Chapter 224 - 206 A Basket of Stupid Thieves

Will Cannon, second in command of the Six Street Gang.

In Night City, a single year can turn your life upside down, and after two years in a gang?

It’s time to think about a career change.

He knew the ins and outs of gang affairs, and the money he made was so-so, which made it easy for him to harbor other thoughts, like taking over the position of the boss above him.

Cannon was thinking about this very thing.

Truth be told, he wasn’t exactly clear on the small business between boss Morton and Biotechnology, but he was there when Burger King barged into Aloroy.

To barge into Aloroy and then swagger out, that was a failing of the boss—

The underlings were all watching.

Finally, after two years, and precisely this year, Morton gave him a large piece of turf!

According to the rules within the Six Street Gang, the gang would officially support him, then send him a bunch of new recruits.

He would take his men to "collect taxes," and as long as he handed over a portion to the gang, it was all good.

But before leaving Aloroy, he had already planted a mole by the boss’s side.

Once he had money, with a small scheme, the position of gang leader of the Six Street Gang...

... would be in the bag!

Of course, there’s a problem now. The arms dealer and the car modder won’t listen to him; he needs to find an easy target first.

A smirk unconsciously formed on Cannon’s lips: "I laugh at Morton’s lack of foresight..."

"Boss, we’ve arrived."

The car stopped at the curb, and Cannon looked up to see a private "meat shop."

The shop’s owner was Tina Alonzo, a top student in Biotechnology, who somehow got ahold of some equipment and was doing synthetic protein business here—

Black market synthetic protein business.

This was very profitable, considering the demand for meat, even synthetic meat, was fiercely strong. These synthetic proteins tasted just like real meat and were packed with protein too!

Large quantity and stable business, what could be better?

It must be protected.

The car stopped at the roadside, the door to the meat shop was ajar, and Cannon started to message Tina.

Will Cannon: Tina, it’s time to pay the protection money.

Tina Arong: I don’t understand what you’re saying. Stop messaging me.

Will Cannon: Oh, but you do understand, you understand all of it.

Will Cannon: Look, you have the skill and the capability, and you make money, which I respect.

Will Cannon: But now it’s time for you to respect me.

Will Cannon: I know about your black market protein business, half of the eateries in Saint Domingo are selling that meat of yours, whether it’s One Dollar Chunk or Helper Chicken.

Will Cannon: Really, if I didn’t admire your entrepreneurial spirit, I’d probably say you’re stealing from your own family’s farm.

Will Cannon: I want ninety-five percent.

Tina Arong: I belong to Rui Qi.

Cannon rolled his eyes at this message and then looked back at the woman being pointed at with guns by his men—she was also from the Six Street Gang.

Indeed, this was Rui Qi, the previous protector for Tina.

"This woman is quite sentimental, but her sentiment means bad luck for you."

After saying this, Cannon pulled out a handgun, loaded it, and with a look of horror in the woman’s eyes, thrust the barrel into her mouth and shot through her spine.

Bang!

The underlings grimaced, starting to wipe the unidentified fluid off themselves.

After wiping his gun, Cannon continued to text.

Will Cannon: Listen, my dear, this is the situation: Rui Qi is gone, and the old must make way for the new.

Tina Arong: I want fifteen percent, just like when Rui Qi was around.

"Damn!" Cannon slammed hard on the steering wheel, causing the car to tremble, "The damn bitch, ungrateful!"

He made a signal to his men, who pulled out a shotgun from under the seat and cocked it.

Click-clack.

Will Cannon: Tina, I appreciate your business acumen, but being greedy isn’t right.

Tina Aglon: Okay then, half it is, half.

Cannon got out of the car and slammed the door violently.

Will Cannon: No, it’s not about money anymore.

Tina Aglon: I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you.

Will Cannon: :(

Click-clack.

The shotgun loaded, Cannon and his brothers headed towards the storage warehouse across the street.

Tina nervously peeped out from behind the half-rolled shutter and quickly retracted!

Bang!

That glance nearly blew her head off with a bullet!

"It’s over, it’s all over—" Tina felt as though her blood had frozen, sitting on the ground, at a loss.

She rolled and crawled to the control panel, pressing the control button, and the roller shutter door began to slowly descend—

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Bullets hit the roller shutter door, creating exaggerated marks. Soon, the not-so-sturdy door was riddled with bullet holes, the sunlight piercing through the holes and casting into the dim room. Tina, terrified, leaned against the wall, at a loss for what to do.

"...Fuck, blow this shit up!"

Rustling sounds came from the direction of the storeroom door—it sounded like... someone was placing explosives on it!

Tina’s hands fumbled on the door behind her. It was the time to run, yet her limbs seemed to have a mind of their own, not even managing to open a door!

Boom!

...

"Tell me, why do you want a sex chip? Feeling better and already thinking about having a good time?"

V squinted his eyes, looking at Lille with not-so-good intentions. Lille, oblivious, was busy tuning the electronic defense system on his new car, while also checking for anything out of place.

But Old Captain was quite professional and respectful towards them.

"...It’s for work. The pharmaceutical industry needs to be secretive. You wouldn’t want such a lucrative project to get onto the radar of big corporations and huge criminal gangs, right?

These days, if you want to make it, you have to be tech-savvy, get into industries. You’ll be a 24-hour, dumb-ass mercenary all your life if you keep fighting and killing.

If this deal goes through, you could be lying at home and collecting money."

"Oh." V withdrew his gaze, "Why is the traffic so heavy today... so are we now supposed to warn that what’s-his-name... Cannon?"

"Right, and get paid while we’re at it— see that, huh... they’re using explosives now?"

Lille saw some of the Six Street Gang fumbling around in front of Tino’s black market meat locker, then sticking on a package of C4.

The gang members retreated, watching the C4 blinking red, the flashing rate getting faster and faster... and then it stopped.

It did not explode.

A frustrated thug poked his lackey with his gun, and then the lackey nervously stepped forward, seemingly to check the situation...

Boom!

Guts and blood splattered!

"Hahaha! Did you all see that?" V clutched his stomach, laughing, "That idiot blew himself up!"

"We need Tina alive, Cannon... preferably alive—stop laughing!"

All three unanimously pulled out their own sidearms—all small guns, sufficient to deal with these gang thugs, not worth bringing out the high-tech weapons for.

Of course, except for Lille—who had by now realised just how bad his marksmanship was.

Automatic aiming really is a great thing.

...

"Cough, cough, fuck! How could there be a screw-up like this?"

Cannon looked down at his lackey, a snarl on his face: "Go in and kill that fucking bitch... fuck!"

Boom—

A heavy engine rumble came from down the road. The dumb thugs from Six Street Gang turned back to see the Mackinaw charging at them like a beast!

Panic-stricken gang members lifted their guns—

Just as they raised their arms, the car started drifting!

The Mackinaw was drifting??!

Bang bang bang bang!

From the passenger side facing the Six Street Gang, Lille and V opened fire simultaneously, hitting several unfortunate thugs!

Cannon cursed his luck. Krensky, upon seeing the car rushing in, had already made a move, swiftly diving into the warehouse!

Bang!

The Mackinaw spun and crushed the Six Street Gang, those shot and fallen were ground beneath the wheels, while those still standing were flung away in a line, the gang members scattered like bowling pins into a trash heap!

"Motherfucker..." Cannon bit his lip and poked out half his head to scope out the situation—

Bang!

A loud noise rang near his ear!

A hand smashed through the storeroom door, grabbed his head firmly!

Bang!

Jack’s hand gripped Cannon’s head and slammed it against the warehouse door, and after a crisp impact, Cannon’s vision went dark—

A bloodied lackey finally climbed into the driver’s seat of the car. His eyes locked onto the chair...

If only he could reach that spot...

If only he could reach that spot, he could press the gas pedal and escape!

Bang!

A gunshot sounded, V blew his head off, and the corpse slid down the side steps.

All of this happened very quickly: while Tina was still fiddling with the handle, the once frightful Six Street Gang had all been killed.

Watching the trio tidy up their firearms and stride over the warehouse gate, the woman felt even more despair.

Lille glanced at Cannon on the floor and flicked through his contacts to find the Six Street Gang leader Morton’s number.

"Sergeant? Long time no see, I have a deal to discuss with you."