Chapter 20: Tongzi!

Arthur quickly left the Ritz Bar after getting what he needed. Feeling accomplished, he called Liujie, a monk friend he met on the streets, to help him borrow a car. Once he got it, Arthur happily drove home.

On the way, he spoke with Regina, who arranged the transfer of the property donated by another "patient" suffering from cyberpsychosis. Arthur laughed to himself at the irony. Let me, Arthur, carry the burden of Night City's bureaucratic taxes, he thought. Despite his usual cynicism, he couldn't help but feel oddly benevolent for helping someone he barely knew.

Soon, Arthur arrived at Santo Domingo and parked beneath a towering super-skyscraper. He took the elevator up to his apartment, reflecting on his day.

It had been a productive one—he made over 6,800 eddies selling contraband "piglets" (a respectful nod to his fellow cyberpsychotic). Plus, the property in Pacifica, though less than ideal, could serve as a backup production base. Worst case, he could mingle with the Voodoo Boys, offload suppression chips at a discount, and scrape by.

Arthur smirked as he thought about his potential cash flow. The footage he'd taken from his cyberpsycho brother would likely sell well on the black market. If Judy went through with his suggestion to make a niche "Mewtwo" experience about relieving bladder pressure, the profits could be insane. After all, who in Night City didn't have a touch of cyberpsychosis and some minor biological malfunctions?

Still grinning, Arthur unlocked his door and stepped inside.

The warmth of his apartment greeted him immediately. Though it wasn't the liveliest place, the lights were on, and the atmosphere was cozy. In the chaos of Night City, Arthur appreciated this rare slice of normalcy.

David sat in a corner, hunched over his homework. Despite being a top student, education in 2077 was relentless, and they couldn't afford cutting-edge tech for studying. Pen and paper still worked, though David clearly hated it.

In another corner, Gloria sat by the window, gazing outside with a distant look.

Arthur's heart warmed at the sight of his family. For all his cynicism and rough edges, moments like these reminded him why he fought so hard to survive.

"Not bad," Arthur muttered to himself. Then he remembered his system's daily sign-in feature.

"Alright, Tongzi, let's see what you've got for me today. Sign in!"

[Ding! Sign-in successful. Congratulations to the host for acquiring advanced mechanical knowledge.]

Suddenly, a flood of information filled Arthur's mind: gun manufacturing, weapon modifications, engineering equipment upgrades, electrical systems, prosthetic repairs, and more. The sheer volume of data gave him a splitting headache.

Clutching his temples, Arthur grumbled, "Tongzi, I appreciate the knowledge, but do you have to cram it into my head like this? I'm not a damn data shard!"

The system remained silent, as always. Arthur rolled his eyes. Not even as smart as a Night City taxi AI, he thought.

Shaking off the headache, Arthur focused on the room and shouted, "Kids, I'm back!"

David glanced up, unimpressed. Gloria, however, stood and walked over, rolling her eyes at Arthur's theatrics. She helped him out of his coat while Arthur's hands wandered mischievously. Gloria's cheeks turned red as she lightly smacked his arm.

"David's still here," she whispered, shooting him a warning look.

Arthur froze, glancing at his son, who was now staring at them with a mix of curiosity and confusion.

"What are you looking at, kid?" Arthur barked, trying to regain his composure.

David shrugged. "Nothing. Just wondering what you're doing."

Arthur scowled. "None of your business, that's what. Go back to your homework."

David didn't look convinced, but he obeyed, his curiosity still piqued.

Arthur sat beside David and pretended to inspect his homework for a few moments. Then, glancing over his shoulder to make sure Gloria wasn't paying attention, he pulled a small box from his pocket.

"I haven't given you a birthday gift in years," Arthur said, handing the box to David. "Consider this a special one. Just don't let your mom see it."

David grabbed the box eagerly, but his excitement quickly turned to suspicion when he saw the logo—a ghostly figure unique to the Mewtwo editors of the Ritz Bar.

"This... didn't come from a licensed vendor," David muttered, eyeing Arthur.

Arthur smirked. "Of course not. This is from a friend. Specially edited footage from one of your dad's adventures. Enjoy."

David's face twisted with confusion and frustration. Why would he give me something like this?

Arthur noticed his expression and slapped the back of David's head lightly. "What're you thinking, huh? This isn't some shady contraband. It's a lesson. Your uncle—a good man—shared his experiences, and I had them edited by a top-notch professional. Take it as a warning: live right, or you'll end up like him."

David still looked unconvinced, but Arthur didn't give him time to argue.

"Now, keep it hidden," Arthur added. "And don't show it to anyone—especially your unlicensed ripperdoc."

David sighed and tucked the box away.

Meanwhile, Gloria glanced over suspiciously. "What's going on over there?"

Arthur stood abruptly and stretched. "Nothing, nothing. Just teaching the boy some life lessons."

Gloria narrowed her eyes but didn't press further.

Arthur grinned and thought to himself, Life's good. A little chaos, a lot of family, and just enough insanity to keep things interesting.

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