Except for Moire.
Even Jack, who looked like a burly man, felt a chill down his spine, but Moire seemed like nothing was wrong.
After touching her head to make sure she was fine, Rogue finally felt relieved.
She seemed a bit absent-minded, probably a side effect of the cyberware malfunction; she would have to visit Old Vic someday.
"Bodies and blood everywhere, people outside wouldn't believe that such a place exists in Night City as seen in the promotional videos."
As they searched room by room without finding Evelyn yet, V joked to lighten the mood.
"Promotional videos? They're unreliable no matter where they're from." Jack shrugged, "I once wanted to move to the Vista district, but my mom said it was worse than the Valley. I thought the two places were similar - the same gangs, the same filth, until I found out that a single apartment building could house two drug labs, a casino, and countless sex dolls."
"That place used to be prosperous." Judy said, "The skyscrapers are proof, but the outcome is obvious."
"Just like Pacifica, billions of dollars wasted, and so many people jumped off buildings." Rogue recalled the once-planned "Oasis Paradise" and now a haven for filth, sighing, "I think I saw some news that Kang Tao plans to build something in Pacifica... a server room, right?"
"It's a server base and a logistics center." Judy corrected, "Those Kang Tao guys might actually pull it off."
[I doubt it.]Johnny disagreed, [It's like stepping on an anthill; not only will you not crush them, they'll crawl up your pants. You need some real action...]
"Who knows." Rogue said she couldn't figure out the intentions of these big companies, "It's like a maze in here. Are these cleaners part mole or something? They're great at digging."
"Maybe it's this room..." V slid open a door and saw a large bed under the light.
A naked woman, covered in blood, lay motionless at the edge of the bed.
"That's Evelyn, don't touch her." Judy stopped Rogue, who was in the lead, "If she's recording, you'll mess up her brain. Let me disconnect first."
She ran to a computer on the side.
V squatted down beside Evelyn.
"Alright, let me know when you're ready, we need to disconnect simultaneously."
He cradled Evelyn's head, her face smeared with blood.
"Madre mía! (My God) It's so awful." Jack gasped.
The disconnection went smoothly, but Evelyn's condition wasn't promising.
"Thank goodness!"
Judy hurried to her side and whispered softly.
But Evelyn was like a corpse, showing no signs of life.
"Phew, at least we found her." Rogue sighed, stretching her shoulders, "This doesn't look good, let's get ready and leave."
...
After saying goodbye to the others, Rogue and Moire took Delamain back to Little China in Watson.
It wasn't because they had any lingering belongings, but simply because Rogue was more familiar with the area.
They found a relatively clean hotel to stay in, and it was already early morning.
This hotel, located not far from Luoqi's original home, might not be the best in terms of conditions, but it has a front desk that can be easily bought off with money.
While the situation at the Indigo Tower was still fermenting, he dared not risk checking in with his own or Moer's identity, otherwise Harusaka or the military technology might show up at their doorstep in the middle of the night with armored vehicles.
"Get some sleep early, it's been a long day," Luoqi lay on the couch, hands cushioning his head, looking at the ceiling, "I'm sorry, the thing with Evelyn actually has nothing to do with you."
"Why apologize?" Moer sat on the bed, the quilt covering her legs, arms wrapped around her knees, looking at Luoqi's profile.
The moonlight outside the window, mixed with the lights of the skyscrapers, fell into the room, illuminating the small, cramped space.
"You..." Luoqi hesitated, turned over on the narrow sofa, and looked at Moer lying on her side.
"You said it, we're both homeless now."
Her jacket was on the bed, now only wearing a close-fitting black tank top.
Her toned shoulders were exposed to the air, making Luoqi shift his gaze away.
"Actually, I don't know where I should go now."
He exhaled in confusion, continuing to examine the ceiling with no design aesthetics.
"Wherever you go, I'll go," Moer's voice made him turn his head.
In the darkness, Luoqi saw a face with few expressions but full of serious eyes.
"I thought I was smart, planning everything out, thinking I could handle the Indigo Tower's crap, get the relic, make the deal, wash my hands of it, and fly far away," he narrated slowly, "But I didn't expect that the people behind Evelyn never intended to trade. As soon as they saw Harusaka in trouble, they immediately killed to silence the matter."
The PDA had its permissions shut down and links severed by Luoqi, so Johnny could only stay alone in cyberspace, unable to hear his and Moer's voices. That's why he could say these words.
In fact, Luoqi and Johnny Silverhand were not close. He knew there was such a soul consciousness in the relic and that it would occupy V's brain in the original timeline, but that was it.
Not to mention liking him, he even felt a bit disgusted.
But as they got to know each other, they both found that the other was actually a decent guy.
"I won't pretend I wasn't tempted by the value the relic represents. A man without a sin becomes a criminal when he holds a jade - dealing with big companies for the relic business, you should know better than me."
Companies were all wolves and tigers, no matter which one.
She nodded, agreeing with Luoqi's idea.
"Now I finally realize that the idea of settling everything once and for all is indeed a pipe dream," Luoqi laughed self-deprecatingly, feeling a little down, "I failed in my attempt and made things worse, or I didn't catch the fox and got myself into trouble. I used to find it laughable, but now it's happening to me, and the clown turns out to be myself."
"As long as we're alive, we're not without a chance," Moer interrupted his self-pity, "At least you saved me, your brothers are alive and not missing limbs, the situation hasn't gotten that bad."
"Yeah."
Luoqi sighed.
"I'm just a little lost."
He stretched out a hand, turning it, letting shadows and light flow and shuttle between his fingers.
This guy seems to have stuck with me.
Luo Qi looked at Mò'ěr, who also gazed back at him with her deep eyes.
He didn't originally belong to this world, but having a family made his heart feel grounded instead of drifting aimlessly.
"Thank you..."
"Why thank me?" Mò'ěr shook her head, "I don't like it, it feels too distant and impersonal. If anyone should be thanking anyone, it should be me thanking you."
Luo Qi looked at her for a while and showed a faint smile.
As for the days filled with mercenary gunfire and danger, such problems weren't really problems to her.
Mò'ěr's tasks in the Arasaka Special Forces were much more dangerous than small-scale missions.
They exchanged belated goodnights, and the room returned to silence. If you listened carefully, you could distinguish the unique sounds of Night City at night.
[I'm suffocating in here, you just turn off the PDA and get cozy with your girlfriend.]
Johnny's stifled voice came out.
[I've had enough of this living coffin. You need to think of a way to get me out.]
[Weren't you saying it was not bad earlier? Changed your mind so soon?]
Luo Qi rolled over, half-closed his eyes, and chatted with Johnny casually.
[Come on, there's nothing in here but data. Except for the glasses and ears that I can use, being alive is no better than being dead.] The free-spirited Johnny couldn't stand it for long, [Didn't you mention the designer of the relic? Go find him and see if there's a way to get me out.]
[Get out? You think this is some magic gourd? I call you, and you just agree to get in?] Luo Qi rolled his eyes, [That guy named Hellman, Takemura said he defected to Kang Tao. How am I supposed to find him for you?]
[Then go to Kang Tao and look for him. No more nonsense about the gourd. If I stay here any longer, I'll become the most embarrassing rock musician in history – trapped in a damn chip forever.] Johnny urged.
[Is that how you ask for help?]
Luo Qi shook his head speechlessly and went to sleep on his own.
[What do you want me to do? Worship you, fast and bathe for a few days, and then kowtow to you?] Johnny was exasperated, [Fine, it's my attitude problem...]
[I'm not dead yet, no need for such grand gestures.]
Luo Qi shuddered.
[Just for the sake of your soul, temporarily not dead but trapped in a chip, should I take a huge risk and get on the wrong side of the corporation? Even if I wanted to help you, this is definitely not a good idea, and we're not that close, right?]
[Hmm...]
Johnny sighed and thought for a while.
[Well, in that case, go to the Afterlife bar and find Rogue. She'll know what to do.]
[How do I explain it to her? Tell her I have a soul in my PDA named Johnny Silverhand?]
It's indeed hard to believe Johnny's story if you haven't seen it with your own eyes.
Even now, the few people who know that Johnny is still alive are still surprised by this figure from half a century ago.
[Trust me, Rogue has seen even more unbelievable things. Back in our time, your dad wasn't even born yet.]
Johnny started to show off his seniority.