Cyberpunk: I didn't cheat.

Vito recalled that this Night City was more real, quite different from the one in the game, and so he said.

"Sorry, I forgot about that. And then, is this the only military-grade one? I'll pay you back how much you paid."

Vito has just taken down the black marketeer, Vito—the most severe father of the unscrupulous doctor.

Before Mann could speak, David spoke first.

“No, Vito, I can work for them to pay off the debt. I want to take Mom away from Night City on my own. Vito, you can’t keep helping me like this. I’m not useless. I can help you and Mom!”

Vito thought for a moment, nodded, and then turned to look at Mann.

"So? Can you accept these conditions?"

Looking into David's determined eyes, Mann felt the atmosphere shift from Night City to a Japanese anime. He knew he'd be out of character if he didn't agree now, so he said...

"Okay, but newcomers need to score 82 points, that's the rule."

Vito nodded again.

"Sure, that's the price for mercenary gangs. I heard from Old Wei that if you return that short and powerful Ghostly Slayer to David, I can modify two guns for you as David's membership fee. Also, White, uh, Lucy, please return my locator to me."

"A locator?" Lucy asked, puzzled.

"That puppet chip."

Lucy took it out and handed it to Vito, puzzled, and asked.

"How did you turn the puppet chip into a locator? And why didn't I detect it?"

Vito took the chip and put it in his pocket, replying, "The first chip was real, but the one I gave you later had something added to it. I reckon you won't be scanning it anytime soon."

After talking with Mann, Vito determined the role of Mann's team: small but complete, with average combat strength, not yet at the level required to enter the world of the living.

"Okay, I have a commission for you. There will be no middlemen. You will receive all the money. David will be on this mission with you. You can divide the money among yourselves. There will be a deposit, and the full amount will be paid after the mission is completed."

Mann became interested and gestured for Vito to continue.

“There was a cleaning crew gang, the leader of which was called Dorf, but I've already taken him out. My intelligence indicated that the gang had over thirty members, and I've already eliminated more than a dozen. But I like to finish things off completely, so I'll find the rest and take them all out as well!”

Mann conducted a risk assessment and learned that these scavengers did not have any high-level prosthetics, so he quoted a price according to market rates, and Vito readily transferred 10% as a deposit.

"I hope you act quickly and stop trying to scam my deposit."

Mann smiled and said.

"Don't worry, we're not Indians!"

Vito had them exchange contact information with David and was about to lead David away when David said he had something to ask Lucy. Vito shrugged and walked out of the room with Mann and the others.

The tall, short-haired woman introduced herself.

"I am Dorio, and you are a weapons expert?"

Vito replied, "I wouldn't call myself an expert, but I can take them apart and modify them according to the blueprints to create something new."

How much does it cost to modify a gun?

Vito hadn't thought about that question, he asked.

"It depends on what you want to modify it into. If you have enough materials, I can modify it into a high-end version that can penetrate heavily armored enemies."

The group chatted casually, and Vito gained a deeper understanding of the members of Mann's team. Meanwhile, David was looking at Lucy, wanting to ask her some questions but unable to bring himself to ask them.

The two stood facing each other for a minute, but David still couldn't get the answer to why Lucy had lied to him. He could only sigh and turn to leave, but Lucy called out to him.

"David, I hope your mother recovers soon."

"Thank you."

Apartments in the Santo Domingo Valley.

When David got home, he found that Vito wasn't there. He leaned against the sofa and fiddled with the gun Vito had given him.

He had a chance to draw his pistol today, and with S.A.S.'s help, he could at least escape, but he just couldn't bring himself to take that step and shoot a living, breathing person.

He began to reflect on the past few days. Vito's appearance had changed his life. Without him, he wouldn't even have been able to get into Dr. Vito's clinic. His family had simply sent Gloria to an unlicensed black market doctor, resulting in their bankruptcy.

His desire to work and earn money wasn't just empty talk. In Night City, he didn't really want to become a legend; all he wanted now was to protect the people around him.

Chapter 14 What Will I Use to Keep You Here

Seeing that the weather was fine, Vito hitched a ride with Mann to Haywood's Wolf Bar. Mann was happy to build a good relationship with a wealthy and easy-going patron.

Upon entering, he was greeted by familiar furnishings. Instead of rushing around asking for work, he ordered a bottle of Four Hundred Rabbit Wine God and sat in a corner.

After drinking for a while, Vito noticed someone was spying on him. He glanced around and saw that it was a group of people dressed as gang members.

Two men walked right over and spoke to Vito.

"Hey kid, you've come to the wrong place. This isn't a place for you!"

Vito grabbed the bottle and took a big gulp, saying, "This isn't a bar? Or are you drunk and think this is your stinking place?"

Peppy, the bartender, tapped on the corner of the bar counter, waking up a muscular man who was dozing off.

The two thugs immediately got angry upon hearing this.

"Holy crap, pretty boy, are you looking for death?!"

Ping!

Half a bottle of 400 Rabbit Wine God smashed into the face of one thug. Another thug was about to retaliate when he was punched in the prosthetic eye and then kicked in the chest, falling to the ground.

"Hey friend, you're pretty good, but this is Wild Wolf Bar. Drinking is fine, but fighting is not."

A tall, burly man with a samurai-like hairstyle came over and offered advice.

Vito wiped the spilled liquor off his hands and then said.

“Jack, this is not my fault. They brought trouble upon themselves.”

Jack was somewhat surprised.

"Do you know me?"

Vito replied.

"Jack Wells, the future Night City legend, who doesn't know you?"

Jack laughed loudly.

"Haha, buddy, you're really good with words. I don't even know your name, buddy."

"Just call me Vito."

While the two were talking, the two men lying on the ground struggled to get up and then made some harsh remarks to Vito.

"Damn it, you just wait, you've messed with the wrong person, you idiot!"

Vito scoffed.

"Even the lines are from the roadside."

Jack pulled Vito to the bar and had Peppy pour him a glass of tequila.

"Those two guys are from Valentino's gang. Looks like they're not going to let this go."

Vito and Jack clinked glasses and said.

"Those two guys came looking for trouble themselves. If they're still so clueless after I leave the bar, I wouldn't mind giving them a couple of bullets."

"Wow, it looks like they've messed with some tough guys."

Pepi, from the bar next door, chimed in.

"Those two people looked around as soon as they came in. You ordered a bottle of wine by yourself, and you were a stranger to us. They were like sharks that had caught a whiff of your scent."

“Peppy was worried about you. He just woke me up from the bar and I saw you take care of those two guys.”

Vito finished his drink and then spoke to Pepi.

"Thanks, Pepi. Please pour three more glasses of wine. This round is on me. Let's have a proper toast."

Jack said happily.

"That's great. Let's say something, like a toast to tomorrow or to our friends."

Vito thought for a moment, then raised his glass and said.

"To our long-awaited reunion."

Jack was stunned. What kind of toast was this? He said helplessly.

"You're a really funny guy, okay? Thumbs up for our long-awaited reunion. By the way, we really don't seem to have met anywhere before?"

After the three of them finished their drinks, Peppy went to greet the guests, leaving Jack and Peppy to pour their own drinks.

"Vito, what do you do?"

Vito replied, "I do a little bit of everything, except for gutting people. I've only been in Night City for a short time, and my career is just getting started. I'm currently dealing with doctor-patient disputes."

Jack asked in confusion, "Doctor-patient disputes? Night City has this kind of job? Tell me what it's about?"

Vito patiently explained: "It's just about redistributing some of the black market assets that worked with the Cleaners. To be honest, I've been really annoyed by prosthetic doctors who have no professional ethics lately."

Jack was amused again.

"This is what doctor-patient disputes are like? Hahaha, you're really hilarious. You do all this all by yourself?"

"He does it all by himself, carrying a gun, walking in, pointing it at his head, turning the money around, bang, and then leaving. Oh, sometimes he'll grab a couple of bottles of 'Quick Cure'."

"Wow, Vito, that's awesome. How long will it take you to do this?"

“I recently quit my job and need to find some new work. I found a mercenary squad to help me clean up the mess. I heard from a friend that Wild Wolves might have some work, so I came to check it out.”

Jack poured himself another glass of wine and sighed.

"Wolves aren't reborn, so there's no decent work for them."

Vito and Jack clinked glasses.

"Take on small jobs first to build your reputation and establish your standing on the streets. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

Jack said, "That's a good point. We're really kindred spirits. I just left the gang a while ago and I'm looking to make a name for myself. Vito, do you also want to become a legend in Night City, like Johnny Silverhand, Adam Hammer, or Morgan Blackhand?"

Vito had Pepi bring out two bottles of Dionysus 400 Rabbits and pushed one bottle in front of Jack.

“We’ll become legends someday, but as I said, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Let’s start by becoming legends at Wild Wolf Bar tonight. Shall we have a drinking contest?”

"Okay, Vito, but with your small frame, you don't have much of a chance. Ugh, we haven't even started yet."

Seeing Vito start chugging, Jack also picked up a bottle and started chugging along.

"Hahaha, I told you your small frame wouldn't cut it! I came from behind and beat you to the punch. Mr. Jack Wells is the winner!"

Vito wiped his mouth and gave a sly smile.

"Congratulations, winner! Your prize is a whole dozen 400 rabbits. You have to finish them today!"

Jack was stunned.

"Hey Vito, you're not kidding, are you?"

Vito laughed heartily.

"I was just kidding, of course. If you drank it all, you'd definitely need to get a prosthetic body tomorrow."

Jack grabbed Vito.

“Vito, you’re so funny! Come on, let’s keep drinking, hey hey hey, don’t bring the bottle, let’s drink it one glass at a time!”

After a few rounds of drinks, Vito declined Pepi's offer to see him off. He told Pepi to carry Jack back to bed and then left the Wild Wolf Bar to take a taxi back to Santo Domingo.

While waiting for the bus, two figures flashed in front of Vito, carrying two sticks and grinning menacingly.

"Idiot, you think you're so tough? Let's see how you fight back now. If you know what's good for you, transfer the money over, and I might go easy on you."

Vito's eyes were glazed over, and his legs were a little unsteady as he asked.

Who are you?

The two Valentino gang members exchanged a glance.