Chapter 2: Dog Town

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“News Channel 54 reporting—”

“We interrupt with an urgent bulletin. Just received word that a weapons transport squad from Dog Town was ambushed in the Badlands by unknown assailants.”

“The casualty count is still being tallied. The surrounding area is now under military control, dispatched by Colonel Kurt Hansen. Unfortunately, our correspondent has yet to establish contact with this ambitious strategist.”

“For more updates—”

Sino snapped off the radio, his expression darkened by the report.

Compared to Sino’s grim demeanor, Lin Yue felt more curiosity and confusion about this world.

He wasn’t a street kid nor a corporate lackey, so how did he end up as a member of Dog Town?

Well, that was at least good news—after all, they were Dog Town soldiers!

Otherwise, that earlier skirmish would have ended badly.

It was now the year 2075, and the full story of this world was yet to unfold.

The embers of the Fourth Corporate War still lingered over this land, with Night City left as a precious legacy by Night Corporation on this North American soil.

The legends belonging to this place were slowly moving toward the paths their lives were meant to take.

Speaking of which—

Lin Yue stared at his personal status panel, his eyes darkening.

Weak. That was his current assessment of himself.

His cybernetic implants were second-rate assembled junk, his stats abysmal, and there wasn’t much cash in his pockets.

In short, his military pay either went toward buying cheap, tainted painkillers or playing cards all night with the old veterans in the barracks.

Lin Yue hesitated.

Where should he go? How should he begin?

He had no clue.

Just reborn, his head still dizzy, he had been struck hard by the powder-keg atmosphere of Night City.

It seemed he could only return to Dog Town and report.

He certainly couldn’t go wandering the streets to find Rebecca and tell them he wanted to join.

The recent life-or-death moments still made his heart pound wildly.

During the fight with the cyberpunk squad, Lin Yue instinctively called on Sino to bring the supplies—a reflex born from the original owner’s ingrained fear of Colonel Hansen.

That man was decisive, skilled at psychological control, and fair with rewards and punishments—but his punishments were severe.

[Character “Rebecca” favorability updated]

[Favorability: 0 (You have piqued her curiosity. Good luck.)]

[Reward: Reflex +2]

Lost in thought, Lin Yue didn’t notice anything unusual. He blinked, but the imagined surge of power didn’t come.

He only felt his head lighter and his rifle-holding hand stronger.

Well, at least there was some hope now—

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Screech! The sharp sound of tires scraping the asphalt cut through the air.

“Damn it! Brother, we can’t go back.”

“Shit, I don’t even want to imagine how Hansen will handle us.”

Sino slammed on the brakes, nearly sending the unprepared Lin Yue crashing into the dashboard.

Lin Yue frowned. Sino looked completely lost—was Hansen worse than he’d imagined?

Sino shook his injured arm and shakily lit a cigarette. “Let’s run together, man.”

Lin Yue was the first to speak.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. Hansen’s influence stretches all over Night City. Even the NCPD are in his pocket. Where do you want to go? Unless you want to leave this hellhole for New America.”

After all, dropping the cargo had its reasons. Running would only make things worse.

Who knew if Hansen might suspect Sino of selling intelligence to the cyberpunk squad?

“NCPD?” Sino gave him a look like, “Brother, you knew that already?”

“Yeah. Anyway, I’m not going back to work for Hansen. What about you, man?”

Lin Yue casually eyed Sino’s hand resting on the pistol at his waist while he tightened his grip on his rifle’s barrel.

The tension froze the moment.

Until the cigarette’s ember burned low, Lin Yue finally said:

“Alright, man. You go your way. I’ll tell Hansen I never saw you.”

He forced a smile.

After all, he owed Sino his life. Everyone had their own will; whatever Sino chose was his business.

As for Lin Yue, he had reasons he couldn’t avoid going back.

Because his development panel gave him great confidence:

[Character: Kurt Hansen]

[Affiliation: Dog Town]

[Favorability: 0 (You definitely don’t want to see him at low favor — best to go back and apologize.)]

[Growth Value: Extremely High.]

[Stage Reward: Return to Dog Town to see him, gain access to other legends, all attributes +1.]

Hearing Lin Yue’s words, Sino’s tense body gradually relaxed. After finishing his smoke, he faced Lin Yue and jumped out of the car, still wary that Lin Yue might try to shoot him in the back.

“Later, brother. Wherever I go, it won’t be here.”

“These gloves are yours—top-notch company gear, durable and anti-slip!”

Lin Yue watched Sino disappear around the corner through the rearview mirror. Holding the blood-stained gloves, he shook his head helplessly.

Both paths were difficult choices, but he still felt that things might not be so bad in Dog Town.

Hansen was ruthless to his enemies but wouldn’t be too harsh on his own—provided the mistake wasn’t theirs.

The engine roared to life, and the vehicle rolled along the highway of the Pacific Continent, where fires burned garbage and paint barrels.

They arrived at Dog Town’s checkpoint.

“Please submit to inspection.”

A soldier in an external exoskeleton raised a hand to block the way. Behind him, a rolling shutter door concealed a tangle of infrared beams so sensitive they could detect a single strand of hair.

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Lin Yue exposed his neck. The soldier plugged a cable into his neural interface and leisurely scanned him.

“Those unlucky bastards this morning were you guys?”

The soldier’s tone was mocking. “Colonel Hansen is waiting for you. You’re the third tail-between-legs runner to come back.”

Lin Yue forced a smile and followed instructions, submitting to various scans.

“Damn, move it! Waiting here for a car wash?”

The checkpoint soldiers were no friends to their own.

The grand “Jewel Blue” was one of Dog Town’s few impressive buildings. Hansen’s empire stretched deep into Night City. This former New American soldier had long become a thorn in the side of many factions.

After Lin Yue exited the vehicle, several soldiers confiscated his weapons, and a massive hand pressed down on his shoulder.

“Hey, Lin! Keep your hands visible!”

Apparently a friend from Lin Yue’s past life, the soldier with letters tattooed across his face whispered a few words before escorting him onto the elevator inside Jewel Blue.

...

“Mann, did you understand what I said?”

Rebecca lounged on the sofa in a private room of a bar on Twist Street, her feet propped on the table swinging as she complained.

“Calm down. You’re saying that Phantom Dog knows your name? That’s impossible…”

Mann rubbed his temples, clearly irritated.

“Didn’t I say this was a top-secret gig introduced by the middleman?”

Rebecca scoffed and dragged out the words slowly.

“The thing about this job is, the dumbass Phantom Dog was yelling my name, calling me an idiot! Damn!”

Rebecca’s brother, Pila, gestured exaggeratedly.

“I thought this job would be as simple as assembling a grenade!”

“Now look at this—they even know your name—‘Hey! I know you! You’re that chick I hit on in the bar!’”

Hearing Pila’s rambling complaints, Mann’s headache worsened.

The middleman didn’t handle the cleanup—that was up to the squad. He shifted his gaze to the girl in the corner, arms crossed, leaning against the wall while scanning information.

“What do you think, Sasha?”

Sasha Yakovleva shut down her holographic glasses, releasing a pink heart icon that matched her pink-and-black cyber suit.

She tidied her jet-black bangs.

“Dog Town is kind of disgusting.”

“But leave it to me. Let’s see which big shot this Phantom Dog really is.”

...

(Jewel Blue is below~)