Inside the newly completed laboratory in Wasteland Town, Osiris' crimson optical lens scanned the constantly refreshing data stream on the main console.
Intelligence from Militech and Kang Tao CN, after initial screening and cross-verification by the "administrator" AI, was converging here.
Saburo Arasaka, the true core of the Arasaka empire, his whereabouts, though not a secret, still required considerable effort to confirm.
But with the absolute power Osiris displayed and his clear intention to completely eradicate Arasaka, NUSA and Kang Tao unreservedly deployed their deepest intelligence networks.
A report from a high-level Militech operative embedded in Tokyo's municipal system, cross-referenced with abnormal energy consumption data within Arasaka obtained by Kang Tao through commercial channels, finally pinpointed the target: the Arasaka Family's private estate on Tokyo Bay, shrouded by high walls, forests, and layers of electronic defenses.
That place was not only Saburo Arasaka's residence but also the symbol of his power and his ultimate fortress.
"Saburo Arasaka has been precisely located. He is hiding in the underground core of the Tokyo estate; the security in that area constitutes the final line of defense," Osiris' voice echoed in the laboratory, calmly stating the conclusion.
He turned to Sekhmet, who was standing by, "Notify the Astoria Family to prepare for the 'Decapitation' protocol."
The order was instantly transmitted via data link to the Astoria Family squad, who were adapting to the environment.
At the same time, Osiris connected to the encrypted communication channels with Militech and Kang Tao.
Militech's highest liaison officer in Night City and Kang Tao's Li Wei squad commander appeared simultaneously on the split screen.
"I need to secretly deploy an assault unit over Tokyo; coordinates have been sent," Osiris said without any circumlocution, directly issuing the core command.
On the other end of the screen, the two individuals in charge did not hesitate. Faced with Osiris' request, they already understood that "cooperation" was the only option, and immediately demonstrated their professionalism and value.
"Understood, Lord Archmagos," Militech's liaison officer responded first, his tone decisive, "We will handle the transportation. We can immediately allocate a 'Leviathan'-class heavy stealth airship; its payload and range are sufficient for the task.
Flight path planning will utilize Pacific weather blind spots and existing commercial routes for cover, with a detailed plan expected within forty-eight hours."
Before he finished speaking, Kang Tao's commander seamlessly chimed in, his voice calm: "Kang Tao can ensure information superiority for this operation. We will activate dormant network nodes in Japan, provide electronic silent cover throughout, and specifically jam the early warning systems of Arasaka's air defenses.
Additionally, emergency rendezvous points will be pre-established on the outskirts of Tokyo Bay to provide logistical support for the mission."
"Efficiency meets expectations," Osiris commented blandly, then changed the subject, making the most crucial request, one that caused the two on the other end of the communication to tense up: "The assault unit to be deployed consists of two main battle knight mecha and six attendant-class mecha. The deployment method will be high-altitude penetration and forced landing."
"Kn-knight mecha?" Militech's liaison officer's voice carried a hint of incredulous dryness. He had clearly witnessed the terror of the Guard Corps through battle records, but the concept of "knight mecha" completely exceeded his existing cognitive framework.
Kang Tao's commander also fell into a brief silence, seemingly processing the information, before cautiously confirming: "Lord Archmagos, are you referring to some kind of large combat mecha far exceeding the specifications of power armor?"
"You will know their specific form when the time comes," Osiris did not elaborate further, directly shifting the topic to technical details, "Militech, you need to equip these heavy units with a specialized high-altitude landing stabilization system. Retro-thrust rockets and high-strength buffering mechanisms are key; it must be ensured that the mecha's structure remains intact upon landing impact, ready for immediate combat."
"—Understood." Militech's liaison officer took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the stormy waves in his heart, and responded in as professional a tone as possible, "We will call upon the 'Fortress'-class aerial deployment system prototype designed for heavy construction modules and immediately perform adaptive reinforced modifications based on the unit data you provided. We guarantee mission success."
The communication was cut. Osiris' attention returned to the Astoria Family. He directly contacted Maenna Astoria.
Osiris' gaze swept over the Astoria Family members waiting in the ready area, his voice steady but with clear decisiveness:
Osiris' order came through the data link, clear and direct: "Astoria Squad, there is a high-priority elimination mission; you will send two mecha to execute this mission.
The target individual is 'Saburo Arasaka,' the core leader of a large hostile force here.
Your mission is to thoroughly eliminate this target and his elite guards, and destroy his stronghold—the Arasaka Family estate in Tokyo."
Maenna's steady voice immediately sounded in the family communication channel. He did not dwell on the target's specific identity but focused on the mission itself: "Order confirmed, Lord Archmagos. The family will execute the purification." Then, his tone shifted to internal deployment: "Margaret, Maria, immediately conduct final combat readiness checks on your mecha; you are the main force for this operation.
Sophia, coordinate with the maintenance team; prioritize all resources for the deployed units to ensure infallibility."
In the ready area on the other side of the laboratory, following Maenna's command, the Astoria Family warriors immediately moved efficiently.
Forty-eight hours later, a secret airfield on the outskirts of Night City, strictly controlled by Militech.
The colossal "Leviathan"-class airship, like a lurking gray behemoth, lay silently on the reinforced runway. Its size far exceeded conventional transport aircraft, with sturdy landing gear and multiple large cargo bay doors beneath its streamlined hull.
In the designated hangar, Militech's project manager, Kang Tao's technical representative, and a group of strictly vetted core engineers finally saw the "assault units" Osiris had spoken of.
When Margaret's "Lancer" and Maria's "Punisher" were slowly pulled out of the transport bay by heavy tow trucks and appeared before them, despite their mental preparation, everyone was still profoundly shaken.
These were not the enlarged power armor they had imagined.
These were true, nine-meter-tall steel giants.
The knight mecha's heavy, angular composite armor, thick hydraulic joints, and the giant weapons—spears, blades, bolt cannons—mounted on them, which appeared both primitive and destructively potent, all assaulted their visual nerves and comprehension.
"My God—" A senior Militech engineer looked up at the "Lancer's" slender yet powerful frame, and that massive shock lance, muttering subconsciously, "This—this is like a monster walked out of a museum—yet so—so advanced?"
He could not comprehend this seemingly contradictory tech tree.
The casting process of the armor far exceeded their technology, energy readings showed terrifying energy contained within, but the form of the weapons carried an ancient, cold weapon era aesthetic.
Kang Tao's representative was more focused on details. He observed the energy patterns and joint structures on the mecha's surface with a portable scanner, muttering: "Unknown energy conduction method, joint articulation mechanisms completely different from what we know—this is fundamentally not a product of our technological lineage.
Their shield systems—are probably much more powerful than the individual Guard Corps shields we've seen."
Awe and apprehension, like a tangible presence, permeated the hangar.
They had previously thought the Guard Corps was incomprehensibly powerful, but these steel giants before them represented another level of more direct and brutal destructive force.
They had no doubt what earth-shattering changes these mecha would bring once deployed on the battlefield.