All the gangs in Night City had their own flavor — distinct style, distinct rules, distinct lines they wouldn't cross.
The Valentinos, in particular, kept a tight grip on their turf. They operated almost exclusively in Heywood.
They had rules.
They held themselves to a strict code — reinforced by a century of tradition — preaching honor, justice, loyalty, and that particular kind of brotherhood that blurred into blood kinship. And if someone tried to trample those values, the Valentinos would pay any price to defend them.
Walking the streets of Heywood, you saw rundown blocks everywhere. There weren't many new buildings nearby, and even fewer tall ones. If you ignored the transit rails overhead, the place almost felt like a city frozen a hundred years in the past.
Vash had only come here once before — rushing in to snag a pair of Mantis Blades, then leaving. Only now did it feel like he was actually getting to know Heywood.
In his memory, the Valentinos were the most "decent" of Night City's gangs.
The gang and the locals formed something like a family: the community shielded the Valentinos, and the Valentinos kept Heywood's balance. That kind of relationship made it extremely difficult for corps to slip their hooks into the neighborhood.
The price was obvious.
Heywood was poorer, rougher, more backward.
But the smiles you saw here — probably the most genuine in all of Night City.
"V, after touring all of Night City, Heywood's still the most comfortable place to be." Jackie said, slipping back into his crude metaphors, "Even a pile of dog shit smells better than what's outside, choom."
"Jack, you're a legend now." Vash teased, "Aren't you gonna build some mystique?"
"Mystique my ass." Jackie waved it off, "That classy talk? Ain't me. Last night at Konpeki Plaza, wearing that corp-dog suit, I felt itchy all over."
As they walked, a soccer ball suddenly flew toward them.
Jackie trapped it against his chest on instinct.
A few kids — five or six years old — came sprinting over. The moment they saw him, they lit up.
"Jack! Jack!"
"Jack is back!"
They swarmed him immediately. Jackie laughed, then ruffled their heads with his big hand.
"You little punks — didn't I tell you not to play by the road?" He scolded, "What if you hit somebody? What if you get clipped by a car chasing that ball?"
Happy moments never lasted long.
The kids' excitement got chased off by a few stern words, but Jackie still reached into his pocket, dug out loose change, and handed it over.
"Go buy snacks. And next time, play smarter — alright?"
The kids hugged the ball and ran off, cheering.
Vash stepped up beside him, "Jack… looks like these kids really love you."
"Damn right." Jackie said proudly, "V, my popularity in Heywood? Through the roof."
"Uh-huh. I believe you."
And it wasn't even a joke.
As they walked, nine out of ten people they passed greeted Jackie warmly.
"V, you don't gotta worry about safety in Heywood." Jackie said, "Corp dogs don't get in here."
Then his voice dropped, more serious.
"Next, we check on the Relic."
"You brought it to Heywood?" Vash asked.
"Somewhere absolutely safe."
❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖
Heywood — The Glen. Los Lobos Street.
El Coyote Cojo.
Jackie pushed the door open and walked in like he'd never left.
It was still early. No customers.
Vash glanced around.
The Coyote Cojo was nothing like Lizzie's Bar. No dazzling LEDs. No cold chrome. No fake "future" vibe.
This place was pure retro.
The walls were covered in old keepsakes that looked like they'd been here for years. Along one side sat a row of arcade machines straight out of the 1980s, and a pool table. Off to another side was a small stage with a mic stand for live bands, with booths and small tables scattered around.
It was the least cyberpunk place imaginable.
And somehow, that made it the most comfortable.
"Hey, Pepe." Jackie called out to the bartender, "How you doing?"
Pepe Najarro snapped out of his daze, "Holy shit! Jack!!" He threw his hands up, laughing, "Bro, you know what's been on the TV all day? You! Nothing but you! You blew up Konpeki Plaza — hahahaha!"
In Night City, anyone with a spine looked down on corp dogs. And nothing was funnier than watching them get humiliated.
"You have no idea." Pepe went on, "Last night the Coyote Cojo was packed. Everyone was cheering for you."
Jackie walked up to the bar, "Pepe, let me introduce you. This is my brother — V. Goes by Vash too." He jerked a thumb toward the bartender, "V, this is Pepe. Best bartender in Heywood."
"Hey, V." Pepe grinned, popping two beers, "News says you two even fought off Adam Smasher. That's badass. Beer okay?"
"Beer's perfect." Vash said, taking a seat.
Jackie sat beside him, "Pepe — how's the thing I sent you last night?"
"Jack, when have I ever let you down?" Pepe reached under the counter and produced a case.
The Relic.
Vash raised an eyebrow.
If the people hunting the shard knew it had spent an entire night sitting in Heywood… who knew what kind of faces they'd make.
"Thanks, Pepe."
Vash took the case. The shard's integrity readout was still 100%.
Pepe grabbed his own beer and cracked it open, "Here. A toast — to two living legends."
They clinked bottles and drank.
Then Vash said, "Jackie, we should thank Pepe properly."
Jackie nodded at once, "We should. But I'm broke."
With the Relic job going like this, there wasn't a single eddie to be earned.
"Cash is too crude." Vash said, "Pepe — what would you think if we put our signature drinks on the Coyote Cojo menu first?"
Pepe's hand actually trembled, "That's… that's fucking huge." He swallowed, "Bigger than money."
With the kind of noise Vash and Jackie had made, they more than qualified to leave their names on a drink.
Jackie got fired up too, "Having a brain really is something. I can leave my own drink at the Coyote Cojo — this is amazing!"
When they left the bar, Jackie's steps were lighter.
He kept muttering to himself, "The Jackie Welles drink… the Jackie Welles drink… damn, that sounds good."
Jackie lived right behind the bar. After all, it was family property.
It was Vash's first time seeing a rolling shutter door with an actual physical lock. Behind it was a garage connected to a bedroom — once the shutter rose, it was like stepping into a different world.
The loaned ARCH Nazaré was parked inside too.
Vash stepped in and looked around.
"V." Jackie said, stretching his arms, "Rest for a bit. Then come with me back home — my mom's cooking is amazing."
❖❖❖❖❖
T/N: Comment, give me Power Stones, like and favorite, it all supports me and makes me go foward with this. Appreciate my other stories as well, I guarantee the good work!
If you want 20 chapters ahead, smut chapters or spicy images of this novel for just $5, or enjoy a large catalog of good novels with excellent translations (free or starting at $1.5): MrBlackWing (you know where to search)
Take a look at the new book I'm translating on my profile, Umamusume Pretty Derb: I'm Just a Trainer! Its also on my website for $5 too!
That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)