The blockade line in Watson North District, NCPD, as per usual, received orders to establish a blockade here, with heavy armored vehicles and police unmanned Mecha all in place.
But they were not notified to enter the scene.
Without any surprises, the Terrorist Mobile Team would get involved soon, after handling the most threatening guys, NCPD would move in to clean up.
Reaver stood in front of the vehicle, with the rank insignia on his uniform now proudly sporting a fold bar, having been promoted from detective to precinct chief.
Although the process was somewhat convoluted, in retrospect, as a detective, Reaver had pursued the criminal syndicate of the Tiger Claw Gang, taken down the heavyweight boss Jotaro, and the whole incident also unraveled a vast amount of internal corruption.
This was precisely why he didnât want to get involved in these struggles, otherwise, with a little persistence and spending half a yearâs salary on top of a loan to visit the chief, a rocket promotion to inspector wasnât out of reach.
Because of this, his old partner, Old Han, was in the car sighing and complainingâ
The promotion in rank was minor, and there was virtually no change in duties.
"Sigh, all because someone has a wooden head, the best opportunity missed! Now, guarding the Vortex Gang shootout... oh no, now itâs a cannonade, pity my old arms and legs, better not get killed by a stray bullet..."
Reaver, with his arms crossed, said helplessly, "Canât you be serious for once? Youâve been dwelling on this for ages!"
"How can I not dwell on this? We just lost a great opportunity, and who knows when the next promotion will come around, unless...
Catching a Lizard Man might do the trick! But Iâm afraid with your attitude, even if you catch the Lizard Man, youâd probably only get a half rank promotion!"
Reaver glanced at Old Han and took a few steps forward, moving farther away from the vehicle.
Seeing this, Old Hanâs voice grew louder, continuing to mutter:
"Sigh, some people just never appreciate the opportunities for promotion..."
Reaver approached a new recruit on duty. Although there was no change in his duties, the rank promotion had put a few more people under his command.
Some recruits.
This recruit was quite young, freshly graduated from the police academy. His bulletproof vest, Copperhead Rifle, and police cap were all meticulously placed where they were supposed to be, just like their scrupulous owner.
Upon seeing Reaver approach, he immediately moved his rifle to the side and saluted Reaver.
"At ease, we donât stand on ceremony here."
"Yes, sir!"
The recruit then hugged his rifle to his chest again, and Reaver, looking at him, wanted to say something but found it hard to expressâ
Especially when he caught Old Hanâs gaze: He used to be just like this!
It did look quite silly now.
"...Smoke?" Reaver pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, but the recruit shook his head, "Not smoking is good, Elmar... thatâs a tough name to pronounce.
Were you working as an investigator before? Did you request a transfer? What happened, wasnât it comfortable there?"
Under his cheerful expression, Elmar revealed a touch of gloom and nodded, "They wouldnât let me investigate this or that, better hit the streets as a patrol officer."
Reaver began to feel that the kid was very much like himself.
As an investigator, you werenât allowed to investigate anything, but the truth is, once transferred to patrol, you couldnât do anything either.
Most of the time, it was just cleanup duty.
Reaver patted Elmar on the shoulder: "Actually... itâs pretty much the same for us patrol officers, youâd best prepare yourself mentally."
"But at least the bonuses come easier, right? If someone commits a crime, we just shoot... They wonât have the bosses calling and telling me not to shoot, will they?"
That, Reaver could not guarantee, and could only offer a wry smile.
Elmar didnât notice the forced nature of Reaverâs smile and continued enthusiastically, "Plus, on the streets, maybe Iâll get to see the cocksure Mackinaw... Sir, everyone says you know the mercenaries who rode with the legendary Mackinaw. What are they like? What really happened that night?"
"If you ask me, youâd need a miracle like that!" Old Han shouted from the car, "Without a Lizard Man, even if another ten, no, eight Mackinaws show up, your stubborn head might still have a chance for promotion!
But... dream on! Reaver! We donât stand a chance!"
As the words ended, a Mackinaw suddenly turned the corner at the end of the deserted street.
The Mackinaw, just one of Thunder Companyâs pickup truck models, has been unspectacular for years, but not anymore.
Especially when the vehicle appears in Night City, in its tensest and most explosive districts...
The police officers around the blockade who were still waiting for instructions became visibly tense, unconsciously tucking away their smiles and straightening up.
The Mackinaw had never directly conflicted with NCPD, but just by looking at the vehicle, they would get nervous.
But... it wasnât just oneâ
One after another, headlights overtook the street lamps, slowly and resolutely heading towards the blockade line!
It was an entire convoy!
It was ten, no, eight Mackinaws!
The vehicle lights overtook the streetlights, but as the headlights passed through the illuminated areas, they lit up the vehicle-mounted heavy machine guns, displaying every detail of the barrels, bodies...
Then there were the distinctive graffiti patterns on the vehicleâs bodywork, all uniformly bearing the inscription: Adkaduo.
Of course, there was also an abundance of the currently popular element in Night City, the Burger King hamburger motif.
[NCPD Operator: Units be advised, the situation has developed in the area, with witnesses reporting a large number of armed convoys moving on the road.]
[NCPD Operator: Vehicle model... Mackinaw Laramore, with illegal modifications...]
[Officer: ...Target status updated to 10-23, repeat, target is on the scene, 10-20.]
The communication channel fell silent.
"Gulp..."
A police officer swallowed hard, suddenly unsure of what to do.
They looked at each other, reading similar emotions in their colleaguesâ eyesâshock, confusion, and unease.
The air itself seemed to freeze.
The leading Armored Mackinaw slowly stopped before the blockade, Reaver patted the stiff-bodied Elmar: "Itâs about like this."
Having said that, he put on his hat and walked toward the Mackinaw.
[Ding Dongâ]
[Communicator: Burger King]
[Burger King: Chief Reaver, youâve been promoted since we last met, eh?]
[Reaver: Youâre not here to show off the convoy, are you? Whereâs your pass?]
[Burger King: It should be coming soon.]
[NCPD Police Communications]
[NCPD Operator: Attention all officers in the area, further action instructions have been received.]
[NCPD Operator: Please allow the following NCPD contracted member vehicles to pass, vehicle numbers: NC-1102, NC-1277...]
Reaver quickly received the authorization to clear, and the police behind him visibly relaxed, their bodies softening a little.
He took a few steps back, and NCPD armored vehicles and Mechas parted to the side as he waved them off.
Wait a minute...
Reaver suddenly noticed two battered Columbus Freight vans at the rear of the convoy, even their bumpers were askew.
[Reaver: Whatâs with the two beat-up vans following you? Are they your people?]
[Burger King: Yes, the vans are a little rundown, but the people are alright.]
The vans slowly drove past Reaver, and because they were ordinary vehicles, Reaver could see through the glass that David and Man were laughing at him.
That laugh was so genuine that Reaverâs buried memories were suddenly awakened:
This kid, I seem to have seen him before!
It was during the last lockdown of Evil Land!
The vans crossed the blockade, and Reaver silently noted the appearance of David and his associates.
Marked as Burger Kingâs underlings.
As the Mackinaw convoy passed the blockade, the frozen air started to flow again with the trafficâ
Reaver turned his head just in time to see NCPD send off the Mackinaw convoy into the chaotic zone.
He felt the absurdity in his heart: he was the cop, yet now they were resorting to contractors to resolve issues...
What defenders of Night Cityâs order, what exactly had the NCPD defended?
With the convoy passed, the blockade slowly resumed, and Reaver no longer wanted to ponder the issue.
He opened the car door and plopped down into it, joking with Old Han: "I counted just now, a total of fourteen Mackinaws."
"You..." Old Han struggled to find words, "Badass!"
Unfortunately, they all knew that the Mackinaws had nothing to do with them this time.
"But it looks like things end here; no need for the Terrorist Mobile Team to come now..."
Boom!
Before he finished speaking, the fourth giant mushroom cloud of the night rose, illuminating the entire Watson North District!
[NCPD Operator: Threat level in the area continues to rise, the Terrorist Mobile Team has been deployed!]
Reaver suddenly looked up to see five Scorpion-tailed Lion Floating Cars sweeping through the sky!
The Terrorist Mobile Team had been deployed!