When they arrived downstairs at the apartment building, Jax and Lucy had just gotten out of the car when they saw Gloria standing at the entrance, talking to Dorio.
"Jax!" Dorio immediately raised her hand and called out when she saw Jax from afar.
Jax nodded, and Dorio then looked at Lucy, smiling as she said, "Lucy, you're finally here, come over quickly."
Jax and Lucy walked over together, and Dorio came to meet them, bringing Gloria along, and then said, "Gloria was just telling me about the gun shop, but as you know, I'm not that great with my brain.
I'm fine with fighting and combat, but asking me to run a shop... that's really asking too much of me."
Gloria ignored Dorio's complaints and looked at Jax instead.
She was wearing simple, easy-to-move-in clothes, with a brown vest underneath, old blue jeans, and a bright yellow hospital cleaner's uniform as a jacket.
But even in such clothes, Gloria wore them like a model.
She was tall and seemed slender, but her figure was actually very good.
Especially her legs, tightly encased in jeans, her thighs were so round they almost burst the denim, her buttocks were firm and shapely, and her chest was impressively large.
Gloria... no wonder viewers who watched the anime felt so conflicted.
It wasn't just because of Gloria's great maternal love, but also because the character was very charming in appearance...
And at this moment, Gloria said with a serious expression, "I've already sorted out the sources for firearms and implants.
I've found a few sub-dealers, so we have purchasing channels.
But Jax, our external selling price is still a small issue.
There's also the repair and innovation of weapons and implants.
Pilar alone can't handle so many items; he's good at making and improving, but repair work is much slower.
So I was thinking, could we trouble that Ripperdoc, that is... Mr. Viktor, for some help?" Gloria said very seriously.
This was her first time opening a shop, although the shop wasn't hers, but everyone's.
Several members of the crew had shares in this gun shop: Jax, Maine, Pilar, Gloria, and... Rogue.
Jax held the largest stake, forty percent of the gun shop belonged to him, because Moxes invested.
A few days ago, after Susie Q heard from Jax about the deal he made with Rogue, she decisively transferred her pension to Jax, insisting that Jax open a shop next to Afterlife.
Kolina also wanted to join after hearing about it, but... Susie Q's money was already enough!
Susie Q invested 380,000, accounting for thirty percent, and she transferred all of this thirty percent to Jax.
Jax didn't put in anything, and Maine directly decided that Jax would take ten percent.
The reason was that Jax was the crew's strongest combatant, and in the future, many things would surely require him to step forward and resolve them.
Therefore, Jax currently held forty percent of the gun shop's shares.
And Gloria was the person managing and operating the shop, so she held ten percent of the shares.
Maine also put in some money, investing his remaining 60,000+ euros, accounting for ten percent.
Pilar invested with his technical skills, after all, during the time Jax and Gloria were talking, Pilar was tirelessly repairing and improving firearms and weapons...
He's practically drinking stamina potions like water right now, isn't he?
If Pilar didn't get ten percent of the shares, then what the hell would that be?
As for Rogue, she was the guarantor; this shop was opened next to Afterlife, and Rogue could ensure the shop's safety.
If there were conflicts with people on the street later on, Rogue would come out to vouch for them.
Therefore, Rogue had twenty percent.
At first glance, it seemed Rogue hadn't done anything, and twenty percent seemed a bit excessive.
But in reality, the location of the gun shop was provided by Rogue, and the apartment where Jax, Maine, and others currently lived was also provided by Rogue.
So, Rogue was actually... like an angel investor?
"Viktor will definitely be willing to help, but how much do you plan to pay him?" Jax said after some thought.
Viktor was a warm-hearted person, embodying the traditional romance of the older generation.
He would be willing to help people he liked, and it would be the kind of help where he was willing to take a loss.
Just take V as an example; when V hadn't made a name for himself yet, and was even down and out, living in an attic with Jackie, what did Viktor do?
He installed optical implants for V, even offering to do it for free.
Viktor verbally said he'd have V pay him back when V had money, but in reality, Viktor never expected to get that money back, after all... in the game, you can always owe Viktor that money.
"Hmm... I'm not really sure about that.
Last year, the average monthly income in Night City was around 4,300 euros, but in reality, seventy percent of people don't even earn 500 a month.
Otherwise, where would all those homeless people on the streets come from?" Gloria pondered.
Jax was surprised to hear that and said, "That many?"
"Many? Is 500 euros considered a lot? Jax, if you buy a bottle of water from a vending machine, or a synthetic fast food meal, one meal would cost at least around seven euros, right?
You'd need more than ten euros a day to survive, wouldn't you?
500 euros, that's barely enough just for food, isn't it?" Gloria immediately frowned and said.
For a moment, Gloria felt that edgerunners were used to spending lavishly and truly had no concept of money.
Indeed, they were people who could spend tens of thousands of euros to buy high-end implants for themselves; they simply didn't have the concept of saving the money they earned.
Ordinary people and edgerunners were two different circles, so different perceptions were normal... but, it shouldn't be that abnormal, should it?
Jax looked at Gloria, knowing she had misunderstood, and said, "I mean, are there that many people? I'm not talking about income."
"There are indeed that many people," Dorio said from the side.
She paused, then continued, "The monthly salary of a regular police officer is barely enough for their rent and monthly food, with no money left over.
And those who can become NCPD are considered half-a-step above ordinary people, right? At least it's a structured job.
But even police officers with structured jobs, if they don't use backdoors, their monthly money can only barely get them by.
So what about ordinary people?
I think this is also why there are so many dirty cops in the NCPD who collude with gangs; they rely on corporations and gangs to pay them tribute."
Dorio smiled and continued, "This is also why gangs rise up, because Night City can't provide jobs for so many people.
Most people have no choice but to be forced into gangs; that way, at least they'll have a place to live and won't starve to death."
"So... how should we set Viktor's price?" Jax was completely confused.
Forget it, he really didn't understand economics.
After all, in the past, Susie Q helped Jax manage his money, so Jax didn't have to worry about money problems.
And later, when he became an edgerunner after leaving Moxes, Maine took him under his wing, directly guiding Jax onto the right path.
But... the economic situation between the upper and lower classes collapsing to this extent was something Jax had truly not expected.
Speaking of which, was it like this in the game too?
Ordinary people working honestly in the junkyard earned less than a thousand euros a year.
In the quest where V looked for his old beat-up car, giving that woman 100 euros made her satisfied, saying it was enough to buy a new car.
But buying a house in a place like Heywood cost nearly a hundred thousand euros.
From this, it can be concluded that the stupid donkeys really made a complete mess of the economic system.
Not just 2077, it seemed to be the same in The Witcher as well...
But now, thinking about it carefully, Jax realized that the stupid donkeys might not have done anything wrong after all?
The real economic situation in Night City could indeed be that absurd!
Ordinary people in Night City couldn't even afford a 500-euro monthly insurance premium, but the wealthy class could spend 800,000 euros a month to buy a membership to get an "immortality" buff.
Damn... Johnny was right, these bastards should all be burned to ashes!
Jax thought, his expression gradually becoming strange.
"Let's go inside and talk; we can put Lucy's things down first," Dorio said from the side.
After she finished speaking, Jax and Gloria exchanged glances, and Gloria then nodded, indicating agreement.
Entering the apartment, Jax and Dorio first helped Lucy put her things away, and then saw Gloria waving to them.
She and David had also moved in, because Jackie was also moving in after a while.
When they hadn't settled down yet, Gloria lived with Moxes, which was safer, but now that they were stable and had a fixed residence, it was naturally safer for Gloria to be with the crew.
Jackie's current combat power could match Anna, Moxes' strongest combatant, let alone the others in Maine's crew.
Do you know how powerful the crew's current second-strongest combatant, the human tank, muscular l*li Rebecca, is?
Jax looked at Lucy and saw that she was silent, apparently planning to follow him.
Seeing this, as Jax led Lucy past Sasha's door, he felt a strange feeling in his heart...
Sasha had said she was going to sleep before they left, so she was probably still asleep at this hour.
Recently, she had been binge-watching shows, staying up all night and sleeping all day, truly turning herself into a cat.
"Let's pay Mr. Viktor by the piece.
I asked Jackie, and he said Viktor would be willing to help even without pay, but the problem is our volume is too large, and this isn't a one-time or two-time transaction; it's a long-term business."
Gloria said seriously, "I'm not distrusting Mr. Viktor and your relationship; I just believe that no matter how good a friendship is, you can't always let him make unilateral contributions.
That's not fair; over time, Mr. Viktor will inevitably feel negative emotions."
"Hmm... Actually, Gloria, you can just decide these things.
I don't really understand this area.
If you ask me, I can't really help you much..." Jax said after some thought.
Gloria nodded with a chuckle, then said, "I'm just reporting to you."
"Reporting? Why?"
"Maine said you're the leader," Gloria said in a matter-of-fact tone, then looked at Lucy and asked, "Did I hear wrong then?"
Lucy shook her head, "You didn't hear wrong, Maine said exactly that."
"Wait, why don't I know I'm the leader?" Jax pointed to his face. Maine's crew, Maine's crew, Maine must be the leader!
Jax also voiced this thought, which was met with Gloria's speechless response.
"Maine's crew, huh? Aren't Maine and Jackie going to pick up the newcomers? After the gun shop and security company open, will you still be mercenaries?"
"." Jax fell silent.
The identity change... is it happening too fast?
Six months ago, Jax was just a handyman for the Moxes. Six months later, he became a top mercenary in Night City, and now... he's going to switch to being an entrepreneur?
"Alright, I'll call Viktor in a bit and ask him to come over so we can discuss the terms in person." Seeing Jax in a daze, Gloria said with a chuckle. Jax took a deep breath, just about to say that Viktor was actually very far away, dozens of kilometers from the Northern Industrial District to Little China. But then, inside Gloria's house, David's voice rang out.
"Mom, you have to go pick up Viktor," David said, walking out in his Arasaka uniform.
Gloria paused and asked, "Why? Isn't Viktor in Watson District too?"
"Watson District is huge. If Viktor comes by himself, he'll have to take a taxi. It's dozens of kilometers. What are you thinking?" David said, speechless.
"? "
"Why haven't you gone to school yet? What are you dawdling for?" Gloria suddenly changed her expression, looking at David with an angry face.
David: "???"
After being scolded by Gloria, David quickly went to school.
Jax watched from the side and found it amusing.
But when he spoke, Jax very seriously said to Gloria, "Are you really planning to make him study his whole life?"
"." Gloria looked at Jax and fell silent.
Lucy, on the side, also looked at Gloria seriously.
Because in Lucy's opinion, that kid David actually had a lot of potential. His personality wasn't suited to being a mercenary, but this personality would allow him to install many cyberware, just like Rebecca.
This knowledge was all learned by everyone at the Americas Jaguar Fortress base. It was said to be from Dr. Naomi, the captain of the Panther First Team and a doctor of medicine.
Therefore, the strength of empathy = the amount of cyberware that can be carried. This might be a bold statement, but it does have some truth to it.
"I know what you mean, I know it all." Gloria took a deep breath, her gaze gradually becoming firm. She then softly continued, "But I'm just firm in my own ideas."
"I know this isn't fair to David. For the past seventeen years, I've kept David by my side.
Under the guise of protection, I prevented him from encountering dangerous things, instilled my own ideas and imposed them on him, making him carry my ideals forward.
This isn't fair to that child, but I ask you, is there really fairness in this world?"
Gloria looked at Jax and Lucy.
Jax opened his mouth, then closed it again.
The matter of Gloria and her son... was not something he could comment on.
"He can't stand at the top of Arasaka Tower," Lucy said, shaking her head at Gloria.
"He might have some talent, but at most, he can only become a hardworking corporate lackey."
"That's enough, that's enough for him to live a safe life," Gloria smiled.
She also knew that her hope for David to stand at the top of Arasaka Tower was out of reach.
But... while she said she wanted David to stand at the top, in reality, as long as David could become a corporate employee, have a stable job, and insurance, Gloria would be relieved.
"Uh, will that really make him safe for life?" Jax suddenly spoke, pointing to himself. He hesitated for a moment and said,
"Look at me, didn't I kill a corporate executive a while ago? What was his name, Tanaka? I heard he was even a department deputy director."
"..." Gloria was momentarily stunned.
A few days later, in Watson District, outside Afterlife, the previously empty alleyway. A wall was suddenly smashed open, and inside, a rough outline had already been expanded —
Like a convenience store?
Inside Afterlife, many mercenaries were discussing this matter. "This can only be Rogue's doing. What is she planning? Is she going to open a new store next to Afterlife?"
"It feels a bit strange. With Afterlife's profits, Rogue would be filthy rich even if she did nothing, right? After all, she takes a cut of everyone's work. What's the purpose of opening a store?"
"Damn it, who would complain about having too much money? Can't Rogue want to earn more?"
"Hey, Claire, do you know?"
"Don't ask me, I don't know anything." Claire yawned and poured a drink for someone.
Just then, a man, dirty all over and with some cement on his face, walked into Afterlife.
Skeletal, with a metal prosthetic limb, he was a regular at Afterlife — Bone Cree.
A former Afterlife elite mercenary. Why 'former elite' was because Cree hadn't taken a job at Afterlife for four days.
He was already notorious because of the crazy Jax incident, and no one wanted to deal with him. With him suddenly not coming to Afterlife for several days, many people even thought he was dead.
And now, Cree walked into Afterlife. As soon as he entered, several mercenaries started mocking him.
"Yo, Cree, where have you been? Looking at you, you didn't find a job at the junkyard, did you?"
"Damn it, can't you clean yourself up before coming to Afterlife?"
"Cree, we're talking to you, damn it, did your ears fall off?"
Listening to the surrounding taunts, Cree chose to ignore them and walked directly to Claire.
"Yo, you came in person this time? What do you want again?" Claire smiled when she saw Cree.
Her smile was incredibly friendly. To be placed in this position by Rogue, Claire's affability was naturally beyond words.
But... Claire's smiles also had levels. A smile for regular customers, a smile for friends, and... a smile for people Rogue valued.
The third-tier smile was only for the highest-ranking guests at Afterlife.
And now, Claire was actually showing Bone this kind of smile?
Holy shit, what's going on!
In an instant, some sharp mercenaries realized something was wrong and were glad they hadn't mocked Cree just now.
"Hammers, I'm here for two hammers," Cree said to Claire.
"Hammers? Damn it, didn't Jackie just get one the other day?" Claire said, annoyed.
"Not enough. I brought two brothers to join the company. They're here to help, I can't just let them stand by and watch, can I?" Cree said with a chuckle.
"Company? Bullshit, what kind of company is that? Have you even gotten your permits before calling yourselves a company?" Claire said, speechless. As she spoke, she waved and called over a bartender, then said a few words to him.
"Big Brother Maine told us to say that. He said we can't be timid to outsiders, that respect is earned, and if we don't praise ourselves, who will?" Bone said, thinking for a moment.
Soon, a huge hammer was carried out by the bartender, taken from Afterlife's warehouse. The hammer still had dried bloodstains on it, and it seemed... that rather than a renovation tool, this thing had been used for killing before.
Cree took the hammer, nodded to Claire, and then ignored the curious gazes of those around him, walking straight out of Afterlife.
Someone seemed to guess what Cree was going to do, so they followed him out.
And then... they saw Cree holding the hammer and walking towards the "convenience store" being built next to Afterlife.
At this moment, a group of people was already there.
Maine's crew, led by Maine, most of Maine's family members had arrived.
And the most eye-catching was the young man with black hair, who was helping to move boxes.
He was laughing and talking to the girl next to him. The girl had two green braids, was short, and wore a black jacket. Her two small hands were also carrying a large box, which rattled with the sound of metal colliding, indicating its considerable weight.
"Jax Mr.... Sir." Cree greeted Jax when he reached him.
"I told you, just call me Jax, don't be so polite." Jax, who was talking to Rebecca, turned his head and looked at Cree, speechless.
Well... being called'Sir' is better than being called 'Big Brother' by a man in his early thirties who's older than himself, right?
Cree smiled. Jax was very friendly, but Cree still maintained respect for Jax because... he now had a formal job.
Although the pay was less than when he was a mercenary, Boss Gloria had already said that it was only temporary, and Cree's daily work was very easy now.
Plus... Jax was his idol after all.
On the other side, in the passage from Afterlife to the surface above, a group of people saw Cree and Jax chatting and were immediately dumbfounded.
"Holy shit, he's really sucking up to Jax now?"
"Why! So many of us went to help and stepped up, but Cree is the one who gets the reward?"
"I say, isn't this current matter more important than that one? Damn it, that store wouldn't be Jax's, would it?"
"What kind of store are they opening?"
"How about... we go up and ask?"
Immediately, several mercenaries decided to go forward and inquire about what the store was for.
And then... they found out.
A tall, model-like woman with yellow hair looked at them coldly, smoking a cigarette, and said,
"This is our gun shop."
"Oh, 'our' home..."
"Damn it, Pilar, why are you everywhere? Have you finished fixing everything?"