Compromise (2)

6 a.m.

In the city center's commercial district, a black, extended armored limousine slowly drove into the luxurious Red Cherry Villa residential complex.

A gleaming golden stag stood upright on the hood, its antlers branching skyward like tree limbs.

A tiny Mister insignia marked the rear of the car: a white cross on a silver background.

Anyone who recognized the insignia would know this was a Scale Deer, a globally renowned luxury car brand. This particular model had been custom-built as a secure, extended vehicle for senior executives of the Mister Group.

These cars were not only bulletproof but also featured many of the amenities of a motorhome. They could also travel on water and fly short distances at low altitudes.

The chassis could intelligently transform, switching to water or flight mode in just ten seconds.

From the outside, the car looked much like an ordinary Scale Deer worth eight or nine hundred thousand, but in reality, it cost well over ten million.

Screech.

The car came to a slow stop.

Looking somewhat tired, Wang Yiyang opened the door and stepped out, then entered a brand-new, spacious apartment.

He looked up at the new home he had just bought.

It was a housewarming, something he should have been happy about, but he couldn't stop thinking about the battlefield he had seen yesterday, where Gu Fu and Kong Ping had fought.

The way they had suddenly split their bodies apart and transformed into machines had subtly shifted his understanding of the world as he knew it.

Pulling himself together, he strode into the building.

Jian was already waiting by the elevator. When he saw Wang Yiyang approach, he stepped forward.

"Boss, I found all the information you wanted."

Wang Yiyang nodded.

"Was it difficult?"

"It was a lot of trouble, but I have good connections, so things went fairly smoothly. It's just that you've suddenly taken an interest in Cyborgs. Have you run into any?"

Jian looked somewhat grave.

Wang Yiyang glanced at him.

"What? You've run into them too?"

"...I have. I once had a chance to become a Mechanical Cyborg, but I turned it down."

Wang Yiyang's interest was piqued.

The elevator arrived just then, and the two stopped talking.

The doors slid open, and a woman in a brown knitted dress stepped out.

She was holding the leash of a golden retriever that stood nearly as tall as a person.

When she saw Wang Yiyang and Jian, her eyes drifted toward Jian.

Compared to Wang Yiyang, Jian's facial scars and foreign appearance made him far more conspicuous.

Woof! Woof!

The golden retriever seemed to sense something unusual about Jian. It had been panting with its tongue out, looking docile, but in an instant it changed its tune and started barking furiously at him.

The woman couldn't hold it back. The dog looked ready to break free of its leash at any moment.

Pfft.

Suddenly, the leash slipped out of her hand. She cried out in surprise and was about to shout a warning.

But the golden retriever had already charged forward.

It had only taken a few steps when it suddenly stopped barking and skidded to a halt. Realizing something was wrong, it turned to look at the leash on the ground.

The dog hurried over, picked up the leash in its mouth, and handed it back to its owner. Then it turned around and started barking furiously at Jian again.

"..."

"..."

Jian and Wang Yiyang looked at each other, speechless. The woman in the dress looked rather embarrassed too.

"Sorry... I startled you..." She managed a few words before covering her mouth and laughing.

Wang Yiyang's tired mood immediately lifted a little.

He looked down at the still-fierce-looking dog and smiled.

"It's all right. It's amusing."

He gave a slight nod and stepped into the elevator.

Jian hurried in after him.

The woman stifled her laughter awkwardly and hurried away with the dog.

The elevator doors slowly closed.

Wang Yiyang fastened the buttons of his coat.

"How has Lei Wei been lately?"

"Over the past two days, my people saw her go out three times. Twice were for ordinary meals and entertainment, and once she went to the city bureau," Jian replied quietly.

"That woman's up to something. She thinks we don't know, but two of her subordinates secretly came to me with information." He chuckled. "Boss, should I take her out?"

"Not yet. Just keep her under surveillance. Don't alert the people outside." Wang Yiyang shook his head.

He knew his earlier hypnosis had worked. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been so easy to turn Lei Wei's subordinates against her.

The elevator doors slowly opened.

The two of them stepped out one after the other into a short corridor.

At the other end of the corridor stood a vermilion door with a wood-grain pattern.

Wang Yiyang raised his hand and pressed his palm lightly against the center of the door.

Beep.

"Welcome home. Palm print verified."

A soft female electronic voice came from the door.

With a click, it opened automatically.

They filed inside, and the door swung shut behind them.

Beyond it lay a vast hall, more than twenty meters long and wide.

The floor was covered in dark brown wooden boards. On the right was a large wall of floor-to-ceiling windows. Outside, a hazy gray-white sky stretched above the gleaming towers of the luxury commercial district.

On the left was a huge one-way glass wall, through which the living room looked out onto the kitchen and dining area.

Wang Yiyang glanced up at the ceiling. It was covered with neatly arranged, oversized square panels, each displaying a different colorful painting.

Every painting seemed to tell a different fairy tale.

"This place is nice," Jian muttered.

"Not bad." Wang Yiyang walked over to the three round sofas in the living room, sat down, and picked up the documents to read carefully.

Jian walked to the side, clasped his hands, and stood guard in silence.

The documents were a thick stack of printed pages, stapled together.

A large black crescent moon adorned the cover. It looked a little like a smiling mouth split open.

Wang Yiyang opened the cover. The second page clearly read:

"Federal Special Reform Group: Internal Documents"

He looked over at Jian, who was standing to his right, somewhat surprised.

He had never heard of the Federal Special Reform Group before and had no idea how Jian had gotten the documents from there.

Jian immediately understood and explained, "My sworn younger brother works there."

"Thanks for your efforts." Wang Yiyang lowered his head and continued reading.

The third page contained the real substance.

"Threat levels: Ordinary, Level One, Level Two, Level Three, Level Four, Level Five, Level Six (Semi-Mechanized), Level Seven (Fully Transformed)."

"Fully Transformed is the highest level?" Wang Yiyang murmured, slightly taken aback. He turned the page.

"Tasks below Level Five are assigned to ordinary team members. Level Six and Seven tasks are assigned to Silver Badge team members."

"For Level Six targets, fifty to one hundred elite special response team members may be deployed at discretion.

High-lethality weapons may be deployed. Local armed forces may be requested to provide assistance at any time. Heavy weapons may be requested. Energy weapons may be requested.

Minimum mission requirement: mission failure is acceptable."

"For Level Seven targets, all means are authorized."

Wang Yiyang narrowed his eyes. He was beginning to understand the Federation's attitude toward Semi-Mechanized Humans and Fully Transformed individuals.

He quickly flipped further through the pages.

"What does Semi-Mechanized mean? What are Cyborgs? Have you encountered them before?" he suddenly asked.

The rest of the document detailed the regulations and the first six threat levels.

Jian nodded and replied, "Yes, boss. Generally speaking, many people around the world are willing to have mechanical parts added to their bodies. The extent of the modifications varies.

"Generally, Semi-Mechanized refers to people whose mechanical modifications make up more than fifty percent of their bodies. Like the two members of the Avengers you met earlier.

"If I'm not mistaken, they've had Mechanized Suits implanted in their bodies. That's why they can use their mechanical abilities so freely and systematically in combat."

"Are these kinds of modifications common?" Wang Yiyang frowned.

"Not really. And if the modifications aren't part of a complete suit, they're only a little stronger than ordinary elite fighters.

"In fact, in certain environments, people with only a few mechanical modifications can be much easier to deal with than martial arts masters at the Grand Justice Rank."

Jian paused, then continued.

"Mechanical modifications also consume a tremendous amount of money and resources, and the expenses continue over a long period. Mechanical components need to be maintained.

"Even a slightly intense battle could damage them, and repairs cost another fortune. The expenses are much higher than treating an ordinary person's injuries."

"So?"

"So most people who choose these modifications are amputees or others left with no choice. And ordinary people can't afford them anyway—the surgeries are too expensive," Jian explained.

"Going by what you've said, most Level Six Semi-Mechanized threats must have a complete supply line behind them?" Wang Yiyang mused.

"Yes, boss."

"Then what level are you?" Wang Yiyang asked.

Jian paused, then smiled sheepishly.

"Level Three at best. Nothing worth mentioning."

"What about the Avengers?"

"They're probably between Level Four and Level Five. They likely have the rather famous Reaper Suits implanted in them.

"These Mechanized Suits are extremely difficult to control. If you make even one mistake while using them, they can injure you instead. But once you master them, they're extremely powerful."

Wang Yiyang nodded, idly flipping through the documents in front of him.

This threat-level document had finally given him a complete system for assessing threats from the outside world.

After all, what he had gotten from the former head of security's memories was only a rough outline, so this information was still unfamiliar to him.

Soon, he silently finished reading the printed pages and set them down on the sofa.

"So it looks like the Avengers are seriously short on supplies and logistical support?"

"Most likely." Jian nodded quickly.

"As allies, we should strengthen our friends and weaken our enemies. Once you're done here, tell the others to provide the Avengers with resources worth no more than ten million Federation Coins per person.

"Also, what's the situation with Gewen? He came here in such a hurry without even giving me a heads-up. It looks like he means trouble."

In Wang Yiyang's memories, he and Gewen had crossed paths several times at Mister's general meetings when the Board of Directors met.

They were both directors. At the very least, Gewen should have spoken with him first.

The fact that he hadn't said a word or paid him any attention made his attitude clear.

Thanks again to everyone who tipped over ten thousand last week.

Ye Xun

Ai Ai

Kalufra

1Bi Meng Xingchen1

Shangguan Mingjian

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