Starting from Night City

It wasn't that Peppy had deliberately kept it from Su Xiao.

It was just that all he knew was that V had asked Jack to go out with him.

As for what exactly they had gone to do, Peppy had no idea.

Taking a bite of his burger with some milk, Su Xiao suddenly thought of something.

Yesterday, he had given V three hundred thousand euros.

And Jack had helped him find his apartment.

So there was an eighty-percent chance that V had asked Jack to help find him an apartment too.

That was why they had left Wolf Bar so early.

The more Su Xiao thought about it, the more certain he became that this was it.

Although Su Xiao's reasoning was perfectly logical, even if he racked his brains, he never would have guessed

that the truth was more than that.

Besides finding an apartment, V more importantly wanted Jack to give him some advice.

What kind of gift would be suitable for Su Xiao's birthday?

Su Xiao planned to sit in the bar for a while.

If he had rested enough and V and Jack still had not returned, he would use the spare time to make another batch of Tech Weapons.

No one ever complained about having too little money.

Even if money really became nothing more than a string of numbers, Su Xiao still wanted that string to be as large and as long as possible.

"Hey, interested in taking a job?"

A voice came from beside him.

Su Xiao turned his head.

The speaker wore sunglasses.

He looked to be in his forties.

He was fairly tall, with no beer belly and a decent build.

He wore a striped shirt and dress pants.

A refined watch sat on his wrist.

Su Xiao had seen this man before.

He vaguely remembered him.

The man came to Wolf Bar sometimes too.

Su Xiao had heard others say that he seemed to be a reporter.

As for his name, Su Xiao had never paid attention.

"What is it?"

"A chance to get rich. Do me a favor and come somewhere with me. Interested?"

Su Xiao looked him up and down.

"You should take this to a fixer first."

"A fixer, my ass. They're just out to rip people off—nothing but middlemen. No fixer. We'll deal directly, and you'll get a bigger cut. You don't want a deal that good?"

The rule in Night City was that when employers had work, they first sent it to a fixer, who then connected them with suitable mercenaries.

If online shopping were used as an example, fixers were like platforms, responsible for coordinating between employers and mercenaries.

If a dispute arose between the two sides, the fixer would step in and smooth things over.

Of course, just as there were many shopping websites, there was more than one fixer in the city.

Some were reliable, and naturally, some were not.

Mercenaries could also deal directly with employers, but if something went wrong afterward, there would be no fixer to settle it.

Su Xiao gave the reporter another few looks.

He didn't think the man would try to screw him over.

Of course, even if he did, Su Xiao had the means to make sure he got no good juice out of it.

"Sure. But you need to tell me clearly what this is about first. I hate people who speak in riddles."

"My name is Max Jones. I'm a reporter, but don't lump me in with those corporate mouthpieces."

Max adjusted the sunglasses on the bridge of his nose. "This morning, someone named Esteban contacted me. We didn't discuss any details over the phone—we agreed to meet in person instead. I want you to protect me."

Su Xiao used the last bit of bread to wipe up the remaining sauce on his plate and stuffed it into his mouth. "You're afraid of meeting your informant?"

"First, he isn't my informant. Second, you have no idea how dangerous it is to go against the corporations. I don't know this Esteban. He might really have dirt on the corporations, but he could also be a trap meant to lure me in."

"I'm not sure, which is why I came to you. I know you, the bar owner's son, and a girl. You're all mercenaries."

"I can pay you, provided you can keep me alive—so I can go on exposing the corporations' hidden secrets."

Max's expression was resolute.

He wasn't putting on an act.

He truly stood by his principles.

At the same time, he wasn't stupid.

He knew exactly how dangerous this line of work was.

One careless slip, and ending up with a dozen bullets in your back after "committing suicide" was practically routine.

That was why he had come to hire mercenaries to protect him.

Under the oppression and shadow of Corporate Colonialism, most

people could only submit.

People like Max, brave enough to fight the corporations, were rarer than gold.

So, as long as it was within his ability, Su Xiao was willing to help.

"Alright. I'll take the job."

Su Xiao told Max to wait a moment.

He called Jack.

"Su, what is it?"

"I just took on a job here. It's a protection detail..."

Su Xiao quickly explained the situation.

"How long until you guys can get back?"

For some reason, Jack sounded somewhat anxious and hurried. "Uh, Su, now's not a good time to talk. I'm a little busy over here... I've got to hang up. We can talk later."

Before Su Xiao could say anything else, Jack cut the connection.

"Beep, beep, beep—"

Listening to the busy tone after the call ended, Su Xiao froze.

He didn't know whether it was just his imagination, but he felt like he had faintly heard gunfire and explosions in the background.

Had V and Jack happened to take on a job while they were out as well?

Su Xiao wasn't especially worried about their safety.

Neither V nor Jack was the type to recklessly show off and get themselves covered in wounds.

Su Xiao wouldn't simply assume that V and Jack couldn't handle jobs independently without him.

That would be genuinely insulting to them.

They had been born in Night City and were more accustomed to this city's rules than he was.

Besides, when Su Xiao had been making Tech Weapons for the Padre, he had specifically set aside some materials and parts

to upgrade both of them with Tech Weapons, replacing their old gear with something far better.

If some clueless Scavengers or gang thugs actually picked a fight with them, the ones who ought to be worried would be the other side.

Facing Max's questioning gaze, "My partners have something going on. Looks like it'll just be the two of us this time."

Chapter 36: Coo, Just Kill Me Already (Not Really)

The difference between the Northside Industrial District and the comparatively more prosperous Chinatown and Kabuki District was obvious at a glance.

The roads were narrower, and the buildings were shorter.

There was less traffic, too.

Especially the farther north they went, the more pronounced the disparity became.

"You look a little nervous," Su Xiao's gaze shifted downward. "Your hands are shaking nonstop. Are you cold?"

Max, seated in the passenger seat, shoved his hands into his pockets.

"Watch the road, please."

Su Xiao smiled.

"Don't worry. I'm not some rookie either. If there really is an ambush ahead, I'll get us out safely."

Su Xiao did not think much of the ambush Max was worried about.

His Tactical Goggles had a scanning mode.

If there really was an ambush, he would spot it from far away.

Then he could just turn around and run.

"Just up ahead... Wait, what's that?"

Max's eyes widened.

He stared fixedly at the sky.

Seeing his reaction, Su Xiao curiously looked up as well.

Two pitch-black heavy AVs were slowly rising into the air not far ahead.

Blue flames spilled from the thrusters beneath them, carrying the heavy AVs swiftly away.

Though they were moving quickly, the two still made out the painted insignia on the AVs—

Arasaka's three-leaf clover!!!

Su Xiao and Max exchanged a glance.

Neither could hide the shock in their eyes.

Max slumped back against the passenger seat.

As if all strength had left his body.