Berry turned her head, only to see the Bartender waving at her from behind the bar.
She remembered the Bartender, Claire, the Big Dio Girl.
*Whew~*
Berry let out a breath.
For a moment just now, she thought trouble had arrived, and her hand had already reached for the "vitamin b" on her waist.
She figured she must have been overthinking things.
After all, this was the Afterlife Bar, the territory of Rogue, the legendary Mercenary who blew up Arasaka Tower and managed to come back alive—and not only came back alive but continued to sing and drink right under Arasaka's nose.
No one dared to cause trouble here.
"Hey, Claire, you look great!"
Since she ran into her, Berry decided to grab a drink.
"Hehe, it's just the lighting." Claire smiled, leaning on the bar.
"Claire, this is Judy and Kikyo. Judy, Kikyo, this is Claire."
Berry introduced the two to each other, and then reintroduced herself as well.
"Hello, Claire."
Judy said this as she sat on the high stool, but she was still a bit reserved in the new environment, unlike her usual relaxed self at Lizzy's Bar.
"Mhm, hello to you too." Claire nodded.
Every day, a few new customers arrived at the Afterlife Bar, and a few regulars never came back—or rather, couldn't come back.
Claire was quite used to this scene.
"What would you like? David Martinez? Or little coca-cola?"
As expected of a bartender, she even remembered what Berry, whom she had only met once, drank.
"little coca-cola, please. little coca-cola as the base, mixed with little coca-cola, and then mixed with more little coca-cola. Oh, and add a little umbrella. I really like those things."
"Haha, Berry, you certainly know how to joke."
Claire laughed, but decided to make it for her anyway.
"And what about you two? New customers."
"Me, a bottle of real sparkling water is fine."
Judy crossed her hands and rested them on the table.
To be honest, she was a veteran of the nightlife scene, familiar with all kinds of drinks.
But now?
She was about to meet a legendary figure and demonstrate her half-baked program, which she wasn't sure would even work. She wasn't in the mood for a couple of shots right now.
"Alright, real sparkling water." Claire raised an eyebrow and said no more.
Birds of a feather flock together, perhaps.
Compared to someone drinking little coca-cola mixed in a specific way, Judy, who only wanted a bottle of real sparkling water, seemed much more refreshing.
"So, this... Kikyo?" Claire pronounced the slightly awkward Japanese name, looking at the tall beauty who had been silent since they arrived.
She was wearing a black and red motorcycle suit and sat silently beside them.
Looking at it this way, Berry and Judy seemed like her Girls.
After all, the silent and obviously powerful Kikyo looked much more like a leader than the smaller Berry and the reserved Judy.
"Oh, her? Give her a bottle of Clumsy Monkey."
Alright, the three musketeers of soft drinks.
The three of them could drink all night and not a drop of alcohol would register in their blood.
However, Claire dutifully got to work.
After all, as long as the customer paid, she could serve anything—even water from the toilet bowl.
Okay, that was a bit disgusting.
She wouldn't go that far; doing something like that would be an insult to her years of bartending experience.
Soon, three drinks were placed on the bar. The blue cola in Berry's transparent glass was still bubbling, and a small yellow umbrella rested against the rim.
It inevitably brought to mind sunshine, beaches, bikinis, and price-gouging vendors.
"Come on, Judy, let's toast!"
Berry raised her glass, warmly inviting Judy.
"Uh... fine."
Judy finally began to admire these Mercenaries who lived by violence; they were about to go deceive a major figure, yet they could still raise a glass with such ease.
All she could say was, impressive.
Eisenhower once said, there are no real stunts, they're all just tricks to fool the fans, all done by injecting Iced Black Tea.
Berry indicated that the reason for her composure was Kikyo standing beside her.
If the situation went south, Kikyo's abilities were certainly enough to get them out of there.
Furthermore, Berry felt this transaction wouldn't fail. After all, Johnny Silverhand was Rogue's old flame; she wouldn't just stand by and watch, right?
Rogue, you wouldn't want your ex-boyfriend trapped in the Relic forever, would you?
"...The job you pulled? The streets are going crazy about it. Daring to pull a tooth from Arasaka's tiger jaw—you guys are truly incredible!"
Berry hadn't even taken two sips of cola when Claire, acting like a perfect hype man, praised Berry and her crew thoroughly.
Hehe, Berry was starting to feel a little lightheaded from the praise.
Berry was the type to talk nonsense when she got excited.
Sure enough, holding her glass of cola, she began to talk animatedly.
She claimed she formulated the infiltration plan, and she was responsible for breaking through the encirclement—she went through the whole story.
After bragging a bit, the topic inevitably shifted to V and the others.
"...Where are V and Jackie, the kid? Why aren't they here?"
Claire was confused not seeing V and Jackie, as her intel hadn't mentioned either of them being killed.
At Konpeki Plaza, apparently only one famous Mercenary died: Arno.
Arno, wuwuwu, my Arno. o(╥﹏╥)o
"Uh, those two? They were delayed by something and couldn't make it."
Berry paused, stopping her conversation.
Because she heard commotion coming from a nearby private booth.
For the sound of an argument in a private booth to carry all the way to the bar over the loud music showed how intense it was.
Moreover, that aggressive, loud female voice sounded somewhat familiar.
"That's Rogue. Looks like she's run into some troublemaker again."
Claire looked over, picking up the conversation thread.
"Alright, let's go take a look. We're here to talk business with Rogue anyway."
"Mhm, given your abilities, Rogue will certainly be happy to see you."
Claire nodded in affirmation.
Based on the reputation Berry and her crew now had, they had certainly made a name for themselves and were no longer comparable to their past selves.
"Judy, pay the bill."
Berry dropped the line and jumped off her chair.
"Hey, Berry, you..."
Judy, who was a step too late and glaring, naturally became the scapegoat to pay the bill. Couldn't she see Claire's eyes were already on her?
"Little Judy, drink this."
At this moment, Kikyo, who was sitting down, pushed her untouched bottle of Clumsy Monkey toward Judy.
After all, she was a Chassis; she didn't have a stomach to hold drinks.
"You..."
Judy looked angrily at the cold-faced Kikyo.
She was about to complain, but seeing Kikyo's proud gaze, she immediately conceded.
It was her money, so she'd drink it!
Judy raised the can and chugged it down in a few gulps.
She just didn't want to waste money; it wasn't because she was slightly afraid of Kikyo.
"...No, no, you're the one who dragged me into this! And because of you, I've lost everything!"
The aggressive and wronged female voice approached, indicating that something had truly infuriated her.
"I'll say it again, little Girl. Solve your own problems, and wipe your own ass."
The other female voice was clearly much more mature and steady, maintaining considerable restraint.
"I'm telling you, eat shit!"
But the negotiation seemed to have collapsed anyway.
The angry woman, wearing Nomad leather clothing and boasting a curvaceous figure, shoved the security guard who had his back to her and stormed past Berry.
"Be careful when doing business with her."
As she passed, the woman threw out a warning and left.
Berry turned her head to look.
That familiar scene instantly made Berry realize who that person was.
Yo, yo, yo, isn't that Panam? How come she's so down on her luck after just a few days?
Panam, full name Panam Palmer.
This was the main love interest for male V in the game, the person countless players called their wife.
Panam, who came from a Nomad family, had a fiery temper and a blunt mouth, but she was extremely reliable, and beneath her rough, tough exterior lay a sensitive and fragile maiden's heart.
Unfortunately, Panam was a straight woman through and through; female V could flirt with her, but nothing could come of it.
Berry had lamented this back then.
She wanted both Judy and Panam.
However, although her wish to start a harem wasn't fulfilled, Panam and female V became close friends and confidantes in the Star Ending.
Having become the leader of the Aldecaldos Nomad Family by then, she led her clan, along with V and V's girlfriend Judy, out of Night City and headed to Atlanta.
The Panam at the end was so mature and capable that Berry felt a slight sense of unfamiliarity seeing this young, aggressive Panam.
Only then did she remember that the other party hadn't evolved into Full-Form Panam yet.
Berry, you have to help her.
The moment she saw Panam, she knew her plan to win over the Aldecaldo Family needed to be put on the agenda.
To overthrow the Corporations, she needed these wild, fierce men and Girls from the badlands.
However, for now, she should handle the business with Rogue first.
Berry turned back, steadied herself, and walked toward the private booth.
Kikyo and Judy followed a step behind her.
"Hello, Big Guy, I need to see Rogue."
Berry looked up uncomfortably at the Big Guy in front of her, who was wearing Black Goggles.
Why did everyone in Night City have to be so tall? She had to strain her neck just to talk—it was exhausting.
Berry, lacking any self-reflection, absolutely refused to admit this was because she was short.
"Let her in."
Inside the private room, Rogue had just finished dealing with the Volatile Panam, and now she looked glum and in low spirits. However, upon seeing Berry's appearance, she looked up and told her Bodyguard to let her in.
"Hmm, I don't think I know you. Who are you?"
As soon as Berry stepped into the semi-rectangular private room, Rogue spoke.
But as soon as she spoke, Berry wanted to roll her eyes.
Don't know? That's impossible.
As the owner of the Afterlife Bar, her intelligence probably arrived faster than Arasaka's Security Department. Berry and her group had done such a big thing; there was no way Rogue wouldn't know them.
She just wanted to assert her dominance, that's all.
"I am Berry."
Berry stated, then unceremoniously sat on the sofa.
"So, what do you want from me, Berry?"
Listening to Rogue, the 'Old Aunt's' flat tone, Berry pondered her plan.
Should she scare Rogue half to death first, or scare Rogue half to death first?
After all, she had brought her ex-boyfriend with her.
Thinking this, Berry leaned back comfortably against the sofa, speaking casually.
"Rogue, I'm here to discuss a deal, and it will definitely happen, because I'll give you an offer you can't refuse."
Berry spoke mysteriously, and Rogue subconsciously raised an eyebrow at her words.
Quite small, but quite arrogant in tone.
Rogue thought, looking at Berry's petite figure.
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