Chapter 236 - 218: Whose Head is So Hard

Taiping State.

Voodoo Gang, the local kingpins, a bunch of guys who love messing with the net.

The hacker in the access pod started shaking violently, and the link was severed as the lights flickered.

Whoosh!

From the freezer on the table, a Black woman suddenly emerged from the ice water, creating a spray of mist.

Next to her was a Black man with a gloomy look in his eyes. Seeing their boss exit the deep dive, he handed over her clothes:

"So, did you find anything useful?"

"The data barrier is very solid, but he can’t move either. Besides that, I found some interesting things. It looks like Cyber Intelligence is looking for reinforcements.

Besides that brainless Animal Gang, they’ve also called for backup."

"Still brainless?"

"No." Brigitte rose from the freezer, ice water dripping from her hacker suit. She took the offered clothes and walked to another room.

"This time it’s a hacker, likely a newbie. Send someone to find him, Watson North District, Super Skyscraper H11."

"We’re short on manpower and need to beware of the Animal Gang. We’ll have to find a middleman."

Brigitte paused and thought for a moment before saying, "Don’t go to Hans. That old fat guy is coming back. Give him a chance, pave the way for later, we might need him."

"Alright."

...

"So you burned down your place."

V and Lille were neighbors, so she too ended up with a power outage.

The five-thousand-euro compensation to the property management was no big deal; the key issue was that the access pod was burned, along with a bunch of equipment.

Lille nodded honestly, "There’s no other way. Cyberspace is full of dangers and surprises..."

"You’re just talking nonsense."

The two squatted in the pitch-black room, with only the neon lights from the skyscrapers outside providing a bit of illumination that seeped through the window, casting light on the wall where they sat.

The atmosphere was a bit quiet. V looked out the window, then glanced sideways at Lille.

"Guess I can’t watch TV now, might as well sleep..."

Saying this, she got up and walked towards Lille’s bed, plopping down.

Lille’s bed was quite tidy, without even a sign it had been slept in.

"...Your bed is pretty clean."

"I usually sleep on the sofa, read some books and documents, and lie down on the sofa when I’m tired."

"Nice." V leaned back on the bed, stretching out like a starfish, "I’m sleeping here tonight. Feels like my bed isn’t as good as this one, let me try."

She raised her head slightly to peek at Lille—

"Then sleep."

Lille dragged the access pod from the dark living room, fiddling with it constantly.

"...What are you doing?"

"Seeing if there are any usable parts. After all, it’s Cyber Intelligence gear, worth studying."

V jumped off the bed and smacked Lille on the head, "Study my ass, study!"

Lille rubbed his head, "That’s what happens when you’re poor. And this job needs to start in Cyberspace. What’s wrong with studying quickly? You sleep, I won’t disturb you."

"You’re really a..."

[Caller: Blais]

[Blais: Still alive?]

[Blais: Good, listen. The Voodoo Gang just attacked my data barrier again. I have to stay here.]

[Blais: I found a colleague for you at NCPD, a cop dealing with the Tiger Claw Gang, sent him over.]

[Blais: You don’t need me to spell things out. Investigate Cloud Peak’s cyber illegal activities, report any clues to me immediately.]

[Blais: Remember, stay legal.]

[Character File: Reaver Ward]

[Affiliation: NCPD]

[Position: Level 2 Detective]

Lille snapped back to reality, gazing out the window, "Work starts tomorrow. We’re auxiliary police outsourced this time."

V squinted at Lille for a while, then lay back down.

"You’re such an idiot. I’m going to sleep."

"Then sleep."

V rolled her eyes, lying on the bed like a starfish. She couldn’t remember when she fell asleep, only recalling the clanking of parts, like white noise.

Lille disassembled the network access pod beside her, analyzing and recording the parts by the window’s light—

In the darkness, Lille heard V start to snore softly, and the clanking sounds grew quieter.

...

The next day, Reaver Ward sat upright.

He wanted to find a hacker to help him investigate the Tiger Claw Gang’s illegal flesh trade.

But the police hackers were swamped with work, and no one cared about some flesh trade on Japan Street—if people want to buy and sell, why intervene?

As for the street hackers... who would work for an NCPD cop?

Especially to investigate the Tiger Claw Gang?

So, his situation was lack of funds, no support, and a bad reputation, with a strong target to investigate.

But Reaver was a straight-shooter. Despite the abundance of problems over solutions in Night City policing, he brought a positive attitude to work every day.

Finally... he actually found a hacker.

Old Han brought out a plate of fried chicken from the store: "I’ll bet you five bucks that the hacker is just messing with you. Which street mercenary would take a direct NCPD job from the net?

If you really want to get things done, find a middleman."

Reaver shook his head, "I don’t trust middlemen. Why should the police go through middlemen for our own bounty network? What kind of nonsense is that?"

Old Han was used to Reaver’s idealism and started munching on fried chicken, "But that’s the rule in Night City. You get it, you’re just as stubborn as a mule.

I just hope this time isn’t like last time, I almost died. Look at my wounds..."

"Alright, alright, don’t show me." Reaver said helplessly, "I won’t investigate Lizard Man again!"

"Hmph, at least you’ve got some sense." Old Han continued munching, one hand on Reaver’s shoulder, "But I think it’s not about sense. It’s just you know you won’t get reassigned to Mexico..."

Reaver suddenly said, "They’re here."

Old Han was stunned, a chicken piece stuck at his mouth, "Uh... someone actually took a job from the NCPD website? Are they suicidal?"

Such official job sites were merely for show. It wasn’t just the mistrust from street mercenaries; middlemen also interfered.

Middlemen took a "broker fee," which most understood, but some didn’t.

Sometimes, desperate guys would take direct jobs from the official website—and those jobs would be sabotaged by middlemen with connections.

Cut them out, and they’d make sure you couldn’t get the job done.

Gradually, it became unwritten law.

Which fool broke this rule?

Bang.

Just as he thought this, Old Han saw a big guy bump into the doorframe—the restaurant’s frame actually broke!

"Dammit... why is this doorway so low?" The big guy—Jack, rubbed his head, "Boss, what’s with this door?"

"Uh... come in, sorry, it was hit by some Mackinaw-driving bastards the other day." The owner grew more furious as he spoke, "Dammit, those idiots. Can’t drive, don’t buy such big cars!"

"Oh."

Jack kept silent, trailing behind Lille and V and whispering, "Wasn’t us, right?"

Lille shook his head, "What are you asking? We didn’t crash into a roadside diner."

V scanned the diner and locked onto the client in one glance: "I see the client—I can smell cop from two miles away."

So the three of them sat opposite Reaver and Old Han—

Two rigid cops sitting there.

Lille said, "Nice to meet you, we are the professional team you’re looking for."

The two remained silent. Lille frowned: what’s going on?

This should be his first encounter with Reaver—and their public image should be very vague at best.

Not to mention, at the border wall, Mercedes did release some clear footage.

Were they recognized?

Looking at the two cops again—Lille confirmed, they’re definitely watching Jack.

Jack also felt puzzled, grabbing some chicken from the tray, "Mind if I eat some of this?"

As Jack started munching, Old Han’s grip on Reaver’s shoulder tightened, his gaze became increasingly terrified...

Then, they both blurted out:

"Wasteland Chef!"