Because his residence was very close to the North Industrial Area, Jax always took the road through the North Industrial Area when he went out.
Jax, of course, knew that taking this road made him likely to encounter members of the Maelstrom and Scavengers, and he had different approaches for these two factions.
For the former, Jax's strategy was that if there was no conflict, then both sides should mind their own business.
Although the Maelstrom's group of lunatics were also heinous villains, Jax didn't consider himself a particularly good person.
He had indeed always stuck to his true self, not allowing this messed-up world to change him.
But as his strength grew and his actions became more exaggerated, it was inevitable that innocent people would sometimes be affected by Jax's actions.
However, Jax always had sympathy for the weak, and sometimes he would lend a helping hand to them when he could protect himself.
Just like when Jax controlled V in the game, the V he played was a good person in every sense of the word.
He was definitely not a V who would suddenly fly out of his car while driving, then grab a Katana, activate time-stop, and start gesturing wildly in a crowd... The Maelstrom guys, however, were targets Jax would actively attack when controlling V, because there was one thing those Maelstrom bastards loved to do.
That was to snatch lone, ordinary people who didn't have implants, then forcibly install implants on them, watching them struggle in pain and descend into cyberpsychosis.
But this was not a game; this was the real world.
Therefore, Jax couldn't help every person he saw; he didn't have the ability or the time.
So, as long as the Maelstrom didn't provoke Jax, he would pretend not to see what they did, because it had nothing to do with him.
The Moxes had never had direct conflicts with the Maelstrom because the Moxes were a very small gang.
Susie Q's gang operating policy was to avoid conflict at every turn, and the Moxes also had no business conflicts with the Maelstrom, a situation completely different from that with the Tyger Claws.
But Jax's attitude towards the Scavengers was different.
It wasn't because Jax held a grudge, or because he was almost kidnapped by the Scavengers when he was little if it weren't for Kolina's help.
It was purely because Jax despised the Scavengers from the bottom of his heart; these people had also harmed members of the Moxes. Or rather, the Scavengers seemed like rats, but in reality, these rats were incredibly bold; let alone mercenaries and gang members, they dared to snatch corporate employees as long as they were alone!
As someone from a peaceful country, Jax's attitude towards human traffickers was to beat them to death on sight, so it goes without saying for the even more depraved Scavengers.
The Scavengers... every single one of them, just cut them down, and that's it.
Among the gangs of Night City, the Valentinos were the most traditional gang, half-black and half-white. In this place that had lost order and fairness, laws were meaningless.
Therefore, the Valentinos touched everything forbidden by law and committed all sorts of evil deeds, but they also did not shy away from matters of morality.
When it came to brothers, family, lovers, and compatriots, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call the Valentinos a hometown association.
Even the Tyger Claws were like this; although he had a grudge against the Tyger Claws, Jax had to admit that many people in Japantown must have received aid from the Tyger Claws.
The Voodoo Boys, however, were a bunch of human traitors. These people believed in AI supremacy, their sole focus being to find the Blackwall and release rogue AIs to become their masters.
These people were beyond saving; they were a pure cult, and killing them on sight was perfectly fine.
The Animals and the Maelstrom were also two extremes: one extreme believed in the flesh, the other in implants. Both were the kind with messed-up brains.
The 6th Street Gang had lost their faith. Their situation was similar to the Tyger Claws, both being tools of corporations, but there must have been many within the gang who had helped locals.
The Moxes, on the other hand, were a self-help group of the disadvantaged, the gang with the lowest income and the fewest misdeeds. The Moxes generally didn't get involved in street affairs; their way of making money was through bars and Braindance.
And the Scavengers...
Jax narrowed his eyes. It wasn't because he was a member of the Moxes that he was speaking favorably of them, but because the official attitude was already evident in the game.
As the player-controlled protagonist, V's best allied gang was actually the Moxes. The reason it wasn't the Valentinos was that the Valentinos were also yellow beacons to you, the kind that would attack you if you got too close.
And the Moxes?
They were all green beacons...
Let's put it this way: if you're driving V on the streets of Watson, sometimes a group of red beacons will suddenly appear. Those bastards are Tyger Claws. Immediately after, a green beacon will appear, and that's a member of the Moxes.
It's not that the Moxes are there to help you, but at least the Moxes are indeed on V's side.
For most players, the Moxes were their T0 friendly gang, but there was still that problem... The Moxes were weak, damn too weak.
After the Clouds incident with Judy, she left the Moxes. One would think that without Judy, the Braindance genius, the Moxes' future would only get worse.
But the situation was different now, because the Moxes had Jax.
Touching the money chip in his pocket, Jax suddenly felt that his flash of inspiration to choose this path was quite good.
He could go out and eliminate opponents, express empathy for things he disliked, and earn some extra money...
However, it was time to go after the Tyger Claws.
He read the chip, withdrew the money from it, and then Jax casually tossed the chip away.
Then, he headed towards Japantown.
It was time to start hunting the Tyger Claws.
Killing a bunch of Scavengers... just consider it practice.
"Good morning, Night City!"
"I'm your old friend, Stanley~~~"
A sharp, piercing voice came from the radio and TV. Sasha rubbed her eyes, then stretched.
That scoundrel Stanley was still screaming in his utterly obnoxious voice:
"It's time for your most anticipated Dead Man's Lottery! Let's see, hmm... all told, the final count is one hundred and seven dead! Oh my god, in recent times, this is a rare lottery where the number has broken three digits. The winners are truly blessed, thanks to the endless gang wars! This time's prize is especially generous. Winners, please call the number below to claim your prize as quickly as possible, otherwise... you all know how it goes!"
Sasha blinked and looked at the bedside.
Jax had returned around four in the morning yesterday. At that time, Sasha was still awake, watching a new drama she had just started.
Therefore, when Jax returned smelling of blood, Sasha's first reaction was to tell him to take a shower.
Now Jax wasn't beside her. It seemed... he must have gone to have breakfast with Maine and the others?
Stanley continued his strange cries: "However, this incident is somewhat different. Inside scoop, friends: after investigation, a shocking serial killer attack occurred in Watson District late last night!
Among the one hundred and seven people who contributed to this lottery's numbers, forty-two of them were from Watson District! The NCPD, those bastards, were late again!
I really don't know why we pay taxes to these people. Is it for them to collect our bodies after we die? What about their promise to patrol the streets at night and protect our safety?
Ah! All that was what the authorities told me to say and does not represent my personal opinion, so please, NCPD, don't blame me. Now, back to business."
"According to the NCPD investigation, among those who died in Watson District last night, thirty-seven were gang members. Sixteen of them were Scavengers, countless criminals, utterly evil! The remaining twenty-one were Tyger Claws members. Their deaths were extremely gruesome, even their motorcycles were destroyed, uniformly smashed to smithereens. Tsk, tsk, that's all money."
"Therefore, the NCPD has issued a warrant. Here, your good friend Stanley also gives you a warning: in the coming days, please do not wander around Watson late at night, because that Watson serial killer is very likely a cyberpsycho. After all, only a cyberpsycho could kill dozens of people alone."
"Now, for events in other areas. First, Heywood. Heywood experienced a violent incident yesterday; a group of gang members attacked a club, but fortunately, there was a VIP in the club, and the arrival of Trauma Team drove away those lunatics.
Santo Domingo had yet another power outage, undergoing emergency repairs. I say, you power-stealing guys, can't you stop always targeting Santo Domingo?"
"Although I'm not from Santo Domingo, I really can't stand this behavior. Do you know how much trouble you cause the locals?"
"Due to the sudden power outage from 7 PM to 9:30 PM yesterday, thirteen people died at the Santo Domingo District Hospital due to equipment failure and ineffective rescue! Oh my god, that's thirteen people!"
"Of course, these thirteen people were not counted in the Dead Man's Lottery, because they died after midnight, and I'm not cheating!"
Stanley said with a sharp, cackling laugh.
Sasha narrowed her eyes, then raised her fair arm, ran her fingers through her hair, and pulled hard.
Her hair wasn't planted but dyed real hair, so her scalp hurt. Sasha said coldly: "Scoundrel! One day, you scoundrel, you'll die because of that mouth of yours!"
Sasha intensely disliked Stanley.
Because her mother's death was also mocked by a news channel in this way. It was a human life, but these entertainment hosts used a joking manner to guide public opinion.
Not to mention the securicine incident. Sasha had clearly given the securicine data to 54 News, but what was the result later?
It was that Biotechnica and 54 News collaborated to put on a show, digitizing human lives, guiding ordinary people to focus on the corporate struggles, falling into the "struggle" jointly performed by Biotechnica and 54 News.
But what everyone should have been concerned about at the time was Biotechnica's medicine, which had killed people!
Walking to the bathroom, Sasha looked around and found that there were no her toiletries in Jax's room. So, after getting dressed, Sasha opened the door.
The moment she opened her door, the door next door also happened to open.
Under her brilliant hair color, a pretty face appeared from the door. She was wearing sportswear, white sneakers, and looked at Sasha.
"Yo, up so early for a workout?" Sasha greeted her, showing her signature cute cat smile.
Lucy looked at this 'acting cute' cat, glanced at the room door, a hint of an inexplicable expression flashed in her eyes, but then she calmly said: "Yes, I exercise every day, both in the morning and evening."
"No wonder then, no wonder you have such a good figure," Sasha said.
Lucy nodded and replied: "You have a good figure too, Sasha, Senior."
"What senior, I'm not that old," Sasha's smile froze as she said.
Before, Sasha hadn't paid much attention to age; anyway, no matter what others said about her age, she was cute enough.
But now it was different... After her relationship with Jax was made public, Sasha was quite concerned about this matter...
She was actually much older than Jax, probably... almost six or seven years older?
That's right, Sasha, the otaku cat who loved staying home watching dramas and playing with figurines, was already approaching thirty... Approaching thirty, that's something people over 25 say.
Therefore, afraid of being called an 'old cow eating young grass,' and 'eating virgin young grass' at that, Sasha had recently been avoiding discussing her age with people.
And now, Lucy pointed it out to her face. Heh... could Sasha not understand what she meant?
"Exercising more is good for your body. Although we are hackers, exercise can increase our control over our bodies, boost our energy, and maintain skin condition," Lucy continued to say.
As she spoke, Lucy closed her door. She had already moved in. Although she still had some things in Heywood, all the important items had been moved a few days ago. Jackie would bring the remaining things over later.
Therefore, in these past few days... Lucy knew one thing: Sasha would always sneak into Jax's room in the middle of the night. You say you go, you go, but you clearly sneak in, you go secretly, but what's with waving at the camera facing my door?
Isn't that a show of force?
Heh, a show of force... for arranging Jax's car's passenger seat?
After hearing Lucy's words, Sasha clenched her back teeth, but then said with a beaming smile: "It's fine, I exercise too."
"Oh? But in the few days I've been living here, Sasha Senior, haven't you been watching the dramas I recommended to you? You haven't seemed to leave the house," Lucy said, then tilted her head and asked back: "You even had Jax or Dorio bring you food. Do you exercise at home?"
Sasha nodded, smiling slyly: "Yes, I exercise at home."
"I was so tired from exercising last night."
...Lucy's eyes darkened, and her fists clenched behind her back.
"Ah, I should get ready. Do you want to eat together later?" Seeing Lucy fall silent, Sasha clapped her hands and said. "Okay..." Lucy said faintly.
Sasha hummed, walked to her door, opened it, went inside, then turned around, waved her small hand at Lucy, and then closed the door.
Lucy turned around, ready to leave the apartment for a run.
But after only two steps, laughter came from behind her.
It was Sasha's laughter.
"Bitchy cat..."