[Check Out My P4treon For +30 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! And get chapters before publishing them here for free on my p4treon][https://p4treon.com/ThePlotHoleRefuge]
===
"Damn it! Where's the picture? Why did it cut out?!"
"Is that person serious? Is he really going against the corporation?"
"The 54 News live broadcast was cut off. This must be Arasaka's big move! Militech is useless, damn it. If the broadcast continued, wouldn't Arasaka be the one losing face? What the hell are they doing? Or did Jax's words get to them too?"
"Ah, capital. Ah, the big players! When it comes down to dealing with us, Militech and Arasaka will immediately team up."
The sudden cut-off of 54 News made everyone in Night City who was watching the news anxious.
Are you kidding me? This was just getting to the climax!
What, wasn't it over?
No, it wasn't over yet!
Just as that lunatic said in front of all of Night City, this was just the beginning, and the crises and risks he now faced were also just beginning!
Live-streamed murder, it wasn't like no one had ever done it before.
Not to mention the gangs and mercenaries on the street, even ordinary Night City residents would live-stream murders for money. But the question was: who would kill an Arasaka executive on a live stream like this lunatic?
Arasaka's agents had already been dispatched, and even under Arasaka's pressure, NCPD had to step in to sanction Jax.
Today's NCPD was no longer Night City's law enforcement agency that only answered to Night Corp. Nowadays, NCPD and MAX-TAC were two different things.
The former was already affiliated with various corporations, while the latter were the ones truly maintaining the city.
Therefore, the lunatic Jax was now facing simultaneous pursuit from NCPD and Arasaka agents!
No, not only that, but also… pursuit from various other corporations!
A guy who dared to kill a corporate dog in front of the whole world and say those words, even if it wasn't Arasaka, would other corporations tolerate him?
The world of capital didn't need the emergence of another Johnny Silverhand!
In the Afterlife bar, Craig was wiping a glass at the counter, and when he looked up at the group of mercenaries who had stood up in front of him, a hint of unease flashed in Craig's eyes.
Night City… was about to become unsafe.
Craig sighed, and his movements of wiping the glass slowed a bit.
Everyone knew one thing: mercenaries were the easiest group of people to incite into anger.
It was like this decades ago, and it was still like this decades later…
But it wasn't surprising, because these people were originally on this path of no return due to dissatisfaction and injustice in their lives, for money and survival.
If there was one group that had the greatest hatred for "corporations," it was definitely these mercenaries in front of him.
Many of them had been harmed by corporations.
It was precisely because of this that Jax's words were like a gust of wind blowing through a wheat field, stirring up countless responses. Just like these people standing in front, their bodies swayed, spittle flew, and they argued and even came to blows.
Fighting in Afterlife? Since the last time some idiot got drunk and caused trouble in Afterlife, and Rogue personally taught him a lesson, kicked him out of Afterlife, and the next day that guy was found dead by the sewer, who would dare to cause trouble in Afterlife?
But today… these guys were all causing trouble in Afterlife!
"No, I like that lunatic a lot. I have to help him. Who the hell is coming with me?!"
"Bones, are you crazy? You're getting involved in Arasaka's business? Don't you care about your life?"
"My home was taken by the corporation, my wife was captured by corporate dogs. I've been a coward to them my whole life! Now, finally, someone is leading the charge against the corporation. Even though he's not going after my enemy, if he's going after a corporation, I'm going to help!" Bones, an Eastern European man with black iron plating on both arms, a little over 1.7 meters tall. He was called Bones because he was genuinely very thin.
At this moment, Bones was standing on a table, and after getting on it, he shouted loudly: "How long are you guys going to keep cowering?
He's just a kid who hasn't even fully grown, and he dares to kill an Arasaka executive and go against a corporation. Are we old guys not even brave enough to resist Arasaka agents?!"
"Heh, easy to say, but don't let yourself be used as a pawn! Just listen to his words, that's all. When it comes down to it, he's taking revenge on corporate dogs out of personal hatred. What are you doing? Trying to make him a symbol of anti-corporation, another Johnny the rock boy?" a mercenary said coldly.
As soon as he finished speaking, he was hit on the head with a glass, and another tall mercenary gave him the middle finger, "Bullshit! Mabrick, stop your damn snide remarks! Did you think I forgot about you causing me to lose an arm last time?!"
"What the hell does that have to do with this?!"
"I just don't like you! That kid is right, endure, endure, endure until your living space gets smaller and smaller, endure until you don't dare to resist anymore? I'm not enduring anymore! I'm not a damn turtle, and I have a grudge against corporate dogs too!"
"Damn it, whoever wants to help, come out with me now! What's so great about Arasaka agents? Don't they die just the same when they get shot?!"
The noise grew louder, and both sides started throwing glasses and bottles at each other. Some idiots even pulled out weapons in Afterlife. Craig saw this and couldn't take it anymore.
Alright, you bastards can fight when emotions are high, but you pull out guns in Afterlife?
Damn it, don't you care about your lives?
Just as he was about to step in to stop them, Craig saw the door next to the restroom open, and Crispin walked out with a flushed face. So,
Craig breathed a sigh of relief.
She came out.
Sure enough, when Crispin stepped aside, a woman emerged from the room. After she appeared, the restless and noisy Afterlife immediately fell silent, and everyone looked at her.
And she only used one sentence: "Are you trying to rebel?"
Which made everyone lower their heads.
Rogue walked imperiously into the middle of the two groups of people. The two factions, who had been crowding and pushing earlier, separated, actively making way for Rogue.
And these two groups, one felt they should go against the corporations, that someone had finally taken the lead, so how could they not vent their anger? The other group felt this action was too reckless. And so, the two sides argued over this trivial matter.
It's really damn interesting… a bunch of scoundrels whose combined body count exceeded four digits, arguing over something like this.
But that's just the kind of guys mercenaries are. They wear their emotions on their sleeves. When they're happy, they drink. When they're unhappy, they also drink.
If it weren't in Afterlife, but in an outside bar, these guys could even argue over the quality of a bottle of liquor, and then… they would engage in a fight to the death.
Yes, there were many such idiots among mercenaries. Every day, outside bars had guys who would get into big fights over arguments and then inexplicably die.
But this was not surprising. Under the high-pressure life of Night City, their emotions had nowhere to be released, and could only erupt over trivial matters in life. It wasn't sudden major events that crushed them, but a series of small things that accumulated in their daily lives, constantly eroding their bodies and minds.
In short, each of these guys was a powder keg, ready to explode at any moment.
And now, Jax… had become the fuse.
"If you want to make trouble, go outside and do it. After you leave Afterlife, you can do whatever you want, I won't interfere," Rogue said loudly.
"You mean?" Bones's eyes lit up. He understood Rogue's meaning, so he boldly looked at Rogue and said.
"Kri, I didn't say anything. It's your own choice. Did I give you a job today?" Rogue narrowed her eyes and said, with one hand on her hip.
"Damn it, let's go! Whoever wants to help, follow me!" Bones Kri shouted, raising his arm and yelling loudly.
In an instant, most of the people in Afterlife followed Bones out.
They, of course, knew that the strength of these people alone was nothing to Arasaka, but… they could stop the police from arresting Jax, they could block the roads!
Didn't they know how to streetwalk?
When the police asked what they wanted to do, they would tell them they were streetwalking for business!
Damn it, are you going to manage us streetwalking too?
There are so many streetwalkers on Jig-Jig Street, why don't you go manage them?
What? There's no such thing as streetwalking on the main road?
Damn it! I just love selling on the main road because there are more customers, and besides, what the hell does it have to do with you, cop?!"
What? My chest hair is longer than your hair?
Damn it, discriminating against men with long hair?
Then should I also tell you that my gender is an attack helicopter?
Maybe someone actually likes that about me, damn it?
In short, they were hot-blooded, but they weren't really stupid enough to run off and die.
Afterlife quickly became empty, and Rogue sat down at the bar.
"Care for a drink?" Craig blinked, saying with a smile.
Rogue tapped her index finger on the table, then said, "A little beer, a little chili, some bitters…"
"And some tequila?" Craig finished her sentence.
Rogue looked up at her and nodded.
Soon, a drink named after Afterlife was placed in front of Rogue.
—
Johnny Silverhand.
As the fiery liquor went down, Rogue smiled.
Although not as charismatic as Johnny… unable to rally ordinary people, the fact that he could rile up a bunch of mercenaries, honestly, was something Rogue hadn't expected at all.
That kid… seemed to have a special kind of leadership charisma?
"What about Michiko?" Crispin said from behind.
"Did I break her rules? She said I shouldn't be involved in this, but today's incident, they chose to cause trouble themselves.
Did I order them to go?" Rogue said without turning her head.
"You're being a hooligan," Crispin said after thinking for a moment.
"Get the hell out of here," Rogue cursed with a smile.
She was in a very good mood right now. Jax's troubles weren't resolved, which was indeed annoying, but… she was just in a very good mood.
Then, Rogue poured the remaining half-glass of liquor onto the floor.
"Johnny, if you were still alive, then you bastard would definitely like this kid."
Rogue sat quietly at the bar, drinking, waiting for news.
There wasn't much more she could do about this matter now.
"Hey! Wait a minute!"
A voice suddenly called out to Jax. Jax on the rooftop turned around and saw the beautiful female reporter leaning halfway out of a helicopter.
Selena and Jax met each other's gaze, her eyes shining. She shouted, "Run, quickly! Take your companions and run north. That area shouldn't be surrounded by the police yet."
Jax paused at the sound.
He looked at the 54 News logo, then at Selena's reporter's attire. Then, he nodded, looked at Selena gently, and said with a smile, "Thank you."
"No…"
Selena looked at the happily smiling Jax and whispered, "You're welcome."
Jax nodded, turned, and ran down Clouds, while quickly contacting Maine and the others in the team.
Right now, they had to quickly rendezvous with Maine and the others, and then escape Night City together.
Arasaka couldn't possibly do nothing. If they didn't escape Night City now and hide in the Badlands, then there would be no chance to run later.
"Serena, you, you..." Serena's colleague, the man in charge of debugging the equipment, couldn't help but speak up.
"What is it?" Serena turned to look at him.
"Are you crazy? If James finds out about this, losing your job is a small matter, but violating the contract? You'll never be able to pay for that in your life!"
Serena smiled, blinked, and said, "The live broadcast has been interrupted. Nobody knows that I warned him. Or are you going to tell?"
"..." Her colleague shook his head, sighed, "If I tell, then I'll be finished just like you. They won't listen to my explanation."
Seeing this, Serena gave him a slight smile.
But then a faint voice suddenly sounded from the front: "Did you two forget about me...?"
Both froze at the same time, then saw the middle-aged man piloting the helicopter turn his head.
Then, this veteran 54 News employee smiled slightly, baring his teeth, "Don't worry, I'm just a bit annoyed that you two always ignore me. I won't tell anyone about this either."
"That kid reminds me of my younger days, you know? When that nuclear bomb exploded in Arasaka Tower, I was dancing right in front of Arasaka Tower! Damn it, just thinking about it makes me angry. I even got a few hits from the company's security dogs back then."
Moving through the crates in Japantown, Jax quickly contacted Maine and his crew: "Maine, where are you now?"
"Where? Damn it, we're surrounded right now!"
Jax heard this and said, "I'm coming over now."
"No need, I'm almost done here too. You don't have to worry, we're all fine, but Rebecca got quite injured. She lost an arm to a grenade, and half her body is gone, yet she's still hopping around. But you, kid, you never told me you were going to kill Tanaka! I thought we were just dealing with the Tyger Claws and Faraday!"
His words were a condemnation of Jax, but his tone was not.
Jax was a bit worried about Rebecca's condition. In the crew, Rebecca was the craziest fighter; it was completely normal for her to get injured... This was probably why everyone insisted she install only armor implants?
But Jax still smiled and said, "It was an emergency."
"Damn it, can we stop bullshitting for a second?" Kiwi's voice rang out in the crew's comms, strained and angry: "Because of your emergency, I can't stay in Night City anymore! Hurry up and pick up Lucy and me! We don't know how to get out!"
"Sorry, sorry. Oh, by the way, we need to head north together now," Jax immediately said, his voice much softer.
His tone was completely different from when he spoke to Maine, not because Jax was playing favorites, but because everyone in the crew had different situations.
For example, Maine, Dorio, Rebecca, and Pilar, they had no attachment to Night City. Even Rebecca and Pilar, who were Night City natives, wouldn't be reluctant to leave Night City.
But Kiwi was different; she wanted to stay in Night City, but now she was dragged into this because of him and forced to leave Night City.
"By the way, where are we going next? We definitely can't stay in Night City. The cops who were guarding the entrance to Japantown have already rushed in to find us."
"If not, let's go to Chicago. Damn, I heard that place is even more chaotic than Night City, and corporations can't even get a foothold there. With Jax, we can also find a place there."
"Don't joke around, let's first think about how to leave Night City. Arasaka's agents will surround us soon."
They communicated in the crew's comms, everyone talking over each other. Although they were escaping for their lives, there was an inexplicable sense of ease.
Yes, it was ease.
When Maine and his crew found out about Jax killing Tanaka, their first reaction was—holy shit, Jax, that's awesome! You dared to do that?
Their second reaction was—that's so damn satisfying! That's exactly what should be done!
Finally, they considered how to deal with the aftermath.
In the end... everyone in Maine's crew, including Jax, were people who acted first, enjoyed the thrill, and then considered the consequences!
In a high-end penthouse apartment in Charter Hill, Tiger Woman swallowed a mouthful of saliva as she spoke to the computer screen:
"Everything has been investigated, and just as Rogue said, Jax doesn't have too many cyberware implants, yet he possesses abilities no less than a top combat agent.
Boss, you know Kamimura Hayashi. Even I would have to exert a lot of effort to take him down. Among the Jaguars, only Moira could easily take him down. He's a capable subordinate of Arthur, from the counter-intelligence department, and a very strong fighter.
But he and another high-ranking combat agent attacked Jax and were taken down by Jax. Both were found dead in the alley." Tiger Woman gestured, "They died terribly."
"What are you trying to say?" Michiko, dressed in a suit, pouted, looking at Tiger Woman cutely.
Tiger Woman paused, then said, "Although he is a man, his combat power is indeed what we need. With his potential, if developed, his future achievements might even surpass Adam Smasher."
"I want him too, but the problem is, he's too hot to handle right now." Michiko sighed from the screen.
Did she not want to take in Jax?
Are you kidding? There was no one in this world who, after learning of Jax's combat power, wouldn't want to take him in!
He was already so formidable without cyberware, so imagine how incredible he would be with cyberware?
The more noble one's status, the more concerned one was about their safety. And a guy like Jax could become the top-tier bodyguard. He could be the best shield and the best sword.
But... it wouldn't work.
"The trouble is too great. If he had only killed Tanaka and not said those words, then it wouldn't be difficult for me to protect him. But what he said has put him against all corporations. At a time like this, the price I would have to pay to protect him would be too great. Arasaka's combat teams are already on their way in AVs to capture them. Stop them? That's too much trouble."
To her confidante, Michiko spoke her true thoughts: "I don't deny that investment is a long-term goal, but an investment that requires a huge price in the initial stage, and even poses a danger, is not something I would consider."
"Hmph..." Tiger Woman sighed.
But the next moment, the television next to Michiko emitted a sound.
"It's now 4:25 PM. Currently, a group of mercenaries in Watson District are holding a street party, blocking the NCPD's capture of the cyberpsycho Jax! And in Santo Domingo, another group of mercenaries are blocking the police station entrance. Damn, what are these mercenaries trying to do? Are they trying to let criminals escape?"
"Let your mother escape! You stupid reporters, you corporate mouthpieces, don't you dare think we don't know what's happening!" A civilian's voice cut into the live broadcast.
Tiger Woman listened, then exclaimed, "Indeed, he has become the fuse for the public's resistance against corporations. This dissatisfaction has erupted because of him. What a pity, what a real pity, that such a guy is about to die."
"..." Unlike Tiger Woman's lament after hearing the news, Michiko remained silent.
On the other end of the screen, Tiger Woman saw her boss with downcast eyes, her head bobbing, and her crossed leg bouncing, making her small foot, encased in a lace-trimmed sock, tap her small leather shoe.
Michiko's short hair swept across her charming small face, and her eyes gradually brightened.
Tiger Woman was startled, then instantly showed joy.
"Boss, you have a plan?"
Seeing Michiko like this, Tiger Woman instantly knew her boss had an idea.
For Michiko, Tiger Woman felt respect and admiration from the bottom of her heart.
There was no one in this world smarter than her, or better at manipulating public opinion.
After all... as the daughter of Arasaka Kei, once a nationwide criminal and the culprit behind the nuclear incident that destroyed Night City, Michiko was attacked across America as a minor, and even at one point demanded to be stripped of her American citizenship and sent back to Japan.
But in Japan, Michiko's situation was equally bad.
Because Saburo Arasaka already disliked the fact that Arasaka Kei married an American-Asian woman, and after Arasaka Kei's suicide, this dislike was passed on to Michiko.
Yes, Japan also didn't welcome her.
And in this almost desperate situation, being ostracized by two "major corporations," Michiko quickly rallied her father's former subordinates and used a series of maneuvers to guide public opinion and control the narrative.
She transformed from a perpetrator in the public eye into a victim.
She charmed all of America with her cute appearance and manipulated public opinion with astonishing intelligence, thereby gaining... unprecedented power.
American citizenship, ties with Militech, a guest of the NUSA president—with the backing of these multiple identities, she still became the leader of Arasaka Corporation's third faction, the head of the dove faction.
This... couldn't this prove Michiko's wisdom and ability?
Therefore, seeing Michiko narrow her eyes and a smile play on her lips, Tiger Woman knew her boss definitely had a plan.
Michiko lifted her head and said softly:
"Take your weapons and people, get in the AVs, and go pick up Maine's crew and Jax to bring them here."
"But what about Arasaka's agents? If I go now, I'll definitely run into them."
"Kill them all," Michiko said casually, waving her hand effortlessly.
"Yes, I understand." Tiger Woman took a deep breath, nodded, stood up, made a call, and then left.
With her hands clasped together, resting on her chin, Michiko watched the news nearby with a beaming smile.
Since... most people in Night City were now influenced by him, emitting a resonant hatred for corporations, this sound... Michiko was all too familiar with it.
Humans are creatures easily swayed by blind followership. Overly loud voices can impair their ability to think, as if whoever shouts loudest is right.
So, in this situation, with both mercenaries and ordinary people creating a disruptive noise, what would Arasaka's Night City branch do?
Michiko could imagine those foolish individuals, in an attempt to save face, choosing the most idiotic method, causing Arasaka's market value to suffer.
But she was different.
She could find the best solution from it.
Snapping her fingers, Michiko said into her phone screen: "Shoko, send a message for the head of the news station to come see me. Also, those entertainers, find a few people, give them some money, I need them to do something."
A moment later, a smiling black cat-eared helmet appeared on Michiko's phone screen.
===
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 105 on my patreon, go check it out
exclusive 18+ character images, and early chapters, please visit my Patreon. Thanks for your support!
p4treon.com/ThePlotHoleRefuge
if you want more updates == supports with power stones
Every 20 Power Stones == Bonus Chapter
every three 5-star reviews == Bonus Chapter