[Sorry for the silence got shit face on New years and now just recover from what my friends consider a reasonable amount of drinking, here are the chapters I owned]
"Good morning, Night City!"
"Last night's Death Lotto results are in—a whopping 240 fatalities!"
"Thanks to a certain new player in town, Westbrook alone accounted for 213 of those deaths!"
"Multiple power line explosions rocked the supposedly 24/7 reliable Westbrook grid, even affecting cyberware implants. Over a hundred residents were left incapacitated overnight!"
"And the cherry on top? Nobody could've predicted this outcome, so there were zero winners yesterday!"
"Forget Heywood or Pacifica—focus instead on how many Trauma Team rescues will succeed today!"
"Buy your Live Lotto tickets now and see how many lives Trauma Team can save today—it's your chance to break even!"
"This is your buddy, Stan, kicking off another dream-chasing day in Night City!"
Bang!
A street-side TV was shot to pieces.
"Live Lotto my ass!"
"Chill, man, some of us are trying to watch!"
"Watch your ass! Nobody lives! Nobody!!"
"Cyberpsycho!"
Bang bang bang!
Passing NCPD officers gunned down the frenzied gambler. The streets of Night City returned to their usual uneasy calm.
The blood-stained television continued its broadcast.
"Welcome to Channel 54 News. Here's your morning update."
"The gruesome H8 Megatower incident has been fully uncovered. At the center of it lies a high-end club called 'Cloudtop,' linked to the Tyger Claws gang."
"Cloudtop provided elite companionship services to politicians, creating connections between gangsters and corporate executives."
"Certain executives with unique preferences obtained services via a criminal network led by one Jotaro Shobo, who collaborated with rogue elements in NCPD's Immigration Control Division to conduct human trafficking."
[TN: This is the second time they have translated Joatro Shobo to Jotaro Kujo lol can you image JOJO as a pimp]
"Victims, some as young as 12, were forced into illegal braindance productions, companionship services, and cybernetic or hormonal modifications to meet client demands. Many were exploited at a club called Oh-Ho."
"NCPD Deputy Chief Jerry Ford has been implicated as a high-ranking member, frequently visiting a facility known as Big Blue Island."
[TN:Is this James Teal? from the wiki it should be or this could be a oc the author made]
"Due to Night City's legal loopholes, no immediate arrests have been made. Furious citizens have taken to the streets, protesting in front of NCPD headquarters."
"The scandal has implicated multiple high-ranking NCPD officers, with the list of suspects still growing. Stay tuned to Channel 54 for exclusive updates."
Meredith sat in her car, surrounded by news about Jotaro Shobo.
She couldn't suppress a sly grin—after all, she was the PR Director for Militech in Night City.
The city's political scene was dominated by one event: the mayoral election.
Jerry Ford, unquestionably in the opposing camp, leaned heavily toward Arasaka. His recent maneuvers within NCPD had nearly ousted Commissioner Coleridge.
But not anymore. While legal issues wouldn't see Ford arrested outright—
Many people wanted him dead. Most NCPD employees now openly defied him, leaving the department fractured. Such chaos would inevitably push the NCPD board to reconsider his position.
If abandoned by the board, Ford's career was as good as over.
With Ford out of the way, Militech's procurement proposal for centaur mechs might finally pass, earning Meredith significant accolades.
But one issue remained unresolved: the rest of the incriminating list was still in Leo's possession.
Meredith's car pulled up outside Afterlife. The parking lot was filled with luxury vehicles, including an ostentatiously colored supercar belonging to the Tyger Claws boss.
Normally, people would steer clear. But after last night, things had changed.
Militech's armored vehicle drew attention, with onlookers casting cautious glances.
The car itself was low-profile—for Militech standards—just a Regal Ragnar. No Militech squad exited; only one person stepped out.
Meredith Stout, PR Director of Militech in Night City.
Meredith enjoyed the admiring gazes but soon heard a discordant voice.
"Tch, Militech acting all high and mighty.
But if you're not rolling in a Mackinaw, your life's a total failure."
Meredith's face twitched—since when did these broke outlaws start looking down on armored vehicles?
As she approached the door, the bouncer outside Afterlife Nightclub stopped her and her Militech escort with an upheld hand.
"You can go in; the one behind you stays out."
Inside Afterlife's top-tier VIP booth.
The room was surrounded by premium organic composite panels that completely isolated sound. Even a grenade explosion inside wouldn't be heard outside.
The matte finish shuts out all light, making optical surveillance impossible. The panels also blocked wireless signals entirely, with only one line controlled by the booth's host connecting to the outside world.
Contrary to its simple and mysterious exterior, the interior was extravagantly luxurious. The walls and ceiling, made from unique materials, served as lighting and display panels capable of projecting different scenarios for the guests' comfort.
Handcrafted imported leather sofas offered exquisite texture and top-tier craftsmanship.
The table featured an intelligent touchscreen interface, allowing complete control over the room's conditions like temperature and humidity with pinpoint accuracy.
On the sleek black crystal tabletop were top-shelf tequila, champagne, and even rare, expensive real water.
This VIP booth wasn't just a place to relax; it was a symbol of status and power—reserved for true elites.
Leo meticulously examined the dolls chip in his hand, using his precision mechanical arms to manipulate its surface. Without looking up, he said:
"Honestly, I don't care about those who willingly sell their bodies, but you can't just kidnap people off the street—that breaks the rules."
Beside him, Jackie and V lounged casually on the sofa.
Bryce sat nearby, wearing holographic operational goggles and waiting for the current discussion to conclude.
Leo's conversation partner was a bald, towering man—larger than Jackie—wearing a white suit. He exuded the blend of violence and faux sophistication typical of his gang, Tyger Claws.
This was their boss, Takeshi Maekawa.
"That was Jotaro's personal action. It has nothing to do with Tyger Claws. We only run a legitimate dolls business."
"That's not my concern. If someone wants to sell themselves, fine, but those who don't want to, you let them go."
Maekawa's expression was unreadable, but unease churned beneath the surface.
Cloudtop, their top club, relied heavily on low-grade dollss. They barely made any money but still owed a substantial cut to Tyger Claws.
Since the emergence of the Mox, several bots had expressed interest in leaving, though most dared not act under Tyger Claws' oppressive watch.
Even those who claimed to have saved up enough to go clean were just waiting for a chance to escape.
Now, Leo not only took their dolls chips but also demanded they release people. Add in the recent media attention—where were they supposed to find replacements?
"You took our dolls chips and now want us to let people go?"
Leo nodded. "Exactly. I mean, seriously, you like messing with kids? That's messed up. You want me to treat you like a kid too?"
Maekawa's fury surged.
Bang!
Jackie, seated nearby, gripped a hand dynamometer. With an impassive face, he squeezed, causing the device to shatter as its readings spiked past 300 kilograms—comparable to industrial-grade vises.
Maekawa withdrew his gaze with a calm exterior.
"That was all Jotaro. Truly despicable—we'll stop. Fine, we'll comply. Does that settle it?"
Leo pressed on:
"Your Cloudtop manager, Hiroshi Sato, didn't even show up that day. Is this the kind of person you trust? Useless dead weight. Maiko Matsumoto seems more competent—you should consider promoting her."
Maekawa's irritation grew. He had already conceded much, and now Leo dared to meddle in his personnel decisions, even suggesting he promote a woman with damaged neural systems.
Snikt.
He noticed V flick open her mantis blade—pristine even after a night of heavy use. She began peeling an apple with it.
Leo added, "I despise shortsighted people like Sato. Maiko's been with Cloudtop for ages and has a solid foundation. Think it over."
Finally, Leo said:
"When you head back, rein in your underlings. Jotaro's even started stepping on his own people.
Do you know someone named Akuhara? My guys said he seemed decent—shame Jotaro pushed him to the brink.
At this point, it's worth asking: are you the boss, or is Jotaro?"
Maekawa felt his anger rise once more. Did Leo want applause too? Did he expect payment?
Finishing the chip work in his hands, Leo looked up at Maekawa, his cybernetic eyes flashing blue.
Maekawa said, "Fine. I'll cover the expenses for this talk. Consider the matter settled?"
Leo nodded. "Settled."