"Regina Jones is willing to provide us with a batch of combat drones; they are downstairs right now."
Regina could be considered half of V's former employer. She was a good person, the kind who was willing to get her hands dirty for the sake of righteous ideals.
But unfortunately, she didn't seem to think highly of the Hive either.
So, while she sympathized with the Hive's anti-gang stance, she wasn't willing to get on board.
In the end, she only provided some supplies, treating it as humanitarian aid.
...
Berry was silent for a long time, then finally turned her gaze to the last person, Judy.
"Ah, me? I originally wanted to get the Moxes to come here."
Judy grabbed her neck, her expression somewhat embarrassed.
"I had already left the Moxes, and now I was going back to find them, so I felt a bit embarrassed. I was wondering how I would speak to Suzie when I saw her, but I realized I had overthought it; they didn't even let me in the door."
Silence, more silence.
The hand with which Berry held her pen was trembling slightly.
Heh. Hehehe.
How the hell are we supposed to fight now?
In the end, didn't we fail to recruit a single ally besides Afterlife?
I originally thought I was just throwing out a brick to attract jade, but instead, I ended up being the top salesperson.
Berry wondered if Rogue would turn around and go back on her word if she knew they were this incompetent.
Sigh.
Berry took a long breath.
It wasn't that she didn't know why there were so many forces in the city that hated the Tyger Claws, yet no one was willing to help them.
Just like the Moxes, that group of women was originally a product of the people of Night City resisting the Tyger Claws. Although they weren't at a life-or-death struggle level with the Tyger Claws, it wasn't much better.
And the reason they weren't willing to help the Hive was ultimately because the Hive's strength was too weak. They looked down on the Hive entirely, believing that once the war started, the Hive's survival time would be measured in hours.
Although everyone hated the Tyger Claws, it wasn't worth throwing away hard-earned money.
And the result was just like this.
Those with a bit of pity gave some supplies as a symbolic gesture; most others simply played dead, acting as if nothing had happened.
Perhaps some people were even waiting to see them make a fool of themselves.
"It's okay, there's still a chance."
Berry tapped her pen to attract everyone's attention.
"We still have our most reliable ally—the Aldecaldos."
It didn't matter that there weren't many allies in Night City; they still had their Nomad allies outside the city.
Their alliance with the Aldecaldo Family was unbreakable.
They wouldn't stand by and watch them die.
"As long as the Aldecaldo Family supports us, everything will be fine."
Berry nodded firmly, having convinced herself.
...
"No."
Saul lay over the table, studying the large map in detail, and rejected Panam Palmer's proposal with a single, airy word.
"What? Aren't we allies with the Hive?"
Panam Palmer shook her head, thinking she had misheard. Once she regained her composure, she spoke up quickly, fearing Saul's brain had gone mushy.
"Hey, don't forget who saved you from that mess back then. They risked their lives to help us; we can't just stand by and watch them die."
"The Tyger Claws are going to play for real. If we're not careful, everyone in the Hive will die. They can't win without us."
"Hmm."
Panam Palmer said a lot in her urgency, but Saul only hummed indifferently, not even lifting his head, as if the map on the table had some kind of magic that held all his attention.
"What 'hmm'? Didn't you hear me? We must go save them!"
Panam Palmer, flushed with anger at Saul's indifferent attitude, slapped her hand onto the map on the table.
This finally attracted Saul's attention, forcing him to look up and face Panam Palmer.
But the words he spoke almost caused Panam Palmer to lose her composure.
"We will not help them."
"Not to mention that we have no chance of winning against the Tyger Claws, if we fail, our only option is to leave Night City."
"You might as well just say you're afraid of dying!"
Panam Palmer rudely interrupted Saul.
"Always talking about profit, profit! If we really cared about that stuff, why would the Nomads have left the city in the first place? We might as well have just stayed in the city and been obedient citizens!"
"Alright, alright, both of you, calm down."
Mitch saw that Panam Palmer looked like she was about to explode, so he hurriedly stepped out to calm both of them down. He was afraid that Panam Palmer would just lose control and punch Saul in the face.
"Saul, didn't you say you were preparing to assist the Hive? Why didn't you tell Panam Palmer about this plan?"
While holding back Panam Palmer, Mitch turned his head to look at Saul.
"Don't hold me back... Wait, what are you talking about!?"
"Uh..."
Saul rubbed his forehead, looking extremely helpless.
The plan had been exposed after all.
"Mitch, don't play dead! What's this about reinforcements? Tell me!"
"Alright, alright, let go! You're going to choke me to death!"
Letting go, Mitch rubbed his neck and let out a long sigh of relief.
Panam Palmer, that girl, once she got worked up, she wouldn't care about anything. She was incredibly hot-tempered.
Saul didn't intend to just let the Hive wait for death, but he also didn't intend to bet the entire Aldecaldo Family. For this reason, he had thought of a compromise.
He would secretly dispatch a small assault team to assist the Hive, but these people had to erase all traces of the Aldecaldo Family and disguise themselves as a group of ordinary Mercenaries.
As for why he kept it from Panam Palmer, there was a reason for that.
"This operation... is very complicated."
Saul closed his eyes and swallowed hard.
"Hive, although they saved my life, and I am willing to risk everything to help them, this time, it's a war against the Tyger Claws, who are at the height of their power in the city."
"Hive, they most likely won't be able to win."
"Therefore, the strike team must minimize unnecessary sacrifices when necessary, and before the outcome is decided... withdraw from the battlefield."
Although she was a bit confused just a moment ago, Panam Palmer understood now.
"You mean you're stingily sending a few people just to put on a show, and as soon as there's any danger, you're going to abandon Hive, right?"
"No, that's not what I mean, Panam Palmer. If there's a chance of victory, we will fight to the end."
"But... I'm sorry, but on the road to chasing ideals, you have to consider reality. Hive is likely in trouble this time."
"Hmph."
Glancing at the two of them, Panam Palmer let out a cold snort.
"I can pretend not to know about the rest, but I want to serve as the captain of this strike team."
"This, Panam Palmer..."
"Let her go."
Mitch was about to dissuade her, but Saul made his decision.
"Since she already knows the plan, let her participate."
Even if he didn't let her participate, she would sneak off to go anyway.
Saul thought to himself.
"Panam Palmer is a member of the clan; I believe she knows the importance of things."
"You only have a quota of ten people. Go recruit those who are willing to fight for Hive."
Saul's tone was unquestionable.
"Fifteen people."
Panam Palmer's tone was equally unquestionable, and after saying that, she turned and left.
"Sigh, I remember when she was just a little girl who couldn't even patch a tire straight. How did she end up like this?"
Mitch shook his head and sighed.
"Just treat it as a test. On one side is a friend, on the other is the clan. Life is not a fairy tale; people always have to make some difficult choices."
Saul crossed his arms, watching Panam Palmer walk down the steps.
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