Chapter 22: The Outcast Squad

“Lissandra, I feel like Rebecca might be compatible with the Madness Template?”
“Yes, your intuition is spot-on. Her compatibility with the Madness Template is exceptionally high. Once the key is activated, she’ll be able to fully unleash the power of the Madness Template.”

Hearing Lissandra’s confirmation, Roland couldn’t help but smile. He then pulled another weapon from the store interface and decided to roll for a bonus drop, just to test his luck.

【Source Energy Katana ×1】

Source Energy Katana? Roland froze. This was the first time he’d seen that kind of weapon.

“This is the standard-issue weapon for PROJECT: Wind — or rather, its backup model. Its performance is quite impressive.”

Nodding slightly at Lissandra’s explanation, Roland stored it in his warehouse. Without a melee Template, the weapon was basically useless to him for now — better to let it gather dust.

...

Not long after Roland left, a group of edgerunners walked into the bar.

“Pops, same as usual — a month’s supply.”
Rook downed a beer in one gulp, then grinned, showing off his white teeth.

“Alright, got it. I’ll get it ready in a bit. But I gotta say... if you keep this up, you’re gonna burn yourself out.”

The bartender, known as Pops, took a slow drag from his cigarette. With the tone of someone who’d seen it all, he pointed at Rook as a warning.

Rook gave a wry smile, then poured himself another drink.
“Ha... I know. I’m already feeling some side effects. But if I stop now... I wouldn’t last a week in this damn city.”

The bartender just nodded. He didn’t press further — everyone made their own choices. His words were nothing more than an old man’s hope that another young life wouldn’t burn out too soon.

“Whoa! Rebecca, where’d you get that gun?!”

Rook, drinking quietly by himself, looked up when he heard Gauge shouting at the entrance. Curious, he grabbed his bottle and walked over.

Rebecca stood proudly with her head tilted up, spinning her gun with a flourish. Not far away, a wrecked car now had a deep crater in its frame.

That kind of firepower made Rook narrow his eyes.
“So it’s you, Rebecca... What, did your brother finally spend money on a Tech Weapon for you?”

Rook chuckled as he approached Gauge, glancing at Rebecca.

“Tch, that sleazy bastard? No way he’d ever spend money on me. If he had that kind of cash, he’d blow it on those Serpentine Braindances instead.”

Rebecca snorted coldly, her expression full of disdain.

“Then where’d you get it?” Rook asked, his curiosity piqued. Judging by that blast, the weapon definitely wasn’t cheap.

“Oh, some choom gave it to me.”
Rebecca shrugged, twirling the gun casually in her hand.

“Choom? Rebecca, you don’t mean—”
Gauge’s grin turned lecherous as he reached his hand toward her.

“Drop dead!!”
“Hey, careful! That gun’s not a toy!”
“Perfect — gives me a reason to shoot you, you creep!!”

Rook couldn’t help but chuckle helplessly at the chaos breaking out before him. Shaking his head, he turned and sat beside Roxy.

“Boss, Kay says she’s quitting.”
“What?!”

Rook looked completely stunned, clearly not expecting that.

“It’s true. She’s saved enough money and plans to leave Night City.”

Seeing the shock on his face, Roxy nodded to confirm.

“Ah... damn it, what a headache.”
Rook scratched his head in frustration. Losing a netrunner was no small problem — without one, a lot of gigs would be impossible to handle.

Still, he didn’t protest. It was her life. He was just the team leader — not someone who could tell others what to do.

Even though he didn’t like how she’d made the decision and left without much warning, there wasn’t much he could do about it.

“But she did introduce us to a solo netrunner living in the Watson District. Said if we ever have work, we could contact this person — someone reliable.”

Roxy handed him a card with a number scribbled on it in Kay’s handwriting.

Rook glanced at it before pocketing it. If they couldn’t find a replacement netrunner soon, he’d check this contact out — though, honestly, he didn’t put much faith in solo netrunners, even if Kay vouched for them.

...

“Mr. Jhin, our boss wants to meet you.”

Jhin narrowed his eyes at the Tyger Claws member, thinking it over before nodding in agreement.

Seeing him accept, the surrounding Tyger Claws visibly relaxed. They knew what kind of monster he was — and if they could avoid fighting him, all the better.

“Tell me,” Jhin said as he got into the car, “who’s your boss?”

“Our boss is Mr. Ryuzaki Ichiro,” the man replied. “He’s looking to hire you for a job.”

Ryuzaki Ichiro...

Jhin silently noted the name. It wasn’t the Tyger Claws boss he remembered — must’ve been someone who took over later, after the previous one was taken out or stepped down.

He said nothing more as the car drove toward a luxury apartment building. Several Tyger Claws members lingered around the entrance, keeping watch.

Jhin gave them a quick glance before following his escort inside.

A ding echoed as the elevator reached the right floor. Two guards immediately stepped forward to search everyone — though they curiously skipped over Roland, which Jhin found odd.

“Mr. Jhin, this way, please.”
“Yeah.”

He followed the man down the hall to a door. Several people inside turned to stare at him, eyes full of suspicion, but Jhin didn’t care.

“Boss Ryuzaki, Mr. Jhin has arrived.”
“Please, come in, Mr. Jhin.”

At the invitation, Jhin opened the door and stepped inside. He scanned the decor briefly before fixing his gaze on Ryuzaki Ichiro — who, strangely enough, was standing in front of the main chair rather than sitting in it.

“I heard you wanted to see me?”

“Actually, it’s not me who wants to see you — it’s Mr. Kuroda here.”

Ryuzaki stepped aside, revealing a man behind him.

Jhin’s eyes narrowed the moment he saw the man’s distinctive outfit.

That uniform... Arasaka.