Big brother handles big matters, little brother handles little matters.
The general rundown for Davidâs crew was delivering goods. If the Vortex Gang attacked, theyâd hit back. If they found an empty territory, theyâd carefully go in and copy the data out.
Not too difficultâ
But surprises always happened.
On such a chaotic night, the already empty Watson North District should have had no one. Driving around was laughable!
Because the bravest ones had joined the Vortex Gang, and the Vortex Gang was in a civil war!
Most of Davidâs crew were in the car, hiding next to a small alleyâ
For no other reason than their original delivery point, where the Terrorist Mobile Team was launching an indiscriminate attack.
Nobody could survive such shooting. David couldnât imagine what could withstand that type of gunfireâ
Prosthetics?
Not a chance.
When the Unification War happened, he was still young. Their impression of the war was a bunch of badass transhumans attacking each other on the battlefieldâ
But this time was different. The Terrorist Mobile Teamâs operation showed no personal power...
Purely an equipment crush!
David swallowed hard... He couldnât imagine how heâd escape if he faced those terrifying guys...
The Terrorist Mobile Team wasnât just a few squads; they were backed by the entire Night City government!
Individualism would waver when faced with such terrifying equipment and cold, ruthless enforcement.
Maybe a single NCPD officer was worthless, but seeing such exaggerated equipment, anyone would consider what it would be like if someone called in the Terrorist Mobile Team.
Maybe one or two Terrorist Mobile Teams werenât unbeatable, but... the Terrorist Mobile Team was a whole department.
In two small vans, Davidâs crew shivered, praying the floating cars would leave quickly and not accidentally hit them.
The shooting didnât last long. The floating cars soon received orders, flying off in another direction.
Man patted Davidâs shoulder. "See, the Terrorist Mobile Team. Quite a stroke of luck, seeing something you usually canât..."
"Is this luck?" David said, "Iâve often heard legends about them."
"Well, youâve seen them today. Get ready to go in and get to work..."
Lucy patted Davidâs shoulder. "David... thereâs a car."
A car?
The crew froze for a moment, indeed seeing a van parked on the roadside.
...
The Scorpion-tailed Lion swept the air.
Royce sat silently in the car, waiting for the floating car to leave.
Once it left, he immediately drove to the wall and jumped into the factory.
Technically, this was an abandoned factory. The previous company went bankrupt, and no one had taken over the land.
His target was the antenna here.
Damage the antenna and upload the wipe program into the database.
Bodies were scattered all around, occasionally a fortunate one not dead on the spot, lying on the ground with a robotic shriek.
However, looking closely, those making the noise might only have half a skull leftâ
Their entire bodies reduced to two skulls.
"Shit, Brick, you old bastard. Why couldnât you just surrender, forcing me to have no place to go now..."
[Upload complete.]
[Recipient: D@nt3_InF3rn0]
[Royce: The jobâs done!]
[D@nt3_InF3rn0: Good job. Now come to Exit 4. Weâve opened the door for you.]
[Royce: Exit 4? Arasaka?]
He looked up and saw that indeed, Exit 4 seemed to be an Arasaka checkpoint?
[D@nt3_InF3rn0: Yes, I hacked Arasakaâs security. Weâll go through here and head to Taiping State.]
[Royce: Got it.]
Royce jumped from the third floor and quickly returned to the carâ
The car started, ready to leave.
The choice was now on Davidâs side.
The street was empty; sneaking would be impossible.
"We should follow," Man said immediately.
"I knowâ" David agreed quickly, "Guns out!"
On the quiet street, suddenly three vehicle engines roared, catching Royceâs attention immediately!
Everyone knew there shouldnât be cars on the street now!
"Fuck, what terrible luck..."
Royce floored it, the car shot off, with David and Manâs cars right behind!
But just as David and Man poked their heads out the windows, they saw Royce already aiming a gun from his window!
Si Anweisitan!
David activated his prosthetics at that moment!
In slow-motion, David clearly saw the red handgun in Royceâs hand sparkle with electric arcs; it was a tech weapon!
Their reaction speeds were on the same level. David knew his shot must hit...
If he missed, that gunâs aim was on Man!
Man couldnât dodge it!
And tech weapons needed to charge, Davidâs kinetic handgun didnât. He fired first!
Bang!
To an observer, David and Royce both appeared in the car windows, guns raised, shooting almost simultaneously!
Blood bloomed from Royceâs side, disrupting his shot. The tech weapon bullet just grazed Manâs shoulder, embedding in the car!
Missing this shot put Royce at a complete disadvantage!
Rebecca, Man, and Dolly were all armed with heavy shotguns!
Bang bang bang bang bang!
The bullets pierced through the glass, some hitting the tires. Royce clutched his head, ignoring the wheel, the car flipped, skidding and rolling!
ScreeechâBoom.
Royceâs car flipped, with David and Man stopping as well.
But they could see clearly, the person inside was no simpleton.
After all, he had been the Vortex Gangâs second-in-command, even acting boss for a few days.
Royce didnât disappoint, kicking the deformed car door open and jumping out in a rage!
His clothes were beyond repair. Through the tears, something like an energy core glowed in his lower abdomen...
Emitting a piercing red light.
And Royce, his whole body radiated intense heat, like a machine running at full speed!
[David: Lucy, Qi Wei, can you hack his system?]
[Lucy: Need time.]
[Qi Wei: Trying.]
Meaning they had to face him head-on.
This would be a tough fight, David thought.
He took off his jacket, knowing his Si Anweisitan enhancements made him the main force, stretching as he moved forward.
But...
Skeerchâ
Royce suddenly froze!
Two motorcycles appeared around the corner, spewing flames, swiftly turning and charging at Royce!
Fear filled his eyes!
He watched Vâs blades slice through his body, and Jack grabbed his head, pulling his upper half up like uprooting a radish!
His delirious head seemed to glimpse something bizarreâ
He saw Brickâs head hanging off the motorcycleâs tail, grinning menacingly at him, no sound, but he could clearly read the words he wanted to say...
Just like that, awesome!
The motorcycles appeared and vanished in an instant, Davidâs discarded jacket hadnât even hit the ground before it was all over.
Lucy walked to him, picking up the jacket and handing it back. "Put your jacket on."
David silently wore it.
[Lille: Jobâs done.]