Chapter 67: Does Your Home Sell Beer?

When hanging out on the streets, you must be humane and friendly.

Though it may seem vain, sometimes it's far more reliable than money. Talking about money with others means they'll talk about money with you. So the question is: how much would it take for you to betray a friend? 100,000? 200,000? Or 300,000? But when you talk about human relations and friendship, it's different. It's no longer just about business interests; it's about emotions.

The priest nodded, took a sip of wine, and then got straight to the point. "Aside from being the peacemaker today, I have another matter to discuss."

Arthur raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Another matter? What is it?"

"A child has decided to take up a sword and shield to avenge his enemies. God has decided to give him a bit of help. Arthur, are you willing to be the spear of his revenge?"

Arthur blinked in disbelief. Just completed one mission, and now there's another? Even the donkeys in the production team aren't worked this hard.

"I just wrapped up a big job today, and I'm not sure I have the energy to deal with kids fighting in the streets," Arthur said with a sigh. "Most of the tasks around Heywood are like this—gang fights, stealing, or assassinations. They're not difficult, but there's barely any payout. It's hardly worth my time."

The priest shook his head, then poured himself another glass from the 107 wine bottle and took a sip before continuing, "There was a despicable thief who stole the boy's most precious possession. Well, he's the one who described it that way. The boy plans to teach the thief a lesson, to let him know who not to mess with."

Arthur's face twisted in distaste. Was the priest seriously asking him to help a kid teach a thief a lesson? Arthur, a cyberpsychopath with a fully prosthetic body, was no stranger to violence, but this felt beneath him.

Noticing Arthur's unamused expression, the priest quickly added, "Originally, I intended for Jack to take on this task, but when I saw him just now, he seemed distracted and in poor condition. So I decided to pass it to you. I know you'll get the job done, won't you?"

Arthur smirked slightly. Jack, lost and troubled, was clearly a result of his own earlier request. If Arthur hadn't pushed him into that tough spot, Jack wouldn't be in this state.

"Alright, I'll take it on. After I finish this bottle of wine, I'll deal with the thief who stole the boy's most precious thing."

The priest raised an eyebrow at the phrasing. "The most precious thing?" he asked.

Arthur, without skipping a beat, answered, "Of course, it's his chastity. There's a lot of perverts in Night City, and maybe it's due to too much social pressure. But who knows what kind of perversions the city will harbor in ten years?"

The priest shook his head with an amused smile. "The employer only wants you to catch the thief, not to get involved in any other way."

Arthur relaxed. "Fine. I'll catch the thief. Just make sure you give me all the details and the location."

At that moment, Mr. Ma, who had been on the phone, returned with a wide grin on his face.

"Father, my wife gave birth!" Mr. Ma exclaimed joyfully.

"According to Chinese tradition... how should I say it? Ah, congratulations!" The priest replied, his face lighting up. Although ruthless, even the priest, as a clergyman, had some empathy. It wasn't every day that you heard of a newborn's arrival in Night City. It was a moment of relief in a city where life and death were daily affairs.

Mr. Ma, feeling more relaxed, picked up his wine glass and took another sip.

Then, as if on impulse, he turned to Arthur and hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Mr. Arthur, how about you name my child?"

Arthur scratched the back of his head. He wasn't sure how to name someone's child. The thought felt a bit strange, but then he glanced at the bar, his eyes landing on the bubbling beer sitting on the table. An idea sparked.

"Do you sell beer at your place?" Arthur asked, half-joking, half-seriously.

Mr. Ma stared blankly at him. "Huh?"

Arthur immediately realized his question was a bit odd. He chuckled awkwardly. "I'm not too good at naming things. But if you want your child to be rich in the future, how about calling him Ma Tenghua? 'Tenghua' means rising and sublimating. It should have a good meaning, don't you think?"

Mr. Ma blinked in surprise, then laughed in delight. "I didn't expect Mr. Arthur to understand the culture of the Dragon Kingdom! I thought you might pick something like David, but Ma Tenghua—now that's a name that sounds prosperous and powerful."

Arthur nodded with a smile, feeling a bit relieved. He'd pulled that name out of nowhere, but it seemed to be well-received.

"I'm glad you like it," Arthur said, casually looking down at his phone. He quickly tapped in a few numbers and transferred the money to Mr. Ma's account. Then, he sent the rest of the agreed-upon amount to Jack. It was all neatly done in a matter of moments.

More than two million credits were distributed: 1.2 million for the workers' salaries, with 120,000 as the 10% fee. The old captain's commission took 20%, half of which amounted to 12,000. Jack's share of the mission was 35,000, and his total came to 275,000 credits. Arthur's portion was 635,000, after all was said and done.

"Mr. Arthur, this is incredible!" Mr. Ma was practically glowing, especially now that he had received such a huge sum. But then something about the name "Taipingzhou" struck him as odd.

"Wait, did you say Taipingzhou?" Mr. Ma asked, his face filled with disbelief.

Arthur nodded, not understanding the hesitation. "Yeah, what's the problem?"

Mr. Ma paused, then shook his head in shock. "Mr. Arthur, with all due respect, opening a factory in Taipingzhou is too dangerous."

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "It's just Taipingzhou. Why's it dangerous?"

Mr. Ma's expression was grave. "If you insist on opening a factory there, I don't think my workers will go. We can't risk our lives on the way home from work. The place is too dangerous."

Arthur paused, understanding the gravity of the situation. Night City, with its ever-shifting power dynamics and unpredictable threats, made even the most straightforward business ventures perilous. But that didn't change the fact that Taipingzhou could still be a viable option.

"I'll make sure to address any concerns," Arthur assured him, leaning back in his chair and finishing the last of his wine.

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