Chapter 161 - 145: The Biggest Winner of the Biotechnology Heist

"Good morning, Night City!"

"Yesterday’s Dead Lottery special edition was 46..."

"Shit!"

A crisp expletive pulled Lille back from the deceitful Marvel World.

Pulled back to this world with a relatively low level of decency.

V shook the TV, "I told you, I told you the Dead Lottery was a scam! Special edition my ass!"

The Dead Lottery special edition was a special commemorative lottery issued for the special situation at City Hall, repeatedly flogging this memorable night...

It should be a repeated lottery, V clearly remembered that the wave they escaped from definitely didn’t kill that many people.

Instead, the previous waves all under-reported, definitely never matched the memories of the people involved.

Jack was munching on some synthetic fries, "You think it’s a fake but you still buy it? It’s been seven days! Haven’t won once.

If you ask me, you should’ve known it was fake the second day we came out—wait a minute, I remember you were the one telling me the Dead Lottery was fake..."

"Those assholes cheated," V agreed, "NCPD must have rushed to kill a few unlucky bastards, corruption!"

Lille chuckled, "You think they’re that dedicated? They’d just change a number, no need to go on the streets and shoot people?"

"True..." V nodded, finally realizing, "How long do we have to stay here? Feels like we’re dead and buried staying in this shithole for too long."

Lille didn’t say anything, first checking the online info and looking at the TV—though the news in this world was somewhat unspeakable, watching it was better than not watching it.

Biotechnology was directly blamed—this was expected, almost all TV stations were reporting on the Lizard Men.

Military Technology no longer cared about any partnership, at this time they should ruthlessly interrogate Biotechnology, not only do they do a lousy job, but they also dragged in the gold master.

Arasaka attacked both of the above, emphasizing defiance and action.

So this week, WNS and Channel 51 were filled with explosive news, not just revelations but meticulously cooked stories.

Lizard Men supposedly lived in every household’s sewer, with claws reaching out from toilets; they could control cars just by touching them with their eyes; they were bizarre pets cultivated by Biotechnology and used by Military Technology...

In short, it was all fantastical, mixing rumors and truths, the serious reports came from WNS and Channel 51, while the less serious stories were told on talk show-style programs.

And after a week, the biggest beneficiary of the event finally stood out—

"Hello, friends of Night City! I am your friend George Kabosi! As always, I care about your business!"

"First, let’s take a look at today’s market—"

"After the motorcycle explosion downtown, there was intense gunfire at the City Hall subway station, yet no one expected the chaos to end with the appearance of ’Lizard Men.’

After the riot, it was disclosed that Biotechnology Company and Military Technology were jointly advancing a project called ’Nightingale Plan,’ showing that the hot-selling Pain Reliever had severe side effects, significantly affecting the company’s stock price.

NCPD’s stock price dropped 5% after the first conflict, with a weekly decline of 25%, they’ve hit rock bottom, nothing more to say—Oh, remember to tell your financial advisor to sell those off.

But after it was all over, the stock prices of Military Technology, Biotechnology, and even Arasaka significantly fluctuated.

This triggered a brief and intense reaction in the financial market, estimated losses reaching 50 billion euros, with volatility continuing even today.

However, Biotechnology’s stock price has stabilized, while Military Technology is struggling to lift its head.

But these—these are not the most important. The most important thing is today’s top stock!!! (voice crack)

Since Thunder Company’s incident, their stock price has risen over 112%! Going from 6.8 euros per share to 14.4 euros, and it’s still climbing!

After launching the ambiguously-positioned Mackinaw pickup, Thunder Company faced financial problems, not attempting to launch new high-end vehicles for years, relying on cheap low-end cars to get by.

But this time, this time it’s different, friends, Mackinaw has proven itself in Night City to be a truly awesome vehicle, making Scorpion-tailed Lion and Bimong step aside—

Just last night, three Scorpion-tailed Lions exploded right in front of us, and one crashed in Haywood, while Bimong Armored Vehicle was already crawling on the ground!

But Mackinaw, Mackinaw went in and out three times!

The company’s price surge last night triggered a market control that hadn’t been triggered for decades, and no one knows the exact limit standard!

If you ask me—my friends, this is the disgusting face of the stock exchange exposed—

Just kidding, the stock exchange considered that someone might be in ICU unable to call their financial advisor to buy!

Thunder Company is planning to launch Mackinaw Concept Stocks, buy at opening, don’t hesitate! This is your only chance to beat the northern capital!"

Indeed, Thunder Company just sat at home, and the pie fell from the sky.

After watching, V suddenly asked, "This stock price... how much did Thunder Company make this time?"

"Strictly speaking, it’s hard to calculate the earnings, but a week ago, Thunder’s market value was 41.2 billion euros, now it’s 87.344 billion euros, you do the math."

"Holy... so in a week they made... made... over 40 billion euros!"

Lille glanced at V skeptically—when most people say half the numbers, they think it’s for convenience.

When V says half the numbers, Lille thinks maybe he can’t do the math?

V blinked his eyes, "Damn... over 40 billion! Thunder owes us for this... shouldn’t they tribute some new products to us?"

"Actually, Old Captain mentioned this, but I refused, it’s not very safe—I remember you always nagging about wanting a sports car?"

V patted Lille on the shoulder, satisfied, "That’s right, didn’t expect you to remember—back to the point, what do we do now?"

"We need to see what kind of shape the Evil Land is in."

...

In the past seven days, the Red Ocher had been moved twice, each time further from Night City.

In terms of time flow, Lille spent five days in Marvel World, but seven days passed here, it seemed the greater the difference between the two worlds, the faster the time passed here.

And in these seven days, system messages barely popped up.

It seemed as the body differences between the two worlds grew larger, this world became farther away...

A new day in the Evil Land, still filled with uninteresting yellow sand.

Lille stepped out of the tent, feeling the direct sunlight, realizing that the effect of the Lizard Potion in his body had almost worn off—

Needed to find a place to solidify the modifications in this body as well.

Not far away, Navi sat in the car, watching some young people of the same age tinkering with guns, pondering something.

Lille knocked on the window, and Navi opened the door.

Lille got in the car, "Special training?"

Navi nodded, "Things have been a bit strange these two days, Military Technology has increased their security forces in the Evil Land,

The Tribe people haven’t entered the city for days, the same goes for other Tribes.

Instead, Night Wandering Ghost’s activity area has expanded, it’s not safe on the road now, we need to prepare, next gunfight there won’t be any old man covering us.

And... Burger King’s boss, supplies are running low, hiding like this is not a solution, we need to go out and do something."

The border post was Military Technology’s territory, Night City was now hard to get into, over time they would be trapped in the Evil Land.

This wasn’t just about supplies and funds, but their logistics channel being cut off, they needed to find a way to break the blockade, otherwise, the title Legend was just a name, people wouldn’t rush to help just for that name.

Lille nodded slightly, "Got it, call up a few good hands, we’re going out to scout."

Navi’s face lit up, "Doing what?"

"Don’t get excited, just scouting, then we’ll see what we can do—you said the Tribe had no old hands left, actually there’s one left."

Navi was stunned, then soon realized Lille was talking about Cedric!

Cedric was taken away as a Cyberpsycho, Navi thought he’d never see that grumpy guy again!

Lille’s prosthetic eye blinked blue light intermittently, "Call the boys, we’re picking up Cedric—there might be a gunfight, bring the gear."

The situation in the Evil Land was entirely different from the city, Lille needed an experienced guide.

After hearing this, Navi leaned out the window, slapping the car door vigorously, shouting at the clansmen still shooting:

"Get in! We’re going out!"