"10% off? Are you serious?"
Sol was speechless. How could Arthur have the nerve to say this price?
"10% off?" he repeated in disbelief. "At that rate, everyone in the homeless camp would have to drink Mistral instead of beer!"
Arthur smirked. "Come on, Sol. That was just a joke. How about this—if I tell you a joke that you find funny, you take my order at 80% of the market price?"
Sol stroked his chin, considering it. "Alright, let's hear it. But just so you know, I'm famous for being serious."
Arthur grinned. "Okay. Do you know why Night City's standard magazine size is 30 rounds?"
Sol raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Because there are only thirty people in a class."
There was a brief silence, then Sol suddenly burst out laughing. "Oh, God... that's terrible. Screw you, Arthur! You deserve to go straight to hell for that one!"
Arthur chuckled. "So? Do we have a deal?"
Sol sighed, shaking his head. "Alright, alright. 80% of the market price. Just contact Mitch when you need manpower. Adecado is always available for a friend."
With that, Sol hung up the phone.
Arthur leaned back, looking up at the sky. It was still early. Since he had time, he figured he might as well talk to the Animal Gang today.
Negotiating with the Animal Gang
By 9:30 AM, Arthur had borrowed a car from his old contacts in the Sixth Street Gang and arrived in the territory of the Animal Gang.
Unlike other gangs in Night City, the Animal Gang operated differently. Most gangs followed a centralized system with a clear leader who directed their activities—whether it was smuggling, extortion, or cyberware trade. But the Animal Gang was different.
They had no fixed territory and could be found in almost every corner of Night City. However, most people avoided them.
The Animal Gang was obsessed with brute strength. Their members worshipped raw physical power, often injecting themselves with extreme growth hormones—sometimes derived from questionable sources like cattle or even horses.
Arthur pulled up at the Great Empire Mall, the Animal Gang's current base of operations. As soon as he stepped out, a heavily muscled gang member blocked his path, eyeing him up and down.
"Hey, man," the guy said, looking Arthur over with curiosity. "What kind of growth hormone are you on? Dog? Horse? Maybe some experimental Arasaka formula?"
Arthur smirked. "The human body is stronger than you think. No artificial enhancements needed."
The gang member whistled in admiration. "Damn, that's impressive! You here for a fight? If so, you'll have to ditch that fancy tech on your belt."
Arthur shrugged. "I'm not here to fight. I'm here to do business. I'm opening a factory in Little China, and I need to make sure there won't be any problems at the docks."
The gang member scratched his head. "The docks, huh? You sound like one of those guys from the Dragon Kingdom."
Arthur sighed. "Whatever. Just take me to your boss."
The guy hesitated, then nodded. "Alright, but first... you sure you don't wanna buy some hormones? I swear, my supply is pure—legal and certified!"
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Legal, huh?"
The gang member grinned and pulled out a laminated certificate from his pocket. He waved it in Arthur's face proudly. "See? Issued by the Night City Municipal Center. That means I'm legit, man!"
Arthur took a quick glance at the paper and snorted. This was a common scam in Night City.
Yes, the certificate proved that selling these drugs was legal. But here's the catch—it didn't make buying them legal.
In other words, this guy could legally sell his goods, but if Arthur bought them, his name would be recorded in the system. The moment the gang member paid his taxes, Arthur would find himself with a bounty on his head.
It was one of Night City's many legal loopholes—designed to trick newcomers into thinking they were safe while setting them up for a legal trap.
Arthur rolled his eyes. "I'm not falling for that. I was playing cards with Arasaka agents when you were still learning to walk. Now take me to your boss before I start throwing people through walls."
The gang member blinked, then let out a nervous chuckle. "Damn, alright. Follow me."
Strength Dictates Authority
The Animal Gang didn't have a formal leader, but they functioned like a tribal system.
Much like the homeless wanderers outside Night City, they chose their strongest member to act as a temporary chief—handling disputes, securing business deals, and ensuring the gang's interests were protected. In return, the leader took a cut of all earnings.
Arthur was led through the Great Empire Mall, past rows of makeshift fighting rings where gang members were engaged in brutal hand-to-hand combat. The walls were covered in graffiti, and the air smelled of sweat, blood, and synthetic stimulants.
At the center of it all sat a massive man—at least seven feet tall, muscles bulging unnaturally. He was watching a fight with a bored expression, occasionally glancing at a tablet.
The gang member who had escorted Arthur gestured toward the giant. "That's Rhino. He's in charge right now."
Arthur sighed. He already knew where this was going.
The Animal Gang respected strength above all else. If Arthur wanted to negotiate, he would need to prove himself first.
Rhino looked up, unimpressed. "You the guy asking for a deal?"
Arthur nodded. "I need a security arrangement. I'm opening a factory in Little China, and I want to make sure there aren't any... misunderstandings."
Rhino cracked his knuckles. "We don't work for free, and we don't take orders from weaklings. If you want us on your side, you gotta prove you're worth our time."
Arthur rolled his shoulders. "Let me guess. You want a fight?"
Rhino grinned. "Damn right. You win, we listen. You lose, you leave."
Arthur sighed. He really didn't want to spend the rest of his day covered in blood, but there was no way around this.
"Fine," he said, stepping into the ring. "Let's get this over with."
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