Karl had already heard whispers that the Night City Council planned to cut Pacifica loose—removing its crime statistics from the city's official reports.
Back when the former NCPD Commissioner was still alive, he had proposed slashing police personnel and introducing service call fees. Along with that, he'd submitted a motion to the Council to remove both Pacifica and the surrounding Badlands from city jurisdiction entirely.
Shortly after submitting it, he was conveniently "handled" by a so-called random shooter. Karl had figured the proposal died with him—lost in bureaucratic infighting.
He never expected to hear it come straight from Mayor Lucius Rhyne's mouth.
Though the mayor had only mentioned Pacifica, and not the Badlands, that single statement was enough to effectively strip Pacifica of its ties to Night City.
When a region's crime rates are no longer counted... what does that really mean?
First, it means the NCPD will stop policing it. Then come the cuts to taxes, utilities, and basic services. Finally, it signals that the Council no longer considers it part of the city. It's fair game—open to gangs, smugglers, anyone who wants to stake a claim. The government won't interfere.
Pacifica was already halfway there—but making it official changed everything. It was like the difference between secretly peeing in a pool... and doing it from the diving board for everyone to see.
"Now that this policy is public, the few residents still clinging to life in Pacifica are screwed. Smuggling and black market trade will spike overnight. It's going to become a haven for every gang and scumbag in the city."
Without restrictions, chaos would flourish. Letting go of even the last scraps of decency? Karl could already picture Pacifica's shining future.
He resumed the braindance.
"We understand this decision may raise questions and spark debate. But we firmly believe it is in the best interest of the city's long-term development and the welfare of its citizens.
Our goal remains a safe, prosperous Night City—where every resident can live, work, and enjoy life with peace of mind.
We believe that through our collective efforts, both Pacifica and Night City will move toward a brighter, safer future."
The rest of the BD was filler. After the official statement and some empty political promises, it drifted into meaningless chatter. Karl skipped ahead and yanked off the headset, deep in thought.
Oliver came over, clearly eager.
"Well? I told you you'd be into it."
He gestured toward the nearby ACPA.
"From now on, we can stash stuff in Pacifica. The Council just said they're done with the place. We could use it as a warehouse."
He looked downright thrilled. For a local like Oliver, this policy was music to his ears.
Pacifica had always been a dead zone in his eyes. Now, with no government oversight, moving cargo there was safer and easier. His friends in logistics would have a field day—more routes, more payloads, more eddies.
"You really support this kind of policy?" Karl asked, raising an eyebrow.
Oliver didn't hesitate.
"Hell yeah. Who wouldn't? Ask Jackie when he gets back—he'll agree for sure. This is a win. Pacifica's been a black hole for years. Wasting cops and cash every time something blows up out there? Better to fix the city instead."
"Yeah, except I doubt the Council's actually gonna reinvest that money anywhere useful," Karl muttered.
Still, he understood Oliver's point.
To most citizens outside Pacifica, the policy was a relief. Better to cut ties with a disaster zone than keep pouring money into it.
And if most citizens backed it...
That meant the policy would be popular.
A widely supported measure announced by the sitting mayor? That could only mean one thing.
Karl quickly checked the date of the next mayoral election. Just as he suspected—it was right around the corner.
If Lucius Rhyne wanted to be reelected, he needed to boost his numbers now.
His gaze shifted to the name of Rhyne's opponent: Jefferson Peralez.
That's when everything clicked.
Lucius Rhyne had just made a brilliant political move.
People's memories are short. Unless it's earth-shattering, only the newest stories stick.
And this? This was big. A major shift in policy, rolled out right before an election. It would leave a lasting impression.
If the vote were held today, Rhyne's approval would be through the roof. Even if the city didn't improve, he could cherry-pick a few stats, throw a press conference, and spin it into a win.
Unless something drastic changed, the next mayor would be Lucius Rhyne.
But...
Karl remembered his first encounter with Rhyne—how coldly he treated Hanako Arasaka.
If you really thought about it... something didn't add up.
Letting go of Pacifica might seem like giving up on a lost cause. But it also left the district wide open.
No oversight. No surveillance.
If someone wanted to infiltrate it, now was the perfect time.
Karl thought back to Dogtown. Even that hellhole had been crawling with elite New America operatives.
And Pacifica? That'd be even easier. Now, with the city officially washing its hands of it, New America could bury entire operations there—safehouses, supply chains, sleeper cells.
All hidden in plain sight.
Was Rhyne's indifference toward Hanako just about her being an heir?
Even if she had clashed with Saburo, she was still Arasaka's rightful successor. For a politician who owed his career to Arasaka to disrespect her like that?
Unless... he no longer served Arasaka at all.
Maybe he was being fed by a new master now.
If Rhyne had lost all respect for Arasaka, the question was: why?
After all, Arasaka had no major interests near Pacifica.
But the 6th Street Gang did.
And behind 6th Street...
Was New America.
And behind New America...
Was Militech.
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