At 3:10 PM, at the 6th Street Gang's stronghold in Santo Domingo, Captain Gunner glanced at the red-haired woman sitting at the table, took off his cowboy hat, and then walked to the water cooler.
He unhurriedly made a cup of coffee, placed it in front of Gloria, and then opened a bottle of tequila and placed it in front of David.
"Come, Martinez, try this coffee. It's made from refined coffee beans, very hard to find on the market," Gunner said with a smile, looking at Gloria.
For a gang to achieve good, healthy development, talent is the most crucial link.
But the 6th Street Gang is no longer the 6th Street Gang it once was. From the top to the bottom, most people have become Militech's lackeys.
They have been deprived of their ability to think, turning into brainless tools that only shout.
Gunner considered himself different. From the Red Era, from the day he retired from the military, Gunner clearly knew what he truly wanted.
The 6th Street Gang should not be a tool in corporate struggles; the 6th Street Gang should exist to protect the community.
For this, Gunner needed like-minded, new "partners." It was a bit embarrassing to admit, but he was now old and frail.
But this mentality... Hmph, Gunner had never given up.
"Gloria, you are truly hard to get," Gunner poured himself a cup of coffee and sat opposite Gloria, saying softly.
"You call this an invitation?" Gloria responded. Holding the delicate porcelain cup with both hands, she continued, "They don't know, that's fine, but I remember I should have told you already: I already have a crew."
Gloria lowered her voice.
"Maine's crew?"
Gunner chuckled and said, "The crew you mentioned has already left Night City. This city can't accommodate them anymore. Night City is indeed a free city for dream chasers, but there's a prerequisite: don't provoke the corporations."
"Arasaka has already suppressed the things they did. It looks like they must have been caught by Arasaka, because given the corporations' situation, they wouldn't let people who damage their reputation live."
"I admit your crew is indeed very strong. They severely damaged the Tyger Claws and destroyed Japantown, although I don't know the more detailed circumstances.
But the word on the street is that after that incident, the Tyger Claws lost several hundred people overnight, and many key members died."
Gunner suddenly paused, his old face blooming like a chrysanthemum, and said, "Speaking of which, you should thank me."
"Thank you?"
"Yes, you should thank me for not reporting that you were a member of Maine's crew," Gunner nodded.
Gloria remained expressionless about this.
David, beside her, had never seen his mother like this. In his memory, Gloria was just an ordinary hospital orderly, as ordinary as could be.
But now, facing a high-ranking internal manager of the 6th Street Gang, Gloria's behavior... shocked David.
How many things had his mother been hiding from him in private?
She didn't let him get involved in the edgerunner life, didn't let him touch anything related to the streets, and didn't even let him own a gun. But she... in private, dealt with these people every day, didn't she?
Gloria didn't answer Gunner's statement, but instead asked, "Honestly, what exactly are you doing all this for?
I'm just an ordinary woman, as ordinary as can be. In Night City, there are tons of single mothers like me. Why do you insist on hounding me?"
"Ordinary? You?" Gunner laughed heartily, saying, "Setting aside whether an ordinary woman could join Maine's crew, from the beginning of the hospital incident, I've already investigated you.
You're ordinary? Yes, you have no power or influence, but you raised a child solely on a cleaner's salary and even sent him to Arasaka Academy. How could someone like you be an ordinary woman?
Through your wisdom and temperament, you're quite well-known on the CityNet. The mysterious weapons dealer of Santo Domingo, selling all kinds of implants and weapons. As long as a client needs it, you'll find every way to get it for them."
The more Gunner spoke, the wider his smile became.
"The 6th Street Gang... no, I need someone like you. The people under me can't manage money at all, let alone know how to earn it.
But you're different, Gloria. You've struggled in the lower echelons for decades. You understand street rules and have your own manual for life. What I need is your..."
Gunner raised a hand and tapped his own head, "...here."
Gloria's eyes flickered with a hint of hesitation upon hearing this.
David, beside her, nervously started to shake his leg again, but this time Gloria didn't stop him.
Because she was thinking.
Just then, a noisy sound came from downstairs, "Damn it, who let you in?! Car washes and repairs are over there, this is..."
"Get out of my way!"
"Help! Someone's causing trouble!"
Gunner unhappily shot Reiner a look, and Reiner quickly walked towards the office door, reaching out to open it and go see what was happening.
But Reiner didn't make it to the door before the office door was violently flung open.
Kicking the door wide open, a tall man in a black jacket entered the room, glaring fiercely at Gunner and shouting, "Old man, are you fucking never going to quit?!"
"Jackie!" David instantly stood up.
Jackie nodded at David, stepped aside, and revealed a woman in a pink jacket, a crop top underneath, and hot pants with long boots.
Wearing special glasses, she first looked at Gloria, who was sitting at the long table against the wall, and then at Gunner.
"Moxes?" Gunner recognized the woman instantly.
"Yes, Moxes," the woman said coldly. As she spoke, she shook her two arms outwards, and a pair of Mantis Blades appeared. She looked at Gunner coldly and continued,
"My name is Anna Dynos. I say, what are you doing to our kid's friend?"
Gunner narrowed his eyes, and the 6th Street Gang members immediately rallied and rushed forward. It must be said that after training, the 6th Street Gang members, in terms of military literacy, were indeed the highest average among gangs in Night City.
From Jackie's intrusion into the auto shop to his rush upstairs, it took less than half a minute, yet a large number of 6th Street Gang members had already swarmed in.
Crowding the hallway and stairs, a group had already entered the room, surrounding Jackie and Anna.
"I don't recall Gloria having any connection with the Moxes," Gunner said when he saw that most of his people had arrived.
"Don't play tough with me, old man. At this range, I could kill you three times before your people even had a chance to shoot," Anna said coldly.
"Do you Moxes even have the capacity to meddle in others' business right now?"
Gunner believed Anna's words. Just look at those Mantis Blades, and then look at the implants she deliberately showed him.
Gunner would believe it.
This woman was the Moxes' weapon, with a mix of expensive and cheap implants in her body, quite a few of them.
Not to mention the criminal record displayed on her after scanning with an optical implant and accessing the NCPD database.
This woman... was truly dangerous!
However, this was his territory, and the Moxes currently had no ability to manage affairs in other territories.
Thinking of this, Gunner calmly said, "My name is Gunner, Captain of the 6th Street Gang. This entire street is under my control. I manage about three hundred people.
That number is already on par with the Moxes. And given my identity and current position in the gang, killing me would bring huge trouble to the Moxes."
Anna's eyes moved, and her arms subconsciously lowered a bit.
When she came, Susie Q had emphasized to her that she couldn't kill anyone.
Yes, she was sent by Susie Q. All the Moxes had received help from Jackie, and also learned about Gloria's existence from Jackie.
They knew she was part of Jax's crew and was currently being harassed by the 6th Street Gang.
Because of Jax, the Moxes were willing to help Gloria at such a time, but to truly become enemies with the 6th Street Gang?
That wouldn't do. Even the impulsive Anna knew how difficult the Moxes' current situation was.
Under the Tyger Claws' counterattack, the Moxes' factories and clothing factories had all closed. Lizzies, the only one still open, was also affected and faced closure.
If they were to incur the enmity of the 6th Street Gang at such a time, then... the Moxes would truly be finished.
Seeing this, Jackie stepped forward in front of Anna, looked at Captain Gunner, and shouted, "What about me? I killed you. Who the hell can mess with me?"
"You're called Jackie, right? I remember you, a former member of the Valentinos. Jax Welles is your father? Yes, your mother is a formidable woman.
Relying on your father Jax's former prestige and status in the gang, she secured a territory, opened a bar in Heywood, and carved out a safe harbor for you.
She's a competent mother. But you, you're clearly not a competent son." Captain Gunner looked at Jackie, disdainfully saying, "Kid, gangs aren't for people like you. You're a good fighter, but being in a gang isn't just about being able to fight."
The situation had changed.
This wasn't like back at the hospital. At that time, Captain Gunner commanded fewer than a hundred men.
As a Captain of the 6th Street Gang, yet managing fewer than a hundred people, it showed how difficult Captain Gunner's situation was back then.
Not to mention, Maine's crew was indeed very troublesome at the time, backed by Rogue, and the combat power of its members was very strong.
But that was before.
And now?
Now, the so-called Maine's crew is just an incompetent mercenary team with only one capable fighter but no influence, and an unarmed woman.
Of course, if he didn't know Jackie's situation, Captain Gunner would still be a little afraid.
After all, everyone gives face to a capable, unburdened, and unattached madman, but Jackie is different.
Mrs. Welles alone was enough reason for Captain Gunner not to fear Jackie.
Captain Gunner took out his cigar box, clipped the end, lit it, and took a puff. He looked at Jackie and Anna and said,
"Let's leave it at that for today. You can take Martinez, but I'll invite her for coffee again tomorrow.
If you want to come, you're welcome, but I don't think you'll be free every day. This is Santo Domingo, not Watson, and not Heywood."
"You motherf—" Jackie understood the meaning of Captain Gunner's words. His hand rose, and the dark muzzle of his gun was already aimed at Captain Gunner's head. "Jackie!" Gloria called out to Jackie.
Jackie looked at Gloria, who shook her head at him.
Gloria glanced at Captain Gunner, reached out and took David's hand, then stood up and led David towards Jackie and Anna.
"Captain!" Reiner shouted, seeing this.
Captain Gunner shook his head at him.
This was already enough.
If these two were truly pushed to the limit, then everyone in this room... damn, it really wasn't certain if they could beat these two.
Both of them had Sandevistan installed, especially Anna, who had various implants. That woman alone could kill everyone in this room.
However, Gloria and David would also certainly die in this room.
Jackie looked at Gloria approaching and wanted to say that it couldn't end like this, these people were clearly endless.
And as Jackie and Gloria stood together, Captain Gunner suddenly said with a smile:
"Oh, Mrs. Martinez, please don't leave Santo Domingo. My people are always around the skyscrapers, and occasionally someone passes by Arasaka Academy. After all, David going home alone... is quite dangerous, isn't it?"
Gloria instantly turned around, her eyes fixed on Captain Gunner.
Captain Gunner shrugged, and his old face showed a chrysanthemum-like smile again.
As long as Gloria could join the 6th Street Gang, even if she wasn't loyal to him and the 6th Street Gang, her online channels would be enough for Captain Gunner to make a fortune.
Ultimately... Captain Gunner simply couldn't let this person go.
Jackie was so furious his eyes were bloodshot, his large hands clenched into fists, and Anna was also extremely angry.
Gloria was Jax's person. Jax... attacked the Tyger Claws for the Moxes. Therefore, Gloria's current predicament was also related to the Moxes.
Susie Q was a cold person, prioritizing profit, but... she was truly different with Jax. This was something everyone in the Moxes knew.
She would curse Jax and argue with him, but everyone in the gang knew about her concern and regard for Jax.
Therefore, without saying that Gloria was already considered one of their own, she was certainly not a stranger.
And among the crowd, the most furious person was actually David.
He wasn't stupid. How could someone who could study at Arasaka Academy be a fool?
In the conversation, he realized that he had become a burden to his mother.
If it weren't for him, his mother and Jackie might have been able to escape overnight, whether to the Moxes or Heywood.
In short... it was precisely because of him that Gloria was caught in a difficult choice.
David stood behind the three, biting his lower lip tightly, a metallic, rusty taste filling his mouth. He wanted to resist, but... he didn't have the strength.
"Move aside."
Just as David was furious at his own powerlessness and desperately wanted strength, a voice sounded behind him.
The voice grew louder, saying "move aside" again.
Then, it was accompanied by several screams.
David instinctively wanted to turn around, but before he could, a hand was placed on his shoulder.
This hand, like his own, was clean and had no implants.
Long, slender, pale, and thin fingers.
In front of David, Jackie suddenly widened his eyes, Anna opened her small mouth, and Gloria blinked, her eyes filled with joy.
And Captain Gunner, who had been standing in front of the long table with a bright smile, now found his smile gradually stiffening.
David turned his head and saw a delicate face. He was very tall, half a head taller than himself.
Looking at him, David's expression immediately changed, his lips moved, and he instinctively said, "Broth-Brother Jax..."
Jax didn't respond to David but quietly looked ahead, speaking softly to Captain Gunner:
"Do you want to die?"
As Jax's voice fell, a black shadow streaked out with Jax as the radius. In the blink of an eye, three nearby 6th Street Gang members grunted, then fell straight to the ground, their eyes filled with confusion.
"Thump—"
Crimson blood flowed from the waists of these three, instantly causing panic among the 6th Street Gang members present.
"I'll f—" Reiner, who was a little further away, reacted, instantly raising his hand, his submachine gun pointing at Jax.
"No!" Captain Gunner shouted, trying to stop Reiner.
Jax completely ignored Reiner, still standing quietly beside David, looking at Captain Gunner, and winking at Anna.
The next moment, Reiner, about to pull the trigger, stiffened. The gun in his hand slowly rose, pointing at his own chin. His eyes were full of fear, his body trembled, and then...: "Bang!"
Brain matter mixed with blood splattered onto the wall. Reiner's head exploded, and his headless corpse fell beside Jackie.
Jackie was so thrilled he couldn't close his mouth. Reacting quickly, he immediately threw a punch at someone next to him.
Jackie, this guy might not be very bright. Whether in business or as an employee, he was utterly incompetent.
After all, with his family owning a bar in the district, he still managed to mess himself up like this, which shows Jackie really didn't like to think.
But he didn't like to think, yet Jackie loved to act!
Knocking down a 6th Street Gang member with one punch, Jackie immediately activated Sandevistan.
The next moment, in the time-stopped world, he directly shoved his pistol into the mouth of a guy near Gloria. The gun fired, and the man died!
"Jax, why are you running so fast?"
Under a sweet voice, Sasha poked her head out from the doorway. Behind her, a figure flew past—it was a 6th Street Gang member, his head missing, only his torso flying by.
Then, a large hand appeared over Sasha's head. Maine, wearing sunglasses, showed a sunny smile, one hand gripping the doorframe. He pushed his sunglasses with the index finger of his other hand.
"Good afternoon, Jackie, Gloria." Maine laughed and greeted a dazed Gloria.
"Are the ones downstairs all dealt with?" Jax looked at Maine.
"Just a bunch of trash. Rebecca alone could handle them. She, well, aside from not having Sandevistan installed, is no different from a human tank," Maine said disdainfully.
Jax nodded, then he turned back to Captain Gunner and asked calmly:
"I asked you, do you want to die?"