Chapter 4

Just like Jack said, maybe this was the butterfly effect.

In the unseen corners, under the oppression of capital, flowers representing hope would always bloom.

In the following six months, under Jack's guidance, V and Roche experienced the life of Night City.

There were street fights, gunfire, as well as glitz and glamor.

Jack introduced them to his short-tempered mother—who would furiously berate her son every time she found out about his dangerous escapades, then immediately turn around with a smile and ask V and Roche if they wanted a drink.

They bought information from skilled dancers at the Braindance bar, taking briefcases filled with valuable intel from intoxicated or Braindance-immersed patrons.

One of the street middlemen was an old man everyone called "Father," who would buy and sell anything valuable.

Together, they purchased a new car and met Jack's girlfriend, Misty, who seemed like a rebellious girl but was actually a rare gem. Apart from Jack's mother, the three of them understood this well.

Victor, a middle-aged man with a storied past and a magnetic voice, worked as a low-key Ripperdoc in the underground. He was close to V, treating him like his own son, and had some impression of Roche. As for Jack, the two greeted each other with a playful punch, as a sign of respect.

The trio chased bounties through the streets, then spent their earnings at dance clubs, only to be beaten up by gang members. The next day, without holding a grudge, they stormed the gang's hideout with an arsenal of weapons, pointing their guns at the gang leader's face.

MILITECH's Ajax, NOKOTA's Copperhead, Constitutional Arms' Unity, TSUNAMI's Nue...

They bought whatever was useful, picked up their weapons, and took down the gangs, leaving them flat on their faces.

Finally, back at Jack's place, they marveled at the fierceness of his mother's scolding while laughing and bidding farewell to their best friends.

Roche gradually adapted to the life of Night City, and together with V and Jack, they became partners who could entrust each other with their lives.

At first, he often pondered a question—

How to describe Night City? What kind of place is Night City?

But now, it seemed he already had an answer in his heart.

Just like the always-excited radio host said.

"Hello, Night City."

"I am your Stanley, and our Dream City begins another long day."

"I love this city, just like you love your mother. Back in the day, she left you on the orphanage doorstep. Nowadays, when she bumps into you on the street, she asks you for a cigarette."

"Every day, a hundred and eighty newcomers arrive here, but only half of them can last a year, and that's if they're lucky!"

"Why are they rushing to Night City? They want to become street samurais like Morgan Blackhand or Weyland Old Snake. There's a saying, remember this, 'The timid starve, the bold overeat.'"

"Unfortunately, fame brings danger. The more exciting life gets, the shorter it becomes. And that's not even counting someone blowing your brains out."

"Do you know where the legendary figures of Night City gather?"

"In the graveyard."

"In our world, heroes are not defined by their backgrounds."

"It's about whether you can carve your own path."

"This is Night City."

"This is the City of Dreams."

...

Half a year after arriving in Night City.

In a parking lot of an apartment complex on Japan Street.

"The girl we're looking for is probably in this building," Jack said from the passenger seat. "The bastards who kidnapped her are likely here too. Keep your ears open and stay alert."

"Did Hako give you any clues for this deal?" V asked.

"I'm not your mother. I take people's money and help them out of trouble; it's not difficult," Jack imitated the old lady middleman.

"No, your tone isn't quite right. Watch me, ahem," Roche cleared his throat, "I'm not your mother... I take people's money... help them out of trouble... it's not difficult..."

Speaking while pinching his throat, it felt like he was about to run out of breath.

"Yes, yes, that's the tone," Jack nodded and laughed.

"Let's go then." V pushed the car door open.

The three took the elevator up to the fifteenth floor.

At that moment, a phone call came in.

It was T-Bug, a badass who had once trained V in hacking, with an incredibly unique appearance—a big bald head.

Combined with her slightly African heritage and her constant hacker attire, she was hard to forget after just one glance.

"The target's name is Sandra Dorsett. A few hours ago, her biometric signal went missing, likely kidnapped," T-Bug said on the video call. "She might already be dead; I'm not sure if you're too late."

V put the call on speaker, so both Jack and Roche, who had been granted access, could join the conversation.

Jack and V were using cyberware, while Roche was using a Bluetooth headset.

Jack spoke up: "We're not late, Bug—yes, it's us. Even if you're participating remotely, you're still part of the team."

"Teammates? Interesting," T-Bug said indifferently.

"Bug, maybe be a little... polite?" V suggested.

"Want politeness and encouragement? You can call a helpline," T-Bug was not one for beating around the bush; efficiency and directness were her style.

"Come on, don't you know what Bug is like?" Roche chuckled, patting his weapon.

Jack shrugged helplessly.

The elevator arrived, and the doors opened, revealing a shabby hallway.

"I don't like this feeling," Roche grimaced. "It's gloomy."

"Your dislike doesn't matter," T-Bug didn't hang up, instead keeping the line open and offering advice. "Find room 1237."

"Room 1237 on the fifteenth floor, another day of the world persecuting those with OCD," Roche complained.

"Stop complaining, the target should be in there, but I can't see her biometric signal," T-Bug said. "Let's hope we're not too late. Ugh... I hate these life-or-death deals. Hurry up."

In the hallway, an old lady peeked out of her open door, looking terrified as she glanced at the end of the corridor and then at Roche, Jack, and V, armed with weapons.

"Dangerous, go back."

Roche gestured towards the door, and the old lady immediately understood, hurriedly closing the door and retreating inside.

At the entrance of room 1237, there were no cameras or guards, just a closed door.

"Try hacking the door open," T-Bug suggested.

Jack and Roche exchanged glances and looked at V, who had the best hacking skills in the group.

Jack wasn't good at it, while Roche didn't have cyberware.

So far, he was still all-natural.

Roche found it hard to accept cyberware in the short term, but after six months in Night City, he was getting used to it.

However, he planned to stay simple until he lost an eye or a limb due to injury.

A blue light flashed in V's eyes, and the door clicked open.

Inside was a room as messy as a dog's den.

"Keep it low-key," Jack cautioned nervously, slowly inching towards the next corner. "Damn, are we late? Is she the one we're looking for?"

Roche was still checking information on the computer when V's voice came with a negative response: "Sandra Dorsett... corporate second-tier personal security. We're looking for a rich girl."

"Look, this is a black market Zetatech knockoff. A typical counterfeit."

Roche approached upon hearing this and saw a horrifying corpse on a table in the room filled with cyberware modification equipment and monitors.

Both eyes had been gouged out, leaving two bloody holes where artificial eyeballs had been. The abdomen was a bloody mess, with implants and organs removed.

Except for the unwanted counterfeit.

Truly tragic.

Quietly opening the door to the next room, Jack stopped V, signaling that there was someone ahead.

Let me handle it.

Roche moved up, patted their shoulders, and pointed to himself.

V made an OK gesture.

So he crouched and sneaked over, extremely stealthy.

By the time the person realized there was movement behind them, their neck had been snapped.

Opening the refrigerator, Roche shoved the body inside, closed the door—no one would know someone had gone missing here.

"Nice job, almost as good as me," Jack joked to lighten the mood.

"Take this," V handed over a pneumatic injector he had just found and gave it to Roche.

"Stay focused, someone else is coming, they're about to find you."

T-Bug suddenly warned at that moment.

Two people in the room were talking to each other and walked towards Roche. V and Jack hid on the opposite side of the door. However, this was dangerous because there was no cover there, and the two people would see them if they turned around.

Roche didn't have time to fly over, so he quickly retreated and hid behind the refrigerator.

"Damn, there are so many people," Jack cursed quietly in the team channel. "Let's take one down first, the closest one is yours... Good luck."

From his position, Roche couldn't see V and Jack, only hear their whispers.

But just as they were about to act, Roche noticed something was off.

"Be careful, they're going back!"

With the enemy less than two meters away, separated only by a wall, Roche warned urgently.

God knows if V and Jack would make it in time. If discovered and gunfire started, it would be all over.