"What were you doing just now? Showing off? Your ability to bluff is improving, huh?"
Leo sat in the car, looking at V with a strange expression.
V, still in the same serious mode as earlier, responded with a stern face, "Don't you think that was cool? Lately, I've realized I've been laughing and joking around with you guys too much. It doesn't suit my image."
"You look like a brainless idiot right now."
"Not kidding," V maintained her cold demeanor. "I've decided that from now on, I'll talk to people like this."
".Kang tao sent us a message, said they could help us fix the Sandevistan in your body."
Inside the delivery David sent, there was an extra chip from Regina. It contained only one message, which was about Kantao.
They wanted the operational data from V's Sandevistan and hoped to strengthen their collaboration with Leo as an equipment supplier.
"No way, really?" V dropped his cold act, surprised. "By the way, how much is this thing worth?"
"Money can't buy it. I checked; the spinal implant in your body is a replica. The hardware, like nerve contacts, exceeds all the commercial implants available on the market."
"In terms of hardware alone, it's probably the most advanced spinal implant in the world, but they just can't manufacture a better Sandevistan chip."
What made this implant special was that unlike regular Sandevistan systems, which boost the power of the spinal implant when activated, V's implant worked differently.
When V used the QianT Type IV Sandevistan chip, many nerve contacts and power lines operated at low capacity, barely being utilized.
However, a large portion of these unused circuits got burned out in the biotech building.
Leo had a feeling—this might be the key to QianT's breakthrough in overcoming the tech blockade.
"Unavailable on the market? Sounds like it matches my image pretty well!"
Leo glanced at V, "But nothing's decided yet. I haven't made up my mind."
When they first got the Sandevistan, Kang tao was merely looking for a free test subject.
But now things were different. V had proven she wasn't ordinary, and the trio had shown just how powerful they were when causing chaos.
It was hard to say whether Kang tao would mess with the Sandevistan during repairs.
But Leo couldn't fix it—
The technology used for neural implants was too advanced. Fine-tuning and removing malfunctions were already delicate tasks, and repairs would be even trickier.
As far back as 2020, neural implant surgeries like installing the Kerenzikov had incorporated nanobots. The only job of the implant surgeon was to follow the manual and medical knowledge to install the components in the correct places.
Sandevistan installations also used similar nanotech.
These nanobots would automatically link up the fine nerves and the implant, with the doctor only needing to make minor adjustments to the implant system.
But the process was still extremely complex and tedious.
So installing and fine-tuning a Sandevistan correctly already made someone a highly qualified advanced implant surgeon.
Leo wasn't too sure about Kang tao doing the repairs—but they were his only option.
So the cooperation terms were still under negotiation.
"Alright, fine," V waved it off nonchalantly and spoke over the comms, "Jackie? Did you hear that? Kang tao wants to be our equipment supplier—only if we approve!"
"Yeah, I heard it—Leo, when are you going to get me some good stuff too? Not rushing you, just feeling a bit jealous. If you've got other stuff on your mind, I really don't mind, no rush at all. But, you know, I haven't upgraded my gear in a while, lost a few guns too—not rushing, just saying."
Leo quickly interrupted his buddy Jackie , "Relax, you'll get some soon—just need a little more time. Let's deal with the Wraiths first."
"Heh heh, then I'll be waiting for the good news—everyone's ready, just waiting for your orders."
After finishing the upgrades, they now had 12 vehicles ready to go, including the four Emperor Ragnar armored cars they just snatched.
The car David and the others came in was done for, breaking down on the spot.
Now everyone was sitting in the armored cars, ready to lead the charge.
Leo connected to the comms, "Remember the Wraiths that attacked the camp? The lead we got from them.
The target is in Stone Ridge. The Wraiths rest there at night—it's basically a semi-base for them.
We're going to take out all the Wraiths there, then follow the abandoned road in Stone Ridge to hit their real base—
The whole operation has to be fast. If you see anyone from Militech, or their equipment—no hesitation, just go for it. Hit hard, act fast, and aim to be back at camp before dawn!"
Rumble—
The vehicles roared to life, accompanied by drones, as the convoy moved through the sandy wasteland, heading toward the setting sun.
At the MoorE Tech convoy ambush site.
Militech surrounded the scene—but there was nothing left from the ambush except a few scattered corpses on the road.
The dam was a borderline area between NCPD and Militech's jurisdiction. Militech was handling the dam, while NCPD dealt with Santo Domingo.
NCPD was working slowly—it took them nearly an hour just to clear out the scavengers!
A blonde woman, cigarette in hand, watched her team work, visibly irritated.
"Status report."
"Based on evidence, the nomads used a very crude method to ram into the vehicles. Four security convoy cars couldn't hold up."
"Couldn't hold up? Arasaka's grunts may be trash, but they're not that easy to squash."
"It's most likely that fugitive. What was taken from the convoy?"
"Mostly high-tech equipment that was already scrapped once. In theory, after falling off the dam, it should have been completely deactivated. NCPD confirmed that only scraps were left."
"They're all valuable parts, but only worth scrap at this point. What else?"
The field commander hesitated for a moment before continuing, "The truck driver's memory doesn't quite match up with the scene.
In his report, the raiders jumped onto the lead car's door, killed the driver, causing the truck to veer off the road.
But the scene investigation suggests the vehicle was deliberately pushed off—motive unknown."
The woman raised an eyebrow, "Motive unknown?—Start checking vehicles that left Night City two hours before and after the incident."
"This...,"
The subordinate hesitated, then continued, "Due to the cyberpsycho incident, roadblocks aren't as strict anymore.
Many permitted businesses and institutions are shipping out backlog cargo, so the list is long, and…"
And it was untraceable.
Everything was legal, and some of the vehicles even belonged to Militech—
Militech wasn't unified either, at least not at the mid-level, where different factions were rampant.
The woman's irritation quickly turned into frustration, and she threw her half-smoked cigarette to the ground, stomping on it angrily!
"Damn it, damn it!"
Who would've thought? Just a week ago, this woman, Meredith Stout, had sincerely thanked the downtown terrorists.
She thanked them for their rampage, which removed a large number of Militech superiors and colleagues, giving her a chance for promotion.
But those three outlaws hadn't even fled—they were waiting for her here!
She had just been promoted to head of public relations for the government! And now so many incidents tarnishing the company's image?
It didn't matter whether the nomads only stole scraps, whether they profited or not—
Everything they did was a slap in the face of Militech, and therefore, a blow to her career!
".Pull up the Wraiths database and have those scumbags increase their attacks!
Keep an eye on their camps—everyone in them has to die!"