Chapter 14: Cyberpunk

Roland slowly rose to his feet and walked over to the dining table, silently waiting as the household robot brought over breakfast.

Inside the room, Elizabeth stirred awake. Her eyes, still hazy with sleep, darted across the luxurious decor before gradually clearing as memories of last night resurfaced. A complicated expression flickered across her face.

She got up, walked to the doorway, and leaned against the frame, quietly observing the scene before her.

“Looks like you’re awake. How did you sleep?”

“I’d like to say not well, but honestly... I slept fine.”

Elizabeth gave a faint, wry smile and stepped out.

“Should I say, no surprise coming from a corpo? This place is probably worth several of my bars.”

“Something like that. Come, have breakfast.”

Roland didn’t deny it. He simply raised an eyebrow and gestured toward the bread and milk on the table.

“I never thought I’d get to eat something like this again.”

Elizabeth stared at the food—real food, so different from the usual synthetic kind—and sighed softly.

“So, why did you save me?”

Roland wiped his mouth, then turned toward the television. A glint of light flashed in his eyes, and the screen came to life.

“According to reports, large groups of sex doll and bar workers from Night City are currently marching in protest at City Hall. They’re condemning the Tyger Claws’ brutality and exploitation, demanding a government response. Let’s turn to our reporter on the scene.”

The image shifted to a massive crowd, banners raised high as they chanted for justice and punishment for the Tyger Claws. Many were also demanding justice for Lizzie’s Bar.

Most believed Lizzie to be dead, and in mourning, some had tattooed Lizzie’s Bar’s logo on their skin—a permanent mark of remembrance.

Clang!

Elizabeth froze, disbelief written all over her face. Lips trembling, she stepped closer to the screen. For the first time, she realized her efforts hadn’t gone unnoticed. Everything she’d done... hadn’t been in vain.

“This... you... I...”

“This is why I saved you. You’ve underestimated your own influence, Miss Elizabeth.”

Roland smiled faintly.

“...What do you need me to do?”

Elizabeth took a deep breath, meeting Roland’s gaze. Despite knowing he had his own agenda, she couldn’t resent him. After all, he had saved her—without him, she’d just be another dead soul in Night City.

“I need you to do what you’ve always wanted to do. I’ll fund you—but you’ll have to follow my lead. Deal?”

“I’ll agree, but—”

“You’re in no position to negotiate, Miss Elizabeth. But relax, I won’t be asking much for now. Just grow your influence. I won’t interfere—and I might even offer a little help.”

Roland’s tone was calm, almost reassuring. Elizabeth lowered her head silently, then nodded her agreement.

“Pleasure doing business, Miss Elizabeth.”

With that, Roland transferred a sum of money to her account and motioned for her to go.

Elizabeth’s situation was stable for now. Her actions had already changed the lives of many—including some key figures like Judy and the others.

With that matter settled, Roland turned his focus to Jhin. After completing his mission the previous night, he had put him on standby. He wondered how things were going now...

...

Jhin slowly opened his eyes, scanning his surroundings in confusion. It looked like he was inside some kind of sealed container.

He raised his hand to push the top, but it didn’t budge. His eyes narrowed, and a red glow flickered across his mask.

He hacked into the nearby systems.

Through the external cameras, Jhin saw where he was—inside an alleyway. The vehicle he was in had just stopped. Outside, two scavengers popped open the trunk and hauled out a large crate. Jhin immediately realized that crate was him.

He chuckled quietly to himself. Well, I was wondering where to find some new playthings… and you two just brought yourselves right to me.

“Damn, this thing’s heavy. Think it’ll sell for a good price?”

“Of course! No idea which corpo made it, but holy hell, that Cyberware—just looking at it got my blood pumping!”

“You sure we won’t get in trouble with the corpo dogs?”

“Who cares? Once we sell this, we won’t have to scavenge anymore. We’ll leave this dump behind for good!”

“Yeah... good point.”

Listening to their chatter, Jhin couldn’t help but grin. He ran his fingers along his weapons, pressing a panel at his waist that opened with a click—revealing a hidden compartment. A sleek firearm slid into his hand.

He shook his head in amusement. These scavengers weren’t just stupid—they were suicidally careless.

Jhin waited patiently. Before long, he felt himself being carried somewhere and set down.

Then came the sound of boxes being opened and tools clattering. Impatient already?

Clack!

The moment the crate opened, one scavenger froze.

“Shh... the show’s about to begin.”

Bang!

“What the hell?!”

The others in the room—some playing cards, others counting cash—snapped to alert at the gunshot. They grabbed their weapons and rushed toward the noise.

Clang! Clang!

A sharp metallic sound cut through the chaos.

“Grenades! Get down!!” one burly man shouted in panic.

Boom!

A burst of red light flared, and four crimson blooms erupted before transforming into blazing fire that swallowed everything in sight.

Crunch... crunch...

Footsteps echoed over shattered glass. The burly scavenger, who’d survived by dragging a subordinate in front of him, glared with fury.

He flung aside the charred remains of an arm and charged, Gorilla Arms swinging with a roar that sliced the air.

“How... uncivilized. Why couldn’t you just become my masterpiece?”

Jhin ducked under the blow, sighing in disappointment.

Thud!

The powerful strike smashed through a wall. Ignoring Jhin’s words, the man lashed out again, aiming a brutal kick at his waist.

Bang!

“AAAAHHHH!!”

The bullet tore through his leg, erupting in a grotesque spray of flesh and blood.

Cold sweat drenched the man’s face. When he looked up, the barrel of Jhin’s gun was already pressed against his forehead.

“No, no—”

Bang.

Jhin fired, then spun the gun with a flourish before holstering it. His gaze swept over the wreckage.

The hall was almost completely destroyed. It wouldn’t be long before NCPD showed up to clean the mess.

Still thinking, Jhin stepped into the storage room.

“Huh... someone’s still alive?”

He raised an eyebrow at the naked girl lying in the freezer. Her pulse was steady—she was merely unconscious.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed from outside. Several figures appeared at once, weapons drawn.

Jhin moved instantly, gun in hand.

“Freeze!”

“Cyberpunk?”