"Hmm... I didn't expect you to be so restrained. You've only installed a Brain-Computer Interface and Cyber-Eyes. How did you and V meet?"
Vic spoke as he gave Lier a second full-body examination.
"You might not believe this, but V and I only met yesterday. Some organ harvesters nearly carved me up."
"Huh?" Vic paused. "But she said you two were going to pull off a big job?"
"Yeah. Vic, look at all that high-end gear V's wearing, and this little base. We've already made some progress."
"Well..." This seemed to be a little beyond Vic's understanding.
Lier had nearly been carved up yesterday, V had happened to save him, and after putting their heads together, they'd decided to pull off a big job? And they'd already acquired all sorts of equipment, plus this hideout?
It didn't look like much, but it had all the essentials: a private communications channel, their own cyberware installation equipment, and an apartment roomy enough for both of them.
"...All right, I won't lecture you. But you and V were right to stick to uncomplicated cyberware. I found a few backdoors.
Most people probably wouldn't have found them. I've already removed them from both your systems.
If you'd installed anything more complicated, I might not have been able to help. NetWatch added these backdoors themselves. Official authentication."
"Thanks, Vic. V said you were the best Ripperdoc in Night City. You really live up to your reputation."
Vic smiled. "V said you're from Night City too. How come I've never seen you?"
Lier smiled wryly. "Well... I used to be a nobody. Now I have to tap into my potential to make a living."
"So what are you planning after this job? Going back to Night City, or staying in Atlanta?"
Lier thought for a moment. "I'll probably go back to Night City. As for V, I think there's a good chance she'll go back too.
Once I get paid, I need to figure out how to get myself a Sandevistan. Only cyberware at that level can replace my necrotic gray matter and keep me from becoming paralyzed."
"Then you've got a lot of money to make. The Sandevistans that meet your requirements are in high demand here in Night City."
Compared with Atlanta, Night City really had a much wider gap between its highs and lows.
In Atlanta, Sandevistans were products on store shelves, and fairly popular ones at that, though they were civilian models.
Getting black-market goods was next to impossible.
In Night City, however, gang members and street punks made up a far larger share of the population. None of them liked official products. Even when they installed cyberware, they preferred combat models approaching military grade.
Black-market goods of wildly varying quality were everywhere.
"Yeah. I'll have to pour everything I make from this job into it... I haven't figured out what comes after that."
Vic paused. So the money from this one job would be enough?
That really was a big score.
Bang.
The front door opened, and V stood brazenly in the doorway. "Zhu Shen's here. What's next?"
Zhu Shen followed her in, his face still pale. Losing his cyberware and suffering the system disruptions caused by the virus had left him feeling even worse. He looked barely able to stand.
"Damn it. Can we get moving yet? I can't take this goddamn system virus anymore."
"Of course. We just need to confirm the final details: how we get into Kang Tao Corporation and obtain Cai Pin's transport plan and location."
Lier opened the door and gestured for Zhu Shen to come in for a detailed discussion.
The fixer and the client would settle the mission details. The grunt didn't need to know any of that; she just needed to get the work done.
The door closed. V sat down at the computer, opened a bottle of soda, and said, "Vic, this place is a pain in the ass, but I've finally got a foothold here.
You know how much I'm getting from this job? Fifty percent!"
Vic smiled. "And how much is that, exactly? Looks like the kid from Heywood is finally hitting it big."
V thought for a moment. "The total was supposed to be two million, but now half of that is going to that Association or whatever. Subtract the two hundred thousand we've spent... Hmm, I should still get at least four hundred thousand. I think that's right. Probably."
"That's quite a haul. Planning to stay there?"
"I think this guy's pretty good at landing jobs. Who knows? Maybe he'll become a famous fixer in Atlanta someday. I'd count as an old partner by then. Nothing wrong with earning a little extra, right?
Hey, Vic, these people in Atlanta have surveillance backdoors in all their cyberware. Doesn't that creep them out?
Do you think smuggling in black-market cyberware from Night City would make good money..."
Watching V seriously consider it, Vic smiled and shook his head. "I think you should leave the business side to the fixer...
But speaking of fixers, you know what kind of people they are. Haven't you and Lier known each other for less than a day?"
V nodded. "I know what you're getting at. I'll keep my eyes open. If he screws me over, I'll shoot him. He's just some bald bastard..."
"Let me make this clear again. I don't want NetWatch and the APD coming to my door."
Lier waved a hand. "I know. Transfer five hundred thousand to me now for operating expenses, then another five hundred thousand when we're done. My people will get the job done, guaranteed. Look at the news."
Lier pointed at the television beside them, which was reporting the day's breaking news.
A shootout had taken place at a Scavenger hideout. When the APD arrived, all they found were dead Scavengers-as though V were still hunting them.
Creating that impression was easy. Nott just had to pull a few strings and make the APD work overtime.
In fact, they already had information on plenty of Scavenger dens. They'd left them untouched precisely so they could use them at times like this.
Zhu Shen raised an eyebrow. "Your people, huh? Looks like I have no choice but to pay."
Neither of them dwelled on where the money would come from or who would receive it.
Through Nott's connections, Lier had already learned Zhu Shen's position. Officially, he was a supply chain specialist, but before that, he had been the director of Kang Tao's Atlanta intelligence department.
A man like that always left himself a way out. One or two secure accounts were essential, especially when handling special assignments.
"I'm glad we're in agreement. I can secure an eight-hour operational window on my end, but you're the one who knows Kang Tao best."
Zhu Shen nodded and took out a Shard. "The building data you need is on this Shard. It's a backup. Slot it in."
Lier inserted the Shard, and a three-dimensional model of the buildings appeared in his mind.
[First contact with special technology: Shard] [Tech Points gained: 10] [Current Tech Points: 56]
"Your target is our warehouse in the Logistics Park. The company owns a twenty-hectare site here for transferring cargo.
We don't do much business here, so the site isn't very big.
You'll find the office building here-the tallest one. Seventh floor. This is where my office is."
"How do we get in?"
"Security is divided into five zones. Shifts change every twelve hours, one zone at a time. Each zone takes five minutes, and all five must finish their changeover within twenty-five minutes.
This is the changeover order. Follow this route, and those twenty-five minutes will be your operational window."
Lier rubbed his chin. "I like this kind of no-frills social-engineering hack. What are the odds Cai Pin will change the security plan?"
"Zero. This shipment is classified internally too, so she doesn't have authorization to make last-minute changes to the park's security."
Lier smiled with interest. "To fool other people, you have to fool your own first, huh?"
Zhu Shen paused. "Exactly."
"And then?"
"Once you're inside the office, you need to find my computer. As the operation leader, she has the authority to change office security, and she definitely will.
But that's fine. Find the decorative cabinet against the right-hand wall. I installed a physical backdoor there. This is the key. You can use my configuration to override the security protocols."
Zhu Shen reached toward his lower abdomen. The skin opened, revealing a small storage pocket. He took a Shard from inside and placed it on the table.
A hint of surprise entered Lier's eyes. This guy really was cautious.
"Once you've overridden the security protocols, search the database for... project name: Reality Distortion.
You'll find Cai Pin's transport plan there, though I doubt she'll have made any major changes."
Lier's brow twitched almost imperceptibly. "Still, better to check," he said casually.
"Exactly. Once we've found the plan, we'll intercept her on the road. Her security detail won't exceed one Mechanical Coordination Squad. That's part of the disguise.
We'll take her out on the road, and then..."
"My friends will escort the convoy out of Atlanta. Once you're in the next city, you can reestablish contact with headquarters and bring in your own people."
Zhu Shen looked pleased. "You have a talent for this. I'd really like to invite you to be my deputy."
"Thanks, but I'll pass. The Trauma Team Gold membership Kang Tao provides wouldn't solve my problem."
Zhu Shen spread his hands. "I could tell you weren't in good health, but I didn't realize it was this serious. Still, who can solve your problem besides a corporation?"
"You have a point. Right now, I need a Sandevistan. Maybe once the job's done, you could sell me one of your flagship models at a discount?"
"Of course." Zhu Shen agreed eagerly, almost at once. "Our best Sandevistan, the Qian Ti Type 4, still falls short of Militech's Apogee in performance, but... I believe the company will overcome that problem soon.
If you're willing to accept some risk, I can get you one of the new models as soon as it's released."
Lier smiled. "That would be wonderful, Mr. Zhu. I think meeting you was a real stroke of luck."
The two shook hands again, both smiling broadly.
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