2077: V really knows how awesome he is

"This isn't about disinfection; it's a psychological issue!"

"Oh, then you can set the machine to clean mode so it won't absorb microorganisms from the air. But then you'll have to put more organic matter into the feed inlet."

"Where am I supposed to get so much organic matter?"

"Aren't there many protein farms outside the city?"

“Those insects are part of the biotechnology industry, and I don’t want to get into a fight with them.”

"Then you can buy some synthetic meat."

“If I had money, I could just buy synthetic meat for the neighbors to eat, why would I need it… wait a minute, if I can’t afford synthetic meat, I can just rob it.” Vera suddenly had a flash of inspiration: “I’ll leave the food manufacturing machine with you for now, and I’ll take care of the synthetic meat supply first.”

This is why V drove to Watson District in the middle of the night. The Vortex Gang controls the synthetic meat business in Night City, and even the All Foods factory is their headquarters.

“I have connections with the Vortex Gang, and I’ve come here with good intentions. They will definitely help me!” Vera said confidently.

Claptrap glanced at the Whirlpool Gang member in the passenger seat whose head had been chopped off in half, and said with a hint of helplessness, "If I were you, I wouldn't kill one of their people while begging for their help."

"Don't worry, I'm a street urchin, I know gang stuff inside and out." Vera said with a chuckle, "The Vortex Gang only recognizes machines, not people, they don't care how many of them I've killed!"

Then Vera was turned away.

Little Noisy feigned a hint of schadenfreude: "Maybe one of the people you just killed happened to be the mother of the Whirlpool Gang leader?"

"Impossible! The current Vortex Gang leader's mother is long dead!" Vera said as she got out of the car and pounded on the massive iron gate of the food factory. "Dum-Dum, I know you're home! You're the boss, so open the gate if you dare!"

"Damn it, V!" The security camera at the door lowered, and Doom Doom's voice came through: "What are you doing here, you crazy woman? We haven't messed with you lately!"

Vera held up a finger and shook it: "The code name V is taken by someone else. From now on, call me Vera."

"Someone else can steal your codename? Fine, Vera it is, your business is none of my concern, get lost!"

"Don't be so heartless! You became the leader of the Whirlpool Gang entirely because I took out Royce and Blake. Let me in now, I have a business deal to discuss with you!"

"Shut up! You're a jinx, wherever you go people die. Get lost, or else I'll..."

Doom's voice abruptly stopped as Vera suddenly appeared in front of him and coldly slapped his face a few times with the blade of her White Tiger katana.

"What were you trying to say?" Vera asked with a smile.

Doom Doom glanced at his underlings who had been knocked to the ground, a bead of cold sweat sliding down his forehead. He stammered, "I said you're welcome to come and talk business. I love talking business."

"That's more like it. Alright, sit down and talk. Bring out the S-powder too. You only gave me one puff last time. You're so stingy, such a damn cheapskate!" Vera withdrew the White Tiger.

Doom Doom cursed inwardly, his face darkening as he asked, "How did you get in?"

"Walking in".

"I'm asking how you got in here!"

“Seanwistan, huh?”

"Bullshit, S.A.S. could never enhance you to that extent, not even the most advanced technology could."

"If 2077 doesn't work, how about 2157?"

Doom's electronic eyes lit up: "You've sided with the time travelers?"

"No."

"Then how did you obtain S.A.S.A.S. in 2157?"

Vera proudly declared, "Because I'm the one who brought the people from the future!"

Doom was stunned. So it was you, kid...

"Don't believe me? No problem, come on, little rascal, give him a job!"

Claptrap hadn't expected to have anything to do with this, but he didn't refuse. He immediately ignored the warning and hacked into all the Vortex Gang members, including Doom Doom.

"Are you sure you're here to negotiate and not to cause trouble?"

"Don't worry, I'm a street kid, trust me."

Just as Vera predicted, Claptrap's miraculous appearance instantly converted the Vortex Cult's modification fanatics.

They were standard mechanical ascendants, and seeing Claptrap, such an advanced AI, was almost like seeing God in person. In fact, Doom Doom had long wanted to join the future world after hearing the descriptions of the future people from the future, but he also knew that the Vortex had committed many evils and was afraid that the future people would not approve of him, so he lacked a strong recommender.

Now that Vera has arrived, they have an introducer. Without saying a word, Doom Doom led half of the Vortex Gang to join them.

The reason it's only half of the Vortex Gang is because the Vortex Gang has also split up.

Vera killed Blake first and then Royce, taking down two leaders of the Vortex Gang in less than 30 minutes. It was only because the Vortex Gang was united enough that it only split into two parts.

"I control the whole food factory on this side and the Death Dance nightclub on the other. The boss is Patricia, who has connections with the company. Strictly speaking, she is the rightful heir," Doom Doom said truthfully.

"Go and talk to her. Good brothers are loyal. We'll make money together and enjoy the good times together." Vera tossed Doom a cigarette.

Doom Doom took it and bit it: "What if she doesn't want to?"

"Then get the hell out of here. If she gets in the way of our making money, we'll rip her skull off!"

"Okay, I'll call her right now."

Unfortunately, Patricia did not submit, but Doom's arrival brought a large amount of supplies, ensuring that food wouldn't be a problem for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, this part of the Vortex Gang also joined the "strike," halting production in the synthetic food manufacturing industry and some heavy industries, making Watson District one of the future people's controlled areas.

Having more companions is a good thing, and having enough to eat is also a good thing. The combination of these two things should make us even happier and more joyful, but new problems also arise.

As more and more people stop producing food, everyone has food-making machines and doesn't lack food, but gradually they begin to lack other daily necessities.

"Boss, the Tiger Claw Gang controls various workshops and light industries in Night City. Why don't you go and take them over too?" Doom Doom kindly suggested.

Recently, Claptrap optimized the hardware of the Vortex Gang members, fulfilling their desire to be closer to machines and reducing their level of madness, allowing these neurotic people who were obsessed with mechanical ascension to experience a heavenly bliss.

"I've told you so many times, I'm not your boss!" Vera said irritably. "I'm a legitimate person, the kind with an ID card from 2157."

"Yes, yes, you're a law-abiding citizen, a truly law-abiding citizen. But Vera, Doom's suggestion is quite good, why don't you consider it?" Gustavo said with a smile. His girlfriend Martha had recovered her health, and his brothers no longer had to fight, making him feel as happy as if he were in heaven.

“If you ask me, Vera should ask Miss Selene’s opinion first.” Nolan was a typical old American man, a bit arrogant, but reliable and steady in his work. He had initially been firmly opposed to his daughter Martha’s relationship with Gustavo, after all, Valentino and the Sixth Street gang were mortal enemies, but his daughter’s near-death experience made him see things clearly, and his studies at night school also made him see everything clearly. The America he loved was merely a tool of the rulers; what he should truly love was that land and the people living on it, not the regime that ruled that land.

Having figured all this out, Nolan changed his usual approach and began to protect his comrades who had fought alongside him. Although their battle was merely a shutdown, a helpless surrender, comrades are comrades, and a true American Big Brother will always protect his family. After all, American culture is characterized by blended families, and family heroes don't care about blood relations.

Nolan's steady approach and semi-military management quickly earned the trust and respect of the Sixth Street Gang's veterans. The Sixth Street Gang returned to its original ideals, bringing Nolan a sense of heavenly happiness and satisfaction.

Seeing that the senior had said so, Vera naturally had to give him face and immediately went to tell Selene what had happened.

"Recently, everyone is experiencing a shortage of daily necessities..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Selene pulled out a machine with both hands: "A nano printer! Just put in the appropriate raw materials, and you can print any product you want."

Vera: ...

When she returned carrying a machine, Gustavo, Nolan, and Doomdum immediately surrounded her.

"What did Miss Selene say?"

Vera scratched her head: "She told me to get some raw materials."

“See, I told you to look for the Tiger Claw Gang. They control so many light industrial factories that they need to use shipping containers to buy people to fill their labor needs.” Doom Doom had an expression that said, “I knew it all along.”

Gustavo sneered: "What labor demand? They're just running illegal factories, treating people like animals, and they've worked too many to death."

Nolan shook his head: "You're wrong, young man. They wouldn't want to work the animals to death."

"So all the problems will eventually boil down to the same question: are workers even human?" Gustavo sighed. "Vera, what do you mean? Are you going to recruit the Tiger Claw gang, with all their evil deeds?"

Vera rolled her eyes: "Damn, you three are talking like you've done all sorts of bad things."

Gustavo, Nolan, and Durmdum: "..."

"Alright, I understand what you mean. I won't go looking for those Tiger Claw Gang leaders. They probably wouldn't even look at me anyway."

"Then who are you looking for?"

"Just like you, a mid-level manager in the Tiger Claw Gang."

"You're connected to the Tiger Claw Gang too?"

"Of course, I'm a street kid, I grew up eating food from many families, I know all about gangs."

Doom seized the opportunity to flatter: "Boss is awesome!"

Vera grinned: "I've already told you, I'm not your boss! I'm a decent person!"

“Yes, yes, you’re a serious person,” Gustavo chuckled, then asked, “Who are you looking for?”

Vera replied, "Maiko Maeda, the person in charge of Genting."

Chapter 153 Taking Down the Tiger Claw Gang

Accompanied by his good friend Gustavo, Vera once again traveled to Genting Highlands.

“You have to help me prove to Martha, Vera, that I came to Genting Highlands entirely on business!” Gustavo said solemnly.

Vera said irritably, "Come on, the way you're smirking is harder to control than the muzzle of an M251S Ajax submachine gun!"

"Hehehe." Gustavo grinned lewdly. "We know each other perfectly well."

“Okay, we understand. Let’s pay now.” Vera pointed to the receptionist.

Gustavo asked in surprise, "I'm paying?"

"Otherwise, why would I have brought you here?"

"Didn't you bring me here because I'm mature, reliable, and have the demeanor of a great general?"

Vera was completely bewildered: "What are you babbling about? I brought you here so you could pay the bill."

Gustavo: "..."

With someone paying the bill, V finally entered the gates of Genting. She casually ordered a waiter, but instead of going to the waiter's private room, she led Gustavo past the security guards and surveillance cameras with practiced ease, heading towards the general manager's office.

Gustavo asked curiously, "You've been here before?"

Vera nodded: "A friend of mine once asked me to cause some trouble at Genting Highlands and try to overthrow the management, so I came here once."

Gustavo exclaimed in surprise, "Did you kill the wooden man and Sato Hiromi?"

"The wooden man was killed by the Tiger Claw Gang leader himself, while Hiromi Sato was killed by him."

Gustavo was confused: "Why would the Tiger Claw Gang leader kill his own underling?"

"Because the Tiger Claw Gang leader decided to replace Sato Hiromi with Maeda Maiko."

"How could the Tiger Claw Gang leader make this decision? Does Maeda Maiko have that much ability?"

“Maiko Maeda wasn’t very capable, but I sided with her and held a knife to the Tiger Claw Gang leader’s neck, so they agreed.”

"Why are you siding with Maeda Maiko again? Weren't you helping a friend overthrow the Genting management?"

"Because Maeda Maiko bribed me with money, and my friend neither paid me nor let me have sex, so I turned against him."

Gustavo's face was full of complicated emotions: "...Vera, you're a real beast."

Vera shrugged: "As a mercenary, whoever pays is the boss. That's what I call professional! Look, we're here."

The two took the staff elevator to a higher floor, which was Sato Hiromi's office not long ago, but now belongs to Maeda Maiko.

"Hi, Maiko." V greeted her in a friendly manner, then stated her purpose: "Have you heard about what happened with Haywood lately? How about joining us?"

Maeda Maiko glanced at the katana around her neck and happily joined the group.

Vera said proudly, "I didn't expect I to be so eloquent."

Gustavo felt this had little to do with eloquence, but whatever, whatever Vera said.

He compromised, but Maeda Maiko did not. After listening to Vera's demands and the current situation, the self-proclaimed business elite immediately launched a counterattack.

"What you're doing is pointless and will only exacerbate the conflict. Have you ever considered how society can progress if everyone stops working and producing? I know there are problems with the existing system and distribution rules, but what we should be doing is changing and correcting them, not just giving up and lying low. That's just self-deception for the weak, while the truly strong will change the environment!"

"If you think Night City isn't good enough, then go and build Night City; if you think the company practices hegemony, then apply and join the company to change it from within! What you should do is change yourself, not attack the system and complain about the presidents of other companies! The place you are in is called Night City, and Night City is what you are. If you are positive and forge ahead, Night City will surely usher in true light in the near future!"

Maeda Maiko's words were forceful and clear. Gustavo, who was sprayed in the face with spittle, felt that there was some truth to them, so he turned to look at Vera.

Vera tilted her head: "What are you babbling about? Go talk to my personal AI assistant. Claptrap, here you go!"

So the teacher, Xiaochao, launched a purely academic rebuttal: "You say that if everyone doesn't produce, society can't progress? If that's true, then 'everyone,' who holds the key to social progress, should have the right to speak in society, instead of being relegated to the bottom of society, earning 3 euro cents an hour and working 24 hours a day all year round."

"In fact, whether in ancient or modern society, it is thinkers and scholars who drive social progress. The former propose the direction for progress, and the latter provide the impetus for progress. Only in this way can society continue to develop into a higher form. Without them, even if ordinary laborers worked tirelessly for ten thousand years, humanity would still be in a primitive state and would not change."

"To put it bluntly, most ordinary people are neither smart nor strong, have no ambition and are unwilling to strive. They live their lives in mediocrity and are indeed the losers you mentioned. But failure is not a sin. They have not obtained the corresponding rights, so they do not need to bear noble obligations. They are like worker ants in an ant colony, whose only job is to find food and bring it back to the anthill. As for how the ant colony develops and progresses, that has nothing to do with them from the beginning."

"Your idea of ​​changing Night City and joining the company is even more impossible, because a worker ant will never become a queen. It's not a matter of how hard it tries, but rather that there's simply no such upward mobility in the ant colony's operating rules. A worker ant will always be a worker ant, from the moment it hatches from the egg until the moment it dies; its identity is forever fixed."

"That's not true at all!" Maeda Maiko's face turned pale. "I became the manager of Cloud Peak through my own efforts!"