[Area: North Industrial District] [Faction: Maelstrom] [Evaluation: Few can stomach the sights and smells of the North Industrial District.
Once a thriving industrial hub, it is now nothing but a graveyard of failed investments and earthquake-shattered warehouses.
For the Maelstrom gang, however, it’s a paradise.
They’ve occupied the derelict structures, turning them into hideouts, illegal braindance dens, and warehouses for loot hijacked from corporate convoys.] Levi sat on the back of Jackie’s motorcycle, the two Kang Tao G-58 Dians cradled in his arms as the skyline of Little China blurred into the industrial blight of the north.
The stench of acrid chemical exhaust hit him like a physical wall.
He frowned; Dr.
Vektor was right—he needed those synthetic lungs yesterday.
After reading the area data, Levi glanced at Jackie’s back.
“You brought me here to trade with the Maelstrom?” Jackie blinked, turning his head despite the speed.
“Mano, you know Maelstrom?
You sure you’re new to Night City?” “Keep your eyes on the road, Jackie!” Levi tapped his shoulder.
“New, yes, but their reputation precedes them.” “Guess word travels further than I thought.” Jackie turned back, shouting over the roar of the engine.
“Right, Mano.
In this city, aside from the Scavenger filth, only Maelstrom’s chrome-crazed lunatics have the stomach to fence Kang Tao smart weapons.
I hate these guys, but compared to Scavs, they’re almost…
civilized.” Jackie drifted the bike to a halt in front of a basement garage entrance.
He pointed toward a rolling metal door at the bottom of the ramp.
Above it, a sign read 『ΛLL Foods』, complete with a mounted, swiveling security camera.
“Let’s see if anyone’s home.” They walked up to the gate.
Jackie found the intercom marked with a mechanical spider head and pressed ‘Call.’ The camera immediately swiveled to lock onto them.
“Yeah?
Who’s calling?” A synthetic, distorted voice crackled through the speaker.
“We’re looking for Maelstrom.
We’ve got a small deal,” Jackie replied.
“Small deal?
Who are you nobodies?
Don’t you know we only do big business!” “What if the deal concerns Kang Tao?” “Kang Tao?
Hmph.
That’s…
interesting.
Come to the server room.
I’ll be waiting.” The gate rumbled upward.
Inside, two automated smart turrets swept the entrance with red infrared beams before lowering as they recognized the guests.
“You call this a food plant?” Levi gestured to the turrets.
“Probably ripped off a transport convoy,” Jackie muttered.
“Maelstrom has this place armed to the teeth.” They pushed deeper into the facility.
It was a nightmare of razor wire, reinforced steel, and crimson warning lights.
They even passed anti-personnel mines mounted on the corners of the corridors.
“I’d believe you if you said this was a bunker,” Levi said flatly.
“Standard Maelstrom paranoia, Mano.
They’ve got too many enemies to count.
They don’t let anyone in without making sure they’ve got enough firepower to kill a small army.” They reached a larger workshop area.
It was a bizarre contrast—a factory floor decked out like a corporate suite, piled high with cargo crates and robotic arms.
A dozen Maelstrom members were lounging around, weapons at the ready, watching them with cold, cybernetic eyes.
“Get to the elevator, you two cowards!” one of the gang members barked, pointing toward a lift.
“Don’t sweat it, Mano,” Jackie whispered.
“He’s just posturing.” Levi didn’t respond.
Nervous?
He’d already offended Arasaka and the Trauma Team.
Did these chrome-heads really think they were more intimidating than a corporate execution squad?
Ding.
The elevator doors opened to reveal a member with his face heavily modified with illegal cyberware, red light pulsing from his optics.
He held a Nova revolver with a lethal, casual grip.
“Heard you’ve got a deal involving Kang Tao.” “That’s right.
Kang Tao G-58 Dians.
Top-tier, pristine hardware,” Jackie said, grabbing the two SMGs from Levi and handing them over.
The Maelstrom member took them, lifted them to his face, and sniffed under his own ocular sensors.
He smacked his lips.
“Top-tier alright.
Where’d you get ’em?” He looked at Levi.
“Trauma Team.” “Ho.
You guys had the guts to hit a Trauma Team AV?
Impressive.
Come on in.
Names Dum Dum.
Take a seat, let’s talk.” Dum Dum walked over to a red leather sofa, slammed his heavy boots onto the furniture, and gestured for Levi to sit.
Levi did, but Jackie remained standing, arms crossed.
Dum Dum’s gaze shifted to Jackie, his voice dropping to a dangerous chill.
“I said sit down.” “I’m fine standing,” Jackie said, his own tone hardening.
“Are you deaf?
I said sit!” Dum Dum’s face-plates pulsed with an angry, high-intensity red.
He stood up and shoved Jackie’s shoulder.
“We’re here to do business.
Don’t push me,” Jackie warned, staring him down.
“You think I’m afraid to scrap you?” Dum Dum’s ocular light intensified.
“Sit, or I’ll blow your head off!” Levi stood up slowly.
He kept one hand hovering near his holster while his other hand rested firmly on Dum Dum’s shoulder.
“Dum Dum,” Levi said, his voice level and cold.
“Are you going to buy these guns or not?” — Don’t forget to send Spirit Stones for more chapters.
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