Cyberpunk: From Dogville to Legend

Chapter 484 Blind Loyalty (Part 2) [5.1K]

Dark Matter Club, one hour ago.

This place is one of the most expensive clubs in Night City. The security guards at the entrance have known people for years, and there is never a shortage of Night City fans who wait outside like paparazzi—after all, some celebrities also come here to spend money.

However, most of the people in the Dark Matter Club were business people or politicians who did not want to show their faces in public. This was the first time Lin Yue had learned that there was an underground parking lot that led directly to the top floor of the Dark Matter Club.

The two, whose appearances had changed, had no other thoughts. Although Lin Yue had been in Night City for several years, he had hardly ever been to any high-end clubs or bars. This was only his second time here, but he could still feel an even stronger atmosphere of wealth and extravagance than he had experienced three or four years ago…

Having witnessed the worst conditions in the city, the stark contrast made Lin Yue feel that there was still a long way to go.

V seemed to have adapted well to the pace of the place, appearing very familiar with the routes and everything around him.

Company employees are under a lot of pressure. Before V was promoted, he had a lot of savings, so he would often come here to drink or to relieve the aftereffects of working too much overtime.

V looked down and fiddled with her phone.

Lin Yue could clearly sense that she was somewhat displeased.

"OK... I think if I change my face, the private room might not be approved. I'll go to the bar to find the manager first."

V took off his blazer and handed it to Lin Yue, saying, "Wait for me."

Lin Yue nodded.

This hall, where even the seams in the floor were inlaid with gold, had many familiar faces, and he was naturally happy to see if there were any people he recognized.

"A singer, a councilor from Night City... it seems like this is where I first met the Night Clan."

The white horse passes through the gap.

Three or four years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Lin Yue couldn't help but sigh.

The deal with the Dark Matter Club was the first time Lin Yue was determined to rewrite the city using the rules of this world, and now he has accomplished part of it.

The process wasn't exactly aboveboard, but I have a clear conscience.

The NPCD director is still engaged in illegal money-making schemes, and it can be seen from the Ye Clan's list that his memories have also been altered. Lin Yue did not abandon the NCPD line—it was because he handed the organization over to Arasaka, who was more suitable for doing dirty work.

The proportion of Arasaka police officers in Night City is increasing, but the NCPD chief, who is obsessed with making money, seems oblivious to it.

Thinking of this, Lin Yue shook his head.

In some ways, Lin Yue actually admired the terrorist mobile unit.

At the very least, their actions were simply aimed at addressing violent criminal activities that could cause significant problems…

Moreover, during the turbulent Red Era following the nuclear explosion, MAXTAC strictly enforced the law according to their chief's orders, nipping a potential second gang war in the bud.

Lin Yue's gaze shifted again, landing on some rising stars of Night City entertainment, and Chao Meng, a big name from the Fourth Wall Studio—

It must be said that although the clothing and appearance are indeed a bit too kitschy, the body is artificially "calibrated" and the prosthetics are real, specifically designed to enhance all aspects.

However, Lin Yue still couldn't appreciate that colorful makeup style.

Looking at it this way, V looks as flawless as a natural product…

"Hi handsome."

As Lin Yue turned his head, a woman silently approached him.

Her clothing and appearance were far from vulgar, but Lin Yue roughly knew what the woman in front of him did for a living…

No matter what level of club in Night City it is, there is no shortage of sex dolls. A significant portion of the city's industries are based on sex dolls. Those who come to Dark Matter are either rich or noble, so the prices of services here are not cheap.

Lin Yue glanced instinctively in the direction V had left, then, with a bead of cold sweat on his forehead, said, "Thank you, but it's not necessary."

"Hmm?" Instead of creating distance, the woman moved even closer. "Do you prefer someone more serious? Or do you prefer... me to be a bit more assertive?"

"As long as you speak..."

Lin Yue watched as the slender fingers slowly moved across her shoulder, his eyebrows slightly raised. Just as he raised his hand, the woman's hand was caught, making a soft sound of palms colliding.

He sighed and took a small step back.

"Who the hell are you—"

The woman's well-maintained face couldn't hide her anger. There were quite a few sex workers selling services at the Dark Matter Bar, but each had their own area. However, when the woman glanced at the tall, dark figure in a white shirt next to her, her expression immediately changed.

The only thing that could make her change color was the silver-white brooch on her chest, signifying her high-ranking position at Arasaka Corporation. Its metallic sheen with a touch of hazy iridescence, combined with the impeccable style of the person before her—

The woman, who was quite the social butterfly in the Dark Matter Club, forced out a pale smile.

"It's alright, let her go..."

The man's voice sounded incredibly warm and gentle in this situation.

Just as the woman was wondering what methods the company executives in front of her would use to control her, the woman from Arasaka, who had heard the man speak, suddenly loosened her grip... You have to understand that she had been enduring the excruciating pain of her hand being squeezed with her pain editor.

It's not surprising that sex dolls in high-end clubs have pain editors on their bodies; some customers have tastes and methods that are beyond what most people can handle.

This proportion is extremely high among the company's clients, perhaps due to the abnormal pressure of overtime work and the company's life-or-death struggle environment—making every customer and service staff member who receives company employees subconsciously assume that these people's vengeful nature and methods will be extremely vicious.

V looked at Lin Yue.

Lin Yue noticed a hint of grievance in the woman's cool eyes, and for a moment he couldn't help but chuckle, "Uh... this lady just asked me for directions."

Without saying a word, V silently shook off the woman's hand, tilted his chin to the left, and the woman, as if granted a pardon, fled in panic.

Lin Yue shrugged and spread his hands slightly. Deep down, he still didn't want V to really use his power to punish others.

She's insulting you.

V crossed her arms, turned her head, and stared at Lin Yue's chest and some inexplicable spot on his shoulder.

Lin Yue was somewhat puzzled.

curse?

Why didn't I hear that...?

His eardrums were filled only with the psychedelic bass-heavy electronic music of the Dark Matter Club, the laughter of men and women, and the clinking of glasses.

"She muttered to herself, 'You're my kept man. I've run into a fellow gigolo. What bad luck.'"

She pointed her long, slender finger to her ear, "A loudness and volume splitter, you can hear whatever you want."

Lin Yue shook his head.

The more I get to know V, the more I realize she has a complex and multifaceted personality, including her cunning and childish sides.

"You want to say it's not worth it?" Lin Yue explained with a smile, "Not making things difficult for this woman has nothing to do with whether she curses me or not. It's this world that has turned her into a machine that can only exchange her body for money. The company, the world, has turned everyone into a machine that can't stop or rest."

“V, her disappearance means we’ve succeeded.”

V clearly disagrees on this issue.

"Do you want to save the world? Dark matter, Genting Highlands, Twilight Street... these kinds of sex industries are everywhere. Do you think that means the world is beyond saving?"

Lin Yue shook his head.

"It's a personal choice, and we can't interfere. Perhaps she has unspeakable reasons, or perhaps she really does make money—"

"But she had no choice in any case... I'm not so kind as to give sex dolls dignity; my goal has always been to make companies cease to exist."

"Besides, I just didn't want this to spoil your mood, so letting her go is the best option."

V continued to press for answers.

"What happens next?"

Lin Yue took the woman's hand and pointed to the private room that had been reserved in advance, "Leave the rest to fate."

Just as V curled her lips to feel the pressure of her hand enveloping her, she seemed to sense something and turned to look behind her, saying calmly, "Let's go, Rin."

In the circular seating area surrounding the center of the dance floor in the distance.

A woman held a device resembling a mobile phone, staring intently at the young man and woman disappearing down the corridor in the distance... She pressed the phone tightly to her ear.

"I saw!"

This woman was Li.

Breathing rapidly, she stared in disbelief at the hacked video feed in her hand, her hands trembling so much she could barely hold it.

Especially that line from Zhucun: "The company is a link that no one can escape"...

To this day, the core soul of the KIA band, who rebels against the system and uncovers the truth, is the lead singer K... But now he is appearing at a high-end club with executives from Arasaka's company. In addition, Takemura's words have left room for Li's imagination. Could it be that K, who has always used this identity, is actually a complete corporate dog?

That worship seemed to collapse suddenly, and her faith turned her into a blind believer in a fantasy.

Looking at the security guards at the Dark Matter Club down the corridor, Li tried to convince herself that the problem was with the equipment.

All she could do was listlessly put down her phone, instinctively trying to move closer, but as she stood up, a hand reached out and pressed down on her shoulder—

Three fully armed Arasaka agents appeared before him. The scarlet prosthetic eyes embedded in their faces and the dark blue reflective artifacts made Lee feel as if he could see his own pitiful and terrified eyes.

"Madam, if I were you, I would choose not to speak first."

Agent Arasaka glanced around; the other guests were all engrossed in their conversations with Mewtwo, music, or sex dolls, and no one paid any attention to what was happening here.

Regardless, even though the agent didn't launch an attack, Li could only sense a strong stench of blood emanating from them. Completely defenseless, Li could only tremble and shrink back onto the sofa…

"Damn it..."

Those who play rock and roll are all tough guys.

Li cursed under his breath.

Upon hearing this, Agent Arasaka raised an eyebrow, and Lee braced himself for being ripped off—

Just as the agent was about to speak, a tall and slender girl appeared behind him...

Judging from the girl's appearance, she was probably only around twenty years old, and her brightly colored white hair was particularly eye-catching.

And there was a kind of cold indifference in the girl's eyes that kept people at a distance, and also some... pity?
hacker.

After Li realized that the other side was scanning him, his whole body tensed up.

However, the thing I feared did not happen.

After the pale golden light in Lucy's eyes disappeared, Li realized that the other party had merely confirmed his identity.

Then Lucy, representing the company, spoke up.

The words were extremely impolite.

"You're happy to be made a fool of as a monkey while you're following the company's top management, aren't you?"

There was silence.

Li didn't believe a word the company dog ​​said, and naturally, she pursed her lips, letting the other party do as they pleased.

Seemingly consumed by rage, Li growled, "Fuck you, you company dog! Kill me or torture me, come at me!"

Lucy smiled knowingly upon hearing this.

"I have to admit that you're absolutely right about the first part of your statement—"

Li's expression quickly stiffened.

After the strange smile on Lucy's face faded, she waved to the people beside her and said, "Tell the people around us not to come any closer."

Seeing that the three Arasaka agents were each guarding a corner, and that Li hadn't used any coercive methods against him, he was starting to get a little confused.

When did the company become so polite?!
She anticipated that she would most likely be dragged out by these agents and die rotting and stinking in the alleys of Night City…

After saying this, the girl sat down on the coffee table in front of Li and handed her something that looked like a document. At the same time, her words were not very polite, "Since you trust that guy named Takemura Goro so much, shouldn't you also learn about your temporary partner?"

Li stared hesitantly at the documents in front of him.

Lucy raised her chin. "Take a look, these are all official documents."

Actually, there wasn't much inside; it was just some official promotional photos from Arasaka Enterprises, and the person in the photos was Saburo Arasaka…

What is noteworthy is that whenever Saburo appears in public, he is always accompanied by a samurai with a bun hairstyle. When Lee sees the man's appearance, he sits there as still as a stone.

Lucy "kindly" extended her hand and pointed out the source of the picture for Lee.

"The verifiable information was extracted from Night City's discrete chip magazine. Now, what do you think you're doing working for a corporate dog who was kicked out by Arasaka?"

Li looked at those things over and over again.

There was no hysteria, no breakdown, but rather a complete lack of energy and spirit.

"That man—"

Lucy shook her head and replied almost immediately, "If this isn't the person you're looking for, how could you bring this equipment in? Do you think the Dark Matter Club's network administrator is an idiot?"

Li felt inexplicably unsettled, yet also a sense of relief.

Perhaps the simple rock 'n' roll kid never imagined that this method of shifting blame was a fundamental skill that the company excelled at.

"Would you be so kind?"

"You should execute me for following company executives, shouldn't you?"

Li spread his hands and slowly said, "Then let's go."

Lucy shook her head. "No, we only found you to know where Takemura is... Besides, don't you really know our boss? Santo Domingo, your band is just starting out. Who gave you a helping hand behind the scenes?"

Li frowned, deep in thought…

"There was a woman, and K even went to see her alone..."

Lucy shrugged. "Criticizing the company won't stop company employees from investing in you. What if she shares your views?"

Li instinctively exclaimed, "How is this possible?!"

“Nothing is impossible—since rock kid Kerry has signed with a record company, there are some rules in this world that you have to follow, for the sake of…your band.”

Lucy's monomolecular wire flickered in her hand. "But our boss's investment is only temporary. Your band Night City is hot right now. Even without the lead singer, you can still sing your freedom. But don't forget that our patience is short. Next time, you'd better be prepared to accept the loss, understand?"

The girl said these words with a smile, but Li felt a chill run down his spine.

Despite the intense pressure from the other party, Li still hesitated before speaking…

"I want to know about K."

Lucy got up.

"Nobody cares about the life or death of the rock kid. On the contrary, our boss is afraid that one day he will 'discipline' our Arasaka Tower like the Yoru Building."

By combining carrot and stick tactics, Lucy's verbal threats were already quite severe.

In his dazed state, Lee had to start thinking about the safety of Mendro and the others.

Watching the woman, her legs trembling, being led away by Agent Arasaka.

Lost in thought, Lucy picked up the equipment from the sofa and headed down the corridor to the private rooms of the Dark Matter Club.

During this time, she seemed to have learned some news, her face darkened, and she quickened her pace—even rushing through the automatic door seemed particularly reckless.

The first thing she saw was the man who could be called a legend in the city.

"Ms. V, some space creatures have infiltrated the NCX spaceport... Several agents investigating the leads have... gone offline!"

The man standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window stared silently down, seemingly looking in the direction Li Yuanyuan was going, as if he hadn't heard Lucy's words.

The woman leaning against the railing beside him had a calm gaze, tinged with a hint of displeasure, not directed at Lucy, but simply because her pleasant date had been interrupted.

"The enemy's combat capabilities are unpredictable; they are most likely prosthetic bodies produced through near-Earth orbit research—"

Lin Yue simply turned his head and gave Lucy an encouraging smile.

Lucy swallowed her worries...

Is there really someone more monstrous than Rin?

At this moment, Lin Yue spoke.

“V”.

"It seems that in the past few years... those people in space have become restless. They just want to probe the trump cards of Hua Zi and his group. Let's use Wu Lang Dang as a breakthrough point?"

V indicates complete acceptance.

I just want to go on a date, but it always feels so rushed…

"don’t worry."

Lin Yue laughed and said, "Even though it's raining, we can still sit here and drink in an hour."

Lucy estimated the distance; a round trip would take thirty minutes by car… No matter how you looked at it, this seemed to be taking Arasaka Hanako too lightly.

But when Rin said it, it sounded convincing.

"Lucy, you come too."

Lucy, who never expected to be singled out, looked at the man walking slowly towards her and said, "Perhaps you could try to help in something. Also... we have an agreement in cyberspace, don't forget."

Lucy immediately nodded seriously.

"Yes, Mr. Rin."

Even she herself didn't know why she had agreed so readily...

She never expected that she would answer the question of someone who wasn't even a high-ranking member of Arasaka without even looking at Director V's expression.

V's expression showed no dissatisfaction, but rather a slight smile.

He seemed quite satisfied with Lucy's cooperative attitude.

A man's pulse-like gait.

"Let's go see what Hua Zi has up his sleeve in space... Hopefully, he's not too weak."

……

……

(End of this chapter)