Starting from Night City

The remaining forty-five percent are stationed in the Corporation Plaza and City Center.

Less than five percent are responsible for policing the rest of Night City.

From this, it's clear the NCPD is stretched thin.

Therefore, petty theft isn't even considered a big deal in Night City.

In fact, if Jack hadn't hit a rich person's car, Stints might have just turned a blind eye, considering they were from the same hometown.

Of course, letting them go scot-free wouldn't fly.

First, beat them up to teach them a lesson.

Then, dump them by the trash cans.

Just as Stints was about to do that, an unexpected person appeared.

Chapter 17: That Accent is Colonel-Level at Least

"These two are the thieves? Just common street trash?"

A man in a suit, speaking with an accent at least at the Colonel-level, walked over.

Stints covered his face.

"Damn, why is he here?"

Fujioka Kaoru, a rich man from Japan whose wealth surpassed that of everyone in Heywood combined.

One of only four Rayfield Lake Maiden Sword hypercars in the entire city.

And the owner of one of them.

He was also the man in the suit Su Xiao had seen on the computer earlier, the one who advocated for hunting down the poor.

Stints didn't want Fujioka Kaoru to interfere.

These rich people never saw the poor as human.

If Jack and the girl fell into his hands, they might not even survive.

So, he quickly said, "They've been apprehended, Mr. Fujioka. We'll take them away now."

But what Fujioka Kaoru said next was beyond his expectations.

"You're wasting your time. I don't have time to testify in court or cooperate with your investigation."

Stints froze.

He could hardly believe this rich man could be so reasonable.

He then tentatively asked, "Are, are you saying we should let them go, sir?"

"I'm saying throw them into the sea. Shackled, with their legs broken, so they don't float up later."

With that, Fujioka Kaoru left with his two bodyguards, who looked like sumo wrestlers.

Stints glared at Fujioka Kaoru's retreating back.

It took all his willpower not to spit.

He knew it, these rich people were all the same.

"You... understand?"

Stints gave his subordinates a look.

After all, once Fujioka Kaoru was gone, how would he know if they really threw these two into the sea?

These rich people were so annoying. He was a public official, not his subordinate, yet he spoke with such arrogance.

The officers holding the two men took out their batons.

Just as they were about to act, a cylindrical object was suddenly thrown from not far away.

A blinding white light erupted from the ground, filling everyone's vision.

The world they saw was reduced to a blank white expanse.

Then, a few more cylindrical objects of different shapes were thrown.

This time, they were smoke bombs.

Hiss!

Green gas quickly spread.

"Damn it, they have accomplices?"

"Don't shoot, I repeat, do NOT f***ing shoot!"

Stints yelled in panic.

His own men were all around.

If they started shooting, the chance of hitting their own was much higher than hitting an enemy.

In the chaos, Jack felt himself being pulled up.

His eyes were also blinded by the flash.

But he could guess it was Su Xiao.

"Don't mind me, I'll be fine. You go get her."

"Are you sure, Jack?"

According to Jack, he only worked for reliable Fixers.

So, this job Wakako assigned them definitely wouldn't be wrong.

The only explanation for the NCPD appearing here so quickly was that girl.

She must have been carrying something that triggered the alarm.

That's why the NCPD arrived so fast.

"Absolutely, positively, definitely sure."

So Su Xiao went over, slung the girl's arm over his shoulder, and propped her up.

The girl startled and instinctively tried to resist.

"Don't struggle, I'll get you out."

The effect of the flashbang, and the smoke from the smoke grenade, wouldn't last forever.

They had to leave quickly before then.

Su Xiao supported the girl and walked ahead.

Jack followed closely behind, and the three of them returned the way they came.

They took the elevator back to the alley outside the back door.

Jack's eyes had recovered a little.

He mustered his strength and led the way.

But Su Xiao stopped him.

"Don't go that way, go this way."

The direction Su Xiao pointed wasn't the alley exit they came from.

It was the back of the alley.

There was a trash can there.

Stepping on the trash can, they could climb up to the car ramp above.

Jack climbed up first, then the girl.

Su Xiao was last.

At this moment, the NCPD officers also gave chase.

Without a word, Su Xiao threw another flashbang.

Ignoring the groans from below, the three of them hailed a taxi and quickly left, disappearing into the dazzling neon lights.

The three of them got out of the car not far from the Wolf Bar.

Jack and V's eyes were still a bit uncomfortable.

But walking was no longer a problem.

The girl said gratefully, "Thank you. If it weren't for you, I might not have escaped."

The girl extended her hand.

"I'm V."

Su Xiao shook her hand.

He pointed to himself, then to Jack, "Su, Jack."

V's eyes widened in surprise.

"Jack? You don't happen to be named Wells, do you?"

"You guessed right."

"Then who is Mrs. Wells to you?"

"She's my mom. This Wolf Bar is her turf."

Jack scratched the back of his head. "Wait, I think I remember you. You've been to the Wolf Bar before?"

"I took the car theft job there, Kirk's deal."

As soon as he heard the name "Kirk," Jack's eyebrows furrowed. "Why would you cooperate with that piece of shit?"

V's expression was complicated, full of helplessness.

She knew, of course, that Kirk was trash.

There was more than one Fixer in the city, and Kirk was one of them.

But Kirk was absolutely the

worst Fixer, bar none.

The jobs he offered were high-risk and low-reward, and his intel was either fake or nonexistent.

As a result, few mercenaries in the city were willing to work with Kirk.

If there was one thing he was good at, it was his mouth.

He could talk circles around anyone, especially when it came to making promises.

It sometimes made one wonder if this guy had come from a Corporation.

Because when it came to making empty promises, no one could beat the bosses.

"Peppy owes him a lot of money and can't pay it back, so I stepped in."

"Hey, you really let that slippery Kirk play you like a fiddle, huh?"

"Everyone's saying he's backed by a gang."

Jack heard this and laughed.

"A gang? No, no, no, listen to me, I know gangs, and I can guarantee they've never even heard of Kirk."

"Come on, let's go have a serious talk with Kirk. We can't let that guy think he can screw over someone from Heywood and get away with it."

Chapter 18: You've Walked Into a Tight Spot, Kirk

The three of them returned to the Wolf Bar together.

They went to wash up and tidy themselves first.

Then they went to see Peppy.