The neon glow of Night City was fading into early dawn when Arthur Vale drifted through the city's digital undercurrent.
After browsing standard data channels, he wandered into local forums.
They were chaos.
But entertaining chaos.
[Divine Revelation: Unlimited cyberware will only lead to destruction…]
[Reply: So should we all join the Animals then? By the way, are they still recruiting? I'm 158cm tall and 45kg. Urgent reply needed!]
[Seeking donor with generous reward! Young woman's husband infertile after accident. Healthy male applicants contact…]
Arthur almost laughed.
Same city.
Same desperation.
Different masks.
Corporations didn't bother blocking these forums. As long as the lower class entertained itself and didn't threaten profit margins, it didn't matter.
He kept drifting.
Then something caught his attention.
A private residential network.
Weak encryption.
No serious ICE.
Owner: Mayor Ryan.
Arthur slipped in effortlessly.
Inside the house, surveillance feeds ran live.
Mayor Ryan was smashing objects in his office.
"Damn Arasaka!" he roared. "Have they forgotten who let them expand in this city? Now they dare refuse my proposal?"
Standing nearby was Congressman Jefferson, visibly tense.
"Mayor… targeting Arasaka directly is risky. They're a global powerhouse. If tax negotiations failed, perhaps we can explore alternative—"
Ryan slammed the table.
"What? I can't collect taxes from them in Night City? They've made billions here. Billions! And I can't ask for a fraction?"
Jefferson lowered his head.
Ryan slowly calmed down.
"Jefferson. You're the only one I trust. Contact Militech. Tell them there's been population instability. Tell them Arasaka's been making moves. Let them 'investigate.' You understand."
Arthur blinked.
Sowing conflict between Arasaka and Militech?
Trying to let giants tear each other apart?
He exited silently.
Mayor Ryan thought he was playing chess.
But in Night City—
Small players rarely survived corporate war games.
Arthur logged out of the Net.
Morning light filtered through the workshop window.
He had no interest in exploiting Ryan's political schemes.
Getting caught in that vortex would destroy Destiny Church before it matured.
Instead, his mind drifted to something else.
Destiny Potion.
If it spread widely—
Would it accelerate class competition?
Would desperation multiply?
Would cyberpsychosis increase?
The word lingered.
Cyberpsychosis.
A nightmare unique to Night City.
Arthur had eliminated dozens over the years.
Every one of them had a story.
Loss.
Pressure.
Implant overload.
Broken identity.
But he pushed the thought aside.
Survival in this city was always brutal.
The potion was a tool.
How people used it was their choice.
He stretched his arms.
Dorothy slowly stirred on the operating chair.
Her eyes opened.
She immediately saw Arthur leaning over slightly.
She blinked.
Silence.
Then she grinned mischievously.
"Brother Arthur… want me to make it fun?"
Arthur sighed.
"Go back to sleep."
He turned away.
He was still considering whether to schedule two more surgeries today when—
Knock. Knock.
"Brother Arthur! There's trouble. 6th Street Gang's here. Bane isn't around."
Arthur opened the door.
It was one of Puff Bar's staff.
Dorothy sat up instantly.
"6th Street? Didn't we already pay this month's harmony fee?"
Arthur narrowed his eyes.
"Let's take a look."
---
At the entrance of Puff Bar, loud laughter echoed.
"Hey little sister," a man sneered. "Your chest is tiny. Come here, I'll give you a 'massage.' Secret technique. Guaranteed results."
Arthur stepped inside.
The speaker wore an old jacket, baseball cap low over his eyes, radio clipped at his waist.
Dorothy moved instantly, pulling her friend Ning Dexi behind her.
"Take the money and leave," Dorothy snapped. "Or are you here to cause trouble?"
Members of Puff Bar subtly closed in.
Loki, Dorothy's father, moved beside Arthur.
His voice was low.
"Brother Arthur… they usually collect 1,200 eurodollars per month. Today this kid claims he's from some special division and says payment hasn't been recorded. Demanding extra."
Arthur nodded slowly.
He activated the internal network.
All Puff Bar members connected instantly.
"This is our secure channel," Arthur said calmly. "Speak freely. They can't breach my ICE."
The channel exploded with whispers.
"They're pushing too hard."
"There's another 6th Street vehicle outside."
"They see business improving. Trying to double-charge."
"Just give the word, Brother Arthur."
Arthur's gaze shifted to the street.
Through public cameras, he located the parked vehicle.
Two more gang members inside.
Tense.
Hands near weapons.
He understood immediately.
This wasn't official collection.
This was opportunistic extortion.
6th Street had nearly three thousand members in Santo Domingo.
Large.
Aggressive.
But not untouchable.
Arthur connected to the NCPD database.
Facial recognition cross-reference complete.
Name: Satoni.
Status: Level 9 wanted criminal.
Bounty: €12,000.
Affiliation: 6th Street Gang.
Crimes: robbery, theft, illegal firearms trafficking.
Arthur's lips curved slightly.
A wanted criminal standing inside his bar.
Satoni noticed the surrounding shift in atmosphere.
"What?" he said arrogantly. "You got a problem with the harmony fee?"
Arthur stepped forward.
Calm.
Unhurried.
"Of course not," Arthur said smoothly. "Harmony is important."
Satoni smirked.
"Then pay."
Arthur continued, voice still level.
"But harmony works both ways."
Before anyone reacted—
Arthur sent a silent command through the network.
The vehicle outside suddenly locked.
Engine disabled.
Doors sealed electronically.
Inside the bar, Satoni's cyber optics flickered.
Arthur had just jammed his visual feed.
Confusion flashed across Satoni's face.
"What the—"
Dorothy moved instantly.
A punch to the ribs.
Karim grabbed his arm.
Pavi kicked his knee sideways.
In less than three seconds, Satoni was on the ground.
The bar erupted into controlled motion.
The other two 6th Street members rushed from the car—
Only to find doors locked and police sirens approaching.
Arthur had anonymously reported wanted criminals at the location.
Precision timing.
No chaos.
No gunfire.
Satoni lay pinned on the floor.
Arthur crouched beside him.
"You came for harmony," he said quietly. "You'll get it."
Minutes later, NCPD vehicles arrived.
Satoni and his accomplices were taken into custody.
The bounty would transfer soon.
Inside Puff Bar, silence lingered.
Then—
Cheers erupted.
Dorothy looked at Arthur with shining eyes.
"Brother Arthur… you're scary."
Arthur stood slowly.
"We paid this month's fee already."
He glanced around the bar.
"If anyone tries to collect twice—"
His voice remained soft.
"Make sure they understand who they're dealing with."
Outside, the NCPD vehicles drove away.
Another small ripple in Night City's endless violence.
But tonight—
Puff Bar had drawn a line.
And Arthur had proven something quietly.
Destiny Church didn't provoke.
But it didn't kneel either.
In Night City—
Harmony was never free.
It was enforced.
_______________________________
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