trade

Gloria and Maine had known each other for quite some time.

In a way, it could be said that David was able to study at Arasaka Academy thanks to Maine's support.

In Night City, finding a normal buyer isn't easy.

Someone like Maine, who's even willing to pay a deposit in advance, is even rarer.

"Maine, sorry I'm late."

Gloria forced a smile onto her face. The injuries from a few days ago hadn't fully healed yet, and she could only barely move normally now.

Originally, Gloria should have rested at home for a few more days.

But her son had gotten into trouble, crashing the school's teaching network, and now she urgently needed money to compensate the school. Otherwise, David wouldn't be able to continue his studies normally.

So she had to endure the pain and complete this deal as soon as possible.

"Gloria, you look terrible. Are you sick or injured? Just tell me, I could have come to pick up the goods."

Maine keenly noticed Gloria's physical condition and helped her slowly sit down.

"It's not that serious..."

Gloria waved her hand. If David hadn't been suspended from school these days, she really would have let Maine come pick up the goods.

"Not that serious? Just got hit by a car and almost got disassembled into parts by Scavengers."

Chen Nuo leaned in and interjected. Hearing this voice, Gloria turned her head and a look of surprise appeared on her face.

"It's you?"

"You know each other? What happened that I don't know about?"

Maine scratched his head, feeling that Night City was really small. His friend's friend turned out to be his friend too.

Gloria briefly explained what had happened.

Only then did Maine realize he had almost lost a friend. He couldn't help but put his hand on Chen Nuo's shoulder, trying to express gratitude and closeness, but was pushed away in disgust.

"But I have to say, Gloria, you were a bit too careless. Didn't you notice the tail following you?"

Chen Nuo pointed out the figure tailing Gloria, who was currently hiding behind a car not far away.

Hearing this, Maine immediately noticed the person and directly drew his gun, shouting.

"Get out here now!"

"...Don't shoot, it's me."

David walked out with his hands raised, his legs trembling slightly, too guilty to look Gloria in the eye.

"David?!"

Gloria was shocked.

Seeing that the two knew each other, Maine put away his gun and asked.

"You know each other?"

"This is my son, David."

Gloria bit her lip, both helpless and angry, but could only explain.

She had always protected David well and never intended to let him come into contact with dangerous people like Edgerunners, so Maine didn't even know Gloria had a son.

"This kid is really your son? He doesn't look much like you."

Maine's gaze shifted back and forth.

"That's what I said too."

Chen Nuo chimed in, and the two high-fived for seeing eye to eye.

"David! What did I tell you? To stay home quietly. And what did you promise me?"

Gloria was so angry she started coughing. Seeing this, David hurriedly stepped forward to explain.

"You're not even healed yet. How could I let you come out alone?"

"I know my own body..."

Gloria was still angry, making David anxious and unsure what to do. He could only look to Chen Nuo for help.

"Alright, Gloria, put educating your son aside for now. You didn't come here for that."

Chen Nuo interrupted. His words carried some weight. Gloria glared at David and pointed outside.

"Go stand over there. Don't come over until I call you."

"Okay."

David didn't dare say no now. He hung his head and stood under a streetlamp not far away.

"Sorry for the embarrassment."

Gloria quickly regained her initial efficiency. She didn't want to continue discussing her son with Maine and the others. She took off her jacket and retrieved the goods.

It was a full set of spinal neural cyberware and a Sandevistan.

"The Sandevistan that went missing from that veteran in the news is this one, right?"

Chen Nuo glanced at the cybernetic implant without any model markings and guessed its origin.

Militech naturally wouldn't terminate their cybernetic implant experiments just because they lost a prototype. The inertia of the world seemed to slightly correct the already deviated plot development.

"That's right."

Gloria didn't avoid admitting she stole it. There was no need to hide it in front of Chen Nuo. Even without Maine's connection, he was her savior.

"Military-grade Sandevistan..."

Maine murmured as he picked it up, his eyes showing a craving and obsession with power.

Implanting cyberware is addictive, especially after experiencing the intense pleasure of cybernetic ascension.

That's why, even knowing they've reached their body's limit and aware of the potential dangers, so many people still risk cyberpsychosis to implant cyberware.

"Faraday leaked this information to you, right?"

Chen Nuo's words pulled Maine's attention back. From his expression, it was clear this hit the mark.

Indeed, such coincidences don't just happen.

Maine had this need, and just then, a retired lieutenant colonel equipped with a military-grade Sandevistan became a cyberpsycho.

Even corporate work isn't handed over this smoothly.

Simply put, Faraday was finding a new test subject for this military-grade Sandevistan, helping Militech collect experimental data.

If even a retired elite soldier could hardly withstand this latest military-grade Sandevistan, how many others could? Someone like Maine, a seasoned Edgerunner, became one of the few choices.

Faraday was trying to Kill Two Birds with One Stone.

It could be said that all military-grade cyberware circulating on the market are poisoned bait.

Otherwise, with the major corporations' technical prowess and influence, if they didn't want it, how could military-grade cyberware leak onto the market?

"How did you know?"

Maine suddenly felt the Sandevistan in his hand was a bit too hot to handle.

"This thing doesn't even have a model number. It's basically a prototype still in experimental testing. You want to be the Guinea Pig? Then I advise you to buy yourself a grave first. That way, if I have time, I'll know where to pay my respects."

Chen Nuo's words weren't pleasant, but they were the truth.

Which guy who installed this Sandevistan ended up well?

For this kind of prototype not yet sold publicly, its designers never considered the user's physical limits.

Or rather, they were testing the experimenter's physical limits.

"That bastard Faraday!"

Dorio now also realized Faraday's ill intentions. The cup in her hand was instantly crushed into pieces. It wasn't hard to imagine what she'd do if Faraday were here now.

Now Gloria was the most anxious. If Maine didn't plan to complete the deal, where would she find a reliable buyer? How would David continue his studies?

Don't blame Gloria for being too realistic and cold. In Night City, if you don't live realistically and selfishly, you'd die early.

"Give it to me, Maine. You can't handle this thing."

Chen Nuo reached out to Maine. After all, they were friends. If he could save him, he should.

"...Only you. If it were anyone else, I'd really think they wanted this Sandevistan."

Maine sighed. As he said, anyone would have unavoidable dark thoughts about it. But with Chen Nuo's strength, he didn't need this thing at all.

Saying this, Maine handed the Sandevistan to Chen Nuo. His relieved expression showed the struggle and conflict in his heart.

Before descending into cyberpsychosis, Maine, with his military background, was still a very rational person, able to listen to correct advice.

"How much is the remaining payment? I'll pay you."

Chen Nuo looked at Gloria and said.

"But..."

Gloria hesitated. Knowing this was a Hot Potato and still selling it to her savior was testing her dwindling conscience.

"It's fine. Whatever it should be, that's what it is. I'm using it for research, won't install it on myself."

Chen Nuo saw Gloria's concern and reassured her. Only then did she nod and complete the deal.

After receiving the money, Gloria visibly relaxed.

This wasn't just money; it was David's future.

After what happened before, Gloria became even more convinced of her belief. Education was David's only way out. Only by entering Arasaka Corporation could he have a bright, happy life.

"Jackie, stop drinking. Take Gloria home again."

Chen Nuo handed the Sandevistan to Lucy and called out to Jackie not far away.

He didn't ask much about Gloria's future plans.

A mother from Santo Domingo who managed to get her son into Arasaka Academy didn't need Chen Nuo to teach her how to live in Night City.

As long as she was alive, David wouldn't give up his studies.

Becoming a Corporate Dog might not be a bad thing for this mother and son.

"Sure thing."

Jackie was happy to help Gloria, mainly because he took a liking to David, like seeing his younger self.

"Thank you, Nuo."

Gloria said gratefully.

"You're welcome. We're friends now. If you have trouble, you can go to Jackie."

Chen Nuo accepted Gloria's thanks and gave her a promise. Jackie chimed in beside them.

"That's right. If you need anything, just come to me."

Gloria didn't say more. She dragged David by the ear and got him into Jackie's car.

"And you, Maine. Remember to come with me to Old Man Vik tomorrow and get that damn cybernetic arm of yours removed."

"No way!"

"I'll have Old Man Vik install a top-notch Corporate-Grade one for you."

"I'll listen to you."

Hearing this, Maine immediately changed his tune, smiling quite creepily.

Should've said so earlier. If there's a Corporate-Grade one to install, who'd care about this illegally modified Gorilla Arm?

Chen Nuo rolled his eyes at Maine. This guy's personality meant he'd never give up cyberware.

Maine was bullied a lot as a kid for being weak, making him crave power and reject his original body.

This kind of psychological illness has no cure.

Chen Nuo could only try his best to reduce the mental burden from cyberware, get Maine a more reliable Cyberware Doctor, reorganize his implanted cybernetic system, and replace all those illegally modified cyberware.

This way, Maine shouldn't have to worry about cyberpsychosis for a long time.

After all, Sasha was still alive and well. His mind hadn't been torn open by a teammate's death.

For now, cyberpsychosis is caused by two factors.

One is the cyberware themselves.

The other is psychological state.

Positive emotions are indeed the best defense against cybernetic erosion. Burning love is more effective than the highest-grade Inhibitors.

"So we just let Faraday's matter slide?"

Dorio asked somewhat unwillingly.

Maine didn't speak. That's just how things are in Night City—you screw me, I screw you. He had a high tolerance for this.

More importantly, Faraday was very careful, leaving no evidence. Maine naturally couldn't settle scores with him.

Revenge on a Fixer without reason? How could he keep working in this line of business?

"Don't rush. Didn't this guy give you a new commission? To track the movements of an Arasaka executive, Director Tanaka?"

Hearing Chen Nuo's words, Maine widened his eyes and looked at Sasha, who seemed guilty beside him. He slapped his thigh hard, pretending to be angry.

"Well, well. When did you two hook up behind my back? Sasha even leaked the commission details to you."

"Get lost. The waters here are deep. If I hadn't told Sasha to keep an eye out, you'd die without knowing how."

Chen Nuo kicked Maine. This bastard. He saved him out of kindness, and not only was he ungrateful, but he also annoyed him. Now he'd probably have tocoaxLucy for a while tonight.

"Tell me more."

Hearing Chen Nuo say this, Maine became curious.

"You sure you want to hear?"

Chen Nuo looked at Maine with a playful smile.

"...Never mind, never mind. I'm just here to work. What do I need to know so much for?"

Maine chuckled awkwardly and waved his hand, indicating he wasn't interested.

With serious matters discussed, it was naturally time for fun. Edgerunners live for the moment, carpe diem.

"Come dance with us."

Sasha didn't wait for Chen Nuo to answer, pulling him into the dance floor.

The vibrant, pounding musicPlusthegirl's graceful figure made it easy to getIntoxicated.

"Your man is really popular."

Kiwi held a cigarette in her mouth, leaning against the railing, speaking to Lucy, who looked displeased.

"No need to tell me."

Lucy stared straight at Chen Nuo.

ThisBastardnot only showed no intention of leaving but instead wavedIndicationher to come over.

"Not planning to join in?"

Kiwi's voice carried a hint of teasing.

"Join? She's the newcomer!"

Lucy took a gulp of strong liquor, stood up, barged into the dance floor,Squeeze inChen Nuo's arms,Oathsomeone's ownership. Yet Sasha didn't mind at all.

"Heh."

Kiwi exhaled a long puff of smoke, watching the lively trio, and gently shook her head. Knowing Lucy had already forgotten everything she'd said, she could only wish her luck.