Chapter 218
V sold his soul to those idiots like Arasaka, but wasn't he the same?
In the wretched Night City, how many people haven't sold their souls while struggling to survive?
Unless you become like that Vera, turning yourself into a real Arasaka.
He relied on his relationship with the older sister V to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages, and made a name for himself by eating scraps left over from Arasaka's fingers, which allowed him to quickly become a well-known middleman in the local area.
Jackie has a clear understanding of this.
But isn't this the legendary path he's been pursuing?
Last year, he also tricked Faraday, a washed-up middleman in Santo Domingo, by giving him a rude awakening. That's exactly what he's always wanted to do!
"Looks like a very tricky and difficult task. Is it some kind of power struggle up there?"
After downing a can of beer, Jackie crushed the can in his hand.
How big is the bucket?
212
Chapter 212 Let's go and take out the Director of Special Operations of Arasaka.
If the security intelligence system of Night City Arasaka Tower has been rife with undercurrents recently, then the city's underground fringe world has been thriving for another year.
Riding the wave of the open and covert power struggle between the Free State and the New America, fueled by Arasaka's military technology and Militech, the demand for mercenaries is exceptionally high.
Those middlemen with connections have incredibly successful businesses and make a fortune.
Capable cyber mercenaries, whether lone wolves or teams, may not earn as much as middlemen, but in just one year in 2076, they can earn as much as they would in the previous years, or even ten.
Of course, this is all on the premise that you haven't ended up in some unknown, murky place. And that you're alive to enjoy this blessing.
Whether the money earned in a good year is enough to live comfortably for a few years depends on the individual. It's about being greedy when others are fearful, or fearful when others are greedy.
Maine felt it was necessary for him to pursue this blessing.
He led his family and team to enjoy this blessing!
This was a thought that Maine had carefully considered after receiving a call from his old friend Jackie Welles on New Year's Day afternoon in Night City, who told him that there might be a big job coming up.
Big job coming up!
This is probably no less serious than the Faraday Future scandal last year, which has created a hole for Militech and the new US.
However, when he informed his team members, who were already gathered together to celebrate the New Year, of the news, Maine calmed down in the face of the sharp-witted hacker Kiwi and the experienced veteran Falco's detailed questioning.
Santo Domingo belongs to the Dogtown Autonomous Region, or more specifically, the River Valley region jointly governed by the Barghest Mercenary Group and the NCPD.
In the old, wide alley on the edge of the block where the Martinez family home—the giant Apartment building— is located, in an abandoned factory, oil drums crackle and bonfires burn, the blue light from televisions and the flickering flames of grills illuminate Maine's rugged, combative punk face.
As night fell.
Maine sat cross-legged on the tattered sofa, the springs creaking.
With his upper body covered in dents from cybernetic modifications, he looked at his companions surrounding him and clicked his tongue.
He said in a deep voice, "Hey, hey, it's New Year's Day today, don't be so serious. Brother Jackie just said this job might be a bit big and tricky, it's not like we're going to kill Rosalind Miles."
He laughed and made a joke.
"I trust Mr. Wells' character."
Taking a bottle of beer from the refrigerator, Falco, the driver, wiped the foam from his mustache and asked, "Did you specify the type of commission?"
"Not yet."
Maine shook his head.
"Jackie just informed me in advance and told me to keep an eye out to avoid any scheduling conflicts."
"A high price means that the job can only be considered a big job for the company."
Kiwi was still wearing her signature red spider-patterned suit, hands in her pockets, leaning against the pool table. A half-smoked cigarette was stuck in her pink metal mask with holes and a breathing grille, and smoke rings were exhaled with her breath.
"It couldn't be the Barghest. We wouldn't touch something like that metal meat grinder collision. The Ye family, Kang Tao, and Zeta each have their agents. They might leak a small task to an outsider, but a big one is impossible."
After a moment's consideration, in a hoarse voice, she concluded. "Given Mr. Jack Wells' connections, it's highly likely that it's an internal job for Arasaka."
"Well?"
"What kind of request could it be?"
With her chin resting on her hand and her green twin ponytails swaying, Rebecca lay on the sofa, swinging her short legs, and said, "Is she going to be a black glove again, stealing things? Who will she give them to? Faraday is dead."
Tragic news!
Mr. Faraday, the biggest financial backer of the Maine's crew and the largest middleman in the Santo Domingo area, passed away in the middle of last year.
The reason is unknown. Anyway, according to the NCPD's whitewashing report, it was due to career setbacks, theft of family assets, and suicide out of grief and anger.
Maine had actually sensed something was wrong before the news broke.
Given Faraday's ruthless and greedy nature, after this incident, the Corporate Dog are no saints. The Militech, misled by intelligence, will definitely seek revenge and find scapegoats. Under pressure, Faraday is unlikely to let things go unpunished.
Faraday, however, remained completely silent, either fleeing when things went wrong or being caught and made a scapegoat by Night City's Militech intelligence department.
Just as Maine was wavering and preparing to lay low for a while, news broke that Faraday had died in his luxury apartment.
Suicide? Only an idiot would believe that!
Enemies, Arasaka, Militech, other middlemen who kick you when you're down, and even being shot in the back by the cyber mercenaries you recruited are all possibilities.
After all, Faraday's only flaw is his ability to make quick money; everything else about him is a weakness.
Their reputation is among the worst of the mixed bag of middlemen.
He acts as a middleman, but is unwilling to reveal much mission information to those who hire him, thus causing the deaths of many skilled mercenaries. He also seeks fame and reputation, preferring to maintain an aloof demeanor and avoid close relationships with mercenaries.
Do you think you're just Corporate Dog?
Er Gouzi is nothing but a bastard; he's even better at pretending than a real Corporate Dog!
Once they show signs of weakness, they will settle scores and avenge wrongs.
After Faraday's death, the most powerful middleman in the Santo Domingo area is now Muammar Reyes, known as "Old Captain".
That person was a good fit for Maine's crew; they'd collaborated a few times.
"I will not accept your opinion."
At that moment, a silvery female voice rang out.
Everyone present turned their heads and looked in the direction of the sound.
"Reason."
Looking at the young woman with long, flowing, light rainbow-colored hair not far away, Falco asked with a puzzled expression, "Lucy, is it still because of Arasaka? I'm sorry, I know you don't like talking about your past. But, when you were getting medicine for Maine, you had so many contacts with Gloria's son. Arasaka is actually no different from other Major Corporations."
Lucy's past is connected to Arasaka's, a fact that is an open secret within Maine's crew.
Similarly, who doesn't have a little secret?
No one, including Falco, would press the issue to find out the truth.
Everyone just assumes that Lucy was hurt by Arasaka in the past.
These Major Corporations, every move they make can affect the fate of countless people. There are far too many people in the world who have been hurt like Lucy.
Just like another hacker in Maine's crew who once partnered with Kiwi, he died because of his old ties with Biotechnology companies.
Lucy was found and replaced by Kiwi later.
"No."
Lucy gently shook her head. "It has nothing to do with my personal likes or dislikes towards Arasaka."
Despite her introverted nature, she wasn't stupid; she naturally sensed Maine and Kiwi's good intentions—that they were entrusting her with the task of trading the new drug with David Martinez.
This was to help her overcome her fear of Arasaka and the inner turmoil she felt after meeting him. Because the other person was the child of a trusted acquaintance.
Through Pilar, the long-armed man who was busy grilling Mexican meat nearby, Rebecca's brother, a skinny guy who liked to make his body proportions look seriously off, Lucy learned about her ex-boyfriend Sasayakovleva.
While infiltrating Biotechnology alone to copy data for a mission, he unexpectedly discovered the dark secret about the medication his mother had taken as a child. He decided to risk his life to reveal this information, which led to him being discovered by the Biotechnology's protective robots. After a battle, he was shot and fell to his death from a high place.
Maine and Kiwi were also afraid that she would follow Sasayakoveva's example and suddenly go crazy during the mission and want to explode with Arasaka.
Lucy appreciated the kindness.
I'll keep it in mind.
She won't learn from Sasayakovleva.
Lucy knew clearly that she was different from her predecessor. It was true that she had a grudge against Arasaka, but she was by no means an outsider who was harmed by Arasaka. She was a victim of Arasaka's distorted internal atmosphere. Only she herself knew that, in some ways, she was the same as Vera Adelheid Russell, a descendant of Arasaka's meritorious employees.
The only difference is that her parents are still alive, they belong to different jurisdictions, their parenting style is more unhealthy, and their positions are not as high as Vera's parents'.
Most importantly, Lucy admits that she doesn't have Vera's strong personal abilities and mental fortitude.
She can't do it.
Even if Vera were in Vera's position, she wouldn't be able to rise to prominence as quickly and aggressively as Vera, gain Saburo Arasaka's approval, or even compete with the rightful heir, Sano Arasaka, for the right to inherit the Arasaka Corporation.
Arasaka...
There's nothing to be afraid of anymore.
Given the tense situation in North America, it is unlikely that her parents will be able to find her.
Perhaps they've already had a newborn child and started using a secondary account.
Lucy had been hoping for this from time to time over the past year.
Because of my childhood experience of 'deep diving' to retrieve Old Net data at the Arasaka training base, the lingering resentment I had towards Arasaka has largely dissipated.
People do grow.
Come to think of it, it's all thanks to that silly kid named David Martinez.
My first impression of him was quite frightening. He had a stern face, and his military-grade cybernetic body made him a pure killing machine.
However, after getting to know him better, because she needed to trade Arasaka's new flexible inhibitor for Maine, Lucy hacked into and checked some of Mann's student information from his time at the Arasaka Academy. Wow, what clear eyes.
He looks silly, like the kind of kid who would help someone count the money even if they were sold out.
Through Lucy's indirect approach and networking, although the boy still strictly adhered to the regulations of the Arasaka Security Department and kept his mouth shut, it was enough for Lucy to get a general understanding of his personality.
Over time, she improved her bad habit of easily getting emotional whenever she encountered Operator Arasaka.
In addition, due to her mercenary work with Maine, she had come into contact with many Arasaka Employee. The red-haired woman who was Jackie Welles's backer and worked in Arasaka's Counter-Intelligence Department had not contacted her again and had not discovered her identity.
Judging from a single spot, Jackie is a kind-hearted big guy. The red-haired woman with a shaved head is said to be his close friend. She looks fierce, but she's actually not that bad. Judging from this, she's definitely better than the parents who sent her and their own daughter to the 'Deep Diving Supplies Factory'.
Indeed, she has become more relaxed now.
Even the long-cherished dream of escaping the mundane world and settling on the moon seems to have been abandoned...
I was naive before.
Look at the 'Frankfurt Incident' that broke out last October. There's still Arasaka on the moon, which is a private domain for Major Corporations.
Going to the moon to see it has become a wish she wants to fulfill.
But the time to fulfill that wish is not now.
Currently, money should be spent wisely.
Money can be earned again, and the purchase of a lunar ticket can be postponed, but improving one's own hacking skills is of paramount importance.
Examples include specialized black-hat customer service systems, network access warehouses with higher data throughput, implants that enhance hacking capabilities, and hacker fan chairs equipped with modules that amplify computing power.
She and Kiwi have successively purchased and installed them.
The entire team was in the same boat, riding the wave of the booming mercenary market in 2076, and with the substantial funds provided by the Faraday deal, creating a positive cycle. Everyone earned a considerable amount of euros, and their weapons were all upgraded.
The only problem is Maine. The military-grade [Sandevistan] is powerful, but it's too dangerous. What he needs most is to reduce the burden, or replace it with a new type of prosthetic that puts less pressure on his nerves while maintaining the same performance, as well as various new drugs to suppress Cyberpsychosis.
If we don't reduce the burden, we'll have to spend money.
Fortunately, 2076 was a good year for making money, so Maine postponed the reduction of his burden once again.
According to him, the first priority is to make money.
Fortunately, Arasaka's new drug was effective in suppressing the onset of the disease. This year, there was also a specially supplied improved model available internally. Through the purchase channels of Jackie and David, which were priced below market value, the consumption could be maintained well, and there was a considerable surplus in income.