Chapter 267 - 248: But Night City Is Just Like This (Still Frozen, the Silver Godfather)

Red Shirt Mental Hospital, the former location of the unlicensed doctor.

David’s gang lay in rows on the beds, watching the news, looking at each other.

Besides David, another person lay in the next room: Tiago Ramirez, the veteran who nearly perished in a suicidal fight that night.

The veteran’s consciousness was still somewhat dazed, a typical state of recovery from cyberpsychosis, similar to Cedric before.

Next to him was a little girl, about 10 years old, sitting quietly without making a fuss. If observed closely, one would know that the little girl was completely lost on what to do.

"WNS TV brings you the news..."

"Last night’s terrorist attack on the H8 skyscraper was undoubtedly a major blow to the law and public order of Night City."

"Several officers stated that the terrorists were terrifying cyberpsychos, leaving the victims’ bodies in boxes with blood even flowing out."

"An NCPD officer said, ’I heard they were called Terror Flesh Burger until I saw this scene, I finally understood the meaning of the name.’"

"’Yes, they really put people in...burgers. I guess that box was some sort of human meat processing device... oh... sorry, I... oh...’"

Upon hearing this, Lille’s face darkened. He turned off the TV and looked at David.

Just now, Lille was learning about the events that happened at Phoenix Nightclub that evening.

"Continue."

"Uh... okay, Evil Source gave up resistance. The middleman found his girlfriend’s body in Phoenix, it had already been... in the fire for some time.

Mr. Ramirez was deceived by Jotaro. Jotaro tricked him into thinking that solving the problem would lead to his daughter’s release.

But..."

David hesitated to say more. Regina took over: "But Ramirez’s daughter had been dead for a long time already, a 17-year-old girl. Jotaro had displayed her at the front, with her organs hollowed out."

Both men were deceived by Jotaro. Jotaro promised each of them that he would release their loved ones, but he had no such intention.

Evil Source perhaps subconsciously realized the truth but chose to lose himself in the current situation, accepting modification and becoming his enforcer.

Ramirez believed that Jotaro responded only to force. He had no idea his daughter had long been dead—or, perhaps, he refused to accept that reality.

Regardless, one chose to submit and the other to resist, but both broke down at the same time, turning their blades on each other.

In a way, they were similar, wanting the same things. Without these events, they might have become friends—

But Night City... is like that."

After Regina finished speaking, the room fell into a brief silence.

Regina sighed and continued, "Jotaro’s tragedies didn’t end there.

The little girl in the room was the ’cargo’ in the van that night, luckily rescued.

I investigated, her father was a scumbag too, frequently visiting Phoenix Nightclub to gamble, solicit prostitutes, and do drugs, unemployed and living off others.

He kept his 70-year-old mother locked up in a makeshift iron house in the slums, giving her no money, and if he didn’t give her food—which was actually food injections—she didn’t eat.

The old mother had feeding tubes and prosthetics all over her body.

When he ran out of money, he sold his daughter to Jotaro.

When we accompanied the girl home, her grandmother had just starved to death."

Lille glanced at the other room. Ramirez’s dazed eyes looked at the little girl, gently stroking her messy hair.

The girl didn’t react, sitting quietly, just as she did in the van’s compartment that night.

"It’s over, after all."

Regina exhaled deeply, as if trying to expel all the pent-up emotions from her chest.

But these events were just a small part of life in Night City.

Warm family bonds were actually rare. It was more common to see people falling out, turning against each other, and committing murder for money.

After a while, David suddenly lifted his head, "I want to implant the Si Anweisitan from Evil Source!"

Everyone looked at him in surprise.

Man was dissatisfied, "Hey, kid, if anyone’s going to have it, it’s me first..."

"No! I will," David interrupted firmly. "Brother Man, you already have too many prosthetics. Even if you turn some off, you’re near the limit.

The body’s tolerance decreases permanently with each implant. I’ve hardly got any prosthetics. I’m the best candidate for the implant."

This dispute... Lille turned away, walking to the wall with Regina.

Regina started, "You guys took down 172 registered Tiger Claw Gang members that day. The bounty totaled 85,000 euros.

Then there’s the commission fee. According to your request, the buyer arranged for your evacuation, so the price is a bit lower. After deducting the fee, your share is 70,000 euros.

Lastly, there’s the bounty for taking down Jotaro—I’ll give it to you separately. I had a commission from Mox that I hadn’t used. The 50,000 euros are all yours."

Transfer: +205,000 euros

Account Balance: 361,704 euros

Not bad, the account had another 300,000 euros.

Finishing the settlement, Lille asked, "What’s your next plan?"

"There’s still a lot of trouble linked to Jotaro. I guess I’ll be busy taking on commissions from those angry victims for a while.

Remember the human trafficker Zaixian? He was actually a Scavenger and did pretty well under Jotaro.

I’ve pinpointed their lair. Interested?"

"Me? We need to lay low. You should think about... them."

Lille pointed at David’s group in the room.

Finally, the dispute was resolved.

David finally used solid reasoning, along with suggestions from the others in the team—

Especially Dolly’s strong recommendation: a heavy blow, convinced Man.

Lille turned slightly, only to see David looking at him with bright eyes.

So he looked back at Regina, "What do you think?"

Regina smiled, "Of course. With Si Anweisitan and that experience, they’ll be some of the best on the streets.

Regarding this hospital... I checked it out for you. No gang backers, but they cooperate a lot with Scavengers...

What are your plans?"

Lille pointed out the window.

Rumble...

The heavy engine sound from afar clashed with the typical car noises of Night City.

Four Wanderer vehicles parked by the roadside. Pan’an got out and waved to Lille, looking excited.

A few Wanderers took big guns from the trunk and carried them on their shoulders, walking towards the hospital.

Reaver and Anna were downstairs too, in NCPD uniforms, leading the way.

"From now on, this is Adkaduo’s base in the city."

"What about the staff?"

"There are plenty of young people looking for jobs in Westbrook, with some help from contacts over there, and many people willing to do legitimate work instead of being sex dolls."

Regina nodded in agreement but then said oddly, "You realize that sounds a bit discriminatory against sex dolls, right?"

"Huh?" Lille scratched his head, "To be honest, I do feel they should choose more empowering jobs."

"I should clarify that I agree with your views, but Mox Gang won’t necessarily feel the same—

Those girls idolize you now. Better not let them know your thoughts, or their fantasy might shatter."

"I’m not in media, no idol baggage."

Regina looked more amused, "And I’m in media."

"...Can we drop this? Contact me if anything comes up."

"Speaking of which..." Regina suddenly said, "A big shot wants to contact you, Jefferson Peralares, a mayoral candidate. He helped with the skyscraper incident."

Lille raised an eyebrow, "Did he say what it’s about?"

"It’s about the northern Watson industrial zone. He wants to discuss it in person. Just asked me for your contact info. What’s your take?

My advice: think carefully. Collaborating with politicians isn’t simple. If you’re uncertain, I can mediate."

Lille stroked his chin, thinking: Almost everyone advises against getting involved in politics unless you have an organization behind you.

But on a personal level... you might not care about politics, but politics will care about you.

Lille wasn’t the type to avoid politics—in fact...

Though his memories were hazy, he felt this was where he excelled.

"Let’s talk first. I have to speak to my people and prepare for some prosthetic surgeries."

"Alright."

They briefly parted ways.

Jack and V waited in the hallway outside. They both looked thoughtful.

Finally, V asked the question lingering in their minds.

"Lille... is implanting prosthetics really that dangerous? What were they arguing about?"

Lille looked at the various expressions of David’s group inside, then at the two clear-eyed guys in front of him...

Slowly he said, "With me, there’s no danger."

"You’re awesome, mano. I knew we could count on you!"

Jack gave Lille a hearty slap, and V smiled slightly, "So cocky, you."

Lille shrugged.

That was how it was.

[Unstable energy imminent.]

[Countdown: 24 hours]