Chapter 292 - Chemistry and Familiar Faces

🟥⚡ TOP 30 POWER STONE LEGENDS – NEW GENERATION ⚡🟥🦾 CYBERPUNK: 2077 HONOR TRANSMISSION 🦾>> NETLINK ESTABLISHED>> ENERGY FLOWING FROM THE 30 CORE OPERATIVES>> SYSTEM POWERED BY LOYALTY AND PURE CHROME

In this new cycle, 30 names rise at the top of the system, not just for their consistency, but for fueling this story with every power stone they've offered. These are the ones who chose the path of unwavering support, the pillars keeping this world alive.

🔋 TOP 30 CONTRIBUTORS // NIGHT CITY SIGNAL STRONGHOLD 🔋⚡ DevilsArray⚡ Aagnus⚡ Indarius⚡ deadpool2014⚡ Roach_mobile⚡ Ain388⚡ Spechtro07⚡ INDRA32⚡ ShanePsycho⚡ glurple⚡ DaoisteNPBM0⚡ Alex_IK⚡ Drwall⚡ Miedo⚡ leokratos⚡ Yvan_Luarez⚡ Outlawjessejames18⚡ Chaotic_Idiot⚡ Dreamcow101⚡ Joseph_Hill_7805⚡ Hruthik_Babu⚡ AshGraveborn⚡ DaoistahH8hp⚡ lomp⚡ Gungnus⚡ VoiceOfOmnius⚡ kpone1⚡ Loharis⚡ SaintWeetard⚡ Crak

🎙️ This chapter is a tribute to all of you.Without your support, the system would crash.With it, we keep pushing the narrative past the edge.

And if you're vibing with this story, I'd love for you to check out my other translated novels — new worlds, new drama, same high-stakes intensity.

Thanks for riding with me, chooms.📍 End of transmission. But the journey's just getting started...

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"This job shouldn't be hard to track."

T-Bug had just woken up around noon, and after hearing that Karl and V had taken on a new gig, she didn't seem the least bit bothered that they'd have to start gathering intel from scratch.

"City Center isn't Tiger Claw turf, which means if they're not using corporate transport to bring in raw materials, there's no way they're sneaking anything past the fixers. But even if they are using corp logistics, there'll still be a trail."

She typed for a moment, then continued, "From what I know, Arasaka's been keeping a tight leash on things since that last op we pulled. They've frozen shipments into City Center and started a full internal audit and purge. So unless the Tiger Claws are stupid enough to work with a rival corp and risk getting skinned alive by Arasaka, their only option is to source the materials themselves."

"Source the raw materials…"

Oliver, still sweating from his sim training and fresh out of the shower, leaned against the couch listening to T-Bug. Thanks to his family upbringing, he quickly came up with a possible alternative that didn't involve importing anything:

"Rob a chemical warehouse in City Center?"

"Fastest and cheapest way to get what they need," he added.

V, the former nomad, nodded in agreement. "Corp shipments are risky, yeah. But if you pull it off? The loot can keep a whole clan fed for years."

"And there's another benefit," Karl said, backing the theory. "Zero procurement cost means more profit across the board. Everyone in the chain gets a bigger cut — the chemists making it, the Tiger Claws risking their necks. It's hard to turn down that kind of payout."

"Fits the gang mentality perfectly."

Oliver glanced at T-Bug. "Can you check if any chemical warehouses in the city got hit recently?"

"That's easy. City Center's full of corpo dogs, and there aren't many facilities licensed to store hazardous materials. Just need to filter by region and—"

She didn't even finish the sentence.

"Found it. Biotechnica warehouse near the west docks in City Center. Hit by unknowns two days ago. They were storing large amounts of nitrous oxide."

"Nitrous oxide? What's that?" V asked.

Oliver jumped in. "Also called laughing gas. It's colorless, has a sweet taste. Used medically as an anesthetic and in food processing. But if you inhale too much, it cuts off oxygen to the brain and wrecks your nervous system. The high makes you laugh, hence the name."

"Nitrous is laughing gas? That I do know. I remember reading about it as rocket fuel and a boost for car engines. Never thought it could be used to make street drugs."

"No matter how useful something is," Karl said, "once it's tied to stuff like this, all its original uses just turn into ways to screw people over."

He looked at T-Bug. "Can you pull cam footage from around the warehouse? See what vehicles passed through the area? And how did Biotechnica respond?"

"Camera footage'll take some time to process. As for Biotechnica… they issued a statement, fired a few low-level dock workers, and that's it. Guess they've just gotten used to this kind of thing."

T-Bug didn't seem too surprised. In Night City, a corp without the guts to deal with gangs, mercs, or nomads raiding their ops doesn't survive long against the competition. Shit like this was routine.

She stood up. "I'm heading to my room — easier to scan all this with my setup in there. I'll send the files once I've compiled everything. Might take a bit, so just chill in the meantime."

"You not eating lunch, T-Bug?" Karl asked.

"Just save me some dinner. I'm not that hungry."

She'd barely been out of her room and now was already disappearing back in. The three guys exchanged glances.

A few seconds later, V muttered, "Is that a netrunner thing? Dive back into your cave the second there's work to do? Or is that just T-Bug?"

"Probably depends," Karl replied. "I count as half a netrunner myself. I'm just too lazy to do the work."

"You're really out here bragging about being lazy?" Oliver said with a sigh. "So, what now? T-Bug said it'll take a while. I'm done with sim training for the day. Wanna go check out Jackie's bartending gig?"

"Didn't we just get back?" Karl said, thinking. He'd already had V detour to pick up the braindance gear on the way home, so yeah — checking in with Jackie sounded good.

After a brief discussion, they left Qiuqiu behind on guard duty. With Hera still in the shop and no urgent timetable, they decided to walk — from Little China in Watson, through City Center, and into The Glen in Heywood.

The three chatted as they walked. By Night City standards, it was a peaceful stroll — only two shootouts. One was a gang hit, the other an NCPD takedown. Plus, they passed four armed robberies. But no fatalities, so… calm day.

"I'm betting the body count in tomorrow's 'Death Lotto' will be under ten," Oliver joked.

He was about to say more when a familiar face caught his eye.

On the bridge connecting Watson to City Center, a squad of mercs had just finished off a target and were cleaning up. The leader was reloading an arm-mounted launcher.

No mistaking that frame — it was Maine.

"Maine!" Oliver waved.

Maine turned, surprised for a moment, then grinned and walked over. "Didn't expect to see you guys around here."

"You working a job?" Karl asked, eyeing the wrecked vehicle.

"Just wrapped up."

BOOM.

The wreck suddenly exploded.

A young man sprinted over through the smoke and fire. "The guy we caught just self-detonated, Maine!"

"What?! He blew himself up?" Maine turned sharply. "Everyone okay?"

"Yeah. I was the one handling him. Felt something was off, so I tossed him out just in time and kicked in my Sandevistan. No one got hurt."

The young man approached and greeted them casually. "Long time no see, Karl. Hey, Oliver."

"You're…" Oliver blinked, then his face lit up. "David?! Damn, didn't expect to see you! And you're running a Sandevistan now?"

That familiar smile was unmistakable — even with a face altered by sync-mod facial sculpting.

It was David, no doubt about it.

.

.

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