Chapter 106: The Gun Shop
Arriving at the apartment complex in Watson, Rhys and Lucy saw Gloria talking to Dorio by the entrance.
"Rhys!" Dorio waved as soon as she spotted them.
Rhys nodded. Dorio turned to Lucy, beaming. "Lucy! Finally! Come here."
As Rhys and Lucy approached, Dorio gestured to Gloria. "Gloria was just telling me about the gun shop plans. But you guys know me—I'm good for breaking heads, not running a business. This stuff is way over my pay grade."
Gloria ignored Dorio's self-deprecating comment and looked at Rhys.
She was dressed simply for work: a tan tank top, worn blue jeans, and her signature bright yellow EMT jacket.
But even in those clothes, Gloria looked like a model.
She was tall and lean, but definitely not skinny. Her jeans were tight around her thighs and hips, accentuating her curves.
It was no wonder anime fans were so obsessed with her. It wasn't just her motherly sacrifice; she was genuinely attractive.
"I've secured the supply lines for weapons and implants. I found a few reliable gray-market sources," Gloria said seriously.
"But Rhys, we still need to figure out pricing. And repairs and customization. Pilar can handle fabrication and upgrades, but he can't do repairs fast enough on his own. I was wondering... could we ask that ripperdoc, Viktor Vektor, for help?"
This was her first time running a shop. Technically, it belonged to everyone, but she was the manager.
The shareholders were Rhys, Maine, Pilar, Gloria, and Rogue.
Rhys held the majority stake at 40%. The funding came from the Mox.
When Susan heard about Rhys's deal with Rogue a few days ago, she immediately transferred her retirement fund to him, insisting he open a shop next to the Afterlife. Korna wanted to chip in, but Susan's contribution was already enough.
Susan put up 380,000 eddies for a 30% stake, which she then signed over to Rhys.
Rhys didn't contribute a dime of his own money, but Maine insisted he get another 10% because he was the crew's ace and the face of the operation. So, Rhys had 40%.
Gloria managed the shop, earning her 10%.
Maine put in the last of his savings—about 60,000 eddies—for 10%.
Pilar got 10% for his technical expertise. He was currently chugging energy drinks and fixing guns like a madman.
And Rogue held 20% as the guarantor. Having a shop next to the Afterlife required her protection. If anyone tried to start trouble, Rogue would handle it. Plus, she provided the location for the shop and the apartments. She was basically the angel investor.
"Vick would definitely help," Rhys said thoughtfully. "But how much should we offer him?"
Vick was old-school. He was kind-hearted and willing to take a loss to help people he liked. Look at how he treated V in the game—fronting top-tier Kiroshi optics and a ballistic coprocessor basically on credit, with zero expectation of repayment.
"Hmm... I'm not sure. Last year, the average monthly income in Night City was around 4,300 eddies. But in reality, 70% of the population makes less than 500. Otherwise, why would there be so many homeless people?" Gloria mused.
Rhys blinked. "That many?"
"Many? You think 500 eddies is a lot? Rhys, a synth-meal and a water from a vending machine cost about seven eddies. You need at least fifteen a day just to not starve. Five hundred barely covers food," Gloria said, frowning.
She felt like edgerunners had lost touch with reality. They dropped thousands on chrome without blinking. They had no concept of saving or budgeting.
Ordinary people and edgerunners lived in two different worlds.
"I meant... are there really that many people making so little? Not the income amount itself," Rhys clarified.
"Yeah, there are," Dorio chimed in. "A beat cop's salary barely covers rent and food. That's why so many of them are on the take. And cops are considered 'middle class.' Imagine what it's like for everyone else."
"That's why gangs exist. The city can't provide jobs. Joining a gang means a roof over your head and food in your belly. It's survival."
"So... what do we offer Vick?" Rhys was lost. Economics wasn't his strong suit. Back in the Mox, Susan handled the money. Then Maine took over.
He hadn't realized the wealth gap was this extreme.
It tracked with the game, though. V could find a woman working in a landfill who was thrilled with 100 eddies because it meant she could buy a "new" car. Yet a decent apartment in Heywood cost tens of thousands.
CDPR's economy was broken, but maybe... that was the point? The real Night City economy was broken.
Ordinary people couldn't afford a 500-eddy-a-month Trauma Team card, but the rich spent 80,000 a month on Platinum coverage for near-immortality.
Johnny was right. Burn it all down.
"Let's talk inside. We can drop off Lucy's stuff," Dorio suggested.
Rhys and Gloria exchanged a look and nodded.
Inside, they helped Lucy unpack. Gloria and David had already moved in. Jackie would be joining them soon.
Originally, Gloria stayed at Lizzie's for safety. But now that the crew was back and settled, being with them was safer. Jackie was as strong as Anna Nox, and Rebecca was a walking tank.
Rhys glanced at Lucy. She was silent, following him closely.
As they passed Sasha's door, Rhys felt a weird vibe. Sasha was supposedly sleeping. Her recent binge-watching habit had turned her nocturnal. A true cat.
"We should pay Vick per job," Gloria said seriously. "I asked Jackie, and he said Vick would do it for free. But the volume is going to be high, and this is a long-term business. We can't abuse his generosity. It's not fair. Eventually, he'll burn out or get resentful."
"Um... Gloria, you decide. I trust you. I'm really not good at this stuff," Rhys admitted.
Gloria smiled. "I'm just reporting to you."
"Reporting? Why?"
"Maine said you're the captain," Gloria stated matter-of-factly. She looked at Lucy. "Did I mishear?"
Lucy shook her head. "No. Maine said exactly that."
"Wait, since when am I the captain?" Rhys pointed at himself. Maine's Crew. Maine is the captain!
"There is no Maine's Crew anymore. Maine and Jackie are recruiting new people. Once the shop and the security company are up and running, are you still just mercs?" Gloria asked.
"..." Rhys fell silent.
The identity shift was happening fast. Six months ago, he was a janitor. Then a top merc. Now... a CEO?
"Anyway, call Vick later. Invite him over to discuss rates," Gloria said, amused by Rhys's shock.
Rhys took a breath. He was about to say that Vick's clinic was far away—Watson Industrial to Little China was a trek—when David's voice came from inside Gloria's apartment.
"Mom, you should go pick up Mr. Vektor." David walked out, wearing his Arasaka Academy uniform.
Gloria paused. "Why? He's in Watson."
"Watson is huge. It's miles away. He'd have to take a cab," David pointed out.
"?"
"Why aren't you at school yet? What are you dawdling for?" Gloria suddenly snapped, her face darkening.
David: "???"
Scolded, David hurriedly left for school.
Rhys watched, amused, but then turned serious. "Gloria... do you really intend for him to stay in school forever?"
"..." Gloria went silent.
Lucy looked at her too. She knew David had potential. He wasn't cut out to be a merc mentally, but physically? He could handle chrome like Rebecca. High empathy equals high tolerance.
"I know what you're thinking," Gloria sighed, her gaze hardening. "But I'm standing by my decision."
"I know it's unfair to David. I've shielded him his whole life, forced my dreams on him. But tell me... is there any fairness in this world?"
Gloria looked at Rhys and Lucy.
Rhys opened his mouth, then closed it. Not his place.
"He won't make it to the top of Arasaka Tower," Lucy said, shaking her head. "He might have talent, but the glass ceiling is made of reinforced concrete. Best case, he becomes a mid-level corpo drone."
"That's enough. That's enough for him to live a safe, stable life," Gloria smiled sadly.
She knew the top was a fantasy. But a stable job, insurance, safety... that was real.
"Uh... does that really guarantee safety?" Rhys asked, pointing at himself. "Look at me. I just zeroed a high-ranking exec. Tanaka was a deputy director."
"..." Gloria froze.
A few days later. Watson, The Afterlife.
In the alley beside the Afterlife, a wall had been smashed down. Construction was underway. The skeleton of a new storefront was visible.
Inside the bar, mercs were buzzing.
"That's gotta be Rogue. Is she opening a convenience store?"
"Weird. Rogue makes bank just sitting there. Why open a shop?"
"Who hates money? Maybe she's bored."
"Hey, Claire, you know anything?"
"Don't ask me. I just pour drinks." Claire yawned, serving a customer.
Just then, a man walked in. He was filthy, covered in dust and plaster. Skinny, with a chrome arm.
It was Bones Chris.
Former elite merc. "Former" because he hadn't taken a gig in four days. After the riot he incited, people avoided him like the plague.
"Yo, Chris! Where you been? Working the landfill?"
"Damn, take a shower before you come in here!"
"Chris, we're talking to you! You deaf?"
Chris ignored the jeers and walked straight to the bar.
"Well, look who it is. What can I get you?" Claire smiled.
It was her "Grade A" smile—the one she reserved for Rogue's favorites.
The mercs froze.
What the hell?
Why is Claire smiling at him like that?
The smarter ones realized something had shifted.
"Hammers. I need two sledgehammers," Chris said.
"Hammers? Shit, Jackie took one the other day," Claire grumbled good-naturedly.
"Not enough. I brought two new recruits for the company. Can't have them standing around doing nothing," Chris grinned.
"Company? You guys don't even have a license yet," Claire laughed. She waved over a bouncer and whispered instructions.
"Big Brother Maine said to fake it 'til you make it. Face is something you give yourself," Chris replied.
Soon, the bouncer returned with a massive sledgehammer from the back room. It was stained with old blood—definitely not a construction tool.
Chris shouldered it, nodded to Claire, and walked out, ignoring the stares.
Curious, some mercs followed him.
They saw him walk to the construction site next door.
A group was already there. Maine's crew.
And in the center, lifting a heavy crate, was the black-haired young man. He was laughing with the short, green-haired girl beside him.
"Mr. Rhys... sir," Chris greeted him.
"I told you, just Rhys. Don't be weird," Rhys said, turning around.
Chris smiled. He had a job now. It paid less than merc work, but it was stable. And he was working for his idol.
In the tunnel leading out of the Afterlife, the mercs watched, stunned.
"Holy shit. He actually hooked up with Rhys?"
"How? We all went out that day! Why does he get the reward?"
"Wait, is that shop theirs?"
"What are they selling?"
"Let's ask."
They approached the site.
A tall, blonde woman looked down at them coolly, smoke curling from her lips. Dorio.
"It's our gun shop."
"Whoa, our..."
"Pilar, get your ass back to work! Are you done fixing those rifles?!" Rebecca screamed from inside.