Leaving aside Evelyn's love and subsequent alienation.
On the other side, a few people were having a heated discussion.
"I'm telling you, you guys were really disloyal. Why didn't you call me when you went to avenge our comrade?"
In the private room, Jackie Welles was pouring out his grievances to V and Berry, his large face crumpled in complaint.
"I wasn't here the day the bar was attacked, which was a shame, and you didn't take me along for the revenge. How am I supposed to swallow this!"
Gulping down the whiskey in his glass, the anger in Jackie's heart still hadn't subsided.
He made his name within the Valentinos Gang and was extremely loyal to the organization.
And the gang's principle was an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
The Hive Bar was attacked, and he missed the chance for revenge, which made him feel extremely guilty.
Watching Jackie drink glass after glass, neither V nor Berry dared to speak much.
After all, what they had done was a little dishonest.
The mission had been kept secret before it started.
They hadn't mentioned a word to Jackie.
Berry felt slightly guilty.
She lowered her head, quietly sipping her drink, but nudged V with her elbow under the table.
Seeing V's confused look, Berry's meaning was clear.
It was time for V, the older sister, to do the work.
V's eyes widened slightly.
Her meaning was also obvious.
This wasn't just her fault, so why should she take the blame?
Berry also widened her eyes.
Her meaning was even clearer.
Isn't covering for your frail younger sister what an older sister should do?
Under the strong threat implied by Berry's wide eyes, V grit her teeth and gave in.
Fine, Berry, you win.
V helplessly looked back at Jackie across the table and carefully prepared what she was going to say.
"Ahem, well, Jackie, it's fine, we still have a chance."
"We aren't done with Biotechnica. We'll have plenty of chances to deal with them later."
She spoke while nodding, thinking her words were very convincing.
Unfortunately, Jackie didn't seem to buy it.
"No, it's too late. Everything is too late."
Jackie gripped the empty glass, shaking his head and looking deeply depressed.
A few words probably wouldn't be enough to cheer him up.
Uh, what do we do now?
V was stumped, looking at Berry with pleading eyes.
Seeing V trying to ask her for help, Berry was even more straightforward, spreading her small hand.
She couldn't do anything either.
Looking at Jackie's hesitant and troubled appearance, Berry felt a little guilty, but also somewhat confused.
Wasn't this guy Jackie usually quite strong? Why is he so emo today?
The two of them were powerless, and Jackie continued talking to himself.
"Sigh, there's nothing I can do. I'm already old and can't fight anymore. I didn't expect that now I can't even help my brothers."
Uh, how did your topic jump so fast?
Seeing the look of decline and sadness on Jackie's face, Berry felt suspicious.
For no other reason than that physique full of muscle, how dare you say things like "I'm old" and "I can't fight"?
Jackie subtly glanced at the two of them. Seeing that they hadn't spoken yet, he coughed twice and continued lamenting mournfully.
"Ah, I'm really useless. If only I could fight as well as V."
"To be able to wear handsome Mecha and fight for the organization... Ah, I'm so envious."
As if afraid the two of them didn't know, Jackie deliberately muttered "Mecha" twice more.
Hmm... Berry pouted and squinted her eyes, sizing up Jackie for a long time.
Berry felt like she probably knew what Jackie was scheming.
Coughing, Berry straightened up and spoke with a solemn expression.
"Jackie, you wouldn't happen to want a set of armor, would you?"
Berry ruined Jackie's act immediately, exposing his intentions.
This instantly stunned Jackie.
"Ah, what, what? What armor? Did I say that? Did I?"
Scratching his face, Jackie kept up the pretense.
"Hey, Jackie, I thought it was a big deal. If you wanted a set of armor, you just had to tell me. Why beat around the bush?"
Nothing else needed to be said; seeing Jackie's wide eyes, Berry knew she hadn't guessed wrong.
"Would I forget you if I had something good? Don't worry, you are the Pillar of our Hive. I'm already working on your armor."
"Really? That's great!"
Hearing that he, too, would get to wear the handsome exoskeleton armor, Jackie, all two hundred-plus pounds of him, nearly leaped off his chair.
This was the spirit of Heywood's Pillar.
Looking at the excited Jackie, Berry waved her hand, telling him to calm down.
Seriously, Jackie was literally a heavyweight operative.
How could Berry's "Super Soldier" plan not include him?
Berry wasn't lying.
Jackie's armor was indeed already being made.
The folder had already been created.
Progress was infinitely close to completion.
"Good heavens, those Biotechnica bastards won't escape. They dared to provoke us; we'll make them pay later."
Jackie waved his fist, looking like he could punch right into Biotechnica's ass.
"Don't worry, next time we act, we'll go together. There's plenty of time; we have lots of opportunities."
With the problem solved, Berry, comfortably sipping her juice, said this.
Berry's words weren't just perfunctory.
Even if they didn't look for trouble with these large corporations, the corporations would certainly come knocking.
They had inadvertently provoked two companies this time alone.
One was Night Corp, who served as an ally this time, and the other was Biotechnica.
Biotechnica went without saying.
Previously, they probably hadn't even noticed small fry like them.
But after destroying their laboratory, that might change.
And Night Corp.
Although they helped Berry and the others this time.
But who could guarantee they would be allies next time?
If Berry accidentally blocked their path, they would still cause trouble for her.
Other corporations like Arasaka and Militech went without saying.
As long as the Hive continued to develop, it would eventually enter the sight of these giants.
Whether they were taken in as dogs or completely eliminated, the initiative lay in their hands.
Maybe someone in Night City could resist the corporations, but no one could defeat them.
Even a legendary Mercenary like Rogue had to serve Arasaka to survive.
The Hive was able to sail smoothly before only because its strength was weak and it hadn't entered the sight of these ruthless predators.
But after this Biotechnica incident, things might change.
Therefore, in order to avoid becoming fish on a chopping block, Berry had to strive to develop the Hive's influence and seek out all possible allies.
Otherwise, her fate might be one of two paths: Johnny's or Rogue's.
Either die in a blaze of glory, or break her own bones and willingly become a dog.
Unfortunately, although Berry was a bit shorter in this life, her knees weren't soft at all; she simply couldn't kneel.
She wanted to walk a third path.
That was to stand tall and still earn the money.
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