Chapter 975 - 25: Skyrend Project (Part 3) (Double-Length)

In the Watson District, members of the Vortex Gang and the Animal Gang disembarked from the same bus—

Yes, Night City now has buses.

Since Lille has blocked Night City’s external investment ideas, Ryan and Perares have been developing ways to boost the economy by stimulating domestic demand. Public transportation is a good move, although it’s a bit costly, it provides many people with a legitimate way to work...

Though for ordinary people, it’s quite dark: the bus system feeds on government resources, and it’s not unusual for former gangs to discreetly allocate some funding.

But it’s better than them going out on the streets, burning, killing, and looting, right?

Currently, this bus system is mostly in a semi-autonomous mode. The driver monitors problematic buses from the control center and manually intervenes when needed, often contacting local police in the area. In reality, many times it’s the former gang members who handle the disturbances.

No one dares to speak on the bus: gangs formed from coconut water are mostly flamboyant, distinguishing themselves through exquisite body modifications and unique clothing, though there are exceptions.

The members of these two gangs don’t need tattoos or clothes to prove their identities; one is a terrifying cyber monster, while the other is a terrifying biological monster.

And their status is easy to discern—the less human-like, the stronger they are.

On the bus at this moment are precisely three such individuals: Brick, Jostar, and the Wild Man King.

Sometimes, these "old comrades" still carry a bit of a fluke mindset, each feeling they’ve crossed paths with Burger King and then teamed up to take down old corporate rivals, but Lille now returns with less humanity and more of a cold mechanical feel.

Of course, thinking back, the time when Lille razed their hometown also exuded that steely frigidity.

"Slow down...slow down!"

Jostar carried a large life support chamber for his mom, Brick behind him supporting, and constantly yelling slow down slow down.

The Wild Man King looked at the two’s comical state, curled his lips, and lent a hand—

As the life support chamber hit the ground, the bus shuddered slightly.

"Damn..." Brick felt a bit embarrassed, unexpectedly helped by this stinking ape, "Is being big so great?"

"You, damn grateful for the help yet cursing, want to die?"

"You’re the one who wants to die..."

Boom—

The bus engine roared and took off in a flash.

The three, or rather four including Jostar’s mom, exchanged looks, glanced at the fleeing bus, and finally, reason triumphed over impulse.

Though many of their own people had infiltrated the city’s service system, even more are ordinary citizens.

What if a fight breaks out, and Lille finds out?

This shows how today’s Night City differs from the past: gangs now have something to fear, even a beastly outfit like Vortex Gang has been tamed.

As the tension grew awkward, Jostar feigned holding Brick’s hand: "Hey, big brother, we’ve got work to do, no need to delay over this..."

Though Brick is subject to Jostar’s mom due to his prosthetics, and she even occasionally intervenes in the gang’s operations, Jostar routinely calls him big brother, and Vortex Gang does too, each in their own way.

Being persuaded, Brick laughed angrily: "Damn, you make us sound like dumbass office workers, as if living means getting herded to work like pigs..."

The Wild Man King crossed her arms, frankly unmoved by the state of Night City:

Both the Animal Gang and Vortex Gang are human enhancement gangs, although the latter is far more radical.

This doesn’t mean prosthetics are necessarily safer than drugs, truthfully, without top-notch medical services after Dog Town, the Wild Man King would have a sharp head too, finding it hard to think straight.

But the Animal Gang is very eager to send their people to all sorts of shady sports events, using gang methods to influence the outcomes—

Compared to the Vortex Gang, which randomly snatched people for human experiments at their will, this is somewhat more above board.

Working is working, life isn’t bad these days, no worries about food, clothing, or shelter, there’s even the latest drugs every day, specialized gyms, and even scientific fitness coaches, the price is doing some work to maintain order. She honestly doesn’t see the complaint...

From another angle, maintaining order as the Animal Gang or as Burger King is still maintaining order, the latter has a much better life.

So she shrugged: "Mind you and your people, I don’t want one of your stupid ideas getting him shot."

"Wuss..."

Brick spoke without a filter; the Wild Man King was about to start recording, but Jostar quickly restrained his leader—

The young man, thanks to a good mother, is highly compatible with prosthetics, easily holding his leader in place.

"Big brother, stop talking! We’ve got work to do!"

Brick shook off the younger subordinate, grumbling: "I know, no need to say it twice..."

The Animal Gang and the Vortex Gang then each headed towards their territories—

Technically speaking, those who were capable from each gang have been incorporated into the local NCPD, while those specializing in drugs or prosthetics research have been assigned to different research facilities.

So, they’ve truly become legitimate.

And they’re aware of the changes: the bus only took off after they got off.