After getting into the car, Arthur quickly changed clothes and even switched up his hairstyle.
He stuck some tattoos on his arms and chest, adjusted his sleeves, and casually drove toward Vic's clinic.
On the way, a young punk from the Tiger Claw Gang rode past on a motorcycle.
He slowed down, gave Arthur's ride a curious look, and asked,
"Brother, isn't that Takuma Kuzi's car? Why are you driving it?"
Arthur leaned lazily against the car door, cigarette dangling from his lips, and said nonchalantly,
"I'm tight with Kuzi. Just hired him today, and he let me borrow his car."
The kid's eyes lit up with envy.
"Damn, you must be real close! I've tried borrowing it a few times, and he never agreed."
He pulled out a cigarette and offered it to Arthur.
Arthur accepted, lit it, and puffed out smoke slowly.
"See, that's the difference between acquaintances and brothers.
My son's still waiting for me — next time we meet, dinner's on me."
Stepping on the gas, Arthur sped away, leaving the Tiger Claw kid standing there, looking admiringly after him.
"He's so generous... Just met me and already offering dinner," the kid muttered, touched.
He didn't even notice that Arthur never gave his name.
Before long, Arthur parked outside Misty's Psychic Hut and called Jack.
"Bring me some of Misty's blush," he said.
Jack, completely confused, did as asked.
Soon after, Jack emerged carrying a tiny makeup box, sneaked a glance around, and hopped into Arthur's car.
"Brother, what the hell are you planning?" Jack said, tossing the box onto Arthur's lap.
"And damn, you look disgusting right now.
You look like one of those Tiger Claw pimps who sell knockoff Braindance chips."
Arthur just chuckled, checking the blush color with satisfaction.
"Perfect."
He casually tossed a bag onto Jack's lap.
"Your turn for a sacrifice, my brother."
Jack peeked inside — and froze.
There, crumpled inside the bag, was a pink mini-dress.
Jack's jaw dropped. His tan skin instantly flushed red.
Arthur leaned over, smiling like a devil:
"Famous or forgotten, Jack?
You told me yourself: to endure hardship is the path to greatness.
Even Johnny Silverhand had to hold his nose and work with Militech once.
This is nothing! C'mon, change right here in the car."
Saying that, Arthur grinned and slipped out of the vehicle, leaning casually against the hood with an unholy amount of excitement.
Inside the car, Jack sat there, fists clenched, staring at the dress like it was a ticking bomb.
His pride battled against his dreams of stardom — and in Night City, dreams usually won.
Finally, with a deep, tragic sigh, Jack grabbed the dress.
The car started shaking violently.
A few minutes later, the door unlocked.
Arthur, fully mentally prepared, got back into the car —
and immediately burst out laughing.
He couldn't help it.
Despite years of cybernetic emotional dampeners, Arthur was doubled over, howling, clutching his stomach.
Jack was sprawled across the back seat, squeezed into the pink dress like a giant slab of muscle stuffed into a child's onesie.
Thankfully, Night City cheap clothes were made of technical fiber — stretchy enough that Jack hadn't split the seams (yet).
Jack's face looked like he had just buried his dignity six feet underground.
"Arthur," Jack groaned, "is... is this really the price of becoming famous?"
"Hahaha— ahem! Y-yes! This... this is the price!" Arthur wheezed, wiping tears from his cyber-eyes.
He barely managed to hold it together.
Any more laughter and Arthur was seriously worried he might need Vic to patch him up.
Arthur tossed Jack's normal clothes into the trunk, then tossed Jack the blush compact.
"Originally, I was gonna have you ask Misty for lipstick too, but she only wears black.
Doesn't match the vibe.
Just slap on some blush — your lips are already red enough from embarrassment."
Jack looked at the blush like it was a hand grenade.
Finally, with a pained sigh, he dipped his fingers into the compact and started smearing it onto his rugged cheeks.
"Arthur, if this plan fails," Jack growled, "I'm ripping your head off."
Arthur smirked and shifted gears.
So many people in Night City had said that to him already. Jack wasn't even top 100 on the list.
"And what about the Samurai Band?" Arthur said casually.
Jack, rubbing blush onto his face with grim determination, blinked.
"Of course I know them! Real rock legends!
Their 'Never Fade Away' track? Absolute fire.
Too bad they broke up after Silverhand nuked Arasaka."
Arthur nodded and continued,
"Kerry Eurodyne — he was part of Samurai, right? After the band broke up, he went solo, became a mega popstar."
"But he's got a little secret..." Arthur leaned in closer, voice low.
"Kerry? He's a Nantong."
Jack's mouth fell open.
"You serious? Kerry, the guy who trashes guitars onstage and punches paparazzi off balconies... he's a crook?"
Arthur laughed and steered the car up onto the highway.
"Maybe it's Johnny Silverhand's lingering charm.
But yeah — after his divorce, Kerry... well, let's just say he stopped being picky about who he dated."
"And he's got ties to the Tiger Claw Gang.
Probably to keep things... discreet."
Jack leaned back, mind blown.
Night City.
The more you knew, the crazier it all got.