At the Top of Biotechnica Tower.
How many people spend their entire lives just to reach such a place, overlooking the "Free and Prosperous" Night City.
Since they had climbed to the top, V and Jackie also wanted to look directly at the company plaza, but Leo held them back.
No kidding, the company plaza is packed with people, the anti-terror task force is there too. Too much of a risk of getting spotted by someone's cybernetic eye.
Patrolling Griffin drones lazily flew low. Inside Biotechnica, an electronic ghost wandered the Biotechnica Tower using building maintenance permissions.
A building maintenance drone, following instructions, passed through the now-empty office lobby, arrived at the 70th floor's restroom, and began operations.
Its received instruction was that the external glass was damaged and needed repair.
[Maintenance Report from: Employee #10039.]
The drone slowly opened the glass, then extended a mechanical arm, and began applying sealant to the smooth, flawless glass.
This was an emergency repair measure; the maintenance engineer had already reported a glass replacement request—but by the time the logistics staff saw the request, it would already be the next day.
The window opened, two black shadows slipped through the glass one after another, then became three figures.
Biotechnica Tower successfully infiltrated.
V looked around the environment, recalling sneaking into the Kanto Gardens in Atlanta, and couldn't help but complain, "Again, the restroom? Why always the restroom?"
"This is a restroom?" Jackie was shocked. "This restroom is as clean as a cafeteria."
Leo and V both showed the expression of Can you not be so jumpy?
The floor was so clean it was reflective, the space was spacious, with electrochromic glass, simple facial grooming equipment, and interfaces for diagnostic biological monitoring.
"Hmm, indeed luxurious, better than Kanto's."
No wonder Jackie was so shocked; it was his first time seeing the company's interior environment.
You know, Night City is full of low-quality people who relieve themselves anywhere, like the cheap residential areas in Santo Domingo, where you might step on a "public restroom" spot after just two steps.
This restroom has already surpassed the living conditions of 50% of the world's population.
But they weren't here to tour the restroom.
V asked, "What do we do now? There might still be robots inside."
"Somewhat experienced now." Leo controlled the building robot to retract tools, close the glass, and swagger out of the restroom.
"Now, we wait, wait for our 'inside man' to collect information, then we'll find a way up."
At present, the company plaza was under martial law, and inside Biotechnica Tower, only the cybersecurity and operations departments that had to work inside the building were still operating normally.
The other departments were fighting outside the company, so the number of staff greatly decreased.
Security patrol manpower had doubled, but most were outside, after all, they still had to maintain the company's normal operations.
So relatively speaking, there were few people in Biotechnica Tower at this time.
Typical Darkness Under the Lamp.
The R&D and technical departments were even devoid of people, completely secured by combat robots.
But Leo only knew where Joanne Koch's office was; he had no idea about the specific layout of the route or the distribution of security robots.
He used the building maintenance permissions to control the maintenance drone; now this machine was his eyes, allowing him to see all the security robots' patrol routes.
The route leading to Joanne Koch's office was slowly being perfected.
And at the end of this route, they still had to open the most important barrier—the door to Joanne Koch's office.
Route confirmed accurate, Leo dialed the phone on the other end:
"Maine, commence the attack."
...
Biotechnica Tower, Director's Office of the Technology and Development Area.
The TV was playing Night City's most popular show, "Night After Night with Ziggy Q."
"Night City, Night City, welcome back. Tonight's guest is Officer Sarah Krakos. Hello, beauty, welcome to our show."
Ziggy Q, the host of the show, sported a slick green pompadour.
Officer Sarah Krakos had short golden hair and was wearing the NCPD duty bulletproof suit, as if she had just rushed from work.
"Hello Ziggy, it's an honor to be here."
But obviously, as soon as the officer spoke, she sounded very rookie.
"How was the way to the studio? Didn't encounter any rocket-like motorcycle bombs, or any man-eating nomads, right?"
"Uh, of course not. All these are just residents' fabrications."
"Alright, alright, Officer, we all know there's a big problem in City Center, otherwise, you wouldn't have to seal it off.
What we want to know is, what exactly happened in City Center, and where is the person who planted the bomb in City Center. Who is he?
Why did the NCPD have no reaction to the two incidents, and now they're issuing a citywide warrant for the Makinaw?
Are you telling me that the terrorist used a Makinaw to overturn the armored vehicle sealing off City Center?
Is the Makinaw some new kind of tank that shares the name with a pickup truck? And those nomads, what's their deal?"
"Well, regarding the City Center case, what we currently know is that the perpetrator used regulated firearms. The lockdown might be lifted after the nomads disperse, and the main targets of the nomads are..."
"Sarah, Sarah." Ziggy Q stood up from the desk, shaking his head, seeming very disappointed in the officer. "Stop reading those press releases.
I just want to hear the truth. When will our city truly be safe? When will those terrifying armed units withdraw from City Center?"
"Uh, NCPD will do their best—"
"Sigh, Sarah, I really understand your difficulties, truly, but your performance like this makes us even more uneasy.
Fortunately, I have now invited the representative of the other side of this conflict—Hector, the nomad from the Badlands!
Perhaps you can communicate their demands through words and restore peace to Night City as soon as possible.
But before that, we need to reintroduce these not-so-familiar groups to our citizens!"
Nomads, the cockroaches in the eyes of city dwellers, homeless like cockroaches, attacking this company's warehouse or that company's oil or production facilities.
In Night City's legends, nomads are tough guys with green faces and fangs, never hesitating to kill when it comes to people.
The legend of nomad outlaws started in the last century, back when it was the petroleum energy era.
Most people believe that the conflict between nomads and companies originated from oil extraction rights, which can be considered dog bites dog.
Then in the CHOOH2 era, the targets of nomads began to include not only oil companies but also CHOOH2 refineries, water plants, and other facilities.
Killing, robbery, smuggling— in short, 'outlaws' are the best term to describe them.
"But before he appears, I want to say that we are all pained by what's happening in Night City, but this is the time he chooses to come out."
"Moreover, we really need to know the truth about what's happening, so please welcome our next guest—Hector!"
Hector walked out from behind the scenes, Officer Krakos's expression became obviously nervous.
Obviously, as an NCPD spokesperson who mostly handled paperwork, she had a poor impression of the nomads.
However, when Hector walked out from behind the scenes, she realized this nomads seemed different.
Hector was wrapped in thick tattered clothes, trying to minimize contact between his body and light sources, his movements appeared very slow, even needing to use a cane.
Standing on this grand, golden stage, Ziggy Q was the main character, Krakos was the guest, maybe still a good cop fighting nomads.
And Hector was that mysterious and frenzied outlaw.
But this outlaw, at this moment, seemed incredibly quiet, silently taking his place on the chair prepared for him.
"So, Hector, can I call you that? Are you the leader of the Nomad family?"
Hector's head under his black hood gently shook, "Used to be, but not anymore. Today I'm here, standing here as an individual."
"Oh, you mean you've been exiled from your family? That's heartbreaking."
Hector coldly glanced at the flamboyant-looking host, without retorting.
Seeing that Hector didn't respond, Ziggy Q looked to the audience platform: "We all know that today, City Center was locked down, and a large number of nomads appeared in Heywood, holding banners and signs, trying to break in.
But we also know that the reason for the lockdown is a terrorist attack in City Center.
Several motorcycle bombs exploded in the city center, causing massive casualties and millions in asset losses.
But the nomads appeared in Heywood at this time, crashing into the NCPD's defensive lines.
Some speculate that the nomads are connected to the terrorist attacks in City Center. What do you have to say about that?"
On the large screen behind Ziggy Q, part of the battle scenes appeared, followed by images of nomads driving cars, parading with corpses on top.
Their roaring looks almost matched the images of thugs in people's minds.
Most people would subconsciously associate the two—this is also due to Night City's long-term negative propaganda about nomads.
"I am here to denounce what Biotechnica has done to us."
Hector rolled up his sleeves, revealing charred skin beneath his clothes, extremely horrifying.
Everyone gasped, giving the illusion that the temperature was affected because of it.
"Oh my God, we need to be careful." Ziggy Q said, while taking out a well-made gas mask from a small table beside him.
"Biodyne XS-4900 Biological Protection Mask, can connect to your biological monitoring system, eliminating all biological hazards, ensuring your personal safety.
This protection mask is included in Biodyne's 'Bio-Safety Package,' which includes the latest biological monitoring device, external air quality and liquid toxin detection devices, and a household emergency medication insurance package.
Click the website now to purchase, and enjoy a 20% discount!"
Hector seemed a bit out of place, as if left aside.
In the office, Joanne Koch saw this scene, and her bad mood improved somewhat.
This nomad didn't know what madness had seized him, claiming to go on TV to expose the darkness.
But from what Koch currently knows, there was no concrete evidence being leaked—so she was paying close attention to this episode.
At least so far, everything appeared normal: no matter how many people died, information security was her safety.
If she could successfully resolve this matter, even if she would be punished, staying in the company would not be hard.
Even if something went wrong, she could rely on the company plaza's security to hold until morning, then when her flight was due, head straight to the airport and escape. Surviving wouldn't be a problem.
So the content of this show would determine her ultimate decision to stay or go.
Koch left the TV program, her mind constantly thinking about her situation and possible future.
At that moment, a window popped up in front of her eyes—
[Impala Automatics under attack!]
Koch's expression changed dramatically!