"Oliver!"
"Hey Oliver, you back? Let's grab a drink sometime!"
"I'll drop by if I get the chance."
Sitting in the driver's seat of his heavily modded Hera, Oliver responded casually to the greetings of several 6th Street members along the roadside.
"You're quite popular, Oliver."
Watching the exchange from the back seat, Karl nodded. "You're practically royalty in 6th Street now."
"I'd really love to believe the friendliness they're showing me, but if I took their smiles and warm greetings seriously, I'd be a real dumbass."
Still smiling and waving, Oliver turned his gaze back to the road, though his voice carried a sharp edge of sarcasm.
"Where was all this enthusiasm before? Every single one of them used to cower in fear that Will 'Big Gun' would turn on me. I remember their faces—nine out of ten of the guys who just waved were all tied up with Will back in the day. And now they want to buy me a drink? Acting like we're old pals?"
"Didn't expect this from you, Oliver," Jack remarked from the passenger seat, glancing over. "Didn't know you had such a sharp memory for grudges."
"I wish I didn't," Oliver replied grimly. "But Jack, do you know what those bastards confessed after my dad took down Will's loyalists? They planned to off my dad, kidnap my sister, and lure me in to kill me. If my dad hadn't copied the data chip and destroyed it in front of them to maintain internal stability, I'd have gutted every last one of them."
V, listening to Oliver's cold and furious words while keeping a smile on his face, realized this was likely the toned-down version of the story.
After spending time in Night City, V had learned its dirty rules well. Oliver only mentioned the plan to kidnap his sister and trick him into getting killed. But what a gang of thugs might do during that process... it didn't take much imagination.
"I'd keep an eye on them," Karl suggested. "When you get the chance, clean them up. Unstable elements like that will only bite you later."
"My old man probably has it handled," Oliver shrugged. "He gave me that chip copy for a reason. I doubt he ever intended to let them off the hook."
"But enough of that crap. T-Bug, how's the tracking going? Do I need to change our route?"
"No need."
T-Bug's voice came from the orb mounted between Karl and V's seats. "The former Militech operatives have entered Dogtown. We'll just head straight in. Once we're inside, I'll pick up their trail again."
"So I just drive in through the front gate?"
"Last time you guys got in by flashing your faces. Official entry requires documentation. You still have that?"
Hearing that, Oliver grimaced as he remembered the last time they'd been at Dogtown's gate and were verbally torn to shreds by a Tyger Claw soldier who kept calling them hillbillies.
"Ugh, thanks for reminding me of that delightful memory."
Jack winced too. "Yeah, that guy roasted us like we were dogs. But didn't Kenichi and the others arrange the documentation for us later?"
"They did," Karl confirmed. "But I have no idea if it's expired or been revoked."
"Dogtown passes are usually permanent once issued," the orb added, nodding as if human. "So if you still have them, you're fine. But keep in mind: we're not familiar with the area. Last time, aside from buying weapons at the stadium, you barely explored the place. This time, we're actively tracking someone. Might be smart to find a local guide. Anyone you know in Dogtown?"
"Let me think..." V mused. "Should we find Mr. Hands? He's a fixer for the Pacifica region. Pretty sure he hangs around Dogtown. We could buy some intel from him."
"Good idea," Karl said. "But actually, we've got more than just Mr. Hands there."
That confused the others.
"More than him? Who else do we know in Dogtown?"
"You guys already forgot about Maine and the crew? After they took out Faraday, they stayed in Dogtown. They know the area pretty well by now. And it's been a while—we might as well have them host us."
Karl tapped his phone. "Like the saying goes: more friends, more paths. Our friends? They're our gateway in."
"I'll give it to you, Karl," Jack said. "Your ability to make connections is unbeatable. Sometimes I wonder who the real local is here. I've lived in Night City my whole life, and you've met more people than I have—across every faction too."
"Now, now," Karl chuckled. "Maine and the crew are our mutual friends. Don't give me all the credit. I barely know anyone in the Valentinos. You're way more familiar with them than I am. My wide network just comes with the territory."
"Yeah, sure," Oliver added with a laugh. "The Arasaka heiress, Militech execs, the NCPD deputy chief—who don't you know? Honestly, I never expected to become close with someone like Mr. Johnson. Guess that's thanks to your connections."
"Funny, I remember you approached me first when we met."
Karl waved it off. "Besides, I got to know all of you. That's the best part."
"Trying to get all sentimental on me now?" V rolled his eyes. "Anyway, what's the deal with Maine and the others? Did they reply yet? I'll buy the drinks later if you stop buttering me up."
"Now that's generosity!" Karl teased. "Not the broke desert drifter you used to be."
He glanced at his phone. "Yeah, they replied. They've been stationed at a fixed spot in Dogtown recently—a bar. Let's see what it's called..."
Karl looked up. "The Moth Bar, over in Long Beach Scrapyard."
"Moth Bar?"
V raised an eyebrow at the name.
Thanks to Karl, most of the crew had picked up a bit of Chinese idioms and expressions. And the one thing that came to V's mind when he heard "moth" was just one phrase:
"Like a moth to a flame."
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