Originally, Arthur expected at least four or five intelligent robots patrolling a villa this high-end.
Maybe seven or eight drones hovering overhead too.
After all, rich people were usually the most terrified of death—always throwing mountains of cash at security.
But what did Arthur see here?
No robots.
No drones.
Not even a single turret.
The landscaping around the villa was a disaster—grass untrimmed, hedges wild, flowerbeds dried out.
It looked like no one had cared for this place in months.
A battered vehicle sat crashed into a wall, crushing a row of expensive greenery.
Arthur narrowed his eyes.
Something was wrong here.
Very wrong.
It felt like the bloodsuckers from the bank had already come and cleaned house—before he'd even arrived.
Scanning the area again and spotting no immediate threats, Arthur frowned.
Gripping his pistols tightly, he crept toward the villa, eyes sharp.
The closer he got to the center of the property, the weirder things became.
Sticky, chemical-scented liquids were splattered all over the ground.
The stench in the air was sharp and acrid—like walking through a chemical plant.
No... actually, Arthur thought grimly, it smelled even worse than a chemical plant.
The stench was on par with the sewage river running through Night City.
"Stay sharp," Arthur muttered, glancing back at Jack. "One second of slacking and you're dead. Got it?"
Jack nodded seriously, his dual pistols at the ready, sweeping angles that Arthur couldn't cover.
Jack's voice crackled softly over comms:
"What the hell was this guy doing in here? This villa's a mess. If it were me, I would've kept it pristine.
Hey, by the way... are those real fish in the pond?
Think we could snag a couple on the way out? I haven't had real fish in forever."
Arthur followed Jack's gaze to a koi pond nestled in a neglected garden.
A couple of fat koi swam lazily in the murky water.
Arthur considered it for a moment.
Not whether they could catch the koi—he was sure they could—but whether they were actually edible.
After a beat, he decided: edible enough.
If you were desperate, even pond scum was gourmet.
They reached the villa's front door.
It hung ajar, swinging gently in the breeze.
Arthur slowly nudged it open with the barrel of his gun, Jack covering him from behind.
Inside was a disaster zone.
Dirty clothes were tossed everywhere—on the coffee table, over the sofas, even dangling from chandeliers.
The smell of rotting food and stale sweat mixed with the chemical stench, creating a choking atmosphere.
It didn't feel like a luxury mansion anymore.
It felt like a homeless encampment under an overpass.
Arthur clicked his tongue, sweeping his pistol around, and made his way to a nearby gateway terminal.
He pulled up his comms and dialed a number.
Lucy answered after one ring, her voice dripping with sarcasm:
"I'm not a capitalist, Mr. Arthur. I don't know what you expect from a lowly employee like me.
Let me guess—Huangcheng or Kang Tao this time?"
Arthur chuckled.
"No big corps.
I'm on a little justice job for the people. A boss named Michael skipped out on paying his workers.
I'm at his villa right now.
Problem is, I can't find him.
Think you could help me tap into his network?"
There was a pause.
"Justice, huh?" Lucy said dryly.
"Rare thing in Night City... Alright, plug into his gateway. I'll take a look."
Arthur smirked.
He knew Lucy would help—especially when he dangled the right incentives.
"Think of it as your first gig as Chief Network Consultant for my future company," Arthur said.
"Big paycheck.
Maybe enough to buy that ticket to the moon you keep dreaming about."
Lucy stiffened on the other end.
How the hell did he know about that?
But after a long silence, she sighed and said,
"Fine. Connect."
Arthur tapped into the villa's local network.
Lucy's fingers flew across her end.
A few seconds later, her voice returned, serious:
"Found him. Basement level.
Looks like he's...doing some kind of experiment."
Arthur frowned.
"Experiment? What kind?"
Lucy scrolled faster.
"Chemical supplies. Large quantities.
And there was a recent money transfer...
To the Maelstrom gang."
Arthur cursed under his breath.
Lucy continued, "If you're looking for back pay, I have bad news—he's nearly broke.
You better hope he still has cash stashed somewhere."
Arthur grunted in acknowledgment.
"And the security drones? Smart robots?"
"Nothing," Lucy replied, puzzled.
"Except for you three—no signs of security left on the premises."
Arthur's frown deepened.
Something was seriously off.
Lucy added lightly,
"If you want answers, you'll probably have to use your 'fist of love.' Good luck."
And she hung up.
Arthur scratched his head and turned to Jack.
"Alright," he said. "You want the bad news first or the good news?"
Jack blew out a breath.
"Give me the bad news. Missions like this always start with bad news."
Arthur shrugged, plopped onto a filthy couch, and picked up a still-sealed bottle of sparkling water.
He cracked it open, took a sip, and smiled grimly.
"Bad news—Michael's broke. Mentally and financially."
Jack's face darkened.
"And the good news?"
Arthur grinned.
"Good news is, he's in the basement. And lucky for us, the whole damn manor's empty.
No drones. No guards.
It's just us and our unlucky friend down there."
Jack tightened his grip on his pistols.
"Alright then," he said grimly.
"Let's go shake the piggy bank."
[End of Chapter 58: A Strange Villa Manor!]