The bartender was a slightly plump middle-aged woman—or maybe another word would be more appropriate—a strong middle-aged woman.

Her name was Claire, a veteran bartender very interested in newcomers.

Jack rubbed his hands together: "Double old-fashioned tequila, with some beer and chili."

Claire immediately gave a knowing look: "Double Johnny Silverhand, coming right up."

"That’s right, chica."

"Looks like someone did their homework—but there are three of you here, what’ll you have?"

Lille just opened his mouth when V grinned and said: "Someone’s underage, can’t drink—okay, no kidding, he’s a weakling, terrible health, can’t drink."

"Terrible health?" Claire was even more surprised—terrible health and out here as a mercenary?

Even hackers need to be in good shape.

"Pushing limits, you know, pushing limits is my life motto." Lille shrugged helplessly: "Give me some water... no, give me a soda."

"Soda’s on the menu but not many folks order it, you’re quite the rarity."

V and Jack nodded in agreement.

Such people are indeed rare.

With the drinks and soda on the table, Jack rubbed his hands, constantly scanning everything around him.

Finally, amid the manic souls and rough bodies, Jack focused his gaze on the "Johnny Silverhand" in front of him.

It was time to raise their glasses.

The three of them raised their glasses together, Jack eagerly saying: "To the legends of Night City!"

"To the legends of Night City!"

The legends of Night City.

As Lille downed his soda, he glanced at the menu on the table and sighed: "Becoming a legend isn’t cheap."

V suddenly recalled what Lille had exaggeratedly told him in Atlanta:

"But someone said there’s a guy who can fight through Arasaka Tower with just basic implants, shining like the sun—is there such a legend here?"

Claire thought for a moment and said: "If you mean someone with basic implants fighting through Arasaka Tower, there is one—Morgan Black Hand. It’s said he only had a black-chrome cyber prosthetic when he went up Arasaka Tower back in the day.

If you’re talking about shining like the sun, that would be the Arasaka Tower nuclear incident.

Unfortunately, the main players either vanished or died—not just one person, and there are many stories about it."

"So... someone tricked me again?" V looked at Lille with feigned malice.

Lille rolled his eyes at V: "This is a father’s encouragement and hope for you, you know... hey hey hey, stop!"

V’s large hand slapped the back of Lille’s neck.

Claire chuckled: "You three are really interesting."

Jack also chuckled, then suddenly remembered something and said: "Oh right, I’m Jack Wells. Want me to leave one of my recipes?"

"Hmm—sure."

Claire gave Jack a meaningful look.

All he could think about was becoming a legend, the boy from Haywood might not realize how heavy that burden was.

Lille suddenly spoke up too: "Jack—I know you want to become a legend, but don’t do something stupid with that mindset, it’s the dumbest way to die."

Jack opened his mouth, suddenly thinking of Mrs. Wells, his mother.

And he had a date with Misty—if he died, how could he date her?

The atmosphere suddenly grew heavy.

"Don’t worry, Lille... saying this now really spoils the mood."

Lille shrugged: "If you think me saying this spoils the mood, it means one day if you die, you’ll have a lot of regrets.

I’m just trying to tell you, don’t start regretting only after you’re dead—because you can’t regret once you’re dead.

Just, decide how you want to spend the rest of your life."

Jack paused for a moment, his mind again filled with many unfinished things.

If because of his selfish thoughts, he dreamed of a glorious death every day, he might die gloriously, but what would it mean?

Thinking this, Jack suddenly calmed down, no longer the hothead who had just walked in.

"You’re right, I was being rash—but I still have to leave the recipe, or I’ll feel itchy."

Claire nodded, signaling Jack could start talking.

"One part vodka, add ice, lime juice, ginger beer, and most importantly—add some love."

Jack cheerfully recited his recipe, prolonging the last word intentionally.

Add some love—becoming a big shot was the best way he could think of to give his love weight.

"Ha, I’ll remember that." Claire looked at the other two, "What about you?"

V was stumped—she didn’t know squat about mixing drinks.

Lille immediately saw V’s dilemma and, to get back at her for her earlier tease, said: "I know!

She’s suited for double strong, double strong, to energize those implants—oh right, and most importantly, add some synthetic prosthetic lubricant!"

Huh?

Claire was stunned, V closed her eyes, her mouth twitching slightly.

"Lille..."

"Haha, just kidding." Lille subtly shifted his seat, putting some distance between him and V.

But the next second, V was right behind Lille—

Si Anweisitan, kid!

Just as Lille was about to face V’s righteous punishment, a black guy in a black jacket and sunglasses approached them.

V stopped her actions, looking annoyed at the big guy beside her:

"What do you want?"

The black guy pointed to a booth not far away, where a man with short white hair in a red suit sat, his right eye very unique.

To be precise, where his right eye had been, he now had three eyes clearly a compound eye system.

Lille immediately recognized the guy—Saint Domingo’s top fixer, Faraday.

A group of people sat in front of him, one of them quite large, even bigger than Jack—

But one glance would reveal it was the kind of bulk from implants.

From the atmosphere, it seemed their negotiation was not going well.

Lille sent a message to the two of them.

Lille: "There’s a job, but follow my lead, this guy doesn’t look trustworthy."

...

Ten minutes earlier, Faraday had already been conducting business at the Afterlife nightclub.

Arasaka had given him a long-term commission, a commission that had existed for a long time but always progressed slowly.

Huangshan agents believed that Military Technology and Biotechnology had reached a long-term research plan, this plan being conducted in Night City, but Arasaka itself knew very little about this plan.

As Military Technology’s old rival, Arasaka’s higher-ups found such ignorance unacceptable.

Business wars involving stock changes and hostile takeovers were only scenes from the end of a business war.

Real business wars often involved true combat, especially here in Night City.

Arasaka wanted Faraday to investigate Biotechnology’s detailed plans, but there were few willing to take this commission, and those who were willing, Faraday didn’t feel comfortable assigning to them.

Faraday was very afraid of clashing directly with the company—because his ultimate goal was to climb into the company and become a top dog.

If picking the wrong people led to worsening relations with the company, it would be counterproductive.

The big guy in front of him was a well-known boss in Saint Domingo, Man.

"We already have a new hacker, we can continue investigating Biotechnology!"

"Man, I understand your desire for revenge, but I’m in charge here.."

Faraday crossed his hands under his chin: "Your new hacker hasn’t been verified for suitability, whereas your previous hacker caused me great trouble on your last mission.

In the end—I give orders, you follow them, that’s the rule, isn’t it?"

Man ground his teeth but softened his tone.

"Tch, you’re right."

"That’s better, wait here, I’ll bring the newcomers."

At the booth entrance, the black guy in the black leather jacket nodded at Faraday.

Lille appeared at the entrance.

"The hotshot Burger King deal-making big shot..."

Before Faraday could finish his first sentence, Lille’s group’s expressions had already soured.

What a crappy name.