Chapter 122
Upon discovering the enemy's attempted air assault, the guard assigned to the Chief State Secretary, hiding in the dilapidated room, cursed and raised his Sadara electromagnetic shotgun. Just as he was about to pull the trigger, he realized his prosthetic arm seemed to be sluggish. Sizzle—crack—
A series of electric arcs exploded on the bionic skin covering the network access compartment behind his ear and the operating system implant.
"Damn it, multiple hackers..."
In that brief moment of pause, a barrage of bullets found him.
Thud! His head, neck, and chest were hit multiple times, his subcutaneous armor shattered, and his entire head, along with half of his shoulder, was sent flying.
"He has military-grade ICE equipment, so I can't crack and locate his accomplices in a short time. But I'm certain Devon is inside."
The armored airship hovering in mid-air has a side-opening hatch. The electronic eye of Arasaka, a security expert holding Nekomata Electromagnetic Sniper Rifle and looking down, flashes with data streams and opens.
"That's enough. He can't escape. This mission isn't an assassination. We're doing equal retaliation, a brutal killing. We need to be fair and square. We don't need to make it fancy or efficient."
Seated on a folding chair in the cabin, another Arasaka security expert, holding an M-179 Achilles electromagnetic precision rifle, fired precisely at the surveillance cameras inside and outside the villa, as well as the Security Robots equipped with Self ICE plug-ins that were focusing their fire on the armored airborne vehicle.
"Retaliation isn't everything. Don't forget our other missions to expand propaganda and coordinate with our allies... deploying Cybernetic Tyrant," he continued.
"Good."
Didi.
[AI: Yes, the Cybernetic Tyrant is being tested and activated.]
Behind the armored airborne vehicle, as the speed of the Prospector aircraft, which was specially modified into a fire delivery platform and Tyrant transport vehicle, gradually slowed down, its belly slowly opened, revealing a specially designed delivery hatch.
A heavy-armored steel structure, over three meters tall and painted in matte black, was prominently displayed on it.
The next moment, the indicator light suddenly changed from green to red.
Boom!
A heavy thud was heard as the ground trembled violently.
Click, click.
Then, the buzzing of the Vector Engine and the clicking of the mortise and tenon joints of the autoloader began.
"... Operation Sodehime Hannya, revenge, target: Plymouth Devon."
A synthesized, husky, low-pitched electronic voice.
In an instant, flames spewed out. The Cybernetic Tyrant cannon mounted on the shoulder module of the cybernetic tyrant fired at an extremely high rate. The dense bullets rained down like falling droplets, scattering debris everywhere. The already riddled outer walls were instantly torn apart, and the roaring metal torrents pierced through the rooms inside the villa, causing large sections to collapse and revealing the twisted metal frames and shattered interiors.
"Cybernetic Tyrant... Phew, thank goodness it's on our side."
David half-squatted on the ground, setting up a point to block off the area under his charge, while glancing out of the corner of his eye at the large, luxurious villa with walls, a swimming pool, a courtyard, a lawn... it looked incredibly expensive, something he couldn't afford even if he sold himself.
According to the detailed mission instructions distributed to individual soldiers by the 3rd Mobile Garrison Unit in pre-battle intelligence sharing, that location was the target of this "Sodehime Hannya" operation—
The residence of Arizona Chief State Secretary Plymouth Devin at Phoenix City.
Based on real-time reconnaissance by intelligence personnel and reliable information kindly disclosed by relevant sources.
The mastermind behind this 'treachery,' 'instructing the attack on the Arasaka delegation at the Austin Conference,' and 'intending to assassinate Commander Vera Adelheid's is among them.
David knew that the matte black figures that had stormed in were Special Rapid Response Unit.
The No. 1 violent organization of the Night City Arasaka Security Department.
The department that Vera Adelheid rose to prominence is comprised of security elites, field aces, and top-notch treatment. The new, cutting-edge equipment that Vera develops and acquires is always the first to be equipped with it.
For Arasaka Security Department, it's like the MaxTac is to the NCPD.
It was the highest-level military tactical unit that the Arasaka Corporation could legally deploy before declaring war, starting the war, and tearing up the International Treaty on Limiting Firepower.
Apart from differences in equipment, troop types, and organization, their personnel quality is no different from, or even surpasses, that of the company's military heavy divisions, combined arms brigades, and permanent regiments under Arasaka's control. In wartime, they can be converted into main field forces at any time by equipping them with heavy equipment and supplementing their troop types.
This is also the department that David most wants to join at this stage.
Unfortunately, he is currently just a fledgling in the eyes of the veterans, and needs to be tempered in the mobile unit for a while before he can apply.
In this round of field missions, as a new recruit assigned to the 3rd Mobile Garrison Unit, he was fortunate enough to be selected as a support unit to cooperate with the Special Rapid Response Unit to complete the 'revenge'.
Mentoring new employees with experienced ones.
Using the optical imaging system on his tactical helmet, David magnified the observation scale and could clearly see, amidst the billowing smoke and dust, the gaps in the walls torn apart by rockets, the flying debris, the shattered concrete, the damaged and deformed Security Robots, the twisted machine gun turrets, and the steaming bits of flesh...
Without realizing it, David's gaze fell on the Cybernetic Tyrant who was demolishing buildings.
To be precise, it's the heavy exoskeleton armor on its body.
"Cybernetic Kong, huh...?"
Chapter 124 Audience... Embrace... Become...
"The bones in the tomb are those of a dying man."
Thanks to the numerous military-grade encrypted relay stations that Arasaka secretly built in western North America, Vera in Los Angeles was able to easily and with minimal delay observe the unfolding of Operation Sodehime Hannya in real time, especially the simultaneous execution across states and counties.
The flashing video recorder displays a series of live images on the video wall.
When the split-screen view labeled "Phoenix City" showed that the luxury mansion of the "target of revenge" had been blown to rubble, the Cybernetic Tyrant had been deployed and started demolition-style blasting and smashing of the building.
In Vera's eyes, Arizona's Chief State Secretary, Plymouth Devin, was already a dead man, serving as an excuse and wedge for Arasaka's intervention in the southwestern states and incidentally causing some 'collateral damage'.
The difference is whether you can leave with a complete corpse or become a scumbag.
Physically scum.
As Vera stroked her chin, orange-red data light flashed in her eyes. With synchronized thoughts and the transmission of several commands, images jumped from different regions, different vehicles, and different people's perspectives on the holographic screen in front of her.
Latest intelligence Lazarus Mercenary Mobile Field Corps, which Miles has been holding onto, has made a move.
It is very difficult to hide a military mobilization of this scale.
Lazarus was no makeshift operation; it was a vast army of armored vehicles and various tactical weapons, stretching as far as the eye could see, with tanks lined up in a continuous line and silver eagles fluttering overhead.
They have now set off south from Kansas, one of the former buffer states in the Midwest.
Just as Vera was secretly pondering how to strengthen Hansen's Barghest so they could hold out a little longer against Lazarus's main force, which was rolling over like a steamroller—
A series of crisp footsteps came from behind Vera.
"Oh, so he's the unfortunate guy who got killed by his former subordinate who went off on his own? Poor Devon... Vera, you didn't plan this all along while you were at the Austin Multilateral Conference, did you?"
It's Michiko Arasaka's voice.
"Ms. Michiko, is the party over yet?" Vera asked, turning her head.
In Los Angeles, only Michiko, one of the guards and ninjas from the Arasaka Family Estate, would allow her to enter Vera's residence without prior notice.
"It's all because of you..."
Holding a large, short-stemmed wine glass, Michiko walked briskly to Vera's side, glanced at the holographic screen displaying the war situation in the Western States, and then looked at her with a subtle gaze.
"You're really something. In less than three months, you've dared to instigate a rebellion by the Western Local Party and openly declare independence for the Free State... Saburo must have praised you for this many times, so I won't go into those same old compliments."
Shaking the ice cubes in her glass, making a clinking sound, Michiko plopped down on the leather sofa next to Vera.
Compared to Hanako Arasaka, Michiko was born and raised in the United States, has a kitsch worldview and behavior. She doesn't have many strict rules and is very relaxed and unrestrained.
"Are the people Saburo admires, like my father... all Machiavellian are obsessed with power and believe in cold-blooded glory?"
Michiko looked into Vera's eyes and asked meaningfully.
"It's more accurate to say it's ambition for fame and fortune."
With a slight smile, Vera crossed her legs, casually resting her chin on her hand as if she didn't care at all, and blurted out.
Michiko is hitting her pressure points.
After all, Vera's central strategy, or rather, Arasaka's strategy in North America, is not hard to guess.
As long as one side remains intact, war is inevitable; it's just a matter of sooner or later.
The new round of open and covert struggles surrounding the independence of the Free State is nothing more than intensifying this confrontation, igniting geopolitical conflicts, and prompting third-party forecasting agencies and busybodies on international issues to keep pushing forward their predictions of the outbreak of Second Metal War.
It was clear that she harbored considerable confusion and fear regarding the existence of large-scale Corporate War.
But thinking about it, it makes sense. If we're talking about Michiko's most profound war Remembrance, it's that of a high school girl who lost her father during the Fourth Corporate War.
Forced to grow up alone in North America, surrounded by wolves, and having to deal with a strongman like President Kres, although she cleverly protected herself and rationally left room for compromise in the coerced exchange conditions, the shadow of her death was inevitable.
Who isn't afraid of war?
The feeling of being on a real battlefield is ultimately different from being immersed in a dream world, no matter how realistic the effects may be.
Vera was also afraid of defeat and a complete collapse.
But does being afraid mean you shouldn't do it?
Why would she be Corporate Dog?
Why would she climb the Arasaka Tower?
Upon closer reflection, it's really nothing. Miles still had a lot of concerns. Once the major strategic direction was decided, there was no need to overthink it; it was all about fighting! She wasn't going into battle bare-handed either.
"My dear 'sister,' are you afraid?"
With her hands folded on her raised legs, Vera, without any affectation, glanced at Michiko and said, "Don't worry, if I want to rise to power, I will definitely protect you. Machiavellian? Will stop at nothing to achieve your goals... Hmm, that's quite apt, but you're outside of that 'no-holds-barred' approach."
The wording wasn't great, but Michiko felt strangely at ease after hearing it.
It was both a belief in Vera's abilities and a clear understanding that if Vera wanted to inherit Kei Arasaka's legacy completely and smoothly, and even further aspire to reach the highest level, she would inevitably have to protect her, not harm her. Unless Vera herself courted death.
Anyway, she figured she wouldn't be able to hold onto that spot at the top of the Arasaka Tower, so she might as well make a good connection. After all, the other person was nominally her sister.
"That's quite an ambitious statement... but it's also sincere and honest."
She's old enough to be the granddaughter's sister.
Michiko chuckled and quickly composed herself.
"So, after squeezing every last drop of value out of the bones in that tomb, my dear 'sister,' I hope you won't become like Cao Mengde at the Battle of Red Cliffs or Liu Xuande at the Battle of Yiling," she cautioned.
"Huh?" Vera was slightly taken aback by Michiko's words.
So you are one of them...
"Although I was born and raised in the United States, you're not the only one who reads the Spring and Autumn Annals and the Romance of the Three Kingdoms at night," Michiko said casually.
She did read it, but that was a long time ago.
In her Remembrance, her father, Kei Arasaka, was a seasoned fan of the popular Romance of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
However, in North America, few people seem to be able to connect with this topic, especially after the Great Crash of the old internet.
"Avoid arrogance and impetuosity..." Vera chuckled softly, rubbing her temples, then looked at Michiko, "Thanks."
A little confused by Vera's sudden gratitude, Michiko shrugged.
"The war has been accelerated because of you. The parties in the future will not be as purely relaxing and leisurely as they are now. It's a real shame you didn't participate."
"No. Not interested. It's just a little bit of DNA, dopamine, and hormones. I'd rather spend time in the lab or sleep."
"Sleep, sleep, all you do is sleep. Are you really that chaste... Oh, speaking of which, I heard you've never used a sex doll, never been a gigolo or lesbian, don't use any addictive drugs, and aren't obsessed with Black Dream. Hobbies? Fishing? Eating and drinking, chopping people up, approving documents, doing experiments, hiding at home watching Anteiku cartoons... God, what kind of Anteiku are you?"
The iris flashed a data stream, and Michiko suddenly rubbed her forehead with her hand.
It appears they were reviewing Vera's past travel records at the company.
Vera glanced at her sideways.
She had Rumors within the company without needing to pay special attention, but it didn't matter to her. She wasn't interested. A prosthetic body was a prosthetic body; inserting such a foreign object into her body and then using it to stab other people was something she didn't want to do.
It's better to spend time in the lab.
Experience the process of exchanging and integrating technologies from Outer Heaven, feeling how that thing is reproduced bit by bit in your hands, then you can add a detail, improve it, and surpass the original.
It's far better to savor the sweetness of power.
Then seize more, possess more, and fight for more, in this process of paying homage to rights, embracing power, and becoming authority, painting a picture on the world's canvas!
"Tsk tsk... You inexperienced Little White, I'm really worried you'll be seduced by Militech or Washington's honey trap."
Do I look like someone who's love-struck?
Noticing Vera's "you're kidding" expression, Michiko laughed.