Chapter 175 - 159 "Ordinary Smuggling

Taiping State, the most chaotic area in Night City, was completely abandoned by the NCPD after the bankruptcy of investors and the war.

A group of hackers from Haiti founded the Voodoo Gang, which, with the support of local residents, became the true local overlords, turning this place into a lawless region.

The most dangerous mercenaries in Night City gather in this place to avoid NCPD and corporate pursuit while waiting for the next valuable assignment.

This was also David’s first stop on his commission: arrive at a war-torn area around Taiping State called Dog Town and pick up the goods.

Since entering the Taiping State area, there were basically no signs of NCPD. This place had its unique order.

Lucy was always monitoring their prosthetics, vigilant about anyone passing by them—

And David...

"Holy... why are there so many unfinished buildings here?"

He looked around like a curious baby.

So David was a typical Saint Domingo person, if it weren’t for his mother sending him to Arasaka Academy, he might never have left Saint Domingo in his life.

Even going to school was just a straight line.

As for himself, other than watching Black Superdream, he basically didn’t care about the news at all.

Lucy sighed, "Keep an eye on your gun, stop looking around, focus a bit, we’re working right now."

Being reminded, David quickly got into the zone, placing his right hand where he could quickly reach his gun.

After walking a few more steps, David suddenly smelled a pungent odor—right around the corner ahead.

Walking along, he curiously looked in that direction, and as he turned the corner... he found it was a garbage dump.

And on the garbage heap lay a corpse, with its eyes gouged out.

David’s muscles tightened as he grabbed the handgun in his pocket—

"Haha, check this out, an outlander. I told you—pay up."

Not far away, two guys squatted on the ground smoking. The guy who spoke stretched out his hand to the other one.

The other person reluctantly gave him a euro note.

"Hey, kid, here’s some advice: this place isn’t for rookies like you. Turn around and go back."

David dropped his smile and shouted, "Which way to Dog Town?"

"Tsk, this kid even wants to go to Dog Town, hahaha—"

The two of them laughed so hard they cried, looking both mentally and physically unwell as if they had taken drugs.

The two junkies laughed hysterically beside the corpse-strewn garbage heap, making David feel... uncomfortable.

Lucy patted him, "Focus, last warning."

David nodded.

Sunshine was bright in Taiping State, but everywhere in sight was desolate.

The impoverished hid in the shadows, indulging in the pleasure of drugs, with overstimulated nerves making them afraid to look at the one beautiful thing in Taiping State—

The sun.

Soon, David arrived at the designated location—a parking lot on the outskirts of Dog Town.

Through there, he could see the so-called Dog Town, which was a city within a fortress—David had only seen lower-tier Military Technology units before, but those stationed in Dog Town were different.

Armored vehicles, heavy weapons, military prosthetics... all were standard equipment.

"That place isn’t for jokes..." Lucy swallowed nervously.

David nodded, "Any signs of being followed on the way here?"

"Yes." Lucy’s face was grave, "The hackers in Taiping State are far more numerous than I imagined. I don’t know if that’s normal or not, I’ve never been here."

"Did you lose them?"

"Please, don’t ask pointless questions."

David rubbed his nose, "I really don’t know how you hackers work, I should learn something."

"It’s not something, you need to learn a lot... Our ride is here."

Two Columbus Freight trucks arrived late, bearing the Honorable Logistics symbol.

On the trucks were the Mann Team, with whom Lille had previously collaborated—

David was the contact. His personality meant he wouldn’t betray Lille, while the Mann Team, experienced mercenaries, ensured things went smoothly.

Lucy saw the trucks and the Mann Team’s hacker. She sighed.

Familiar faces.

"...David, listen up. Once we’re inside the vehicles, don’t just blurt out everything—Burger King is a cautious man. If you’re not cautious, he might fire you."

...

"Hmm... a familiar hacker. I even considered bringing her into the team back then."

Inside the car, Qi Wei said.

"Someone you know? That makes it easier. Let them in."

Mann, in the driver’s seat, leaned out and waved at David and Lucy, "Get in."

His arm, mixed with gorilla components and a bullet launcher, was blown up at the subway station. It was replaced with a regular arm without enhancements.

David and Lucy each got into a vehicle—

Mann looked at David, who seemed quite green, and said, "Newbie? Where are you from?"

"Saint Domingo."

"Saint Domingo?" Mann was curious, "Never seen you before. What did you do before?"

"Uh... stole skill chips."

"Such a big leap? From stealing skill chips to smuggling military arms from NCPD and Military Technology... what’s your relationship with Burger King?"

David opened his mouth but remembered Lucy’s advice.

So he immediately shut up and shook his head, "Just business. Once the goods are out, I’ll check against the list I gave you. If anything’s missing..."

"Don’t worry, we know what to do."

The vehicle slowly drove to the designated drop-off point, behind Dog Town, where the Netherworld Dogs were unloading goods not far away.

An armored transport vehicle slowly arrived at the drop-off point—

The Mann Team stood still, with the massive Mann and his girlfriend Dolly at the front, Rebecca and Pila further back.

The hacker stayed in the car—and David, whether he was a novice or not, was the first mercenary Lille had found.

So he had to stand ahead of Mann—or at least on the same line.

"Rare—newbie paupers getting so much gear."

The driver, who looked like a mercenary, had two military-grade prosthetic arms, top-tier but not overly large for effective use.

David activated his scanner:

[Military Tech Gun Control Prosthetic (Model Unknown)]

[Description: Standard arms equipped to Military Tech assault units used during the unified war. For paired firearms, it significantly reduces recoil impact and enhances arm strength in combat.]

"Stop staring, kid, start the check."

One crate after another of arms was placed on the ground, awaiting inspection.

Mann signaled to his people, and Rebecca and Pila went forward to inspect the firearms.

The inspection was an eye-opener.

For mercenaries of their level, the best tech weapons they could access were Sadar Technology shotguns: simple structure, reliable, powerful, but very expensive.

For most mercenaries, modifying a kinetic weapon was better, like an affordable kill shotgun: durable, with plenty of room for customization.

Pistols of all kinds were even more popular in Night City—not because people didn’t want better guns, but because they couldn’t afford them.

But now, the arms they received...

MK31 heavy machine guns;

military-grade Ajax rifles;

Sadar Technology shotguns;

M5 recoilless rocket launchers with 4 rounds;

Javelin MANPADS;

SPH explosive launchers, explosive grenades, electromagnetic pulse grenades, concussion grenades, multi-functional radar...

The more they checked, the more serious their expressions became—

Compared to this gear, their current equipment was like toys. These were real battlefield weapons.

Burger King had told them it was just a routine smuggling run.

But it seemed they had a different understanding of "routine smuggling."

David, however, seemed unfazed—he just thought the stuff was cool, like nothing he’d seen on the streets or in the news.

So he immediately said, "Some things are missing. There should be two more heavy machine guns, 4 rocket rounds, grenades..."

"Kid, you sure?"

The masked mercenary looked like a bandit.

Mann felt a chill—

David shook his head, "I’m sure, some things are missing."

Quite bold—he just wanted to do his job well and not disappoint his boss.

The tension rose, and Mann’s people subtly moved closer to their weapons...

But the other side laughed, "Then something must be missing, check the trunk—damn, this car is big.

Kid, you’re cut out to be a soldier."

They brought out two more crates of arms—this time, everything matched.

After confirmation, the armored transport vehicle drove off, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Mann’s big hand slapped David’s shoulder, "David, right... what were you thinking?"

David was puzzled: what do you mean?

But he felt he couldn’t seem too green, so he said, "...We still have goods to transport, the job’s not done."

Everyone wiped their sweat and began loading the vehicles.

Short Rebecca gently bumped David and gave him a thumbs-up.

...

"...You’re saying the receiver was a newbie? A rookie?"

"The big guy seemed experienced, but he’s at a normal mercenary level, just large and not very bright.

Night City is full of those people, thinking they’re invincible with some fancy prosthetics, until they develop cyberpsychosis one day.

The leader was definitely a newbie, but he’s fearless like a construction robot, good soldier material—he’s the type who wouldn’t question a suicide mission."

These days, there’s not much difference between a soldier and a terrorist.

Hans listened to his subordinate’s report, fondling his teacup.

"Interesting—but I don’t like people making extra profits outside our agreement."

The person on the other end of the line paused, his right prosthetic eye suddenly filled with snowflakes, and then it dropped out!

He clutched his eye, which then exploded with a pop, making him break out in a sweat.

"I..."

"No next time. Remember this lesson."