Chapter 982 - 27: Viktor’s Favorite Fighter

The most badass mercenary David has ever seen... is clearly Jack and V. These two big brothers personally took part in continuous high-intensity assaults on corporate convoys for two years after having a falling out with the corporations, forcing the security companies New America and Arasaka to reduce investments and withdraw from Night City.

As one of the young new generation of Night City, people like Morgan Black Hand and Susan Forrest were just posers. Those in the know understand that these old hands were beaten to a pulp by the big brothers two years ago.

However, the power of mercenaries has its limits. Not standing at the vortex’s center, but observing from a certain distance, he could clearly see how powerless individual strength is in defying this world...

When a combat robot is destroyed, another comes in its place. When a production line is shut down, another starts up somewhere else in the world. What they face directly always seems to be an endless supply of weaponry, not humankind.

In this regard, hackers seem to have an edge, but unfortunately, he has been in touch with many hackers like Lucy, Qi Wei, and even the former chief Lark of the New American Joint Staff Bureau, yet none of them could handle real military strikes.

When bombs rain from the sky, all a hacker can choose is whether to die in reality or in Cyberspace.

So as David sees it now, beyond this limit, you’re no longer a mercenary—

"Hey, you’re looking starry-eyed!"

Lucy glanced at David, remarking with a smirk.

Honestly, David now looks nothing like the coward he used to be. As a renowned mercenary himself in the city, he would work for City Hall when V and Jack weren’t around. If there were troublesome criminals or a gang getting too rowdy, he’d take on the commission and get the job done.

In a way, while he might be an outsourced member of the NCPD, he was undoubtedly the most powerful mercenary in the entire NCPD—

Furthermore, he handled matters maturely, aligning accurately with the ideas of Ryan and Perares, as deploying a Terrorist Mobile Team for minor disputes would only escalate things out of control.

Due to this relationship, he had access to Night City’s best prosthetics and bio-enhancement technology supplies, enabling his outstanding physical fitness to be fully utilized.

Although he didn’t use the Lizard Serum and Human Lizard Cyborg, these advanced body modifications, the "Nine Dragon Body Forging Plan" researched by Fiona and the Animal Gang, along with advanced prosthetics and skill chips from the Vortex Gang factory, were all implanted into him.

Being a young man still in his growth phase, he looked like quite a robust man now, but not overly bulky...

After all, the most badass person in his heart wasn’t that bulked up.

However, Lille’s re-emergence completely shattered his preconceived notions—

Bam...

The sound of his foot hitting the ground at least suggested a weight over two hundred kilograms, with a build as massive as a fortress, exoskeleton devices faintly visible beneath his cloak, looking like a fully armed super soldier at any time.

This is how Lille appeared to ordinary people now, with the body of a synthetic human wrapped around a system for maintaining a quantum computer, and a mobility system flexible enough for agile movements. Once in combat mode, and covered with bullet-proof armor plates, it was even more exaggerated.

David felt the power just by watching, getting more motivated with his moving tasks.

The group had moved the most advanced consultation clinic equipment from the Watson District to Old Wei’s clinic.

"I never expected... after two years, you’re back alive... Pan’an told me the whole city’s buzzing, and I knew it had to be you..."

Old Wei remained much the same, wearing the same glasses with electronic display features, with two strong arms, yet his face full of kindness.

During these two years, considering the corporations would tirelessly seek out traces Lille left behind and potentially threaten targets significant to Jack and V, Old Wei, Mrs. Wales, and Misty chose to leave Night City and live with the Adkaduo.

But today, they were back.

Looking at Lille, Old Wei recalled more than two years ago when V, Jack, and Lille entered the clinic together. He thought of the young man he diagnosed with a death sentence yet showed no sign of discouragement, despair, or fear, saying in a nonchalant tone:

Then let’s go for one more heist.

Little did he expect that this "one more heist" would turn not just Night City but the entire world upside-down.

Thinking of this, words choked him up, and in the end, Old Wei excitedly patted Lille, giving his arm a good squeeze—

But he pinched the wrong spot, hitting the exoskeleton part, feeling the discomfort.

"The big brother who changed the world walked out of my clinic, who would believe that when told? Truly bringing glory to Night City—

I was going to ask if you wanted to see the prosthetics again, but I won’t embarrass myself in front of you. By the way, your stuff..."

Old Wei turned to look at the moving container behind him. After entering the password, the seal unwrapped layer by layer, revealing the contents inside—

This was an ecological culture vessel, or you could say a pet life-support bay.

The lizard they smuggled, the world’s first genetically modified lizard, had grown to nearly two meters in length without its tail!

The gigantic lizard lounged on the bionic wood inside the crate, its big eyes looking at Old Wei and then at Lille’s group. Although it was hard to detect any emotional change from the eyes of a cold-blooded animal, the way it cocked its head seemed thoughtful.

"It’s doing fine, just like you."

Lille also felt somewhat sentimental, realizing that after two years, this lizard was still alive...

Apparently, the main reason Old Wei left Night City was this lizard; for two years, the Lizard Serum might have been drawn directly from the lizard’s blood.

But now that he was back, many things would focus back on him, turning Night City into a solid fortress, impermeable by corporations unless they first broke through from outside.

Their former friends and family no longer needed to roam outside—

Lille’s promise was to provide them with a future, starting with a warm home.

"You’re doing well too," Lille remarked sentimentally, "still as robust as ever—I almost forgot it’s only been two years, not twenty.

From now on, there’s no need to wander across the Evil Land, Night City can’t do without Old Wei’s prosthetic clinic."

"Haha, you’re just as sweet-talking, but I think Night City can’t do without you."

Saying this, Old Wei sat back in his previous work spot—

The same spot, but the equipment was significantly different.

Before, he used Zeta Technology, Biotechnology, Military Technology, and Arasaka equipment, but now the clinic had no corporately produced equipment...

Someone once said, without corporations, where would they go to enjoy the latest scientific technology?

Advanced technology fills their lives like the air, and people almost forgot there is no intrinsic link between them.

Old Wei still had a smile on his face, instinctively opening the screen he used the most, immediately playing his favorite boxing match—

His favorite boxer without a single mistake, without a trace of retreat, was full of fighting spirit, persisting to the last moment...

But still lost the match.

He disliked this result, yet he couldn’t figure out where the loss stemmed from, only accepting it over and over, sighing and reflecting, telling himself perhaps some matches are just unwinnable.

He often watched this video and couldn’t articulate why he was so persistent.

But today he understood: because he wasn’t as at ease about it as he imagined.

He didn’t want to accept the notion: some matches are unwinnable.

Lille also noticed Old Wei was still watching that video: "Still enjoy watching that match?"

Old Wei chuckled, turned off the video: "Starting today, I don’t enjoy watching it so much anymore. No one truly enjoys watching their favorite player fail over and over."

He then waved a fist: "You’re my favorite player now—need me to be your assistant? Or maybe teach me a couple of moves?"

Lille shrugged: "Of course, Jack—"