If the NCPD shows up, I'll eat this computer on the spot!

New America had attempted to conquer the city and bring Night City back under its control.

Ryan had "led" the citizens in a heroic resistance, and had also called in an aircraft carrier from Arasaka (that last part was what really mattered).

Only then had they repelled New America's army and preserved Night City's independence and freedom.

Because of that incident, Ryan had narrowly weathered the election, reversed his declining fortunes in one stroke, regained the majority's support, and won another term.

Now, another mayoral election was coming up in six months.

And this time, New America's army wouldn't be there to "help" him.

On top of that, a rising political star named Jefferson Peralez had emerged.

The man was constantly making appearances, either on television as a guest on the popular show Tonight Talk or out and about on the streets.

Even the station chief admitted that Perez was an exceptionally compelling and rousing speaker.

Even the station chief's own family planned to vote for Perez.

Perez's emergence posed a serious threat to Ryan's power base.

So it was hardly surprising that Mayor Ryan insisted on wiping out the All Foods Factory.

If he could destroy a drug den during his term, especially a major one,

that would undoubtedly be a huge political achievement.

It would win him plenty of votes.

At that thought, the station chief, still unwilling to give up, began considering a little scheme.

He actually had some dirt on Ryan. Should he use it to threaten Ryan into changing his mind?

But he soon abandoned the idea.

Because if he exposed someone else's dirty secrets, his own would be exposed as well.

Besides, Ryan would never tolerate anyone undermining him during an election.

The station chief carefully weighed the pros and cons, but couldn't come up with a good solution. In the end, he had no choice but to drop it.

Northside, Watson District.

On an overpass overlooking the All Foods Factory,

Su Xiao and V sat in the car.

Jack was leaning against the overpass railing.

After returning from Santo Domingo, the three had first bought some food from a roadside stall.

Then they had driven straight here.

On the way, Su Xiao had explained his intentions to Jack.

Put simply, he had deliberately framed the All Foods Factory's truck (though perhaps "framed" wasn't quite the right word), then used that to get the NCPD to target the factory.

But Jack flatly refused to believe it.

He had lived in this garbage heap since the day he was born.

How could he not know what the NCPD was like?

They would only use this as leverage to extort the Vortex Gang at the All Foods Factory, forcing the gang to give them a cut of its glitter profits.

Why would they ever send troops to attack the Vortex Gang?

Had anyone ever seen a crow without black wings?

Jack walked over and rested his arm on the car window.

"Hey, Su, how much longer are we going to wait here? They're not coming."

"They'll come. Have a little patience, Jack."

Jack let out a breath and said nothing more.

But his constantly bouncing leg and the expression on his face

betrayed his irritation.

Seeing that, Su Xiao suddenly had an idea. "Jack, want to make a bet?"

"On what?" Jack perked up.

"If you win, I'll cover your drinks for a month."

"Su, you only just managed to earn some money. You..."

"It's fine. If I run out, I can earn more."

"Well, if you insist... heh heh, Su, you're going to regret this." Jack rubbed his hands together, already seeming to imagine a whole month of drinking every day.

One look at his delighted expression was enough to tell what was going through his mind.

But Su Xiao didn't call him out on it.

"And what if you lose?"

"Lose? How could I? Not happening."

Jack felt he had an overwhelming advantage.

Su Xiao was a Nomad.

He had only been in Night City for a few days.

How could he possibly know more than a local like Jack?

What a joke.

Nobody understands the NCPD better than I do.

"If I lose, I'll eat your laptop right here on the spot."

Jack had barely finished speaking when police sirens erupted below.

Chapter 23: If the NCPD shows up, I'll eat this computer on the spot!

Police car after police car came roaring up, heading straight for the All Foods Factory.

There were at least several dozen.

Maybe every cop in Night City had shown up.

The mass of police cars split into two groups.

One headed straight for the main entrance, while the other circled around back.

Countless officers wearing bulletproof vests and carrying firearms climbed out, using their cars as cover as they surrounded the All Foods Factory.

Several black vans followed behind the police cars.

When they reached their destination, no one climbed out. Instead, their compartments opened to either side, like flowers unfurling.

What emerged from the black vans were the Walking Mechs the NCPD had purchased from Militech at enormous expense.

The three- to five-meter-tall mechs were entirely black, radiating cold killing intent.

"Fire in the hole!"

The Walking Mechs fired grenade after grenade, blasting open the All Foods Factory's gates.

"Go, go, go!"

The officers surged inside like a tide and engaged the Vortex Gang members in a fierce firefight.

Even from this far away, the gunfire and flashes were clearly perceptible.

But the NCPD had genuine Walking Mechs on its side, pouring out grenades and Gatling fire without pause. Without heavy weapons, the Vortex Gang could only suffer devastating casualties, even if its members were too drugged up to fear death.

Up on the overpass, Jack stared in bewilderment.

He had never imagined this.

How had those NCPD bastards suddenly changed their ways?

Had they taken the wrong meds?

Brick and several trusted men barely managed to escape through a secret passage.

Fortunately, its exit had been placed on another street beside the All Foods Factory.

Even though the NCPD had the factory completely surrounded, this spot was still safe.

A dedicated getaway car stood near the passage's exit.

Brick and the others climbed in and sped toward another Vortex Gang hideout, the Dance of Death Bar.

Inside the car, Brick pounded the window.

He simply couldn't understand it.

He showered the NCPD with money every month.

Why would the NCPD raid his place?

The more Brick thought about it, the less sense it made, and the angrier he became.

Finally, he called his informant in the NCPD.

Only then did he learn that the driver delivering goods to the All Foods Factory had been arrested at a border checkpoint, setting off everything that followed.

The NCPD chief had originally intended to try diplomacy with Brick before resorting to force.

But the mayor had issued a firm demand.

The chief had no way to refuse.

The NCPD chief was different from the border checkpoint's station chief.

The latter worked for Militech and could show the mayor some courtesy as a formality.

But if forced to choose between the corporation and City Hall, the station chief would side with the corporation without hesitation.

The NCPD chief, however, answered directly to City Hall.

He certainly wouldn't dare pull anything behind the scenes while Mayor Ryan was paying such close attention.

After ending the call, Brick asked, "Who hired that driver again?"

One of his trusted men beside him answered, "Kirk. That fixer in Heywood who's barely scraping by."

"Fuck! I fucking knew that bastard couldn't be trusted! Kirk, huh? You little shit, you're fucking dead!"

A dangerous red light flickered in Brick's spiderlike optical implants.

"All right, show's over. Let's head back and tell Peppy the news. He won't have to worry about Kirk anymore."

Su Xiao noticed the gunfire coming from the All Foods Factory

gradually dying down, and knew the fighting inside was probably almost over.

After all, the NCPD had brought Walking Mechs, and it had launched a surprise attack...

The Vortex Gang had been caught completely off guard. The All Foods Factory was a workshop processing food and glitter, not a military fortress. It would have been a miracle if it held out.

Su Xiao had also picked up a rough understanding of the city's gang territories from Jack.

He knew the All Foods Factory was Brick's turf.

In other words, it belonged to Kirk's employer.

Su Xiao wasn't worried about what would happen if Brick died in the All Foods Factory.

In truth, it didn't matter whether Brick lived or died.

Even if he really died, someone would take over.

And Kirk hadn't just screwed over Brick. He had screwed over the Vortex Gang.

They wouldn't forget that debt just because they had a new boss.