Competing in Patience

Seeing Regina again was somewhat unexpected for D.

"I really didn't expect to see you again."

"Surprised?"

"Somewhat. After that, we lost contact, and you were in Europe at the time. I never expected you to return to Night City."

"After all, we had nowhere else to go."

After accepting D's tea, Regina sighed in response, then looked out the window.

"To be honest, I remember you saying that you didn't want to become Night City's legend, but its king. Now it seems you really did it."

"Legends are worthless, and even less meaningful."

D silently shook his head.

"Johnny Silverhand and the like are only figures in the eyes of those drunkards at the bars. No respectable person takes him seriously. If you want to change things, a terrorist-like burst of passion is useless. Any change requires long-term, unremitting effort and sacrifice. Of course, I don't think those drug-addicted, alcoholic rock-and-roll lunatics could understand that."

"Now that I see it, you really have done quite well."

Regina agreed with him. Night City had undergone earth-shaking changes compared to before. At least during her journey here, she had deeply experienced that for herself. The NCPD was no longer merely an accomplice or lackey of capital, but an honorable profession. The officers on the streets were gentle and polite toward the citizens, with none of that arrogant, disdainful behavior.

The messy graffiti on the walls had also been wiped away. In the past, the dark alleys of Night City had been hotspots for murders, and one could even find corpses just by walking into them. But now, those places had been cleaned up completely, neat and orderly. People could walk the streets without worry. Although supplies here were not especially plentiful, compared to the nearly primitive settlements elsewhere, this place was