Chapter 70: Chapter 65: The Process of Integrating into the City

[Talk to Gerry Pierce. (Not achieved)]

John didn’t rush to reply to the employer, but directly returned to the apartment to rest.

He plugged in the data cable and switched perspectives.

Through the workshop camera, he could see his back, with a floating window beside the view showing the wear of the subdermal armor.

[Durability: 91%]

The system interface displayed a miniature model, allowing him to see the implants at different positions in structure.

The spots hit by bullets were marked in red.

John sighed.

Ryan was right:

There’s nothing permanent in this world; stepping onto this path means an increase in the cost of living.

This set of Plato’s subdermal armor really works well.

But it needs the corresponding repair liquid for maintenance, and the company makes money from these consumables.

The box Nando sent included replacements.

The quantity wasn’t much.

John called the cabinet.

A pop-up window jumped out in the upper right corner of his view, and the punk black market dealer with a Mohawk appeared in front of him, looking displeased and staring at him.

[Need pudding milkshake?]

“What?”

John paused while pouring coffee, and asked with a laugh. “You’ve expanded your business to food?”

[Haha, I was joking, just confirming you’re you. A Shark Coin hacker tried using a face modifier to relay signal to con something off me a couple of days ago.]

“Did he succeed?”

[He actually tricked me, couldn’t help it. I’m more trusting of VIP clients and didn’t expect someone would impersonate bio-information just for some parts.]

“Wow~ that’s impressive.”

John smiled restrainedly, adding syrup to the coffee.

“The best second-hand dealer in Oil Drum Street took a fall, how will you mix in the scene… seriously, do you need help?”

[Haha, John, super nova, you’re actually willing to run errands for a street guy?]

“Mocking me won’t recover your losses.”

John raised his cup.

He turned on the music in the room, choosing a favorite station.

The cabinet in the video just shrugged, thick smoke spewing from the filter in the metal mask.

[The issue’s been resolved.]

“That’s a pity.”

[That was an old swindler; I sold his whereabouts to a few tough guys he’d scammed. Uh-huh, his body was dumped in some oil drum, sizzling.]

“Harsh response.”

John pursed his lips.

[Just some clueless Shark Coin. Back to you, John, the crack on your face… got new stuff installed? Fast fortunes, you must not be calling to buy pieces, what do you want?]

John sent over the model of the armor repair liquid.

[Your taste’s really getting more picky.]

“Stress?”

[Those overly dazzling characters disappear quickly. I hope you live longer so I can earn enough for retirement.]

“You’re that eager to retire? Seriously, can you get what I want?”

[Plato’s formula can only match several new series models on the market. Circulation in the black market is scarce; I can get a batch, but long-term supply might be difficult.]

“Turning down money?”

[Getting this stuff is challenging. It’s unreasonable to have you spend a fortune to stockpile in the warehouse, understand?]

“Somewhere’s selling it, give me a lead.”

John trusted the cabinet’s capabilities.

[There is a lead, it’s down to how you position yourself.]

The cabinet in the video lowered his head.

The purple hair glistened oily under the lamp.

[Every mercenary has their style. Some prefer the mouthful-of-gun-barrel jobs, others lean towards intelligence or assassination contracts…]

John currently has a good reputation in the camp.

He’s also known among gangs in the West District.

[You’re constantly upgrading prosthetics, growing fast, like zipping through the city in a hovercar, yet you haven’t felt its breath nor set foot on the ground.]

The cabinet attempted to clarify.

[You haven’t found your level and positioning.]

“I’ve no pursuit for fame or fortune, pal, I just want to live more comfortably, make decisions when things aren’t pleasant rather than killing myself by suffocation.”

John answered honestly.

[No problem taking it slow. My advice, aside from jobs making headlines, start lending a hand to some folks, run errands, lend assistance.]

“I’m already doing that, haha.”

John recalled Maya’s “affair”, finding it quite interesting from a bystander’s perspective.

“So many f*cked-up things in the world.”

[Very good, pal, neither aim too high nor despise small rewards. These gigs let you meet many people, create your own network, truly integrate into this city.]

John seemed lost in thought.

A Special Affairs Bureau agent who was blackmailed?

Is that considered connections?

[To give a simple example, whenever you cross the checkpoint, do you queue up honestly… or take the VIP lane?]

The cupboard said.

[Such things are standard for bigshots, but they can’t always cover you. You wouldn’t want to waste connections just because you don’t want to be stuck on the road, right…]

[If you have your own channels, you can use them yourself and also give others some convenience. In return, they will help you.]

“I understand your point and am willing to take on various jobs. For me, it’s just lending a hand.”

John didn’t reveal too much.

“Of course, it depends on my mood and schedule.”

The cupboard snapped its fingers.

[I have an old client. If you get along, he can provide you with new type armor repair liquid long-term.]

“We’ll discuss in person.”

John cleaned the cup and hung it up.

“Next time, I’ll just go to Barrel Street to find you.”

[No problem, see you.]

John hung up the phone, calculating his tasks, planning to first check out Harbor Company.

He suddenly received a delivery message.

Maya brought the suitcase for Anthony to the door.

John reached out and then paused—Anthony threatened her family. Was she bringing a bomb or cash?

“F*ck!”

He returned to his room, pulled out a connection line, closed the door, and pressed the sealed box switch like a remote detonation.

Click~

The corridor was silent for a moment, no explosion occurred.

John scanned it from afar.

[Item: Agent Emergency Box]

[Description: Seems it hasn’t been opened in a long time.]

Inside were three small funds cards, fake identity information, and two doses of emergency drugs.

John’s prosthetic eye flickered, he took the cash.

[New contact created – Maya]

[I got the signal, indicating you’ve opened the box. You’re right, Gerry shouldn’t bear this pressure. I’ll go home to see him and the kids. The past Maya is dead, the box contains a shadow, consider it hush money. I hope when you brag to the Black Gold Gang brothers, you won’t tell the agent stories.]

John shrugged.

He’s tight-lipped.

Alloy RCH rushed out from the underground garage of the apartment, speeding on the neon-lit wet streets.

John passed through the commercial street.

Gerry’s stall was dark, red plastic stools, a crate of empty wine bottles, an icebox locked under a plastic tarp, the sign flashed with a “closed” notice.

John planned to give him some time to resolve marital issues.

He drove across the East District to Harbor Company, cameras around the wall captured the vehicle from afar.

Eden wasn’t there.

John headed straight to the underground training room.

Ding—

The alloy doors opened to the sides.

[Contact – Gerry Pierce ]

John raised his hand to greet Tinfoil, turned and walked to the public lounge area to answer the call.

Gerry stood by the balcony.

He smoked, looking exhausted.

[Hey, John, it’s me. Maya is back. She told me many things.]

“Which version?”

[F*ck, you know, right? She, um, worked at a very dangerous unit before.]

“Honestly, quite courageous.”

[This woman has been married to me for eight years, isn’t that enough trust?]

John frowned.

“Try to empathize, pal, Maya’s amazing. If one day you’re robbed by little punks, would you want to call a buddy for help or go home and ask your wife for assistance?”

[Of course, solve it myself! Who wouldn’t have some balls?]

“See, that’s it. Everyone thinks they can handle it alone, not wanting to involve those around them.”

[I… You’re right. Did she get into trouble? Did she handle it cleanly? I fear she hasn’t explained everything and is keeping some loose ends to deal with herself.]

“The ’adulterer’ has already been killed by me.”

[Thank you, John, take your rewards. Contact anytime if you want food delivery, I’ll arrange it with drinks.]

“Maya’s back working?”

[No, I’ve thought about it, expanding the business a bit, discussing store rentals with the Black Gold Gang, finding someone to cooperate on delivery. I fear she’ll get hurt outside.]

“So eight years of marriage is like this, worrying about unnecessary stuff all the damn time.”

John shrugged, hung up the call.

[Side mission – Trust Crisis (completed)]

[Rewards: Compensation, Hush Money (Maya), Collectible]

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