruthlessness of the cyber madman while also chatting about which bar to go to for a drink after get off work.

Two shadows fell as a result.

Lin Yue and Rebecca each took one of the officers' lives, using non-lethal knockdowns to ensure that the officers' personal life monitoring systems were not triggered.

As the trash can lid opened, two large men slammed into it with a gurgling sound. Lin Yue clapped his hands and saw Rebecca's small face.

"I go…"

The holographic security tape inside hadn't been removed yet. From a distance, Lin Yue thought the Cyber ​​Madman had only bumped into Brandon a few times... However, he didn't expect that the subsequent battle would cause Brandon to suffer a lot of damage. Now, the once clean and tidy Brandon had become a tattered metal box riddled with holes. The area that used to be his "face" was now flickering with light, and there were occasional crackling sounds of electricity coming from behind him...

Lin Yue kicked away a metal finger that hadn't been picked up from his feet, squatted down on a pool of blood (whose it was), and looked at the data interface below Brandon.

"Hey? Brandon? We're here to rescue you..."

Rebecca tried patting Brandon, but there was only a slight metallic sound, and then there was no further reaction.

Lin Yue tried to restore the SCSM using his limited technical expertise and found that many hardware components had short-circuited due to structural deformation. So he quickly tore open the side cover in an attempt to find the location of the Brandon data core.

Rebecca looked somewhat anxious.

I thought Brandon, being a machine, wouldn't cause any major problems...

A sound of wires being pulled...

"Ouch, ouch, ouch... Xiao Bei, I... I think..."

The distorted, disordered audio, coupled with Brandon's characteristic speaking speed, made him sound like someone on the verge of collapse.

"Although I don't have a concept of death, I'm still a little... reluctant to let your friend stop bothering me."

"SCSM only has the path of data updates, and I... I have to say goodbye to you all."

Rebecca: "Think of something... Rin."

Lin Yue, who was fiddling with the wiring, had a faint smile on his face, and then stopped.

"Hey, Brandon, are you really willing to accept the SCSM upgrade?"

Lin Yue pulled the anxious Rebecca back, signaling her to be quiet.

Brandon remained silent.

Lin Yue continued, "To be honest, I've never seen anyone more human-like... uh, more like a program?"

Brandon doesn't look like it's about to die at all; as long as the data core is there, it's alive.

"Oh! What are you saying, Mr. Rin? I feel my face turning red..."

Rebecca immediately realized how "bad" Brandon was. She gritted her teeth and said, "What a liar. He really thought you were going to die."

"Xiao Bei, thank you for coming back to me, but I—"

Lin Yue interrupted, "Alright, if you're unwilling to upgrade, I'll take your core. My people will deal with the SCSM backdoor."

Brandon immediately became happy.

“Mr. Rin, you’re really kind, but I’m not ready to start working for another new company yet, even though it suits my tastes perfectly—would you like me to tell you a joke to cheer me up?”

Lin Yue gripped the wire, "I don't want to."

The wire was then torn.

Rebecca watched as Lin Yue stood up and waved the core in his hand, "If I remember correctly, Qiwei and the others are having a headache trying to develop a suitable program to monitor the server. Here it is, ready-made!"

Rebecca, realizing what was happening, muttered resentfully.

"You're such a heartless boss, you have to work for me for everything."

The voice was already very soft, but someone still heard it.

Lin Yue walked several steps without turning his head back.

"Not a heartless boss, but the best employer."

……

……

(End of this chapter)