76: Chapter 75 Lin Yi: After a round of scheming and intrigue, I decided to go to the docks to get some fries.

The matte black "galena" let out a low, smooth roar as it steadily pulled away from the heavily guarded entrance of Konpeki Plaza.

This time, there were no piercing alarms, no shrieking convoys of armored vehicles, and certainly no brothers suffering from grievous wounds who needed to be rushed to Viktor.

This time, he was leaving as a guest, walking out with his head held high.

In the rearview mirror, the magnificent building, which blended traditional Japanese aesthetics with a futuristic style, gradually shrank until it finally disappeared behind the forest of skyscrapers.

Lin Yi rested one hand on the steering wheel, feeling the steady pulse of the engine, while his other hand rested on the window ledge, his fingertips tapping unconsciously against the frame.

His gaze swept over the bustling city streets, over the crowds already beginning to grow restless as the neon lights flickered to life, and finally landed on Arasaka Tower, which stood tall in the distance at Corpo Plaza like a massive black monolith.

The afterglow of the setting sun gilded its cold silhouette in a near-tragic shade of golden red, as if transfusing blood into it, or perhaps officiating a grand funeral.

An absurd thought, yet one carrying a certain historical inevitability, uncontrollably surfaced in his mind: Johnny Silverhand, that legendary rockerboy who used nukes and rock 'n' roll to defy the corporation and attempted to awaken the masses in the most extreme way possible—could it be that his most faithful successor in the spirit of rebellion would, after all this, turn out to be the legal heir to this vast corporate empire?

Such was the irony of history; the fiercest fire of rebellion was destined to be ignited within the very fortress it sought to destroy.

Thinking of this, Lin Yi could almost visualize the reaction of Johnny's irritable digital soul (if he were in the relic chip right now and knew all of this)—it would surely be the classic triple denial: "I'm not! I didn't! Don't talk nonsense!", mixed with an instinctive disdain for the "corpo" bloodline, along with a string of incoherent yet always incisive rants where "fuck" served as the punctuation.

Of course, perhaps it would also be accompanied by the muzzle of his iconic Malorian 3516, even though that would be meaningless in the current situation.

"Revolution..." Lin Yi repeated the heavy word in a low voice, his tongue seemingly able to taste the flavor of rust and gunpowder.

What it represented behind the scenes was blood destined to flow, sacrifices that had to be made, and an existing order to be crushed, while hope remained like a candle in the wind, faint and flickering.

"Watch out, damn it, this road is not going to be easy to walk." He muttered to himself, a sentiment that was both a reflection on Yorinobu's choice and a clear realization of the perilous path he and his team were about to embark upon.

The "galena" beneath him had just completed a full restoration and deep maintenance, and in accordance with his preferences, had abandoned its previous relatively flashy color for a new, matte black paint job that felt more mysterious, sophisticated, and aggressive.

Under the setting sun, the smooth lines of the car's body reflected a dazzling light, like a mechanical beast that had broken free from all constraints, licking its claws and ready to pounce.

It carried him toward Charter Hill, toward "home."

The nose of the car pointed directly at the setting sun, which looked like molten gold slowly sinking into the skyline of the city's steel jungle.

This scene felt like a massive, metaphor-filled period, drawing a temporary pause to today's nerve-wracking high-level meeting; at the same time, it was like a separator opening a brand-new chapter, signaling that a new journey full of unknowns, challenges, and opportunities was about to set sail once night fell.

He parked the car smoothly into the villa's spacious and heavily secured garage, and the smart lights turned on one by one.

Lin Yi opened the smart sensor door connecting the garage to the interior, and a figure carrying a familiar, fragrant scent rushed over with lightning speed, stopping abruptly right in front of him.

"Lily, I'm back."

No sooner had he finished speaking than V stood before him, her nimble and powerful hands unceremoniously searching and checking him over.

Her movements were lightning-fast yet incredibly precise, from his solid chest to his sensitive ribs, and then to his broad back, missing not a single inch, as if she were checking to see if he had been secretly implanted with a tracker, a wiretap, or hit with some imperceptible daemon.

Her expression was focused and serious, like that of a top-tier bomb disposal expert.

"How is it? Are you okay? What did you both talk about? Why did it take so long? Was that guy Yorinobu looking down his nose at you the whole time? Was he talking in that arrogant 'I, the Emperor, grant you a chance to cooperate' tone? Was there an ambush? Was that monster Adam Smasher there?" After confirming he was truly unharmed, without even an extra wrinkle in his clothes, V immediately switched to machine-gun mode, questions popping out one after another, pelting Lin Yi like a barrage.

Her face was filled with undisguised concern, irrepressible curiosity, and a hint of instinctive, deep-rooted vigilance and annoyance toward Arasaka.

Lin Yi was amused by her rapid-fire questions, and a warm current surged through his heart.

He reached out and gently pressed his fingertips against her soft, eager lips, making a "hush" gesture.

"Stop, hold it." His tone carried a hint of fatigue from the long drive, but even more so, a helpless indulgence. "Things are as they are; let's eat first. I'm hungry, my stomach is already protesting." He paused, his expression becoming slightly more formal as he looked at her with calm eyes. "As for what Yorinobu said, the content is very important, involves a lot, and requires us to make a decision together. Tomorrow, when Jackie gets here, I'll tell you and everyone else the whole story in detail."

Seeing how much Lin Yi valued this, explicitly stating that it required the entire team to discuss it rather than him making a unilateral decision, the eager and curious light in V's eyes slowly settled, transforming into a tacit gravity and trust.

She understood that this contact with the Arasaka top brass was by no means an ordinary mercenary job; the storm hidden behind it might far exceed her previous estimates.

But she did not let this suddenly heavy atmosphere last too long.

V was V; no matter what situation she faced, she could always find a way to maintain her inner tension and resilience.

Her eyes darted nimbly, and that playful smile, full of cunning and temptation, reappeared on her face, instantly dispelling the seriousness that had just gathered.

"Fine, fine, let's eat first~" She drawled, her body seemingly losing all its bones as she leaned softly into his arms, tilting her head up and looking at him with those captivating, lively eyes. "So… welcome back, darling. Tell me, do you plan to eat first? Or take a shower first? Or perhaps…"

She stood on her tiptoes, her warm breath, carrying her unique scent, intentionally brushing against his earlobe and the side of his neck, as she whispered the remaining option in an ambiguous, breathy tone: "…eat me first?"

Watching her skillfully use her "advantages" to dispel the gloom and lighten the mood again, the sense of stagnation in Lin Yi's heart, caused by the heavy topic and the perilous future, was indeed largely washed away by her playful antics.

He played along, straightening his face and pretending to be fierce, curling his finger and giving her a light, playful flick on her smooth, full forehead.

"Ouch!" V cooperated by covering her forehead, crying out dramatically, her pink lips pouting slightly as she accused him with a gaze that was a mix of feigned grievance and full of smiles.

Looking at her deliberately goofy, vibrant appearance, Lin Yi finally couldn't help but laugh out loud, his heart feeling soft.

He reached out and firmly wrapped his arm around her shoulders, giving her no more chances to continue "making trouble," and as he led her resolutely toward the kitchen, which was filled with the aroma of food, he gave his final choice after some "careful consideration" in a tone that was crystal clear, slightly teasing, yet exceptionally firm:

"My choice is—to go to the docks and get some fries!"