Completely unexpected.
Even V, equipped with Si Anweisitan, couldnāt stop the sword that suddenly appeared and split Kuno in half!
V almost instantly raised a pistol and fired, but the attacker reacted quickly; the bullet missed!
The samurai sword was stuck in Kunoās body and fell to the ground with his corpse with a thudā
The chip Kuno was going to give them was gone too!
Lille gritted his teeth and growled, "Damn, optical camouflageāthat way!"
The attackerās movement weakened the optical camouflageās effect, and the three of them saw a distortion in the light at the end of the alley!
V charged out first, followed closely by Lille and Jack. As they turned the corner, Lille saw four bodies on the ground!
It was the Tiger Claw Gang from earlier! Except for one person!
"Damn it, weāve been playedā"
Beepā
Before Lille could finish speaking, a faint alarm began to sound in his ear, its frequency rising steadilyāthere was a laser tripwire mine on the ground!
Boom!
A terrifying explosion erupted, and a wave of fire consumed the alley!
Everything turned upside down!
The massive impact made Lilleās internal organs feel numb. The pain almost made him pass out.
In his prosthetic eye, the biometric monitor kept flashing error messages.
[Biometric Monitor Warning:]
[Minor spleen rupture, localized bleeding]
[Minor lung edema]
[White blood cell count in the left arm rising rapidly, possible bruising, fracture]
[Please proceed to the nearest hospital for treatment.]
But this was already a stroke of luck amid misfortune.
Just outside the alley, V saw the agent mounting a motorcycle, but before she could start the chase, an explosion sounded behind her.
V anxiously called out over the comms, "Lille? Jack?!"
"Cough cough... weāre fine, but youāve got to catch that guy! Damn it... NCPD and the Tiger Claw Gang will be here soon! V, you have to catch that guy!
Donāt look at the motorcycle; just drive our car!"
Lilleās voice was weak over the comm channel, but his instructions were clear.
If they were to operate in the city, the maneuverability of the motorcycle would far surpass that of their Mackinaw Pika, but V didnāt question Lilleās reasoning.
With Si Anweisitan activated, V instantly appeared on the Mackinaw, roaring as she pursued the guy.
In the alley, Jack shook off the debris; his clothes were in tatters, still smoldering, with cuts on his face and disheveled hair.
However, though he took the brunt of the explosion, his injuries might not be as severe as Lilleās.
Fortunately, it was V who triggered the mine.
Obviously, the other party intended for them to keep moving after triggering the laser tripwire, ensuring the entire alley would be inside the explosionās range.
But V was too fast, and though Jack and Lille were right behind, they hadnāt really entered the alley when the explosion occurred.
Otherwise, even if Jackās subdermal armor was tougher, his legs would have been blown off for sure.
Lille knelt, trying to ease the impact on his internal organs.
Jack extinguished the flames on his body and looked over with concern, "Are you alright, Lille?"
"Iām fine..." Lille shakily pulled a pneumatic injector from his pocket, containing both a pain reliever and a hemostatic agent.
After giving himself two shots, Lille barely managed to standā
"Help me to the motorcycle; the Mackinaw lacks the agility and power; V will lose him."
"But you said not to ride the motorcycle..."
"I know, that was because we didnāt have time to take care of it... coughā"
Lille coughed up blood as Jack helped him to the motorcycle.
He pulled out a mechanicās glove and began inspecting the motorcycleā
Just as he suspected, the motorcycle had been tampered with, an improvised explosive device attached to the electronic starter outside. Evidently, the guy had planned to sacrifice these fools all along.
If they had started it directly, when the fuel in the tank was sufficient, the detonator would have triggered an explosion.
Such an explosion would come suddenly, and if V had actually sat on it, thereād be no time to escape once it went off.
But now, thatās not the most troublesome thingāthe Tiger Claw Gang had lost people, as had the corporation.
Tailing, hiding, assassinating, then planting mines to block pursuitā
Clearly, the assailant was a seasoned agent, and he wouldnāt miss the chance to make things difficult for the three of them.
Chances were, the guy had already tipped off the Tiger Claw Gang and the NCPD about the deaths before acting.
Lille dialed a number.
Contact: Rogel.
Beep beepā
Rogel: "Burger King, looks like we have a problem."
Lille: "Yeah, we have a problem. Get me Ogata Wakoās number."
Rogel: "You dare call her? The Tiger Claw Gang is looking for you; if you go to her, she might just sell you out to them."
Lille: "I didnāt kill the Tiger Claw Gang member. It was an undercover corporate agent."
Rogel: "Big news, Iāll get you the number."
Ogata Wako, the fixer of Westbrook, the queen of Japan Street.
Officially, she was just a fixer, not the leader of the Tiger Claw Gang, but she had been involved with several of their top brassāall of whom were now dead.
The Tiger Claw Gang wanted to find someone, and Lille, not wanting to clash with them, had to seek her mediation.
Beep beepā
Contact: Ogata Wako.
Ogata Wako: "Oh, isnāt this the up-and-coming newbie?"
Ogata Wako: "You come to my turf and start killing Tiger Claw Gang members, are you tired of living?"
Lille: "Long story short, I didnāt kill them; it was a corporate agent undercover in the Tiger Claw Gang, either Biotechnica or Arasaka."
Lille: "Help me get the Tiger Claw members away, and Iāll provide you with evidence."
Ogata Wako: "...You think Iāll believe you?"
Lille: "Itās your gangās bike, and thereās an explosive attached to the gas tank."
Ogata Wako: "That could be your doing too."
Lille: "Yeah, sure, it could have been me. The city center is probably in chaos right now. My guys are chasing that bastard in a Mackinaw; see if heās heading towards Westbrook or Company Square."
Lille: "Once he reports back to the corporation, that corporate immunity bullshit will kick in!"
Lille: "Then heāll go on vacation with company support, boasting about how he played the Tiger Claw Gang, how even Ogata Wako, the queen of Japan Street, was left in the dust!"
Lille: "But give me some time, and youāll still be the queen of Japan Street, feared even by corporations! Iāll bring back that bastardās head!"
Ogata Wako: "...Iāll grant you some time, but if thereās no evidence for your claims, you know what will happen."
The call ended just as Lille finished fixing the three remaining motorcycles.
He breathed a sigh of relief inwardlyāOgata didnāt necessarily have to help him, so he had to speak in this way to get them a chance.
The good news was, he secured that chance.
"Jack, go after V and steer that guy towards Company Square; be cautious of NCPDās pursuit."
Jack opened his mouth, a bit doubtful of his ears.
"...Brother, did I hear that right?"
"You heard it right. That guyās mission is only half-completed; you must catch up."
Lille patted the motorcycle beside him.
"Iāve modified the bikeās circuit. Pressing the horn will overload the engine, ensuring you can catch up, but donāt hold it down."
"So... weāre to capture a corporate agent in the city center?"
Jack clicked his tongue: "My momās gonna kill me."
Lille got up and patted Jackās shoulder solemnly: "Listen, Jack, this is on you.
If we donāt catch him or let him return to the company, everyone who died here will be our faultāthe corporation, NCPD, Tiger Claw Gang, theyāll all pin it on us.
But that wonāt happen. Weāre going to humiliate the corporation, right here, in the heart of Night City, where all the wealthy can see.
Show Night City what a kid from Haywood is made of.
You and V, we must catch that agent in the city center."
Jack laughed and rubbed his nose, then mounted the motorcycle: "Leave it to me."
The motorbike roared to life, and Jack glanced back at Lille: "Arenāt you coming?"
Lille shook his head: "Iām not going. With such commotion, regardless of the outcome, youāll have to face NCPDās pursuit. Iāll figure out a way to hack them."
Besides, the intensity of motorcycle chases was too high for Lille to be of any use.
If he had to go, heād need to find a way to hack the downtown systems first.
"Alright then, be careful, brotherā"
Jack wanted to say that this would leave Lille alone.
But saying so felt a bit patronizing, so Jack just cautioned Lille to be careful and started the bike.
As the motorcycle started, Jack noticed the remaining two bikes also started in sync.
Lille explained, "These bikes come with an autopilot system. Iāve unlocked its power; now theyāll follow you, mimicking your bikeās movements.
Iāll send you some software, and as long as you lock the target with your prosthetic eye, the bikes will kamikaze into him."
"Impressive, so now I have a motorcycle squad."
"Go on," Lille urged again, "you must catch that guy and retrieve the chip."