41-45

Chapter 41: I’m a Damn Genius! 

The Shadow Wolf landed on the ground, shook its head, and trotted over to Riku, nuzzling against him affectionately. 

“…” 

Riku paused, sizing it up. The Shadow Wolf was cool as hell—decent size, probably had some combat potential. But could it actually be useful right now? 

The wolf tilted its head, staring at Riku like it couldn’t quite read his expression. 

It wasn’t sentient, just driven by instinct, ready to follow Riku’s commands. 

“Hold up.” 

A lightbulb went off in Riku’s head. He’d just thought of something. 

With a thought, the Shadow Wolf dissolved into a pool of darkness, slipping back into his shadow. 

No hesitation—Riku focused again, summoning it back. This time, it wasn’t as taxing as the first. The shadow at his feet quickly coalesced into the wolf’s form. 

He reached out, pressing a hand against the wolf’s back. It felt solid, not some illusion. He pushed down harder—yep, sturdy as hell. 

Then he stepped into a shaded spot, where his shadow vanished. The wolf, though, stayed put. 

He recalled it, then tried summoning it again in the shade. Worked like a charm. The wolf formed exactly where he wanted, as long as it was within a two-meter radius. 

Next, he summoned it midair. The wolf materialized, paused for a split second, then dropped to the ground. 

“Solid, summonable in the dark, and I can choose where it spawns. This’ll work!” 

Riku was pumped. His idea was coming together. 

Just to be sure, he summoned and recalled the wolf a few more times. No changes, no limits on how often he could do it. 

That sealed it. No cooldowns, no restrictions—his plan was bulletproof. Sorry, Shadow Wolf, you’re gonna take a beating. 

“Don’t open your eyes, Sasha. I’m getting you out.” 

Riku flashed a confident grin, then scooped Sasha up in a princess carry. 

“Huh?!” 

Sasha yelped, caught off guard. She’d been wondering how she was supposed to move with her eyes closed, and now she was in Riku’s arms. 

“Devil! W-what are you doing?” she stammered, voice shaky but eyes still firmly shut. 

This girl took Riku’s orders seriously—she hadn’t peeked once. 

“Relax, I’m taking you home,” Riku teased with a chuckle. He kicked the window open and prepared to leap out with Sasha in his arms. 

Sasha wasn’t exactly petite—she was tall with a solid build—but in Riku’s arms, she seemed almost delicate. 

“Here we go!” 

With a quick shout, Riku jumped out the window. 

The sensation of falling hit Sasha hard, and her water-blue eyes snapped open in shock. She clearly hadn’t expected this to be Riku’s plan. 

Let’s be real—plummeting to their deaths wasn’t exactly a great way to go out. 

Riku didn’t say a word. With a thought, the Shadow Wolf formed beneath his feet. 

He landed on its back, and the falling sensation eased dramatically, almost like a brief pause. 

“It works!” Riku laughed, cracking himself up with his own brilliance. I’m a damn genius! 

“?!” 

Sasha’s eyes widened. She felt it too—the fall had slowed, like they’d briefly touched solid ground. 

But it was only for a moment. 

The Shadow Wolf, after taking Riku’s weight, plummeted downward. It couldn’t hold them for long. 

That was fine, though. The force they’d just endured was like jumping from a second-story window—totally manageable. 

Riku recalled the falling wolf with a thought, then summoned it again under his feet. 

Another step, another slowdown. The wolf was like a temporary platform, letting Riku “rest” mid-fall. 

By repeating the process, he and Sasha were soon close to the ground. 

Thud. 

Riku’s feet hit the pavement. The drop from the last wolf-step was only about two stories. 

From that height, it was nothing for Riku, even with Sasha in his arms. 

They’d been twenty stories up, but Riku had broken it into two-story chunks, hopping down on the Shadow Wolf like it was a staircase. 

“Metaphysics… gotta love metaphysics,” Riku said with a grin, shaking his head. 

Total nonsense, of course. When he’d gotten his cyber-eyes and neural implants, he’d thought cybertech was the best. Metaphysics only seemed better because he didn’t have access to top-tier tech. 

Give him a pair of mechanical wings or a jetpack, and they’d have been out of that building ages ago. Hell, even a gliding rig or wall-climbing cyber-claws would’ve done the trick. 

“We… we made it?” Sasha mumbled, still dazed in Riku’s arms. What the hell just happened? 

“Not quite, choom. Time to run,” Riku said with a smirk, teasing her lightly. They’d escaped the worst of it, but they weren’t out of danger yet. 

“Oh!” 

Sasha snapped out of it, her face flushing as she squirmed. Riku didn’t push the teasing further and set her down gently. 

“Let’s move! V and Jack are waiting.” 

Riku didn’t give her a chance to say much. He’d already pinged V and Jack Wells—they were waiting at the outer ring of the company plaza. 

Night City folks loved a spectacle, and the plaza’s outer ring was packed with parked cars, giving them decent cover. 

“All we gotta do now is slip past the lockdown,” Riku said, sticking close to the building’s edge. He glanced toward the plaza’s center—surprisingly, there weren’t many NCPD or corporate guards. 

“They didn’t expect us to make it down,” Sasha said, back to her cool-headed self. Her cyber-eyes scanned the crowd and surroundings, mapping out a route in her head. 

Forget the enemy—she hadn’t expected to make it down either. 

Riku glanced at her eyes, a little jealous. Sasha’s cyber-eyes were clearly a cut above his. Sleeker design, more functions, total superiority. And, of course, a price tag to match. 

“Let’s go! Before NCPD backup shows up!” 

Sasha was all business now, taking the lead and pulling Riku along, weaving past sentries with calculated precision. 

Chapter 42: The First Big Score 

“Breaking news: An explosion has rocked the Biotech Corporation building. The extent of the damage is unclear, but the intruders are believed to still be inside, on the run. NCPD has dispatched reinforcements. Citizens are advised to steer clear of the area to avoid collateral damage.” 

Inside their beat-up Galena, the radio blared the urgent report. V and Jack Wells listened, their hearts racing with worry. 

They were anxiously waiting for any sign of Riku. He’d sent a message, but until they saw him in person, they couldn’t relax. 

“They’re here! They made it!” 

V, who’d been glued to the view of the company plaza, suddenly lit up with excitement. She flung open the car door and jumped out. 

Jack Wells let out a sigh of relief. He spotted them too—Riku and Sasha had escaped. 

Vroom. 

Jack fired up the engine. Mission accomplished. Now, the priority was getting the hell out of there. 

“Get in! Let’s move!” 

As expected, Riku and Sasha didn’t waste time with chit-chat. They dragged V into the car and urged Jack to floor it. 

“Sorry, Riku, you know this old Galena’s not exactly a speed demon.” 

The second-hand Galena crawled forward at a snail’s pace. Jack shook his head with a grin. 

“No worries. Tomorrow, we’re upgrading!” 

V’s face was practically glowing with excitement, her voice brimming with confidence. 

“What kind are you thinking?”  

Riku leaned back in the rear seat, flashing a grin of his own. 

“At least a Kotis, right? Big horsepower, tough as nails—perfect for people like us.” 

V started counting on her fingers, calculating. With 100,000 credits, they had plenty of options. 

If they stretched it, they could even snag a sports car—second-hand, of course. V never bought new. Used cars were cheaper, practical, and she wasn’t one for vanity. 

“Let’s go check some out tomorrow. If we find one we like, we can all chip in.” 

Riku tossed out the idea of pooling their money for a shared mission vehicle. 

The Galena was fine for casual drives, but it was a liability on jobs. They’d been lucky today—no high-speed chases, or they’d have been toast. 

“Sorry, where are we headed?” 

Sasha, listening to the trio’s banter, couldn’t help but cut in. She still had some loose ends to tie up. 

“To the fixer. Gotta hand over the goods.” 

Jack Wells answered, his tone carrying a hint of caution. The fixer he meant was, of course, Father. 

He, V, and Riku had taken this job from Father, but Sasha hadn’t. That raised a question: who got the payload? 

Jack trusted Father—he had a solid relationship with him. His choice was obvious. 

V felt the same, and they both figured Riku would side with Father too. 

The issue was Sasha. She’d been the MVP of this operation. Without her, they’d have failed. They had to respect her call. 

“Cool, I’m with you guys.” 

Sasha nodded with a smile. She was sharp enough to catch Jack’s subtext. 

But she wasn’t here to fight over who got the profits—that was between the fixer and the client. Her job was just to get it done. 

“Awesome! Let’s go see Father and get paid!” 

V’s smile widened. Avoiding any drama was the best outcome. 

“By the way, how’d you two get out?” 

With one problem solved, Jack relaxed. Driving along, he asked out of curiosity. 

“Oh, you know, I just went full shounen hero and fought our way out.” 

Riku didn’t miss a beat, thumping his chest and claiming all the credit with a smirk. 

Sasha’s eyes crinkled, her lips curling into a knowing smile as she glanced at him. 

“No way, that badass?” 

V raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical as she shot Riku a look. 

“It’s true. All thanks to Devil.” 

Sasha nodded with a grin, backing him up. But her smile, paired with Riku’s smug expression, only made V more suspicious. 

“Hah, what is this, a hero-rescues-damsel moment?” 

Jack turned, winking at Riku. In response, Riku flipped him off. 

“Just drive, man. We barely escaped—don’t get us killed on the road.” 

Jack burst out laughing, returning the middle finger.  

“Trust my skills, bro.” 

V glanced between Riku and Sasha, their shared grins making her roll her eyes. 

“You two are up to something.” 

Riku threw his hands up like a carefree anime mascot, clearly done explaining. 

V shook her head, dropping it. She knew getting out must’ve been a nightmare. 

The Galena chugged along slowly. The four of them chatted, soon arriving at a small church in Heywood where Father was waiting. 

“Father, you catch the news?” 

Jack was brimming with pride. Sure, he felt like he’d barely contributed—just played driver—but he was still proud to be part of it. 

“I saw. You kids made a hell of a mess, but seeing you all safe and sound—that’s what matters.” 

Father clapped Jack’s shoulder with a warm smile, then turned his gaze to Sasha. 

“I’m Sasha. Sasha Yakovleva. Nice to meet you, Father.” 

Sasha greeted him politely. This was her first time dealing with this fixer. 

That wasn’t surprising—Father had mostly worked with Heywood locals and the Valentinos until recently. 

“Welcome, child.” 

Father nodded back with a smile, then watched as Sasha pulled out a data shard. 

“Here’s the target from the job.” 

Sasha handed the shard to Father, along with the reader V had returned to her. 

Father took it without hesitation, slotting it into his interface. His cybernetic eye flickered with blue light as he scanned the data. After a moment, he gave a crisp nod. 

“Looks good, kids. You did great.” 

Smiling, he ejected the shard and tucked it into a small pouch. 

“Here’s your pay.” 

As everyone watched eagerly, Father initiated the transfer. Riku’s balance skyrocketed. 

After spending 2,500 on rent, he’d been down to 500 credits. Now, it shot up to 100,500. 

Being a cyber-ronin really paid off. Survive the missions, and money was no issue. 

“This is the real first big score.” 

Riku sighed in satisfaction. The 3,000 from taking out scavengers? That was just volunteer work. 

Chapter 43: The One Paying Leads the Way 

“Father, next time there’s a job like this, you gotta let us know.” 

Jack Welles couldn’t hide the grin on his face. This was the biggest haul he’d ever made from a single gig. 

“Of course. You’ve proven yourselves,” the priest replied with a nod. “Trust me, Jack, more people will see what you’re capable of.” 

In this line of work, you could hustle for decades and still be a nobody—or one big job could make you a legend overnight. This gig had caused quite a stir, and Jack Welles and his crew pulling it off without a scratch? That was enough to earn them some street cred in Night City. 

“Hell yeah, that’s awesome!”  

V was all smiles too. She’d been ready to ditch Night City for Atlanta to chase new opportunities, but this job had suddenly cracked things wide open for her right here. 

The street girl glanced at Riku, the guy who’d made it all happen. Without him, she might’ve been choking on sand in some wasteland right now. For some reason, Riku was starting to look… kinda cool to her. Was she seeing him through some kind of shōnen-style filter now? 

“To celebrate, how ‘bout we hit Afterlife for a couple of drinks? My treat,” Riku said with a grin, remembering how he’d unintentionally cut V and Jack’s fun short at the bar last night. Now that he’d scored his first big eddies, it was time to make it up to them. 

“No need to tell me twice! Let’s go while it’s still early!”  

Riku’s suggestion lit up V and Jack’s eyes. It was like he’d read their minds straight out of a slice-of-life anime. 

“Father, you coming?” Riku asked, tossing an invite to the priest. If he recalled correctly, priests in this world weren’t exactly sworn off booze. 

“Nah, you kids go have fun,” the priest said with a chuckle, waving them off. An old guy like him wasn’t about to crash a youngsters’ party. 

“Alright, catch you later, Father!”  

Riku didn’t push it. The crew said their goodbyes and headed for Afterlife. Before they left, V made plans with the priest to check out some cars tomorrow—yep, the priest doubled as a used car dealer. Typical middleman stuff, always hustling for that extra eddie. 

They piled into a beat-up Galena, and Riku glanced at Sasha, who hadn’t said if she was joining them at Afterlife.  

“Sasha, wanna grab a drink with us?” he asked softly. He hadn’t forgotten his plan to recruit a solid netrunner for the team. Whether he could poach her or not, keeping that connection tight was key. 

“Sure, why not? I’ve got some friends waiting there who saw the news and have been worried about me,” Sasha replied with a smile that could’ve been ripped straight from a kawaii anime character. Her vibe was totally different from V’s rough-and-tumble street girl energy—Sasha had that onna-rashii (feminine) charm. 

Riku stole a quick glance at V. She was good-looking too, no question, but she was such a yankī (delinquent) tomboy. V caught his look and shot one back, her expression screaming, What’s your deal? She’d already been side-eyeing how fast Riku and Sasha were hitting it off. The guy was all soft-spoken with Sasha but acted like a cocky senpai with her and Jack! 

“What’s that look for? I swear you’re up to no good,” V said bluntly, never one to hold back her thoughts. 

“Pfft!” Sasha burst out laughing, her eyes sparkling as she looked at V’s fiery red hair. This trio was just too entertaining. 

“Hmph, V, is that how you talk to the guy footing the bill?” Riku shot back, puffing out his chest like he was the big-shot oyabun (boss). Truth was, he was a little guilty—his inner monologue had just been calling V a tomboy. 

Maybe V didn’t care? Riku wasn’t about to bet on it. When he’d played as a female V in the game, sure, she was a badass who acted like a guy, but he still made sure her outfits, hair, and makeup were on point. The V in front of him was the same—her street-kid vibe was all business, but her look? Carefully styled, no doubt. She wasn’t some sloppy bōsōzoku (biker gang) reject.  

V wasn’t the prissy ojō-sama (high-class lady) type who freaked out over a speck of dirt, but she clearly had a sense of style. Everyone loves looking good, especially when they know they’re a total bishōjo (beautiful girl). 

“You don’t have to treat me,” V said with a smirk, like she had eddies to burn too. 

“No, no, my bad. I can’t forget the kindness of V-san gifting me clothes,” Riku said, backpedaling with a grin. He wasn’t about to play favorites—he’d just been dodging the topic. 

“Hold up, doesn’t that mean I’ve got a clothing debt to collect too?” Jack chimed in with a laugh, reminding Riku he’d hooked him up with threads before V did. 

“Nah, that was just Mama Welles’ love, choom. Don’t try to steal her shine,” Riku said, rolling his eyes dramatically like an exasperated anime protagonist. 

Jack flipped him the bird with a loud “FUCK!” while Sasha covered her mouth, giggling. She’d never guess these three had only known each other for a few days. Some people just click like they’re in a buddy-comedy anime, while others could spend years together and still feel like strangers. 

The crew laughed and bantered all the way to Afterlife. This time, Emmerich at the door didn’t stop them. 

“Devil, is Riku your real name?” Sasha asked quietly, leaning closer as they stepped inside. She’d heard V and Jack call him that. 

“Yup, Riku’s my real name. ‘Devil’ is my street name, but my official handle’s Devo Collins,” Riku said with a wink, rattling off his various aliases like a character introducing their multiple personas in a mecha anime. 

“Why so many names?” Sasha asked, tilting her head in confusion. She and most people she knew just used their real names. 

“You don’t know?” Riku said, feigning shock, making Sasha blink in puzzlement. Was she supposed to know? 

“C’mere, I’ll let you in on it,” he said with a mischievous grin, leaning closer. Sasha, intrigued, leaned in too. 

“Devils can’t let their true names get out,” he whispered, all mysterious-like. 

“Pfft!” Sasha cracked up, her eyes curving into happy crescents. A devil hiding his true name? Classic. 

V, walking ahead, rolled her eyes so hard it could’ve been a scene from a tsundere anime. She’d heard every word. Suddenly, she stopped, spun around, and elbowed Riku in the stomach. 

“The one paying leads the way!” 

Chapter 44: Mann’s Vigilance 

“Yup, yup, V-san,” Riku said with a playful grin, taking a light jab from Street V and moving forward, dropping the teasing banter with Sasha. 

“My friends are over there, Riku. You guys find a spot to chill, I’ll be right back,” Sasha said, her eyes crinkling with a warm smile. She waved at Riku and the crew before heading off. 

She spotted her friends waving at her, clearly worried and waiting for her all this time. 

“See that? She’s got her own nakama,” V whispered to Riku, nudging her chin toward Sasha’s group with a sly grin. 

Riku raised an eyebrow, glancing at the booth where Sasha had gone. Four people total, including Sasha, all familiar faces. There was a petite girl with gray-green hair tied in twin tails, a muscular woman proudly showing off her secondaries, and a hefty guy who wasn’t quite as massive as Riku expected. 

Riku recognized them instantly—Rebecca, Dorio, and Mann. 

Rebecca and Dorio looked about the same as he remembered, but Mann? His frame wasn’t as jacked as Riku thought it’d be. Maybe he hadn’t gone all-in on cyberware mods yet. 

“I was just testing the waters, y’know? Seeing if we could snag a netrunner like Sasha for our crew. She’s got some serious skills, right?” Riku said casually, shrugging off any sense of failure. It was no surprise Sasha was tight with her old squad. 

“Yeah, she’s got the chops. Shame, though,” Jack Welles chimed in, sounding a bit disappointed. He liked Sasha—solid skills, great personality—but she already had her team. 

“No rush. Maybe we’ll find someone even better,” Riku said, plopping down at the bar with the confidence of an anime protagonist waiting for the next big plot twist. He tapped the counter lightly, and the bartender slid over to take their order. 

“What’ll it be?” The bartender, a woman named Claire, had sleek black hair and a medium build. She’d been working at Afterlife for years, a veteran of Night City’s nightlife. 

“Three old-school tequilas, some beer, and a pinch of chili,” Jack Welles answered before Riku or V could speak, a smug grin plastered on his face. 

“Three Johnny Silverhands, comin’ up,” Claire said with a chuckle, already mixing the drinks. She glanced at Jack, who was clearly proud of himself. “Looks like someone did their homework.” 

Jack’s grin widened. He’d done his research on Afterlife’s menu, no doubt. 

“What’s with all this secret code stuff?” V asked, shaking her red hair, totally lost. 

“It’s an Afterlife tradition. Drinks are named after regular customers,” Claire explained, still mixing with a smile. “That recipe you just heard? That’s the Johnny Silverhand.” 

“Oh? What’s it take to get a drink named after you?” V’s eyes lit up, her interest piqued. This was exactly the kind of cool, edgy vibe she lived for. 

“You gotta die. And not just die—go out in a blaze of glory, like Johnny Silverhand. People still talk about him,” Claire said, her tone dead serious. No joking around here; those were the rules. 

“Tch,” V clicked her tongue. “That’s a high bar.” 

“Pretty badass, though. I’m already thinking about my own mix,” Jack said, hyped up. His dream was to become a legend worthy of Afterlife’s menu. 

“Then we’ll use my recipe,” Riku said with a laugh, holding up his hand for a high-five. 

Smack! Jack laughed and slapped Riku’s palm, their camaraderie straight out of a shonen anime. 

“No doubt! Vodka, ice, lime juice, ginger beer… oh, and the most important part—a dash of ai,” Jack repeated, nailing the recipe like he’d memorized it for a mission. 

“Sounds tasty,” Claire said, laughing. “You guys might not be legends yet, but you’d make great comedians.” 

Three Johnny Silverhands hit the counter, and Claire slid them over. Riku picked up his glass like it was a cursed artifact in a mecha anime, eyeing it warily. 

“To Night City! To our big score!” V raised her glass, grinning at Riku and Jack, already dreaming of more nights like this. 

“Bigger scores to come!” Jack clinked his glass against hers, buzzing with excitement. Riku didn’t dampen the mood, raising his glass to join the toast. 

But while V and Jack took hearty swigs, Riku only grazed the rim before setting his drink down. The move didn’t go unnoticed by the trio around him. 

“Not your thing?” Claire asked, unfazed. The Johnny Silverhand wasn’t exactly beginner-friendly. 

“Haha! It’s got some kick!” Jack laughed, setting his glass down. “That’s what makes it a Johnny Silverhand, right?” 

“Whew,” V hissed, the chili’s heat hitting her hard despite the small amount. “That’s intense.” 

“Want me to swap it out?” Claire asked Riku kindly. Bartenders like her always had a knack for reading the room. 

“Nah, it’s not that. I’m, uh, allergic to alcohol,” Riku said, scratching his head. It was his go-to excuse for dodging drinks without making a fuss. 

“Man, you’re missing out on half the fun in life,” Claire teased, already pouring a glass of juice. She slid it over to Riku, who stared at it like a character caught in an awkward anime flashback. 

“You’re not allergic to juice too, are you?” Claire quipped, winking to ease the tension. 

Jack and V burst out laughing. They had no idea Riku couldn’t drink. 

“Uh…” Riku took the juice, racking his brain for a smooth recovery. But before he could come up with anything, someone swooped in to save the day—Sasha and her crew. 

“Hey, I’m Mann, Sasha’s captain. Thanks for helping her out,” the big guy said, stepping forward with Sasha. Mann was straightforward, cutting right to the chase as he introduced himself. 

Riku’s lips twitched. He noticed Mann staring at him, eyes sharp with a mix of scrutiny and wariness—like a samurai sizing up someone sniffing around his crew. 

“No big deal, man. We’re all in this together on a job, right? Gotta have each other’s backs,” Jack said, jumping up with a hearty laugh and shaking Mann’s hand, positioning himself between Mann and Riku. 

The two were about the same size, though Mann looked a bit bulkier. Jack hadn’t gone heavy on cyberware, so it was clear Mann hadn’t fully decked himself out yet either. 

Chapter 45: The Battle for Sasha 

“I’m Jack Welles, this is V, and that guy’s Devil,” Jack introduced, gesturing to the crew. V gave a casual wave to Mann, while Riku nodded in acknowledgment. 

“Wanna join us for a drink at our booth?” Mann responded politely to Riku and V, then extended an invite. Their booth still had room. 

“Hell yeah, I’m all about making new chooms!” Jack glanced at V and Riku, and seeing no objections, he threw an arm around Mann like they were old pals and led the way. 

Riku and V exchanged a quick look before following. 

“Sorry, Mann insisted on coming over,” Sasha whispered to them, a hint of apology on her face. Her team captain wanted to show his gratitude, and she couldn’t exactly stop him. 

“No worries, I get it,” Riku said with a reassuring smile. He really did. If someone tried to poach one of his crew, he’d be on guard faster than a mecha pilot spotting a kaiju.  

Mann was the type who cared deeply about his team, a solid captain who kept everyone tight-knit. It was only natural he’d be protective. 

But Jack Welles’ over-the-top enthusiasm was starting to throw Mann off. What’s this guy’s deal? Is he trying to poach me? 

“Hey! Ladies, what’s good? I’m Jack Welles!” Jack called out to Rebecca and Dorio as they reached the booth, his energy straight out of a shōnen anime. 

“Uh, hey,” Dorio replied, exchanging a surprised glance with Rebecca. They were caught off guard but introduced themselves anyway. 

V, Riku, and Sasha joined them, and the seven of them squeezed into the booth, getting properly acquainted like characters in a crossover episode. 

“Whoa, you’re so cool!” Rebecca’s eyes locked onto Riku. She’d noticed this weird guy the moment Sasha’s crew rolled into Afterlife. 

“Thanks, kiddo. You’re pretty cool yourself, sneaking into Afterlife so young,” Riku said with a grin, his tone so sincere it could’ve been dubbed by a seiyū (voice actor). 

But sometimes, sincerity is the ultimate critical hit. Rebecca’s forehead practically sprouted a “#” as her temper flared. 

“Pfft!” Sasha couldn’t hold back a giggle. Dorio and Mann burst out laughing too, totally amused by the exchange. 

Jack and V just blinked at each other, not getting what was so funny about Riku’s comment. 

“I’m not a kid! I’m nineteen, damn it! Turning twenty after the new year!” Rebecca snapped, the laughter from her crew being the final straw. 

“Uh…” Riku froze—or at least pretended to. Jack and V, though, were genuinely stunned. 

“Sorry, Rebecca,” Riku said, raising his hands in apology, though his “whoops, my bad” vibe was totally calculated. 

“Whatever, I’m used to it,” Rebecca muttered, waving it off. It wasn’t the first time someone mistook her for a kid. With her petite frame, she looked like an elementary school loli at first glance. But who’d guess she was a legal loli? Total jackpot for loli-con fans. 

Of course, this loli wasn’t some delicate flower. Rebecca was no bishōjo stereotype—she wasn’t frail, weak, or easy to push around. Unless you were Adam Smasher, good luck trying. 

“You guys are about to blow up,” Mann said, looking at the trio with a mix of awe. “You hit Biotechnica hard, blew up their building. That’s some one-hit-kill rep right there.” 

Once word got out, Jack, V, and Riku would be names to know in Night City’s merc circles. Sure, the news wouldn’t spread too loudly—Biotechnica wouldn’t want that kind of embarrassment—but the middlemen would hear about it. And that was enough. 

The merc world in Night City was huge, so big that some districts’ fixers barely crossed paths, and there were areas mercs rarely touched. But it was also small—everyone in the game knew who was who. When a fixer’s crew pulled off something big, word spread fast.  

Mercs went where the eddies were. Even if you got famous through one fixer’s job, nothing stopped you from taking gigs from others. If someone proved they had the skills, fixers would scribble their names in their little black books for future jobs. 

V was already there. After the Konpeki Plaza gig, it was like every fixer in Night City had her number on speed dial—well, except for Arasaka’s Yorinobu. 

“We should team up sometime,” Riku said with a nod. More people meant more firepower, especially for gigs involving arson or gang shootouts. Safety in numbers, right? 

“For sure,” Mann agreed, then casually added, “But I hear from Sasha your crew doesn’t have a netrunner?” 

Riku smirked. Here it comes. The real talk. “Yeah, we’re short a netrunner. I’m looking for one. Actually, I asked Sasha if she’d be down to help out on jobs that need a hacker.” 

Riku laid it all out, no point in being sneaky. Transparency was the play. 

“Uh…” Sasha shifted awkwardly. She had agreed to help Riku since he’d saved her life. If she was free, she’d pitch in, no question. 

“You cool with that, Mann?” Jack chimed in with a big laugh, cutting straight to the point. 

“Of course. It’s Sasha’s call,” Mann said, shaking his head. Even if he had a problem, he wouldn’t put Sasha on the spot like that. 

“Good, good! Wouldn’t want to mess with your crew’s vibe,” Jack said with a wink, looking way too pleased with himself. 

Riku mentally facepalmed. Jack, you thick-browed bastard, why you gotta sound so sly? His words were dripping with cha no yu (tea ceremony) levels of shade. 

“It’s just that having a dedicated netrunner makes a team tighter, you know? Better synergy,” Mann said, frowning slightly. He’d clearly clocked that Jack wasn’t the meathead he seemed. 

“I know some netrunners. I could hook you up with one. Sasha’s got her hands full with our crew, so she might not always be free when you need her,” Mann added, finally showing his cards. 

Oh, so that’s your game. Mann wasn’t about to let Riku use the “you saved her life” card to poach Sasha. Need a netrunner? I’ll find you one. Hands off mine. 

(End of Chapter)