Chapter 52Furthermore, he believed that Maine and Doriowould be fine.Or rather, he kind of hoped something would happen to Maine so that he wouldn't be able to participate in the upcoming operation.Rat-tat-tat-tat——The faint sound, resembling a submachine gun, instantly echoed through the cramped room as hundreds of steel needles suddenly shot out in all directions from Tanaka's palm."Damn it!"Maine and Dorio were forced back step by step by the flying steel needles, but...It failed to break the enemy's armor."Judging by the firing mode, it's alright, but the power is a bit lacking. It looks like it could be used as an infiltration weapon..."Hiding behind cover, David watched Tanakashooting and critiqued him, gently rubbing his chin as he muttered to himself: "How about I install one too?""Ding, please do not attempt to install this kind of miscellaneous electronic garbage."The system issued a warning to him, and it was the kind full of disdain."Yes, yes, yes, I know, I understand..."Since the system gave such an evaluation, he might as well give up on it.After all, the system wouldn't harm him; it was an existence that helped him grow stronger and his only cheat.However, just as he and the system were chiming in with each other, the shooting stopped, and Mainewas getting beaten up badly."Tsk tsk tsk, how miserable. First he got beaten up by Dorio, and now he's getting beaten up by Tanakaagain..."David was watching the show.It would be even better if he had some melon to snack on.Tanaka's little fists pounded against Maine's vulnerable areas like the chest and abdomen, driving Maine into a continuous retreat.With nimble footwork, Tanaka at this moment was like a nimble little fatty, rolling around endlessly on the ground.The shard in the slot on his neck was a product manufactured by Arasaka meant to protect themselves.Once used, one could instantly transform into a combat master, much like the kind of shard Judymade for those dolls preparing to storm Clouds.It was much stronger than whatever Gorilla Arms 400 his unlucky son used.They were completely in different leagues."David!"Seeing this, Dorio gave up shooting and shouted."Yeah, yeah."Hiding behind cover, David instantly activated the Sandevistan, vanishing from his spot and reappearing right above Tanaka's head.Immediately following that was a fierce whip kick."What?!"Tanaka couldn't react in time at all, and could only watch helplessly as that leg continuously grew larger in his vision...Bang——His chubby face was kicked out of shape, and his entire body flew backward, his skull slamming heavily against the metal floor with a dull thud."Tsk, so fragile?"David kicked the unconscious Tanaka with his foot and shook his head with a clicking sound of his tongue.He was acting pretty badass just a moment ago.Just like your son Katsuo Tanaka, utterly weak."Tch, so painful."Maine, who had been beaten nearly flat, steadied himself, adjusted the crooked sunglasses on his face, and rubbed his pectoral muscles.Just as he was about to check on Tanaka's condition, a strange noise came from behind."Hah... hah hah..."It sounded like someone struggling to catch their breath.Turning his head, he saw Jimmy Kurosaki clutching his neck, retreating step by step, and collapsing with a thud onto the hard metal floor.Dazzling scarlet slowly spilled from between his fingers, sliding down onto the floor to pool into a puddle."Ah, it must have been the flying needles from just now!""It actually pierced into the neck.""No, strictly speaking, it should have pierced the carotid artery and trachea, right?" David said with a studious look, gently rubbing his chin."His reactions are really slow; he couldn't even dodge that.""He's going to suffocate.""Ah, true, how miserable..."The three of them gathered around the breathless Jimmy Kurosaki as if observing some rare animal.Exchanging words back and forth, it was just like they were performing a comedic crosstalk act.Only Jimmy, serving as the audience, couldn't laugh at all, a capital word of misery floating across his face.Miserable Jimmy Kurosaki MiserableHe was probably cursing madly in his heart right now.However, the blood spilling from his fingertips grew more and more, and Jimmy seemed to have given up struggling, immediately casting his gaze toward David among the three.That gaze was filled with amusement, the corners of his mouth slowly parting, as if he still harbored expectations for his future.Would he ultimately become a legend of Night City? Or would he become a cyberpsycho...He was looking forward to it.Bang——David pulled the trigger without hesitation, the sharp bullet head blowing that strange face to smithereens."Really disgusting."He didn't even forget to spit a mouthful of phlegm.Ever since coming to Night City, this was the first time he had loathed someone this much.He even gave up the plan to scoop out so many cybereyes from this guy's head.PS: I was lazy today, ahhhhh, my brain is trembling~Next comes the critical moment, the turning point of Edgerunners.I'll finish coding this part today.I don't even know how well I'm writing. If any friends in the group are reading my book, please give some feedback, thank you.If the paragraph comments were open and didn't require manual review, that would be great, ying ying ying.Let's wait until the 25th... (worried_worried)Recommending a book:Monopoly corporations hold the city, wealthy tycoons trample human nature;Power-worshiping stray dogs gnaw on human flesh, demented madmen slaughter at will.Cheap AIs force every natural human to lower their own worth;Powerful cyberware makes everyone shoulder huge debts.Look up, that is the dazzling Night City, where the dream of legends beckons to you;Look down, this is a garbage dump that makes people hold their noses in disgust, where scavenger rats wait for you to fall.This is a world of despair.Johnny Silverhand, David, V, rebels one after another have all become illusions.Who on earth can bring even a trace of hope to this world?In the past, Tang Dao Joe tried to find such a person.Now, Tian Ren Joe is becoming such a person.59. I Am Your Defense Line (6K)Midnight.The apartment was littered with the traces and debris of war, with the clothes of the two discarded on the sofa, as if even the air had turned pink.Lucy was already fast asleep.Meanwhile, David sat naked on the balcony, quietly smoking a cigarette against the backdrop of the night view outside the window."Hoo——"The blue smoke exhaled from his mouth gradually blurred his vision, recalling the events that had just taken place."Next, I'll leave it to you, Kiwi.""Yeah, yeah."Kiwi responded listlessly, taking the opportunity to strip off the pink trench coat on her body and the pantyhose on her legs, her slender and graceful body curves instantly exposed to the air.She walked naked to the bathtub filled with ice cubes, stepped lightly into it with her long legs, and slowly lay down.The ice cubes stimulated her skin, causing her to involuntarily shiver.Although she was already used to doing this kind of thing, the instinctive reaction still couldn't be suppressed."... Deep dive starting."Click——A subtle sound suddenly rang out, and a network cable comparable to the thickness of a water pipe was connected to the deep-dive device on the back of Kiwi's head.Her consciousness instantly distanced itself from her body, entering the Net.Near the bathtub was a computer displaying Kiwi's status, and next to the computer was Tanaka, who had been beaten black and blue, bound all over with chains, and was being injected with sedatives.That appearance was just like a male protagonist in some hentai anime who was caught while doing things with others and beaten up fiercely; it couldn't be any more miserable."Then, I'll leave this place to you, Falco." After giving instructions, Maine walked out of the room without looking back.Outside the room, David and Lucy were leaning against the wall, quietly smoking cigarettes, their actions even matching closely.The blue smoke exhaled from the mouths of the two permeated this dilapidated and dim corridor."Just us being here is enough, you guys go back and rest first," Maine said suddenly.This momentarily stunned David, who was about to put the cigarette clamped between his fingers back into his mouth."Go back? Is everything sorted out?""Not yet, but soon..." Maine looked at him, then at the silent Lucy beside him, and once again revealed his signature smile: "Go back, with your little girlfriend. When needed, I'll contact you."Giving a thumbs-up as if encouraging him, he walked toward a room next door."Hey, Maine!""Don't make me repeat myself a second time. This is an order."Before that door closed, Maine turned his head to look at him.But what emanated from beneath the sunglasses was not those resilient eyes, but a gaze filled with exhaustion and trance."This guy... really doesn't listen to advice."Sitting on the balcony, David involuntarily leaned his body back slowly, raised his head to gaze up at the familiar ceiling, and muttered to himself.In that state, Maine had been deeply eroded by his cyberware and could no longer afford to fly into a rage casually, otherwise his emotions would spin out of control.Based precisely on this point, he chose to come back with Lucy.
Chapter 53Now, all that could be done was to silently pray for Maine."... I hope it can hold out until this matter is over."But this was tantamount to wishful thinking."Ding——"The familiar phone ringtone sounded.It was Falco."Alright, I understand."On the other end of the phone, Falco only said that Kiwi had been sent to emergency treatment and asked them to go over, without mentioning the details. Judging by his tone, he was very angry.Without thinking, Maine was having intermittent fits of madness."Sigh... Is it still like this? The gears of fate are indeed unstoppable."He slowly climbed down from the balcony, long used to such occurrences.Since some things were known to happen, there was no need to stop them from happening; it was fine to just reverse them at the critical moment.This was the experience he gained from the two incidents involving Pilar and Jimmy.Otherwise, the higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment.These things were like they had been predetermined, impossible to stop, and could only be changed by finding a way.Perhaps, it was also because his own strength was still not strong enough..."... There's a job?"Lucy sat up from the bed, rubbing her sleepy eyes as she asked.Her voice still carried a bit of hoarseness from just waking up.A thin blanket quietly slipped down her shoulders, instantly exposing her naked body to the air.Under the moonlight outside the window, her fair skin emitted a hazy halo."Well, sort of. A small problem came up on Tanaka's end. If you're too sleepy, then this matter..."He slowly walked over to the bedside, thoughtfully pulling up the blanket intending to cover her body with it.But just as the blanket was about to cover her, it was held down by Lucy's hand, and she said softly, "... I'm going too.""..."He opened his mouth wanting to say something more, but noticed that Lucy's hand was trembling slightly, yet her gaze was filled with determination.He suddenly recalled some things.Thus, he abandoned that plan, gently holding that pair of trembling hands: "Alright, then let's go together."What a stubborn Lucy...---Downstairs of the apartment building in Japantown."How is it? Kiwi... is she alright?"Looking at Kiwi lying motionless in the car, his mood was somewhat complicated.To be honest, the first time he saw this woman, he truly loathed her, because it was this woman who betrayed the main character group.However, after interacting for such a long time, he developed a new understanding of Kiwi.Just like a senior, she constantly guided Lucy, teaching Lucy to become a qualified netrunner.And he had also figured it out.Kiwi at that time just wanted to protect herself and escape Arasaka's pursuit; besides, in the final ending, she also paid the price with her life.At the end of the day, all of this was still the fault of that four-eyed guy Faraday."It's nothing, just that her deep dive was suddenly interrupted and she fell into a coma. I'll take her to a clinic.""Alright then, everything is up to you. Be safe on the road."He left the car door, and Falco also closed the car window.The two of them were speechless facing each other, and the vehicle drove away swiftly.David turned around and walked over to Lucy, who was squatting downstairs of the apartment building."How is it? Are you okay?" He gently patted Lucy's shoulder, and Lucy raised her head, her eyes revealing a look of fatigue.Yet she still shook her head: "I'm fine.""Alright then, let's go see how this guy Maine is doing."Lucy did not respond, only slowly getting up and following behind him into the parking lot of the apartment building.Looking at David's calm and composed back, her gaze revealed a trace of curiosity.Actually, when they were at home, she hadn't completely fallen asleep, and vaguely heard David murmuring to himself while sitting on the balcony.She was somewhat curious, always feeling that David seemed full of confidence no matter when.Whether it was the incident with Pilar, Jimmy Kurosaki, or right now, it was as if everything was under his control.That feeling... was as if David knew in advance what would happen, and also seemed to know Maine's physical condition like the back of his hand.At least she had already seen David's hesitant expression several times.Perhaps others hadn't noticed, but she, who had always been observing David, was the clearest about it...Ding——The elevator arrived, and as soon as the door opened, it revealed the dilapidated hallway outside.The cool wind blowing against his face was mixed with a faint stench of decomposition, causing his brow to wrinkle slightly.It was the smell lingering after those Scavengersguys failed to clean up the corpses properly.He really didn't like this crappy place.But there was no help for it; this was also the safest place.Ordinary people wouldn't dare to casually break into the Scavengers' lair, and neither would those guys from NCPD, let alone think that this bunch would usurp the magpie's nest.Playing a trick of passing under their noses right beneath their eyelids.The two of them walked slowly down this silent hallway, the flickering incandescent tubes making faint crackling sounds that intertwined with their footsteps.Subsequently, according to the information provided by Falco, they found that room.As soon as the door opened, they saw Maine sitting in the corner of the sofa with a gloomy expression, as if self-reflecting.And Dorio was sitting in the main seat.The two of them took the opportunity to sit opposite Dorio."Lucy, I hope you can take over Kiwi's mission."Seeing them take their seats, Dorio immediately got straight to the point and said.Yet Lucy refused very decisively."I can't do it." Her hands slightly supported her head, her gaze fixed on the dilapidated coffee table in front of her."Hey hey, I say, rather than this, why don't we talk about what the situation is now, what on earth is going on with Kiwi."David's phrasing of asking what he already knew was understood by everyone present.However, his purpose in doing so was also intended to make Maine admit it himself."As for this matter, why don't you let this fool beside me say it himself." Dorio understood as well, glancing slightly at Maine."Less nonsense, shut up."Obviously, he underestimated Maine.Seeing this, Dorio couldn't help but sigh, and said helplessly: "At that time, Kiwi was trapped by the opponent's ICE, but Maine suddenly flew into a rage and hit her."This phrasing was already quite euphemistic; Maineat that time was already deranged.It was the symptoms before a cyberpsycho outbreak—intermittent delirium, not distinguishing between friend and foe.And Dorio's euphemistic way of putting it also caught Lucy's attention."Maine, do you want to go get a check-up?""Huh?!"Hearing Lucy say this, Maine immediately displayed feelings of dissatisfaction, but was held down by Dorio: "Maine, Lucy is right, you need to go for a check-up. If you lose control again next time...""Tch, damn it..."Completely ignoring the meaning of Dorio's words, before she finished speaking, he got up, kicked away a blocking broken box, and left the room.David watched Maine's back and slowly spoke: "I'll go take a look, you guys chat."After speaking, he got up and chased out of the room.As for whether to continue the deep dive to explore Tanaka's brain, he had no way to participate.Because the right to decide lay with Lucy, and he didn't want to be present and affect Lucy's judgment.What's more, Maine's condition right now was even more worthy of concern; if possible, it was best to get this guy out of this mission.To avoid causing unnecessary tragedy.But obviously, he was overthinking it...Pfft——The liquid inside the pneumatic injector was injected into Maine's arm by him, and the empty medicine vial was casually thrown onto the ground by him.This was already unknown which one it was; judging solely from these empty bottles on the ground, the inhibitor could no longer play much of a role for Maine.Perhaps a minute, perhaps a second.It was entirely possible for him to go crazy again the next moment."Hey, Maine." He glanced at the empty inhibitor bottles on the ground and spoke up."What?" Hearing the sound, Maine stopped his footsteps and turned his head slightly."Dorio and Lucy are right, you should go see a ripperdoc. Withdraw from this mission, and let us take over...""What do you mean?"Before he could finish speaking, Maine interrupted his words."What do you mean by [withdraw], David?""Are you saying that I will also turn into that kind of cyberpsycho and then die at your hands? Just like that incident with Pilar, you embezzled the implants, is that it?"Maine turned around, saying calmly while walking briskly in front of him.This calmness was like the sign before a storm arrives."Do you think I'll end in that kind of way, kid."The thick shoe soles heavily crushed the empty bottles on the ground, and Maine looked down at him from a condescending position.Ah, no good, this guy completely couldn't control his emotions now...David thought to himself like this.Yet Maine still had an unrelenting appearance."Don't be too arrogant, kid. Stay away from me, your various behaviors have already disgusted me."Seeming to feel that words weren't satisfying enough, he raised his hand and swung a slap towards David.That thick arm and fan-sized palm looked powerful at a glance. If it were the David of before, he definitely wouldn't have had time to dodge and would have been slapped into a daze.But unfortunately, the current him was no longer the David of before."Slap!"Lifting his left hand, he understatedly blocked this slap, and said coldly: "Maine, do you want to beat me into Kiwi's state as well?"He slowly raised his head, his gaze becoming emotionlessly flat, even tinged with a terrifying chill.
Chapter 54It was just like the coldness when he first met Maine's crew and attacked Pilar.It couldn't help but send a chill down one's spine.However, at this moment, Maine's body was already getting out of control, and many of his senses were experiencing problems, such as in emotional control.This chill, instead, infuriated him."Are you trying to commit insubordination, kid?""Or do you think you're hot stuff just because the Sandevistan lets you zip around freely?""Bang!"The moment Maine's voice fell, David's right hand raised again, once more blocking Maine's deliberate heavy punch.The strong wind from the fist slightly blew his yellow jacket and hair.His palm was fully spread out, looking like a mantis trying to stop a chariot in front of that dump-truck-like fist, but he still blocked it solidly."Do you really want to throw hands?" he slightly pried Maine's arm, saying indifferently.David's voice turned a few degrees colder again, as if the air was slightly freezing because of his tone.This time, Maine had no intention of launching another attack; instead, he slowly lowered his arm, turned around, and walked toward the innermost room."That was supposed to be mine, you better remember that."With a ding!, the door closed.Maine's words echoed in the air."Tch, this asshole..."The indifference from just now vanished without a trace in the blink of an eye, as if it had never happened.Saying the Sandevistan is yours—if it were really installed in you, how long could you even last? You'd probably turn into a cyberpsycho on the spot...However, that being said, since this guy is so stubborn, he'll just have to play along to the end.No matter what, they still need Maine right now; otherwise, when that bastard Faraday calls and no one answers, who knows what kind of trouble will pop up again."Those idiots might be catching up soon!""We only have until tomorrow morning, and you know it!"Just as he was getting ready to head back, he heard the argument coming from inside the room."We have no other choice!""I already said, I can't do it!"As soon as he stepped through the door, he saw Lucy stand up from the sofa, angrily shouting, "You're the one, do you even understand?! He's from Arasaka..."Lucy seemed to want to clench her fists to vent the anger in her heart, but her hands were trembling slightly.The subconscious fear of Arasaka prevented her from clenching her fists."Stop arguing."David walked straight over and gently held Lucy's small hand, allowing the trembling to gradually subside.Turning his head, he said to Dorio, "If Lucy doesn't want to do it, then let's drop it.""Shut up, David. We've put so much into this plan, do you want all our previous efforts to go down the drain now?"Dorio didn't expect David to say that either, and she felt a bit of anger in her heart as well. "Besides, Maine he...""I'm well aware of Maine's situation, but precisely because of that, I plan to have you drop it. Furthermore, I don't want anyone forcing her to make a decision."These words touched Lucy just a little bit.It wasn't that she couldn't do it, but that she didn't want to.Having finally escaped Arasaka's clutches, she didn't want to expose herself to Arasaka's sight again; if that happened, the ones in danger wouldn't just be her, but also David.But this was merely a subconscious thought.On a conscious level, she was falling into a struggle and a dilemma.Dorio was right; they couldn't just let their efforts go to waste like this."Tch."Lucy, no longer knowing how to choose, immediately grabbed David's wrist and walked toward the door."Hey, do you want to keep going like this? You can't run away forever!"Lucy turned a blind eye to Dorio's words.Regarding her past, besides herself, only Dorioknew it best in the crew, and she had only ever told Dorio about it.If there were any other choice, Dorio wouldn't want Lucy to do it either, but right now...They had no way out anymore.Regardless of whether they stole the data or not, they would be targeted by Arasaka.---In the hallway."David, tell me I can do it."Lucy grabbed his lapels, causing his entire body to lean against the wall, just like a kabedon.But Lucy's mindset right now wasn't meant to be a kabedon.The anxiety over whether to get the data and the fear of Arasaka intertwined, filling her heart.She was seeking comfort from David.Hoping to get the answer she wanted from David.But unfortunately, her hopes were dashed."No way.""Wh—why?"Lucy raised her head to look at him in disbelief, her eyes filled with loss, as if she had been betrayed.The answer she wanted couldn't be obtained from the person she loved."Because I don't have the answer you want here," David said calmly."Is... that so..." Lucy's voice trembled slightly.Scene after scene of what she had experienced flashed through her brain.Being adopted by an orphanage established by Arasaka, trained since childhood as a netrunner to repeatedly probe the edges of the Blackwall, collecting some data from there that Arasakadeemed usable.And her little companions dying miserably at the hands of rogue AIs beyond the Blackwall."Yeah... that's Arasaka..." The fear in her heart had spread into her voice.Arasaka, which could rival Kang Tao and Militechand carve up Night City's territory.A behemoth with a market value of 890 billion eurodollars and over 595,000 employees—how could people of their level ever contend with it?And those experienced scenes seemed to be engraved on her soul.No matter what, she couldn't forget; no matter what, she couldn't forget Arasaka's terrifying nature.Thinking of this, Lucy slowly let go of David's lapels.Slowly turning around, she walked like a soul in torment toward the elevator at the end of the hallway.But the next second.She suddenly felt herself pulled into a warm and familiar embrace.It was David's embrace."Da... vid?""Listen to me, the reason I can't give you the answer you want is because I don't want to make any decisions for you, nor do I want my own verdict to affect your true thoughts."David murmured softly by her ear."Follow your inner thoughts; if you want to do it, then do it. I will always be your strongest backing, and no matter when, I will unconditionally support your choice.""So... go ahead and do it."His words allowed Lucy's lifeless gaze to gradually regain its radiance and become filled with determination.It was as if the fear of Arasaka in her heart had vanished completely within this warm embrace.Right now, she was full of confidence."... I understand. Thank you, David."Having a lover who supported her like this, what was there to fear?If there was danger, the two of them would face it together.Whatever difficulties arose, the two of them would overcome them together and shatter them.There was nothing left to be afraid of anymore."Yeah, that's good."David also nodded slightly.At this stage, he couldn't untie Lucy's nightmares and knots in her heart; he could only quietly support her from behind, letting her walk out of that shadow called Arasaka on her own."So, go ahead and do it. Follow your heart, and don't let anyone or anything influence you."His voice grew increasingly gentle."I will become your defense line, your first line of defense, and also the strongest line of defense.""Thank you, David..."Lucy gradually relaxed, gently leaning her body into David's embrace, as if enjoying this fleeting warmth.Her gorgeous navy-purple eyes slowly closed, her slender eyelashes trembled slightly, and a happy smile slowly surfaced at the corner of her mouth."I will also work hard for you and become your defense line, David."Chapter 60: You Are All Surrounded! (9K)"I'll do it.""Huh?"Inside the room, Dorio looked at the two people who appeared once again, especially Lucy's response, which made her muscle brain a bit unable to keep up.Just a few minutes ago, she was shouting that she refused to do it and couldn't do it.Normally, according to Lucy's personality, shouldn't she be leaving by now?But now she changed her mind again... What on earth happened?"But the condition is that this matter will be done by me and David, and Maine is not allowed to intervene. If you don't agree, I won't go.""That's right, Maine can no longer participate in this matter."As Lucy put forward her condition, David chimed in from the side.With Maine's body, if he continued any further, it would inevitably evolve into cyberpsychosis, and by then there really would be no saving him."This is a highly skilled and trustworthy ripperdoc named Viktor."As he spoke, he brought up Viktor's contact info, then with a casual wave, tossed it to Dorio: "Just find a way to bring Maine there; Viktor knows what to do."Dorio looked at the contact information, then raised her head to look at the two people in front of her, her mouth slightly open as if she wanted to say something, looking hesitant."I understand..."But in the end, she chose to lower her head and put forward her own conditions:"But we must maintain regular contact, once every 15 minutes, with the deadline being before dawn. Got it?""Yeah, yeah, leave the contact stuff to me, ha—yawn~"Dorio's nagging like an old mother made him inevitably feel a hint of drowsiness as he rubbed his eyes.
Instead of dawdling here, you'd better go hurry up and find that guy Maine; I reckon he's about to reach his limit."With him here, Lucy's safety is definitely guaranteed.Besides, compared to their safety, Maine's side deserved more attention.Although Maine didn't have a Sandevistan on him, he similarly had quite a few other military-grade implants.If he went crazy under these circumstances, he wasn't confident he could subdue Maine while keeping him alive."Ding——"Inside the underground parking lot, Maine, whose mind was deranged and who had fallen into a trance, wandered back and forth here repeatedly.Even when a communication came through, it was as if he hadn't noticed it at all, showing not the slightest intention of acknowledging it.It was as if his whole person was strolling across the wilderness of the Badlands.The scorching, blazing sun spilled down from the vault of heaven onto his body as he stood alone at the end of the road, walking step by step toward the distance.Trying to find the way home amidst this Badlandswilderness."Maine——"Just at that moment, a cry from behind made him halt his steps and slowly turn his head.That pair of slightly sluggish eyes reflected a familiar figure."Ah, it's Dorio."His voice seemed to carry a hint of relief and ease, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.Seeing this, Dorio couldn't help but feel somewhat worried.Maine's condition was getting worse and worse now...---Inside the Scavengers' storage room.The dazzling lights illuminated Tanaka's face, but having been injected with a potent sedative, he had no sensation whatsoever, bound tightly with iron chains like a zongzi and discarded there.A data cable on the back of his neck was connected to a computer nearby."Tsk tsk tsk, this is really miserable, no matter how many times I look at it..."David sat in a chair, shook his head at Tanaka's battered and bruised appearance, and clicked his tongue as he evaluated.In fact, not only that, but that kick he delivered earlier had even knocked out several of Tanaka's teeth.Therefore, the majority of the credit for Tanakaturning out like this came from him."Rustle."Beside the bathtub filled with ice cubes, Lucy was undressing.Hearing the sound, driven by instinct, he cast his gaze toward Lucy, wantonly appraising this seductive body.Seemingly due to frequent exercise, Lucy's figure could in a sense be called top-tier—the kind that no matter how many cyberware implants were added or what kind of modifications were performed, couldn't compare.Her smooth skin shimmered faintly with an inexplicable halo under the illumination of the lights, and the bounce in her every gesture constantly manifested the youth and vitality unique to a young girl.Like a sacred white lotus slowly blooming at this moment, its delicate petals gradually unfurled.Especially at the moment when she turned her back to him and slightly bent over to take off her stirrup socks, it almost made him spit blood on the spot.Even though they had already done it a few times and he was familiar with Lucy's body to the point of complete familiarity, seeing it again still made his heart flutter and his blood race.It really was... too stimulating."Hm?"Lucy seemed to sense the burning gaze coming from behind her, and slightly turned her head, whereupon she met David's glowing eyes.Immediately after, beneath the charming light-red eye makeup, her dark purple eyes revealed a hint of playfulness, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly."My, does it look good?""Mm, it looks great."He showed no intention of being shy whatsoever, generously admitting, "I could look at it for a lifetime and never get tired of it.""Mhm~ Then wait until we get back to let you look your fill."As she spoke, the amusement in Lucy's eyes deepened.Who could refuse the praise of the person they loved?Even she was no exception.With a ripping sound, she tore away the artificial skin on the back of her head, revealing a deep-dive port full of metallic texture.David didn't ask anything, only silently watching as Lucy raised her slender yet voluptuous long legs, stepped into the ice cubes in the bathtub, and slowly lay down.The bone-chilling cold slowly enveloped her delicate body, wanting to devour her completely like a giant ice beast.But she couldn't feel any cold right now; the warmth in her heart had completely dispelled the chill.She kept replaying what David had said to her just now.The present me has nothing left to be afraid of...Because David is right by my side."David, let's start.""Mm, preparing to jack in."Seeing that Lucy was ready, he picked up a connection cable as thick as a water pipe from the side and plugged it into the deep-dive port at the back of Lucy's head.The moment of connection produced a strange sound.The familiar tactile sensation at the back of her head and this familiar sound made Lucy furrow her brow slightly; closing her eyes, she took a slow, deep breath.This was also the first time diving deep after all these years."Initiating deep dive..."As the words fell, her consciousness gradually drifted away from her body, feeling light and airy.She followed the data cable into the database of Tanaka's brain.David sat in the chair, observing Lucy's vital signs and the activity inside Tanaka's brain on the screen.Although Lucy's data fluctuated somewhat after the connection, this was normal.After all, the psychological shadow Arasaka had inflicted on Lucy was particularly deep. Being able to take this step now could be considered quite a big progress; it would be fine to slowly guide her later and gradually dispel this shadow.Right at that moment, a call came in.It was Dorio's scheduled communication."How is the situation?""The situation is very smooth so far; Lucy has already dived into Tanaka's brain.""Is that so..." A voice of relief came from the other side of the phone."Then, what about Maine? Have you and Maineleft?""..."There was no response from the other side of the phone, plunging into a brief silence.He also guessed roughly what had happened, and asked in as calm a tone as he could manage: "You haven't left, right?""... That's right."After receiving confirmation, a fit of anger inevitably welled up in his heart, and he said coldly: "Right now, tell that bastard Maine immediately that the two of you aren't needed here, and leave this place right this instant! I am not discussing this with you! This is the condition we agreed upon!""... Sorry, I can't do that."After such a sentence came through the phone, it was hung up.Dorio was quite desperate too.It wasn't like she hadn't tried to persuade him, but that guy Maine... simply insisted on staying here, and she had no choice either."Fuck! What the fuck..."David gave the wall under the desk a fierce kick, attempting to vent the anger within his heart.Yet even so, it was of no use.Seriously, he had never seen such a stubborn person before.He didn't understand what on earth there was to be uneasy about. Was he really that afraid that he would steal the credit or something?! Or was he worried about safety?!Was it necessary?!The most crucial thing was that he still had no way to leave this place right now.He had to keep his eyes on that fat pig Tanaka every single second; otherwise, who the hell knows when this guy would wake up and what complications would arise by then.At the very least, Lucy had to be safe and sound.Thinking of this, his gaze slowly landed on Tanaka, then looked over at Lucy, and he suddenly sighed:"Forget it, we'll take it one step at a time..."Since some things couldn't be changed, then he would change their outcome.At worst, he'd just have a go with MAX-TAC and Trauma Team. Just right, he also wanted to see what kind of strength these guys really had.But that obstinate guy Maine, he had to punch him hard!He absolutely had to!"Click——""What did they say over there?"Inside the neighboring room, Maine, who hadn't realized the severity of the situation, was calibrating the L-69 Zhuo shotgun in his hands.This was a smart weapon produced by Kang Tao.Normally speaking, weapons of this sort never had anything to do with finesse; beneath their irrefutable firepower, they were often accompanied by a bulky gun body and poor accuracy.But Kang Tao's L-69 Zhuo was an exception.The L-69 Zhuo was installed with the absolute top-tier electronic components among products of its kind; advanced radar technology could independently scan the surrounding area and identify targets, while the eight spare rounds nestled in the magazine slung under the barrel were ready to tear enemies into shreds.It was one of the very few weapons capable of going toe-to-toe head-on with a cyberpsycho.Clearly, they had already made the worst-case preparations—preparing for a shootout with Arasaka's reinforcements."Lucy has successfully initiated the deep dive, but David told us to leave."Dorio was looking down as she loaded her revolver."Huh?"These words couldn't help but make Maine's brow knit slightly: "What does that kid take himself for?!""Well, Maine, what David said is indeed correct; your body...""Cut the crap! I know my own body!"Before Dorio could finish speaking, Maine sternly cut her off.Having finally made it all the way here, how could he possibly downgrade his cyberware now? No matter what, he couldn't do that.What had he worked so hard to walk this far for?Wasn't it just to make a name for himself and become famous?Once this job was done, persisting just a little longer, he would be able to achieve it.Looking at Maine's pensive yet resolute, rugged face, Dorio seemed to want to say something, but ultimately swallowed it back amid a helpless sigh.Right now, she could only silently pray that no further complications would arise with Maine...Right at that moment, Faraday sent a communication.It was because of the matter regarding Kiwi getting beaten up.After Maine briefly recounted the situation, this guy had another episode of his illness acting up successfully.
Chapter 56"Maine!"Dorio hurriedly put down her weapon and ran over, but Maine was already curled up on the ground due to the pain brought by cyberpsychosis...At the same time, in the next storage room."Ugh... ah-ha-ah... here..."As the sedative gradually wore off, Tanaka slowly woke up from his coma.Coming into view, besides the surrounding bathroom that looked full of dilapidated traces and the dazzling lights, there was also the figure of a teenager standing in front of him."Yo, Mr. Tanaka, you're awake?""Congratulations, the surgery was a success, you've turned into a girl."He said some meaningless words."Tsk, don't understand?"That person was still uttering meaningless words, seeming to leak a bit of disgust.But upon seeing the pneumatic syringe raised in the other's hand, the panic in his heart instantly woke him up."Wait... wait a minute! Please!""Not waiting."David raised the pneumatic syringe in his hand and slammed it fiercely towards Tanaka's neck."Please wait a minute! David!"The instant his name was spoken, Tanaka did not feel the familiar stinging pain from his neck; the sharp needle gleaming with cold light steadily stopped one centimeter away from his skin.He instantly breathed a sigh of relief."Oh-ho? Recognized me?"Hearing this, David tilted his head: "But it's useless."Saying that, he raised the needle again and slammed it down fiercely once more."Wait a minute, please! Finish listening to what I have to say next!"Like a teasing act, the needle steadily stopped at the exact same position as before.Two shocks in a row had made Tanaka's little heart beat wildly, almost jumping out of his throat."Oh, so you want to chat? Then go ahead, I'm listening."David sat back down on the chair, crossed his legs, and quietly gazed at Tanaka.He dared to play like this simply because he trusted Lucy's hacking skills; even if this fat pig was awake, it wouldn't be a problem.Because Lucy was more excellent than Kiwi.Furthermore, he happened to be a bit bored and annoyed, so he'd use this fat pig to relieve boredom.Seeing this, Tanaka finally breathed a sigh of relief."I knew it... you're David...""It's me alright, please don't talk nonsense."Seeing the other's nonchalant reaction, Tanaka's heart suddenly skipped a beat, and he panicked a bit.But he still brought out the rhetoric he had thought of in this short time: "I previously... heard a lot of things about you, including what happened with my son at the academy...""Oh, not only that, but I was also present when your son got into a car accident and was smashed into tomato paste."While fiddling with the syringe in his hand, David calmly added a sentence for him.This also made Tanaka's facial skin twitch involuntarily, but he accidentally affected his wound."Hisss—"Instantly grimacing in pain, he drew in a sharp breath."What? Is it very painful? Then I'll give you an injection, this way you won't feel the pain anymore."Saying that, he stood up again, picked up the syringe, and walked over."No no no no, wait a minute! Wait a minute! I'm not in pain!"Tanaka shook his head frantically, just like a rattle-drum.He knew that if he fell asleep like this, he might never wake up again in this lifetime.But David's pace was getting closer and closer to him."Wait a minute! I can help you enter Arasaka and give you a bright future! David!"Tanaka shouted with his eyes tightly closed.At the same time, the soul-capturing footsteps lingering in his ears also came to an abrupt halt.Tanaka reluctantly opened his eyes and found that David was standing right in front of him, tilting his head slightly."Let's hear it."Actually, by this point he didn't want to chat anymore.But a voice emerged in his heart, forcing him to stop his steps... That was once David's wish, and also Gloria's wish.However, seeing him stop his hand, Tanaka's suspended heart was put down again."Listen, David, you possess extraordinary talent. Your scholarship and the decision to revoke your expulsion punishment were both ordered by me. I believe you can become an outstanding talent of Arasaka. With my help, it's not impossible to become the next Adam Smasher!""Adam Smasher?""Yes, exactly! So please help me! Nothing else needed, just help me contact Arasaka, you don't need to do anything else, everything will end within five minutes."Under the effect of the jammer, let alone communicating now, he couldn't do anything except being tied here.Only, when David heard these words, he couldn't help showing a teasing smile: "Then you tell me, why should I help you? I don't have the habit of becoming someone's dog."He immediately raised the syringe in his hand again."But what difference is there between you and us now?!""Foolish kid! If you continue like this, you will be used to death! Don't you understand yet?! The employer behind you now is Militech!""Instead of helping that company with no future, you might as well join our Arasaka! For you, it's just changing companies to work for!""In this world, if you struggle at the bottom, no matter how hard you try or how high you climb, in the end you won't even compare to the lowest-tier corporation!""Don't waste your life and future!"Tanaka shouted these words with a hoarse voice and full emotion.At first glance, it sounded like he was thinking for David's future, and indeed there were some components of that, but in reality, Tanaka was just trying to save his own life.If he really helped this guy, he would also be liquidated together when the time came.David had already seen through this point, and his gaze grew increasingly cold and icy."Sorry, I'm just a mercenary.""Pfft!"The needle landed on his neck. Feeling the chill coming from his neck, Tanaka widened his eyes, filled with disbelief.He couldn't believe why someone would abandon their own bright future.But he could no longer think so much now. Under the action of the sedative, the activity of his brain dropped straight down, and his heavy eyelids were slowly closing."...You... will definitely regret it, David..."This was Tanaka's last words before falling into darkness.Looking at Tanaka who had fallen back into deep sleep, a sneer and disdain appeared on David's face."Heh, what a boring obsession."This sentence was not only said to Tanaka, but also to himself.How could he not understand the logic behind Tanaka's words?However, entering Arasaka means having a bright future?Simply ridiculous!Above Arasaka, there was that local emperor Saburo Arasaka suppressing everything. Even Hanako Arasaka and Yorinobu Arasaka were heavily suppressed, and just him, an outsider, wanting to reach the top?That was no different from daydreaming.Just like V with the Corpo background, working diligently for so many years, wasn't she/he ruthlessly abandoned in the end?Rather than handing fate over to those corporations, it's better to grasp it in one's own hands.At this moment, a wonderful feeling came from the depths of his heart.As if, he had let go...At the same time, Lucy, who was in the state of diving, had already found Arasaka's top secret."How could it be..."Seeing the contents above, her eyes gradually widened, her pupils shrank slightly, filled with disbelief.Besides the information above about an experimental-grade implant called cyberskeleton, there was also information about some cyberpsychos acting as test subjects.Moreover, she saw information about David at the very bottom.Besides some simple text descriptions, there were also various profile videos of David using the Sandevistan, and there were striking large characters marked on it—[cyberskeleton Experiment Eligible Subject]That is to say, David had already been targeted by Arasaka, and his confidentiality level far exceeded Lucy's own."No, this data cannot be seen by anyone..."After making a full copy of the data, Lucyimmediately started the operation to erase the files.Zzt~ Pop—At the back of the neck of Tanaka, who was deep in a coma, a blood spot suddenly burst open, becoming bloody and mangled."What happened, David!"Dorio, who was conducting regular communication, heard the sound coming from over there and asked loudly."Tanaka's jammer blew up, evacuate right now."Dropping those words, he hung up the communication.David glanced at Tanaka, whose vital signs were gradually weakening, and then looked at Lucy, who was lying in the bathtub still in the diving state and hadn't come out, with a somewhat complicated expression."You still chose to do this in the end, Lucy..."He knew Lucy's resentment and fear towards Arasaka; she wished she could kill all these guys, but he didn't expect her to do it so thoroughly.However, do it if she wants to, it didn't really matter.Anyway, he had long had his eyes on that cyberskeleton; that kind of experimental-grade implant would definitely be worth a lot if sold for money.Only, next he would face the triple pincer attack from Trauma Team, NCPD, and MAX-TAC..."Tsk, a bit upsetting."His hands operated swiftly on the keyboard, turning into afterimages.He turned around to disconnect the deep-dive link, fished Lucy out of the pool, rolled her up in a nearby blanket, picked up the removed clothes, and prepared to leave here."Bang—"Right at this moment, the room door was rudely pushed open."David!"Dorio and Maine rushed in fully armed, and if one didn't know better, they would think they were fierce bandits from somewhere.But seeing Tanaka sitting with his head lowered, smoke coming out of his mouth, and fresh blood slowly flowing down his neck, the two instantly widened their eyes."What the hell happened?!""It's nothing, it's just that for some unknown reason, Tanaka's neck suddenly blew up. It should be a measure by Arasaka Corporation to prevent information leaks, and the jammer was also destroyed."He didn't tell the truth, but instead found a relatively reasonable excuse.
Chapter 57This excuse managed to convince the two of them."The signal has already been sent to Trauma Team, and now we should still have three minutes to evacuate."However, just as his voice fell, he heard a faint engine roar from outside: "Maybe even less."Over Japantown, under the shroud of night, an Atlas AV was slowly approaching, with the Trauma Teamlogo marked on its door."Damn it!"Hearing the faint engine roar from outside as well, Maine cursed under his breath, then turned his head and asked, "Where is the data?"Dorio, who was rapidly operating the computer, looked at the data on the screen and clicked her tongue: "The data is already corrupted...""Damn it!"Maine cursed angrily again, slamming his fist fiercely against the wall. The embedded tiles instantly shattered, covered in spider-web-like cracks."Maine, there's no time! We need to evacuate quickly!"Maine also knew this deeply, and immediately turned his head to say, "David, you take Lucy to get the vehicles ready. We're evacuating!"Then he pulled out his pistol to break the chains binding Tanaka, and conveniently hit him with a Max-Doc Mk.1, seemingly intending to evacuate with this guy as well."We'll be right there, wait in the car!"To be honest, this kind of behavior was no different from suicide.Trauma Team platinum members all had trackers on them; no matter where they ran, they would be tracked down.But there was no time to say so much now.Instantly activating the Sandevistan, his figure vanished from the spot, while the roar of engines outside grew closer."Tch, so this is the service efficiency of a platinum member?"It was truly fast enough to make one want to laugh.A bloodthirsty smile gradually appeared on Maine's face; a fierce battle was inevitable.However, that wasn't the only bad thing."Gunfire records detected in the service area. Armed personnel may be active. Requesting armed support from NCPD."Trauma Team, which clearly possessed its own armed forces, immediately contacted the NCPD as well.The current situation could be described as going from bad to worse.When David brought Lucy to the car, settled her in, and prepared to return upstairs to provide support, Lucy suddenly grabbed him."David... what happened?"Covering her forehead with one hand, she looked as if she had a severe headache.Not to mention, the saying that women are born actors was indeed correct.But he had no intention of calling her out."Tanaka's head suddenly exploded, and now Trauma Team is rushing over here.""...Where are Maine and Dorio?""They're still upstairs, planning to bring Tanaka out.""But isn't he dead?""Maine brought him back to life, and seems to plan on finding another place to continue extracting the data.""...!"Hearing this, a trace of panic appeared in Lucy's eyes, and she became agitated: "Why?! There is no data in there at all!"This situation regarding David must be kept hidden.No matter what method it takes!"Taking him along has no meaning whatsoever!"He did not respond, just gave Lucy a helpless look.Just at that moment, a burst of gunfire came from upstairs, catching the attention of the two."It seems Trauma Team has arrived," David muttered to himself.But in reality, it wasn't just them, there was also a bunch of NCPD.After putting on her clothes, Lucy sat in the passenger seat and tried to contact Maine, but no one answered."Damn it!"To not answer the phone at a time like this...The current situation was bad to the extreme. Surrounded heavily by both Trauma Team and the NCPD, if they delayed any longer, no one would be able to get away!However, the next second—"Whoosh!"David suddenly disappeared."David?!"She hurriedly crawled over to the driver's side and shouted outside the car door, but no one responded."Ding—""What an idiot..."Lucy began dialing David's communicator, her legs shaking with anxiety. Dense beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, gradually gathering and slowly sliding down as droplets.---Rip—Rip—Rip—The sound of tearing flesh rang out one after another. The previously somewhat dilapidated corridor had now been completely repainted from top to bottom with fresh blood.The ground was littered with severed limbs of NCPD officers, and fresh internal organs slowly slid down the walls."Damn it!!! Need support, need support!!!"A group of NCPD officers holding down the elevator and calling for support were performing American iaijutsu, frantically dumping the ammunition in their hands.But not a single bullet could hit the youth in front of them.Even though his steps looked very slow, every time he used the Sandevistan, he would close in on them rapidly."Cyberpsycho spotted! It's a cyberpsy... Ah—"Before he could finish speaking, screams echoed through the corridor.At this moment, David's entire body was stained with mottled blood, like a ferocious fiend crawling out of hell.The wolf claws on his arms dripped slowly with blood that had not yet dried.The NCPD officers who had just prepared to storm upstairs had been completely cleaned out by him, but there was no sign of Maine and Dorio."Tch, where on earth did they run off to?!"The next second, he once again used the Sandevistan and vanished from the spot.---"Bang bang bang—"Acting like a madman, Maine frantically pulled the trigger inside the room. Anyone who tried to approach him was blown into shreds of flesh with a single shot, without exception.But in reality, his nerves were completely scrambled.The scenery in his eyes changed accordingly, returning once more to the boundless wasteland of the Badlands.In his eyes, lumps of black mosaic-like unidentified matter were approaching.He didn't know what exactly they were, only that they were enemies, and as long as he killed them, it would be fine."What are you doing, Maine!"Dorio took down an NCPD officer trying to sneak up on them.They were supposed to be evacuating right now, so how did it turn into carrying out a massacre here?If this kept up, MAX-TAC was going to be dispatched.But when she saw Maine's eyes, she understood.Maine had gone crazy, entering a state of cyberpsychosis once again."Snap out of it!""Bang—"Completely ignoring her words, Maine raised his hand and fired a shot. If Dorio hadn't dodged fast enough, she probably would have been turned into shreds of meat by now."Damn it, asshole!"She took out the pneumatic device filled with sedatives once again, switching the medicine inside to a potent inhibitor.However, right at that moment, the sound of wind-breaking suddenly rang out in the room.Whoosh—Thud—Maine's massive body instantly flew backward, slamming heavily into the wall."Maine!"Seeing that Maine was now motionless, she immediately raised her gun to aim at the figure that had suddenly appeared, but upon closer inspection..."David?"She let out an incredulous sound.Especially since he was covered in blood right now and dragging Tanaka, who had been bound to Maine earlier, making him look particularly terrifying.Could David have become a cyberpsycho too?At this thought, Dorio shuddered slightly.She had to admit that David's current strength was stronger than Maine's, especially with the augmentation of the Sandevistan; he was completely beyond her ability to handle.If he had really gone crazy, that truly would be going from bad to worse..."Hey, Dorio, Maine has been knocked out by me. Take him and leave this place quickly to find Doctor Viktor. Lucy is waiting for you guys in the parking lot."David's calm voice made her breathe a sigh of relief, followed by asking, "What about you?""Me? I'm staying here to cover the rear.""No way! We go together...""Don't be silly."David suddenly spoke up to interrupt Dorio's words.His tone was extremely calm, as if he were doing something as simple as eating or drinking water, without the slightest ripple of emotion."Hurry up and leave, otherwise you won't be able to get away in a moment."Seeming to feel it wasn't enough, he immediately added another sentence: "Don't worry, I'll be fine."If he wanted to escape, it really wouldn't be a problem; even MAX-TAC probably wouldn't be able to catch him... probably.However, his calmness seemed to infect Dorio, and she immediately nodded seriously: "Alright then, be careful."She hurriedly ran to the wall to prop up the unconscious Maine and set off downstairs."Like this... should be fine, right?"That way, Maine and Dorio wouldn't have to die anymore, right?Looking in the direction where Dorio disappeared, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.But the next second—"NCPD! Drop your weapons now! Raise your hands and surrender immediately!!!"
Chapter 58Swish, swish, swish——More NCPD officers from unknown places poured in successively, drawing their pistols and surrounding him completely."Did you hear that!""Heh, there really are a lot of people..."He glanced around slightly; aside from the NCPD squad of nearly ten people, there were also a few people from Trauma Team, plucking up their courage to demand Tanaka from his hands.But seeing his blood-soaked appearance, no one dared to step forward.Quite a few people even retreated a few steps faintly when swept by his gaze."Since you say so, I'll give you a warning too... You have already been surrounded by me, surrender now... and you will be spared!"No one paid attention to his words; some even regarded him as a cyberpsycho and began contacting MAX-TAC.Seeing this, the corners of his mouth split open slightly, revealing a bloodthirsty smile."In that case, all of you go die!"Immediately after, the sound of tearing flesh and dying wails intertwined together, echoing within the building like a concerto...Let's post another picture.jpg61. The Arrival of MAX-TAC (6.5K)3:50 AM.A cool draft slowly blew through the hallway.But the hallway at this moment, which originally was just dilapidated like an uninhabited unsafe building, was now covered with sticky blood stains and severed limbs on the ground, the walls, and even the ceiling.The flickering incandescent lamp blinked slightly, illuminating the crystalline threads drawn from the ceiling so they were as magnificent as rubies.Drip——Drip——And then it slowly fell to the ground.Just how many people died here?No one knows; even the culprit who caused all this probably has no idea.It is only known that the air, which was originally filled with dust and decay mixed with a hint of dampness and exhaust-like odor, has now been replaced by a heavy stench of blood, with corpses visible everywhere, piled up like mountains.In front of the elevator, an NCPD officer was frantically pressing the elevator display screen."Hurry, hurry!"His eyeballs were wide open, his pupils almost shrunk to pinhole shapes and filled with bloodshot veins, as if they were about to pop out of their sockets.He was the guy who luckily survived the massacre just now.But that scene just now, he could say he would never forget it for the rest of his life...He had no idea what happened, only knowing that in the blink of an eye all his colleagues died, and when he came to his senses, basically not many people could stand on the ground anymore.On those fallen colleagues, one could even see expressions of confusion or fear frozen on their faces.Hell is nothing more than this.Seeing this, he hurriedly fled in a panic, choosing any path.He only makes a thousand-something a month, why risk his life like this?Rather than risking his life here, he would rather resign right now, go home, take a good bath, and sleep soundly, pretending nothing ever happened.Just at this moment, the call to MAX-TAC made simultaneously while calling the elevator was also connected."This is MAX-TAC."The voice on the other end of the phone sounded calm yet revealed a bit of impatience, but this voice made this officer feel as affectionate as if he had seen a close family member."Th-th-this is the NCPD, w-w-we were attacked in Japantown, requesting your support..."He was so scared that he could hardly speak a complete sentence, but he still barely managed to report his location."Japantown in Westbrook? Specific location, and criminal information, we will send people out immediately.""Y-yes... I'll send it to you right away..."The officer immediately sent the criminal information recorded by his cyberware eyes over, but just as he was about to send the address, his body suddenly stiffened, and cold sweat instantly soaked his clothes.Clang——Clang——Whoosh——From the room not far behind him, there was a sudden sound of blunt objects colliding and bursts of scratching against the wall."Where is my gun...""Without it, I have no way to rescue the client...""Where is my gun..."A Trauma Team member walked out of the room supporting themselves against the wall, but upon seeing the NCPD waiting for the elevator to arrive, they walked over staggeringly and wobbly."Sorry... c-could you please tell me if you've seen my gun?... If I don't have it... I have no way to rescue the client..."Seeing this, the officer was so frightened that his mouth widened, but he couldn't make any sound.He could only watch as a slender firearm was obliquely jammed into this Trauma Team member's body, piercing right through it; the scratching sound just now came from the gun stock above."...Hey, have you seen my gun...""Hey, where's the address? Is the person still there?!"The Trauma Team member in front of him and MAX-TAC on the other end of the phone urged him simultaneously.But he subconsciously raised his hand, pointing tremblingly at the Trauma Team member's shoulder.Squish——Suddenly, that Trauma Team member's chest was torn open.Blood splashed onto his face, and he could still feel a trace of warmth.A pale-white leg bone pierced through the chest, poking out its sharp tip from the front of the chest, blooming into a delicate red flower."The platinum member you're looking for is right here~"A lingering, devilish voice came from behind.Clearly the voice still sounded somewhat childish, but at this moment it was like a demon whispering in one's ear.And that leg bone belonged to none other than their sugar daddy — — Platinum Member Tanaka-chan.Originally, he just wanted to try using the magic sword Tanaka-chan like Maine, and as a result, with a vigorous wave, it really turned into Tanaka-chan.What a buzzkill."Platinum member client... confirmed dead..."The Trauma Team member whose chest was pierced muttered incoherently, then fell to the ground with a thud, finally lying down.Unable to move ever again.Dutiful until death, solely for the sugar daddy.But the current situation had far exceeded expectations; even calling MAX-TAC now would be too late. The officer leaned against the elevator door in despair.David Martinez's figure was reflected in his pupils filled with terror, and it was continuously enlarging...Squish——MAX-TAC on the other end of the communication heard only this single sound before losing contact with the NCPD."..."At MAX-TAC headquarters, all members fell into silence after listening to this audio.MAX-TAC was just the official external name; in fact, their full name was — — MAX-TAC (Maximum Force Tactical Division), or called Psycho Squads.Just like the name implied, most of the people among them were basically cyberpsychos in the past, captured cyberpsychos who, after being "cured", joined this organization.Therefore, it could be said that they were all a bunch of perverts who liked taking on ten people at once.When deployed, they wore external cyberware eyes like swordsmen, holding ridiculously expensive tech-charged or large-caliber kinetic weapons, crushing various threats into corner walls like stepping on cockroaches.Whenever they arrived at the scene, those enemies were like fruits waiting to be chopped by a fruit knife, and the scene after they left was vividly like a plate of fruit salad — — anyway, not a single piece was intact.And the violent crime incidents handled by their hands, or cleaning up cyberpsychos, numbered in the hundreds, or at least dozens, year after year.But it had been a long time since such a tricky target had appeared.Charging into shopping malls to pull triggers on killing sprees, strapping bombs to walk into churches and blowing straight up, burying the entire yard with landmines... various kinds of cyberpsychos acted out their own "madness at the end of life" in Night City every day.And MAX-TAC could always find a way to solve the problem — — as long as they solved the madman who created the problem, they could call it a day.But today was different.They could hardly imagine what level of cyberpsycho this group of NCPD was facing.Perhaps someone like the captain?The team members present involuntarily cast their gazes upon Melissa Rory, who was sitting on the sofa with a look of neither joy nor sorrow.Even back in the day, according to the old-timers' descriptions, the captain wasn't this exaggerated..."Captain Rory, when... are we deploying?"Just at this moment, a team member asked cautiously."Another squad will deploy in a moment..."Hearing this, everyone immediately cast admiring glances at this team member.This kid was a real man, actually daring to disturb the captain while she was deep in thought!You must know, the last one who did this had already received Melissa Rory's beloved education — — the kind that sends you to the hospital.But today, Melissa did not act like usual; after merely responding with a nasal "Mn", she fell back into deep thought.Her gaze was fixed tightly on the criminal data sent over from the NCPD side.David Martinez, this name and avatar appeared on the light screen, and the bounty amount below had already reached three thousand eurodollars.You must know that ordinary cyberpsychos were only a few hundred to a thousand, and back then someone like her was only at this value.And now this teenager had already reached it so easily."I really didn't misjudge you, David Martinez, we really are birds of a feather... Have you started showing your madness now?"Thinking of this, a smile slowly appeared on Melissa's face, a smile that only a hunter who has locked onto their prey would have.But in her amber-like bright and transparent eyes, a cold glint was revealed.She had already begun planning in her heart whether to capture this kid alive or let herself thoroughly enjoy it.Seeing this, all the team members were taken aback.Their boss actually smiled?Especially the team member who just spoke; he was so scared that his legs almost went weak, causing him to sit on the ground on the spot."Alright, let's deploy, but this time the personnel will be decided by me."Suddenly, Melissa decided this, and without saying any more superfluous words, she got up and walked toward the preparation room.Leaving behind a bunch of team members staying in place looking at each other in dismay, looking at you and me, completely failing to understand their captain's sentence.Personnel decided by the boss?Fine, but boss, at least tell us who is deploying before you leave!However, none of them dared to ask this sentence, because they still wanted to live well...---Meanwhile, inside the underground parking lot.Lucy, who was sitting in the off-road vehicle, was calling David Martinez.
Ever since David suddenly left, she had lost count of how many calls she had made, but no one ever answered."Pick up... Please, David... Pick up..."Her face was already filled with anxiety and exhaustion. If she lost David like this, she wouldn't know what to do anymore.She didn't want to lose her newly found emotional anchor just like that...She didn't want to lose David like this.Just then, the SUV's rear door was pulled open, and the vehicle shook slightly."David?!"She turned her head in pleasant surprise, only to find that it wasn't David who had returned, but Maine and Dorio.Moreover, looking at Maine, it seemed he had been beaten by someone; his right face was heavily swollen, and he was still unconscious.She looked around, still unable to spot David's figure.So she asked, "Dorio, where is David?""..."Dorio didn't respond because she didn't know how to say it."Dorio!"Seeing this, Lucy's voice rose a few notches, carrying a hint of anger."David, he...""What the hell happened to him?!""He stayed upstairs and chose to cover the rear..."Dorio slowly shifted her gaze aside, not daring to meet Lucy's eyes.Because when all was said and done, this matter was still their fault. If Maine hadn't suddenly gone crazy, they could have broken through the NCPD's encirclement long ago, but now...Someone had to stay behind to stall the NCPD and Trauma Team."...!"Hearing this, Lucy lowered her head with a dark expression, ignoring Dorio further, and immediately opened the car door, intending to get out.However, her arm was grabbed by Dorio."Lucy, what are you doing?!""Let me go, Dorio."Lucy's voice was cold, devoid of any emotion, "I'm going to help David. I can't leave him there alone."As she spoke, she began trying to break free from Dorio's restraint.But Dorio had no intention of letting her go; instead, she forcefully shoved her back into the car."Lucy, calm down! It was David's own choice! If you go now, you'll just be holding David back! Besides, upstairs is crawling with NCPD and Trauma Teammembers, how do you expect to get up there?!"Let alone Lucy, in the current situation, even if she herself went back, it would be a suicide mission.Who knew where so many NCPD and Trauma Teammembers came from; they were like endless bugs—wipe out one wave, and another would appear."I don't care, there will always be a way," Lucy said coldly still.From start to finish, she didn't look at Dorio again.Naturally, deep down she held a bit of anger towards Dorio and the others.But more than that, it was because she had already lost too much; she absolutely could not lose David again. No matter what the circumstances were, absolutely not!Lucy struggled hard once more, but Dorio still held onto her tightly."Let me go.""Lucy, are you planning to make all of David's efforts go to waste?!"Leaving David there alone didn't feel good for her either, but what else could she do? Could it be that everyone should just die together there?If they all died there, it would instead betray David's efforts and sacrifice.However, just as they were engaged in a meaningless argument, new news came over the NCPD communication frequency.Simply put, the situation had escalated, with a large number of NCPD and Trauma Team members killed in action, so MAX-TAC was now taking over.In one minute, MAX-TAC would arrive."MAX... TAC..."Lucy looked at the unconscious Maine, then turned back to look at the radio broadcasting the NCPD frequency.Her eyes instantly widened, filled with disbelief.She didn't understand why MAX-TAC would be dispatched. Clearly, the unhinged Maine had already been subdued, and Tanaka was the one who had been captured; Arasaka's security forces should have been the ones dispatched instead.You had to know that MAX-TAC was far more terrifying than the security departments of the Three Major Corporations.It could even be said to be the absolute last organization in Night City you'd want to provoke—the only legalized violence, and the ultimate representative of strength."Ding—"Suddenly, Lucy's comms rang.It was David!A trace of joy instantly surfaced on Lucy's face, and she immediately connected the call."David!""It's me, Lucy. Sorry about not answering your call just now.""It doesn't matter, none of that is important. Where on earth are you? David, hurry back, MAX-TAC is about to arrive, please come back." Lucy's voice already carried a hint of pleading."I know."Upstairs, David was still hunting down the remaining NCPD and Trauma Team members.With a flick of his blade, they fell one by one.Right now, he didn't even need to use the Sandevistan because these guys had already been scared out of their wits and didn't even dare to fire their guns.Even if they shot a few bullets, they weren't aiming at David at all; it was purely out of intimidation.But even so, he absolutely could not let them go downstairs, because it would threaten Lucy and the others.He had to keep all of them here. Before Lucy and the others successfully escaped, he absolutely could not let these guys discover Lucy and the others' existence."Then why aren't you coming back?!" Lucy's anxious voice came through the comms."Sorry, I can't go back right now. Someone has to stay here to stall them.""But...""Listen to me, Lucy, someone has to do this."He interrupted Lucy's words and said in as calm a voice as possible, "Trust me, I won't die. After I deal with them, I'll come find you, and we'll meet up at Viktor's place."After speaking, he hung up the comms."Hey, David! Damn it!"Hearing the beep coming from the comms, Lucyanxiously clutched her hair and kicked the car door fiercely.Her eyes were already filled with tears, and her heart was filled with remorse.If she had known it would turn out like this, she wouldn't have taken this job; no matter what, she wouldn't have taken it.MAX-TAC—this name was synonymous with Night City's nightmare. She knew very well just how terrifying these guys were.They were an existence that even the megacorporations had to show a bit of respect to.They were just that terrifying.---The rain was falling heavier and heavier.Falling on the roadside, on the roofs, and on passing vehicles, bursting into tiny splashes of water before vanishing.Outside the Scavengers' hideout, a Trauma TeamAV hovered mid-air.Rainwater slowly flowed down the surface of the opened alloy door."Client is dead, total retreat!!!"Those Trauma Team members fled hurriedly from inside like madmen, scrambling onto the AV one after another.An NCPD officer chased after them from behind, shouting in terror, "Ah! Where are you guys going?!""The client's contract has expired, what happens next is your problem!" said the guy who looked like the team leader with a righteous tone.As if jumping onto the AV meant returning to the safest place, the person suddenly regained his confidence when speaking."What a joke!"Just as that NCPD officer shouted this, his entire body instantly burst apart, turning into a puddle of ketchup.Only to see the db-2 satara in David's hand still smoking wisps of blue smoke, while his other hand dragged a canister of flammable gas."He's here, get us out of here!!!"The team leader, who had just been full of confidence, panicked once more upon seeing David appear, as if he had seen something extremely terrifying, urging them repeatedly.Realistically speaking, their Trauma Team members were considered battle-hardened veterans, but it was their first time seeing someone as terrifying as David.To think that even they, a Trauma Team capable of freely traversing battlefields, were no match for him.They could only wait for MAX-TAC to arrive.Boom——The roar of the engine continuously grew louder, and the AV slowly rose into the air.David on the balcony below saw the ascending AV, slowly slung the reloaded DB-2 onto his back, dragged the person-high gas canister as he dashed out, stepped on the edge of the balcony, and leaped up fiercely.Hiss——His extended cyberware claws plunged deeply into the top of the AV, sending a few sparks flying."Hurry, take him down!!!"Seeing this, the team leader exclaimed in alarm.He and the remaining two members raised their guns and fired at David.But their accuracy was not that great. Almost all the bullets missed David, and only a stray bullet flew past his face, leaving a faint scratch that slowly trickled down mixed with rainwater.However, not only was there no fear on David's face, but he instead wore a bloodthirsty smile."Since you're here, why the rush to leave? Take some souvenirs with you before you go!"As he spoke, he backhanded the gas canister out, smashing those three down inside the cabin with a loud thud!Before the three of them could crawl back up, he had already unslung the DB-2 from his back and aimed at the gas canister pinning them down."See ya.""Bang!""Boom——"Brilliant sparks bloomed across the sky of Japantown, bringing a brief flash of light to Night City. The Trauma Team AV instantly transformed into a blazing sun, plunging from the sky like a shooting star.Leveraging the blast wave behind him, David jumped back onto the balcony and smoothly rolled into the interior of the apartment, his entire body radiating faint heat.It was thanks to the blood and rainwater thoroughly soaking his clothes; otherwise, they definitely would have caught fire.And this scene happened to be witnessed by the fleeing SUV below and the arriving MAX-TACabove."David!"Lucy leaned out the car window and shouted, but the sound of the explosion mixed with the rain completely drowned out her voice.Inside MAX-TAC's manticore AV, Melissa was watching David standing on the balcony through the fully opened cabin door."Hurry! Move in close!"Under Melissa's command, the manticore was slowly approaching the dilapidated apartment building, stopping at the location where the Trauma Team had previously been.
Chapter 60Melissa led several team members and jumped down from the flying vehicle.As the team members jumped down, they cocked the Saratogas in their hands with a *clack*!This time she only brought one deputy and three team members because she didn't want too many people to disturb this hunt, but those who could come here were all top-tier existences.Only in this way could she experience the thrill of catching prey.Today, her outfit was as pretty as last time, wearing a somewhat bulky-looking bulletproof vest, followed by a short leather jacket revealing a circle of her lower abdomen and a pair of tight pants, perfectly outlining her hot body curves, especially those slender and firm thighs. If Er Ye saw them, he would definitely exclaim that they were playable for a year!Furthermore, today she wasn't wearing that helmet equipped with external prosthetic eyes that looked like a swordmaster.Her light brown, slightly curly long hair scattered behind her back, swaying slightly with her movements, letting the rainwater drip onto it.But she didn't care about this at all. Even when looking into the interior of the apartment, the corners of her mouth curved up slightly, drawing a charming smile."You guys, go block the surrounding exits to prevent the criminal from escaping.""Yes, Captain."Receiving the command, the team members vanished from the spot one after another.Following that...Swish—The mantis blades, Twilight, hidden on her arms, were released. The woman walked step by step with graceful strides into the dark-filled apartment."Target spotted, prepare to eliminate the threat!"PS: Due to recent reviews, I gathered the chapters into one to publish.But it feels quite satisfying... when writing it.Perhaps I will maintain this style in the future? Probably?By the way, thanks for the support of all the reader bosses. I will also strive to type a bit more and write a bit more!Although the average subscriptions are not very satisfactory, it is enough to make a living now, so I won't drop it. Please, bosses, do not stockpile it.This humble rookie kneels and thanks you here, bang bang bang, please!Finally, there are four days left until chapter comments open. Hopefully I won't get cursed at too badly by then?Recommending a book.Traveled to the world of Claymore, and even brought a set of summoner skills?Then what skills should I choose for the opening?Huh, there is a fatally wounded little sister here. Let's try casting Heal.Thus, she lived.62. This bitch is a hundred million points ruthless! (6K)Rumble—A pitch-black painted flying vehicle stopped outside.It was a manticore produced by Zetatech. Its unique engine roaring sound reached inside the apartment endlessly, as if telling everyone that MAX-TAC had arrived.David hid in the dark corner, reloading his bullets.He had no intention of running away, at least not now.Because at this time, even if he ran, he would be caught up by the MAX-TAC people, and by then, they might trail him back to his lair.Therefore, he would wait until they all got off the vehicle before figuring out a way to escape.As for wiping out the MAX-TAC people?Come on, this is not a game, not where you can still jump around and run all over the ground after getting shot. Being hit by the firearms in the hands of these lunatics, basically one shot was enough to lose arms and legs.Therefore, when you need to be cowardly, you still have to be cowardly.Especially that legendary lunatic Melissa Rory; just how strong that guy's strength was, was completely an unknown variable.Rashly going head-to-head was definitely out of the question; at least he had to observe the situation first.His head wasn't that hard yet.Clack—Clack—Clack—Combat boots stepped on the floor tiles, the interval of each step almost completely identical. The raw, cold, and hard sound echoed inside the apartment building."They're coming..."Hiding behind the partition wall, he poked his head out slightly to look, but the moment he saw, he was instantly stunned."??? What's the situation?"There was no fully armed encirclement posture as imagined.Only the solitary figure of Melissa Rory appeared at the location leading to the balcony door. The striking white floodlights outside drove the night deeply away.Letting him see Melissa's appearance at this moment.An outfit that completely didn't look like MAX-TAC, without wearing the external prosthetic eyes with the swordmaster look, not wearing heavy armor on her body, and without the iconic purple energy stream of MAX-TAC.Only the two-piece leather suit under heavy armor resembling a bulletproof vest outlined her graceful and perfect body curves, with her light brown long hair sliding down her shoulders naturally."What on earth does this woman want to do? Is she here to catch me?"In the dark, David muttered involuntarily.Seeming also because of this sentence, his figure was captured by Melissa.With a *swish*!, she turned her head to lock eyes with him, the corners of her mouth slightly raising into a chilling smile."Target spotted, eliminate the threat!"Clearly her voice was very nice, but at this moment it carried not a shred of emotion, echoing in the room.However, before her voice could even fall, Melissa's figure had already vanished. A burst of piercing wind and a whistling shadow rushed into his arms."Holy shit, so fast!"Seeing this, David's pupils instantly shrank, the muscles of his entire body subconsciously tightened, and he immediately activated the Sandevistan, slowing down the flow of time.But it was still too late. The sharp mantis bladesslashed across the centerline of his body. With a *rip*! sound, his clothes were cut open in a blink, and at the same time, a trace of coolness was felt on his abdomen.However, that was all.As the mantis blades slashed across his body, his legs forcefully kicked the ground, and he had already flown backwards.Hiss—Wolf claws scraped a string of sparks on the hard cement floor, and his entire person stopped in a semi-prone posture.He and this crazy woman finally managed to put some distance between them.But when he touched his abdomen, a smooth and sticky sensation came from his palm."Tsk, this woman... is a bit terrifying."Needless to think, it was the mark left on him by that strike just now. Fortunately, the wound wasn't deep, just a flesh wound.But this woman was indeed far too terrifying.Just with that set of movements just now, especially during the sprint, he could be certain that this woman definitely didn't use the Sandevistan, relying entirely on physical strength to reach that kind of speed.Was this really a speed that humans could achieve?Coupled with that neat and clean strike, if it were anyone else, they probably would have been torn in half by the mantis blades long ago.Is this what MAX-TAC is?Or should it be said, as expected of the legendary cyberpsycho—Melissa Rory?Thinking of this, what surfaced on his face wasn't fear, but a trace of a smile, which even he himself didn't notice.Right at this moment, that crazy woman's voice came from the dark once again."I said it long ago, we are the same kind of people. It seems I didn't misjudge, and I am very satisfied with your performance."Melissa had no intention of making a move again. Instead, she appeared before him in the dark with unhurried paces, looking down at him from a condescending posture.Like a high-and-mighty queen, while he was a subject prostrating at her feet."David Martinez, your final ultimatum is given now. Join us in MAX-TAC, and the things that happened this time can also be written off."Melissa could be said to have offered a full price, maximizing her own authority to the limit.As for whether this was fair to those dead NCPD?Sorry, to her, those parasites who only eat and do no work were as many as you wanted, and no matter how many died, her heart wouldn't ache.In terms of value, they completely couldn't compare to the teenager in front of her.With this teenager joining, she would be able to better maintain the public security of Night City and better clean up those cyberpsychos.Most crucially, this teenager had a promising future and suited her tastes very well."Hehe..."Hearing this, David couldn't help letting out a laugh, slowly raising his head to gaze at the woman in front of him."What is this supposed to be? An imperial amnesty? Or a favor before death?""Understand it however you like, but your understanding isn't wrong either. If you refuse, you won't die either, because I will personally beat you crippled and take you back."A cruel sneer appeared on Melissa's face.Without the slightest concealment, she openly acknowledged her thoughts.As for the teenager David, she was determined to get him, no matter what method she used."Then it seems... I really am honored."While mocking, David opened the system's appraisal mode, attempting to find this crazy woman's weakness.This way of finding weaknesses was also discovered by accident, but at a single glance, he was dumbfounded on the spot.Is this fucking human?This degree of cyberware modification... to be reasonable, it could be said to be the first one he had seen since coming to Night City that was this outrageous.Apart from the military-grade Kerenzikov and Sandevistan standard for cyberpsychos, there were also a series of cyberware such as biological blood vessels, synthetic lungs, pain editor, bioprinted second heart, nanofibers, and reinforced tendons.If this woman weren't named Melissa Rory, he probably would have mistaken her for the famous Mighty V.This was simply outrageousness's mother opening the door for outrageousness—outrageous to the extreme.[Ding, detected that Melissa Rory's cyberware modification degree has reached 60 percent. It is recommended that the host hurry and escape from here.]"Fuck your grandpa, you don't need to tell me, don't I have eyes."David cursed inwardly, and cold sweat involuntarily streamed down from his temples.If not handled well, tonight might be hard to end well..."How is it? Have you figured it out?"Melissa was still waiting for his reply.Anyway, there was still some time before dawn; she wasn't in a hurry.But David was very anxious."At this time, Lucy and the others should have already retreated, right..."Thinking thusly, he secretly and slowly gathered strength, squeezing out a trace of a smile on his face."Since it is Officer Melissa's kind invitation, naturally I cannot refuse.""However...""Let's do it next time!"*Bang*! The sound of an explosion rang out.