Kapitel 223: Chapter 225
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At the Aldecaldo camp, laughter frequently erupted from inside Panam's tent.
"I'm telling you, their eyes were this big when it happened, just like they had seen a god descend," Panam said, circling her fingers around her eyes to mimic their stunned expressions.
Seemingly caught up in the excitement, she continued, "Now you've become a god, and I've become the protector. The way we're treated, no one can compare. Those who complained about you before are all smiles now, practically orbiting around you all day."
"A lot of people are curious about your origins, but the grand wizard has crafted a backstory for you. He said a deity protecting the nomad tribes chose you, and now people are coming from miles around just to catch a glimpse of you."
"Thankfully, Saul's out there keeping them away; no one dares to bother you, fearing disrespect." Panam glanced at Tang Yu, who remained silent and upright, knowing he hadn't fully recovered yet.
Tang Yu lay in his bunk, listening to Panam ramble beside him, his thoughts clear.
Panam had been taking great care of him these past few days, and he remembered well the pressure she endured to protect him.
Wanting to declare a 'resurrection' under a guise was not only to bring new opportunities to the Aldecaldo family but also to shed his old self.
After the battle at the corporate plaza, it was akin to experiencing a real resurrection.
Tang Yu dared to fully exploit his 'Weak Elec Control' talent because his other talent, 'Indomitable,' had reached a legendary level, allowing him to slowly recover from near death.
Currently, in his weakest phase of recovery, he was like a tender shoot slowly repairing and growing stronger.
As time passed, his bodily and mental functions restored more rapidly, and so did his healing speed.
This 'self-destruction' had its benefits. One of which surprised Tang Yu the most was the significant enhancement of his psychic powers.
It was as if the container for his psychic energy had expanded from a cup to a large barrel, which took a long time to fill up even with rest.
During the battle at the corporate plaza, his talent-based psychic energy ran out after just a few uses, which was embarrassingly insufficient.
Once fully recovered, Tang Yu was confident he could deliver a high-pressure nuclear strike on Kyoto.
He figured Night City would quieten down for a while, with major corporate leaders severely decimated and infrastructures damaged; everyone was busy restoring order and repairing data.
After this battle, Arasaka no longer posed a threat to people close to Tang Yu.
The product launch failing, the Relic biochip not hitting the market, the Tyger Claws brotherhood suffering severe losses, Yoshinobu dying in battle, and little left for Lai Xuan to play—it would be a while before major moves could be taken.
Yorinobu Arasaka was likely to retaliate, leaving little time, but he had his reservations.
The Relic biochip was a step away from success, and the rogue AIs outside the Black Wall covetously eyed Arasaka, who wouldn't settle for being just a digital ghost, always under threat from other more powerful AIs.
Humans would still dominate the world; this belief was deeply rooted in Yorinobu.
As for V, Gloria, and Lucy, Tang Yu wasn't too worried; the gifts he sent had made his message very clear.
He planned to rest with the Aldecaldo family for a while, waiting for his body to recover sufficiently before making the next move, and for now, settled things with Panam.
Seeing Tang Yu still silent, Panam continued to speak to herself, "You're not planning to stay in the tribe for long, are you? Just tell me when you want to leave, and I'll send you back."
After speaking, her expression darkened a bit, then she advised, "Honestly, I don't think you should go back. Those companies in the city will keep trying to pinpoint your whereabouts, and you'll inevitably be drawn into greater conflicts. Actually, you have better choices..."
Tang Yu knew what choice Panam was suggesting—leaving the chaotic Night City far behind. But just as he had chosen to stay initially, some things can't be escaped, ignored, or forgotten.
Even with eyes closed, the familiar, painful, and beautiful memories remained as vivid as if they had just happened yesterday.
Night City was rotten to its core, corrupt through the corporate grasp.
But just like someone meeting their mother, who had abandoned them on the streets years ago and asked for a cigarette—no matter what, she was still his mother.
Born in this city, lived in this city, and would die in this city.
Suddenly, a shout came from outside the tent.
"Panam, Saul wants to discuss something with you," Mitch called out.
Panam replied, stood up, and said goodbye to Tang Yu, "I'll go and listen, see what new scheme Saul is planning, and be back shortly."
After Panam left with a shake of her head, Mitch, curious about her conversation inside, tentatively asked, "Has he woken up yet?"
"Do you think a god who's slept for hundreds, thousands of years could wake up in just a few days?" Panam joked.
Mitch scratched his sparse hair, muttering, "But I swear I saw him up and around the other night. Ask Scorpion; he can vouch."
Thinking about Scorpion, Mitch grew more puzzled. Scorpion had been sneaking around, keeping to himself, making Panam's tent area strictly off-limits.
Catching up with Panam, Mitch decided to forewarn, "Saul isn't planning another raid against the Raffen Shiv, is he? He wants to use his renown to unite the tribes for action. Won't he be upset?"
Panam stated bluntly, "I don't know if he's angry, but I'm definitely angry."
As they arrived at the main tent, Saul was inside greeting the leaders from other tribes, with a lively discussion in progress. Upon seeing Panam, everyone instinctively stood up and greeted her warmly.
Panam simply nodded in response and then directly questioned Saul about his intentions.
Saul deflected the conversation, saying, "Our friends from other tribes made a special trip here just to pay homage to the resurrected deity; they would appreciate hearing your opinion."
Panam glanced around; these tribal leaders had brought valuable gifts including firearms, scarce medical supplies, and various vitamin supplements—essentials for the nomad tribes. Though she was reluctant to play these games, seeing their sincere expressions, she knew disappointing them would also put the Aldecaldos in a difficult position, as the nomads often communicated and coordinated with each other, and the Aldecaldos could not afford to isolate themselves from the larger nomad community.
Reluctantly, Panam agreed to inquire further, casually mentioning the deity hadn't fully awakened yet, and it was uncertain if they could get a response. Thinking it over, she planned to consult Tang Yu; if he disagreed, she would let Saul handle it.
Back in the tent, Panam explained everything to Tang Yu, who soon sent a message.
"Are you saying you're willing to meet them and also want to push forward a cooperation to ambush the Wraiths?" asked the message. Panam was surprised; Tang Yu had made a decision.
Clearly, Tang Yu wanted to help the Aldecaldos get out of their predicament. She too wanted to clamp down on the Wraiths; even if they couldn't eradicate them, weakening their power would ease the Aldecaldos' subjugation. Feeling warmth in her heart from Tang Yu's intention, Panam, not one to fuss, readily agreed.
A while later, in the tent, Tang Yu lay reclined, arranged by Panam, meeting the other nomad leaders one by one. To make them more convinced, Tang Yu even subtly moved his fingers, using 'Electrokinesis' to fix some cybernetic malfunctions or used a high-pressure field to lower their blood pressure, refreshing their minds.
After the performance, each tribal leader called it a miracle and respectfully crawled out of the tent.
Seeing this astonishing scene, Saul grew more suspicious about whether Panam had actually summoned a deity. He could not discern anything special about the charred corpse that had apparently resurrected and exhibited supernatural powers.
Saul was sure the Aldecaldo had not employed high-tech to create such an illusion of resurrection. With Tang Yu's trickery and Panam's endorsement, Saul smoothly discussed plans with other tribes to ambush the Wraiths.
The Wraiths had long plagued the nomad tribes, and except for major clans like the Aldecaldos, few dared confront them. Now, with Saul's proposal and their newfound deity, the tribal leaders unanimously agreed, their confidence and morale boosted, making the disorganized Wraiths look less threatening.
Saul, seeing his call met with an enthusiastic response, grinned broadly. This time, the tribes were not just talk; they actively pledged personnel, equipment, and money, or anything they could offer, like supplies or ammunition.
In the main tent, the mood was buoyant as if merely lifting a finger could obliterate the Wraiths. But soon, a tribal leader said, "Now that we have the people and equipment, how do we actually go about ambushing the Wraiths? If we just attack their stronghold, we might suffer heavy casualties despite having more people."
This remark quickly gained everyone's agreement, and others chimed in with supplementary ideas. "Indeed, the Wraiths' base is more fortified than a military fort; no quantity of people can withstand their defense."
"And the Wraiths also have scattered teams roaming around; without eliminating this force, we can't be at peace."
"The best strategy would be to lure them into a trap and then take them all in one fell swoop!" The crowd applauded this idea.
Saul thought it over; indeed, concentrating the Wraiths in one location for a comprehensive strike, then taking advantage of their weakened state to attack their stronghold, was the most feasible strategy.
But he pondered what bait would draw out the Wraiths. After thinking for a moment, he looked at Panam.
Panam instantly understood his thought; Saul wanted to use the Aldecaldo camp as bait to lure the Wraiths into attacking, by relying on the Aldecaldos' formidable strength, which would inevitably draw a significant force from the Wraiths, and then they could counterattack.
This plan was risky, indeed one of the few effective ones, but using their whole camp as bait was something Panam was uncertain about. She wouldn't flinch at an offensive against the Wraiths, but risking the camp was a decision she wasn't ready to make lightly.
Just then, Panam's phone alert went off again. She moved aside to check the message—it was from Tang Yu.
"I think the Wraiths' base looks good, suitable for the Aldecaldos' new camp; it could kill two birds with one stone."
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein