Chapitre 218: Chapter 220
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At the Afterlife bar, Jackie Wells retrieved an item entrusted to him by Tang Yu from the bartender, Pepe, intending to deliver it according to Tang Yu's previous instructions.
"Gloria Martinez, Lucy, V, Rebecca..."
Inspecting the neatly packaged item, Jackie murmured in doubt, "Why are they all girls?"
After re-examining the contents, he noticed there were also gifts for himself and V. Unable to resist, he opened his package first, uncovering a "Mum's the Word" Motel discount membership card with an included note:
[If you're reading this note, it means the room in Konpeki Plaza can no longer be accessed. 'Mum's the Word' is quite decent, sufficiently private, and very secure—highly recommended, five stars.]
Jackie muttered to himself, tucking the membership card into his back pocket, "If you're not bootlicking at the corporation, save some money for yourself. If you really have free time, hurry back..."
It had been days since anyone had contacted Tang Yu, and no one knew what had transpired at the corporate plaza.
Jackie had heard some disturbing rumors about Tang Yu but refused to believe they were true. They had planned to meet for a drink at the Afterlife bar, and he was confident Tang Yu wouldn't break his word.
Mounting his new ARCH motorcycle, Jackie decided to personally deliver the items to each recipient.
In Westbrook, Cherry Blossom Street.
Jackie arrived in front of a seaside apartment building, confirming the address before ascending the steps.
On the top floor, he approached the left-hand gate and tried to communicate through the intercom. Shortly, a voice from inside asked, "What is it?"
Lucy was sitting by a bay window surrounded by unwieldy bottles and cans. Her cybernetic eyes rotated, recognizing Jackie from the surveillance footage; she had seen him before at an abandoned steel mill riding a hover car with Tang Yu.
Confirming that the person inside was Lucy, Jackie raised an envelope to the camera and declared solemnly, "Tang sent me to deliver this."
"Tang Yu?" Lucy's expression tightened. "Leave it at the door."
After Jackie placed the envelope in a box by the gate and started to descend the stairs, Lucy added, "Thank you."
Jackie turned back, flashing a broad smile at the camera before disappearing around the stairwell corner.
Lucy made sure no one else was around before retrieving the envelope from the box. Sitting back by the window with the thin letter in her hands, she was undecided whether to open it.
These days, she had spent several days and nights alone, trying to understand what had actually happened.
Lucy was certain that Tang Yu was responsible for the citywide blackout and the collapse of the corporate plaza. Tang's mysterious powers had ultimately been revealed to everyone. Despite Arasaka's attempts to suppress the news, forces were now likely scouring for any trace of Tang Yu, even just his body.
She couldn't comprehend why Tang Yu, who had kept everything so deeply hidden, would make such a drastic decision, pushing himself into a corner. His position, his power, his patience, his abilities, his efforts—all vanished in an instant.
Was it a rash impulse?
She remembered Tang Yu on the metro, overpowering others, running confidently by the seaside at night, and meticulously planning on the yacht.
Which Tang Yu was this now?
Forced into a corporate struggle? But he had never lost before.
A noble sacrifice against the corporation? But he had already risen above others.
A cyberpsycho losing control? Yet he had never integrated even a single cybernetic implant.
With a firm grasp, Lucy tightened her hold on the envelope, hoping for answers. Without hesitation, she tore open the envelope, pulling out two strips of cardstock, and was stunned.
The overwhelming fatigue she had been maintaining suddenly gave way, and her eyes welled with tears.
Before them lay two tickets, two tickets for a rocket to the sky, tickets to the lunar base.
At that moment, she understood Tang Yu's choice, a mix of resignation and resolve. From this moment on, everyone around Tang Yu was granted the chance to start life anew. All truths became murky with his efforts and disappearance, turning into an eternal unsolvable mystery. Lucy, unable to speak, could only helplessly slump against the wall, clinging to one last hope.
...
Jackie, riding his motorcycle, zipped through various locations in Night City, delivering objects prepared by Tang Yu; now only one item remained. He found it odd that everyone seemed unenthusiastic, but their spirits lifted significantly after receiving Tang Yu's gifts.
One memorable gift was a thick book Tang Yu had given to Gloria. Upon receiving it, Gloria immediately tore open the package and found it to be a popular dictionary of Chinese and English names. Gloria was so thrilled she was nearly moved to tears. Jackie, scratching his head in confusion, left after confirming the task was done.
Another memorable incident was delivering an item to Tang Yu's residence, only to find his assistant living there. Jackie wisely handed the package to Sasha, determined to keep his brother's secrets. However, the envelope he brought to V was different; she ripped it up on the spot, furiously throwing the pieces at Jackie, which baffled him. After V left, Jackie picked up the pieces off the ground and pieced them together; they were certifications for property and vehicles, with the owner listed as Valerie. Only then did Jackie realize V's real name was Valerie. Unexpectedly, V came back, snatched the scraps from his hands, and slammed the gate shut. Jackie, shrugging helplessly, could only continue his role as a courier and move on to the next delivery.
...
Kyoto, Arasaka Manor. In a sterile ward.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Hearing her father's muffled cough, Michiko Arasaka quickly stood to get him water, but he refused.
"No need, my body is old and failing," Saburo Arasaka lay on the bed, propped up slightly. Michiko paused, putting down the cup, realizing the gesture might be disrespectful to her father.
Recently, Saburo's condition had worsened; his cough never ceased, often accompanied by bloody sputum, and he now needed electronic assistance to speak. Michiko bowed and returned to her seat, silent.
"Do you believe in immortals?" he asked.
Surprised, Michiko looked up.
"Father, it's hard to believe..."
She recalled the report Odaka brought back — the truth about the major accident at the company plaza: Tang Yu had fought a fierce battle with Adam Smasher using native abilities. The outcome was unknown. Tang Yu had disappeared, and Adam Smasher's cybernetic components were all damaged, his whereabouts unknown. It was certain, however, that Tang Yu possessed supernatural powers and was extremely powerful. For this, Arasaka Corporation still retained all Tang Yu's positions and privileges and had specifically sealed all information regarding Tang Yu, classifying it as top-secret.
"Take this, and go to Night City for me."
Goro Takemura entered from outside, bowing with a thermally insulated safe in his hand. Opening it, he revealed two chips inside. One was a Relic biochip, the other an authentication chip. An Arasaka aircraft carrier with nuclear capabilities, the authorization for the Godzilla?
It was the Godzilla aircraft-carrier fleet that had resolved the crisis of war in Night City. Understanding her father's intentions, Michiko bowed and accepted her mission.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone