Levi’s voice was quiet, but his tone cut through the tense air of the warehouse like a serrated blade.
Dum Dum’s expression flickered.
While most Maelstromers were irredeemably unhinged due to their illegal cyber-modding, Dum Dum was the one responsible for handling corporate-level deals—he had just enough brain cells to recognize a threat.
He realized that of the two visitors, Levi was the one holding the leash, and those two pristine Kang Tao SMGs weren’t luck—they were a statement.
Dum Dum backed down instantly.
“Fine.
Fine.
Keep standing if you want.” He sat back on the table, fishing a glowing red inhaler from behind his belt and tossing it toward Levi.
“Here.
Take a hit of Glitter before we talk shop.” “What is it?” Levi eyed the device with deep suspicion.
“Glitter.
The good stuff,” Dum Dum chuckled.
“Take a hit.
It’ll send you to the heavens.” “I’ll pass.” Levi shoved it aside.
He didn’t know what Glitter was, but given it came from a chrome-addicted psycho, it was likely laced with something designed to melt his brain.
“Suit yourself.
A bit of a purist, are we?” “Let’s talk business,” Levi said, leaning back on the sofa.
“How much for the Kang Taos?” “Market price is 30,000 eddies each.
But these are hot goods.
Even if they’re high-end, we have to deal with de-tracking, encryption cracking…
we can only offer this much.” Dum Dum held up a single finger.
“1,000?” Levi’s eyes narrowed.
That was a pathetic insult.
After his expenses and the upcoming surgery with Vektor, he’d barely have enough to survive, let alone thrive in this hellhole.
Plus, these were trophies he’d bled for.
“You’re joking.” “1,000?
You heard wrong.” Dum Dum grinned and stood up.
Suddenly, a shutter behind him groaned open.
A man stepped out—broad-shouldered, clad in cyber-leather and denim.
His face was a nightmare of red-glowing Maelstrom mods, his eyes hidden behind a night-vision-like array.
He slammed the shutter shut and strode toward them, a dozen gang members closing in behind him.
“You’re new here, and you want a grand?
For these guns, we give you one eurodollar.
Take it or die!” The newcomer drew a red-painted Tech Pistol and jammed the barrel into Levi’s forehead.
Dum Dum, emboldened, lunged at Jackie and pressed his Nova revolver against Jackie’s skull.
Levi looked at the man, his eyes cold.
“You Maelstromers are really sticking to the one-eurodollar price tag?” “This is my turf, you piece of shit.
One eurodollar.
That’s the deal.
Buy it or get out, or I’ll decorate the wall with your brains!” He barked at a subordinate, who tossed a single one-eurodollar paper bill at Levi’s chest.
“Now, get the hell out while I’m still in a good mood!
Or die!” Levi’s gaze didn’t waver.
He activated his internal interface.
Data flickered over the two men: [Name: Royce] [Affiliation: Maelstrom] [Cyberware: Pain Editor, Kerenzikov, LED Optics, Titanium Bones, Subdermal Armor, Bionic Joints, Ballistic Coprocessor, Adrenaline Converter, Tyrosine Injector] [Threat Level: High] [Name: Dum Dum] [Affiliation: Maelstrom] [Cyberware: Pain Editor, Kerenzikov, LED Optics, Titanium Bones, Ballistic Coprocessor, Adrenaline Converter, Tyrosine Injector] [Threat Level: Moderate] There were ten others, but they were fodder.
The real problem was the heavy iron currently pressed against his skull.
Could the Nova punch through that metal-plated face?
He wasn’t going to gamble.
He had 1,000 reputation points.
He opened the system shop and blindly bought a kinetic pistol.
[Item: Atlas 45] [Effect: 10-round capacity, Headshot Bonus] [Evaluation: The classic Atlas sidearm.
Every corpo exec wears one on business trips.] It materialized in his hand—an instant, fluid motion.
The moment his fingers closed around the grip, Royce’s fate was sealed.
“Fuck your mother, you’re threatening me?” “Who the hell do you think you are?!” Levi snapped.
He triggered [Aim-Lock].
Before Royce could even twitch his finger on the trigger, a thunderous BANG echoed through the workshop.
Royce’s head—illegal chrome, metal plates, and all—disintegrated into a mist of red and scrap metal.
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