Cyberpunk: XYZ

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Chapter 21: Deeper Into The Net III

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The money in M's account is not something X can touch because it would easily lead to him, so he threw it somewhere else, and that was just the start.

There are people that look similar to each other in Night City. In fact, there are a lot lot of people that look exactly the same.

Night City is decently big after all, with a population of seven million, so there must certainly be a few individuals that look exactly like Johnson.

Hell, cosmetic surgery in this age is so advanced that you can basically look like any want you want.

In fact, that's how these kinds of websites manufacture lookalikes, some in the shape of celebrities.

Therefore, even if these torture videos and braindances come out, it wouldn't normally attract attention... If the commissioner wasn't M.

However, everything changes by virtue of M being behind the commissions, and they will know he's behind them because they have been keeping an eye on M's account.

Once the product is complete and made public, they will realize that M is straight up humiliating them, staining their name like few have done before him.

That's not something that can be allowed.

The bounty being used to commission such things would've had an obvious and reasonable explanation if not for the clear humiliation of Johnson, money laundering.

The money goes to the websites, then soon reaches the hands of those behind them, the Maelstrom.

However, the blatant aggression and humiliation made things suspect. Staining the Tyger Claws' name by torturing lookalikes of Johnson.

It would tarnish the Tyger Claws' reputation if they didn't respond. To gangs, their face and reputation are above all.

The reputation they seek to preserve is that they are not to be fucked with. If you compromise their interest in any way, they'll strike back harder than you can even imagine.

Thus it's apparent that such a blatant provocation will lead to a deadly conflict against the websites.

And if we consider the influence and power of the Tyger Claws, it becomes clear that the website will eventually fall, and the people behind them will be hunted down.

That's what would make the Tyger Claws suspicious, and maybe work against X's plan to lead them to shut down the websites.

However, the ones behind are the Maelstrom, and that changes everything and almost throws the suspicion entirely out of the window.

The maelstroms are a group of cyberpsychos, and their atrocities are more than you ever imagined.

They're also extremely aggressive and give no fuck about nobody. They despise everyone but their AI overlords and are universally hated by all other gangs.

They're hated exactly because they're known to pull stuff like this, and gangs tend to avoid conflict with them because they seemingly don't care about their own life.

'Done,' X thought in his mind as he started cleaning up his laptop, eliminating any and all traces of his mischief.

No, he even went further and altered some of the hidden fingerprints he left behind to point toward the Maelstrom.

Suddenly, more than a dozen terminals appeared on X's machine, commands being written at unreal frequency.

X was not only cleaning his traces and modifying them, but he was also clearing his computer of anything related to his current actions.

The direct neural link changed X's life. Everything became so much easier and way better, bringing a smile to X's face, 'Beautifully done.'

X seemed awfully sure that the Tyger Claws would take action against all of these sites for a very reasonable basis.

Even if the Tyger Claws realize that they are being manipulated, they will still gladly follow along because X gave them an excuse.

Sure, they might hunt him down later for daring to manipulate them, but they would still use the valid excuse to take down the sites.

The Tyger Claws are a gang that focuses more on business, so they must have a lot of similar sites.

No, they certainly have many similar sites, so what happens now that X provided them an excuse to take down the competition?

They'll not only take the excuse, but they will also increase its validity, giving them a unique advantage that the Maelstroms won't have, corporations' support.

Every gang is one way or another in cooperation with the corps, the latter providing them with a lot of help for their services.

However, the corps won't help the Maelstrom considering they are the ones that started the conflict.

Therefore, the Maelstroms will have to operate without corporate support in this conflict while the Tyger Claws will have support.

Only time will tell if everything will go as X planned as such a grand operation cannot happen overnight.

Hence why X went on to deal with investigative gigs till Vik arrived, "Good morning."

Soon, Vik arrived, letting out a yawn before nodding at X, "Morning."

"Thought about my proposition?" X spun around with his swivel chair and asked.

"The Combat Events? I did... I can do it but it's just not worth it. It will attract more trouble than it's worth," Vik shook his head.

X's proposition was to host underground cybernetic showcase events. Customers who get certain high-end augmentations at Vik's clinic could be eligible to compete in cyber-enhanced competitions.

The competition would mainly revolve around boxing as that's Vik's specialty, something he's well known for.

Viktor was once a heavyweight boxer in Watson and a member of Night City Devils, competing in the Watson Boxing Grand Prix.

He eventually came in second place in the finals, and that's despite having no implants.

That's why X saw an opportunity and he informed Vik of his thoughts.

"You've got a lot of aspirations, that's why I've got to tell you a cruel truth about this city... You can not make it unless you've got a backer," Vik brought his chair closer and sat before X.

"You give most of your earnings to the backer. Otherwise, the very next day, you will have people knockin' on your door and looking for trouble."

"And that's not the worst of it. What people are most afraid of is no one knockin' on their doors, meaning no business, and that's what you'll get for not getting a backer's approval."

"Before you push your luck too much, seek a backer, preferably someone you can trust, and don't reach for the sky and expect anything other than putrid pollution in Night City." Vik ended his speech there.

"Any recommendations?" Nodded X before asking.

"El Capitán, Muamar Reyes... He's as far as goodness goes in fixers," Vik seemingly expected that, very much prepared as he instantly brought out a card, "Make a great first expression."

"Thank you... You've helped me a lot, and I've yet to return the favor," X muttered as he took the card.