Cyberpunk: I'm Not a Scavenger - Chapter 74: Conditions (Patreon)

"That's not my decision to make."

Milani shrugged, speaking frankly.

"Someone like me can't tell her what to do. You'll have to ask our boss."

"Your boss?"

"Susanna Quinn."

A flash of admiration crossed Milani's eyes as she said the name.

"Come on, handsome merc. I'll take you to see her."

Smiling, Milani pushed open the door to Lizzie's Bar and gestured for him to go inside.

"But fair warning. Judy can be a stubborn little thing. Even our boss might not be able to talk her into it. Better be prepared for that."

"I understand. Lead the way."

Pantheon nodded, looking entirely confident.

If Susanna couldn't persuade Judy, he could always try Evelyn Parker.

With the right incentive, he doubted Judy would be impossible to convince.

The bar was bathed in pink ambient light.

There were no men and women dancing wildly in the middle of the floor. Instead, customers sprawled across the sofas, lost in the vivid experiences of their Braindances.

Susanna's office was right beside the dance floor.

Milani's cybernetic eyes glimmered slightly. She was probably communicating with her boss.

"She's downstairs talking to Judy. Said we can head straight down."

They passed through a corridor lined with private rooms and the dressing rooms backstage, then descended into the Mox's basement server room. Judy's Braindance editing workshop was just next door.

Before they reached it, voices came through the door. Judy and Susanna were arguing.

"Why do you keep dumping streetwalkers on me? How the fuck am I supposed to support all these people?"

"Look on the bright side. They heard about the Mox and came here because they need help!"

"I've checked our business license. It doesn't say we're a shelter!"

"Come on, give them a chance. They can earn their own living."

"There are too many people in this city. We can't help everyone! Right now, the Mox come first. If they're not part of the gang, they're not my concern!"

"Susanna, don't walk away! We haven't finished talking!"

"I think we have."

The door opened, and Susanna stepped out.

She wore a blue one-piece swimsuit beneath a green jacket, with an unusual metal mask covering her face.

The moment she saw Pantheon, her expression changed.

"King! It's good to meet you. I've heard a lot about what you've done."

Susanna truly deserved her position as leader of the Mox. She could switch gears with remarkable speed.

"The Tyger Claws might hate your guts, but the girls around here love you just as much. If there's anything I can help you with, just say the word."

Milani opened her mouth, then wisely decided to remain silent.

Pantheon cleared his throat twice, somewhat embarrassed, and explained why he'd come.

"Well..."

Susanna's face fell.

She gave a bitter smile and sighed.

"You heard us arguing, didn't you? I can't get through to her. But I've got no objection to you asking for her help. Whether she agrees is entirely up to Judy."

With that, Susanna shook her head and walked past them.

Milani pouted at Pantheon, then led him into Judy's workshop.

The room was dim and cluttered with machines and equipment.

Judy leaned over a table with her head propped on one hand.

Her hair faded from green into purple. She wore overalls and a little camisole, and flowers and names were tattooed across her arms, shoulders, and neck.

"What's wrong? Something happened to one of the Braindances?"

Judy assumed Milani had come to report a problem.

Then she spotted Pantheon standing behind her and frowned immediately.

"Milani, why'd you bring a man down here? I told you, I don't work on that sick black-market Braindance shit."

Her voice was impatient. She barely spared Pantheon a glance.

Milani hurried to introduce him.

"Judy, this is King. He's the hottest mercenary in Night City right now, and he's the one who saved us before!"

Once Judy realized he was the man who'd saved Milani and the others, her expression softened considerably.

"What's a mercenary want with me? Trying to sell recordings of your own Braindances?"

Pantheon stepped forward and explained.

"I've got some unusual Braindance recordings. They contain clues I need, and I'm looking for someone skilled and trustworthy enough to analyze them. Everyone says you're the best damn Braindance editor in Night City. That's why I'm asking you."

Judy's curiosity stirred at the mention of unusual recordings, but thoughts of recent events quickly darkened her mood again.

Her eyes fell on the handgun at Pantheon's waist, and an idea took shape.

She couldn't bring the dead back to life. But she could make their killers pay.

"I can help you, but there's one condition."

Judy spoke suddenly, her voice low and strained.

Pantheon raised an eyebrow, quietly relieved.

Getting Judy to agree was the important part. As for conditions, he had money and connections. He wasn't worried.

"All right. Let's hear it."

The memory of what had happened brought Judy's anger surging back. She slammed a hand onto the table.

"I knew a few girls. Yeah, they worked the streets, but they were good people. They made an honest living and never got mixed up in anything crooked. A few days ago, some fucking animals from the Tyger Claws murdered them! The NCPD won't touch the Tyger Claws, and Susanna says the girls weren't Mox members, so she can't get involved. But I'm not letting this go!"

Judy was breathing hard. If those Tyger Claws appeared in front of her now, she'd shoot them without hesitation.

"I want you to find the bastards and tear them apart! Make them pay for what they did to those girls! Do that, and I'll analyze your Braindance data for free. I promise I'll find you a lead."

The Tyger Claws again? Interesting.

Pantheon agreed without a moment's hesitation.

Judy looked taken aback by how quickly he accepted.

"Y-you're not afraid of Arasaka? They back the Tyger Claws, you know."

Pantheon gave a dismissive snort.

His very first mercenary gig had involved taking on the Tyger Claws.

Being too scared of Arasaka to fight their pet gang? That was how losers thought.

"That's my problem. Have you got any leads on the Tyger Claws who did it?"

Judy studied him, then rummaged through a drawer, took out a data shard, and handed it over.

"This is everything I've managed to find. The girls were killed at a small motel. By the time our people got there, the Tyger Claws had already cleaned up the scene."

Pantheon pocketed the shard.

"Got it. Get your equipment ready. I don't expect this to take long."

Judy watched him stride away, then turned to Milani with renewed curiosity.

"Can you tell me how he saved you all?"

Milani puffed out her chest proudly. The events of that night had clearly left a lasting impression.

"Well, it all started with that asshole of a patrol cop, Callum..."