In Night City, if you want to hide from Arasaka, staying in the dark won't work. Takemura also said that in Night City, there's no one Arasaka can't find.
Although Luo Qi thought this might be a bit exaggerated, Arasaka's power was undeniable.
And if there were other forces that wanted her dead, like the unknown people who hired hackers to invade her, a Tiger Claws den wouldn't provide much protection for a woman of the night.
"Heh, she thought it was safer there, who knows what she was thinking," Judy waved her hand, the dissatisfaction in her tone more like frustration born from worry, "I tried to persuade her, but she wouldn't listen."
"Have you seen Finger Brother? Is he inside?"
Although Luo Qi didn't want to interrupt their conversation, time was of the essence, so it was better to get straight to the point.
After going through so many twists and turns, if he could find out who was behind Evelyn, who treated the Relic deal like a joke and ran away, he would be furious and tear them apart.
"If only I'd seen him, it's harder to see him than the best cyberware doctor in the city."
She seemed annoyed by the noisy customers.
"Waiting here won't get us anywhere, why don't you go talk to those girls and let us in first?"
Judy made a suggestion, gesturing with her hand towards the sex dolls sitting on the sofa.
"Why do I have to go?"
V didn't like dealing with these people either.
"I think they might not like it, just give it a try, and if it doesn't work, we'll think of something else."
She didn't plan to go herself - there was no time for arguing with people when rescuing someone was of utmost urgency, who had the leisure to whisper sweet nothings to these unfamiliar people from various backgrounds?
Helpless, V, encouraged by the looks from Luo Qi and Jackie, composed his expression and sat down next to the sex dolls.
Then he started to negotiate.
"I'm Lucky, this is Jackie, and there's Moe, all friends of V."
Luo Qi greeted Judy.
Seeing a hint of caution and prudence in her eyes, he smiled.
"Life and death friendship - that job, you get it."
Judy looked at him for a moment, and finally nodded.
"Do you think Evelyn might be held here?" Luo Qi asked.
"On one hand, I hope she's here because I want to find her. On the other hand, I hope she's not, who knows what that psycho will do to her."
Judy's worry was so heavy that it almost seemed tangible, as she lowered her head and spoke uneasily.
It seemed like she was talking to Luo Qi and the others, but also to herself.
"Alright, it's done."
Standing up from the sofa, V gave them a reassuring look - he had taken care of it.
"I think you care about her a lot, don't you?"
"Ah? What? Why do you think so?" Judy seemed to have been caught off guard, somewhat stiff.
"The moment you found out her whereabouts, you immediately started taking action."
V expressed his intuition.
"Once you get to know Evelyn, you won't want to part with her."
Judy spoke in detail.
"Have you worked at Clouds before?"
"No, I'm not a sex doll, I'm a braindance tuner. That's where I met Little Ai, Tom, and others."
Recalling the past, Judy even had a bit of nostalgia that she didn't notice herself.
Clouds was indeed a filthy place, but at least it was purely filthy.
Was the Moxes really the right place for her?
After a while, a woman with a swaying walk came out of the opened door.
A thin, middle-aged man in a tank top was dealing with something, his back facing the door.
Luo Qi was still observing, but Judy went straight in.
"Hello~? How can I help you~?"
In this dimly lit room with bizarre decorations, Finger Brother spoke in a disgusting and gentle tone.
"I'm looking for a girl named Evelyn Parker. I know she's been to your... clinic."
V found it hard to associate this place, filled with all kinds of strange smells, with a cyberware doctor's workplace.
Old Vic's basement, although it was a basement, had a strong secret laboratory style upon closer inspection.
But the most important thing was the people.
Luo Qi felt safe entrusting his back to Old Vic, but if it were this Finger Brother...
In his mind, he had already started thinking about the tenth way to kill him.
This guy was just so evil, but in a way, he was quite unique.
"Ah~ So you're here for~ that matter~"
"Where is she?"
V didn't have time to play games with him and spoke coldly.
"Ah~ That's a long story..." Finger Brother turned around, "Are you guys from the Tiger Claws? I already paid the protection fee."
"No, we're from the Moxes."
Judy crossed her arms and looked at him coldly.
"Moxes, huh~ You should've said that earlier~" Finger Brother moved his skinny legs and leered at them, "What are you guys doing here?"
"I heard you help the girls here?" V stared at him expressionlessly.
"When toys break, kids don't want to play with them anymore. So if there's skin peeling, loose breasts, implant malfunctions, and stuff like that, I just... you know." Finger Brother explained, "Consumerism lesson one: you get what you pay for, and ten bucks can buy something decent."
"Come on, even the junkyard has better stuff than what you have here."
Judy exposed his lies, disdainfully.
"Do these girls know you're installing junk?" V questioned.
"You could say that—this is already the best stuff I can get my hands on, you understand?"
"What's in it for you?" Judy frowned.
"They'll give anything, they always have something to give, hehehehehehehe..."
He laughed lewdly, and the disgusting smell seemed to spread into the air.
"Damn it! You're really a pervert!"
Judy couldn't stand this environment any longer.
But Finger Brother seemed oblivious to the rebuke, the creepy smile on his lips gradually growing.
"You're here to find... a friend? Hehehehe..."
"We've already told you, her name is Evelyn Parker. Where the hell is she?"
Jack was losing his patience and started reaching for the guns in his holster.
"...Let's talk in my office." Glancing at the situation outside the door, Finger Brother walked toward another room, "I've had many, many girls come to me. Let me tell you this, just go out and ask around, and you'll find that I provide top-notch customized services, for everyone."
Finger Brother talked about his most "prideful" field, his waxen face filled with a distorted smile.
"I'm not just a doctor who replaces their arms and legs, I know what people really want deep down."
"They want flattery, praise, and comfort."
"They even want to feel... that they deserve all this."
"Of course~ I can't remember everyone~"
In a decayed, fishy-smelling dark room, a messy bed and fabric were stuffed with an unknown liquid.
Only someone deeply disturbed could call this place a "clinic" or an "office."
"As soon as I mention her name, you start trembling. Don't try to fool me, you definitely remember this person."
V didn't buy his act and continued to press.
"That's because I have a nervous disorder! I twitch easily. Really! If I knew who you were talking about, I would definitely help."
Finger Brother continued to deny.
But his terrible acting made it obvious that he was talking nonsense.
"Does the name Folshter ring a bell?"
V sat down in front of him, staring into his eyes.
"Not familiar."
Finger Brother averted his gaze, dodging and immediately denying.
"They also call him the Wooden Man, he worked at a dollhouse."
V continued.
"Have you... met him?"
Finger Brother's tone began to waver.
"He made me very unhappy, so he's dead. You're also making me very unhappy, so you better think about how you're going to talk from now on."
A faint voice drifted from behind Finger Brother, who shuddered and looked back at the gloomy guy in a white robe.
"Poor girl... I really wanted to help her. But as you can see, the facilities here aren't ideal."
Finger Brother finally confessed in his normal tone.
"You say you can't help her? Why can't you help? Be more specific."
"If I knew how to help, she'd be standing here happy right now." Finger Brother gestured with the cheap cigarette between his fingers, "Her chip's instruction register got fried, I tried to replace it with a new one, but it didn't work."