Warhammer: The Time Traveler

Chapter 60 Ritz Bar (First Update)
The night in Night City never truly sleeps.

The sky above the Kabuki district is fragmented by a network of giant holographic billboards, and the colorful and dazzling light pollution permeates every narrow alleyway, blending with the neon reflections on the damp puddles on the ground to create a hazy and noisy sea of ​​light.

The air was filled with the aroma of cheap synthetic food, the sour smell of fermenting street garbage, and the faint smell of coolant emanating from the heat dissipation vents of countless prosthetic bodies—a kind of vibrant decay unique to Night City.

Ritz Bar is located in this bizarre and wonderful place.

Its facade is not ostentatious, even somewhat hidden, but the two female guards at the entrance, dressed in bold styles with sharp, piercing eyes, and the faint electronic music, which, despite being well-soundproofed, still conveys the vibration of a bass drum, all indicate that this is no ordinary place.

This is the territory of the Mox Gang, a sister gang formed by sex dolls and former sex dolls to fight against exploitation and violence.

Although they haven't been around for long and their sphere of influence can't compare to the Tiger Claws or Valentinos, their unity and ruthless determination make Ritz Bar one of the few social venues in the Kabuki district that can provide a relatively "safe" environment.

Rebecca walked through the sensor door that required her to scan her identity with practiced ease, and was instantly enveloped by deafening music and psychedelic lights.

The bar has a spacious interior with a high ceiling, and in the center is a huge circular stage where sexy dancers are twisting their bodies in the presence of holographic projections.

The area is surrounded by tiered booths, separated by semi-transparent light curtains, ensuring both privacy and ambiance.

The air was filled with sophisticated synthetic fragrances, alcohol, and a certain indescribable scent of desire and release.

The members of the Mox gang were scattered in twos and threes, dressed in different but highly individualistic outfits, their bodies gleaming with the cold light of their cybernetic bodies, their eyes scanning the entire area warily, maintaining order within the gang.

Rebecca's petite figure moved nimbly through the crowd, her striking two-tone short hair and signature green prosthetic eye making her easily recognizable.

A Mox member wearing a leather backless dress and with intricate tattoos on his arms whistled at her and greeted her with a smile.

Rebecca waved casually, her eyes scanning the bar.

Her purpose in coming here today was not to seek pleasure, but to meet someone—Qiwei, the lone wolf hacker with a good reputation in the underworld.

Rebecca carefully inquired about Qiwei's reputation through some of her acquaintances.

The feedback was generally positive: the technicians were highly skilled, took on jobs efficiently and decisively, and didn't cause trouble after the transactions were completed. They had a good reputation among mercenaries and middlemen.

Most importantly, I haven't heard of any shady dealings or collusion with the company.

This assessment reassured Rebecca somewhat.

After giving a detailed report to Mann and obtaining his consent, she tried to contact Qiwei and arranged to meet at the Ritz Bar.

Rebecca chose this place partly because she was quite familiar with it.

Although she wasn't a member of the Mox's gang, she had helped Susie Q, the current leader of the Mox's gang, out of some "trouble" when she and Pila were on the streets.

That collaboration made Susie quite fond of Rebecca, a hot-tempered but decisive young woman, and over time, the two developed a rapport.

Meeting at the Mox gang's territory is relatively safer.

On the other hand, while Ritz Bar may not be as popular as Resurrection Bar as a gathering place for top mercenaries, it is still a well-known place in the Kabuki district, high-class enough, and in line with the characteristics of hackers who usually prefer to be low-key but tasteful.

Rebecca found Qiwei in a booth near the corner.

Just as she had imagined, Qi Wei was wearing a well-tailored, deep red coat made of a technologically advanced material. Most of her face was hidden in shadow, with only her chin covered by a metal mask showing.

A nearly untouched glass of synthetic sake sat before her, radiating an aloofness that kept strangers at bay. Even seated in a bustling bar, she seemed like an isolated island.

"Qiwei?" Rebecca pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down without any hesitation.

Qiwei raised her head, her sharp gaze sweeping over Rebecca from beneath her hood. Her modified eyes seemed to possess a data stream scanning function, making Rebecca feel as if she were being examined by some cold instrument.

“Rebecca,” Qiwei’s voice was steady, revealing no emotion, “news about you.”

“Yes, mine.” Rebecca snapped her fingers and ordered a shot of iced liquor from a passing robot waiter. “To make a long story short, our team is short of a reliable hacker.”

I've heard you're quite skilled; I was wondering if you'd be interested in collaborating with me.

Qiwei picked up her wine glass, swirled it gently, but didn't drink it.

“Cooperation is possible. If there are orders, and we agree on a price, I’ll take them.” She paused, her tone completely flat, “But long-term partnerships or joining a fixed team are not within my consideration.”

This answer was exactly what Rebecca expected.

Most hackers in Night City are like this: they are used to working alone, enjoy the sense of security that comes from controlling information, and are unwilling to be bound by team relationships.

Those who, like Sasha, fully integrate into a mercenary team are actually few and far between.

Rebecca wasn't in a rush. She took a big gulp of the freshly delivered wine; the icy liquid invigorated her. "Okay, I understand. I'll contact you first if I need any technical support in the future."

"The price is based on market rates; our team always offers fair prices." She looked at Qiwei. "Could I leave my contact information? Let's keep in touch."

Qiwei nodded silently and exchanged communication codes with Rebecca.

The main purpose of this meeting has been achieved, and the atmosphere has eased a bit.

The two chatted briefly about the recent rumors surrounding Night City's underground network and the going rates for some common commissions. Qiwei didn't say much, but every sentence she uttered hit the nail on the head, showing that she was indeed very familiar with this gray area.

Just as Rebecca felt the discussion was over and was preparing to pay the bill and leave, and Qiwei also seemed to be leaving—

Changes occur suddenly.

Without any warning, Qiwei's body suddenly stiffened, and the fingers of her right hand, which was resting on the table, twitched unconsciously.

Her eyes, hidden in the shadow of her hood, suddenly widened, and tiny streams of data seemed to flash wildly in her pupils.

Almost simultaneously, a forced window suddenly popped up on Rebecca's own visual interface!
The window design is so simple it's almost rudimentary, with only a pure black background and scrolling white text and data charts, and a red border that flashes to indicate extremely high priority.

It's not just them.

The entire Ritz Bar seemed to have been muted.

The deafening music continued, but almost everyone—guests in booths, bartenders at the bar, and waiters—paused briefly. Expressions of astonishment, confusion, and even fear appeared on their faces.

Clearly, this information was forcibly implanted into everyone's visual interface, or rather, into all devices connected to the local network, at the same time.

(End of this chapter)