Chapter 232

V knew very well that if Jenkins fell, she wouldn't fare any better, as the victorious Abernathy would never let her arch-rival Jenkins off the hook.

This is why she was willing to take on this hot potato.

After all, what if?

Winning means becoming a young idol; losing means jumping into the sea or drowning.

Are they frontline employees or department heads?

If given the choice again, V felt he would still do it.

Tap, tap.

Unbeknownst to them, V and Jackie emerged from the sand-filled crater, where the abandoned pipes, their foundations still deeply embedded beneath the sand, lay buried. They jumped down into the gap, one after the other, onto the dry riverbed, the wind and sand whipping against her disguised face beneath her hat and her changed clothes.

"Put it on."

V took the bundle off his lower back and handed it over.

"What's this?"

Jackie asked instinctively.

"Mimetic Shroud".

V explained, "The simplified version is not as sophisticated as the full-body version used by spies, but it's not difficult to change one's appearance and pass through our own Border Checkpoint in Arasaka."

"The control chip is also plugged in, and there is pre-set data. The fake identity is a junior field agent from the Counter-Intelligence Department. Because we discovered the traces of a suspected Federal Intelligence Agency, we have been secretly investigating the southern border of the city for several days. The Arasaka database has records."

The Border Checkpoint in Night City were previously under the jurisdiction of Militech.

However, with the re-independence of most of the Western States in 2076, the re-establishment of the Free State Alliance, and the signing of the Second Arvin Accord, Arasaka's power on the West Coast has grown day by day. As one side has become stronger and the other side has become weaker, Militech's influence in the west has greatly decreased, including Night City, which has been completely suppressed by Arasaka, who is clearly about to return to its peak.

The Border Checkpoint naturally fell into Arasaka's hands.

"Cheer up. Stop using that Spanish accent and remember who we are."

V patted Jackie on the shoulder. "If those three die too, you should live even more, because only you, as the middleman, will give their partners and relatives the correct amount of money."

"Hey girl, is that how you comfort someone?"

With a sigh, Jackie nodded in understanding.

He wasn't a child; he naturally understood that being a mercenary meant taking risks.

He took the bag, and with a hiss, unzipped it. Jackie pulled out a large, milky-white Mimetic Shroud with circuit markings and stuck it on his face.

After the earpiece is securely attached, the matching Separate Chip is inserted into the ear canal. After selecting activation on the retinal visual interface, a beep sound indicates that the Mimetic Shroud has been activated and changed color.

After a series of optical transformations, the Mimetic Shroud fits Jackie's face shape better. His features and contours begin to be subtly adjusted, his skin tone darkens, freckles increase, and the traces of prosthetics on his face are disguised... Changes in individual parts may not be obvious, but when all the features change, the difference is significant.

In an instant, a classic American Latino crossdresser with a tan was born. Judging by appearance alone, even Misty (Jackie's girlfriend), a member of the Valentino Gang who was in charge of Heywood, wouldn't recognize him.

Then, like a low-level Corporate Dog in Arasaka, Jackie buttoned up his coat, straightened his shirt, and covered his hands, face, and part of his neck with his clothes. After wrapping a scarf around his neck, Jackie forced himself to be alert and gave a thumbs-up.

"It's just tough on the Maine brothers."

"Arasaka... uh, the Counter-Intelligence Department will compensate him. Hopefully their friendship will last long enough. Let's go."

V looked Jackie up and down, nodded, and looked back at the horizon of Jackson Plains. One armored airship after another was on the horizon, and the sound of gunfire was incessant. Some of the bullets even rolled into the foothills of the Coastal Mountains. It was quite a scene. Although the mushroom cloud in the distance was gradually dissipating, the rising smoke lingered for a long time.

V then turned around, stepped across the dry riverbed, and onto the old asphalt road, which was partially buried by sand. Before long, the two found the vehicle that had been parked in a secluded corner, tore off the tarpaulin, folded it up, got in, started the engine, and drove toward the martial law Border Checkpoint.

The attack on the Badlands was no longer her concern.

She never did it, nor did she ever come here.

228

Chapter 228 Lucy: I'm from Arasaka, save me!

Stone Ridge Mountains, in a broad sense, can refer to the spurs of the coastal mountain range surrounding Night City, while in a narrow sense, it refers to a place name, specifically a barren, blocky mountain in the eastern suburbs of the city.

Some companies once attempted to establish a self-sufficient area in this mountainous subsidence zone. The streets were already marked out, the houses were already built, and all that was needed was for workers to move in and begin construction. Unfortunately, those companies soon went bankrupt, and the plan was abandoned.

Now this place has become a ghost town, a gathering place for Badlands and unruly people.

When they're busy, they do construction work; when they're free, they steal to make extra money. That's the kind of people they're talking about.

Working? I can still find a job; even if I say one thing but mean another, I still need to make a living.

Similarly, they would never let go of any opportunity to rob merchants or kill fat men.

The Corporate Dog have always viewed these places where parasites, criminals, and homeless people gather as 'garbage dumps'.

Ignore everything unless absolutely necessary; looking at it even once is a waste of time.

This is precisely why Maine chose this place as the safe house where the team of hackers— Kiwi, Lucy, and Rebecca, who served as sentry and support—would hide after their evacuation.

Backed by Panam, find the Nomads, as they are the locals of the Badlands. Then assess the terrain around the murder site, scout the location, determine the nearest evacuation route, find a secluded cave in the company's blind spot a week in advance, pack up, and stock up on supplies.

After the robbery and murder, the hacker group drove their vehicle, disguised as a beat-up Bratsk-U4020 truck commonly found in the Badlands, into a cave. They then attached a skid plate to the back of the truck to clear the tracks, disguised the cave entrance, Comms Blackout hiding for ten days to two weeks, waiting for the storm to pass...

It should be said that Maine is very cautious, bold yet meticulous. As the team's senior member, he has considered almost everything he could think of.

Logically, the hacker group, being the furthest from the crash site, should have been able to move the fastest, escape immediately, and have the most room for maneuver. If Maine's assault team was involved in an accident, the hacker group shouldn't have been involved either. But that's reality; those who hurt you the most are often acquaintances.

Even acquaintances from the past.

When old friends meet, they might be moved to tears, or they might stab each other in the back.

The cave was quiet and secluded.

Dust fell from the explosion into the dimly lit cave, which wasn't particularly high.

The dilapidated truck with the hidden compartment was braked, the engine was turned off, and the vehicle was parked inside. All the people inside had already been evacuated.

Will we be killed?

Bound and gagged by the NUSA Joint Intelligence Bureau, beaten, and with soft tissue damage and swelling on her face, Rebecca struggled to lift her head, her green and pink eyes filled with defiance.

"Have no idea."

Lucy felt that Maine was really unlucky, having met the wrong person. She had put him in her pocket but was kicked into the ditch. She shook Lucy head, a forced and helpless smile on her beautiful face.

It's true that you can guard against thieves from within and without, but it's hard to guard against thieves from within...

Lucy listened to the entire conversation between Maine and Solomon Reed, including their insults, threats, and invitations.

Who would have thought that the one reaping the rewards would be Maine's former comrade-in-arms in the New American Army... It seems that the person has been watching them for some time. To be so meticulous in targeting a former comrade-in-arms, it's hard to know how to evaluate it. Maine thought the other party was long dead, and she had seen more than one memorial service held for him.

As for that person's reasoning, was it that the interests of the motherland were above all else? Or was it about the United States or Militech?

What a glorious and righteous declaration! Lucy wanted to laugh.

Ding-bang.

After finishing the drink, the crushed can fell to the ground with a thud.

"You guys are really well prepared... planning for a protracted war? No wonder that old bastard Solomon wanted to recruit you."

The middle-aged white man, burly and with a face full of scars, wearing an old Soshikah combat Federal Intelligence Agency, sat down on the old beanbag chair that Lucy had prepared beforehand. He held Arasaka Masamune rifle with a silencer in one hand, pointed the muzzle at the two girls sitting and lying on the ground, and casually spoke while looking at the folding table.

On and under the table, everything from emergency Kinlichi, life-enhancing devices, and oxygen boosters to boxes and boxes of milk, chocolate, XXL pink burritos, organic food (including Five Flavors), Ge Er Hao El, Abydos Large, Abydos Classic, Benben Monkey, synthetic snacks, kumquat sweet tea, Lala La Ramen, Le Gou (a type of instant noodle), assorted rice, easy beef, Moonlight Fast Food, and other food and beverage consumables are readily available.

Beverages were the most numerous among them.

There are tents to keep out dust, sleeping bags, and even second-hand game consoles, mini-fridges, and ice makers.

It's clear that Lucy and the others were prepared to hide and lay low for a long time, but unfortunately, it seems that outsiders have benefited from it.

"Our boss knows your boss, so we can cooperate."

Kiwi continued.

A slender cyber hacker, dressed in black, sat on a folding chair with his hands raised.

She stared at the technician beside her with a prosthetic eye whose sclera was a sickly yellow and whose iris was red, her expression normal, her tone calm, doing her best to appear harmless and cooperative.

To save the hacker group's lives, it was she who led the way and informed the Federal Intelligence Agency about the safe house.

Didi.

Amidst the busyness, the Federal Intelligence Agency technical officer, who was engrossed in a dazzling array of network operations on his portable personal terminal, remained oblivious to this.

A moment later, he looked at the team leader, who was happily drinking another bottle of stout, frowned, and said, "I activated ICE and cleared the temporary local area network multiple times, but I still can't get in touch with Commander Solomon. There's also no word from Alex."

"Team Leader Kairi, what do you think? Are we just going to sit here and wait for those bastards from Arasaka to leave?"

"Otherwise what?"

A man named Kairi easily chugged the entire bottle.

The bittersweet liquid flowed down the Bio-Components -enhanced throat into the synthetic stomach, where it was quickly metabolized, making it difficult to experience any sense of intoxication.

"The individual soldier quality of Arasaka and the performance of its light and heavy weapons have been improving by leaps and bounds every year. Under these circumstances, if you want us to take down the crazed Arasaka army, you're asking for death, and I don't want to be."

"Comms Blackout. Cut off temporary communication channels. If you can't contact Solomon and the others, don't try to contact them. They're either dead or on the run. You heard the explosion just now, the noise... wow, that was insane."

Kairi wiped the beer foam off his beard.

"It seems the item is genuine. These Arasaka dogs are probably under pressure from higher-ups and have gone crazy. It might even be a direct order from Vera Russell. You and I should stay out of the way and risk getting into trouble."

"As long as it's not discovered."

As he spoke, he glanced back at the supplies around him and said in a mocking tone, "With the gifts from 'Brother Maine,' are we worried about not being able to get through this period?"

"You!!"

Rebecca's eyes widened, and she was about to start yelling when Lucy silenced her with a look.

Kairi took in their subtle interactions and shrugged nonchalantly.

Although he didn't know the full story behind the robbery and murder, he wasn't worried that the three girls under his control could cause trouble.

Putting everything else aside, the mere fact that they murdered the Arasaka executives is enough to make them die a thousand times over. They and Maine behind them certainly wouldn't dare to expose themselves, which gives the Federal Intelligence Agency an opportunity to stir things up. If necessary, just like Solomon's final invitation, they could develop Maine's crew into their downline. It's not like they haven't done the spy game before.

Of course, the premise of everything is to survive.

This really exposes them; they're all in the same boat, none of them can survive!

"Using stillness to control movement?"

The technician turned his head, still cautiously inspecting the communications network.

"Temporary."

Rising to his feet, Kairi slowly walked over, his gaze fixed intently on the blonde hacker with the bob haircut. He said confidently, "Waiting any longer is tantamount to waiting for death. You should understand that, beautiful lady. I accept your cooperation request. How do you intend to cooperate?"

"..."

Lowering her raised hands, Kiwi for a moment, then said with an expression neither sad nor happy, "Do I really need to tell the story? Do we have a choice? That Mr. Solomon Reed probably won't let Maine off the hook."

Snap, snap.

"It's so refreshing to talk to smart people."

Kairi clapped his hands, and the tech officer removed the limiter from the Kiwi network warehouse. "We have a common enemy, so we should naturally work together. Madam, you should have detection equipment set up around the safe house, so don't hide it."

"Nature."

After speaking, Kiwi walked to the folding table and unfolded the wired portable computer. Orange-red data streams flashed in her eyes, as if she was really connected to the detection equipment.

Upon seeing this, Kairi signaled to the surrounding agents to lower their guns.

An agent immediately stepped forward and removed Lucy's network storage device, and her handcuffs were removed. But Rebecca had been moved.

Needless to say, everyone understands: hostages.

At this moment, Kiwi was operating her laptop and activating the disguised detection equipment around the safe house, was taken aback.

Lucy, who was always watching Kiwi's movements and knew her master's personality well, sensed that trouble was brewing.

"What's wrong--"

Kairi squinted, his hand gripping the gun handle, before he could finish speaking.

Before anyone could react, Kiwi uttered words that sounded both sad and joyful, "Arasaka is here."

Boom!...

The cave entrance, with its layers of disguised stone-clad wooden doors, was blown apart.

Smoke billowed, and under Lucy's horrified gaze, several pairs of scarlet goggles lit up beneath the iconic Arasaka winged helmets, revealing a group of heavily armored exoskeleton soldiers armed with weapons at the cave entrance.