Jackie Welles, the self-proclaimed boss of Heywood, the self-proclaimed future legend of Night City, had unexpectedly messed up, and it was at the hands of his own mother.
Regarding Jackie's participation in the Arasaka Tower mission, an act almost like playing with his own head, Jackie's mother, the proprietor of the Wolf Bar, Mrs. Welles, was furious, almost having her blood pressure spike and passing out while watching the news.
And after Jackie fled back to the city, Mrs. Welles somehow got news that Jackie was hiding at Viktor's Clinic, so she drove straight from Heywood to Chinatown.
Clenching her fists, she stormed into the clinic and caught Jackie red-handed, who was sweating profusely while watching a boxing match with Dr. Viktor.
After that, well, it was a tragedy.
Jackie was bundled up and escorted by his silent mother to the Wolf Bar, where she locked the doors and severely reprimanded him for his reckless disregard for his own life.
In the end, Jackie received the grand package of being grounded, to be confined at home for a week.
Jackie was initially unwilling, but it could only be said that this mission had also scared him. Especially if Arasaka Corporation truly didn't intend to let them go, he, Jackie, might escape, but his mother, and this ancestral Wolf Bar of the Welles family, would surely be ruined.
So, Jackie was speechless and could only acquiesce to the grounding. As long as it appeased Mrs. Welles, he would just have to endure a few days, or so he thought.
But in less than two days.
Jackie completely regretted it. He couldn't stand being at home; he was so bored he was going crazy. Less than half a week had passed, and he was already stifling.
Even if V hadn't found him, he would have prepared to run away.
"So, that's it?"
In the car, V, gripping the steering wheel, raised an eyebrow after hearing Jackie's tragic story.
"Damn it, sis, what else do you want? You can't push me to the brink."
Watching V, who was observing from the sidelines and implying it was nothing, Jackie rolled his eyes helplessly.
"Oh, by the way, why did you call me?"
Jackie just remembered that he had been complaining for a long time and still didn't know why V had called him.
"I wanted you to help me, since Berry is in trouble, I have to step in. I was wondering if you had time to lend a hand."
Saying this, V looked at Jackie, sprawled in his seat, and stated definitively,
"But it seems you're busy now, so never mind."
"Hey, hey, I'm free, I'm totally free."
Seeing V's fleeting glance, about to leave, Jackie quickly reached out to stop her.
"V, you have to help me. If I really have to stay home for a week, I'll go crazy, absolutely."
Listening to Jackie's earnest plea, V gave a helpless, bitter smile.
"Jackie, Mrs. Welles..."
V didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was clear.
Mrs. Welles, she wouldn't dare offend her either.
If she dared to secretly release Jackie, Mrs. Welles would come after her.
"Hey, V, a brother's in trouble, you can't just stand by and do nothing!"
Jackie seemed truly unable to stay at home; he was already playing the friendship card with V.
"Hmph..." Looking at Jackie's pitiful state, V sighed helplessly, as if she had made a decision.
"Alright then, Jackie, I'll help you figure out a way to sneak out. What's your plan? Do you have one?"
"Yes, yes!"
As if afraid V would refuse, Jackie quickly responded.
"Ahem, like this: you drive the car to the back alley of the Wolf Bar, I'll figure out how to pry open the window, and you find me a ladder nearby. It'll be done, simple, effective, and most importantly, if we're fast enough, Mom will never find out."
Jackie was confident, apparently having planned his escape for some time.
"Alright, I'll contact you when I get there."
V shook her head helplessly and hung up the phone.
This Jackie, sometimes reliable, but sometimes truly unreliable.
After some time.
V drove into the Heywood district, to the back alley entrance of the Wolf Bar.
Starting from Watson, crossing the Corpo Plaza led to the vast Heywood district.
Heywood is considered one of the less problematic areas in all of Night City. The Night City Police Department has even set Heywood's current threat level to: "Partially Dangerous".
Therefore, Heywood is also known as "Night City's largest habitable zone".
The public safety here is good, and it's bustling with many tall buildings. Night City's City Council is also located here. It has Night City's largest middle-class population, who are the stable foundation and an important voting bloc for Night City.
Latin Americans (mostly of Mexican descent) are the main ethnic group in Heywood, though there are many people of other ethnicities as well; Heywood is generally a diverse area.
If one were to only look at Heywood, then Night City could be considered a normal city.
Because of this, Mrs. Welles also had complaints that V and Berry didn't stay in Heywood but instead moved to the chaotic Watson district. "This is simply asking for trouble," were Mrs. Welles's exact words.
Thinking about it, a smile appeared on V's lips.
V didn't resist Mrs. Welles's affection for them; or rather, she greatly respected and appreciated this fierce, mother-like figure. After all, in Night City, it's rare to meet someone who genuinely cares about you, and Mrs. Welles was such a person, a good person in the traditional sense, possessing Night City's rare warmth and generous personality. At least for V and Berry, she was very good.
However, Mrs. Welles's concern sometimes made her forget that V and Berry were not innocent lambs; they were Mercenaries who lived by licking blood.
Back to Heywood.
If one were to live a normal life, Heywood would indeed be a good place, but Heywood isn't entirely good. After all, one of Night City's persistent problems, the omnipresent gang members, are also here.
The main gang in the Heywood area is the Valentinos Gang, a gang that lives by money laundering, smuggling vehicles, weapons, and gang raids. At the same time, they also run some legitimate businesses like restaurants, nightclubs, and car dealerships, though the latter's purpose is mainly to cover for the former.
The Valentinos Gang's impression on people is golden cyberware, exaggerated vests, gaudy jewelry, and Jesus Christ tattoos. A strong Catholic atmosphere is also their characteristic, of course, this is brought by the majority of Mexican-descended members in the gang.
However, although the Valentinos Gang has great influence in the Heywood district, they still have disputes on the streets with another major gang in Night City: the "6th Street Gang", mainly composed of veterans and NUSA fanatics.
Heywood is subdivided into three districts: Wellsprings, The Glen, and Vista del Rey.
Among them, Wellsprings and The Glen are territories controlled by the Valentinos Gang, but they are the most barren, while Vista del Rey, which borders the "6th Street Gang", is a disputed territory between the two gangs.
V stepped on the brake, turned off the car, looking at the familiar surroundings. She had arrived.
"Hey, Jackie, I'm here. How are your preparations coming along?"
V redialed Jackie's video call.
"Oh, it's V. Soon, soon, I'm wrestling with this damn window..." Jackie was sweating profusely, biting his tongue, concentrating on trying to saw open the steel frame of the window with a small hacksaw blade.
"Like I just said, find me a ladder, and I'll be done soon!"
Jackie sawed at the steel frame, desperately keeping his voice low, afraid his mother would discover his escape.
"Alright, a ladder, got it."
V hung up the video call and got out of the car.
The somewhat old street next to the car was the back alley of the Wolf Bar. V skillfully climbed over the iron gate at the entrance and slipped inside.
Landing easily, V clapped her hands.
"Hmm, a ladder... where can I find a ladder?"
V, wondering where to find a ladder, circled the alley a few times before finding half a metal ladder at an alley entrance.
It should work, right?
Looking at the rusty ladder, V expressed some doubt.
However, there was nothing else available, so she'd have to make do.
Convincing herself, V nodded, and with a clear conscience, picked up the ladder and headed towards the back of the Wolf Bar.
"Hey, V, over here!"
Before V even got close, she saw Jackie's upper body and his massive head poking out of the second-story window of the Wolf Bar's graffiti-covered back wall.
"Good, good, finally I don't have to be stuck at home anymore."
Seeing V arrive as promised, carrying the ladder, Jackie finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Jackie, I'll hold it steady for you, come down!"
V leaned the ladder against the wall, and seeing that the distance was about right, urged Jackie to hurry.
She was afraid Mrs. Welles would open the door at that moment, see that big oaf Jackie, and ruin their escape plan.
"Alright, I'm coming!"
Jackie, eager to escape, didn't care about much else. He climbed onto the windowsill, his butt facing outwards, and reached his feet for the ladder.
As soon as his foot touched it, the rusty ladder creaked, but at this point, he couldn't be picky. Jackie continued his descent.
He was about to climb down the wall using the ladder.
However, at the very end, just five or six steps from the bottom, the creaking, swaying ladder finally couldn't hold up, and with a crisp crack, it snapped into two pieces.
"Holy shit!"
Jackie, halfway down, felt his body go light, his eyes widened with a bad premonition, and he felt himself losing his grip, falling with half a ladder.
"Damn it!!!"
With a thud, Jackie's butt hit the ground cleanly, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Oh my god, I'm sorry, Jackie."
Looking at Jackie, who was sitting on the ground with half a ladder in his hand, V scratched her face apologetically.
Jackie was so big; she hadn't dared to try and catch him at that moment.
"Don't say anything! Run!"
However, Jackie had no time to complain now. Hearing the loud noise he had made, he grimaced, stood up, and clutched his butt, ready to run.
If he didn't run now, the people inside the Wolf Bar, having heard the commotion, would come out, and then he wouldn't be able to escape.
"Alright, my car's outside, hurry up and go!"
Seeing Jackie so anxious, V also composed herself and led the way, becoming the guide.
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