"Wow~"
As Rogue spoke, Axel raised a hand and reached toward her chest.
Rogue's eyes twitched slightly as she watched his hand approach. Her lips tightened, but she didn't move away.
His fingertip lightly touched the area above her chest instead of the exposed cleavage beneath her low-cut top.
Then Axel chuckled.
"I can hear every subtle change in your heartbeat. Even the slightest arrhythmia, a tiny shift in your body's functions, a change in your pupils, or a difference in how you breathe, none of it escapes me.
"I use those details to tell whether someone is lying.
"And your reaction tells me you're completely serious.
"So what is it? You're willing to hand Afterlife over to me that easily?
"Or do you have a problem you want me to solve?"
His finger left her chest. He dipped it into the fresh drink Claire had brought over, stirring the ice before lifting the glass and draining it in a single gulp.
Rogue stared at him for a moment before smiling and shaking her head.
"Fine. I won't ask where all these strange abilities came from.
"You're right. I do have a troublesome issue that requires your help.
"But don't worry, it doesn't conflict with your plan to become a legend in Night City.
"I'll help establish your reputation first. Consider that my down payment. After that, I'll ask you to help me with a little matter of my own..."
"Adam Smasher?"
Axel cut her off.
Rogue froze.
"How did you know?"
She stared at him in disbelief.
"Adam Smasher hasn't shown himself in almost fifty years. Even I can only find fragments of information and half-credible rumors.
"If Morgan Blackhand's stories weren't still circulating, most people would think Adam Smasher was just a myth.
"So how did you figure it out?
"Because you're right.
"I want you to help draw that bastard out from wherever the corporations are hiding him.
"If a new legend rises in Night City and starts causing serious trouble for Arasaka, he'll show up eventually.
"Nobody enjoys being a corporation's attack dog more than Adam Smasher.
"Killing people is his greatest pleasure.
"And you, Axel, have exactly the kind of abilities that would make you his ideal target.
"So yes, I'm willing to invest heavily in you.
"But are you really willing to help me with something this important?"
"A small favor?"
Axel looked at her strangely.
Rogue immediately wrapped an arm around his shoulder and laughed.
"Fine, maybe calling it a small favor was pushing it.
"That's Adam Smasher we're talking about.
"Fifty years ago he was already more machine than man. These days I'd be surprised if even five percent of him is still original.
"I've heard reports about a cybernetic war machine designed around an advanced Sandevistan system.
"If I'm right, it's Arasaka's newest toy for him.
"He hasn't appeared in Night City for decades, but traces of him keep showing up in conflicts across the Middle East.
"So yes, it's a dangerous request.
"I..."
"You're mistaken, Rogue."
Axel interrupted again.
Grabbing her wrist, he pulled her out of her seat.
As he dragged her toward the entrance of Afterlife, a sneer spread across his face.
"You think Adam Smasher qualifies as a problem for me?
"Don't be ridiculous, old woman.
"Anything that can be smashed apart with enough force isn't a problem.
"My problems are things that can't be killed, can't be touched, can't be defined.
"Adam Smasher?
"What the hell is he supposed to be?
"Come on. Let's go have some fun at Arasaka Tower.
"You want to know when I'll deal with Adam Smasher?
"Why not right now?"
The moment he finished speaking, Axel kicked the front door open.
The heavy door flew outward.
Rogue clutched her chest in shock.
"It was already opening!"
Axel laughed.
"I thought the automatic door was too slow, sis!"
Moments later, he dragged her outside.
Rogue hurried after him as they headed toward a parked Mizutani Shion.
"I'm fine! I'm just heading out for a..."
VROOOOM!
Before she could finish, Axel had already started the car.
The Shion shot forward like a rocket.
Rogue immediately fastened her seatbelt and grabbed whatever she could as Axel smashed through two obstructing vehicles and accelerated toward Corporate Plaza.
"Damn it!"
She tightened her grip on the door.
"Are you seriously charging straight in?"
"Why not?"
Axel grinned.
"We're in a hurry."
The car drifted onto an elevated highway and surged forward.
In the distance, multiple AVs were bombarding buildings in Pacifica.
Across from it, in Dogtown, dozens of combat drones exchanged fire with heavily armed fighters wearing green cybermasks.
Night City never stopped fighting.
After the Middle Eastern conflicts, it had become one of the world's greatest battlegrounds for corporate interests.
Especially after the Unification War, Night City remained independent, refusing to submit to the NUSA.
That independence came at a price.
Everyone in the city belonged to something, a corporation, a gang, or a cause.
Those who escaped exploitation were rare.
Most simply died trying.
Even as Axel and Rogue drove, another firefight erupted on a nearby section of highway, dragging innocent drivers into the chaos.
Rogue exhaled and changed the subject.
"Since you're calling yourself the King of Afterlife, you should understand the situation around the bar.
"We're located in southern Watson.
"That's where the Tyger Claws and Maelstrom clash most often.
"Hundreds of gang members fight there every day.
"The mess up ahead is probably their work.
"Too bad we're late. Otherwise you could've gotten some combat practice."
Her gaze shifted toward Axel's hands.
"With all due respect, you don't look like someone who's spent years killing people.
"Your skin is too perfect.
"Real combat leaves marks.
"Unless some corporation modified you to look this way.
"I don't know where you came from. Maybe Biotechnica.
"Either way, this city works the same way it always has.
"Every gang acts tough, but they're all just tools.
"The Animals advertise Biotechnica products.
"The Valentinos push Militech gear.
"The Tyger Claws showcase Kendachi weapons.
"Everyone belongs to someone."
SCREEEECH!
The Shion suddenly spun to a stop beside a burning vehicle.
An overturned Thorton Galena lay nearby.
Inside it, David Martinez hung upside down from his seatbelt.
Blood covered his face.
His eyes were locked on a woman lying motionless on the road.
His mother.
Gloria Martinez.
A gang shootout on the highway had turned their lives upside down.
After Gloria was hit, she lost control of the vehicle.
The crash followed moments later.
David had been trapped ever since.
Earlier, a Trauma Team AV had landed nearby.
Its personnel rescued several high-paying clients.
Then they left.
Neither David nor his mother could afford Trauma Team coverage.
Gloria had worked herself to exhaustion just to keep David enrolled at Arasaka Academy.
They barely had enough money for daily necessities.
Now all he could do was watch helplessly as his mother bled out.
Night City's public medical services existed, but everyone knew they were slow.
Far too slow.
David could only pray.
Then another screech of tires shattered the silence.
His fading consciousness sharpened as he stared through the shattered window.
A car had stopped nearby.
The door opened.
A young man stepped out.
David attended Arasaka Academy.
He had seen plenty of wealthy students.
But none of them wore a suit as expensive as the one this man had on.
The stranger walked over and lightly tapped the wrecked door.
"Yo, kid.
"What a coincidence."
"Huh?"
Before David could react, the man grabbed the mangled door and ripped it off entirely.
Metal screamed.
The world flipped.
Moments later, David found himself sitting upright on the pavement.
The stranger calmly continued toward Gloria.
At the same time, a woman in yellow retro punk clothing walked past David.
She paused briefly.
"Good luck, kid."
Then she continued forward.
"An old friend?"
Rogue asked.
"No."
Axel shook his head.
"Never met him.
"Doesn't matter.
"I want his mother to survive.
"She's your responsibility."
He patted Rogue's shoulder.
Rogue blinked before nodding.
"Easy enough."
She immediately pulled out a pneumatic injector and drove it into Gloria's chest.
While Rogue stabilized the injured woman, Axel walked over to David and ruffled his hair.
"Kid, when your mom recovers, bring her to Afterlife.
"Rogue, give him some money and your contact information."
"No problem."
Rogue raised a bloodstained hand in acknowledgment.
Axel released David and turned back toward the car.
David suddenly snapped out of his daze.
"What's your name?!"
Axel looked back.
"Me? Axel.
"And you?"
"David Martinez!
"Mr. Axel, I'll repay you someday!"
Axel laughed.
"I believe you.
"So come find me at Afterlife soon, kid."
He waved and returned to the car.
Leaning against the window, he produced a Lucky Strike cigarette, lit it, and took a slow drag.
In the distance, David rushed toward his mother.
By the time he arrived, Rogue had finished her emergency treatment.
Looking at the frightened teenager covered in blood and sweat, she smiled.
"Your mom got unlucky.
"Her lungs and kidneys took severe damage.
"Modern weapons hit way harder than ordinary people can handle.
"She doesn't have enough cyberware to compensate for injuries like this.
"But don't worry.
"I already contacted my ripperdoc.
"He'll be here in less than three minutes.
"I paid the medical bill.
"I'm also transferring ten thousand dollars to your account.
"Use it however you need.
"After your mother recovers, buy some decent clothes and come see us at Afterlife.
"I'm Rogue.
"And the guy who saved you is Axel.
"You'll understand who we are once you get there.
"I've already sent all the important details and Afterlife's location to your phone.
"Read it carefully when things settle down.
"For now, good luck, kid."
===
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