"Cheson-fuck, the guy you were watching is a cyberpsycho! Time to come clean. Who did you take this job for?"
Inside the clinic, Lier was covered in blood, growling irritably.
"What's his name?" Cheson spoke quickly.
"James Norris, from Pacific State."
"Whoa... got it. I've got his file here, but you definitely don't need that right now-he's got a Sandevistan installed, right? Military-grade?"
"Yeah, exactly, and he's planning to install an even stronger one. Sixth Street wants to turn this cyberpsycho into a walking nuke and drop him into Vista del Rey!"
"That fits, that fits..." Cheson could barely contain his excitement. "Listen, Lier, I'll come clean-I'm keeping tabs on this job for Kang Tao. They're offering big money for anything related to military-grade Sandevistans.
"Rumors, design blueprints, operating data, even wreckage. You want to go big?
"The cyberware James is getting has to be a Sandevistan, and an experimental model Militech hasn't fully deployed yet-
"Get that thing. Get that thing! We can both latch on to Kang Tao!
"Shit, you said they're about to operate? Then you'd better get moving. Don't let MaxTac beat you to it..."
Cheson sounded possessed, endlessly muttering for Lier to get to work.
But although Lier's voice was low and irritable, his eyes showed how calm he was.
"Fuck that-I'm not licking some corporation's boots. I'll take the job, but tell Kang Tao they'd better be ready to bleed money."
"Got it, got it. You get your hands on the goods first. I'll keep Kang Tao on board. Hurry, Lier, this is our chance to get rich!"
"No rush." Lier checked the time. "I gave the ripperdoc they booked a heavy dose of anesthetic. They'll need a long time to get ready. Not every ripperdoc knows how to install that thing."
Cheson suddenly