Cyberpunk: I'm Not a Scavenger - Chapter 25: Rebecca (Patreon)

The two drove to the Cherry Blossom Market in Japantown, where Wakako's office was hidden among the stalls. The market also bordered Jig-Jig Street, Night City's largest red-light district.

Huge holographic koi swam overhead. Neon advertisements flashed in suggestive shades of pink and purple, and the air reeked of cheap perfume mixed with alcohol.

Legal and illegal deals happened side by side here. Cyberware, daemons, weapons, braindances. Almost anything a person wanted could be bought.

There was little reason to worry about the NCPD arresting you during a transaction. The Tyger Claws were the ones who really controlled the area.

Just don't forget to pay your protection money. The katanas carried by the Tyger Claws weren't for decoration.

Pantheon parked on the edge of the Cherry Blossom Market and walked toward Wakako's office alone.

As he made his way through the Japanese-style market, something caught his attention.

Under the eaves of a nearby ramen shop, a tiny girl with green twin ponytails was crouching beside a black stray cat. She was feeding it a sausage made from ingredients best left unidentified. Where she'd found the cat was an even greater mystery.

In Night City, almost the only things still breathing apart from human beings were insects and rats. Years earlier, the city had passed the Avian Extermination Act and exterminated its birds. Feral cats and dogs had largely vanished along with them.

Nowadays, apart from the pets owned by a handful of rich people, animals like these could only be seen on television.

No wonder some Night City residents thought penguins were artificial monsters or elaborate hoaxes. How could a bird that swam underwater possibly be real?

The girl seemed to sense Pantheon's gaze. She snapped her head around, fluorescent red cybernetic eyes flashing with annoyance as one hand instinctively moved toward the Power pistol at her waist.

One look at her face was enough for Pantheon to recognize her.

Green hair, twin ponytails, a tiny figure, short, fleshy legs, and a temper that practically crackled in the air. Who else could she be but Rebecca?

She looked almost exactly like her animated counterpart. He wondered whether Miss Cat Sasha was still alive at this point.

He hadn't heard anything about an attack on Biotechnica recently.

A hundred thoughts flashed through his mind, but he made no move to introduce himself. They were both mercenaries living in Night City. There would be plenty of chances to meet later.

For now, he had work to do.

Pantheon withdrew his gaze, gave Rebecca a slight nod, and continued toward an unassuming pachinko parlor on the corner.

Rebecca watched him leave, finally moving her hand away from her gun.

"Where'd that weird old guy come from? What a buzzkill."

Inside the parlor, the machines filled the air with a cacophony of electronic jingles. Every so often, a furious gambler cried out in despair before the Tyger Claws guarding the place dragged him outside.

Pantheon picked his way through the noisy hall toward the staff corridor at the back, only to find a wall of muscle in his path.

The bodyguard looked like a Japanese sumo wrestler. Judging by his sheer bulk, he certainly had the build for it.

Pantheon stopped long enough for the man to confirm his identity, then stepped through the hanging curtain.

It was like entering an entirely different world.

Wakako's office was decorated in a traditional Japanese style. In the middle of the city's most uninhibited red-light district, she'd somehow created a miniature dry landscape garden indoors.

Perhaps this was what the upper classes called refinement.

Wakako sat behind her desk in a dark traditional kimono, her hair arranged in an elaborate Showa-era bun. She looked as though she'd stepped straight out of the previous century.

"King, you're quicker than I expected. Did you bring him?"

"He's in the car outside. I'm sure I don't have to tell you which one."

Pantheon sat opposite her and helped himself to the freshly brewed tea.

He didn't drink it immediately. First he sniffed it, then blew gently over the steaming surface before draining the cup in one go.

"Tsk, tsk."

He smacked his lips with spectacularly bad manners.

"Tea's nothing special, if you ask me."

Rather than take offense, Wakako regarded him with interest.

"I didn't realize you studied the tea ceremony. Tell me, what fine teas have you sampled?"

Pantheon had spent most of his life as an ordinary guy. What did he know about tea?

Still, he put on a serious expression and confidently talked nonsense.

"I usually drink black tea and flower tea. Haven't had much green tea. Though my favorite is definitely milk tea."

While they were chatting, the side door opened. Two Tyger Claws members entered supporting the unconscious Kid Willow between them.

Wakako glanced at the doll, confirmed his identity, and gestured for them to take him away.

"You and your companions are remarkable. You've exceeded every expectation I had."

Her smile was completely sincere.

Mercenaries capable of acting this efficiently were rare in Night City. It looked as though she'd found another useful contact.

"I've silenced the radicals within the Tyger Claws. At least in Westbrook, they won't be coming after you."

Pantheon wasn't particularly worried about the gang's revenge, but fewer pests buzzing around him couldn't hurt.

He glanced at his account. Another two hundred thousand eddies had appeared, and he nodded with satisfaction.

"Ms. Wakako, you're a woman of your word. Looks like we can keep doing business."

With that, he rose to leave. He had no desire to pry into the Tyger Claws' internal power struggles. None of that had much to do with him.

Getting home to inspect the traits he'd collected the night before was far more important!

"One moment. I have a gift for you."

Wakako stopped him. One of her subordinates came through the doorway carrying an elegant wooden box, something she'd had prepared after learning just how capable Pantheon was.

Inside were various beautifully packaged teas and a traditional-looking tea set.

Pantheon knew next to nothing about the tea ceremony, but even he could see these were expensive gifts.

"Since you're also a man who appreciates tea, I'd like to entrust these leaves and utensils to you. I hope you'll treat them well."

Wakako had spent decades navigating Night City's dangerous social circles. Her ability to make people feel valued really was extraordinary.

Pantheon accepted the box, inclined his head slightly, and left the pachinko parlor.

Even in broad daylight, Jig-Jig Street never lacked customers looking for entertainment.

Amid the din, Pantheon suddenly heard a familiar voice coming from an alley beside the ramen shop.

"Fuck off, asshole! Don't make me put a hole in your skull!"

That unmistakably furious, high-pitched voice made him abandon his intention of minding his own business.

"Come on, little girl. Be smart and hand over that animal. Then have a little fun with us. Maybe we'll let you go afterward."

"Ahahaha!"

"Hehehe!"

"Yo-ho-ho-ho!"

Three Scavengers wearing pixelated masks had cornered Rebecca in the alley. They laughed wildly, already certain that both the girl and the cat belonged to them.

People passed on the street without giving the scene a second glance.

This was Jig-Jig Street, after all. They probably assumed someone was filming a particularly unusual performance.

And even if they knew it was real, who would care?