Chapter 208 — The Grand Empire Mall

"Finally made it."

Karl dropped down from the roof of the car, brushed off the dust, and stretched his stiff limbs.

"Pacifica outskirts—here I come."

"Finally... I can breathe again," Oliver muttered, leaning against the car door, taking in deep breaths as he stared at the streets ahead.

"Looks… way different from Night City proper."

"This place used to be designed as a vacation hub. Of course it looks different. Look around—no megatowers in sight. Most of the buildings here are short, low-rise structures with lots of space between them. You've got motel-style villas that were meant to house tourists from around the world."

Jack pointed at a crumbling, abandoned three-story motel.

"Of course… now it's all just left to rot."

"Sun's blazin'," Karl said, glancing up. The sky was clear, and the sun overhead was glaring.

"Back in the city, every time I look up, all I see are towers, glowing billboards, and flashing ads. Here? You just raise your head, and bam—sky and sun. Doesn't even feel like we're in the same world."

"Who the hell wants a vacation spot that looks like a sewer? Gotta be different from the city or no one shows up."

Oliver looked around, then did a double-take.

"No way… I can actually see blue ocean. I thought the best I'd get was some greasy, brown sludge near the docks. That's… kinda nice."

"Don't get too hyped. Looks clean from here, but it's probably no better up close."

Jack squinted at the water.

"I heard the original plan included offshore filtration systems—supposed to keep the beach water safe for swimming. But after the development project was canned, that whole system was scrapped. What we're seeing now's probably just wastewater that hasn't drifted in yet."

Karl frowned.

"Night City's got laws against dumping industrial waste, right? I mean, yeah, no one respects the law, but don't the corps usually go after each other when it comes to this kinda thing?"

"Please. They all do it. No one wants to start a shit-slinging contest that'll get their own dirt exposed."

Oliver exhaled and looked back toward the sea.

"Thinking about what this place was supposed to be... and what it turned into... Then you look at Santo Domingo. Makes you wonder what the fuck even matters anymore."

"If a corp actually gave a damn about the people on the ground, it wouldn't be a corp."

Karl said that as V finished checking the car and walked over.

"Everything good with the ride, V? That rattling on the road was sketchy."

"It's fine. Just the usual junker noises. Sounds worse than it is."

V waved it off, then turned the conversation.

"So, we're here. That mean it's go-time?"

"Pretty much."

Karl looked toward a cluster of buildings, holding up the intel like a local fixer giving a tour.

"The center of Pacifica's failed paradise. Originally planned as the shining crown jewel—a commercial hub for clean, legal trade. The Grand Empire Mall. That's where we're headed."

"That's the crown jewel?"

V stared at the ruins and rubble.

"Looks more like a scrapyard. Just like those ghost towns in the Badlands—dusty, dead, and forgotten."

"You're sounding poetic, V. Been reading books or something?"

"We nomads pass down knowledge through books."

V cracked a grin, then pulled out a Unity pistol.

"Alright. We've got the target. When do we roll?"

"Rolling in already?" Oliver glanced over, spotting the gun in V's hand.

So he wasn't just driving them—he was joining the fight?

When V had said "don't worry, we're friends," he wasn't just saying he'd drop them off. He meant he was down to throw hands too?

Jack looked at V, opened his mouth, then closed it.

Something about V just clicked. Trustworthy. Capable. Like this was no big deal.

Oliver stared at him for a second longer... and then looked away in silence.

Karl, meanwhile, casually tossed V a few things.

"Then get suited up."

"This is... Vulcan-3? Top-tier stuff."

V caught it, raising an eyebrow. Not cheap gear. Karl had thrown him two doses like they were nothing.

"Better safe than sorry. Take it."

Karl pointed at the other items he tossed.

"Couple of grenades. Couple of smokes. You've got way too much free space on your belt."

"Good point."

V strapped everything into place like he'd done it a thousand times, then asked,

"So, when are we moving?"

"Now."

Karl's voice came through on team comms.

"Mission brief. Target: recover the vehicle tied to our fixer's gig. Hostiles: the Animals, who've recently expanded from the western zone into this part of the Grand Empire Mall. Estimated headcount: 30 elite gangers. Priority target: the regional leader—Wildwoman."

"Priority is recovering the fixer's ride. If they block us—neutralize or bypass. If things go hot, don't hesitate to open fire. Oliver's on heavy support. T-BUG's running net cover. Me, Jack, and V breach and clear."

Everyone's roles were locked in.

Only one thing left—

"Let's move."

As KK Squad began their op, inside the ruined Grand Empire Mall, Wildwoman cursed loud enough to rattle the concrete.

The thick-necked, musclebound Animals leader growled,

"That NetWatch scumbag said we'd get paid after we held this dump against a Voodoo Boys counterattack. If I fall for some 'long-term payout gig' again, I'm a goddamn idiot."

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