"Good morning, folks! This is your buddy Raymond! Yesterday's Body Lotto? Fifty-one hits in total! Haha, bet you didn't see that coming—a super jackpot!"
"All thanks to that cyberpsycho over in Watson District. But I imagine a lot of you lost your winnings!"
"Not that anyone's getting off easy, because another Counter-Terrorism officer died in the operation. Looks like you're all paying up!"
"Santo Domingo is as peaceful as ever—if you ignore 6th Street wandering around. Over in Westbrook, the Tyger Claws haven't been doing too well lately. Might be worth upping your bets!"
"As for the Maelstrom gang in Watson, no idea what they're cooking this time. After the Whole Foods incident, better watch out or you might end up on the menu yourselves!"
"Anyway, that's everything I picked up yesterday. Guys, let's kick off another day of chasing dreams in Night City!"
Lucy reached out and switched off the radio, suppressing a yawn.
"Yep… classic Night City."
She let out a soft laugh and headed to the bathroom to wash up.
When she finished and looked around her little apartment, she couldn't help smiling. Roland had paid for this place—called it payment for the intel she'd delivered.
"Alright… another good day. Time to get to work."
Lucy patted her cheeks, straightened herself up, and headed out of the skyscraper.
All the skyscrapers here were built by Night Corp in the same style, almost identical from the outside. Only the interiors had any real differences.
One thing worth mentioning: if a tenant died, the unit automatically reverted to the landlord and went back on the rental market.
A downside of skyscraper apartments… though not exactly a deal-breaker.
...
"Whew… that was something. Hey, got anything better?"
V tore off the Braindance gear, her face full of excitement, and looked at the Braindance Designer in front of her.
"Nope. We're a legal shop—no black-market Braindance here. If you're curious, though, I can get one for you to try."
"I'll pass. If my folks find out, I'm dead."
V waved her off immediately.
"Shame."
The Braindance Designer sighed, then leaned in. "Hey, V, with your grades, you could graduate early, right?"
"Yeah, pretty much. Why?"
"Have you decided which big corp's academy you want to study abroad at?"
"Hmm… honestly? Haven't thought about it. Depends. But my parents want me to go to Militech Science Division's academy, or one from Arasaka."
V rubbed her chin, then shook her head.
"So you're planning on joining a corporation, then?"
"From any angle, it's the best option for me right now."
V smiled, not denying it.
Hearing that, the Braindance Designer sighed again.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just thinking… people with corporate backgrounds always go further in their careers. For ordinary folks like us, that kind of path is tough."
"Don't say that. I'm only aiming that way because my family wants me to. And besides…"
"Besides what?"
"…Nothing. I should get going. Still have things to deal with. Take care."
V waved and stepped out of the Braindance store.
BOOM!
She had barely made it out of Japantown when a massive explosion erupted. The shockwave whipped her clothes against her body. A towering Tyger Claws brute—over two meters tall—staggered out of the flames.
His subdermal armor had curled from the heat, exposing the mechanical frame beneath.
In his left hand, he held a massive katana. In his right… a severed head.
"Shōko… Shōko…"
V's pupils shrank. She quickly ducked behind cover, only daring to peek with half her head. She knew exactly what this was—
a cyberpsycho.
"Dammit… am I really this unlucky? I just stepped outside and run into this—on Japantown streets, no less?"
"Everyone! Quick, restrain Ando! Otherwise the Counter-Terrorism Unit will be here any second!"
A group rushed onto the scene, their leader shouting orders.
The cyberpsycho—Ando—turned his attention toward them. The leader, still talking to his subordinates, hadn't realized the danger.
A deafening crack split the air.
BOOM!
The car crushed under Ando's feet collapsed further as his massive frame shot forward with terrifying speed.
Whoosh—
Slick—
A silver arc cut through the air. Two bodies crashed to the ground, blood spraying everywhere.
The Tyger Claws' leader had been sliced clean in half.
"Shōko… my…"
Ando pressed the crushed head in his hand—still warm—against his cheek as if savoring the lingering heat.
V nearly threw up. The surrounding Tyger Claws went pale, roaring in fury as they opened fire.
But the shots only sparked harmlessly off his metal frame.
Those who charged him were cut down like vegetables.
Wakako, watching everything, didn't flinch. She simply shut her door and ordered everyone inside to hide.
Kuroda, now informed, showed no reaction. Whatever the Tyger Claws chose to do was their business; he wasn't sending anyone out.
Besides… this clearly wasn't a simple case. He immediately sent people to dig into this cyberpsycho Ando's background.
Soon, Ando—unstoppable—slaughtered everyone present. As he stood there in confusion, his gaze suddenly landed on V.
The moment they made eye contact, V's expression changed. She bolted without hesitation.
"No, Shōko! Why are you running?!"
Ando roared, flinging the severed head aside as he charged after her. Those nearby watched coldly, hoping V would lead him away.
"Fuck off! Who the hell are you calling Shōko?! Dammit! If I get the chance I'll—"
V cursed as she sprinted full-speed. She couldn't afford to slow down for even a second.