Alex Knight sat back in the car, placing the lighter and the remaining two masks into his backpack. He didn't drive away immediately. Instead, he unfolded the Night City postcard he had bought for 10 euros and began to study it.
Beyond textual introductions to Night City, the postcard included a relatively detailed map, outlining the names and routes of various districts and streets in Night City.
Alex examined the map, finding Santo Domingo in the lower right corner, and by comparing it with the surrounding buildings, he roughly pinpointed his current location.
He carefully surveyed the area routes on the map.
According to the female shop owner, to reach Watson Little Chinatown for supplies, he'd have to circumnavigate an entire district regardless of the route.
Unable to find better options after looking for a long time, Alex started the car and chose the shortest route.
From Martin Luther King Avenue in the River Valley District, he drove to the Westbrook district, crossed Japantown from Charter Hill, and aimed to enter Watson Little Chinatown via the elevated sea-crossing highway.
The idea was appealing, but reality had other plans.
Two hours later, Alex was leisurely driving the mackinaw through Santo Domingo streets, or rather, he could only drive within this old district.
The streets were cluttered with garbage, covered in graffiti. Tall buildings and low houses stood side by side, factories and power plants closely adjacent. Wobbly chimneys and dilapidated super H4 Skyscrapers were everywhere.
Faint gunshots echoed, highlighting the disorder and poverty in the area.
There's no harm without comparison; compared to other districts, Santo Domingo is less the oldest district of Night City and more its slum, providing cheap labor for large factories.
Police patrolling Santo Domingo wouldn't bother intervening in illegal activities, but Westbrook was different.
He was stopped by the NCPD as soon as he drove into Charter Hill.
The officer claimed his car lacked permission to enter Night City's urban area, and Alex himself wasn't officially registered, making him an unregistered resident.
If not for a kind officer letting him off, likely swayed by the 300 euros Alex discreetly slipped him, Alex might have spent his first day in Night City in detention.
Now, Alex needed a way to solve his identity issue.
The game's character connections offered no help in reality; with no phone, netrunner interface, or contact information, he could only find people through primitive means.
After wandering Santo Domingo's streets for over 4 hours, his eyes were sore, and he still hadn't found the middleman, Old Captain.
"Where's that show-off hiding?" Alex grumbled, slamming the steering wheel.
Relying on the middleman seemed unfeasible.
Only one option remained: wait.
As the sky darkened, the car's electronic clock displayed 6 PM.
Alex sat in the car, eating grilled fish from another world with a pained expression; to swallow the unpalatable fish, he took a bite of fish and a sip of water, struggling to get it down.
Taste enhancement was overly sensitive, not always beneficial.
The fish was doubly unpalatable, as Alex in Monster Hunter World also had dinner, eating freshly skewered grilled fish. With physical enhancement, his appetite had grown, and one fish no longer sufficed. Two people consumed four fish per meal, and the pond's dozens of fish wouldn't last long.
Outside, Alex was parked below the H4 Skyscraper in the River Valley District.
His spot provided a full view of the underground parking lot and building entrances.
Alex was waiting for a yellow galena g240 model beat-up car, or a lady with red hair in a yellow jacket.
Having seen Lucy in the morning, as someone from Edgerunners, he should wait for her at her doorstep.
"Waiting for the rabbit by the stump, hmm, no problem."
Alex needed the red-haired lady to resolve his identity and accommodation issues.
"I hope she's not on the night shift, or I'll have to pull an all-nighter with her."
Waiting time is boring and long.
After finishing two plain grilled fish, Alex, in the car, inspected and familiarized himself with the firearm from the beginner's gift pack.
Holding the gun, disengaging the safety, aiming, burst fire, single shots, reloading—a series of images played in Alex's mind.
Finally, Alex disassembled the Copperhead rifle components in the car, then reassembled it with practiced movements.
Awesome!
With this talent in school, he'd be at Tsinghua or Peking University in no time!
At 9 PM, nightlife in other districts began.
Meanwhile, Santo Domingo's factory workers, after a 15-hour shift, dragged exhausted bodies like zombies home, ate a simple meal, and collapsed into bed.
Exploited by bosses, they hoped for a brighter future in dreams.
11:50 PM.
Almost midnight.
Under dim streetlights, Alex finally saw his target.
A very old-looking yellow sedan.
**[galena g240]**
- **Quality:** Inferior
- **Description:** An 'antique' car, ceased production 20 years ago, front-wheel drive, 86 horsepower, empty weight 2255.
- **P.S.:** Popular among fans before 2034 due to punk rock hit 'Shaggin' in a galena'.
**Caww~**
A black mackinaw suddenly sped out, blocking the underground parking lot entrance.
Gloria Martinez quickly slammed on the brakes, stopping the antique car with a shudder.
"Who's this? Looking for trouble at night."
Gloria drew her pistol from her lower back, chambering a round; as a woman often returning home alone late, she needed self-defense means.
Night City's characteristic: if something feels off, draw your gun first.
**[Gloria Martinez]**
- **Age:** 33
- **Identity:** Medical Center Emergency Medical Technician? Freelancer?
- **Cyberware Coverage:** 9%
- **Description:** Her only dream is her son reaching the top of Arasaka Tower.
- **P.S.:** Tense, may draw and shoot any moment, be careful.
"Alright! Seems I've scared the red-haired lady."
Alex exited the car, raising his hands to signal no ill intentions, and slowly approached the galena g240.
Through the car window, using interior light, Alex clearly saw Gloria.
Like in the anime, her features depicted a heroic, dashing demeanor, but brows couldn't hide deep fatigue.
A red diamond-shaped implant near her right eye's outer corner, like a tear mole, added allure.
Her wine-red hair, tied in a ponytail, fell across her chest. Despite delicate looks, she exuded married woman charm.
Gloria's complexion was poor; fair but lacking a healthy flush, appearing pale, and her hair was rough, dull—a dark red.
Prolonged overwork and living environment severely damaged her natural health.
"Don't be nervous, madam, I just need your help," Alex said softly.
"Please leave immediately, I'm just a worker, I can't help others."
Gloria didn't open the door; she just looked at the stranger blocking her way through the window, replying coldly.
"No, you can help me. Please contact Mann; I have a job for him." Alex's words made Gloria falter.
No one should know her relationship with Mann, Gloria thought confusedly, still denying it:
"I don't know Mann, you've got the wrong person."
"Ms. Gloria, you don't need to deny it. You often pick up unclaimed cyberware and firearms for him, so I assume you have his contact."
Alex didn't answer Gloria's internal question, but his words struck deep, revealing her secret.
Gloria looked at the stranger, panicked; her heart was far from calm.
How did he know about her secret thefts?
Her most hidden secret, casually revealed by a stranger.
"Stealing from deceased is against Night City law. If he notifies the NCPD… what about David?"
Gloria didn't want to think further; her right hand gripped the gun, finger on the trigger.
Alex noticed Gloria's state wasn't right; he'd been too hasty, scaring her. He quickly spoke to rectify the situation.
"Madam, please put down the pistol. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. I just need your help, and there are cameras here, even if you shoot..."
"Enough, stop talking! You want Mann, I'll help!" Gloria shouted.
"Very good, madam. Then, for this commission, you'll be the middleman. Don't worry, it's simple and safe."
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