Chapter 26: Only the Dead Can Keep Secrets Forever

Chapter 26: Only the Dead Can Keep Secrets Forever

Wilton and Lucius were both councilors under the Night Corporation's influence, each equally competent with unique strengths. However, there could only be one mayor of Night City. If one rival were eliminated, the other's chances of ascending would increase significantly.

For the Maelstrom gang, framing the Triad for an assassination attempt on Lucius was much simpler than engaging in gang warfare. One of the ultimate taboos in Night City, apart from infringing on corporate interests, was insubordination within the gangs.

If the Triad became entangled in the murder of a district chief, it would only be a matter of time before they were swept out of Night City.

After all, Lucius was backed by the Night Corporation, whose influence in Night City was unquestionable. If the Triad dared to provoke the corporation, they were destined for obliteration.

"I've prepared everything—weaponry, clothing, the corpse of a Triad member, even the time and place of the crime," Wu Dong said with a grin as he looked at Royce. "All you need to do is what you always do: pull the trigger and blow that old guy's head off. Then, just wait for the money to roll in."

"Once the Triad is kicked out of Night City, Little Chinatown will be yours, and we'll take Kabuki. What do you say? Doesn't that sound like a fair deal?"

While Royce was weighing the pros and cons, Jotaro Seihō took out an LA Corporation M-221 Saratoga kinetic SMG.

"Pick any weapon from LA Corporation's arsenal—SMGs, rifles—you name it. Take your pick!" Though Jotaro despised Royce and Dum Dum, he had no choice but to please them to ensure they would fight for him.

"I thought LA Corporation doesn't sell guns to the Maelstrom. How did you get them?" Dum Dum asked with a mocking smile.

"Pay a middleman extra, and they'll handle it.

"Besides..." Jotaro snorted.

"Ha! Developing kinetic and tech weapons isn't that hard. Arasaka Corporation's tech division has already informed us that, in six months tops, they'll launch their own line of kinetic and tech weaponry!"

Jotaro wasn't lying. At this point, Militech and Arasaka were already preparing for the production of kinetic and tech weapons. While LA Corporation's products were more mature in terms of technology, the difficulty of replicating them wasn't high.

The real gap in technological advancement lay in smart weapons produced by Kang Tao or sniper rifles from Tsunami Defense Systems.

"Fine, I'll agree to your terms—but I have one additional condition," Royce said with a sinister grin.

"Name it," Wu Dong replied with a nod. He had no intention of letting Royce or Dum Dum leave alive, as fewer people knowing about this plot was better.

"You know about Shimmer, right? That new illicit product your Tyger Claws are raking in cash with. Give me half of its distribution channels, and we'll call it even."

"What? Dream on!" Jotaro glared in disbelief, rejecting Royce outright. He couldn't accept such blatant greed.

Shimmer was the newest synthetic chemical in Night City, capable of intensely stimulating neural pathways. Its effects surpassed even the wildest braindances a thousandfold.

Even the most sought-after escort at Lizzie's Bar couldn't offer the kind of extreme high that Shimmer could. However, the euphoria often went too far, burning out neurons and causing users' brains to glow—hence the name, "Shimmer."

Despite its lethal side effects, Shimmer remained a coveted substance among Night City's addicts. The Tyger Claws had made a fortune from it. The idea of splitting profits with the Maelstrom was unthinkable to Jotaro.

"If you don't agree, then this deal is off," Dum Dum said, his greedy gaze hinting he'd found the Tyger Claws' weakness.

Jotaro was livid. He had heard the deal and was ready to act, but now they wanted to back out? He was prepared to draw his gun and eliminate Royce and Dum Dum. However, Wu Dong suddenly intervened:

"Fine. You can have half of the Shimmer distribution channels, but once this operation is complete, you must leave Watson District and never come back!"

Jotaro stared at Wu Dong in disbelief. Just as he was about to explode with rage and question Wu Dong's sanity, Hiromi Sato grabbed him again.

"Boss, he—"

Jotaro turned to look at Hiromi, only to be met with a cold, sinister gaze. Hiromi's expression conveyed only one message: shut up.

Reluctantly, Jotaro fell silent, watching as Wu Dong and Royce finalized the details of their operation.

"Mr. Wu Dong, you're straightforward as always. Don't worry, we'll handle this cleanly and efficiently," Royce said confidently, pocketing the gold chip loaded with 200,000 eddies, along with the SMGs on the table.

"I'll inform you of the exact time for the operation in a few days. Don't forget our agreement," Wu Dong reminded.

"Stop wasting time. The longer you talk, the more I'll want to back out. Get someone to escort me out—I need to practice my aim!" Dum Dum cursed.

With that, Royce and Dum Dum swaggered out of the room, oblivious to Wu Dong's cold gaze lingering on their backs.

After they left, Hiromi Sato asked, "Wu Dong, how do you plan to deal with Royce?"

As a key figure in the Tyger Claws, Hiromi knew Wu Dong's methods well. Wu Dong might appear to be a brash brute, but he was cunning to the core.

"Leave no one alive. Only the dead can take secrets to the grave. I'll arrange for someone to dismember them and sell their remains to the Scavs," Wu Dong said as he crushed his cigarette underfoot, extinguishing the last embers like snuffing out a worthless pawn.

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Little Chinatown.

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