"Suppression of ostentation" refers to psychological, social, and physiological factors… damn it, I'm getting off topic.
Jax retracted his gaze from V. Although he was indeed surprised by V's beauty, Jax was clearly more interested in V's strength than her looks.
The position of the big sister in the family, the position of the first combatant… or rather, the second. Jax had always reserved the second combatant position for V. Therefore, V's combat power was what Jax was most concerned about.
How strong could V really be?
This is truly a difficult question to answer clearly. Including Jax, all players who have played 2077 have their own views on V, because 2077's excellent game plot is not a simple grind-fest. Therefore, players who have played it once more or less know something about the game's world background.
It is precisely because of this that things like combat power rankings appear in 2077 forums, as well as various discussions. The two most typical discussions are: one, that the Relic chip limited V's abilities, that it didn't actually help V, but instead caused her to fall into illness in the late game, tormented by pain, which was actually a weakening!
The other faction of players, however, says that the reason V could adapt to so many cyberware implants was precisely because the Relic chip merged her spirit with Johnny's. Therefore, V, possessing two personalities, could withstand the erosion of the cyberware.
But one school of thought was debunked by the official word. The reason is that the officials came out and confirmed one thing: the Relic chip was indeed a weakening for V.
A weakening!
V's world-shaking power wasn't due to the Relic chip turning her into a Cybertronian; she could become a Cybertronian on her own!
This world is not short of prodigies, just like Bartmoss, the hacker god who destroyed the entire world's network with a single computer, Alt, who ascended physically into the AI world, and Spider Murphy, who could easily hack into Arasaka's firewall with a small tablet.
These three are all genius hackers who stand far ahead of countless others, perhaps many steps beyond their time. Some might question Spider Murphy's credentials.
Let's put it this way: Bartmoss greatly admired Spider Murphy, and after becoming a cyber-god, Bartmoss even sent an email from the Blackwall, hoping Murphy would join him.
From this, it can be seen that Bartmoss's love for Murphy runs deep...
Spider Murphy might not be as good as Alt, because the latter, like Bartmoss, has already achieved cyber-godhood, but Murphy's ability is definitely stronger than Songbird's.
Without the power of Militech, Murphy was already far ahead of hackers worldwide, but what about Songbird? Songbird is indeed an unparalleled genius, rare in the world.
But she certainly wouldn't be among the top three hackers in the world.
After all… if you really consider it, a V who takes the hacker route and maxes out 20 Intelligence is comparable to Bartmoss. Wouldn't that count as a top-tier hacker?
Never mind how players play, never mind why a hacker always pulls out a big sniper rifle; a 20 Intelligence V is definitely a top-tier hacker!
20 Intelligence.
Just as he was thinking, Jax suddenly chuckled.
Never mind, Songbird still has a very high chance of being fourth, eyeing third.
After all… the V before him was just a Nomad, a country bumpkin.
Jax looked at V, who was baring her teeth. She didn't look like a hacker genius at all...
Plus, V didn't seem very intelligent, so Jax decisively made a decision.
Hmm, this V in his world could only be a combat V.
"I'm talking to you!" V said loudly.
"Don't be so narcissistic. While you are indeed very good-looking, there are plenty of good-looking people in this world." Jax rolled his eyes, answering V's question.
He continued, "What's more, you look... not like a woman at all."
Short black hair, masculine attire, plus her tone of voice and that beautiful, androgynous face—honestly, if V didn't speak and was a certain distance away, you really couldn't tell V's gender at first glance.
"Why am I not a woman?" V said, a bit angry, and even puffed out her chest.
I'm not a woman?
If it weren't for these two lumps being too much of a hassle to swing around during a fight, I'd undo my bra and let you see how obvious my feminine features are!
I'd slap you in the face with them, I tell you!
"Don't just puff up your quills and prickle like a hedgehog." Jax continued earnestly, "V, just as you've seen today, I have some influence and reputation in this city.
You were right about one thing. You asked if I was interested in you. I'll tell you truthfully now: I am indeed interested in you."
V narrowed her eyes at this, and her hands clenched into fists.
"Take it easy. I could take a hundred of you like that." Jax noticed V's small movement and said with a smile.
"Heh heh, you can brag all you want, it's not like bragging costs money." V said.
Her temper was truly awful, and her sense of self-preservation was too strong.
Jax's description of her as a hedgehog was not an exaggeration.
But upon closer thought, this was actually not surprising.
Because in this world, people have already been turned into ghosts. You only find good-tempered people among the poor, such as mercenaries, Nomads, Corpo rats, gang members, street thugs...
You simply won't find truly good-tempered, kind, and lawful individuals.
Because such people are often the first to die. Hasn't Jax himself now become a chaotic neutral person?
"You'll slowly find out if I'm bragging or not. As for you, V, what I'm interested in is your potential."
"Potential? Just because we met for the first time today, and spent a not-so-pleasant afternoon together, you think I have potential?" V smiled, looking out the car window. She rested her chin in her hand and continued, "Please don't take me for an idiot, Jax."
"Nomads aren't fools; we know quite a lot, more than you guys."
"Anyway, you don't have a choice." Jax didn't plan on explaining further to V.
Some things can't be made clear just by talking; V needs to see it to understand whether Jax is bragging or not. "V, are you planning to sleep in this old, broken car, go hungry for several days, waiting for a Fixer to pay you, or are you going to come with me, have plenty of food and drink, a roof over your head, and a bed that isn't too soft but is warm to sleep in?"
"..." V fell silent instantly.
Jax also drove in silence, quickly passing Santo Domingo.
City Center was already closed to outsiders at this hour; getting through would require security checks, which was troublesome. So Jax took the route from Santo Domingo near Japantown.
Although it was a bit roundabout and he might run into some stupid Tyger Claws, it was nothing compared to arguing with the NCPD.
It wasn't until ten minutes later that V, who seemed to be in an internal struggle, finally spoke.
"What price do I need to pay?"
"Nothing at all. Let me emphasize again, I'm not interested in tomboys." Jax said, a bit speechless.
Damn it, is Sasha not sweet enough or is Lucy not big enough?
V was indeed very good-looking, but Jax wasn't interested in tomboys. In Jax's opinion, what's the point of having a romantic relationship with someone who is much more handsome than himself?
Isn't that masochism, what the hell?
Tomboy... what kind of damned cult!
"Heh." V merely snorted, then reached into her chest, pulling hard at something.
As she pulled, V said, "Don't you dare forget what you said, Jax. If you ever get any ideas about me, I'll shoot your dick off and then stomp on it until it's shattered!"
"I'm a woman of my word, I've already smashed countless idiots' dicks."
V threatened Jax.
As she spoke, in the night, inside the old car, a linen bandage was forcefully pulled out from V's chest.
As the long strip of linen fabric was pulled out, V's previously loose T-shirt suddenly became tight.
And on the loose, predominantly gray T-shirt, the previously wrinkled and indistinct blurred smiley face in the center instantly enlarged.
It was a big yellow smiley ball.
But the yellow smiley ball's left and right eyes were pushed out too much, becoming somewhat distorted, and compared to its previous wrinkled state, it was a different kind of disproportion.
Jax, seeing this scene: "???"
Suppression of ostentation refers to...
Bah!
What a joke?
No, is this real or fake? This size, are you kidding me? This is comparable to Dorio's chest muscles, right?
But Dorio is an Animals member; her muscles are purely from performance enhancers!
Jax originally thought V's chest muscles were quite developed, but that was in comparison to a lean male.
But now?
The distorted yellow smiley face made Jax instantly think of Jigglypuff he'd seen on social media... Yes, it should be real, because V is an original, but the question is, how can an original be so big and so firm?
Both big and firm? Are you kidding me?
If he said that out loud, he'd probably be ridiculed as a naive boy!
Didn't the experienced drivers online all say that "slender branches bear abundant fruit" was a lie? They said it was technology!
Jax gasped, pulling his gaze away.
He suddenly understood the charm of tomboys.
This sudden impact of large spheres, honestly, Jax isn't an old pervert, but... really, he really isn't a pervert, but, she really is too big!
V noticed Jax's expression, chuckled, and leaned back in her seat. V wrapped her arms around her chest, her eyes slightly narrowed, and said in a threatening tone, "Remember what you said, Jax."
"I agree to go with you. You're right, I do need help right now. Compared to sleeping in the car and going hungry, it's obviously better to have someone who can help."
"But that doesn't mean I believe what you said. I'm not threatening you; I'm just telling you a fact: I am very capable of fighting.
If what you plan to do to me is no different from those Wraiths bastards, then you can just wait to end up in the hospital with your dick."
V said, then closed her eyes.
Jax, meanwhile, drove silently.
Damn it... tomboys, they really do have charm, don't they?