After Lehm left to gather the guys for the first test mission, Alex immediately got to work on preparations. He knew he needed to compile a clear and convenient dossier on the world the group would be heading into. Experience had taught him that overloading information with unnecessary details only got in the way. When his clones had designed the system, they hadn't considered that — the reports ended up bulky and cluttered with excess data.

Sitting at the guild secretary's desk, Alex quickly sorted files, simplifying and structuring everything so future mission members could easily understand it. From time to time, people peeked into the hall: some just wanted to greet him, others to confirm the rumors that Alex and his family had indeed returned from vacation. Alex responded with a few words but didn't let himself get distracted.

Once he had selected the materials and loaded them onto special chips, he confirmed that this method was far more convenient for handing out instructions than stacks of papers. Even if guild members later switched to phones and apps, the chips would still prove useful.

After a moment's thought, Alex realized he had forgotten to check the fairy-drones responsible for broadcasting the actions of groups in other worlds. Standing up, he headed for the storage room. There, a surprise awaited him: the warehouse was nearly empty — the clones had thoroughly cleared it out while filling the new storage. Only in a far corner were some metal crates piled up.

Opening one of them, Alex found a small sphere inside with tiny wings. He raised an eyebrow: the drones looked remarkably similar to Navi from The Legend of Zelda.

"Hmm… practical choice," he muttered, turning the "fairy" over in his hands. "But I should test the functions first."

Inside the crate was a booklet. Setting the drone aside, Alex opened it. The clones had even thought to make a user manual. Skimming through it, he smirked: overall, the work was solid, though some features seemed questionable — like voice-changing or colored lighting.

But the system integration was impressive: the drones could stream missions in real time, assist with navigation, and provide reference data. Still, Alex noted to himself that such helpers diminished part of the spirit of adventure. If Navi immediately told you where to go and what to do, there wouldn't be much left of the thrill of discovery.

He carefully closed the case, picked it up, and returned to the main hall.

There, Koko was waiting for him. She wandered around the hall, curiously inspecting everything.

"You unpacked your things quickly," Alex remarked, sitting back down at the secretary's desk.

"I didn't unpack them at all," Koko smiled and immediately sat down on his lap. "First I wanted to give the souvenirs to Casper, then deal with the luggage. By the way, do you know where he is? He's not at home."

"Casper went traveling again," Alex replied, wrapping an arm around her waist. "He took some bodyguards and became a wandering merchant. Basically, he went back to his favorite business."

"Well, that's fine," Koko shrugged, settling in more comfortably. "And what are you working on? I didn't think your guild would turn out this… strange."

"Nothing strange about it," Alex rolled his eyes. "I'm just running the final checks on the system and preparing everything for the first mission."

Koko raised her brows, looking at him with growing interest. Seeing this, Alex began explaining in more detail how his clones had built the guild and integrated the systems. The more Koko listened, the more surprised she became. Now it was clear why some of the monitors displayed information in such an odd way that it was hard to make sense of it. But that only fueled her curiosity — because now she herself would help Alex manage the guild's affairs.

She started bombarding him with questions, moving from screen to screen, while Alex calmly answered without stopping his work.

"And are you sure the valkyries will agree to be secretaries?" Koko asked, flipping through the mission board menus.

"I think so," Alex replied. "They don't really have anything else to do right now anyway. This way, they'll have something meaningful to occupy themselves with, instead of just sitting at home doing nothing."

Koko thoughtfully raised an eyebrow, mulling over Alex's words. In just a week, she and the other girls had already grown close to the valkyries and understood well enough that they would eventually agree to work as secretaries. And if any of them refused, Brunhilde would have no trouble persuading her younger sisters.

Seeing that Koko was no longer bombarding him with questions about the guild, Alex decided to entertain her with fresh rumors that had piled up during their vacation. He started with something unexpected: R had gotten himself a girlfriend. And not just anyone — an Amazon. Koko was surprised at first, but within seconds burst out laughing. The thought of pitying the guy never even crossed her mind — after all, Alex had warned everyone on the very first day that getting involved with Amazons was more trouble than it was worth.

The story of the "great friendship" between Hermes and Kensei, however, made Koko grimace rather than laugh — their twisted duo was downright repulsive.

While Alex was recounting the latest gossip, other girls began gathering at the guild as well. They too wanted to see for themselves what Alex's clones had built. When Rekka, Mari, and Shizuku arrived, he immediately pointed them to the clinic — a separate facility prepared especially for them. The girls perked up and hurried off to explore the rooms.

Not wanting to delay, Alex suggested to the valkyries that they take on the role of secretaries. No one flat-out refused — especially Göndul, who gladly agreed to help — but overall, enthusiasm was lacking. One stern look from Brunhilde, however, and all doubts vanished: the rest of the valkyries reluctantly agreed. Red and White immediately linked into the guild's system to assess the bigger picture, while the other girls scattered around the hall, examining everything with curiosity.

"Alex, what's with the iron door?" Sherry called out.

"That's the artifact vault. My clones cleared out my entire warehouse and filled that room with it," he replied with a straight face.

The girls exchanged glances before bursting into laughter — it was obvious the clones had done it on purpose.

Alex shifted his gaze to Erina, Alice, and Hisako. As the three chefs approached, he spoke:

"I have a proposal for you. Have you decided yet where you want to cook?"

Alice narrowed her eyes with a playful smile."What's this, Alex? Hungry already and hoping I'll feed you?"

"No, thanks, I'm not hungry," he chuckled. "It's something else. I want to talk about your future restaurant. There are two options: build it right here in the guild or somewhere in Orario."

Erina crossed her arms and gave a sharp snort."And what's the difference? I want details."

"If the restaurant is here, next to the guild, it'll be easier for you to get fresh ingredients and feed our people. In the city center you'll have more customers, but also more headaches — constant crowds, noise, and chaos. In the guild, fewer worries. In Orario, more popularity," Alex explained, drumming his fingers lightly on the desk.

Erina thought for only a moment before saying decisively:"There's no choice to make. I followed you precisely to cook with new, unknown ingredients. That means the restaurant has to be here, in the guild. That way I can get products at their freshest."

With a fanatical gleam in her eyes, she looked at Alex.

Alice immediately giggled, covering her mouth with her hand."Erina, you forgot to add that you followed him because you like him."

"Shut up, Alice! You just tagged along as a freeloader!" Erina snapped, her cheeks instantly turning red.

"Try and make me shut up," Alice purred slyly, her eyes sparkling. "What do they call it in your manga? Oh right… 'typical tsundere.'"

Erina flushed with anger and tried to silence Alice, but the girl dodged nimbly and bolted away, laughing.

"Tsundere! A real tsundere!" Alice teased as she ran.

The two girls spun around the guild hall: one red-faced and furious, trying to catch the other, while the other darted around laughing, deliberately making her cousin look ridiculous.

Hisako only sighed wearily, watching the circus unfold. The expression on her face said it all: "Why me? What did I do to deserve this punishment?"

Alex, noticing her resigned look, walked over and gently patted her shoulder.

"Hang in there," he said with a small smile.

Hisako turned to him and smiled back — tired, but with a shade of acceptance, as if by now she had already resigned herself to the antics of that pair.

While the girls explored the guild and got used to the new system uploaded to their phones, Alex was finishing preparations for the upcoming mission. After a while, Lehm arrived at the head of a group of guys.

Takashi, spotting his mothers — Namiyo and Gloria — immediately realized he hadn't been called here just for the assignment. There would clearly be another talk about "children." He tried to slip away unnoticed, but a paper ball suddenly smacked him in the back of the head so sharply that he bumped his forehead against the wooden door.

Rubbing his brow and muttering curses under his breath, he turned around and met Alex's gaze — the latter wearing a distinctly playful smile.

"Where do you think you're going, David?" Alex asked with a trace of mockery.

"Nowhere," Takashi muttered, deciding to accept the inevitable.

The guys gathered at the counter, where Alex was already sitting. The girls, noticing something serious was about to start, also came closer — many of them would soon be taking missions themselves and wanted to see the process firsthand. Even those who weren't planning to participate listened with curiosity.

Alex looked over the group and was surprised at the sight of R. He looked like he had lost ten kilos: dark circles under his eyes, a deathly pale face.

Alex only sighed, snapped his fingers — and R's body lit up with a soft glow. A second later, he looked as though he had just eaten well and gotten a full night's rest.

"Now that's more like it," R exhaled with relief, stretching. "I feel reborn! That's how you should've started!"

"I warned you not to mess with Amazons," Alex said calmly. "But since it happened, congratulations. Aisha's a good girl, so you're lucky."

"Wait… you're serious?" R stared at him in shock. "I thought you'd start mocking me like everyone else."

"Why would I?" Alex shrugged. "I really am happy for you."

The unexpected sincerity left R speechless, staring at Alex as though seeing him for the first time. Alex just shook his head slightly and shifted his gaze to the others.

The group was a colorful sight: most of the guys were still dressed in vacation clothes. Price stood out especially — in a shirt, shorts, and sunhat, he looked more like an old man heading out to fish. In stark contrast was Ghost: all in black, a hooded sweatshirt, and a cloth mask with a skull design. Alex couldn't help but wonder if he'd spent the entire week like that, never taking the mask off even on vacation. Still, it quickly became clear — for Ghost, this was unfamiliar territory, and he simply didn't trust anyone. Most likely, he had spent the time exploring Orario and watching people.

"Well, kid," Price drawled lazily, pulling out a cigar. "Why are we here? Lehm said something about our first mission."

"Correct," Alex nodded. "Today we're doing a test run of the system. I need to see how it updates data in real time when someone interferes with a timeline. Every line has a beginning and an end, but sometimes the end comes too soon. So I picked an easy world — just for a couple of experiments."

"And where exactly are you planning to send us?" Soap asked, raising an eyebrow.

Alex slid a box toward them filled with small chips.

"First, take these and insert them into your phones. They'll sync with the system immediately. Then, get into your combat suits so they can connect to the network as well. After that — follow me. Time for the briefing."

The guys grabbed the chips and slotted them into their phones. Alex rose from his seat and headed to one of the monitors in the guild hall to conduct the briefing. The rest followed as the system synchronized with their devices, each of them wondering which world Alex was about to send them to for the test run.

Alex quickly pulled up the necessary data on the screen. Even though the basic information was already in the system, a brief briefing was still necessary — the guys needed to understand what they were about to face.

Once the synchronization finished, a new app appeared on their phones. The guys immediately started exploring it, particularly intrigued by the orders function. Realizing they could request equipment and useful items even from another world, they were genuinely pleased.

Meanwhile, Ghost was already reviewing the main information about the upcoming mission.

"This says: 'Prevent a war.' But it's not clear how exactly," he looked up at Alex.

"All the detailed objectives will be provided by the secretaries," Alex replied calmly. "Besides the general world information, the system will issue tasks on-site."

"So, we're going to a modern world," Lehm remarked, exhaling smoke while holding his phone.

"Not just any modern world. You're going to—" Alex began but didn't finish.

"NIGHT CITY!" Kōta and Toji shouted in unison.

Everyone stared at them. The two anime fans smiled sheepishly. Takashi grimaced — he didn't want to return to that cursed city. Hearing the name, Gloria and Namiyo exchanged worried glances; both knew their son had far from good memories of Night City. Alex, however, gave Kōta and Toji a cold look, and they immediately looked away.

"Anyway, yes," Alex continued. "Your objective is to prevent the Fifth Corporate War between Arasaka and Militech. If it starts, the consequences will affect the entire world."

A projection of the timeline's end appeared on the screen: a dead, scorched world, devoid of life. Even Alex fell silent for a moment — he hadn't expected the war to lead to the complete annihilation of civilization. The cause was Saburo Arasaka, resurrected in his son Yorinobu's body, who waged war against Militech. The local conflict in Night City soon escalated into a full-scale global confrontation, eventually triggering a nuclear catastrophe.

"Alex, which timeline exactly? There are more than ten," Kōta asked, staring at the screen thoughtfully.

"What do you mean? You know something?" Price frowned.

"Well… the thing is, Captain, this world is too branched. In the game, for example, you first choose the protagonist's path, then their gender. That affects interactions with characters and the ending. There are about ten, if not more," Kōta explained.

"Strange world you've got there, Takashi," Jake snorted.

"I only found out because that fat guy wouldn't shut up for weeks," Takashi muttered.

"Quiet," Ghost said calmly. "We're wasting time."

"Right, thanks, Simon," Alex nodded. "So, the timeline is as follows: the protagonist is V, a street kid. Male. His path is connected to Panam Palmer. This eventually leads to V regaining his body, but Saburo also resurrects. And that's what triggers the war."

"Me?" Valery asked in surprise, pointing at herself.

"Not you, little pest," Alex rolled his eyes. "How could you end up there if you're sitting here? Besides, you're a girl, and Vincent is a guy — he's twenty-three, and you're only fifteen."

Valerie smiled shyly and let out a quiet giggle. The girls exchanged glances — they clearly hadn't expected that the world from which Becca, Lucina, Kiwi, and Gloria had come would turn out to be so strange. Night City was already considered a dump, but the addition of tangled timelines came as a complete surprise.

Noticing their interest, Alex brought up an image of Vincent — the very V — on the screen. He began explaining what had happened to this guy and why his fate could become the trigger for the Fifth Corporate War.

Valerie couldn't look away: in front of her was almost like her double, only from another timeline and male. They looked so similar that even the other girls stared in astonishment, comparing her face to the photo on the screen.

Meanwhile, Alex continued explaining, while Kōta and Toji occasionally added their comments, clarifying details. The group listened carefully; even small pieces of information could prove useful, considering who they were about to face.

"So, what's the core of our mission?" Ghost broke the silence.

"It's simple," Alex began. "You're going to Night City to locate the Aldecaldo camp. You need to make contact with them and assist in the upcoming assault on the tunnel being constructed by Militech. But that's just one part. The second objective is Vincent. He needs a drug to survive after returning to his body. And the third task is to prevent Alt from capturing all the AIs. She plays a key role in the upcoming war. You'll have to erase all consciousnesses from the Mikoshi system."

He displayed the task list on the screen and then placed a small device on the table.

"How do we do that? Blow up the servers?" Soap asked, leaning on the chair back.

"No," Alex shook his head. "This device. I once used it to extract all the information from Arasaka Tower. Just connect it to the server — it will take control and erase everything unnecessary."

"So," Lehm said thoughtfully, tapping his finger on the table, "our mission is to help Vincent infiltrate one of the most heavily guarded buildings in the city, keep him alive, and prevent a war. Correct?"

"Exactly," Alex confirmed. "But the hardest part is dealing with Aldecaldo. They don't like outsiders. However, Panam might cooperate if you say you have medicine for V. In the worst case, you claim you're mercenaries — which you are. You'll manage."

He turned his gaze to Takashi.

"Oh, right, David. I have special tasks for you."

"Me?" Takashi squinted. "And what have you come up with?"

"This is your last chance to say goodbye to Night City," Alex said firmly. "Your personal mission: kill Adam Smasher and visit North Oak. This will be your final farewell to the city. Kōta will show you exactly where."

"Ah. Now I understand why you asked Takashi to do this," Kōta nodded and patted his chest. "Don't worry, Alex. I'll help him. We're friends, after all."

"And before we leave… where in this city can you get a proper drink?" R spoke up.

Alex sighed, brought up the map, and marked several points.

"I've marked some places to relax. I recommend El Coyote Cojo — quiet, atmospheric. The area is controlled by Valentino, so no one will bother you."

"Why not 'Afterlife'? I'd like to check out that bar," Toji complained.

"Because they only let in those who've earned it. Or those who are escorted," Alex cut him off. "Enough questions. Grab your gear, get your transport — and move out. Once you're ready, the system will teleport you to a safe zone. Don't put on your combat suits yet — you don't need extra attention. In Night City, the phrase 'Big Brother is watching' is not a metaphor."

"What if they notice anyway?" Ghost frowned.

"They won't," Alex replied. "The fairy drone will create new identities for you. Money will be transferred to your accounts, so you can drink, blend in with locals… just don't stand out, and don't get into trouble prematurely. I don't need a bounty on your heads."

The guys nodded and went off to get their gear. R shone the most — happy for any break. Deep down, he knew that a little longer and his body simply wouldn't hold up.

Half an hour later, the team returned. Cases with combat suits in hand, backpacks with weapons on their backs. Seeing them ready, Alex led the group to the transfer room — from here, their path led to another world, to Night City.

They stopped near two vehicles, loading their belongings inside. Alex checked the final settings before dispatch. When everything was packed and prepared, he turned to the fighters:

"Good hunting. May luck be on your side. We'll monitor you through the fairy drone. Support will move in if there are any problems."

He pointed to the hovering device.

"Alright, let's go already. I want to see what kind of world this is," Lehm smirked.

Alex just shook his head, activated his tablet — and behind the group, a portal opened. A swirl of light and darkness swallowed the fighters. Once he confirmed the transfer was successful, Alex returned to the main hall, where the live feed had already started.

Meanwhile, the group found themselves in a new location. They instinctively looked around. Kōta and Toji craned their heads in awe like kids in a new amusement park. The others checked themselves — limbs intact, no one teleported somewhere else. Satisfied everyone was present, they began assessing the surroundings.

"Where are we?" Lutz broke the silence first, taking out binoculars. "I see abandoned buildings… and a Ferris wheel."

"Pacifica," Kōta explained immediately. "More precisely, near the Grand Imperial Mall. This is where the Vooduits operate."

"Should we be worried about them?" Soap raised an eyebrow.

"No, as long as we don't bother them. Vooduits are hermit hackers. They live their own lives and don't interfere with anyone," Toji added, adjusting his glasses.

"Well, at least something good," Price muttered, lighting a cigarette. "Alright, how do we find the Aldecaldo camp?"

The team gathered by the car. A holographic map unfolded on the hood. Only three of them knew the city well enough — Takashi, Kōta, and Toji. The choice fell on them. While they argued over the route, the rest stayed alert, watching the streets and ready for trouble.

Meanwhile, Takashi stared at the silhouette of the H4 megatower — the place where he had once lived. He hadn't expected to return to Night City like this.

"Hey, enough arguing," Jake snapped. "Just tell us how to get there."

"Simple," Kōta took over. "Through Santo Domingo. That area is controlled by the Sixth Street gang. Then — the highway and the Wastes."

"Any trouble expected?" Ghost asked.

"Maybe," Toji shrugged. "We could pass through quietly, or they might stop us. They're kind of like local cowboys, or something like that."

"Fine," Lehm cut in. "Get in the cars. We'll handle it on the way. The police don't interfere in gang wars here, so a couple of bodies won't compromise us."

"When is V supposed to arrive at the camp?" he asked, glancing at the others.

"Judging by the time, Panam has probably already delivered him. We have a couple of hours before he regains consciousness," Ghost explained, checking the data.

"Perfect," Price said, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "Then let's move. We'll still have time for our share of the city and a drink."

Everyone took their places in the vehicles, splitting into two groups. The engines roared to life, and the convoy of two cars hit the road, following the planned route. To leave Pacifica, they had to pass by the H4 megatower.

Takashi couldn't tear his eyes away from the massive building where he had once lived. He leaned against the glass and watched the tower with melancholy, as if trying to etch every memory of that place into his mind.

"David," Ghost said quietly, driving the car, "now is not the time to drown in depression. You didn't survive hell for nothing, only to stare at old walls with longing. We have a mission. Complete it and say your final goodbye to this city. It's broken you already, but you still have the strength to move forward. Don't forget why you're here."

"You're right…" Takashi took a deep breath and gave a faint smile. "I'm just saying goodbye to this city. Like my mother did. She isn't coming back… and now it's my turn."

"Now that's more like it!" Kōta clapped him on the shoulder. "I was starting to think we'd have to call Yuki or your… well, your father, to get you out of this state. You get depressive faster than I can look around this city."

"How many times do I have to tell you, he's not my father!" Takashi snapped, turning to Kōta.

"Correct," Jonah smirked, "he's your stepfather. Twice over."

The cabin erupted in laughter. Even in the second car, the guys listening on the channel laughed so hard the connection crackled. Takashi's face turned red with anger. He already reached for his pistol — whether to hit Kōta with the butt or fire a few rounds. Ghost just shook his head wearily.

Meanwhile, the vehicles hit the highway and entered Santo Domingo. Tension hung in the air: everyone knew they could be stopped at any moment. The newcomers eagerly scanned the streets, trying not to show their curiosity, while Toji and Kōta patiently answered questions about cyberware implants.

The ride seemed calm—until a firefight suddenly erupted right in their path.

"Damn! What the hell is this?!" Hugo's voice exploded over the comm channel.

"Welcome to Night City," Kōta commented calmly, peeking out the window. "It's normal here."

"We need to detour before the road gets blocked," Soap interjected.

"Ghost, turn onto the next street," Lehm ordered. "We'll take the outskirts. Now I get why Alex said the city is a total dump. We've been here less than half an hour, and we're already in the middle of a showdown."

Both cars sharply changed course, avoiding the shootout zone. No one was eager to catch stray bullets, especially knowing the scale of the conflict. But the detour made the trip to the Aldecaldo camp longer: they had to weave through the outskirts of Santo Domingo to reach the highway leading to the Wastes.

Fortunately, time was on their side. They had a buffer until the next morning, so the guys decided to make a short stop for a quick meal at a local eatery. The food was peculiar—mostly synthetic, which most of them still couldn't get used to. Only Takashi, Ghost, Jonah, and Jake ate without much reaction. The rest winced, as if swallowing plastic.

To be continued…

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