Cyberpunk Patriarch

After finishing the fried noodles, which carried the unmistakable sour taste of Night City, Arthur made a mental note: never again would he eat those noodles, unless they were made from real flour.

He considered that maybe his palate wasn't refined enough to appreciate the sourness of Night City's famous "snail noodles." Perhaps the problem wasn't with the food but with his own taste buds.

Arthur grabbed his windbreaker from the shelf, tossed it on casually, and checked the small of his back to make sure he still had his pistol. As he looked around the room, he saw David scratching his head.

"Come on, son. I'm taking you to school today."

David blinked in surprise. "Huh? Really?"

Since starting junior high, David had never been taken to school by anyone. He usually took the tram, like most kids in Night City. Public transportation was surprisingly good, considering the chaos that defined the streets.

Of course, Night City wasn't without its flaws. Drunkards often vomited everywhere, and it wasn't unusual to encounter thieves or see couples engaged in public "performances." Occasionally, gangsters with shotguns shot up the tram, trying to rob passengers. But overall, the public transportation system wasn't half bad.

David wasn't exactly thrilled by the idea of his father taking him to school, but the thought of avoiding the stench of someone else's vomit was enough to make him agree.

Soon, they were downstairs. David took a look around and studied his father carefully, trying to figure out where their car was.

Strangely, there was no sign of it. Arthur wasn't carrying keys, and David couldn't spot a car anywhere.

Arthur didn't understand why Night City insisted on requiring keys to cars. Wasn't it more practical to have a personal connection with the vehicle?

"Where's our car, Dad?" David finally asked, still scanning the area.

Arthur scratched his chin, glancing casually at a nearby car on the street.

David felt a twinge of embarrassment. If it were up to him, he'd just go to the subway or tram instead. The idea of "borrowing" a car from the street made him uneasy.

"You don't mean we're going to steal a car, do you?" David asked, sounding slightly worried.

Arthur gave him an exaggerated look. "Steal? What do you mean, steal? I'm just 'borrowing' it. There's a difference! Yesterday, a young guy from the Sixth Street Gang lent me his car. How can you say people in Night City aren't warm-hearted?"

David was baffled. The Sixth Street Gang had a reputation for violence, not generosity. But Arthur seemed to think highly of them, even describing them as "warm-hearted."

David couldn't help but chuckle to himself. If the Sixth Street Gang was "warm-hearted," then they must have changed since their early days. Back then, the gang was known for being ruthless.

However, a violent impulse flickered in David's mind. He was a fan of Black Mewtwo and had always fantasized about taking a car for himself. With his father around, he figured he could get away with it.

David pointed to a sleek black car parked nearby. "What about that one, Dad?"

Arthur gave the car a look and immediately shook his head. "You've really got my back, huh, son? If we 'borrow' that car, we'll be on the run for a month at least. Don't even think about it. That car belongs to a rich person, and stealing from them causes serious trouble."

He gave David a firm slap on the back of the head, then continued. "You can't just take a rich person's car. They'll hunt you down, and trust me, that's a problem you don't want."

David nodded, looking a little deflated. He hadn't realized the full consequences of stealing from a rich person in Night City.

"What about this car?" David asked, pointing to an old, battered vehicle parked nearby.

Arthur sighed and shook his head. "Don't steal from civilians. They rely on their cars, and these things aren't maintained properly. The last time I 'borrowed' one like that, I kicked the accelerator, and the engine stalled. I nearly got us both killed."

David listened carefully, realizing that there were deeper consequences to "borrowing" random cars in Night City.

Arthur looked around and spotted some members of the Sixth Street Gang nearby. He grinned. "Now, these guys? They have the best cars. They've got money, so their vehicles get regular maintenance. The best part? Most of them have bounties on their heads, so if you steal from them, nobody's going to report it to the NCPD."

David raised an eyebrow. "Wait, so you're saying we can steal from them without any consequences?"

Arthur nodded. "Exactly. These guys might look tough, but they'll just let you take their car. They'll even fill up the gas for you, if you ask nicely. And if you need a few hundred eddies for lunch or something, they'll probably lend it to you."

David almost couldn't believe it. He'd heard the rumors about how "kind-hearted" the Sixth Street Gang was, but he never thought it was true.

Arthur was about to explain more when he noticed that his son wasn't convinced. To prove his point, Arthur walked over to a Sixth Street Gang member nearby.

"Hey, brother!" Arthur called out, a cigarette dangling from his lips. "I see you've got a nice car there. How about you lend it to me for a bit to take my kid to school?"

The gang member, a tall man with a bionic arm, looked up at Arthur with a forced smile. "Sure, no problem." He didn't even seem fazed by the request.

Arthur leaned in closer, taking a deep drag of his cigarette. "Hey, I think your car's running low on gas. How about lending me 100 euros to top it off?"

The gang member nodded without hesitation. "No problem. You're a good guy. You take care of your kid, yeah?"

Arthur smiled and took the 100 euros from the gang member, stuffing it into his pocket. He was feeling proud of himself—this was going even better than expected.

But Arthur wasn't finished yet. He took another puff of his cigarette, then looked back at the gang member. "You know, I've just come back to Night City. Money's tight. How about lending me another 200 euros? It'd help me out a lot."

The gang member didn't hesitate. "Of course, brother! You're a good man. Take the money and get your kid to school!"

Arthur smiled, this time with a little more pride. He was more than satisfied with the extra 200 euros in his hand.

Turning to David, he said, "See, son? There are still plenty of good people in Night City. Just look at this guy! He didn't even hesitate to help us out."

David stared at his father in disbelief. "Dad, are you really that good at this?"

Arthur grinned and patted his son on the back. "It's all about understanding how things work around here. Stick with me, kid, and you'll learn a lot."

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