Although Berry thought of a lot, the summary was actually very simple and clear.
That is, to make money and train troops.
To put it more elegantly, it was to build high walls, accumulate vast provisions, and slowly claim kingship.
Although Night City was different from the Lands Between, there was no King of Night City.
But in any case, Berry had already begun her actions.
And at this moment, a weary Judy had just returned home.
She was indeed very tired, both mentally and physically.
"Judy, you're finally back! I was worried sick. The streets were chaotic earlier, everyone was saying the Tyger Claws were going to war with the Mox. I called you, but you didn't answer!"
As soon as she entered, Evelyn, who had been pacing anxiously in the living room, rushed over to greet her.
Evelyn had changed a lot; her expression was much softer, and her words carried a vulnerability and concern that she rarely showed before.
Evelyn was still wearing a white T-shirt from Judy's wardrobe, and her face was bare of makeup, making her appear very peaceful.
If her old acquaintances saw her, they would never connect this ordinary young woman, who could be seen anywhere on the street, with the heavily made-up Socialite she once was.
Berry would say that Evelyn had put on a new skin—"Everyday Evelyn."
However, the anxious Evelyn was about to embrace Judy as usual, but as she approached, she was repelled by an intensely pungent odor.
Her brows furrowed instinctively, and Evelyn then noticed that Judy's state was somewhat off.
She was so tired that crow's feet were visible at the corners of her eyes, which wasn't unusual, but mainly, her normally well-kept, radiant hair was now messy and plastered to her forehead, caked with sticky mud.
Judy's body was also covered in mud splatters, like glitter, especially on the front, as if she had been soaked in muddy water.
From the shape of the yellow mud streaks, one could imagine how Judy had crawled and traversed through the mud.
So Evelyn froze instantly, her outstretched hands suspended in the air.
In this situation, she couldn't decide whether to hug her or not.
"It's nothing, just a few... minor detours."
Finally, Judy broke the deadlock, waved her hand, and dragged her heavy body into the house. Once inside, she headed straight for the bathroom.
What else could have caused this terrible state?
Judy hadn't expected that the secret passage Berry mentioned would be a muddy tunnel where she couldn't even duck or bend over; she had to crawl.
If that were all, it would have been fine, but when she struggled out of the muddy, sewer-like passage, bulging black plastic bags from the dump hit her head like snowballs.
The exit of this secret passage was actually in a garbage heap.
What a brilliant idea, ha-ha. Although Judy thought so, she couldn't bring herself to laugh.
So, she returned to the apartment in this terrible state.
In the bathroom, the showerhead was turned to maximum, and Judy scrubbed her skin as if she had a vendetta, not caring if her cyberware got wet.
She used to think she wasn't a germaphobe, until now.
No matter how much she scrubbed, she still felt the fermented smell of sewage mixed with garbage from the dump wouldn't dissipate.
It wasn't until her entire body was red from scrubbing, and she felt her tattoos were almost rubbed off, that she felt slightly better.
After showering and changing into new clothes, Judy felt her body lighten, and her mind temporarily escaped the previous heaviness.
"Hi, Judy, over here."
As soon as she entered the bedroom, she saw Evelyn thoughtfully placing a pizza, warmed in the microwave, on the low table.
"Sorry, I can't cook, but I thought you might be hungry after being out all day."
Evelyn scratched her head, feeling a bit apologetic about the slightly curled pizza in front of her.
She didn't often do these things before, so mistakes were inevitable.
"Evelyn..."
Seeing Evelyn sitting quietly by the bed, her hands and feet composed, Judy shook her head with complex emotions.
Evelyn had changed so much since waking from her coma that even her best friend hadn't quite adapted.
After all, no one would have imagined that the once incredibly confident Socialite of Clouds, proud as a peacock, would become like this.
For such a drastic change, Judy could only attribute it to a profound shift in character after facing a life-or-death situation.
Perhaps Evelyn had come to some realization.
But in any case, Judy was still relieved by the change in her good friend.
It was much better than the calculating and worldly Socialite Evelyn, who would use anything as a stepping stone to climb higher.
"Thanks, Evelyn, but I'm not hungry right now."
Judy shook her head and sat meekly beside Evelyn.
After her half-day tour as a Homeless man, Judy currently had no appetite.
"Alright then, maybe we can go out to eat later."
Evelyn wasn't saddened by Judy's refusal.
After all, she was too embarrassed to let Judy eat that dry pizza.
Evelyn looked at the weary Judy, her eyes full of tenderness.
In fact, not only did others know she had changed a lot, but she herself was also very clear about it.
However, this change wasn't sudden; it was after almost dying once that she had gained clarity.
Money, power, fame, and fortune—like many girls who fall into prostitution, she had fallen into the vast net woven by these tempting things in her Night City life, and she tirelessly pursued them.
Because she felt that all of life's troubles stemmed from not having enough money, not enough power, not enough fame.
It wasn't about how much she sacrificed; she became the top Socialite of Clouds, she dealt with Night City's upper class, and even figures like Yorinobu Arasaka were her bed companions.
She had money and fame.
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