Starting from Night City

The Nomads fell silent.

They all began to seriously consider their next move.

If they chose to leave, the price would be never being able to roam the Wasteland again.

Because the Wasteland was Nomad territory, and if they didn't join a Tribe, they would be enemies of the Tribes.

It seemed they had no choice.

To continue living in the Wasteland, they could only accept the Serpent Nation's terms.

However, having just fought each other to the death moments ago, joining the enemy now was something the Nomads couldn't accept immediately.

Su Xiao, on the other hand, was thinking further ahead.

Currently, the Buckle Family was openly opposing the Serpent Nation, and they had clashed several times with casualties on both sides.

The magnanimity displayed by the Serpent Nation now looked like a trick from any angle.

They had sent fifty people, yet they couldn't take down a camp with only ten.

In the end, all fifty were annihilated.

Although the camp also suffered heavy casualties, didn't McCoy say that some of the people who went out together back then managed to escape?

What if those people returned when the Serpent Nation attacked the camp again, and they collaborated with the defenders from the inside?

Therefore, in Su Xiao's opinion, this seemed like the Serpent Nation's attempt to reduce losses by coaxing everyone into surrendering and disintegrating the Buckle Family.

Once the Buckle Family was completely annexed and digested, they would settle accounts later.

McCoy glanced at the others and pulled Su Xiao aside, "Su, what are your plans?"

"I don't want to live the Nomad life anymore. I'm planning to try my luck in Night City."

"Alright, I respect your choice..." McCoy leaned closer and lowered his voice, "Don't forget what I told you yesterday. You'll need the supplies from that place."

"Thank you," Su Xiao hesitated, "McCoy, why don't you come with me?"

"Together? Go where? Night City?"

Su Xiao nodded.

McCoy smiled and shook his head, "I'm not like you, Su. I'm old, and changing careers is too difficult for me."

"Just go, don't worry about me. If you become a legend, don't forget your old buddies."

An hour after leaving the Buckle Family camp, Su Xiao found the cave McCoy had mentioned.

The cave entrance was blocked and concealed with various scrap metal and junk.

He spent some time clearing away the debris at the entrance, and not long after venturing inside, he found what McCoy had left for him.

It was an SUV.

He opened the trunk and found enough water, food, and daily necessities to last a few days, as well as a familiar-looking katana.

Su Xiao was stunned for a moment.

Then he remembered.

Didn't McCoy always carry this sword with him?

He recalled that McCoy had once said that this sword, named "Muramasa," was a family heirloom passed down through generations.

At this moment, the "small gift" McCoy had mentioned when he came to find him before the incident suddenly flashed in his mind.

So this was what he meant?

Su Xiao felt an indescribable emotion.

He rubbed his eyes, took out Muramasa, and closed the trunk.

He got into the car, started the engine, and drove out of the cave.

Then, he faced the direction of the Buckle Family camp and gave a distant salute.

"Goodbye, McCoy."

Chapter 6: Ever Since I Got Cyberpsychosis, I've Felt So Much Better

The sun's rays in the azure sky distorted the air with their heat.

Asphalt roads built in days gone by crisscrossed the Wasteland, some already buried by sand.

On either side of the roads were vast deserts and low hills.

Piles of scrap metal fluttered alongside Joshua trees, as if welcoming visitors.

In the distance, through the dust-filled haze, one could glimpse the city's skyscrapers and holographic billboards.

That was Night City.

Under the scorching heat of the sun.

An SUV sped towards Night City.

Su Xiao breathed a sigh of relief.

He was finally almost there.

During these past two days, he had driven almost non-stop.

He slept while driving.

Finally, he had passed through the desert and caught sight of Night City's skyline.

During this time, he had also taken on a job.

--A client wanted help from the Nomads to "transport" something into Night City.

One of the usual jobs for Nomads was "cargo transport."

Although Su Xiao had never done it before, McCoy had explained the process to him in meticulous detail.

Yeah, there won't be any problems.

A little over an hour later, Su Xiao drove into a small town on the outskirts of Night City.

The town was as desolate and lifeless as it had appeared from a distance.

He reached the outskirts on the east side of town, his eyes constantly scanning his surroundings.

The client he had arranged to meet should have gotten into his car here.

But now, he was alone.

The agreed-upon time.

The agreed-upon location.

The agreed-upon client was nowhere to be found.

He wondered if he had been stood up.

Just then, he noticed someone approaching.

The person didn't look like a client, but rather like someone from this town.

The person approached the car.

"Something wrong?" Su Xiao raised an eyebrow.

"Come with me. The sheriff wants to see you."

Inside the town sheriff's office.

The sheriff, wearing a uniform, had his legs propped up on the desk.

He was also holding a hamburger.

The door was pushed open, and two people walked in, one after the other.

The townsperson in front, with a hint of respect and fawning, said, "Sir, I've brought him to you."

"Mm, you can go now."

The sheriff took his legs off the desk and put the hamburger down as well.

He stood up, placed his hands on his belt, and slowly walked towards Su Xiao.

He didn't walk fast, but his demeanor deliberately created a sense of pressure for Su Xiao.

"Don't you know you're supposed to report to the sheriff when you come into town? Tell him what you're doing here, even if you're just stopping for a cup of coffee."

Su Xiao stood his ground, letting the sheriff circle him once.

"I don't plan on staying here long, I'm just here to... hmm, look for someone."

Seeing that Su Xiao wasn't intimidated, the sheriff returned to his chair with slight disappointment, sitting down again. "Who are you looking for?"

"That's not important."

"Oh, you're telling me it's not important?" The sheriff sat up straighter, a faint smile on his face. "If a stray dog showed up at your house, would you think it wasn't important?"

Anyone could understand the implication of his words.

But Su Xiao didn't get angry. He said calmly, "That depends on the situation."

"What do you mean?"

"For example, some people have poor eyesight and might mistake a wolf for a dog."

The sheriff's expression froze.

Then, he changed the subject.

"My name is Andrew Jones, you might have heard of me."

"I've only heard of Indiana Jones."

"The Indiana Jones you're talking about, wasn't he also serving in the special forces unit 'Silver Shotgun' during the last war?"

Su Xiao shook his head. "As far as I know, he's a professor of cultural studies and an archaeologist, not a soldier. And he's much more likable than you are."

"You're not easy to talk to, are you?" the sheriff grunted. "Listen carefully, I'm in a bit of trouble right now and I need a helper. I think you're quite suitable."

Su Xiao raised an eyebrow. "Did I miss something? Did I say I would help you?"

"You don't have a choice."

"Oh?"

"That's right, I'm not negotiating with you. This isn't as bad as you think. If you agree, you'll not only get a reward of a thousand euros, but also the gratitude of this town."

Su Xiao fell silent.

A thousand euros was not a small sum.

If the job wasn't too difficult, he wouldn't mind adding a sum of money to his funds.

Although the attitude of the guy in front of him made Su Xiao very unhappy.

However, if he could make money, Su Xiao wouldn't mind forgiving him like a father.

"Alright, tell me about it then."

"There's a cyberpsychotic who often appears nearby. Although he hasn't attacked the town so far, several people who have left the town have already met a tragic end."

Su Xiao frowned.

He knew what cyberpsychosis was.

During the half year he lived with the Buckle Family, he had diligently studied the knowledge of this world.

Simply put, it was a general term for all anxiety-related mental and personality disorders caused by hardware within implants (cybernetics) and various behavioral modules, including software.