Under the moonlight, the two were still in a silent standoff, with only the sound of their rapid breathing audible.
Except one was real, and one was fake.
After staring at each other for a while, Panam Palmer was the first to speak.
"Mitsuhide, if you don't like me, just say it straight. Why be so evasive? You're like this... you know I... damn..."
With emotions clogging her chest, Panam Palmer couldn't speak clearly. Before she could say much, she started crying, then released Mitsuhide and wiped the moisture from the corners of her eyes.
She didn't want anyone to see her crying like this.
For a Nomad girl like Panam Palmer, emotions were definitely not something to be easily trifled with; Mitsuhide only realized this now.
But what could he do?
He had simply made the mistake that all robots in the world would make.
Since it had come to this, there was only one way.
Mitsuhide gritted his teeth, deciding to make a clean break; the situation no longer allowed him to slack off.
"I'm sorry, Panam Palmer, but I cannot reciprocate your feelings."
"I'm naturally not good at discussing matters of the heart, and I've never considered these things."
"Moreover, what I have to face are difficulties and dangers that ordinary people have never imagined—dangerous, extremely dangerous. Even I cannot guarantee I can escape unscathed."
"So, let it go, Panam Palmer. This is better for both of us."
He had finally said it.
It was difficult to say hurtful words, but after saying them, Mitsuhide felt a weight lifted off his shoulders.
Regardless, this matter had finally come to an end.
Panam Palmer should go find real love, not revolve around a lifeless machine like him.
It was too unfair to her.
"So, as long as you solve your difficulties, it will be okay?"
Panam Palmer spoke, but what she said wasn't what Mitsuhide wanted to hear.
Huh?
Mitsuhide was confused.
"So you mean, as long as everything stabilizes, there's a possibility for us?"
Sigh...
No, wasn't the main point he made that there was no possibility for them?
How did you interpret it as me having hidden reasons for not being with you?
"Okay, I promise you. I'm willing to wait until you've solved everything before we talk again."
Panam Palmer lifted her head again. Even with tear stains on her eyes, her gaze was incredibly firm.
"Uh, that, no..."
Mitsuhide reached out in vain to explain, but Panam Palmer had already walked away, a smile still on her lips.
Damn it, although he successfully dodged it.
But it seemed like Panam Palmer had misunderstood something.
Mitsuhide stood there scratching his head, completely baffled.
Whatever, as long as he dragged it out long enough, maybe Panam Palmer would lose interest on her own.
It's like a war; winning by six points is enough.
In short, he had survived the ordeal.
Soon, Mitsuhide gave up thinking and felt a glimmer of relief.
...
The next morning, Berry's main body woke up in bed.
The morning light streamed into the room, spilling across the floor. Looking at the rays of the rising sun, Berry was in a good mood.
She didn't have many impressions of yesterday in her mind; she only seemed to remember that she had won again.
Whatever, why think so much?
There was still a whole Earth of people waiting for her to achieve mechanical ascension.
So, Berry got up happily, ignoring V, who was still fast asleep nearby.
After washing up, V still hadn't woken up, and it seemed too early to go to the basement to work.
So what to do?
Need you ask?
Of course, it was time for some web surfing.
Berry sat down in the computer chair and turned on the computer.
Internet, boot up!
Although the internet had long been destroyed, the local network was enough to play many tricks.
Online games, forums, short video sites—all those time-killing machines were available.
In 2077, you could still enjoy electronic entertainment.
Before starting a game, Berry browsed the forums as usual, checking to see what news there was in Night City recently.
Actually, there was nothing else; it was mostly just robberies, gang wars, and the like.
This was a common occurrence in Night City.
Today's headline was...
Hmm, it was a video officially released by N54 News regarding the attack on the Militech humanitarian aid transport convoy yesterday.
Seeing the word "humanitarian," Berry scoffed.
Humanitarian supplies meant "Basilisk" tanks and armored vehicles, huh?
Habitually, she scrolled down to look at the comments.
Hmm, quite a few were posts cursing Militech.
Berry nodded in satisfaction.
But she wasn't so happy afterward.
Because she scrolled across a comment with quite a few likes.
"You can tell at a glance it was the Nomads. That bunch of bastards will do anything. If you ask me, Night City should expel these bastards from the wasteland."
There were quite a few replies under this comment, all insulting the Nomads, which made one feel annoyed.
Hmm...
Berry frowned as she read it.
What's the matter? Did the Nomads eat your rice?
Although it was indeed the Nomads who did yesterday's deed, putting aside the facts, isn't your aggression toward the Nomads a bit too strong?
She was also a Nomad; where are there no good or bad people? By what right do you curse the Nomads?
Berry, who came from the Nomads, couldn't bear it and replied.
"Not necessarily. Nomads aren't necessarily bad people. Besides, corporations aren't exactly good people either. There's no need to be this aggressive."
Very good, no aggression, very neutral and objective. Berry felt her reply was very reasonable and well-founded, so she sent it out.
But before she could scroll down, a beeping sound rang out, and the person who posted the comment replied to her.
"Hahaha, see? Here comes a Nomad defending themselves. Little Nomad, did I step on your tail? You inbred bastards are trash everywhere you go!"
Ugh... Berry clenched her fists, instantly feeling a surge of anger.
You're trying to provoke me, you bastard.
As if still not satisfied, the guy even sent her a private message, cursing.
"Hey, are all you Nomads inbred? Every single one of you looks like a Down Syndrome kid."
Damn it!
Berry slammed her hand on the table, standing up. She couldn't take it anymore.
What did Nomads ever do to you?
Such a temper.
Oh, you think I'm a pushover just because I haven't shown my power yet, huh?
Berry immediately grabbed her keyboard and started arguing back.
"What, are Nomads your dad? So sensitive? Can't blame the Nomads just because your wild dad played with your mom and then ran off!"
Berry typed furiously, her words a torrent of wit and eloquence.
But before she could break through the other party's defense, their next message infuriated her once more.
"Haha, triggered! I told you! You Nomads are all inbred bastards!"
"Bastard!"
"Bastard!"
"Bastard!"
The barrage of insults from the other party made Berry's hands and feet go numb with anger.
Lies don't hurt people; the truth is a sharp knife.
The other party's constant use of the word "bastard" infuriated Berry.
After all, in this life, she truly didn't know who her parents were, not to mention her complicated relationship with V.
Those two words truly wounded her.
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It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
[email protected]/SolyuraMT
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"