"According to Biotechnica's requirements, we need to eliminate all the leaders of Hive."
"And here is where it gets interesting."
Jotaro was still introducing this third-rate group they had never looked at before on the hologram, and several Hive leaders obtained from investigations were already marked on it.
Jotaro pointed to a woman with short black hair and said.
"According to the intelligence I received, this woman is the head of Hive, and this woman is her deputy."
As he spoke, Jotaro pointed to another woman with blue hair.
Scanning the few people below, Jotaro laughed and said.
"But in reality, this is just a disguise. According to the intelligence we've received, these two women are just Nomads who recently arrived in Night City; it's impossible for them to have built such a gang from scratch."
"Actually, the real head of Hive is this guy."
Jotaro flicked his hand, pulling up an image of a middle-aged man.
The man wore small, round sunglasses and had such burly muscles that his blue work uniform couldn't contain them. It was none other than the Chinatown Cyberware Doctor, Viktor.
"This guy is an old-timer in Night City with quite a background. He used to be in the underground boxing scene and had a bit of fame, but then faded into obscurity for a while. I didn't expect him to come back out now, covering his tracks, letting a puppet take the lead while he hides in the back."
"And the real number two in Hive is this guy."
Jotaro pulled up a photo of another man.
His muscles were even bigger than Viktor's, as if he'd grown up on protein powder.
"Jackie Welles."
"He hangs around the Heywood area and has ties to the Valentinos."
"So, you're saying we're going up against the Valentinos?"
"Yokozuna" Bukit spoke nonchalantly while shaking his parrot.
"Heh, not exactly."
"As far as I know, this guy quit the Valentinos a long time ago. His joining Hive is likely due to his personal friendship with Viktor."
Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will never be defeated.
Even though his opponent was a third-rate gang, Jotaro was extremely meticulous and had collected enough information.
This was the reason for his confidence; after a comprehensive assessment of Hive's strength, he felt that this organization was simply a child carrying gold and silver through a crowded market.
The Tyger Claws would only need a gentle push for this small organization to collapse.
Perhaps they wouldn't even need to use force; just a word, and the other side would disintegrate.
After all, only a few big gangs in Night City could stand against the Tyger Claws; small fries like Hive didn't even deserve to be on the table.
In short, with thousands of members, the Tyger Claws held an absolute advantage against a small organization of less than two hundred people.
"I'm not participating in this mission."
No sooner had Jotaro finished introducing Hive than someone spoke up to dissent.
At these words, Jotaro immediately furrowed his brows.
The one opposing him was none other than "Yokozuna" Bukit.
After feeding the parrot on his shoulder and smoothing down its feathers, the heavy-set guy stood up, ready to leave.
"I won't compete with everyone this time. I have a lot of backlog at my venue, so I won't be participating. Farewell."
Having said his piece, Bukit left without looking back, not even sparing Jotaro a glance as the door closed.
Jotaro's face darkened, watching the other man leave.
He knew that what Bukit said was bullshit.
This guy had lived a comfortable life for too long and really thought of himself as a businessman, burying his heart and soul in his casino.
Heh, we'll see.
Jotaro suppressed the anger in his heart and waited for the others present to state their positions.
Although he wanted to cast them both aside and go it alone, this was different; to rise to the top, he needed the support of these three old farts, and Bukit's behavior was undoubtedly a slap in his face in front of everyone.
But fortunately, not everyone was like that.
A bandage-wrapped hand raised, pointing at the image of the black-haired woman; "Gourmet" had a fanatical look in his eyes.
"I'll participate in this operation. I only want thirty percent of the cut, but this woman must be handed over to me alive. She looks... delicious..."
If these words had come from anyone else, it wouldn't have been a big deal, but coming from "Gourmet," it made Jotaro's heart chill.
The "delicious" here wasn't about relations between a man and a woman; it was some kind of more primitive desire.
Even as cruel as Jotaro was, he felt a bit disgusted by "Gourmet's" hobby.
But regardless, the other party was at least willing to support him, and that was enough.
Jotaro's gaze shifted to the last person present.
The "Sword Saint" Yoshiteru, who was resting with his eyes closed.
Even Jotaro had to show a degree of respect for this person.
Among those present, this guy had the oldest seniority. Of course, if it were just seniority, it wouldn't matter; in the brutal struggle of gangs, everyone rose to the top by stepping on the heads of old farts.
But most importantly, this guy could fight.
Extremely well.
Jotaro had the fortune of seeing how the man had wiped out dozens of cadres from a rival gang all by himself with just a sword.
For a person like this, unless you had a hundred percent certainty of killing him, it was best to win him over.
"Senior Yoshiteru?"
"Senior Yoshiteru?"
But after calling out several times, he didn't see Yoshiteru move at all, still keeping his eyes tightly shut.
Jotaro raised an eyebrow in confusion, wondering if this old fart had died in the office.
But just as it was quiet, Yoshiteru gripped the hilt of his sword and suddenly woke up.
"What? Is it time for lunch?"
Watching the man squint his beady eyes, looking around, confused about the situation, a burst of anger flared in Jotaro's heart.
So you really were asleep, you old geezer.
Jotaro suppressed his rage, wanting to tell Yoshiteru what had happened again, but the other man waved his hand dismissively.
"Seems like there's a war, right? I'm in. It's time for the boys under me to get some practice."
Waving his hand, Yoshiteru stood up shakily, leaning on his sword, just like a real old man.
As he walked, he rubbed his belly and muttered to himself.
Jotaro could only vaguely hear something about "Is it tofu soup or sushi?"
"Gourmet," with his bloodshot eyes, glanced at Jotaro and also left.
Everyone in the office had left, leaving only Jotaro standing at the front, his expression uncertain.
After a long while, he slammed his fist onto the table.
"Damn it, a bunch of idiots. Sooner or later, I'll deal with you all."
Glaring fiercely at the empty table, Jotaro left with a cold face.
There was no place for these three guys in the future of the Tyger Claws that he had planned.
We'll see who has the last laugh.
...
The car drove along the road, and inside, the previously departed "Yokozuna" Bukit lay in the back seat.
Thinking of Jotaro's clumsy performance earlier, he wanted to laugh.
Yes, with the boss of the Tyger Claws dead, anyone with seniority would have some ideas about that position.
But Jotaro, a green kid with clumsy methods—did he even deserve it?
That so-called Hive—the guy had hidden quite a bit of intelligence.
He thought he didn't know.
"Has the guy we caught confessed yet?"
Bukit asked the silent driver in front.
"Boss, he has confessed. The guy is a cadre of Hive. The content of his confession is here, please take a look."
The driver handed over a data chip. Bukit took it and casually plugged it into the back of his head.
The figure bound in the basement that appeared inside was unexpected—someone who shouldn't have been in this Night City.
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