Starting From Night City

The muzzle flash, precise, shattered the shoe.

The Sparkle inside spilled out, scattering across the truck's cargo bed.

The driver, startled by the gunshot, thought there was a shootout nearby and slammed the accelerator, speeding the truck away.

Only after the truck completely disappeared from view did Su Xiao stand up from the ground and sling the Ice Storm Sniper Rifle onto his back.

He called out to Jack and V.

"Alright, we can head back now."

"What?" Jack looked utterly bewildered.

That's it?

It was over just like that?

No emptying a few magazines, no killing anyone, and it was done?

His face was full of disbelief.

V, however, seemed to guess something and looked thoughtful.

The driver steered the truck to the border checkpoint, awaiting clearance to exit.

He patted himself down, finding no missing parts and no bleeding wounds.

He let out a big sigh of relief.

Sitting in the truck, he patiently waited for the inspection.

Bringing goods from the All Foods Factory and selling them in the Wasteland.

He'd done this countless times before.

He knew the procedure by heart.

There wouldn't be any problems.

"Beep beep beep! Beep beep beep!"

Just then, the alarm blared frantically.

The border guards reacted as if facing a major threat, aiming their weapons at the truck.

"Get out of the vehicle, quickly!"

"Stay still! No funny business!"

"Put your hands where I can see them! Now!"

The driver, confused, was roughly dragged out of the truck in his bewilderment and pinned to the ground.

"Search thoroughly!"

The border guards opened the cargo hold and began a meticulous inspection.

But after rummaging through the cargo, all they found were the foodstuffs being transported from the All Foods Factory.

Everything seemed normal.

A veteran guard seemed to have an idea.

He drew his dagger and slashed open one of the truck's tires.

Sure enough, he discovered bags upon bags of Sparkle hidden inside the tire.

The driver, pinned to the ground, turned ashen.

This was bad.

The job was screwed.

Even if he didn't go to prison, the Vortex Gang wouldn't let him off the hook.

The border guards, however, didn't care what the driver was thinking.

This was a major bust.

One subordinate excitedly reached for his comms to report to the Corporation, but was stopped by the station chief.

"Wait, don't report it yet."

"Boss?"

The subordinate's eyes darted with surprise.

The station chief had other plans.

This truck had the All Foods Factory logo on it.

The All Foods Factory was Brick's territory within the Vortex Gang.

The Vortex Gang was divided into many factions, and Brick was just one of their leaders.

If this situation were reported...

The Corporation would at most offer a word of encouragement, a commendation, and then be done with it.

What good would that do?

Therefore, the station chief had a better idea than reporting it.

If he used this to blackmail Brick into giving him a cut of the profits.

Wouldn't that be wonderful?

"You go down first, keep an eye on the people, and also keep an eye on the goods. After this is done, I guarantee you'll get a reward."

His subordinate nodded.

Although he didn't quite understand, he excitedly went out after receiving the station chief's assurance.

The station chief remained in place, mentally rehearsing his approach to Brick several times, believing it to be perfect.

Just as he was about to call Brick, a phone call came in.

It was Mayor Ryan.

The station chief's expression changed, and a sudden sense of foreboding washed over him.

And indeed, that was the case.

Mayor Ryan's first words were:

"I heard that the Vortex Gang at the All Foods Factory is smuggling Sparkle by truck. Is that true?"

The station chief's mouth felt bitter.

He then realized that among the border guards, there were the Mayor's informants.

It must have been the Mayor's informants who tipped him off.

Since that was the case, he couldn't deny it.

There was no army in Night City.

Only the NCPD and the Riot Control Unit were still under the city hall's jurisdiction.

Everything else had been outsourced to Corporations.

For example, the border checkpoints were all staffed by Military Technology personnel.

The station chief was, of course, also from Military Technology.

He was directly appointed by the Corporation, and the city hall didn't pay his salary, so he wasn't afraid of Mayor Ryan.

But if the Mayor reported him to Military Technology.

His plan to extort Brick would be ruined.

It was a terrible situation.

"You did a good job with this. Thank you for your hard work. However, you don't need to worry about the next steps. I'll have the NCPD handle it. You can all rest well."

Chapter Twenty-Two: No One Knows the NCPD Better Than I Do

The station chief felt like spitting blood.

This was the outcome he least wanted to see.

He didn't want his subordinates to report to the Corporation because he didn't want the Corporation involved.

He hadn't expected the Corporation, but Mayor Ryan instead.

Although the process was different, the result was the same.

If he did nothing, not only would his plan fall through, but this merit would also be snatched away by someone else.

Suddenly, he had an idea.

"Wait, Mayor Ryan, I think there might be room for negotiation."

"Oh? Tell me about it."

"The All Foods Factory has always provided food for the lower class of Night City. Their profits are already not low, so there's no need for them to take such risks. I suspect a few unsavory individuals under Brick, acting without his knowledge, are responsible."

"So?"

"I think instead of a raid, we can call Brick out for a discussion. Since his subordinates are the ones who did wrong, he can discipline them himself. Of course, he should also pay a fine as a warning."

Although the station chief's words seemed like he was begging for mercy.

Anyone with a little common sense would know that a border checkpoint chief wouldn't beg for a gang leader.

These words were actually a subtle reminder to the Mayor.

Being too aggressive would only lead to a complete failure.

It would be better to demand benefits from Brick.

Of course, the station chief knew that if Mayor Ryan got involved, the Mayor would take the lion's share.

He'd be lucky to even get a bone, let alone any meat.

But even so, it was better than getting nothing.

You eat the meat, I'll gnaw the bones, and let that old geezer Brick drink the soup.

When everyone's doing well, that's when we're all truly well.

On the other end of the line, Mayor Ryan's voice drifted over.

"I understand what you mean."

The station chief couldn't help but feel excited. "Then, Mayor, you..."

"But I refuse! As the mayor of Night City, I am at odds with crime and cannot possibly collude with it!"

Mayor Ryan spoke with righteous indignation, his integrity seemingly about to burst forth from his backside.

"Given that you've busted such a large haul of Sparkle and provided important clues, I'll pretend I didn't hear what you just said. But next time, don't make me remind you."

With that, Mayor Ryan ended the communication.

At odds with crime?

The station chief twitched the corner of his mouth, a mocking expression on his face.

He himself, as station chief, had climbed his way up through the bloody power struggles within Military Technology.

How could he not know Mayor Ryan's thoughts?

Although Night City was an independent city, not belonging to any nation.

It was still not a city of dictators.

Ryan had held the position of mayor for quite some time.

He had been accused of taking money from Corporations more than once.

In fact, he had already lost public support during the last election and should have stepped down long ago.

It was "New America" that "helped" him.

The last election in Night City happened to be during the middle of the Unification War.