Old De, if you don't come now, I won't be able to hold on any longer!!!
On the spacious street, a black luxury car slowly emerged from the shadows of an overpass and came to a stop by the side of the road.
Dreman's unchanging, friendly voice sounded.
"Welcome to Dreman's Taxi. The 'Strive for Perfection' package is in effect. Choose Dreman, leave your worries behind."
Luoqi should have been happy with this sight, eagerly awaiting the arrival of a vehicle that could withstand Moer's outburst.
But now he stood by the side of the road, pursing his lips, not moving, his face showing a hint of sadness.
Moer stood quietly beside him, unexpectedly calm. A few strands of her hair, tousled after her wild struggle, swayed gently in the wind. She hung her head as if repenting.
"Get in." Luoqi gestured with his fingers and motioned to her.
The docile Moer, like a tamed cat, deftly climbed into the back seat and continued to sit there, bowing her head in apology.
"Let's go."
Luoqi also got in and said.
"Before starting the trip, please choose your destination."
"Just... wander around."
The car started, and the smooth ride with Dreman was much better than the experience at the Azure Tower that night.
But the two people in the back seat didn't seem to think so.
Luoqi propped his hands on his thighs, his eyes unnaturally staring out the window.
And Moer, who had meticulously dressed up, now exuded a hint of girlish charm, something never seen before on her usually cold and resolute demeanor.
The cityscape outside the window flashed by.
The urban planning that revealed industrial and technological beauty still gave Luoqi an unreal and illusory feeling, but also terribly hollow, like standing on a bustling and noisy street where the wind could still pass through the throngs of people, telling of their total lack of connection.
Recalling the touch of her lips, his emotions irrationally became agitated.
What was he so anxious about?
He didn't know.
Luoqi examined himself, seemingly not having missed anything, not having done anything wrong, but the feeling of being grounded slowly drifted away.
It was such a strange sensation.
Feeling helpless, he let his gaze wander, eventually landing back on Moer.
In Night City, could there really be a fairy tale-like dream ending?
Like the happy endings everyone loves to see, does it really exist?
The answer is unknown.
Luoqi didn't even know V's future.
Would he become the underground king, known to all; die on the streets, seeking Jackie in another world amid endless regrets; or perhaps lay down all the pointless sacrifices and leave the city of dreams with a heavy heart?
He had changed the fate of the Azure Tower, but the gears of destiny kept turning.
Living for today without a thought for tomorrow, no one could give anyone the promise of never parting in life or death.
"Moer, I..."
Luoqi hesitated to speak, with countless chaotic thoughts clogging his heart, unable to find the words.
After a long time, he swallowed his words and asked, "Where do you plan to go next?"
Moer finally raised her head, and in her deep eyes, there was no hesitation, only direct gaze.
"Nowhere."
"Nowhere? Why?" Luoqi looked into her eyes, but after a few seconds, he couldn't bear the determination contained in her gaze and shifted his eyes away.
In Moer's voice, there was no hysterical breakdown, no tearful sadness, just calmness.
"I have nowhere to go but you."
She slowly hugged herself, revealing her unknown past.
Moer was born in Nevada, where she had a decent childhood. There was no alcoholic father like those in clichéd stories, nor a mother who died from overwork, poverty, or illness. Her family's income was enough for her to grow up without being destitute.
In her hometown, when summer came, the land would always be covered with swaying dandelions and daisies.
But in 2069, everything changed.
Newly elected President Rosalind Miles proposed a unification plan, under the guise of strengthening the nation, and expanded the federal government's control over the Free States.
Over the past thirty years, starting in the 2030s and lasting until the end of the "Great Reconstruction" period in the 2060s, the nations and corporations that had been given a chance to breathe began to slowly recover on the war-torn land of America.
But the already fractured "Fifty States" had grown accustomed to division, and most of the now-independent territories opposed Miles' unification plan - an inevitable armed conflict eventually arrived.
With the support of the nationalized military technology forces (MILITECH), the NUSA declared war on the loose alliance of secessionist states.
Despite the support of Arasaka's secret weapons and "security consultants," the Free States were still at a disadvantage against the NUSA forces, which received aid from the supporting factions. As both sides of the war employed the most advanced military technology of the time, the conflict was dubbed the "Metal War," while the New United States Federal Government (NUSA) preferred to call the war spanning 2069 and 2070 the "Unification War."
Moer, who lost her home and parents and siblings in the bombings during their escape, joined MILITECH's conscription with a desire for revenge on the Free States. From her girlhood, she was gradually trained into an emotionless killing machine.
But when she was officially graduated from the elite soldier transformation program and killed her first enemy, MILITECH and the New United States Federal Government quietly announced the signing of the "Unification Treaty" to end the war.
The outcome of everything was like a whimsical straw plan, recklessly announced, then paid countless prices, and ended abruptly.
The southern Free States remained autonomous but agreed to join the new federal government and cease hostilities among themselves.
Fearing that Arasaka's involvement could escalate the conflict, which meant the war threat implied by the still-docked super aircraft carrier "Kujira," President Miles agreed to the solution.
A peace treaty that disgusted both sides was better than continuing the war and risking a global crisis.
The North and South remained in opposition, and the people were displaced, leaving the land in turmoil.
The only victor was the company that took root and flourished unscrupulously in Night City, not the "sword-wielding, bewildered" solitary girl.
So she muddled along under the army's management, eliminating one so-called "threat target" after another for the company.
Just like that, it continued until the experimental cyberware malfunctioned, and the corporation's killer stood before her.
Dandelions and daisies couldn't find the direction of the wind, and she had forgotten the way home and her past.
Having nothing.
Chapter 31: Shoulder to Lean On
However, Luo Qi suddenly laughed.
His mouth widened into a grin, revealing clean teeth, and he gently began to laugh.
He really loved to laugh.
In the short time they had spent together, Luo Qi always used various smiles to express his emotions.
Smiles, bitter smiles, laughs, silly smiles, cold smiles, scornful smiles, warm smiles...
Sitting with someone like him seemed to make one's mood less miserable because seeing his ever-uplifting smile and still clear eyes seemed to dispel some of the fog that lingered in the city.
Although Mo Er still didn't understand what was so funny.
"Well, in that case, we're both homeless people."
Luo Qi handed her the PDA in his hand, and the screen showed a message.
[Eviction Notice
Sender: Super Skyscraper Property Management
Recipient: Luo Qi
Dear Sir/Madam,
In view of the dangerous consequences caused by your stay, according to the lease agreement VD-233056386/2077, you have been forcibly executed in the eviction process and no longer have the right to use the property.]
Seeing Mo Er's puzzled look, Luo Qi explained to her the ins and outs of the situation, from Takeshura Gorō's identity and the reasons for being hunted down to their current fugitive status. But she seemed very calm, as being hunted by the NCPD's Terrorist Task Force was nothing to her.
In the half-year in this city, Luo Qi often fought in the streets with V and Jack, and the time he could spend at home quietly was not much. Even if there was, most of the time, he accompanied these two playful guys to Jack's mother's Wild Wolf Bar or the nightclubs outside – although most of the time Luo Qi was dragged there, then sat and drank soft drinks while playing with his phone.
So, there weren't many of Luo Qi's belongings in the house, mostly ordinary daily necessities such as clothes.
The only real losses were the custom pink macho heart gun, the limited edition Gundam model, and the chicken bowl speaker.
Although Luo Qi had accepted reality, his heart still ached slightly.
Before finding a new place to live, Luo Qi indeed lost his physical "home." The rent and deposit in Night City were not cheap. Unless he planned to find a really low-level slum to make do, or stay temporarily in a not-so-good condition hotel where NCPD police officers occasionally raided, the top priority was to find a suitable place for both himself and Mo Er.
However, Mo Er seemed a little too well-behaved, to the point of... restraint?
Recalling the awful thing he had just done to Mo Er, Luo Qi felt a little helpless.
Although the person involved didn't show any aversion or rejection, he couldn't get over this hurdle himself.
He used to think that the idea of "leaving things to time to solve" was problematic, but now he realized that sometimes it was really a last resort.
For example, Luo Qi didn't know how to apologize to the "obedient-looking" Mo Er.
After thinking for a while, he finally found a suitable solution.
Call Regina.
"Regina, it's Lucky."
Ignoring Johnny's frantic encouragement to "strike while the iron is hot," "take advantage of the situation," and "exploit the vulnerable," Luo Qi dialed the number.
"Beep..."
The sound of being hung up came from the other end of the phone.
It turned out that Johnny had cut it off.
[Please! Can you stop messing with my PDA? If this keeps up, I'll have to buy a new one.]