"...What do you want from us? If it's a good citizen commendation, forget about it."
Being stopped by an NCPD Officer is never a good thing, even for genuinely Law-abiding Citizens. After all, who knows if the officer they encounter is a Corrupt Cop looking to extort money.
In Night City, this happens often. Given the meager salaries of NCPD Officers, only a saint could endure such hardship, so they often find ways to earn private income.
And while MAX-TAC doesn't get involved in general public order cases, they are undoubtedly part of the NCPD. Who knows what they're planning?
Therefore, V's tone, as she subtly shielded Berry, was not particularly friendly.
"Commendation? It's not for that kind of bullshit."
This woman clearly didn't understand humor; she didn't take V's bait at all.
"Your two profiles are quite interesting..."
Lori folded her arms, shifting her gaze from the Homeless man on the ground to V and Berry.
"I think we're the same kind of people."
Lori was clearly very interested in the two, her tone betraying a hint of strange fanaticism.
"Sorry, officer, we're Law-abiding Citizens."
Hearing the inspector expose her past, Berry quickly threw up her hands to stop her.
"Very Law-abiding Citizens."
Berry's eyes were sincere, not faking it.
"Hmph..." Lori snorted, saying nothing more, her gaze returning to the Homeless man on the ground. She had no desire to discuss the definition of a Law-abiding Citizen with these two Mercenaries, who were labeled "Class Two Dangerous Individuals" in the NCPD's electronic archives.
"You two did well, you've got skills."
Looking at the Homeless man's shattered ankle on the ground, Lori continued speaking to herself.
"Do you ever feel it? That feeling of having the power over others' lives, the thrill..."
Watching the crimson blood flow across the floor, both could sense the inspector's breathing growing heavier. Combined with her rather abnormal words, they couldn't help but wonder if this person was truly a police officer.
"Don't say that, I spared her life. This guy can still be saved; she just had a Cyberpsychosis episode. I heard there are ways to treat them."
Berry quickly interjected; she didn't want to be told she was like this pervert.
She knew who this Lori was.
This character was a notable figure in the game, originating from a Cyberpunk 2077 promotional video released before the game. However, in that video, she wasn't the glorious character she is now.
In the promotional video, this person was a madwoman, wielding Mantis Blades and killing half a street full of people, before being subdued by MAX-TAC.
But as Zhuge Liang once said, good people don't live long.
This homicidal lunatic was recruited by MAX-TAC, transforming into a member of MAX-TAC dedicated to maintaining Night City's public order and preventing residents from Cyberpsychosis attacks. Now, she's even been promoted to inspector.
This person is a murderous pervert in legal clothing.
Berry didn't want her to say she was like her.
Was she really such a bad person?
She just wanted to pull all human minds into cyberspace and become the NEW Kami of the new world, that's all.
You're a bit too extreme.
Seeing the other party's eager look for blood, Berry stated this.
"Hmph, that's just because you two aren't being honest right now." However, Lori seemed to have not heard their words at all, defining them on her own.
"Accept it, the true self hidden deep in your hearts. I've seen your files, you have great potential, and you'll definitely come to love this feeling."
Berry didn't want to talk to this person anymore; her burning gaze made her uneasy and unconsciously guilty, to the point where she even began to doubt herself.
No way, no way, I'm not that kind of person.
She was full of great love for this world, wasn't she? She loved this world and the people in it.
It's just that this world has some flaws, and she wants to correct them.
The original intention of this world was good, but humans executed it poorly.
And for those naughty children who violated the basic human spirit, she just habitually sent them into reincarnation with a single shot, giving them a small lesson. Can that be called extreme?
Compared to someone like Saburo Arasaka, she was practically a moderate.
Of course, if you ask her by what right she judges others' lives based on her own likes and dislikes, by what right she has the power to decide others' lives, Berry can only say, it's by the gun in her hand.
This is the beauty of Mother Nature, and the beauty of the Natural Law she established. If she can do it, and succeed, then it is allowed by Natural Law, and it is in line with the spirit of nature.
Natural Law is such an all-encompassing existence; no organism can resist its iron rules. If you don't eat, you will starve to death; if you are cold, you will feel cold; if you are hot, you will feel hot.
But it also gives organisms great freedom. Under these rules, organisms can shape their own rules as they wish, and even break existing natural rules.
If nature dictates that one person cannot kill another, then Berry should not be able to kill another person, no matter what means or methods she employs. That's what it means to have no power.
And the fact that she can do it means she has been granted the most sacred power: the power to take the lives of those who violate the spirit of life.
Don't ask why; if you ask, it's naturally granted human rights.
Because of this, Berry resolutely denied it. This true psychopath shouldn't think of dragging her, and her purest, most perfect V, down with her.
With that thought, Berry wanted to change the subject and avoid this topic.
"Hmm... your Mantis Blades, I recognize them. They're the 'Twilight' 2013 model. Didn't that model stop being sold in '69?"
Berry had sharp eyes and recognized the origin of Inspector Lori's cyberware.
She sometimes paid close attention to these antique cyberware, after all, before studying a discipline, one must learn its history and understand how those intricate and complex devices evolved into their current state.
So, when Berry was with the Nomads, she often read textbooks on cyberware manufacturing processes and firearm principles.
Families, who understands? Even in another world, I have to do practice questions and memorize books. I'm completely speechless.
"...I remember the reason this thing was phased out was because it didn't work well with Neural Processors—it seemed to overstimulate the Prefrontal Cortex of the brain."
This is also a flaw in many military or cheap cyberware; the former operates at super-high power specifications, while the latter lacks good debugging and uses cheap materials that cause significant damage to the human body.
These are the root causes of the large number of Cyberpsychosis cases in Night City.
"Hmm, good eye. These were installed many years ago. They are very... precise."
Lori clearly didn't expect Berry to have this knowledge, but she answered patiently.
"They can... remind me." Lori looked at the cyberware on her arm, a satisfied smile on her lips, as if it were a precise scalpel. "Every time I see them, I remember them cutting through... muscle, tendons, bones... and implants."
"Like a hot knife through butter."
Lori was so engrossed in her own words that V and Berry, listening, couldn't help but frown.
This is the real deal.
V considered herself not a good person, but she wasn't that perverted. Was killing something to be indulged in?
"Don't change the subject. Feeling someone's death. This... don't you like it? That moment when the blood is still flowing... but life has extinguished."
Lori didn't fall for Berry's trap and pulled the conversation back.
She usually didn't talk this much to others, especially not so many heartfelt words.
The reason she did this was because she had checked their criminal records.
Good heavens, she once thought she was crazy enough, but these two were even crazier. They broke into an Arasaka Corporation hotel and went on a killing spree, taking out at least six squads of Arasaka Agents.
And they had committed plenty of other major and minor crimes. Gang members, Scavengers—they had killed at least half a dozen, if not a whole basketful. Recently, they were even involved in a gang war.
Don't let their cute appearance fool you; they are ruthless executioners.
Such cruel and violent individuals, as an NCPD MAX-TAC officer, Lori had to say,
Excellent! I've met kindred spirits!
She was eager to communicate and appreciate each other's artistic methods with them.
You're a bit too extreme.
Now, even V, the Mercenary, couldn't bear to listen.
Good heavens, you've really grasped Kant's philosophy, haven't you?
Humans are not means, but ends.
You, you kill not for money like gangsters or Mercenaries, nor for political reasons like soldiers. You simply enjoy killing, and the purpose of killing is killing. You really do respect that humans are ends.
Berry expressed, you big smarty-pants, you've really mastered German Classical Philosophy, haven't you?
However, Berry still needed to distance herself from such a person.
She was a staunch dove, always has been.
"If you ask me, that's just the thrill of an adrenaline rush. Most people can't experience that kind of pleasure."
"Ha, don't fool yourselves, we're the same kind of people, no difference. I can tell, your eyes can't hide it."
No sooner had she spoken than Lori, her voice somewhat agitated, bluntly stated her demand.
"Join us. We need many people like you."
This person actually started trying to recruit them while talking.
Them, joining MAX-TAC?!
Berry was greatly shocked.
"Don't waste your talents. Are you Mercenaries for money? Join MAX-TAC, and we can offer a sufficient price."
Lori extended her hand, inviting the two with genuine sincerity. From the expression on the half of her face that was visible, she wasn't joking.
"Here, there are enough hunting targets for people like us to hunt and have fun. Most importantly, all of this is 'legal.' You will definitely love it here."
Lori also made a twisted joke between perverts, unaware that V and Berry were completely taken aback.
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