After Su Wen successfully activated his 'Confuser' skill,
the head of security at Fals Casino believed him and stopped the escalating dispute that was about to turn into a brawl:
"Vern, the owner of Freezing Point Bar, come with me."
In Detroit, compared to the White Hound,
few people knew the name Vern, so
in most people's eyes,
he was no different from any other gambler causing trouble in a casino.
Vern Onions, with his gray-white hair, glanced at Su Wen. At that moment, he probably needed to reassess the value of Gore's friend.
After all, someone who knew his information and had used it to rope in Fals Casino and frame Leis Angton
was very likely affiliated with a rival corporation. Schlote Heavy Industries? Or Aseia Life Technology?
The White Hound had no time to think about such matters.
You experienced the event: Persuader You gained one opportunity to draw a temporary Ability Card for this game. You obtained Skill Card: Buffer Skill Card: Buffer Lv. 2 (Energy Cost 0–100%): Based on the proportion of psionic energy spent, provides corresponding damage mitigation against the next incoming attack.
A pretty good skill.
Gore enjoyed a bit of fun,
but he did not think joining Vern in making trouble was a good choice. Now that there was room for negotiation, he might even get the fifteen hundred dollars in compensation for free.
As a result, he held Su Wen in even higher regard.
His favorability also rose further.
"Hey, brother, you really pulled it off. Sure enough, only Leis Angton would dare do something like this."
He continued admiringly,
"If it were me, I'd probably pin it on the Carnival Convoy."
Su Wen did not answer.
He was sorting through just how tangled the forces within Detroit, this chaotic Night City, truly were.
The three followed the head of security into an elevator and arrived at Old York's luxurious office on the fourth floor.
York was a fat man. Leaning back on the sofa with a cigar in hand, he narrowed his eyes and asked:
"I heard Leis Angton has set its sights on me, so this former White Hound of yours came to recruit the Fals Merchant Guild?"
Vern knew Su Wen was using his hidden identity to make the lie more believable.
So he was not foolish enough to refute it. Instead, he gave a hoarse, ambiguous answer:
"What exactly Leis Angton has done is something you cannot possibly be unaware of, Old York. The Night Watch has already set its sights on them. Do you think you can get away?"
Upon hearing that,
a system prompt lit up before Su Wen's eyes:
Information acquired: Uncover Leis Angton's secret experiment in progress. Note: Maintaining order in Detroit's night amid chaos—perhaps you have underestimated the Night Watch's capabilities.
Other than Old Man Lin from the old bookshop and the identity he had used when meeting the Duke of Bavaria,
Su Wen had not actually come into contact with the Night Watch organization.
The scene continued.
Old York leaned against the sofa.
"I am indeed afraid. That is why tonight's Coastal Neon Racing Bet will also be the final investment made by Detroit's Fals Merchant Guild."
The fat merchant, still squinting, continued:
"If you merely came to exchange information with me,
then I don't think my relationship with the White Hound responsible for taking out trash is good enough for that."
Old York rubbed the cigar in his hand against an obsidian ashtray.
A trace of sharpness entered his voice.
"This city does not believe in friendship or ridiculous mutual aid.
It believes only in profit and madness.
Vern, what do you want, and what can you bring me?"
"My daughter was taken. I have to save her before those beasts do anything to her."
Vern stared straight at York with his scarred eyes.
Then he continued in a low voice,
"You find out where my daughter is and provide entry clearance. In return, I'll eliminate any danger that may come afterward."
"You should have said that from the start."
York seemed to become that smiling businessman once more.
He spoke slowly.
"A request that is no trouble to me, in exchange for a good chance to make Leis Angton destroy itself from within.
It sounds quite good.
But those stakes are not enough."
He had already figured out Vern's bottom line.
So,
squeezing him to the bone became something a heartless merchant had to do.
At that moment,
Su Wen, who had gradually figured out the relationships between Detroit's major Black Gangs and giant corporations, said calmly:
"Putting aside the rest of the information, Mr. York, are you interested in personally taking part in a bet?"
"Oh? What kind of bet?"
The merchant's information was very clear.
It was this unfamiliar, handsome gentleman who had stopped a conflict from breaking out.
Compared to bargaining with the White Hound, who was used to killing,
speaking with a smart person would probably take less effort.
As a businessman,
York considered this mysterious gentleman to be that smart person.
Su Wen said with a smile:
"I need an entry slot for the Coastal Neon Racing Bet."
"What do you want? The champion's prize money?"
"Probably."
"Then what happens if you lose?"
"Fifty-two million dollars."
He showed the account he had obtained from "working diligently" at Schlote Heavy Industries.
"Mr. York, greed is good. But if cowardice makes you hesitant and timid,
then I can pretend I never mentioned this bet."
Su Wen sat calmly across from the American businessman with the Californian accent. His deep eyes were impossible to read.
At that moment,
the initiative had shifted to his side.
Gore said beside him,
"Are you crazy? Those lunatics in the Carnival Convoy don't care who you are."
"City of Chaos has no shortage of lunatics."
Su Wen answered with a calm smile:
"And like you and Vern, I need answers.
So the sense of ceremony and the process are necessary as well."
Su Wen had already grasped the true meaning of City of Chaos.
This place had its own order.
Humans freely defined how they viewed others according to their own likes and dislikes.
But,
no matter what,
there was one thing
they all agreed on:
They needed noise.
Noise that lasted all night!
"I agree,"
Old York said with narrowed, smiling eyes.
"After all, it only took ten minutes for me to realize that we can definitely become friends."
Because you proposed a sufficiently unequal bet, York admired your 'confidence' and bank account without considering you a fool. Fals Merchant Guild faction favorability +40. Current player buff obtained: Seventeen-Sided Dice +10 Buff Effect: 1. The next instance of damage you deal will trigger a dice roll during calculation and be multiplied according to the result. A result above 9 is positive; below 9 is negative. 2. If you happen to gamble your way into a positive outcome, you will gain good luck lasting ten minutes.
At that moment,
a task chain glowing with faint golden light appeared in his vision:
Hidden S-Rank Mission: A Great Legend Belonging to City of Chaos Activation Condition: Have friendliness above +30 with three or more factions. Under normal circumstances, this would be nearly impossible for a stranger to accomplish unless they simply threw money at them. Or: Become sworn enemies with more than ten factions. Completion Conditions: 1. Personally destroy a faction. 2. Leave this city with an unforgettable memory. Note: There are two elements to becoming a legend. First, overcome an impossible task. Second, be crazy enough.
Because Detroit involves multiple ruins and is not far from the border waters of the Lost Sea,
your subsequent achievement progress will determine changes to the Future Timeline: the direction of the Mist Sea Route event and the beginning of the Will Rising revolution.
Su Wen finished reading every prompt.
Half an hour later,
amid boiling cheers and wildly sweeping neon lights,
he arrived at preparation area number twenty-five for the mountain race.
Inside the garage there,
was the most bare-bones, outdated racing car.
Before you continue