Chapter 61: Chapter 59 Sly Cheson (Please keep reading~)

"The Manufactury,"

called a factory, was actually a trade market; it looked like a vegetable market on the outside, but actually...

it was just a vegetable market.

Selling snacks, buying clothes, selling shoes, it had almost everything, even guns—

Right, you can’t use "even" to describe a market having guns in Night City; you should say the merchandise was quite complete.

"Here it is. The person you’re looking for is Cheson, at the back of the market, wearing a tactical vest and standing against the wall with tactical sunglasses. You can’t miss him.

His shop has nothing but some recycled second-hand electronic junk.

Don’t be fooled. His goods are in the warehouse, and they’re super expensive. Only those who know the stuff go to him to buy..."

Acido parked the car at the factory gate.

Turning right from the factory and walking a bit further was the Wallerson Street subway entrance, where several Six Street Gang members stood.

Luckily, they didn’t take the subway, or they would have had to fight their way back.

"How do you know this?" Lille asked.

"Uh... heard it from the big guys. Heard this guy can get any gun, even stuff like Quasar and RT-46 Storm."

Quasar was a technical pistol and RT-46 was a technical revolver.

In the world of 2077, technical weapons used a kinetic source system entirely different from traditional gunpowder handguns, usually electromagnet rails.

Using electromagnetic rails to give bullets tremendous destructive power, like a raccoon dog, they were all powerful weapons.

Although the two weapons Acido mentioned were both pistols, they had armor-piercing capabilities. They weren’t as strictly regulated as the raccoon dog species, but they definitely weren’t something an ordinary person could get.

Lille stroked his chin and said, "This guy’s channel is really not simple. Can he get Sadara?"

"Don’t know, never bought from him," Acido shrugged, "I guess he can, but many people in the city can get Sadara. It’s just, not many people buy it.

That gun’s powerful, but if you’re a newbie, you might only fire it once or twice in your life—you just can’t control it."

"Then let’s go ask—Jack, you stay in the car. You’re too conspicuous; if something happens, call us."

"Roger, roger."

Lille and V closed the car door with a slam.

Acido walked ahead of them. Lille had to pose as if he was sick and get some light-blocking stuff for himself, supporting a more severely ill V, leading her into the market.

V chuckled, "Really interesting, you’re supporting me? Be careful, don’t get crushed by your sister."

Lille whispered, "I told you to act, not to actually fall on me!"

Joking aside, V’s prosthetics worth about 200,000 credits added more than 20 kg to her weight.

Even a light fall was a huge strain on Lille.

But it worked. Lille nearly stumbled, almost falling, which startled Acido—

Were these two really sick?

A few Six Street Gang members stood at the factory gate and shouted at the trio, "Hey, what are you doing?"

Acido waved his handgun, "From out of town, sick, buying supplies."

Then, he transferred 500 credits to the one who yelled.

"Fuck, stay away from me. Hurry up, buy, and get out."

Then he let the three inside.

Acido muttered, "Money still talks."

The market was bustling, the situation better than expected—most ordinary people didn’t seem to care about the disease, or they didn’t know what it was.

They did keep their distance from others, though.

This world had a lot of information, but most useful information cost money; it was part of trade.

People didn’t trust online rumors but felt there was a terrifying shadow behind them.

Information was everywhere, yet ignorance was equally common.

As they moved through the market, they saw many people crowding around the medicine vendors.

Lille suddenly said, "Acido, do you know what disease your mom had?"

Acido shook his head, "No idea."

"Then how did you know to use the medicine sold by Six Street Gang?"

"I’m not stupid. Several people from my mom’s factory took leave. Everyone said it was a minor cold, but I didn’t believe it—

Recently, Six Street Gang started selling special medicine, for internal use. I thought it must cure diseases.

This is Saint Domingo after all. Good stuff is used by Six Street Gang themselves, so I quit my porter job, joined Six Street Gang, and secretly bought the medicine.

At first, my mom scolded me for being dumb, but luckily I bought it—several of my mom’s colleagues died."

Most people thought Six Street Gang was crazy for money, "Buy medicine? Just drink more hot water!"

Lille nodded slightly. This kid indeed had some brains.

V curiously asked, "I thought you people here all liked Six Street Gang—for maintaining law and fighting NCPD or something."

"Yeah, right. Only fools believe that. Six Street Gang... uh, they’re fine."

Acido quickly paused, knowing it was too sensitive to talk about this in the market.

The three moved to the back of the market, where Acido found a corner to stand in and signaled them to look over.

"I’ll stay here and watch. You two go talk to him."

"Alright."

Cheson’s shop was at the corner of the building; just as Acido described, he looked like a soldier but didn’t resemble an arms dealer at all.

His place was full of junk.

As Lille approached, Cheson noticed them from afar and said, "Wait a minute, this isn’t a pharmacy. The pharmacy is inside!"

V lifted her coat slightly, revealing the muzzle of the Final Night.

"Oh... alright, alright."

Lille sat at the bar counter, "Know who we are?"

"Mmhmm," Cheson nodded, "Six Street Gang is furious, and Roshan closed shop. How did you scare that woman like that?"

"Wanna try it?"

"Uh... no thanks. How about this, you seem reasonable, like businessmen, so I’ll be straight with you."

Lille nodded, indicating for Cheson to continue.

"Look, I’m just in business with Six Street Gang. No deep feelings involved. I don’t care who’s on top as long as my rent doesn’t go up. That’s not too much to ask, right?"

Lille shrugged, "Fair enough."

"Great, since that’s settled, I’m on whoever wins. I’m just a lousy gun seller, but Six Street Gang is still around.

I’m different from Roshan. My supply lines and warehouse are guarded by Six Street Gang. I pay, they work.

As for suppliers and clients... let’s put it this way, my suppliers are special. If you think you can scare me like you did Roshan, you’ll just get yourself killed.

My clients are all wealthy mercenaries and Six Street Gang bosses—you still have to deal with Six Street Gang."

"Makes sense."

On the surface, Lille nodded, but he thought this guy was actually much smarter than Roshan.

His profits came from his suppliers and clients, unlike Roshan, who was practically in bed with the Wanderers.

Roshan needed a fortress for her safety; Cheson didn’t, his fortress was in social relations.

So... Lille slowly spoke, "In that case, I’ll just shoot you here."

Cheson’s confident expression faltered, and he saw V was ready to act at Lille’s signal—

"No, no, no! I have a new proposal!"

Lille raised his hand to signal V to wait.

Cheson was sweating bullets—he knew Lille wasn’t joking, and this psycho subordinate had no doubts about the order!

Damn, lunatics!

If he didn’t get a good deal, this guy would rather kill him right here!

Hell, he paid so much rent every month and had so many channels; he just didn’t care!

"Listen, listen, I have intel. Six Street Gang hired a tough guy, a cyber-monster full of prosthetics.

I heard they bought a lot of gear for him. You can investigate! Kill that cyber-monster, and Six Street Gang’s investment will be wasted!

You can check the surgical records at Preaching Seaside. I’m not lying, really!"

"But... what’s in it for me?"

"I know you went to Roshan to handle some hot goods. Trust me, I can handle it without any hassle!

And... and I can get you corporate weapons, Tech-Mil, Daratech... I can source them!

Oh, and Roshan asked me to pass on a message: if you solve Six Street Gang, she’s willing to work with you too!"

"Did you forget?" Lille looked at the sly man with interest, "Alright, Cheson, I’m not a madman. I just didn’t like your attitude.

You want me to deal with that cyber-monster—I can tell.

Middlemen are fine, but nothing for free. Don’t you think?"

Cheson cursed inwardly. How did this guy see through it?

His panic wasn’t fake because he thought the guy would naturally bargain for some intel.

Instead, what happened?

Lille acted like he’d really kill him! No pretense!

"Fine! The whole profit from this deal is yours, just as a friendly gesture."

Cheson gritted his teeth and swallowed his anger.

"No need, according to street rules, sixty-forty split. We take sixty, you take forty. It’s a normal commission."

Lille cheerfully extended his hand to Cheson. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Cheson had no choice but to shake—better than nothing, right?

But in that moment, Lille discreetly plugged his personal link into the socket on Cheson’s neck.

The move was subtle, looking to others like two old friends shaking hands and hugging briefly.

"What are you..." Cheson tried to shout but was silenced by V’s threat.

"Don’t panic, just installing a comms backdoor. Relax, it’s not lethal, just a warning not to be too clever."

Comms backdoor?

For a hacker, a comms backdoor meant the other side could send anything into your systems anytime!

Cheson felt depressed.

"Alright, stop sulking. Meet me at the prosthetics doctor at Preaching Seaside in 30 minutes. Then you can have it removed. Being lenient enough, aren’t I?"

"You..." Cheson wanted to argue, but Lille’s point was valid.

No matter how it went, the outcome wasn’t bad. Though less ideal than he’d hoped, after a life-threatening ordeal, Cheson found he couldn’t even get angry at the result.

Then he realized he was now under control.

Cheson suddenly asked, "You from a corp?"

"Nope—not even worked for one, seriously."

Cheson opened his mouth. Everything he wanted to ask was answered.

Why didn’t he believe it, though?

"...I won’t go to Preaching Seaside. I’ll find someone to remove the backdoor in three days. Is that okay?"

"Sure."

Lille nodded happily.