Aegis HQ – Executive Office, One Month Later – Midday ...
The clouds hung low over City Center, casting long shadows against the crystalline tower that housed the Aegis Security Firm. Within the highest floor, M sat alone in his office, tall windows framing the district below, the very soul of Night City grinding along in its usual chaos.
Soft jazz played from the hidden ceiling speakers, but M wasn't listening. His focus rested on the real-time holographic feeds stretched across his obsidian desk—contract metrics, client statistics, recruitment projections. One by one, the numbers aligned themselves neatly before him like pawns on a digital chessboard.
The firm had grown. Monumentally. Stars, politicians, corporate VIPs—they were all lining up for Aegis. One month of ruthless efficiency and brilliant PR had made the name feared and respected in equal measure.
M sipped a real espresso when the glass of his HUD blinked with a notification.
Incoming Call – Jefferson
He accepted, and his face flickered into view, smiling politely as usual.
"Hey M, are you busy. i was thinking of meeting you today to plan our next steps."
M leaned back slightly, his voice calm and deep as thunder beneath silk.
"Sure, I am Free this evening, come to the office."
Jefferson chuckled. "Good, be seeing you."
The call ended. M's eyes returned to the streets below.
Aegis HQ – Executive Boardroom – Hours Later...
Jefferson Peralez sat across from M in the long, polished room. Elizabeth accompanied him, seated in composed elegance, while David stood quietly behind M, arms folded, listening without speaking.
The conversation had been productive—talks about Night City's shifting power, Aegis' rising prestige, and the vacuum left behind by some corporations' bankruptcy.
But eventually, the discussion turned more philosophical.
Jefferson leaned back in his seat, hands steepled. "You know, M... you've done wonders for your people. Your firm, your vision, is impressive. But let's be honest."
He leaned forward slightly, tone more serious. "You can't really change Night City. Not in any permanent way. The corps runs the show. Always have. Always will."
M didn't answer immediately. He simply looked at Jefferson, unreadable. Then a chime from the system.
[System Notification]
A sharp chime echoed within his head, or more precisely,y his mind, and a translucent window unfolded before his vision.
[SYSTEM – Quest Activated]
Arc: King-Making
Mission 1: Improve the quality of life in one district of Night City.Sectors: Security, Healthcare, Education, Infrastructure, Housing, Employment.
Rewards:
20% improvement → Civilian-grade Deus Ex Augmentations
70% improvement → Military-grade Deus Ex Augmentations
100% improvement → Full Deus Ex Technological Tree. {with integration compatibility with Cyberpunk augmentations}
M narrowed his eyes. A small smile followed.
The mission window still hovered on the edge of his vision.
He turned his head slightly and asked, "You're still responsible for the Glen District, aren't you?"
Jefferson blinked. "I am. Why?"
M stood from his seat, hands behind his back as he paced to the window, looking down at the city as if it were a dying kingdom.
"Let us say I plan to improve the standard of living in the Glen. Completely. Housing, education, food, security, and infrastructure. I want a 100% uplift across every category. How much will the approximate cost be?"
Jefferson laughed, genuinely confused. "That... would cost over a billion eddies. And maintenance would be a daily hemorrhage. Why would you even... Wait, don't tell ...."
M turned back to him, eyes sharp and resolute.
"Exactly what you just thought. I will do it. We build your reputation now. The groundwork. The receipts. When you run for mayor next year, the people won't need promises. They'll have proof."
Jefferson was stunned. "I don't know what to say."
"You don't need to," M replied, stepping closer. "I see myself as this city's uncrowned king. The corps may hold the throne, but they do nothing for the people. I will. And what kind of king lets his people live in filth?"
Elizabeth smiled faintly. Jefferson let out a breath, half-smiling himself.
"Well... if crowning you means saving the city, then by all means, your majesty."
They laughed, but beneath Jefferson's grin was a growing admiration—and a little fear.
He doesn't care for the throne, Jefferson thought. 'He cares for what the throne can do'.
Aegis HQ – War Room – The Next Morning...
The entire executive command of Aegis was assembled. Department heads stood at attention: Maine, David, Rebecca, Kiwi, Falco, Iris Tanner, Lucyna, and Ben. Giant displays filled the wall, showing population charts, health stats, infrastructure maps, and violent crime indexes of the Glen.
"I consulted a lot of experts and we came up with the following plan", M said in his usual no-nonsense tone.
1-Security Infrastructure Upgrade
Lead Agency/Partner: Aegis Security Firm and NCPD.
Estimated Cost (Millions Eddies): 100.
Impact Score (0-10): 9.
2- Universal Education Access
Lead Agency/Partner: Night City Public Education Board and Aegis
Estimated Cost (Millions Eddies): 80
Impact Score (0-10): 8
3-Public Health System Overhaul
Lead Agency/Partner: Aegis Health Division (New) and Night City Health organazation.
Estimated Cost (Millions Eddies): 120
Impact Score (0-10): 10
4- Sanitation and Clean Water Initiative
Lead Agency/Partner: Water & Waste Management (A corporation, responsible for North Oak cleaning)
Estimated Cost (Millions Eddies): 90
Impact Score (0-10): 8
5-Affordable Housing Program
Lead Agency/Partner: Aegis and Glen Construction Guild.
Estimated Cost (Millions Eddies): 150
Impact Score (0-10): 9
6-Public Transit Enhancement
Lead Agency/Partner: City Transit Commission (Aegis-funded)
Estimated Cost (Millions Eddies): 60
Impact Score (0-10): 7
7- Employment & Trade Skills Center
Lead Agency/Partner: Aegis Human Resources Development
Estimated Cost (Millions Eddies): 40
Impact Score (0-10): 7
8-Community Surveillance with Privacy Ethics
Lead Agency/Partner: Netrunner Division (Kiwi, Lucyna, Nix)
Estimated Cost (Millions Eddies): 30
Impact Score (0-10): 6
9-Cyberware Safety Regulation
Lead Agency/Partner: Regulatory Board and Aegis inforcement
Estimated Cost (Millions Eddies): 20
Impact Score (0-10): 6
10-Cultural & Recreational Facilities
Lead Agency/Partner: Jefferson's Cultural Trust and Aegis Arts
Estimated Cost (Millions Eddies): 30
Impact Score (0-10): 7
.....
....
M stood at the center, backlit by a glowing city map.
"We're going to fix the Glen. Piece by piece. And we'll do it under Jefferson's name—he's the public face. We're the shadow force behind it."
Maine raised an eyebrow. "You really wanna play public servant, boss?"
"No. I want to become the city's backbone," M replied. "Start with basic security. David, deploy squads to every known hot zone. Clean out gangs. arrest, detain, confiscate. You can use lethal force if necessary, work with the NCPD, but if you see corrupt police officers, you are clear to take them down. By the way, start recruiting again. 3000 active agents are not enough for our future plans"
David nodded. "Got it."
"Kiwi," M continued, "You and Nix are going to upgrade the Glen's network nodes. Surveillance, communication, and public access. Everything."
"Already ahead of you," Kiwi replied. "We'll turn the district net from a broken fence into a fortress."
"Falco, Iris," M pointed, "Public transport. Restore and arm two metro lines. Start weekly shuttle runs for students and workers. Fund public transport"
Iris nodded. "I'll also buy three modded trains from the Nomad network. Hack-proof. Bulletproof. They are cheap but reliable"
"Rebecca, you'll handle the food initiative. Local gardens, cheap meal hubs. Partner with the feeding programs and good corporations we already fund in Watson."
"Bet. Let me find a few street cooks that don't spit in the stew," she said with a grin.
"Lucyna, Ben—focus on rebuilding clinics and setting up mobile med-units and teams. Free cyberpsychosis treatment and psych consults for teens and vets."
Lucyna's voice was quiet but determined. "We'll need a permit push..."
"I'll handle that," Jefferson said from the side, having just entered.
Everyone turned.
"I'm in," he said firmly. "All of it. My name will back every regulation and zoning change. Whatever Aegis needs, consider it authorized."
M smiled.
The Glen District – One Week Later...
Drone footage aired across every public terminal.
"Neighborhood Watch Zones," manned by Aegis patrols, now dotted the Glen. New streetlights, cameras, armored buses, all with the Aegis insignia.
Public feeds buzzed.
"Is this real?"
"Councilman Peralez and Aegis security are going to rebuild the entire Glen district"
"No one's been shot in my street in three days. What the hell?"
"I heard Jefferson Peralez secured Aegis' backing and funding to rebuild the entire city if he becomes mayor"
"I heard it was M, the mysterious owner of Aegis, who started the initiative"
"Don't be fooled by them, they are liars who want to inslave us"
"Ma they are posting weird shit again."
M watched from his office as the buzz grew. His fingers steepled.
Then came the press conference—Jefferson standing tall before a crowd, with Aegis guards in the background.
"I'm not running for office yet," Jefferson said, "but when I do, let this be my promise: Night City can change. It just needs the right hands behind it."
The mayor's office burned with fury.
Lucius Rhyne fumed privately, slamming his desk, while Weldon Holt made frantic calls.
"Find out who's funding this... now."
The corporations began whispering.
Who is M?
What is Aegis?
And why are they doing this?
Aegis HQ – Executive Balcony – Sunset ...
M stood outside, overlooking the city with a rare moment of calm.
David approached.
"The people love it. They call it the 'Glen Renaissance.'"
M didn't turn.
"They'll forget. If we stop now."
David nodded, eyes sharp.
"So we keep going?"
M finally turned, his voice a whisper.
"No, David. We don't keep going. We accelerate."
---------------------------------------------------------------
Author here,
A decent chapter, I would say . What do you think?
sorry for only uploading once I hate my life right now, hospital food is shit and having a tube up my ass and in my ££££ is hell.
And I can't describe the pain enough, even breathing hurts. I hope no one will have to go through this.
anyhow do comment as reading your feedback motivate me to keep writing this shitty novel.
btw, what do you think of David having Lucy and Xochi? I think the relationship will be fun to navigate.
Write here what you think will happen next...
be seeing you all
bye.