Chapter 25: Memory Erasure

Leaving Dogtown went surprisingly smoothly.

Maine and Dorio took the front seats due to their size, while Lin Yue, Rebecca, and Pilar squeezed into the back, with the poor wretch retrieved from the Scavenger den lying at their feet. The car headed toward Pacifica, where the drop-off point was located among those abandoned seaside resorts in the Pacifica region.

[Messages]

[Hands]: The client in Dogtown doesn't trust you, but I vouched for you and helped bridge the gap... I hope that wasn't offensive.

[Hands]: I’m seeing this through to the end; I’ve even contacted the subordinate you’re working with. Your people should be handling the client’s request as we speak.

[Hands]: If anything else comes up, you’ll need to contact this regular client yourself. I can't intervene further. Best of luck.

Lin Yue stared at the message Hands had just sent to Rin, his expression dark. So far, everything seemed to be progressing smoothly. Hands had even negotiated the price on behalf of his new fixer protégé and kindly provided directions for the edgerunners.

Moreover, strictly speaking, this job didn't fall under Dogtown’s jurisdiction; it was someone from outside Night City paying a ransom. Even though the location was between Dogtown and Pacifica, given Hands’ possessive nature, he shouldn't have handed such a job over. After all, yesterday’s agreement was clear: fair competition within Dogtown starting in two months, with jobs outside Dogtown fair game until then.

Lin Yue felt something was off, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Then, the client’s contact information arrived—an unknown number. Lin Yue glanced at the [?] contact, vigilantly scanning the surroundings outside the car.

Lin Yue’s eyes glowed as he attempted to call the mysterious contact, but after three rings, there was no answer. He decided to send a text instead.

[?]: Who are you?

[Rin]: Hands handed the job to me—or to be precise, there are now two people in Dogtown handling client requests. You should be aware that Hands temporarily transferred the business to me, right?

[?]: I know. Just make sure your people get the job done. The corporation needs to audit the funds, so they were paid out in full to that Scavenger. As for how much the Scavenger pays you, Hands knows.

[Rin]: Do my people just need to deliver the cargo? I suspect Hands knows, but he didn't tell me. You know how it is—I need to verify the procedure.

[?]: Such as?

[Rin]: Such as: Why isn't the price the standard market rate for a ransom from Scavengers? If there are any contingencies, we need a fair and transparent partnership.

[?]: For this run, you need to use merc lackeys who aren't the vengeful type. This person is carrying corporate secrets. Your crew needs to let our corporate netrunner perform a [Memory Wipe]. Of course, that has nothing to do with you, the new fixer.

[Rin]: Why wasn't this mentioned earlier? Do you have any idea how many mercs in Night City are willing to let a netrunner tinker with their brains?

[Rin]: Are you going to ask Hands? Do you expect his people to undergo a memory wipe too?

[?]: Hands’ people wouldn't. Your people are newcomers; I don't trust them.

[?]: And another thing, dammit, you’re just a middleman, get it? Why are you asking so many questions... You’re out there competing for business like this? Give me a break! Try to be professional.

Lin Yue’s expression remained calm, though his mind was racing to devise a strategy. He sighed inwardly: role-playing has its risks.

From a fixer’s perspective, this deal wasn't bad, and it wasn't his own brain being attacked by a [Quickhack]. But for himself and Maine’s crew, a memory wipe was absolutely unacceptable. The chances of the team mutinying on the spot were high; they would only see it as their boss selling them out, especially since it was a corporate netrunner doing the work.

As for Lin Yue’s identity as this new fixer: clearly, corporate dogs looked down on newcomers who appeared out of nowhere. As for why Hands wasn't treated this way by Biotechnology, it was likely a matter of power. Any gold-tier fixer with status in Night City had a little something backing them up. Clearly, Hands had also kept the truth about "Rin" being Arasaka a secret from this idiot on the other end.

But for now, Rin, the new fixer, was being treated as a naive rookie just looking for a quick meal.

Lin Yue had understood the survival rules of Night City long before he was reborn. Why did some fixers end up in miserable states while the evergreen, prominent figures in Night City thrived? If you had no connections and no corporation backing you, everything was just empty talk.

Take fixers like Hands or Wakako: Hands wasn't just connecting with people in South America; he was a former high-ranking corporate executive himself and could see eye-to-eye with Hansen, allowing him to sit securely in Dogtown. And there was no need to even mention Wakako—her late husbands were high-ranking members of the Tyger Claws, and she was one herself; she was just taking it easy in her old age.

A massive web of interests was woven throughout the city. If you tried to be a fixer without backing, relying only on a silver tongue, the outcome would be disastrous. As the saying goes: the pillar at the very center of the scale is the most stable. Balancing clients and mercs requires absolute leverage.

Hands, oh Hands.

Lin Yue shook his head, the image of Hands’ personality becoming clearer in his mind. He was using the client to test Rin, this fixer who had popped up out of nowhere, while keeping his own hands clean, all to gauge Rin’s capabilities. In other words, Hands wanted to see if Rin would flex his muscles. Given his personality, he was likely hiding more than just this.

"Maine!"

While Lin Yue was deep in thought, Rebecca looked down at the man lying on the car seat and shouted.

The man, who had just been pulled from the icy water, was barely dressed, covered only by a jacket for warmth. But while everyone was lost in their own thoughts, the guy suddenly started convulsing.

Maine turned his head. "Under the seat on the right, there’s some pain meds or something—adrenalin, stims, whatever—give it to this idiot! Don't let him die in the car!"

Lin Yue took the stim from Rebecca and pressed it against the man's nose and mouth.

*Hiss—*

The man’s chest heaved violently, and his eyes suddenly bulged.

"Damn! This guy's in trouble!"

The car accelerated sharply; Maine looked like he wanted to stomp the gas pedal through the floorboards. Pilar crouched on the backseat, craning his neck to see if the guy was about to kick the bucket. The man was muttering something. Lin Yue pushed Pilar’s interfering head aside and leaned close to the man’s face.

"Safe... soul..."

The man suddenly grabbed Lin Yue’s collar. "Don't... deliver... me..."

Lin Yue watched silently as the man’s hand slid from his collar.

So that was it... Lin Yue dialed a number.

"Maine! The Scavengers are on our tail!"

Dorio glanced at the rearview mirror and saw several graffiti-covered vehicles speeding up behind them. One of the vans was already pulling alongside their car!

Lin Yue was jolted from his call and turned to look back. There were still five Scavenger vehicles chasing them!

As expected, there was no such thing as a "good" Scavenger. That bastard Agata Leszcz was probably sitting in some corner right now, happily counting his money. Selling the same cargo twice was standard procedure for Scavengers.

"Let’s rock!"

Pilar let out a manic yell, and the sound of weapons being chambered filled the car...

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[Memory Wipe]: A type of quickhack capable of clearing an individual's short-term memory. It is clear that the memory wipe mentioned here is far more severe.

[Quickhack]: So-called quickhacks are rapid hacks installed into an operating system, categorized into Control, Combat, Ultimate, and Stealth.