Guns Acquired! Ambition Revealed!

Back again with another chapter.

Enjoy!

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John's apartment door slid shut as he walked out into a hallway to his left and right with food vendors in front of him.

As he walked forward he noticed a ring and weight equipment.

This was very familiar.

'Isn't this the walkway to the elevator? V's apartment would be over there.' He took a look and saw stairs leading up. His apartment would be right there. What a strange coincidence.

As he walked, he saw all kinds of people eating, talking, and getting things from vending machines.

He strode past the makeshift gym until he saw the gun store.

2nd Amendment.

Holding onto his trusty hat, he made his way inside. There was a person talking to the vendor, so he waited his turn.

Looking behind him, John saw the gun range and felt that he should come here since XP farming in the training shard was going to get really difficult.

Now that a few of his stats are Level 5, he's only going to get 25 XP instead of 50.

The customer left with a Unity and went to the gun range.

"Next." The portly man behind the counter called out.

He stepped up to him.

"Haven't seen your face around, big guy. Name's Wilson." He introduced himself.

"John Wick." He responded with a smile. What? It's nice to be called big guy.

"Well, John. What can I get for ya?" Wilson asked looking at the taller man.

"Looking to stock up on some weapons. ARs, handguns, shotguns, SMGs." John gave it to him straight.

"Big order, huh? Anything specific? Or I could show you what I got." Wilson rubbed his chin taking a glance at his own stock.

"A Unity, Overture, Tsunami Nue, Liberty, Kyubi, Ajax, Copperhead, Tactician, Crusher, Saratoga, and a Shigure." John listed off the weapons from memory.

Wilson gave him a bewildered look.

"Damn son. You goin' to war or somethin'? Hell of a first purchase." Wilson chuckled.

John just laughed.

"Yeah, something like that." He grinned.

Wilson shook his head before grabbing up the guns he mentioned.

"Luckily for you, I happened to get my hands on a Kyubi and Saratoga not too long ago. Otherwise, you'd have to look elsewhere." Wilson informed him as he kept moving around the room to place the guns on the counter. "Ah right, how much ammo you want and magazines?"

"100 rounds for each of the ARs and SMGs and 50 for the pistols and shotguns. Five magazines for everything." John answered and Wilson whistled.

"Good thing you brought that bag. I ain't helpin' ya carry all this." Wilson shook his head.

Unknown to Wilson, John could just store everything in his inventory as his carry limit is 250 pounds, but even without it, he'd be fine. Probably wouldn't be able to walk long distances, but enough to get back to his apartment just fine.

John also remembered something important.

"Oh, do you also have slings for the ARs and SMGs? Perhaps a suppressor for the Liberty?" John thought it'd be nice to quickly swap to his pistol or another gun without having to place it in his inventory or drop it before pulling out another gun.

"Yeah, 15 for each sling and 250 for the suppressor," Wilson replied and John nodded at the price.

After everything is accounted for, Wilson rings him up. 

"Alright, 1 bullet an eddie and 25 per magazine. Sent you my contact for the full breakdown of costs. In total everything is 18,775 eddies." Wilson told him and John didn't feel any type of way about it.

He did ask for a lot and was definitely interested in the cost breakdown. Plus he wouldn't ever need to replace the magazines since he can store them in his inventory if they're out of ammo.

John sent over the payment via his neural interface and started to pack everything up. Wilson was nice as the magazines were full so he just slotted them into place before putting them in the bag along with the guns having slings attached.

Wilson watched as he noticed the ease of the loading from John.

"Seems you know your way around those guns. You practice on your own?" He asked with interest.

"Yeah, self-taught," John responded simply without looking up as he kept loading.

"I hold a class every Friday for 100 eddies or if you want a place to practice right at home, then you could use mine for 25 an hour," Wilson suggested and John finally looked up in curiosity.

"You teach?" He asked with raised brows.

Wilson laughed.

"I wasn't always a franchise owner. These guns are all checked by me for quality control. Ain't no way I'm selling subpar trash." Wilson shook his head resolutely. 

"Perhaps I'll stop by sometime then." John got done and lifted the bag with considerate effort.

"Alright then, see you 'round, John." Wilson waved as the man in question exited the shop.

'Damn this shit's heavy.' He grunted with exertion before making his way to the elevator.

The price was steep but he had to get geared with all the stuff he wanted. Plus, he had over 80k left and there's no way he'd be spending all of that at Vik's.

He called the elevator and waited a few minutes before it came. It was empty and he stepped in and went to the ground floor. 

In the elevator, he unzipped the duffel bag and placed the guns he would primarily use in his inventory.

This was the Liberty which had a suppressor on, Tsunami Nue, Kyubi, Crusher, and Saratoga.

Stashing them in along with the extra ammo and mags, the bag felt considerably lighter and deeply exhaled in relief.

On second thought, to be safe, he pulled out his utility belt, quickly stashing the Malorian, and replacing it with the Nue on his left and Overture on his right hip.

All is good now.

The elevator stops and opens allowing him to walk out.

More street vendors as he walked past and finally saw the streets of Night City. Lots of people walking and cars driving by. He half-expected to see gunfire and cars driving erratically, and while quite a few were speeding, it was relatively normal.

Pulling up his map, he remembered the general area of Vik's clinic but had to double-check. Making a note on the map in the general area, he started walking again.

He noticed that he was getting looks from the passerbys and while he liked to think that was because his drip was immaculate, it was most likely due to his height. Very few people were this tall without enhancements or cybernetics, so it was an unusual sight. 

John only hoped that he could get his stealth up, so he wouldn't have to worry about it on jobs. He didn't care that he was looked at on the street, but gigs would be another thing entirely if the situation requires it.

It's more likely that he'll be a combat netrunner as he may have fucked himself by not specifying anything about height, but oh well. Live and learn.

After about five minutes of walking, he made his way to the iconic strip of businesses and turned left.

His day was almost ruined on the spot when he noticed Garry wasn't there. We love our tinfoil hat brethren especially when he was right at least when it came to blue-eyed suits.

Anyway, he stopped before the iconic shop: Misty's Esoterica. Wonder if she could give him a tarot card reading. She's pretty spot on, so he'll have to see.

John walked in and saw Misty at the counter shuffling a deck of cards.

"Yo!" He went right up to the counter.

Misty had to look up at the man and was surprised by something.

"Anyone told you that you have a very bright energy about you?" Misty smiled, a real one. In her mind, such energy was entirely foreign in Night City; it eats you up and spits you out like trash, so most people were just getting by or had a negative aura about them. It was one of the reason's why she agreed to rent out her space in the back for Vik because his energy was similar to the man in front of her.

John was surprised she said this as he didn't view himself as a bright or cheery person, but Misty is the expert in this. Maybe it's because he actually likes being here in this city and his goal. Who knows.

There was also a fluttering in his stomach when she said that. Goth girls were his weakness, especially caring ones like Misty, but he steeled himself. 

"No, but how can I doubt you, pretty lady." John smiled a bit and noticed she had a small blush before looking around. "You into the spiritual arts, miss?"

"Yes, people nowadays don't really care for it, but for those who want to reconnect with their spiritual health, well, this is what my shop is for. Even if no one really comes…" She looked a bit sad at the end.

"I can't tell energy or anything like that, but I can say that most people wouldn't care about helping others, but you do, so you probably have a bright energy too, so don't give up. I walked in, didn't I?" John had a soft spot for Vik and Misty. Wanting to do good in a city that doesn't reward it or even acknowledges it. Such is the cyberpunk genre. It's quite tragic.

She blushed a bit more and even teared up a little before deeply exhaling. She doesn't hide her feelings and isn't afraid of looking vulnerable. It takes a kind of strength to be that open to a stranger. No wonder she's so connected to spiritualism.

"Sorry about that," Misty rubbed her eyes, "I'm Misty." She extended a hand.

"John." His hand practically envelops hers as he shakes it. "Don't be sorry. Feelings are natural."

She smiles.

"It seems you aren't cut off from your spiritual health like most others in the city." Misty remarks as she leans on the counter.

"It's all about balance. Your mental well-being is equally important as your physical." John scratched at his chest still getting used to the tightness. Beauty is pain as they say.

Misty was drawn in at the sight and started looking lower. She was always someone who was attracted to a person's soul and spirit first and foremost, but she liked both in front of her. It was then that she noticed the initials on his belt.

"I'm glad someone else gets it." She gave a radiant smile and could tell that he wasn't just saying that to sound knowledgeable but actually believed it. Misty pointed to his belt, "What does the SG stand for?" 

John's face lit up. He liked talking about One Piece and its lore.

"Sun God. As in Nika, the Sun God. Warrior of Liberation." John held his hat with a smile. "It's from a story that I really like."

Misty felt the infectious joy in his speaking and couldn't help but smile too.

"What story is it? Was Nika an actual God?" Misty felt intrigued by the grand character.

"One Piece and I actually don't know. I haven't gotten my hands on all the volumes, but there was a character named Joyboy who inherited his power and fought against the corrupt government in the Era of Slaves. It hits close to home in the world we're in now." John also leans on the counter towering over her, but neither of them notices the close proximity.

Misty could see the appeal and it does sound quite similar as everyone is under the scrutiny of the megacorps. It might even be worse here because the megacorps makes you think that you're free to dream in Night City and change your lives for the better, but if you cross the line, then they take care of you. Hidden agendas, political manipulations, and damn everyone else who gets caught in the crossfire.

She could tell that John wants to also do something about the megacorps and perhaps free them from the suffocating pressure, but she doesn't believe it. Life in Night City doesn't give out happy endings like that.

"Do you believe you can do it? Others say they want to get rid of the corps, but they're still here, aren't they?" Misty didn't want to dampen the mood, but she was also posing the reality of the world. If one man could do it, or even a team, the corporations would've been a thing of history.

John didn't take it to heart and if it were anyone else, they'd probably just laugh in his face. She was actually being nice here.

"It's just like how you're trying to reconnect people with their spiritual selves, someone has to do it. If not me, then who? I wish to sever the fate of this world. Where people believe that their lives are worthless. That their lives will only mean something if they die in a Blaze of Glory. Imagine that, believing the only value they have to offer to society is dying. How insane does that sound? Now imagine a world, where a person can say, 'My life means something', 'I matter', and 'I'm good enough'. I will create such a world." John stared directly into her eyes as he laid out his ambition, his drive, his purpose. 

If he dies for trying such a thing, so be it. He doesn't view himself as a hero, but that doesn't mean he can just be complicit and blind to the reality of the world around him. Most are already aware of this, but what can they do? They just want to carve out a slice of heaven for themselves and their loved ones. There's nothing wrong with that.

This world is dying. Saburo is playing God with the Relic and Mikoshi. As a human being, there are some things you just shouldn't do. Some may call him a hypocrite as he is getting into a life of murdering people for money, but that's the cost. What could he do without resources? Fucking nothing that's what.

He may not be a hero or even a good person, but he'd at least give a chance for future generations to have a choice in how they want to live like in his old world. He'd probably be dead in a couple of years anyway, so why not have big aspirations? He knew the freedom of choice was a powerful feeling in his old world, so he wanted to share it with this one, so the corps has got to go.

Why him? 

Because nobody else can. He's also not immune to the idea of wanting to be remembered, human life is finite and short, so it's natural to want to live on in another way, but he doesn't have a choice.

 Blaze of Glory or immediate death.

Might as well try.

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Holy Yap, am I right?

Jokes aside, I had this idea from the beginning but was hesitating on whether I should do it or not. Webnovel readers typically don't like hero characters and would rather the MC care about himself and a few close ones while giving everyone else the middle finger.

I realized something as I was writing this chapter, I actually don't give a fuck if people don't like it. The edge lord readers can cry about it if they want to, but is it so bad to want to make a true and permanent difference in a world of filth and decay? Apparently, human decency and trying to make true change are overrated these days, but oh well.

Don't like it? Sorry, I guess this isn't for you.

I do want to preface that while he has a 'heroic-like' goal, that doesn't make him a morally righteous character. He's still gonna be murdering and getting his bread up. Whether you want to believe that his goal is to make up for all the harm he does is up to your interpretation. Most have it coming anyway, so I don't subscribe to that belief. It at least doesn't make him bland in my opinion.

If you stick around, I will do my utmost to pump out more chapters.

Thanks for all the support!

Later!