Cyberpunk: From Dogville to Legend

Chapter 343 Hope: The Strongest Move to End This Dilemma
I haven't thanked you yet.

Sasha's voice was full of restraint.

Lin Yue, who wanted to leave without giving any explanation and disappear back into the crowds of Night City, gradually breathed a sigh of relief.

Sasha felt strange about herself.

They are friends and family, and there are also intense feelings based on respect and affection.

She was like a helpless, drifting avenger, lacking the power to survive, and would only die in one regrettable tragedy after another in this city.

This was the life she was meant to have.

People are always good at engraving their strongest desires in jokes. For example, just an hour ago, they were teasing Rebecca for not being able to keep secrets, but she was the first to be unable to hide her thoughts.

"Kids shouldn't watch this..."

Falco "wisely" covered Rebecca's eyes, which made Rebecca, who was already feeling sour, even angrier.

The immediate priority is to use the gorilla's arm to relentlessly attack Falco—

Falco, a seasoned mercenary and a highly reactive driver, could easily dodge these punches. The two were playfully fighting, but Falco was actually just trying to distract the jealous girl from the guy...

That's the advantage of being older; you can understand many things.

Sasha probably realized that she had indeed gone too far, and could only let go of her hand in dejection. She felt that Rin, who was so busy, must find her annoying. She had clearly agreed not to disturb his plans, but at this moment, she was overwhelmed by her subconscious action.

At times, Sasha felt deeply that she didn't see things as clearly as Rebecca.

A young girl's thoughts are a mystery; she can't even unravel them herself, let alone expect others to.

Lin Yue glanced at the time…

The company received news that the team had lost contact and that nearby armed forces would arrive within ten minutes, so I have to keep this brief…

"Are you feeling alright?"

Lin Yue bent down slightly and picked up the strands of hair that Sasha had stuck to her forehead, which was covered with gunpowder stains, and straightened her waist tactical equipment, which was about to fall apart.

Sasha didn't know why she felt so wronged.

Since leaving Arasaka Tower, the number of days I've been awake has been few and far between. In my hazy state, I've seen Lin Yue pacing around the hospital room, rubbing his forehead, while Professor Shijima, somewhat lacking in confidence, patiently explains just how bad the situation is.

"No, the probability needs to be increased further."

This is what he said most often.

Sasha learned that Arasaka's most expensive technology had been used on her. Even though Rin only needed to save himself, Sasha's reckless appearance forced Rin to find more ways to make up for the situation where both lives needed saving...

The declaration of self-abandonment within the Little Big Dipper facility in Dogtown is more like a form of liberation.

Sasha has dreamt more than once of stealing data from her biotechnology building, only to be forced to transmit it at the last second due to the enemy's rapid arrival, and then, unable to let it fall into the company's hands, she chooses to fall rapidly through a patch of glittering shards of glass...

She had a feeling while strolling through the streets of Night City with Rebecca.

It felt like my mother had called me over and said a lot of things before she passed away; it gave me a sense of destiny that I would never see this beautiful world again.

"I'm sorry, I..."

Sasha started to internally deplete herself again.

Before setting off, Emma told Sasha that Sasha would be in charge of all the actions of the three-person team.

"We didn't evacuate in time... and almost ruined the biotechnology program again."

Lin Yue's astonished gaze gradually softened.

"Is there such a thing?"

“We fought to the last drop of blood in Dogtown, stumbled and struggled all this way, to bring you back to life... not to hear you apologize.”

Sasha was a little confused.

She clearly remembered that rainy evening when the man, after much contemplation, coldly said in the car, "Come find me in Arasaka"... Could it be that the Black Wall really does affect many memories? Or was her hippocampus, which is related to memories, touched during treatment?
Seeing that the girl's eyes were blurry with tears and she seemed confused, Lin Yue could only helplessly say—

"Everyone gets sick sometimes. What I said and did during that time was just abnormal."

As they spoke, Lin Yue noticed faint black marks around Sasha's eyes. Initially thinking it was just eye makeup, he realized that Sasha seemed to have used brain-computer interface overclocking, and not only that, she had also applied a weakened version of the Black Wall's rapid cracking technique...

He pulled out the thread, lifted Sasha's neck, and inserted the thread into the girl's slot.

The data had been running for less than a minute and everything was fine, so Lin Yue breathed a sigh of relief and slowly got up.

Sasha knew she couldn't act recklessly.

Now that the companies have obtained substantial evidence that Dreamer Rin is still alive, these united companies will likely expel Dreamer completely…

Lin Yue looked at her with a smile, "Arasaka's technology is indeed excellent. I was also shocked when Emma told me about it. I didn't expect that a person could undergo prosthetic implantation surgery in less than a week. Just don't take such risks next time. Destroying biotechnology is not the ultimate goal at all."

Sasha denied it, saying, "This is the most important thing right now, and it's also an activity that allows me to contribute."

Lin Yue shook his head.

"We need to change all of this to protect the people I want to protect, not for the sake of change itself."

"When you have time... go see your sister. It's your choice."

"She's doing a great job in Night City, and she's very smart. She's handled a lot of cases involving gangs and corrupt cops... Remember, your lives are more important than anyone else's, and I'll always be behind you."

Rebecca's shouting voice came from inside.

"We'll work together just fine and take down those two iron blocks even without you!"

"Hey! You saw that, right? I knocked that thing down with one punch—just like a boxing match on Old Wei's computer, KO!"

Attracting attention is something only children do, but there are always exceptions. Girls with pink bubbles in their heads can also do silly things.

"It would have been better if we hadn't come at all..."

Rebecca was practically seething with hatred.

"A seasoned con artist who deceives innocent girls, no wonder he's a rock star."

I'd heard long ago that the rock star was a womanizer and changed girlfriends frequently, which fits his persona perfectly.

Sasha covered her mouth and just laughed, not wanting the person in front of her to see her ugly state of laughing and crying at the same time.

Lin Yue casually ruffled Sasha's hair. "It's pretty good. Get used to the prosthetic body first. Don't blindly add more. I don't think Lost Island would agree to that either."

"then you…"

Sasha didn't know whether she should ask or not.

She wanted to know Lin Yue's whereabouts.

Rebecca stopped grumbling and just kept listening intently, while Falco, leaning against the wrecked car with a cigar in his mouth, saw through everything.

"Night City only has the new rock kid and me, who likes to stir things up. Once biotechnology and military technology start fighting, we'll be busy."

Sasha's eyes immediately lit up with a smile.

At least she knew what Lin Yue looked like and where he was...

"Focus on completing the training modules for Honshu created by the lost island project, and hone your skills to perfection..."

Lin Yue's expression turned somewhat serious.

"The only way to end a company is with its strongest guys, just like in 2023."

The old cyberpunks of Night City all knew which thing Lin Yue was referring to…

Why the sudden change of expression?

That's because he absolutely cannot joke about topics related to the company.

This is not a game of fighting; it is a life-or-death struggle.

At the same time, Rebecca's expression also turned serious. Falco quietly watched the guy—it's no wonder some people can make a name for themselves; the idea of ​​following him and making something of himself is even more exciting than the Death Race.

"You sang well."

Falco waved his hand.

Lin Yue nodded his thanks and gave Sasha an encouraging look. The girl's Adam's apple bobbed as she swallowed softly.

There are too many people, let's just forget about it.

Sasha didn't want to ask what the kiss she thought was a farewell kiss meant that day.

Liking something is enough; possession is never the primary condition for liking it.

The guy waved his hand and disappeared into the rain and mist.

But unexpectedly, it made the girl's heart more and more determined.

She understood Rin's wish—to end this predicament with the strongest move.

……
-
"Mother?!"

David was sitting in front of his computer texting a Mewtwo dealer in Night City when he smelled something burning... He frowned, took off the Mewtwo headband hanging around his neck, and hurried to the kitchen.

But then I found my mother holding her phone in one hand, and with the other hand she was unconsciously stirring the pot with a spatula...

The heat was too high, and the butter, which should have been fragrant and sweet, turned brown, and the fresh vegetable pieces inside were all burnt.

It wasn't until her son snatched the spatula from her hand that Gloria realized what was happening and instinctively covered her phone with both hands in front of her!
The action was a bit too extreme.

This series of actions immediately aroused David's suspicion.

The boy frowned.

"What's going on, Mom?"

Gloria realized she had lost her composure and quickly stuffed the spatula into her apron pocket.

“Sorry David… uh, right, I need to check on the bread I baked.”

"Yes, bread..."

David looked puzzled and hurriedly stirred the contents of the pot with his back to his mother. His mother, behind him, opened the oven and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Fortunately."

Seeing her son still stirring the obviously inedible stuff in the pot, she quickly said, "Sorry, David, just have some with the jam—I have to go to the office, so please sit down and eat."

Hurry up...

David felt a little dizzy.

My mother has been acting strangely again these past few days, and as her son, I can roughly guess why…

I'm just unsure if I dare to say it.

Sitting across from his mother with his plate in hand, watching her eat toast with a blank stare, David felt increasingly uneasy.

"mom?"

David waved his hand in front of his mother, finally bringing Gloria back to her senses for the second time.

"Damn it... I—"

Gloria felt a surge of tension when her mother's phone rang. She picked it up and saw it was a news report from Night City. Looking up, she saw David's knowing look in his eyes.

David always believed that his mother couldn't keep secrets.

But considering how frequently my mom checks the news—

David was certain.

The knives and forks clattered on the plate as the two silently ate what they used to enjoy with great pleasure—food made from real wheat and real butter—but now it tasted bland.

The boy finally couldn't hold back any longer.

"Mom, have you been... dating or something lately?"

"Huh? Of course not..."

Gloria never expected David to say that.

After denying it, his brows immediately furrowed. "You brat, what did you say?!"

David quickly put his hands in front of him to stop his mother's deadly "face-pinching"...

Whew, that's kind of scary.

But David may not have eaten pork, but he's seen pigs run. Shouldn't his mother's speed in checking news be related to this?
Moreover, such a reaction seems a bit too extreme.

"Actually, it's not that I don't accept it, but only if you think it's necessary."

Hearing her child say those words, Gloria, who was feeling a bit angry and shy, softened her expression. She pushed the milk in front of her toward David and said softly, "How could that be? It's just that at work... a boss has a problem. You know, to get ahead in a company, you have to know how to read people's expressions."

"Is he really my boss?"

My mother is terrible at lying.

David didn't press the issue, casually taking the milk. "I know... so you need to be careful when you go out. It's best not to take the road to the Valley area. Recently, biotechnology and military technology are about to clash, and the stock market keeps fluctuating."

Gloria rolled her eyes at David.

"Focus on your grades, stop worrying about other things, you brat..."

The biotech company's standard uniforms look much better than those at her mother's previous company.

It was a very smart casual suit. Gloria had also undergone some prosthetic modifications by the trauma team. The rose-red prosthetic patterns on her face had long been replaced by fine silver lines. The soft metal modules that occasionally flashed in her palms were the latest smart links compatible with Comto and Arasaka smart weapons.

Needless to say, her eyes are even better... These are high-end products from the Qilu Si; her mother's eyes are much more beautiful and brighter than before.

As they spoke, Gloria had already put on her shoes in the entryway, then turned to David and solemnly warned, "I have to go to the company. Don't go out wandering around tonight—"

"Oh, by the way, send some snacks to the new neighbor next door and tell her it's from Ms. Gloria... Don't let me know you've been out playing. You always end up with your face covered in bruises. I don't know what's so great about playing basketball."

David looked puzzled.

"what?"

"Someone lives next door? I've never seen anyone collect the flyers and overdue payment notices on my door?"

Gloria looked helpless.

"Just make sure you get along well with your neighbors, whatever you do, go ahead... I know her pretty well."

David was curious to see what good stuff the Mewtwo manufacturer had sent, but since he didn't have class that evening, sending a snack wasn't a big deal.

After her mother left, the room became quieter again.

David finished his food obediently, drank the milk his mother gave him in one gulp, and threw the dishes into the sink.

The injury on her face throbbed faintly. Don't even mention it, it was all because of Tanaka Katsuo who secretly caused trouble... In order not to worry her mother and to maintain her self-esteem, she could only make up a reason.

But this doesn't prove that David isn't the kind of bad kid who doesn't love his mom. A kid who's willing to help his mom wash the dishes can't be that bad.

David, having packed the food his mother had left into a food box, swaggered to the front door.

"Squeaky-"

The doorbells on the H-series skyscrapers really sound awful.

David kicked the small Coke can by the door with some disdain, then continued pressing the door repeatedly without making a sound.

The doorbell stopped abruptly.

A somewhat indistinct but youthful female voice came through the microphone.

"what are you up to?"

David was taken aback. It was a girl?

Listen to the sound...

He seems a bit too young, yet very familiar.

“Uh… I, Ms. Gloria next door, asked me to bring you something to eat. I’m her son.”

The microphone was completely silent.

David waited patiently, but the door remained closed for a full two minutes.

Even if the girl inside was incredibly beautiful, David didn't want to wait any longer. Mewtwo was waiting for him, and besides, just standing there like this would make him look like he was offering himself up.

David thought for a moment and then waved the food in his hand.

"I left it at your door."

Just as he bent down, a pungent smell of cigarette smoke and a faint fragrance wafted out from the door in front of him.

David, who had just raised his head, had his collar yanked up like a chick by a force no less powerful than a man's.

"Depend on!"

The automatic door closed as David was pulled inside…

"pain!"

David was slammed against the wall, grimacing in disbelief and fury. He had come to show goodwill, so why was he being treated like this by a female strongwoman with the strength of an animal gang?!
Did we go to the wrong place?

David, not yet accustomed to the smoky atmosphere in the room, slowly opened his eyes. The fragrance in front of his nose grew stronger and stronger until he saw a thin, orange line lying across his neck...

Single-molecule line?!
David, who has done extensive research on prosthetics, gets goosebumps!

……

……

(End of this chapter)