Chapter 44

Where did I see that place just now?

The terrain here is complicated, with illegal extensions everywhere and garbage forming barriers. The area spanning several hundred meters is full of chaos and various types of people. No wonder it's called a "hideout for dirt and filth." Unless a large force from the company conducts a carpet search, it's like a mouse slipping into a sewer, disappearing in no time.

"Bridge, bridge, bridge... where did that bridge come from?"

He searched for the impression of the bridge in his memory, constantly comparing it to the dimly lit scene before him.

But this place has neither rivers nor tunnels, so it's impossible for there to be a bridge.

Could his memory be faulty?

"Hey, is it that one?"

Maelstrom moved his shoulder and looked at a place with his eyes.

An area with stairs going up and down, between the second and first floors, there's a deepening alley, looking very much like a bridge.

"Wow."

Rogue smiled and gave a thumbs up.

"Awesome."

This is the lower construction area of Twisty Street, with various rolling shutter doors, sewer grates, and multilingual graffiti on the walls that look utterly juvenile.

A guy in a coat and an orange tie, wearing sunglasses, was shaking his leg here.

Not far away, there was a couple dressed in a trendy manner, flirting with each other.

"What kind of goods do you have?"

Rogue walked over and asked quietly.

"Braindances, man."

The merchant shook his head and swayed, standing unsteadily, looking quite casual.

"Do you have... special ones?" Rogue hinted with a wink.

"... Let's put it this way, knowledgeable people don't ask such amateur questions."

The merchant shook his head, concluding that Rogue was a novice.

"I want Braindances, very special, restricted... the kind that's not enough."

Rogue didn't get annoyed but smiled instead.

That finally made the merchant raise his eyebrows: "Are you a cop?"

"Have you ever seen a cop dressed like this?"

It was Rogue's turn to ask.

The eyes behind the merchant's sunglasses took a closer look.

Good grief, dressed like a cyberpunk madman.

The pure white Ronin outfit had spots of blood on it, and the owner was carrying three katanas, looking relaxed and happy.

As for the pretty girl behind him...

She looked like the kind of terrifying person who could kill as easily as squeezing a chick.

Cops might go undercover, might go fishing for law enforcement, but they would never dress like this and be so natural.

"I want the best - Skull, Moth, got it?"

Rogue spat out his words one by one, staring straight at him.

"Heh, I didn't expect a connoisseur to come to my place. Skull Moth isn't cheap, you know..."

The merchant lowered his eyes and adjusted his sunglasses.

He took out a specially made cardboard sheet from his pocket, filled with chips in fancy packaging.

"Where did all these come from?" Rogue casually selected some while probing for information.

"The creators of the clips? Heh... They value their privacy a lot. I never ask where the clips come from, and that's probably why I'm still alive and talking to you now."

The merchant's lips curled into a strange smile.

"How about a discount for your new customer? I want all of these."

He had already picked three chips, including the Skull Moth.

The merchant sneered: "Only regular customers get discounts. If you don't have the money, get lost as soon as possible."

He'd been hangin' around Twist Street for years now, seen all kinds of folk, the tough and the weak. Discounts today, discounts tomorrow, might as well quit this biz.

Roqi reluctantly spread his hands, only taking the "Deep-Fried Skull Moth" chip, returning the others.

*Snap.*

He snapped his fingers.

The muffled sound of a silenced revolver echoed from the underground level.

"Got it sorted here, V."

Walking the streets, playing with someone else's payment chip, Roqi was having a blast.

"Got the 'Deep-Fried Skull Moth,' such an unappetizing name."

"Good, find Judy's car on the street, we'll meet up there."

V's voice came through the earpiece.

[Toss those crushed black dream chips onto the street, and watch these folks scramble for them like animals.]

Johnny's slightly hoarse voice came through.

Roqi stuffed the chip into Moer's pocket: [Without trade, there'd be no killing, don't you understand?]

[Night City is so big, and the world even bigger. Where do our great knights of justice plan to save people tomorrow?]

Johnny Silverhand asked playfully.

[Night City has no laws.]Roqi shook Moer's slightly wrinkled jacket.

[So?]

[I want to take down whoever I please.]

[Heh... you're even crazier than me.]Johnny's voice lowered, [Even innocent people?]

Roqi and Moer walked side by side, weaving through the bright lights of the bustling streets.

[In 2023, thousands died in explosions, tens of thousands from radiation sickness. Do you regret it?]

He gazed at this cheap, glitzy world, a faint smile on his face, and countered.

[Regret is impossible, but saying I don't would be a lie.]

Johnny sighed in a tone that sounded like he wanted a smoke.

[That settles it then.]Roqi paused, continuing, [Instead of considering whether these scum are bad enough or whether we should arbitrarily take their lives, let's look at the people who suffer from violence and poverty.]

[Justice, such an empty concept, isn't worth discussing. As for explaining these illusory concepts, the corporations are experts at fooling the public, distorting the truth, inverting black and white, and covering up the facts.]

[How does that saying go? — When the granaries are full, one knows propriety; when one's clothing and food are sufficient, one knows honor and disgrace.]

[Night City? It's just a garbage heap wrapped in glitz. People living like they're not even human, what kind of superstructure are they chasing?]

[Heh... ridiculous.]

Silence for a moment, leaving only the hustle and bustle of passersby.

[I'm starting to like you, buddy.]Johnny laughed, cockily.

Roqi shivered: [No, I'm not into that.]

[Screw you.]

Exiting Twist Street, Judy's van was parked in the corner, V sitting in the passenger seat, with a burly Jack crammed in the back.

"Get in." V waved.

Roqi and Moer crawled into the back of the van, exchanging glances with the grinning Jack.

"Got the stuff?" V looked back.

"Here you go." Roqi pulled out a shabby-looking chip and handed it to him.

"Alright, let me grab the equipment first." Judy glanced at the chip, confirming its identity, "I'll edit while watching, just like before."

V put on the dream headband, nodding, "Ready to start anytime."

"I need you to describe what you see, maybe we can find what I missed."

Judy and V planned to view the dream right in the van, not wasting any time.

The others, already weary, could rest in the back seat.

Moer lay on Roqi's lap, her face as red as a bubbling teapot.

Her body trembled slightly, restless, but unable to resist the urge to slip away.

"Must be nice..."

Jack let out a sigh tinged with both resentment and envy.

His thoughts had already drifted towards Misty.

Back in the Secret Society Hall, Misty was just as gentle and considerate.

"An enclosed dark room, looks like a basement."

V entered the dream, recounting its contents as he experienced them.

"She's being dragged by a man, I can feel it, she's tense and scared, but her mind is a mess."

"I can't see clearly, there are two or three people, they look quite frightening."