"'The Hive,' perhaps you know it."
Little Berry leaned back on the sofa, her tone relaxed.
"Hmm..."
Listening to the explosive music from outside, Rogue, with her hand resting on the sofa, searched her mind for the name.
Don't tell me, she actually had an impression.
The Hive, a recently emerging cyberware trafficking gang, sold counterfeit cyberware, but surprisingly, although these cyberware came from Black Workshops, the failure rate was unexpectedly low, and their performance was not much worse than genuine products.
The group leveraged this advantage to create a price difference. Many third-rate Mercenaries, civilians, and Homeless men in Watson were keen on cyberware produced by The Hive. If you walk down the street, and you see a small hexagonal Hive pattern printed on a passerby's cyberware, that's cyberware from this group.
"So, you're with 'The Hive.'"
Rogue pulled out her cigarette case, took one out, and put it in her mouth.
She quickly understood the key point.
The Hive organization has a very close relationship with the Cyberware Doctor Viktor Vector in Chinatown, and Berry's group has a deep connection with Viktor. So there's only one explanation: these people are all from The Hive.
Listening to Rogue guess her identity from just one sentence, Berry nodded admiringly.
As expected of someone in intelligence, she didn't even need to introduce herself; the other party already knew her background.
However, if she had to say, Rogue was still a bit off.
At least she hadn't discovered that Berry was The Hive's leader.
"We want to acquire a property, a detached house, with large space. Location isn't an issue, as long as it's in Chinatown."
Listening to Berry's request, Rogue understood, her eyes gleaming, clearly searching through her available information.
The Fixer displayed in the game is only one aspect.
As an intelligence broker, a Fixer actually does everything.
Transporting goods, assassinations, kidnappings... Besides these more commonly known activities, Fixers also readily accept orders like real estate transactions, drug sales, and organizational business negotiations. In fact, these are the bulk of their business.
After all, Night City is chaotic, but people aren't killed every day. However, these black and white businesses have a constant flow of transactions. Fixers make their money by connecting clients and taking a cut from these deals.
In simple terms, they are Glorified Brokers.
"Ask me, what are the prices of a few abandoned properties near Arasaka Waterfront now?"
Rogue's eyes gleamed, clearly talking to her subordinate.
"Hmm, alright."
Rogue hung up the phone and turned back to Berry.
"According to your needs, we will prepare several proposals and ensure that no matter which one you choose, the transaction can proceed smoothly. But first, you need to pay a deposit, which is one-fifth of the total commission."
"Roughly eighteen thousand." Rogue said, exhaling a puff of smoke.
She was confident that Berry's group could afford it.
After all, judging a client's ability to transact is a mandatory lesson for a Fixer.
"Hmm, the price is fair."
Berry nodded.
To be honest, she wasn't short on money right now; otherwise, she wouldn't be planning to buy property, would she?
You would never imagine how much money those Mercenaries and workers would pay for replacements. Perhaps not much individually, but when you add up so many, it's no small sum.
No wonder there are Scavengers everywhere in this city; the cyberware business is truly a quick way to make money.
Firearms, cyberware, drugs—these three are the three main industries of Night City. If you can get into one, money comes as easily as picking it up.
However, to make a living from this, you also need to have the ability.
The major shares of these industries belong to large corporations, and the remaining small portion is fiercely contested by everyone.
As for Berry's group, if it weren't for Viktor's connections, plus the previous incident in Kabuki where they cleared out a Scavengers gang to establish their presence, they would have been devoured long ago. They wouldn't have any say now.
"Kikyo."
Seeing the deal concluded, Berry turned and called out to Kikyo, who was standing outside the sofa.
Kikyo's eyes lit up accordingly, and a sum of money was transferred to Rogue's account.
Although it was all her own money, Berry still wanted to save face, didn't she?
How could a boss pay for a deal themselves? Such matters are handled by subordinates.
It was a pity that Berry didn't have many subordinates right now, so she could only let her Chassis make a guest appearance.
After Rogue received the money, her gaze remained fixed on Kikyo, who was standing there.
So-called strong individuals possess an aura.
This statement might have seemed like bragging in the past.
But in this cyberpunk world, where cyberware is highly developed, it is genuinely true.
And the aura of a strong individual is determined by what expensive cyberware they have installed; the more and more advanced their gear, the stronger they are.
Rogue glanced at Kikyo's skin and the connection ports on her wrists before withdrawing her gaze.
All high-end goods.
It seems this Hive indeed has some capability.
Rogue's gaze returned to Berry, silently elevating The Hive's standing in her mind.
"So, this is the 'unrefusable offer' you mentioned?"
Rogue inquired, frowning.
It was just a real estate transaction, nothing major. She didn't believe the other party specifically came to her just for this.
"Of course not."
Berry smiled.
This was just the beginning; the main event hadn't started yet.
"However, are you sure you want to discuss this here?"
Berry glanced at the Mercenaries drinking and having fun in the corridor and at the bar, then turned back to Rogue, raising an eyebrow.
The meaning was clear.
This place was not suitable for discussing what was to come.
"Is that so? Is there something wrong?"
Rogue crossed her arms, a little displeased.
Alright, the other party was putting on airs.
She admitted that The Hive had some capability, but she didn't think they were so capable as to warrant special treatment from her.
After all, they were in the cyberware business and had no business conflicts with her, and naturally no dealings either.
Discussing it here was perfectly suitable.
"Is that so?" Amidst the swirling smoke, Berry smiled mysteriously.
"What if I say, it's the relic chip?"
Berry leaned closer, whispering her biggest purpose and leverage for coming here: the relic chip.
"And, if that's not enough, guess whose consciousness is stored in this chip?"
Under Rogue's scrutinizing gaze, Berry uttered the name.
"Johnny Silverhand."
But as the name left her lips, Berry could clearly see Rogue's breathing hitch, and the ash she had accumulated in her hand fell.
"Let's talk in the Server Room."
Without hesitation, Rogue stood up.
"...So, now, you can tell me about the relic you mentioned."
The group arrived at the Server Room, where various machine indicator lights were flashing. Rogue still had the large Bodyguard by her side, and Berry's three people were also in the Server Room.
The electronic door closed, and Rogue sat in the Hacker Chair, gazing solemnly at Berry.
As the boss of Afterlife, she knew about V and their mission to get the relic chip from Yorinobu Arasaka.
However, that mission had failed.
The Fixer Dexter had died, so Rogue hadn't paid attention to the aftermath.
But now it seemed that V and their group had indeed acquired that relic chip, and the other party had also mentioned a name she was unwilling to face.
That scoundrel Johnny Silverhand.
"I won't say much more. I think you should know the function of Arasaka's relic chip: storing human consciousness in the chip."
"And this world is so small. Guess whose consciousness is hidden in the chip I have: Johnny Silverhand, who died fifty years ago."
Berry unceremoniously pulled up a chair and sat in front of Rogue.
"So what?" Hearing the name, Rogue seemed unmoved, only retorting.
"So you think I'll pay for this chip? Save it. You don't know how long it took me to get rid of that bastard. Now you're trying to blackmail me with this broken chip containing his copy? Don't even think about it."
"And, just because you say it is, does that make it true? Who knows if you're just trying to fool me with a second-hand holographic projection? Stop dreaming."
Rogue's tone was very annoyed, her words full of telling Berry and her group to get lost, but Berry didn't take it seriously at all.
Are you kidding? If Rogue truly didn't care about Johnny Silverhand, she would have kicked her out as soon as she spoke. Why wait until now to come to this Server Room?
She just didn't like being blackmailed, Berry thought.
Even the strongest people have weaknesses, and Johnny Silverhand was the weakness of this 'Old Aunt' Rogue in front of her.
Therefore, in front of this name, the owner of the Afterlife successfully lost her composure.
Simply put, she was anxious.
"Whether it is or not, you'll know once you see it."
Berry turned back and signaled to Judy.
"Judy, bring it out. Let Johnny Silverhand, who refuses to wake up from hibernation, come out for some air."
Judy then stepped forward, placing the black plastic case she was carrying onto the small table between the two, entering the password and unlocking the case.
"Here it is, the prototype relic chip."
From the opened case, Judy took out a miniature freezer the size of a soda can. Inside the transparent glass, the relic chip was quietly suspended.
The moment Rogue saw the chip, her last doubts vanished.
It was indeed the relic chip.
Does that mean Silverhand's consciousness is inside?
Thinking this, Rogue looked at the chip with a complicated expression.
"So, what exactly do you want to do?"
Rogue stared into Berry's eyes and asked seriously.
"What we want is actually very simple."
Berry also looked at the floating chip.
"I want Johnny Silverhand to return to this world—to completely revive him. And for that, we have a plan that requires your help."
Under the illumination of the cool white light emanating from the miniature freezer, Berry's eyes shone with eagerness.
It had finally come to this moment.
Johnny Silverhand.
Let's see if that most glorious memory of yours can wake you up from the chip.
Staring at Rogue, Berry slowly recounted her plan. As Berry spoke, Rogue's eyes gradually widened, as if she had heard something incredibly unbelievable.
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