For advance 40+ chapters patreon.com/TranslationGod?
Ethan had to work hard to get the woman back in the car.
He also stooped to pick up her heels.
She loved to struggle. When Ethan applied pressure, she'd settle down a bit.
Ethan covered her mouth and watched the approaching cars in the distance.
"Now, fix your appearance. Pray nobody sees anything—"
"Otherwise, I cannot guarantee your safety."
Emma's eyes glistened with tears. She nodded slowly.
Ethan released her and slipped into the driver's seat. Several of Hands' bodyguards were approaching. Ethan rolled down the rear window a crack.
Please let this woman not do anything stupid.
"Ma'am."
Security bowed respectfully, noting Emma's slightly disheveled hair.
"I'm dizzy. Had the driver take me to the beach for some air. Do I need to report that to Hands too?"
Security hastily waved his hands. "Just worried about you, ma'am!"
"Drive."
Emma's performance was flawless—classic languid socialite affect.
Ethan started the car. Route: Arasaka Waterfront to Heywood Wellsprings, then Pacifica coastline.
"Ma'am, please give me the auto-drive passcode. Destination will be changed to Dogtown."
Emma bit her lip.
"You're looking to make trouble for Hands, aren't you—"
"No. I'm going to Dogtown to make trouble for Hands slowly."
Ethan turned his head, smiling harmlessly.
"Le roi est mort. Vive le roi." (The king is dead. Long live the king.) Emma sighed softly. "Hands was right. You really are a lion."
Ethan shrugged noncommittally. "There's no king. Just a Night City resident who doesn't want to be played for a fool."
Emma hesitated, then transmitted the auto-drive passcode to Ethan.
Setting the route, Ethan climbed into the back seat under Emma's alarmed gaze, settling beside her.
"What else are you going to do?"
Ethan sat there, expression calm.
Not the eyes Emma had imagined—someone about to do something to her.
Ethan picked up the silver heels from the plush floor mat. "Where I come from, there's a saying: don't target your enemy's family."
"Tonight was a last resort. I hope madam won't take offense."
Emma nodded, curling into a corner.
Ethan looked down. Noticed something.
Under Emma's startled cry, he lifted her feet and used his discarded suit jacket to carefully wipe the mud from her soles.
Only when both elegant feet were reasonably clean did he carefully slip her heels back on.
Emma watched in silence.
In Night City, if your husband made enemies, family was the easiest target. Gangs, mercs, corps—
Women and children were soft spots.
Yet this man was kneeling to put on her shoes, easing her fear somewhat.
"You're... not like the others."
Ethan gave a tired half-smile but didn't elaborate.
"Alright, madam. I'd like to ask you some questions. Please answer what you can."
Emma agreed.
"Hands and Dogtown—what exactly is their relationship?"
Emma hesitated, then spoke slowly.
"Hansen has many trusted lieutenants. Officers... criminals... Dodger... senior soldiers like Ross Ulmer..."
"But they're all La machine—machines. The reason my husband can do business in Dogtown is mostly because his methods are... gentler. More discreet."
"You know I live in a Pacifica high-rise, protected by Hands' people. Beyond that, I don't know much."
Ethan nodded internally.
Mixing in Dogtown means you can't avoid Colonel Hansen.
If he wanted to steal meat from Hands on Hansen's turf, he needed a relationship with the man.
"Are they close?"
Emma shook her head. "It's not an official relationship. As far as I know, Hands and Hansen have financial dealings. But I'm just a woman—Hands doesn't tell me much."
Ethan crossed his arms and leaned back.
"Later—at the Dogtown checkpoint—do you have authority to get us waved through?"
Emma nodded. "My car usually gets direct passage. Hands arranged it. But I rarely go to Dogtown—"
"I hate that dirty, broken-down place."
Perfect.
Ethan figured his original plan—ram the checkpoint, drive up the mountain, then flee to Longshore Stacks—might not be necessary.
But he wouldn't fully trust Emma either. Improvise when the time came.
"I want you to deliver a message to Mr. Hands."
Ethan wanted Hands to know he'd gotten close to his family. Keep that nerve jangling. But not too aggressive—verbal message only.
Emma was silent a moment.
"Got a knife?"
Ethan hesitated, then handed over her small blade. "Be smart. I'm—"
Before he finished, Emma stabbed the knife into her palm. Blood welled immediately.
Ethan flinched. Then Emma used the blade to cut one shoulder strap of her dress. Only her figure kept it from sliding down.
Ethan immediately looked elsewhere.
Emma noticed his awkwardness. Her lips curved slightly. "My body is the best message. Verbal words—Hands would only half-believe. He trusts no one. Including me."
"Now, wounded, handled like this by you..."
Ethan was sweating bullets.
If he were Hands, he'd explode on the spot. She says nothing happened—but how could nothing have happened?
"Go back, take a shower, say you're exhausted. Even better."
Emma actually laughed.
She hadn't expected this wooden "lion" to understand such things.
Ethan realized Emma wasn't as dumb as he'd thought. This move meant he and Hands were now true enemies.
Emma didn't care. She tossed the knife out the window.
Rip. Ethan tore the jacket and carefully wrapped her palm.
The atmosphere in the car grew strange. Silent. A hint of something charged.
But Ethan wasn't thinking about that. He was planning how to maintain pressure on Hands in Dogtown. Poaching business was step one—the most direct goal for returning.
"Just so you know—the child I'm carrying for him was a lab-cultured embryo, three years ago. Hands values his bloodline. I'm giving you a warning: don't go after his daughter."
"His daughter?"
Emma caught his confusion. "Motherhood is powerful. A natural vessel builds a bond. But genes altered by scientists—is that still natural continuation?"
"Mothers are sensitive and intuitive. You can't fool them. Including me."
Ethan chose not to comment.
The car turned from Pacifica's coastline toward the Dogtown gate. Emma composed herself, waiting as they approached.
Bwoop—
Alarms blared. Soldiers converged.
Emma's eyes lit up—probably on a call with Hands.
Ethan watched her every move. Any trouble, and the malware kicked in—car blasts through the checkpoint into Dogtown.
"Open up. I'm here."
Window stayed up the whole time.
Soldiers seemed to receive orders. No scanning. The car glided through like it owned the place.
[Lukhre Estate Wellness Spa]
Another Dogtown landmark. A bridge-like walkway spanning the road, complex interior. Supposedly once a Biotechnica asset.
Ethan stepped out. He'd retrieved the malware. Emma sat in the driver's seat, staring at him.
"Next time we meet, I'll work with my husband to push you and your friends into the abyss."
Ethan paused. Friends? Emma wasn't stupid—she knew his exposed movements weren't solo work.
He smiled calmly.
"Alright. I look forward to Mr. Hands forcing me out of Dogtown."
"Confident. Powerful." Emma smiled too. Now she resembled a corporate woman seated in authority. "Goodbye, lion. I'll deliver your message to Hands."
[Dodger]: Character from Phantom Liberty quest "Wait for Dodger." Real name Karl Robinson—a career criminal. Facing three life sentences from NCPD and on the bad side of Tyger Claws' second-in-command. Fled to Dogtown, became one of Hansen's trusted lieutenants.
[Ross Ulmer]: Barghest heavy soldier. Exoskeleton user. Involved in military equipment smuggling and corporate theft. A tough boss in PL side content.
PLZ THROW POWERSTONES.
300 , 500 , 1000 for each milestone 1 Bonus Chapter.