Lucy stood stiffly beside Arthur, not daring to utter a word.
Two absolutely mental people were standing here, casually chatting — as if blood wasn't splattering meters away from them.
Which bar would even dare host the Terrorist Mobile Team?
Who in Night City doesn't know they're legal cyberpsychos?
Kill one and Night City will send flowers, not a lawyer.
At that moment, Melissa turned her deep, complicated gaze toward Lucy.
She tapped her chin, seemingly lost in thought, as if seriously evaluating a priceless artwork.
Finally, Melissa said something that made Lucy nearly faint.
"Your little girlfriend's really pretty.
It wouldn't be impossible if we all got together."
Huh?!
Lucy froze, face instantly burning red.
Arthur, meanwhile, frowned, took a deep drag of his cigarette, and stared at Melissa with a serious expression.
"I told you... bisexuality is a disease that needs treatment!
Didn't your doctor give you meds?"
Melissa rolled her eyes.
"I've said it before — bisexuality isn't a disease.
You need to embrace it with an open mind.
Besides, the only man I love is you, Arthur.
So technically, you're the beneficiary here.
Why are you complaining?"
Arthur scratched the back of his head, genuinely thinking it over.
After a few seconds, his eyes lit up with sudden realization.
"You know what? You're absolutely right.
I really don't have a reason to object.
Habit made me react.
Keep it up!
I'm looking forward to... a new lifestyle experience!"
POW!
Lucy, who couldn't take it anymore, punched Arthur squarely on the back of the head.
"You two perverts!" she roared.
"Is this seriously the time for flirting?
There's blood literally flooding the streets!"
In the distance, the battle was winding down.
The ordinary Voodoo Gang members had been completely massacred.
Those who were hackers stayed hidden, knowing full well that killing NCPD would escalate things — and then Night City's corporations would be very interested.
If that happened, it wouldn't be a gang war anymore — it would be a full-on corporate extermination.
Melissa waved toward her Terrorist Mobile Team operatives, signaling them to regroup.
Then she turned back to Lucy and, with a twinkle in her eye, asked earnestly:
"Don't you think it's beautiful?
When a bullet tears through flesh...
When a blade slices clean through bone...
That fleeting moment when life escapes the body —
That's true art."
Lucy's scalp tingled.
Arthur, casually smoking, immediately understood:
Yep. Not only is Melissa still crazy — she's worse than before.
Arthur sighed inwardly.
Those Night City quacks deserve to die.
Next time, I'm torching their clinics.
Meanwhile, Lucy stared at Melissa like she was seeing an SCP-level anomaly.
What kind of psycho even says that out loud?!
Melissa noticed Lucy's horrified look and looked a little hurt.
True love wasn't just about the outside.
It needed matching hearts too!
Melissa turned back to Arthur with a bright, knowing smile.
"Arthur, you used to take me to watch these 'art shows' all the time, right?"
Arthur's mouth twitched violently.
Yeah, back when I was insane too.
He coughed and forced a casual nod.
"Yeah, it's very artistic...
But next time, maybe work on making the performances cleaner.
Precision is important."
Melissa clapped her hands excitedly, jumping like a little girl.
Arthur had to physically restrain himself.
Stay calm, Arthur!
She's still crazy.
You're a time traveler now.
You have dignity!
Thankfully, a nearby operative — blood-soaked and holding two mantis blades — interrupted.
"Sir, area's secured.
Do you want to come back with us, or should this gentleman here escort you?"
Melissa pouted slightly, glancing at Arthur, then at the floating NCPD hovercar.
Finally, she leaned in close and whispered sweetly:
"Make sure you make an appointment with me soon, Arthur.
If I get anxious waiting...
I'll come find you at home."
Then she sauntered off, hips swinging with terrifying determination.
Arthur wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
Dear God, she really means it.
Just as he was breathing a sigh of relief, his phone buzzed.
He picked up — and immediately had to hold the device away from his ear as a furious voice roared:
"ARTHUR, YOU STINKING PIECE OF NIGHT CITY TRASH!
ARE YOU REALLY IN BED WITH THAT NCPD PSYCHO?!"
Arthur yawned exaggeratedly and replied lazily:
"Maman, don't be so dramatic.
You're acting like the vegetables in Night City — never fresh."
"Cut the crap," Maman snapped.
"Tell me what you really want."
Arthur grinned, pushed open the door to his newly-acquired factory, and looked around.
Inside was a landscape of rotting garbage, graffiti, and what suspiciously looked like someone's laundry hanging from the rafters.
Arthur puffed his cigarette and said:
"First, I'm opening a factory here.
Get me some honest workers.
Clean records only."
"You're serious?" Maman sounded genuinely shocked.
"Serious as your last STD test."
"...Fine."
Arthur continued:
"Second —
Send people to clean this place up.
Right now, it looks like your aunt's underwear collection exploded in here."
"I SWEAR TO GOD—!"
"And third—" Arthur grinned devilishly.
"Tell Placid to chop me three kilograms of chicken.
Fresh. Free-range.
I'm making soup tonight."
"..." Maman was silent for a full five seconds.
Arthur flicked his cigarette butt away and smirked into the phone.
"Remember, buddy —
In Night City, even dreams need protection fees."
(Chapter 31 Complete!)