"Did you deal with the junk you picked up?"
Riku changed the subject, smoothly taking back his gun to keep V from fiddling with it.
"Hah, Old Vic kept the projectile launcher. Charged him 5,000—guy made a killing!"
V grinned. Old Vic, the cyberdoc, always had a market for stuff like that.
"The flamethrower's still looking for a buyer."
Kenryū's flamethrower wasn't hard to sell either. Drop the price a bit, and it'd move fast.
V transferred 1,250 to Riku, splitting the haul fairly since they'd nabbed the loot together on a mission.
Riku didn't say much, just sent 3,000 each to Jack Wells and V—their cut from a deer meat deal.
20,000 total: 1,000 to the priest, 3,000 each to Jack and V, leaving Riku with 13,000.
"Let's hit Kenryū. Time to grab a weapon that feels right."
Riku stood up. After today's haul, he'd raked in 21,750. Checking his balance, he had 22,950 left, including what he'd saved before.
What can you say? Cyber-ronin like them, if they survived, made cash at a speed that'd make regular folks' jaws drop.
That kind of money? Normal people would save for years, only to blow it on saving their own skin or their family's.
"You got enough eddies for that?"
V raised an eyebrow, skeptical, hearing Riku's bold plan to shop at Kenryū—the top-tier melee weapon maker, and naturally, the priciest.
"Don't I have you guys?"
Riku cracked a joke. The latest models were probably out of reach, but even an older Kenryū blade would outshine most knives. He badly needed a better weapon.
"Tch!"
Jack Wells and V both flipped him off, laughing.
"I've got some cash left. Haven't spent much since upgrading my guns. I can spot you—pay me back by next year. I'm saving up for a Nazare."
Jack showed off his twin pistols, a pair of shiny gold Hissatsu Babes that had clearly been modded to hell and back.
Gun modding was huge these days. Street techs loved it—cheaper than new guns, so why not juice up the old reliables?
"Whoa, ARCH's Nazare? That concept bike dropping next year?"
V's eyes widened. She hadn't pegged Jack for dreaming that big. That ride? Probably 150,000 eddies, minimum.
"The Nazare's not just a bike. It's a lifestyle. A man's romance."
Jack recited the ad slogan, making V's lips twitch. Man's romance, my ass—just rich-guy flexing.
The trio bantered as they rolled into the city's commercial district, where Kenryū's shop stood.
Next to the corporate plaza, packed with NCPD and company guards, this place felt freer.
"Fifty years ago, this was just nuclear rubble," Jack mused, eyeing the massive, gleaming office towers, apartments, corporate hotels, and restaurants.
Night had fallen, and the district glowed with a lavish vibe—a reminder this wasn't a place for regular folks.
This was the high-end district, Night City's social hub. Prices here? Sky-high.
The wide, bright streets buzzed with people and traffic, neon signs flashing everywhere.
Old-school bars, trendy clubs, strip joints, fast-food spots, and "one-night" motels blinked their ads relentlessly.
The three hopped out of their ride and stepped into Kenryū's shop. Right away, Riku's eyes locked onto a particular weapon.
"Great taste, sir! That's our latest chainsaw katana."
The clerk caught Riku's gaze and dove in with enthusiasm.
"Look at those razor-sharp teeth. They'll slice through your enemies' flesh like nothing. Plus, the chainsaw's got a flame effect—wield this, and your foes will scream in a blaze of blood and fire."
The clerk grabbed the chainsaw katana and flicked it on.
"BZZZZZ!"
The noise roared through the shop, drawing every eye. The blade spun, flames licking the serrated edges, giving off a loyal, trusty vibe.
"Sorry, it's a bit loud. But with this kind of power, who cares?"
The clerk shrugged, hands trembling slightly as he shut it off and placed it back in the display. Not everyone could handle a weapon like that.
"Damn, that thing's psycho," V muttered, wincing. Getting hit by that? You could imagine the pain.
"One swing, and you're donezo."
Jack nodded, impressed. The vibration alone would wreck most people, but maybe it was perfect for Riku?
Riku was tempted. The raw destruction, the special effects, the potential for blood-flesh activation—it was a beast.
Then he saw the price: 35,000. He held off. Let's check other options first.
"Not quite right? How about this Kenryū M-53 Power Tachi?"
The clerk didn't miss a beat, guiding them to another display.
"The Power Tachi is Kenryū's signature. Unmatched quality. It uses the latest micro-serrated crystal blade tech—cuts through enemies like they're paper."
He showed off the sword, and damn, Riku's heart skipped again. That shiny blade? Pure kakkoii.
The price, though? A cool 40,000. Maybe… something else?
"Still not sold? Check out this classic Ni-Tou single-edge. Timeless perfection. In production since 2019, with a laser-embedded hilt—customize the color, and you'll be the coolest ronin on the block."
The clerk grabbed another blade, less flashy but still sleek. The laser kicked on, and yeah, it was pretty sugoi.
Bang!
Before Riku could respond, the clerk's head exploded right in front of him. He jumped back, barely dodging the splatter.
"Everybody get the hell out, or we'll mow you down!"
A group of goons stormed in, guns out, no masks—pure, reckless yakuza energy.
Boom!
The shop's turret at the door got blasted. The crew rushed in, stuffing weapons into bags.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The staff weren't so lucky, dropping one by one. The goons had plants in the shop, targeting the employees.
They weren't here to slaughter everyone, but stray bullets caught a few unlucky souls, leaving them in pools of blood.
"What the hell…"
Jack, V, and Riku crouched among the panicking crowd, faces a mix of shock and adrenaline.
V shot Riku a look, sending a quick message:
"We taking these punks out?"
(End of Chapter)