400,000 euros?!
David's eyelids twitched. This system really is a bottomless pit for money...
Instinctively, he glanced at the text message on his phone:
[Arasaka Bank Reminder: Your electronic account was debited 201,000 euros at 18:05. Remaining balance: 1,496.2 euros. Thank you for using Arasaka Bank!]
"Phew—"
David exhaled heavily, shaking his head. "I need to focus on making more money…"
With that thought, he adjusted his posture, grabbed his exercise equipment, and began his workout.
The apartment he lived in now was far more spacious than the single-room slum he had before. The larger living room even had a dedicated fitness area with professional gym equipment. No longer needing to rely on magnets to lift refrigerators or appliances for training, David could use proper weights instead.
Ordinary dumbbells no longer challenged him, so he went straight for the barbell.
He loaded each side with 50-kilogram plates—totaling over 100 kilograms—and lifted them using his magnetic powers.
"One!"
"Two!"
"Three—!"
With each repetition, David could feel his mastery over magnetism growing.
In just a few days, his ability had progressed to the point where lifting over 200 kilograms of metal was no longer a problem. The speed of his progress was astounding.
Nightfall in Night City
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Night City's neon lights flickered to life. Bars across the city became hotspots where mercenaries exchanged information, drank, and sought entertainment.
In Kabuki District, just one street away from Jotaro Shobo's Phoenix Club, stood Lizzie's Bar—a Chaomeng experience bar owned by the Mox Gang.
Unlike the dreary and oppressive atmosphere of the Phoenix Club, Lizzie's Bar pulsed with life. Bright neon signs illuminated the entrance, where two body-modified women in hot pants stood as doormen, chatting and laughing while holding stun batons.
A signboard outside read:
[Special Event Tonight—All Drinks 50% Off!]
Unlike most gangs in Night City, the Moxes weren't focused on territorial expansion. Their main goal was to protect their businesses, members, and the sex workers who operated around their bars. Their name, "Mox," came from the old slang term "moxie," representing their courage to stand up against oppressors.
However, coexisting with the Tiger Claw Gang in Kabuki District had inevitably led to frequent clashes. The Tiger Claws' constant harassment tested the Moxes' patience time and again.
Inside Lizzie's Bar
The place was packed. Every booth and the entire bar counter were filled with customers, the air buzzing with chatter and laughter.
Two women sat at the bar, each holding a drink. One had dark skin and an afro, exuding a sexy and confident vibe. The other had pink hair styled with leopard-print highlights.
"Hey, Suzie! How did that thing I asked you to handle go?" the woman with the afro asked with a sly smile.
"That bastard Jotaro Shobo was killed last night! Saw it on the news this morning!"
The pink-haired woman, Suzie Q, chuckled. "I had Judy take care of it. We originally raised 100,000 euros to gather evidence on those Tiger Claw scumbags abusing girls at the Phoenix Club… but looks like someone took things a step further and killed the bastard outright!"
"Hahaha! Good riddance!"
"So, did we waste that 100,000 euros then?"
"Not at all. We've still got solid evidence on the Phoenix Club. Even with Jotaro gone, the Tiger Claws will just replace him with another scumbag. We need to expose their whole operation to make a real impact."
The two women clinked glasses, their eyes gleaming with determination.
Years ago, when a Mox girl was brutally murdered by the Tiger Claws, Lizzie's Bar had taken bloody revenge, killing three of the attackers and displaying their bodies outside the club. In retaliation, the Tiger Claws razed the bar to the ground that same night.
However, the Moxes' unyielding spirit and public outcry forced the Tiger Claws to back off. The bar was rebuilt, becoming both a symbol of resistance and the Moxes' headquarters.
Now, Jotaro's sudden death was a blessing in disguise.
"Hey, Suzie! Jenny!"
A woman with red and green dyed hair approached the bar, her overalls worn casually off one shoulder.
"Hey, Judy!"
Suzie and Jenny waved her over with bright smiles.
Judy Alvarez—Night City's top Mewtwo experience editor. With her technical skills and creativity, she could've landed a high-paying corporate job. But Judy valued freedom and justice more than money, so she chose to work with the Mox Gang, using her expertise to improve the lives of Night City's marginalized communities.
"Mission accomplished!" Judy said coolly, pulling a data chip from her ear and placing it on the bar. "Got the data from my hacker friend this afternoon. All yours—for the agreed 100,000 euros."
"Perfect!" Suzie carefully took the chip, inserted it into her card slot, and her prosthetic eye flashed red as she scanned the contents. Her expression quickly darkened.
"Damn it… Those Tiger Claw bastards are monsters!"
Jenny took the chip next, her face growing cold with fury. "If only we could've killed Jotaro Shobo ourselves!"
"Hey, no need to be so angry," Judy said, sipping her drink. "Someone already did us a favor. Honestly, I wouldn't mind buying that guy a drink myself."
"Yeah, same here," Suzie agreed. "Whoever had the guts to kill a Tiger Claw executive in their own territory is seriously impressive!"
Across the Bar
A group of mercenaries sat together, drinking and chatting loudly. Their conversation quickly caught the attention of everyone nearby.
"Hey, did you hear? The owner of Phoenix Club got whacked last night!"
"No kidding! Whoever did it must have some serious balls."
"I know who did it!" one of the mercs announced, smirking as he took a swig of his drink.
"Oh yeah? Spill it, man!"
"I was in Kabuki last night. Saw it with my own eyes—the guy who took out Jotaro Shobo is some kid from the Dragon Kingdom. Name's David. Works under Rogue now!"
The mention of Rogue's name instantly grabbed everyone's attention.
"Wait, Rogue's people?!"
"David, huh? I've heard of him! Saw him fight the Beast Gang leader at Afterlife a while back. Dude's a beast—punched the guy across the room like it was nothing!"
"Yeah, I was there too! That kid's got some serious power."
"And last night, he didn't just kill Jotaro. He took out a whole crew of Scavengers in Kabuki. You should've seen the alley—blood everywhere!"
"No way! Seriously?!"
"I swear on my cyberdeck, it's true!"
The mercenaries' chatter quickly spread throughout the bar, fueling the rumor mill of Night City's underworld.
At the bar, Judy, Suzie, and Jenny exchanged curious glances.
"So… David, huh?" Jenny mused, twirling her glass. "Sounds like someone worth meeting."
"I'm curious too," Suzie added.
Judy tilted her head thoughtfully. "What kind of person has the guts to kill a Tiger Claw executive right in their own backyard?"
As the three women pondered this, David's reputation continued to spread—not just in Kabuki District, but across Night City's mercenary and gang circles.
Meanwhile…
Unaware of the buzz his actions had created, David lay on his bed, resting after his workout. His muscles ached pleasantly, a reminder of his growing strength.
Suddenly, his phone rang.
RING-RING-RING—!
David grabbed his phone and glanced at the screen:
[Incoming Call: Rogue]
His heart skipped a beat.
Why is Rogue calling me?!
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