"The equipment was something Militech bought from Biotechnica."
Daino explained in a low voice.
"Details are in the attachment."
As he finished, a file streamed into Arthur's neural link. Several dark red panels unfolded in front of him.
The mission was in Pacifica—that glittering abscess at the edge of Night City.
The Animals weren't a tightly organized gang; they were scattered across different factions. Like scavengers, you could find them everywhere in Night City.
But their largest concentration was in Pacifica, where these hulking brutes were sworn enemies of the Voodoo Boys.
They didn't fear the Voodoo Boys' invasive netrunning. The Animals despised cyberware implants, which made them far more resistant to netrunner intrusions.
Instead, they bulked up by injecting testosterone, animal growth hormones, and even using gene editing.
These methods turned them into giants with immense strength. The tradeoff? Their brains usually suffered.
The faction that stole from Militech was one of these Pacifica crews.
If they came down too hard, the whole gang could end up against them.
"Forget it. We'll scout first."
Arthur made up his mind and turned to Jessica.
"Come on, our job's in Pacifica. The pay's decent."
But Jessica tilted her head, staring at him in confusion.
"Why do we have to go?"
Her voice was uncertain, tinged with self-doubt.
"Because the mission's in Pacifica. And we work to survive.
Now hurry—we need to move..."
Arthur's hoarse voice came out fast as he gestured toward the door.
"But I'm a netrunner..."
Jessica's protest came out in a timid whisper.
Arthur frowned, realizing everyone's eyes were on him. Clearly, his thinking was off.
"Uh... what?
Damn it, netrunners can really just work without ever leaving the house?"
He threw up his hands helplessly, genuine confusion in his tone.
"Of course. The best netrunners never leave their hideouts.
In Night City, they're among the most hated. Some lone wolves go their whole lives without ever showing their faces."
Vik chuckled as he added the reminder.
"Phew—"
Arthur exhaled, shrugging awkwardly.
"Maybe I should think about changing jobs..."
He was about to leave when Jackie spoke up.
"Arthur, it's not safe alone. Let's go together, hermano!"
Jackie, quiet until then, suddenly stood.
A grin spread across his broad face as he rolled his shoulders theatrically.
"Ha! Looks like our unbeatable duo is back in action."
Arthur gave the big man a once-over, then smiled back. He gestured toward the door.
"Fine... Jackie...
If your legs really are healed this time.
Just don't push it too hard, because I sure as hell can't carry you."
Jackie draped his massive hand over Arthur's shoulder, towering above him.
"Ha ha...
But man, you really ought to lighten up! At least stop being so harsh."
...
In a jet-black car, Arthur slid into the passenger seat as Jackie fired up the engine.
The roar set the exposed pipes rattling in rhythm.
It was shabby compared to V's sports car, but at least it was comfortable.
"You still haven't told me where we're headed."
Jackie asked once his hands were steady on the wheel.
"South Pacifica."
Arthur replied, forwarding Daino's intel to him.
"Ah... so we're dealing with the Animals..."
Jackie muttered as he scrolled through the data.
"Those muscle-brained hulks?
You can't reason with them—they're just stubborn oxen."
As he adjusted the steering, the car slipped out of Little China's cramped streets and onto the elevated expressway.
"By the way, where'd you get this heap?"
At higher speeds, the door beside Arthur rattled violently. He pulled his arm away from the window and asked.
"This is thanks to you."
Jackie flashed his signature goofy grin.
"It's Misty's car. But now I can drive it whenever I want."
"You two are together?"
Arthur asked, surprise flickering across his face. The fool had actually pulled it off.
"Damn right. The hottest girl in Night City—I landed her, ha ha."
Then Jackie shot Arthur a sheepish glance.
"Don't repeat my dumb lines to her, okay?"
"You've got the best..."
Arthur muttered with a roll of his eyes, then added,
"But you're right about one thing—you really don't deserve her."
As they talked, a faint, clear voice rang in their heads.
"Misty's really with Jackie?"
It was Jessica.
"Shit, tell me that's not last night's booze talking..."
Arthur rubbed his temples, his voice tinged with confusion.
"That's our netrunner girl. She pulled us into a private LAN.
This kind of network's solid—lets us stay in real-time contact without worrying about anyone hacking in."
Jackie explained casually, not at all surprised.
"If that's all a netrunner does, I'd still call it worth every penny.
Yelling over gunfire wrecks your voice."
Jessica picked up on the edge in Arthur's tone and scrambled to explain.
"It's not like that, Mr. Arthur! I really am useful!
I... I mean... netrunners are useful!"
Arthur shut his mouth. Some people just weren't cut out for teasing.
"Ha ha, hermano, you'll see soon enough."
Jackie's laughter echoed through the car as he gripped the wheel.
...
Pacifica had its own character.
Abandoned buildings dotted the landscape, and the area felt more open than other parts of Night City. With no skyscrapers blocking the sky, sunlight poured freely down.
As the car rolled off the highway, that uneasy blend of prosperity and decay became even clearer.
Unlike Heywood, where decline came gradually, here both worlds clashed at once—
Brand-new paving stones gleamed underfoot, while weeds pushed defiantly through the cracks.
The wheels flattened them, but they straightened again, as if watching the car disappear into the distance.
Their target was an abandoned paint factory.
Once a temporary facility that supplied materials during Pacifica's construction boom, it had been left to rot for years.
Leaving behind the wide plazas overrun with weeds, the deeper they drove into Pacifica, the more people they saw.
The Voodoo Boys controlled this territory. To their credit, these Haitians weren't fools. They knew better than to foul their own nest.
They treated outsiders like doormats, but they weren't stingy about tossing a few crumbs their way.
"We'll have to head further south. That area's even worse off, looks like."
Jackie kept talking as he scanned the road ahead.
"Compared to them, those muscle-brained Animals don't stand a chance against the Haitians—especially when it comes to brains.
But it's not all bad. Since the Animals don't use their heads, the Voodoo Boys can't worm their way in either."
Arthur shot the big man a surprised glance—Jackie clearly enjoyed mocking the Animals.
"These Animals... they're not exactly popular, are they?"
Hearing the question, Jackie scratched his cheek awkwardly with one hand.
"It's not that I've got beef with them, just... heh...
Some people keep mistaking me for one of them."