Because she knew enough about military technology, she believed in the feasibility of this plan.
But D was impressed by her composure, and he read a natural affirmation from that expression.
"How exactly do we go about this route? If it's feasible, let's do it."
Moer didn't waste words, and she explained while drawing: "Take the main road, go through the Scenic District, enter the Company Square Ring Road, and then go straight into Little Chinatown."
She pointed her finger at the rendezvous point in the North Industrial Zone arranged by Regina.
"Take the main road, the shortest route, to get there. Keep a steady speed, follow the traffic, and don't overtake." She raised her eyes, "Those who change lanes hastily are the most conspicuous."
"An expert, indeed..." C sighed, smiling at D.
The only purpose of a cargo truck is to save costs - whether it's financial or time.
As long as they stick to this point, they can seamlessly blend into the Night City logistics system without leaving any traces.
"Now for the main event."
D cleared his throat, his tone lightening up due to satisfaction.
"Methods to intercept the convoy."
"We've prepared two main plans and other auxiliary measures. We might use them all or not need them, but in any case, it's better to waste than to lack."
He got back into the car to avoid drawing attention with his gestures and movements, which might become clues for tracking later on.
"Plan one, a car with an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) bomb. Within ten meters, conventional EMP protection doesn't work, but we'll have to keep our getaway car at a distance, as the electronic devices in the cargo will be rendered useless."
"Plan two, place IEDs (improvised explosive devices) by the roadside, and when the convoy passes, flip it over. The downside is that we don't know what's inside, and fragile goods may be damaged."
"This batch of convoys consists of a Behemoth armored truck produced by the military technology company itself and two Chevrolet Emperor Iron Armors with rooftop machine guns, bulletproof tires, and a crew of 8 to 12 people."
D introduced the details methodically, and the confined space inside the car made them look like they were in an underground party rendezvous.
"A hacker team that can help us infiltrate their cybernetic implants has already been contacted and should be in place by tomorrow at the latest."
"Rocket launchers are hard to come by here, so we've also prepared C4 and anti-tank mines, as well as a few EMP grenades."
"With these means, we should be able to deal with GenSec, but I'm not familiar with the situation here, so I need to consult you."
When he finished speaking, Luoqi and Moer looked at each other.
Is there something wrong with my ears?
We're here to intercept a convoy, not to blow up a fortress, OK?
As for Mr. D and his crew's plan, Luo Qi felt utterly helpless.
Apart from the hacker team, which seemed reliable, the rest of their methods sounded like they were straight out of the Gulf War era.
Of course, this was their business, and Luo Qi and his companion had no place to criticize, only offering suggestions.
"Um, about that hacker team, can you tell us more? Like which group they belong to?"
Luo Qi began by asking about the smaller details.
"They were introduced by locals, from the Pacific region, called the Voodoo Gang or something. I heard their cyber tech is quite advanced."
C recalled and responded.
Then he saw Luo Qi covering his face in pain, seemingly unable to bear the sight of this decision.
"Is there a problem?"
C also realized something was off, his facial expression stiffening.
"Let's put it this way."
Luo Qi rubbed his temples and said with a smile, "As for the Voodoo Gang, I'm not sure about their cyber tech. However, their business style is to kill their partners after using them."
Thinking of Evelyn's experience, Luo Qi felt a dull pain in his head.
There are so many cyber hackers in Night City! Why choose the Voodoo Gang of all people?
In a sense, the two-letter guys' luck was quite good – they stepped into a trap right away, and it wasn't a shallow one.
Hearing Luo Qi's description, C's smile vanished, and even the leading Mr. D couldn't keep a straight face.
"Are you serious?"
"Absolutely." Luo Qi replied with a bitter smile.
"Damn it! I need to call Dragon back right now!"
D slapped his thigh and hurriedly dialed the phone.
A few seconds later, the anxious man heard the call connecting.
"Where are you? Have you met with the Voodoo Gang yet?" He asked quickly, then heard the reply from the other end of the line and hurriedly said, "Alright! Come back immediately, they're not trustworthy!"
Hanging up the phone, he looked at Luo Qi and let out a relieved sigh.
"He already contacted the local gang members and was about to discuss details."
"That's good. The Voodoo Gang has dark methods, so protect your implants well."
The image of Evelyn suffering as if she were a fish being fried alive was still fresh in his mind. This cruel method was far more sinister than a gunshot.
"So, do you have any good collaborators?" C asked anxiously, "Or maybe we shouldn't involve any hackers."
"No, a good hacker can play a crucial role." Luo Qi revealed a mysterious smile, "As it happens, I know one who has helped us deal with Arasaka before, and their skills are unquestionable."
"We'll pay for the hiring." Mr. D said what Luo Qi wanted to hear.
"I thought it would be an 80-20 split, thank you very much." Luo Qi nodded, "But relying solely on this might not be completely foolproof."
"Do you have any suggestions?" D asked for advice.
Luo Qi took out his PDA, opened a dark web page, and handed it to him, "This is the most reliable black market for electronic devices in Night City. We can buy two drones."
He pointed to the overpass right above their ambush site: "Attach cluster bombs, hide them in the shadows under the bridge, and when they arrive, activate the auto-follow mode... BOOM! Game over."
He gestured with his hands, smiling brightly.
But beneath that gentle smile, Mr. D sensed terror.
"If conditions permit, get an anti-material sniper rifle," Mo Er suggested, her gaze falling on the layers of abandoned factory buildings, "We might even save on the bombs."
Precise, efficient, and deadly – this was what Mo Er had learned from her special forces training in military technology.
Now, she intended to put it to good use.
"I used to think that Chicago, Washington D.C., New York, and Los Angeles were the places where all the top talents in the United States gathered. I never thought that there would be such an incredible place as Night City in California."
D closed his eyes, shook his head with a smile, his eyes filled with satisfaction and pleasure.
"It's been a pleasure working with you, and I hope we can continue to enjoy our collaboration."
Accustomed to bold and earth-shattering operations, this trip to Night City had shown him the unique charm of the city.
"Of course, it's been a pleasure working together."
Two days later.
Anders Hellman was like a stone dropped into the ocean, with no news at all.
However, the gathered intelligence showed that he had indeed defected to Kang Tao, but sadly, neither the obvious nor hidden clues could pinpoint his location.
Rogue advised them to be patient, but since even their employer wasn't in a rush, Luo Qi, as a mercenary, was even less worried.
After all, Johnny was inside the PDA, with no worries about food or drink, and he could even access the internet to browse learning materials during his downtime. These days of confinement were rather leisurely, with no imminent life-threatening crises.
The streets of Brandon at noon, apart from the cold and rainy weather, were always scorching hot.
Concrete, concrete, and more concrete.
People often referred to cities made of reinforced concrete as "concrete jungles," but walking through the valley-like streets here with no shadows, the real concrete is revealed by the road surfaces and walls.
Sometimes, the shade beneath the towering equipment of corporate factories became a refuge for people to cool off.
For example, Luo Qi was now lying on the roof of a dilapidated car recycling plant under an overpass, his hands pillowed behind his head and a lollipop in his mouth.
This place was on the right side of the ambush site, near the intersection of Brandon Street and the overpass.
"Focus, they've already entered the city."
Mr. D received the intelligence from his informant and called out to his partners.
"Why are they coming now? Are they full and bored at noon?"
C complained.
He was sitting in a car that had been dismantled to pieces, with only the overall frame still intact. The door and steering wheel were long gone.
He adjusted the bipod of the machine gun in his hand, securing it firmly above the car's dashboard. The sight moved slowly from right to left, covering the entire range of the intersection.
"Stop complaining and focus on the task at hand."
It was Dragan's voice.
With a cigarette in his mouth and a furrowed brow, he monitored the vehicles and pedestrians with an expression of dissatisfaction directed at everyone.
Maybe it was just a first impression, but he rarely relaxed his brow, especially when he learned that the partnership with the Voodoo Boys was abandoned just because of a few words from Luo Qi. Ditching a local gang casually wasn't a wise decision unless it was necessary.
How do you know he didn't say that just to secure the hacker's business?
That was what Dragan said at the time.
Of course, his doubts were not only directed at Luo Qi, but at everything and everyone that wasn't 100% trustworthy and reliable.
This included Mo Er's sniper skills, T-Bug's hacking skills, and Luo Qi's precise shooting skills. All were questioned by him.
"Don't teach me how to do my job."
With two days of neglect, the stubble on C's face was more apparent, seemingly growing faster than his buzz cut. Fortunately, his African heritage had a lower contrast, slightly concealing the sloppiness.
"Is bickering in the heat of the moment a tradition between you two?"
D was getting impatient and intervened.
"No, I think it's mainly because someone is always suspicious and doesn't trust anyone."
C insinuated with his complaint.