Melissa immediately pulled out a pair of gleaming silver handcuffs from her belt.
She flashed them in Arthur's face, then glanced pointedly at the two boxes he was carrying.
"NCPD Senior Inspector," she said in an official tone. "I now have reason to suspect you of participating in a criminal transaction. I am placing you under arrest. You have the right to remain silent, but anything you say may be used against you in a court of law."
Arthur blinked.
Heavily.
Seriously?
Throwing me in jail over this?
Never mess with a crazy woman — especially one carrying a badge and handcuffs.
Without hesitation, Arthur tossed one of the Whirlpool Gang boxes straight at her.
"Hey! Calm down! As a five-star good citizen of Night City," Arthur said dramatically, "I merely witnessed a criminal deal and heroically intervened! Please, dear lady, accept this evidence of my virtue!"
Melissa caught the box with one hand, wrinkled her nose in disgust, and tossed it back without hesitation.
Then — to Arthur's horror — she tucked the handcuffs away and latched onto his arm instead, hugging it tight.
"I don't care about that trash," she said sweetly. "You promised me a date, remember? And guess what? I'm on vacation today. Perfect timing!"
Arthur twitched.
Why couldn't he get lucky like other isekai protagonists?
Why wasn't his stalker a cute hacker girl like Lucy, or a manic pixie like Rebecca?
No. He had Melissa.
A woman who could handcuff him, tase him, and frame him for terrorism before breakfast — and somehow still flash a charming smile while doing it.
Arthur sighed inwardly.
Looking at her sparkling blue eyes and mischievous grin, he knew...
There was no escape today.
If he tried, she might just arrest him for "resisting an officer" and throw him into some padded cell.
"Fine," Arthur muttered bitterly. "Let's get this over with."
Arthur shook the other box in front of her face.
"Before our 'date,' could you at least call in a squad to take care of this garbage? You know I don't touch these things. They only hurt people."
Melissa snorted.
Rather than bother with backup, she casually popped open the box, tore apart the glitter packets inside, and dumped them straight into the sewer.
Arthur blinked.
"Uh. You realize," he said dryly, "you just made every fish in the Night City river high as a kite, right?"
If there were still any fish left alive, that is.
Melissa just rolled her eyes, grabbed Arthur's arm tighter, and dragged him toward Concord Park.
"You talk like you're running for mayor," she teased. "You ever think about it? Mayor Arthur, Night City's shining hope?"
Arthur chuckled.
"When I'm rich enough, maybe. 'Mayor Arthur' does have a nice ring to it."
"Yeah? Better be ready to get assassinated by the corps then," Melissa replied casually. "Companies don't like loose cannons in power."
Arthur sobered instantly.
Yeah.
That was right.
The last mayor, Rinder, had been "accidentally" killed in a strip club.
And after that? Jefferson Peralez tried to run... and ended up a puppet for something far scarier than any corporation.
Something with Blue Eyes.
Arthur scratched the back of his head.
He knew too much.
Way too much.
Blue Eyes wasn't just some corporate agent or mob boss — it was a force.
Maybe not even human anymore.
Some said Blue Eyes was a rogue AI, a ghost birthed from the old Net Collapse, pulling the strings behind the scenes.
If so... it explained a lot.
Jefferson Peralez, Morgan Blackhand, Adam Smasher — even Johnny Silverhand's disaster at Arasaka Tower — all of it tied together in ways Arthur wished he could un-know.
Night City wasn't just corrupt.
It was haunted.
Haunted by forces no bullet could kill.
Arthur sighed heavily.
Melissa skipped ahead, beaming at him like a schoolgirl dragging her reluctant boyfriend on a picnic.
Arthur shook his head to clear the thoughts.
No use worrying about internet gods and rogue AI on your first "date," right?
"Arthur!" Melissa called back, grinning. "Hurry up! First dates should be full of energy, you know!"
Arthur grumbled under his breath.
"No girl will like you if you're so slow!" she added teasingly.
"And yet, somehow, you're still here pestering me," Arthur muttered back.
But he quickened his pace anyway.
They wandered through Concord Park — a place supposedly built to honor the companies that helped rebuild Night City after the Fourth Corporate War.
Locals joked that it was just a giant radioactive landfill covered in plastic grass.
Arthur didn't believe the rumors... much.
But he still kept an eye out for any glowing rats.
The park was eerily quiet.
The homeless had set up camp near the edges, keeping to themselves.
Scavengers and gang members stayed away — at least during daylight hours.
Arthur's stomach grumbled loudly.
He hadn't eaten anything all day except a few beers and whatever chemical sludge passed for food at the bar.
Seeing a small corner market, Arthur veered toward it, dragging Melissa along.
"Hold up. Gotta grab something real before I pass out."
He found a pack of synth-corn chips — the least suspicious-looking thing on the shelf — and made his way to the counter.
As he pulled out a few crumpled bills — probably still sticky from the Whirlpool Gang's dirty money — someone bumped into him hard.
Arthur stumbled forward, catching himself just in time.
"Sorry! Sorry!" a flustered voice said.
He looked down.
Some kid, barely old enough to shave, was bowing and apologizing profusely.
Arthur smiled wryly.
Night City Rule #12: If a stranger apologizes first, check your pockets immediately.
[End of Chapter 73: Melissa and Behind the Blue Eyes!]