A New Dawn

Jefferson restrained his pain, staring into Leo's eyes.

"And? What else do you want me to see?"

"This way."

Leo opened the room where Brick and the others were hanging.

"Nothing much. These are the instigators of this internal strife — the boss, the second-in-command, and the traitor of the Maelstrom gang, though the traitor's already dead.

How to deal with them is up to you.

 As long as Watson North stays like this, there will always be a Maelstrom boss. I wouldn't mind making another big payday when the time comes.

 But that doesn't seem to align with your ideals, so as a professional, I need to ask for your opinion."

Jefferson's headache, which had just started to ease a little, flared up again.

He immediately spotted Joestar inside — at a glance, it was obvious he was a fledgling: his expression was a bit vacant, but the cybernetic "Eagle Eye" grafted onto his face clearly marked him as Maelstrom.

In his scanner, Leo uploaded all of the boy's data:

Name: Hiroichi Yoshida

Age: 16

Record: Dropped out of school.

A boy who had just dropped out.

At his age, Jefferson had been preparing to leave Night City for college.

"Why did he join Maelstrom?"

"Haha! You won't believe it!" Brick shouted from the wall.

"The kid originally wanted to join the Tyger Claws, but the Tyger Claws had turtled up!

Compared to those damn pimps, our Maelstrom gang still had prospects!"

Prospects? Prospects to become cyberpsychos?!

"...Where's your family?" Jefferson stepped into the room, slowly approaching Joestar.

"I know!" Brick interrupted again, yelling,

"His old man ran off right after he was born, but his mom — she was a good woman.

I mean, yeah, she was a whore who sold herself for money, but at least she raised him to sixteen!"

Jefferson frowned deeply at Brick's disgusting face.

Leo noticed and immediately muted Brick.

Meanwhile, Joestar's sluggish nerves finally recalled the memory.

He spoke slowly:

"When I went to the brothel... I wanted to pick someone, and I ended up picking... her."

"Why did you drop out? Why go to a place like that?" Jefferson couldn't understand.

Brothels were filthy, chaotic, crawling with addictive drugs, gangs — even scavengers could kidnap you!

Why not just finish school properly?

"Oba... my ex-girlfriend dumped me for being poor, for having no money.

I thought, what's the point of studying? Might as well find work early.

But I didn't have the right cyberware, no one wanted me.

Then when I went home... she had already run off with someone else.

Just because that bastard's dad was a corp stooge!"

Joestar's face grew emotional—

"I was gonna join the Tyger Claws and wreck that bastard!" His excitement quickly faded into dejection.

"But the Tyger Claws disappeared..."

Yet there was still a question.

Even after losing his girlfriend, he still had a home to return to.

He only ran away after that incident at the brothel.

So...

"Why did you go to the brothel?"

Joestar's expression dulled again.

He muttered:

"I... I just wanted to buy someone... to love me."

The room suddenly fell silent.

Jefferson didn't know what to say.

Then Carter, who was also tied to the wall, spoke up:

"Well, at least your mom didn't just popped you out on the steps of an orphanage and now stops you to ask if you got a smoke for her!"

[TN: LOL that's a reference to one of the new caster in the game]

"Just so happened a corp dog came and picked her that day," Joestar said blankly.

"He had money. He even said, right in front of me, that he was picking her."

"Damn..." Carter muttered.

"Don't worry, brother. Once we get new cyberware, we'll help you get even. You just had some bad luck, that's all..."

Leo muted Carter too.

Then Joestar suddenly looked up and grinned at the two muzzled gangsters on the wall:

"I'll do it myself. Just get me some powerful cyberware when the time comes."

The two gagged Maelstrom gangsters exchanged approving glances — or rather, their cybernetic optics flickered approvingly.

Jefferson watched the three of them — their "Eagle Eye" implants pulsing in the same red rhythm — communicating in a way he couldn't understand.

Suddenly, he felt it all absurd.

This... this was total cyberpsychosis!

Yet somehow, after seeing them up close, they didn't seem as terrifying as he expected.

Almost... a little pitiful.

And that's when the headache hit its peak!

Leo, quick on his feet, caught Jefferson:

"That's all of it. I bet you're dying to tell this new Maelstrom kid that love can't be forced with money.

But save your breath.

We all know you can't force certain things... but when it comes to actually doing it, everyone acts like they've lost their minds.

It's still easier to settle the bill, right?"

"I..." Jefferson gasped for air.

The system started throwing up rapid error messages.

But he clutched Leo's arm tightly, struggling to say something, but the words wouldn't come!

The pain was overwhelming.

The more he tried to speak, the stronger that feeling of "touching the boundary" became—

Finally, Leo's words echoed in his mind:

"It's still easier to settle the bill."

[Transfer: +3,083,000 eddies]

[Account balance: 3,084,123 eddies]

Bang.

Jefferson collapsed.

[Leo: Crap. Watch the entrance — our golden goose paid and passed out.]

[V: What the hell? Trying to scam us? That 3 million nearly killed him?]

[Jackie: Damn, these people are hardcore...]

"Break the door!"

Bang!

The iron door was kicked open by a burly assault trooper!

The security team, bearing the "SSI" insignia, immediately began their breach, flooding in like a tide!

Sitting in the police car, River's heart skipped a beat—

No way... Is Burger King really gutsy enough to kidnap Peralez?!

He wasn't the only one. The other officers were all on edge too, but before they could even ask for instructions, the chief's orders came through.

[Cole Rich: Just make a token effort.]

Boom!

The doorframe shattered, and the next second, the SSI security team that had just stormed in were all thrown out!

Wearing his linear exosuit, Jackie walked out slowly, one hand choking a burly man, while the assault troopers outside raised their guns in unison.

Clang!

Yet in an instant, all their weapons were sliced clean apart!

Meanwhile, a sniper between the buildings had just prepared to fire when his bullet detonated his own gun!

Leo walked out of the building carrying Peralez in both arms. As a chunk of concrete fell from the shattered wall, Jackie casually deflected the massive debris with one hand and flung the burly man away with the other.

The SSI team was instantly routed.

NCPD officers stepped out of their cars, reaching for the guns at their waists—

But the heavy machine guns mounted on a dozen Mackinaw pickup trucks nearby began to rotate threateningly!

The atmosphere grew unbearably tense!

"Relax," Leo said, sweeping his gaze over the defeated SSI team and spotting their leader. Staring down at him, he continued, "I have no idea why Congressman Peralez suddenly fainted. He came through the door shouting about a headache, probably from work stress."

"You people," Leo added coldly, "don't seem to care much about the congressman's health."

"We..."

Before he could finish, Leo casually tossed Jefferson over. The man, Wallace, barely caught him, too stunned to respond.

The SSI team had a lot to do with Jefferson's headaches, but Leo couldn't just snatch him away in front of the NCPD.

After all, Jefferson's wife was standing right there watching. Forcibly taking him now would mean a direct confrontation with the Riot Squad.

It wasn't the right time, and there wasn't a strong enough reason yet.

The SSI team didn't dare argue anymore. They hurriedly helped their fallen comrades, rushed Jefferson onto their medical transport, and quickly withdrew from the scene.

Watching the hovercar leave, Leo thought silently:

Jefferson really is a good man... but he's not whole.

Hopefully, after this, his mind will become freer... more complete.

Given how he fought desperately to transfer the money even as he was collapsing, Leo was more than willing to lend him a hand.

Back at the police car, River received new orders from the chief.

He put on his police cap and walked over.

"Quite a show. Looks like Congressman Peralez fainted before he even had a chance to mention the NCPD. How'd you pull that off?

Even someone at a congressman's level—you scared him into unconsciousness?"

"Don't say that," Leo replied, handing over two datachips. "He fainted from work stress."

"These should be enough for your report."

One chip contained information about Maelstrom's criminal activities, cases, and personnel, focused on the most brutal and unsolved crimes.

The other chip had license plate numbers, locations, and a warning: Leo might take action against certain companies, so NCPD personnel should stay clear if they spot him.

River clicked his tongue. "You know you're basically threatening the NCPD, right?"

"Yes," Leo nodded. "I am threatening the NCPD.

But if you cooperate, you'll find this is a win-win."

"You're not afraid the department will turn on you?"

"Relax," Leo shook his head. "They won't. I'm guessing the chief is about to ask for my contact info."

"You guess—"

[Chief Cole Rich: I need to confirm some details with the contractor. Tell him to leave contact information.]

River was left stunned—he hadn't even finished his sentence before getting proven wrong!

"...Right."

"It's on the second chip. Let him check it himself."

River looked at Leo, countless thoughts and questions swirling in his mind. But with so many colleagues around...

He let it go.

He nodded, gave Leo a long, searching look, and turned to hand everything over to the chief before returning to his car.

In the passenger seat, Hans seemed like he was dreaming.

When the engine started, he suddenly turned to River:

"This time, you can't let it slip away! River—River! RIVER!!!"

The convoy slowly pulled away from the broken-down shack, following the road out of the shattered northern district of Watson.

As they left, the sun gradually rose.

Sunlight fell over the ruined streets, over the broken wreckage. Even the lingering flames were overpowered by the morning light.

The terrified homeless crept out of hiding, warily surveying the surroundings.

Residents peered out through cracked windows, watching the streets in silence.

The NCPD was gone.

The Riot Squad was gone.

The gunfire had stopped.

The fighting had ended.

The Maelstrom civil war... was over—they all knew it.

But a new order—

Who would take control?

That question was soon answered by the arrival of the Mackinaw convoy.

Vehicles bearing the Nomad insignia rolled into the district, led by a heavy-armored Mackinaw.

Onboard, V and Jackie excitedly counted their earnings, already planning what they could buy.

But after a while, V glanced over at Leo, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Leo, meanwhile, stretched his hand out the window, feeling the unique morning air—air that still carried the scent of gunpowder and industrial fumes—of this battle-worn industrial zone.

The smell was acrid, intoxicating.

Sunlight pierced through the ionized air, dazzlingly bright.

The appearance of the Mackinaws had answered one question, but raised many more:

Why had they shown up now?

What role had they played in the chaos?

What about Maelstrom?

And most importantly—

What kind of order would they bring?

The questions were many, but in time, the answers would come.

For now, it was a moment to welcome the dawn.