95: Believe Me, Okay?

The moment Hansen successfully broke away from Reid, the atmosphere at New America's command center in Night City had dropped to freezing point.

"Madam President, Agent Reid's signal has separated from Hansen's area! Based on the fragmented information transmitted through Agent Reid's personal channel, they made direct contact, but Hansen successfully escaped and his current whereabouts are unknown!" The technician's report carried barely concealed urgency.

Rosalind Myles stared intently at the stadium's structural diagram on the satellite feed. The simulated markers showing Reid and Hansen's confrontation were flashing wildly, while the projected chance of Hansen being eliminated was plummeting.

Myles's face darkened completely, the last trace of wishful thinking vanishing.

Not only had Hansen modified the reactor, but his resolve to activate it was absolute. This was no longer political blackmail or deterrence—it was a real contest. Reid's failure meant the decapitation operation had failed, and conventional measures could no longer stop Hansen.

Trying to race me, Hansen?

"We can't wait any longer." Myles's voice was icy and decisive, leaving no room for doubt. "Execute the 'Nuclear Detonation' protocol in twenty minutes. Authorization code: Rosalind Myles. Target: Dogtown Stadium. Ensure that no one—including our own people—leaves the blockade zone before the explosion."

"But Madam President, Agent Reid and Songbird... they're still in there!" A senior adviser could not help stepping forward, his voice carrying an almost imperceptible tremor. "Maybe Reid still has a chance to get her out. Isn't it too early to activate it now?"

He spoke of an ace agent and a key asset, but his heart was clenched over something else—his nephew was among the assault team he had personally sent in. He had thought it would be a quick operation to earn some glory. Who could have expected it to turn into a desperate situation beneath