Dog Brother pressed his face against the AV's glass, still looking down.
The circular Corpo Plaza, within half a circle's radius, was filled with flashing red and blue police lights.
Two medical personnel were treating the gunshot wound on his thigh, and Dog Brother asked cheekily:
"Hey, you guys at Trauma Team are awesome, daring to save someone Arasaka and NCPD are after."
One of the female medical personnel, wearing a closed-face helmet that obscured her full features, had a fair chin, small red lips, and a prominent nose, definitely a beauty. Her tone was formal:
"Arasaka is a corporation, NCPD is ultimately backed by corporations, and we are also a corporation. It's hard to say who's afraid of whom. Trauma Team, mission accomplished."
Dog Brother: "Hey, besides medical services, do you offer any other services?"
"I'm sorry, Miss A, we only provide medical services."
Jingxuan protested in her mind: "Hey, hey, hey, that's enough, stop flirting with that girl, give me my body back quickly."
Dog Brother: "Heartless Miss A, although I'm called Dog Brother, I'm not a simp. You can call me whenever you want and dismiss me whenever you want? I saved so many people, what's wrong with letting me use the body a little longer?"
Jingxuan was completely speechless. This Dog Brother, how could his state switch so thoroughly? Just a moment ago, he was on the brink of death, and now he's back to his usual deadpan self.
Jingxuan's face darkened:
"Are you sure? I'll give you another chance to rephrase."
"Damn it, fine, fine, I'll give it back, why so fierce?"
Jingxuan switched to red eyes, and as soon as she came online, she called her companions.
Jackie, David, Lucy, Rebecca, and Falco were all fine. The car had already reached Watson North District and was safe.
The female medic applied medicine and bandaged her, and Jingxuan said to her:
"This is fine, I'm not going to your exclusive hospital. Just drop me off in Watson North District, at the industrial district pier in the north of the city."
The four people in the AV exchanged glances, looking a bit awkward, and Jingxuan chuckled lightly:
"It's fine, I'll give you a five-star review and write a detailed commentary, the kind with many lines."
After a slight hesitation, the female medic gave a signal to the cockpit, and the AV changed direction.
.....
Everyone met at the pier and discussed having David's mother, Gloria, handle the bodies.
Maine and Dorio still needed cremation, which Gloria could arrange through her work convenience.
Gloria had a second success, once again recovering a Sandevistan. This time, Dog Brother had asked her through Jingxuan.
This item was very difficult to buy on the market.
Gloria's mood was complex. Previously, she had recovered a Sandevistan from the body of James, a cyberpsycho and Militech veteran, and sold it to Maine, which was exactly what Maine had ordered.
Now Maine had also become a cyberpsycho and died because of it.
Having to recover it again from Maine's body, she felt that this item brought bad luck.
Everyone was exhausted and found a dilapidated motel to sleep in, only leaving individually at noon the next day.
Jingxuan could finally attend to her own affairs and found a fast-food restaurant for lunch.
The TVs in the restaurant were all broadcasting the previous night's Corpo Plaza attack.
The news reported that terrorists had attacked Arasaka employees, and at the end, they even specially interviewed Michiko Arasaka, the top executive of Arasaka in Night City.
Michiko was quite indignant in the interview, strongly condemning the terrorist act and claiming that she would definitely seek justice for her employees.
But thinking about it, it was true; Maine's crew had indeed slaughtered many Arasaka soldiers last night.
At such a time, Dog Brother would inevitably rant and curse endlessly.
Looking at Michiko on TV, Jingxuan felt very subtle.
Once upon a time, Jingxuan greatly admired Michiko.
Because they had similar backgrounds, just to different degrees.
Asheng Jingxuan could actually be considered an Arasaka second-generation official, and Michiko and she had one thing exactly in common: neither of them felt a sense of belonging to Nisshoku Island.
That's right, both were of pure Nisshoku Island blood, but both were born in Night City.
Their cultural identity leaned more towards the United States.
Michiko used to run a "Dangerous Girl Agency," and Jingxuan had actually thought about starting her own small company to take on some jobs.
Now, due to her mother Asheng Meixue's disappearance, Jingxuan could be said to be on the opposite side of Arasaka.
Whenever she thought of this, Jingxuan would silently put away her admiration for Michiko.
After the interview, there was surprisingly an advertisement for the Relic...
This left both Jingxuan and Dog Brother dumbfounded...
No, this thing... has it already started selling to the public?
Has the product matured?
It claimed that with the Relic, immortality would no longer be a dream, exclusive to the wealthy.
Then, on other TVs, there were even dedicated programs discussing the Relic, it was absolutely buzzing.
Jingxuan's mind was a bit chaotic. After an hour of spacing out to adjust, she finally dialed Dexter DeShawn's number.
"Mr. DeShawn, um, has the Relic started formal market distribution?"
"Huh? Where did you hear that?"
"All the major TV stations are showing it, they're all talking about the Relic."
"Oh, that's scarcity marketing. It hasn't been formally distributed yet. I have a way to get the Relic early, I told you about it before, Miss A. I've been waiting for your message."
Immediately, the two arranged to meet that evening to discuss further.
As soon as this call ended, V's call came in:
"Jingxuan, I have something very important, it concerns my future, will you help me?"
Jingxuan didn't even hesitate: "What are you talking about, Sister V? As long as it's your business, I'll definitely help!"
"Good! Good sister! I've also called Jackie, we'll meet at Lizzie's Bar at 6 o'clock."
Jingxuan was speechless. She had already made plans with DeShawn for the evening, which was awkward, and she didn't want to refuse V.
Dog Brother: "Hey, I say, how can V's invitation be refused? DeShawn is just a businessman, he can wait."
Jingxuan replied to V: "Okay, I'll be there at 6!"
Dog Brother was suspended in the air, feet up, head down, moonwalking backward:
"Oh, damn, Lizzie's, V, tonight's definitely going to be awesome!"
.....
The first formal meeting with Maine's crew was chosen to be Lizzie's.
Dog Brother began to explain:
"Lizzie's belongs to the Moxes. It used to be openly controlled by the Tyger Claws, but then it broke away from the Tyger Claws. To protect the interests of their sisters, they formed the Moxes themselves. Now it's really legitimate. They don't even let you touch; if you like a girl, you can only buy her braindance, or rent it. Although there's not much difference, it always feels a bit unsatisfying, without freedom, easy to get bored."
Jingxuan looked disgusted: "I really misjudged you, Dog Brother. I always thought you were just talk, but hearing your explanation, it seems you're an old pervert."
Dog Brother could only smile wryly, spreading his hands:
"Men, you know... Hey, look, V and Jackie are here!"
He pointed to the door. V was wearing a dark red Arasaka Corporation suit.
Jackie next to her was a sight to behold; he was still wearing the same jacket from last night's fight, not even having washed off the bloodstains...