Chapter 6: The Transaction
The wind was biting today. It seemed absurd for such weather to occur in August, but Zilf Saino felt quite "chilled."
This was because cold sweat was pouring down his back, unstoppable.
"I told you, damn it, be on time! Fuck! You bunch of idiots!"
Saino appeared to be on a call with someone, his voice hushed yet hysterical—
Everything came to a sudden halt!
Lin Yue was currently experiencing the reality of the Braindance world: the hot wind blowing, the clarity of Saino’s voice, the distant clamor of the streets, and the advertising hover-cars parading above Night City...
Because it was so hot, Lin Yue even felt the sensation of sweat on his own skin and dryness in his mouth.
In this new era, people who knew how to utilize vast amounts of information had taken the term "immersive" and forcibly brought it to life.
Before Lin Yue could appreciate the technology, he was interrupted by the sound of a phone ringing. Mr. Hands’ voice came through his earpiece:
"Try moving the lens toward the Barghest soldier’s ear. See if you can pick up the audio from the other end of the line. Identify them if you can—if it’s someone you’re familiar with, it’ll save us a lot of trouble."
Lin Yue followed Mr. Hands’ instructions, pulling the lens toward the area near Saino’s ear canal. Sure enough, there were sound waves there that did not belong to Saino.
"Don't be nervous, friend."
"Corporate employees often work overtime. Be patient and wait, I’ll be there soon."
The person on the other end spoke a sentence in Japanese, then used English with a slight Japanese accent (the lingua franca of Night City) to soothe the nearly breaking Saino.
"Arasaka?" The name of the behemoth immediately crossed Lin Yue’s mind.
Mr. Hands chuckled. "The Tyger Claws speak Japanese, and Europeans work for Arasaka too—using language to judge this friend’s affiliation isn't a great idea."
So, Lin Yue continued to listen.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck! Do you have any idea what kind of risk I took to get out of Dogtown? If those guys don't see me during the night shift, I’m fucking dead! You have ten minutes. If you aren't here by then, the deal is off!"
Saino growled these words.
A drunkard in the distance lay on the ground vomiting, the raw, visceral stench causing both Lin Yue and Saino to cover their noses instinctively.
The other end of the line was silent for several seconds.
"Friend, do you think your Colonel would be happier if he knew you were double-crossing him?"
Saino clenched his fists, his teeth grinding audibly.
"You guys are nothing but assholes, crooks!"
"Just wait properly. Don't make things difficult for me." The voice on the other end said coldly, ignoring Saino’s roar.
Lin Yue frowned. Saino didn’t look like an information broker; he was completely caught in the middle, being roasted like a turkey.
Caught between a rock and a hard place.
Lin Yue shook his head. While he wasn't sure who was on the other end, Saino was clearly the one being coerced.
Mr. Hands offered his input: "Fast-forward the progress bar until he meets his contact."
Lin Yue nodded. As the footage accelerated, it showed Saino’s restless agitation; he would punch the wall one moment, then crouch on the ground holding his head the next...
"He’s here."
In the footage, a Quadra Turbo-R 740 pulled into the alley where Saino was waiting. Saino was still hunched over, his feet surrounded by finished cigarette butts.
In the early 21st century, Japanese sports cars had nearly conquered the American market, known for their excellent handling and economy.
However, the debut of the Quadra Turbo-R was a gem of the American automotive industry.
The Turbo-R was a classic of its kind. While it possessed sufficient power and a stylish exterior, it presented a challenge to the driver: its immensely powerful engine required a seasoned hand to master.
*Whoa, wealthy.*
That was Lin Yue’s first impression of the retro sports car’s owner.
Only those who made good money could drive such a car; at the very least, they were mid-to-high-level corporate employees or gang members—or perhaps a veteran field operative who drove constantly. After all, most wealthy people simply chased luxury and stability.
Mr. Hands appreciated Lin Yue’s deduction.
Of course, it was Lin Yue’s extensive research into the game from his past life that truly helped him.
"Is there a problem with the Braindance?" Lin Yue noticed that the man who stepped out of the car had his upper body pixelated, with only his voice coming through clearly.
Mr. Hands sounded helpless. "Anyone with technical know-how prevents themselves from being recorded. This kind of cyberware is expensive but affordable; it’s quite normal."
"I came to meet you myself. Give me the goods." Saino’s contact walked up to him, showing no guilt for the delay.
Saino looked up at the guy, his fists clenching several times, but in the end, he helplessly pulled the chip from his pocket.
"We had a deal: 10,000 eddies, cash, not a cent less."
Saino watched eagerly as the man took the chip. The complaints he had made on the phone were gone; the immersive Braindance components allowed Lin Yue to feel that exact sense of exhaustion.
*I’m tired. Just give me the money so I can leave.*
"The route map you provided isn't worth that price." The contact was not a pushover; he wanted more.
Saino reached out to grab the chip back, but failed, and with a dull thud, he was kicked several meters away.
"Cough, cough."
Saino spat out blood. For a Barghest soldier to be kicked away like that, Lin Yue felt the guy's cyberware was likely corporate-grade.
"The cyberware looks corporate, and the voice is unfamiliar," Lin Yue remarked to Mr. Hands.
Mr. Hands nodded. "Mhm, bionic joints, titanium skeleton—all present and accounted for."
Saino, in the recording, could no longer endure being treated like a subordinate. "If you short me, I’ll leak this to Hansen! Worst case, none of us make it out alive!"
Seeing that Saino was getting desperate, the man finally revealed his next objective. "Plant these solid explosives under the cargo truck, and the rest of the payment will be yours. This is the deposit—after it’s done, go to [XXX (static)]."
Saino scrambled up and opened the cloth bag filled with rolled-up cash. "Five thousand? Fuck!"
"It’s fine. You’ve kept a lot of people from sleeping soundly; it’s reasonable to pay half first."
Saino gritted his teeth and resigned himself to his fate. "Fine. After it's done, I'll go there to collect the rest."
The screen froze completely.
*Creak—*
As he exited the Braindance, the familiar scent of sandalwood filled the room again.
Mr. Hands removed his headset and turned his inquiring gaze toward the young man.
Lin Yue spoke slowly:
"There was a golden tiger ornament on the car's passenger seat, which might imply a connection to the Tyger Claws—or it could just be a decorative piece."
"The cyberware doesn't look like that of a typical gang member, though that’s not certain; the corporations and gangs have close ties. As for other information, I don't have any solid leads yet."
"After all, some key data is missing, and there’s no license plate."
Mr. Hands affirmed Lin Yue’s findings. "A keen eye. Clues have to be unearthed slowly. Remember this: Colonel Hansen sent you here for this very reason."
[Character "Mr. Hands" favorability updated]
[Favorability: 10]
[Reward: Body +2, Bonus +1]
As the subtitles before Lin Yue’s eyes vanished, Mr. Hands stood up and took a long case from a high wooden cabinet.
"I was going to wait for you to go downstairs and have my guy fetch a gun from the armory, but it seems this treasure of mine belongs in the hands of someone who knows how to use it."
"A netrunner's allies are adept at finding enemy netrunners based on their instructions. This good piece of hardware will let you intercept them from a distance. As for how to use it, that's up to you."
"Find your own ammunition."
Lin Yue opened the box. A pitch-black rifle lay quietly inside, emanating the scent of fresh gun oil.
[Iconic 'Tech Sniper Rifle: Nekomata' Manufacturer: Tsunami]
Lin Yue’s mood soared—
Now, this was a real reward!