Another round of 36-hour enforced overtime has ended.

Even though the company has vaporized work supplements into the indoor air circulation, the human brain ultimately has its limits.

Before their brains completely overloaded and burned out, the company finally agreed to let these two-legged multi-functional beasts have a night's rest.

And during such times, they usually only have two places to go.

Clubs and bars.

Though often, it's the same place.

After Yunding reopened with drastically reduced consumption prices, many corporate slaves would go there, but Jiao Ao preferred the bar at Horizon Corporation, because it was safe enough, and the mercenaries there didn't harbor as much hostility toward corporate slaves.

Most importantly, the people there had a kind of carefree attitude he envied.

"A priest would come here for a drink too?"

Jiao Ao even saw a stranger priest in a robe at the table across.

Holding a glass of wine, New Dynasty Elegance noticed this slightly tipsy corporate NPC.

"Strictly speaking, I'm drinking the holy blood of Jesus, which is also part of the practice."

Hearing this, Jiao Ao laughed at himself.

"You're really living the good life as a priest, doing whatever you want without anyone to hold you back. Unlike us working folks, who are like piston machine servants for our companies and bosses. They take the money; we sell our hooks."

New Dynasty Elegance, with small round glasses, had a solemn air no less convincing than any old priest in a church. Standing there, no one would doubt his priestly identity.

"Whether one is free or not has nothing to do with occupation. In my view, no one in this city is free. You all are like lambs tied by chains of the devil, being roasted over the fire again and again, sinking deeper into pain."

"Hehe, so tell me, how can I be free?"

"The only freedom to be found in Night City is after seeing the truth of the world and yourself, choosing how to die."

"..."

Jiao Ao fell silent, looking down at his empty glass. All the noise around him could no longer reach his ears.

The heat from the alcohol made him feel like he was that lamb on the fire, bound tightly by invisible chains, unable to break free no matter what.

"So are those legends who died in Night City free?"

He wanted to ask the priest, but New Dynasty Elegance was already pulled onto the stage by the Jing Luo trio to perform.

The solemn priest from before was now at the bar singing "Jesus Tale" in a high-pitched voice.

"Joseph, sit down, I'll tell you of the heartfelt words~~ Here I've brought a gift from the Holy Father himself~"

"....."

Walking out of the bar, the early autumn night breeze sobered Jiao Ao a bit. Looking at the bustling street, he couldn't help but think of the question again.

So is this how those legends of Night City became legends?

The freedom to choose death.

Opposing the company, accomplishing great deeds!

Then dying gloriously!

This was the common storyline of legendary figures recounted at the base of Night City.

It even became an obsession for many, Jiao Ao included.

So much so that every young person in Night City, regardless of gender, whether corporate employee or gang member or ordinary person, fantasizes about accomplishing something great and becoming a legend, but preferably without dying.

What is a great deed, what is true success?

It's definitely not about blowing up the company, or else the gate of Huang Ban would have long been turned to rubble by terrorists.

Everything Jiao Ao saw and heard growing up told him—getting into a big company, earning a high salary, and becoming an elite is success.

Not just Jiao Ao, but the entire company, even the whole of Night City thinks so.

Even those so-called legends, Johnny Silverhand, Blackhand, Shai Yitunai, which of them didn't have company backing?

You think those gang members really don't want to work in big companies, and think mixing on the streets is impressive?

Impossible.

A success anxiety cultivated by societal atmosphere urges everyone in society—only by doing this can one be truly successful.

Companies define what "success" is.

So even if relying on drugs to work overtime until sudden death, or being executed by the company for screwing things up, corporate slaves still don't dare to quit.

Because once they leave the company, they can't be "successful," nor can they become any legend.

But this isn't true success, it lacks a core, intrinsic motivation. That's why no matter how much overtime a corporate slave does, no matter how hard they work or how much they earn, they'll always feel a void.

To fill this void, they'll chase after anything that makes them look like society-defined successful people, completely becoming puppets of consumerism.

Suits, luxury watches, big houses, beautiful women, fancy cars, postcards.

Listening to the laughter and cheers from the players in the bar behind, Jiao Ao felt distant from them, as if compared to these people, he seemed..... not successful at all.....

Seeing the truth of this world....

See what exactly?

The priest's words seemed to cast a spell, echoing in his mind, refusing to leave.

"So, here you are. I wondered why I didn't see you in the bar."

The deep-thinking Jiao Ao felt someone pat him on the shoulder, the voice somewhat familiar. He turned around to see that it was that mechanic Tuladine, who he met online and who always bugged him about Zeta Technology's implant parameters.