Warhammer: The Time Traveler

Chapter 229 Wild Wolf Bar (Seventh Update)
As soon as the delivery truck's taillights disappeared around the corner of Charter Hill, Jack eagerly turned around, grinning with his signature bright smile, and patted the shoulder of the person next to him forcefully: "Come on! Everyone, come with me! To the Wild Wolf Bar—it's on me! The best liquor, the most authentic Heywood flavor, I have to give you guys a proper welcome today!"

David explained apologetically that he needed to take his mother to the hospital arranged by the administrator first.

Jack gave his young companion a firm hug, then nodded to Gloria, saying, "Don't worry, Auntie, everything's arranged over there. We'll get together again later!"

He watched the vehicle carrying the mother and child drive away before turning around.

Facing Valerie and the entire Mann team, Jack's smile widened, and his voice unconsciously rose slightly: "Alright, esteemed guests! Now it's my turn to show you some hospitality."

He spread his arms and made an exaggerated gesture of invitation, "Let me show you what the real Haywood style is like!"

He took the lead, deliberately increasing his stride, walking ahead with the flamboyant style unique to the streets.

Mann followed silently behind, his massive body and the new Sianwistan cybernetic implant giving him an undeniable sense of oppression with every step.

Dorothy stayed by his side, her sharp eyes scanning the orderly street.

Lucy and Qiwei walked quietly side by side. As hackers, they could clearly perceive the ubiquitous surveillance data streams in the environment.

Rebecca was still as energetic as ever, bouncing around and looking around with great curiosity about the brand-new street scene.

Valerie walked at the back of the group, her prosthetic limbs making a soft whirring sound. Her expression was calm, but her eyes keenly caught the barely concealed unease behind Jack's excessive enthusiasm.

Jack's thoughts are not hard to guess.

Mann's squad is now a true legend in Night City. Their feat of destroying the Arasaka Tower has made them a mythical force in the mercenary world, and the top-tier cybernetic implants on each member are a walking symbol of their strength.

Valerie, formerly the company's vice president, is now a test pilot under the mysterious "sage," piloting the red power armor that all military contractors envy—a position of extraordinary stature.

On the other hand, although he was also a follower of Chen Yu, he was almost always "idle," either wandering around the abandoned town or joking around with the new recruits of the Netherworld Hound. He didn't have any achievements to show for himself.

This disparity was undoubtedly agonizing for someone like Jack Wells, who valued loyalty and pride.

He desperately needs to regain a sense of control and respect in this familiar territory that belongs to him.

The group walked through the streets of the Heywood district.

Compared to the almost rigid order of the municipal center, the control here seems slightly loose, as if the management system still has room to penetrate the area, or rather, it is intentionally observing the natural reactions of this traditional neighborhood.

Young people still gather in twos and threes on the street corner, but they no longer make a ruckus or openly trade contraband.

Most of them just stood silently or talked in hushed tones, their eyes scanning their surroundings warily.

When Jack and his imposing group passed by, especially the oppressive aura emanating from Mann's formidable, mobile fortress-like physique, the young men subconsciously restrained themselves, either averting their gaze or lowering their heads slightly, revealing an instinctive caution in the face of power.

Their streetwear was still flamboyant, but that flamboyance seemed to be mixed with a hint of caution as they sought to survive under the new rules. A squad of military technology patrol soldiers in standard gray uniforms marched in orderly steps from the opposite direction.

Their scanners swept silently over everyone, lingering briefly on Mann and Valerie.

However, unlike the company's armed forces in the past, they did not approach to question or provoke them. The sergeant leading the team seemed to have received relevant identification information in advance. He simply nodded slightly to Jack and the others from a distance and continued to proceed along the predetermined route, like a machine following a fixed procedure.

This restrained, data-driven approach to interaction is itself a manifestation of the new order's operating mode.

The air still carried the scent of cheap spiced food, tobacco, and sweat that clung to Heywood Street, but the tension from the blatant lawlessness and violence of the past had dissipated, replaced by a more somber, yet predictable, atmosphere.

Pedestrians hurrying along the street seem to know their destination and boundaries, and the former chaos and spontaneity are being constrained by an invisible framework.

Finally, the familiar sign of the "Wild Wolf" bar came into view.

The neon lights were still on, outlining the wolf's head, but the entrance was no longer bustling with activity. Only a few customers were coming and going, a far cry from what Jack remembered.

"Hey! Mom! I'm home!" Jack pushed open the bar door and shouted loudly, trying to dispel the lingering chill with his voice.

Inside the bar, under the familiar dim lighting, the air still carried the scents of alcohol, cleaning agents, and old leather. However, without the hustle and bustle of people, this familiarity was tinged with a sense of loneliness.

Mrs. Wells was standing behind the bar, intently wiping the glasses, when she heard the sound and looked up sharply.

Seeing her unharmed son appear before her, a genuine smile instantly bloomed on her face, and the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes smoothed out.

"Jack! My child!" She immediately put down her glass, rushed out from behind the bar, hugged her son tightly, patted his back, then stepped back slightly to examine his face carefully. "You've lost a little weight, but you're in good spirits! It's good that you're alright, it's good that you're alright!"

Her tone was full of undisguised concern.

"Mom, I'm really fine!" Jack released the hug, a relaxed smile on his face, and casually pulled Valerie closer to his mother. "Look, V came back with me."

Valerie stepped forward naturally, a gentle smile on her face: "Mrs. Wells, it's been a long time."

“V!” Mrs. Wells’ eyes lit up, and she immediately opened her arms to give her a firm hug, patting her back gently. “It’s been so long! I’m so glad you’re all back safe and sound.”

She released her grip, giving Jack a slightly reproachful glance. "Did this guy cause you any trouble?"

“Mom!” Jack deliberately raised his voice in protest, then stepped aside to make room for the members of Mann’s team, his tone becoming more formal, “These are my current partners—Mann, Dorio, Lucy, Qiwei, and Rebecca. They are all top-notch fighters, and we are very grateful for their help this time.”

Mrs. Wells's gaze swept quickly over the new faces, lingering a moment longer on the burly Mann and the lively Rebecca, before she flashed the hearty smile typical of a bar owner: "Welcome, everyone! Don't just stand at the door, come in and have a seat. Tell me what you'd like to drink, the first round tonight is on me!"

As she spoke, she stepped aside to make way, and at the same time, habitually wiped the wine glasses that had just been placed on the bar, quickly preparing to receive the guests.

(End of this chapter)