Players Invade Cyberpunk

"Uh... You guys are amazing, not like the two of us. When the Tiger Claw Gang bombed the bar last time, Nia and I just dared to hide in the basement, scared out of our wits."

Zhengfa Chengtailang attacked the office, and the two sisters listened in the basement to bullets flying across the ground, bottles shattering, hugging each other like quivering quails.

"Don't underestimate yourselves," 2B gently comforted:

"Everyone here has their own responsibilities and duties, not everyone has to fight."

Saying this, she picked up her half-drunk glass of water, shook it a bit, and looked at Nina through the glass.

"They just love having the two of you serve drinks, in that aspect you contribute more than us."

Nina, a bit embarrassed, lowered her head, but the tuft of hair on her head stood tall.

"Hmph... It's not like that... They just like those two robots."

Talking about this made Nina somewhat disappointed.

"Such great things not being used to help them, but left in the bar for us to smash tables, how wasteful..."

They hadn't fought, nor did they know whether those mechs were of any use, but in terms of looks, they weren't bad.

First impression of attractiveness equals power, it's a universal equation.

2B knew the reason, but didn't reveal the truth.

"Leaving such great stuff to protect you two means you're very important to them."

"Is that necessary..."

Nina was a bit puzzled.

"You all are so capable, who would dare come here causing trouble..."

"Just in case... wouldn't it be better if nothing happened?"

2B's gaze turned to the outside door.

She noticed that today, there seemed to be more people lingering around the bar entrance.

————

"What's wrong, looking so worried?"

Lucy, who had just programmed a part, looked at Lin Miao, sitting in a chair with his head on a hand, frowning.

"The Sixth Street Gang returned a batch of our goods."

He was referring to cheap exoskeletons. Although the Sixth Street Gang formally rejected his deal to manage assets, everyone knew as long as the label didn't have 'made in China' engraved, it wasn't considered 'East Dazao', but a symbol of MAGA.

Change a label, slash the price, let the middleman take a cut, it's no big deal.

But the oddity arose when the Sixth Street Gang sent word today, announcing they didn't want the goods anymore, and would never want them again.

Lucy wasn't surprised, "Didn't you say that thing wouldn't sell well in Night City for long? I've seen quite a few knockoffs on the streets recently, maybe the Sixth Street Gang has started making their own."

Originally, the cost and technology weren't high, once one emerges, others would mushroom out like after the rain.

Lin Miao just seized the early mover advantage to get the goods out, taking the largest bite.

But Lin Miao shook his head, "It's not that simple."

"With external cheap supply available, they have no reason to abandon our goods for high-cost self-production. Even if the Sixth Street Gang intends to make their own, that side should have heard about it, notified me in advance, might even want me to take people and smash the Sixth Street Gang's factory, after all, it's part of his money route."

In the face of money, any brotherhood, any MAGA, are vain talks, it's all about the real bills.

Upon hearing this, Lucy also responded.

"So..."

Lin Miao: "They must have received some news over there, thinking continued entanglement with me would bring big trouble, hence they prefer breaking off contact even without money."

Lucy furrowed her brow, thought for a moment and realized.

"Huang Ban..."

Among those they've offended recently, Huang Ban was most likely to do such a thing.

Moreover, they were mentally prepared.

Lin Miao nodded.

Lucy, guessing the name, felt a bit nervous.

"Is Huang Ban planning to move against us?"

"Yes, but probably not directly, otherwise, the Sixth Street Gang wouldn't know this info."

"Should be Huang Ban contacting the Sixth Street through some channels, and in the process of relaying the message, it got noticed by someone."

Regarding matters concerning their own safety, those black gang insiders have sharp noses, each keener than the last.

"Then we..."

Lucy checked the busy players on the surveillance screen.

"Should we send them to blow up Huang Ban Towers?"

Pfft—

Lin Miao spat out the water he just drank.

"No... How did you connect to that?"

The Lucy he knew used to be very cautious, now how did she just blurt out wanting to blow up Huang Ban Towers?

Sprayed all over her face, Lucy realized too, cheeks reddened.

She was infected by those players' fearless demeanor, plus the Black Wall data empowering her changed her once tiger-fearing company-minded attitude.

A bit awkwardly said: "Just said casually, didn't they crash into Ganbi Mansion?"

Lin Miao wiped his mouth and handed her a few tissues to wipe her face.

"Without knowing who's moving against us, we can't act first. Reckless action will just let them catch our weakness, now we need to heighten defense."

"So we just wait?"

Although Lucy had never heard the saying about being unable to guard against thieves for a thousand days, she understood waiting like this wasn't a solution, who knows when the other side might act?

But Lin Miao said, "Yes, wait, as long as we can."

Each day passing, his player strength would increase a bit, each day passing, his production lines would spit out more munitions.

While the gang might not stand still, they couldn't possibly outrun the players.

Then he remembered Gloria in Big Sur, if Huang Ban acted, they definitely wouldn't let such a big target slip.