Chapter 1026 - 69: Interlude

[Broadcast: Citizens of Night City, we have been swept into a war, in fact, a war we have started.]

[Broadcast: As you can see, we drove out the corporations, drove out New America and the European Union, burned their filthy money, refused their rule, and what followed were their frantic bullets.]

[Broadcast: We have beaten New America to a pulp, and the European Union is scared of us!]

[Broadcast: You might ask, what are they afraid of?]

[Broadcast: They are afraid of us having enough to eat!]

[Broadcast: They’re not only afraid of us having enough to eat, they’re afraid of us living comfortably at home, enjoying normal food, warm heating, convenient living...]

[Broadcast: They just don’t want us to live well! Otherwise, no one would buy their junk products!]

[Broadcast: If you have your own house, real estate companies have no place to collect rent; if you’re healthy, medical companies have no patients to tribute; if your life is safe, security companies are out of business; if you have enough to eat, food companies go bankrupt!]

[Broadcast: They are afraid of not being able to bleed us dry anymore!]

Ryan’s voice echoed in the Underground City—

No noble goals out of his mouth, just pure hatred, just pure expression, corporations simply don’t want them to have a good life.

This thought might sound bizarre in another world, but here, everyone wholeheartedly agrees: because life indeed is like that.

Houses must be rented, breathing air is taxed, food is a mix of insect meat and chemical additives, medication is needed because the companies poison the water supply, prosthetics are bought with work loans...

Of course, reality is complex, and everyone is currently ignoring that some of the money was previously collected by Night City Hall, like this air tax.

The reality is, Night City did improve, and as it kept getting better, more companies got anxious, and eventually it turned into what it is now—

Yes, political, social, diplomatic relations might be complex, and experts might spin many lengthy essays and dissertations, but ordinary people feel the world by intuition, and the feeling is:

Our days got better, and the corporations got desperate! Desperate enough to bite!

The ground occasionally vibrates, and the broadcast is accompanied by intermittent noise, experts know it’s electrical interference, while the clueless sense the noise is from another world.

People around are moving quickly through the passageways, as the Underground City became crowded due to a massive influx of people, traversing through thickened air.

Johnny never imagined that the city he left 50 years ago would turn into this:

"Damn... those cowards in Night City actually drove out the corporations, waged war with Night City, and even hiding underground they are full of vigor, am I dreaming?"

He found himself crammed into a humanoid robot, although lacking heavy artillery, the feeling of free movement was quite satisfying.

He had been like this for a while, and Rogel already knew that this robot housed Johnny Silverhand’s soul imprint...

To be honest, she thought it was good like this, because if Johnny occupied someone’s body, even if it was no different from his appearance decades ago, or even his original body appeared in front of her, she’d feel bewildered...

But now Johnny is in a humanoid robot that looks very human-like, yet lacks features and muscles, she could easily... distinguish this Johnny.

Or rather, it wasn’t so hard to accept this reality now.

The bustling Underground City was running at full capacity, a slight deep breath would bring the thick scent of mixed oil and fuel, Rogel said:

"This place isn’t usually so crowded, it looks much higher class, now it’s more like a refuge, all people."

"I could imagine those braindead of Night City huddled in sewers doing drugs watching Super Dream jacking off, but couldn’t imagine them hiding in Underground City working obediently waging war..."

Rogel laughed, "Same here, in terms of personal charisma, Lille is genuinely the big shot of Night City."

"Personal charisma?" Johnny still being stubborn, "Shoving a nuclear bomb down someone’s throat isn’t personal charisma..."

"Come off it, do you think personal charisma is all about not being able to control whatever’s in your pants? Or do you think hosting a heated-up concert beneath Arasaka Tower, tricking innocent folks as smoke bombs is more impressive than leading an entire city to war?"

Johnny was lost for words, but still grinned, pointing at Rogel like a rogue, "There’s the madwoman I know, snapping at anyone she meets, seems without that big gun I’m no longer attractive to you."

"But you’re not the Johnny I knew anymore, after all, you lack that big gun, and can’t do drugs now."

"That might be a good thing." Johnny withdrew his smile, scrutinizing every passing face.

He also remembered some of the fans under Arasaka Tower, whose faces were full of fanaticism, mustering the greatest courage of their lives to cause trouble in front of the tower.

He used to think he was real badass, encouraging people to do things they didn’t dare to, but now it seems, that kind of madness and true resilience are still different...

People can’t rely on mindless madness to wage war, nor can they win the future with such madness.

This truly shocked Rogel, leaving her speechless: "...?"

Johnny continued, "I might indeed have been changed by that guy, now I’m much clearer-headed, as clear-headed as when freshly born, without excesses of dopamine, adrenaline, small head doesn’t control the big head...

But I always feel like I’m getting new inspiration—Night City, your rock ’n’ roll king is back!"

Johnny stood among the bustling crowd like a runaway robot, lifting his arm as if to embrace the entire Underground City!

"But first." Rogel took out a tablet to confirm, "This place doesn’t support idlers, there’s no place for you to squat every day and think about composing, lyrics, you gotta hit the assembly line."

"Huh?" Johnny’s just-raised arm froze, "I’m going to the assembly line?"

"No kidding, do you think they’d sustain you, a washed-up rock star, here? You could find your old buddies though, if you want to form a band, I’ll apply to have you all placed on one assembly line—I’ll take care of you."

Johnny deflated instantly, but even he wouldn’t think of defying Lille’s policies...

He could only begrudgingly think to himself: what the heck is personal charisma.

Slouching behind Rogel, Johnny resembled more like a mis-installed driver robot, fortunately, now Night City was used to these peculiar robots.

...

"Uh... is that Johnny Silverhand?"

Jack and Rogel brushed past, looking at the robot trailing behind Rogel.

Lille pointed at that robot saying: "See that? That’s Johnny Silverhand, alright, seen the legend, let’s move."

"Why does it feel kind of... lame?"

"It’s fine if he’s lame, we can’t be, Night City’s living legends are probably just these now, brace for the real...’legendary’ warriors."