Chapter 162 - 146: Hero’s Car

The jurisdiction of Night City was not limited to the urban area but also included the vast plains outside the city.

This area was so vast that attempting to use satellite positioning to identify individuals scattered across the plains was quite unrealistic, which is why from this point, the company’s control sharply declined.

The Wanderers were the predominant group in the Evil Land, with many possessing a much higher degree of natural health, not even lacking those fortunate enough to be born healthy, making it difficult for hackers to extract more information from this region.

The expansive desert, Joshua trees, low hills, dried-up oil fields, piles of junk, and isolated towns were all buried under the sand and dust, comprising the entirety of the Evil Land.

The area was so broad that the NCPD was powerless to increase police presence, so the security of the Evil Land was contracted out to the Military Technology forces, but their main forces were primarily stationed near highway exits and borderlines.

Four vehicles styled after the Wanderers drove across the desert, coming to pick up Cedric were seven young people from the Tribe, none except Navi had much experience with large-scale gunfights.

Meanwhile, V and Lille sat in a heavily modified 66 style vehicle, with Jack and Navi together, his bones not yet fully healed and not suited for combat, so he was directing from there.

V was also not suited for combat, but at the moment, the Yinglong Submachine Gun had already been connected to the vehicle’s weapons interface, allowing for controlled shooting from inside the vehicle using panoramic Crystal Ball technology.

"Now our positions have switched—never thought this day would come," V said as he connected to the personal link, "It seems to be running normally."

The panoramic Crystal Ball technology was a technology used in fully enclosed vehicles, and currently, the vehicle the two were driving had no glass but had been replaced entirely with bulletproof armor.

Sensors that could collect visual information were integrated into the armor, displaying the external situation without any blind spots.

"Good to know—The middleman’s vehicle will exit from Route 3; theoretically, Military Technology won’t intercept them, but they might receive information that Cedric is affiliated with the Tribe.

We can’t allow the company to follow this lead, if any vehicles chase after us, blow them all up,"

That night, all the Tribesmen who attended the event died, leaving virtually no traces, which was one of the reasons why the Tribe could still remain outside Night City in the wasteland.

When Lille said this, he made it sound as if blowing up a Military Technology vehicle was as trivial as blowing up a toy car.

In the communications channel, the young men from the Tribe were both excited and scared.

After listening, V asked, "What if the chasing vehicle is a Bimong Armored Vehicle or a Scorpion-tailed Lion?"

Lille slowly replied, "Mexico is a nice place; we’ll just head to Mexico."

However, according to the news, it shouldn’t come to that.

...

Cedric sat in the vehicle, his gaze somewhat vacant as he looked at the sand and dust of the Evil Land.

This was a Columbus Freight vehicle, marked with the logo of Respectable Logistics and even recognized as such by scanners.

The Military Technology checkpoint was set up ahead at the junction, almost stopping anyone they see—

and then vehicles lined up into a long queue.

The driver, upon seeing the Military Science personnel stopping the vehicle, yelled, "Damn, when is this blockade gonna end; do you know how much money we’re losing every second?"

The Military Science personnel were used to hearing these complaints—the repetition of work and the barrage of complaints had significantly diminished their work stress.

Of course, there was also the fatigue from working double shifts or even continuously without a break, making him wonder if extracting a tube of blood from himself would yield anything other than stimulants?

So, he shouted irritably, "Keep your mom out of this, look over there—do you want to queue up there?"

’Over there’ referred to the Mackinaw-specific inspection lane.

It was bustling, with nearly half of the Mackinaws painted in red and black stripes, carrying various street drifters and gang members.

At this moment, they sat up straight as if they were super honest people—but their expressions gave them away; they were here to cause annoyance.

They didn’t have jobs anyway, so they were just wasting time, seizing one of the rare opportunities to tease the corporate dogs.

Of course, they were ’honest,’ while those genuinely transporting goods were about to burst their blood vessels!

"Just because I’m driving a Mackinaw, you want to check even the seats? Have you got shit for brains?"

One person yelled, and the others behind him started shouting too—

Their blood pressure was high, and so was the blood pressure of the Military Science personnel!

But just as the Military Science didn’t care about their high blood pressure, everyone started yelling, which mysteriously emboldened them—

What do we care if your blood pressure’s high?

Bang!

A driver, angered, threw an empty drink bottle out, hitting the ground near a Military Science Law Enforcer, a big guy in camouflage who walked over without a word—

"Uh...I...I was just throwing away trash..."

Click—Bang!

The Military Science Law Enforcer directly tore off the door of the ancient black Mackinaw and grabbed the man’s head, slamming it to the ground!

Bang!

The driver was slammed to the ground, blood flowing and whimpering as he clutched his head—

This scene scared the other drivers back, and suddenly, there was silence.

But then another issue arose on the other side—

"Turn off your Prosthetic Eyes; recording is not permitted here—"

"Fucking corporate dogs—I’ve never heard of an inspection that involves gouging out eyes!"

A gang street kid yelled this out, neck stiff—jokingly; this kind of news was easy to sell recently!

Then, the Military Science law enforcer lifted his head and saw a large crowd with their eyes flashing blue light recording his every move—

He knew he had messed up—but he really couldn’t help himself.

He had only intended to teach the guy who provoked him a lesson, but once he started, he couldn’t control his strength.

Days of continuous high-intensity duty had filled his bloodstream with stimulants, his brain abnormally excited!

He looked at the guy on the ground, face full of terror, clutching his head and crawling backwards rapidly, and suddenly a malevolent thought crossed his mind...

Everyone quieted down after his previous act.

What if he did it a couple more times?

He strode toward the still chattering gang kid, bypassed his colleagues, and amid the horrified eyes of the onlookers, he grabbed the kid’s head—

The sound of the skull being crushed screeched, and the enforcer yanked hard!

Crack!

The gang kid’s neck lengthened significantly, and his head slammed into the car door—

The other gang kids on the seats, either in terror or anger, instinctively pulled out their guns—

This act escalated the situation!

The Military Technology enforcer reflexively smashed his fist into the head of the guy in the backseat by the window, and then, the gunfight erupted!

Bang!

The traffic instantly went into chaos, and the Mackinaw was covered in gunfire and then exploded—

Cedric’s car, being already at the forefront, sped off as soon as he heard the gunshots!

Behind him, the sounds of explosions and gunfire continued unabated, the car madly swerving; no need to ask, this wasn’t just a gunfight—the scene was one of cyber madness!

It was only then that Cedric reacted, he hurriedly looked to the driver beside him: "What’s going on?"

"How would I know, do you need a reason to run when you hear gunshots?

...What the fuck—still checking? Is he crazy?"

The driver looked into the rear-view mirror; a Ragnar Armored Vehicle was following behind the chaotic traffic, crashing and shouting as it went:

"Stop for inspection—"

But who would listen to that?

No one noticed a 66-type modified desert armored sports car coming from off the road to the back of the traffic, then powering forward with all its might!

Bang!

The car harshly collided with the side of the Ragnar Armored Vehicle—

The 66-type was definitely much lighter than Emperor Ragnar, but its horsepower was too damn high!

Ragnar’s vehicle slipped, and a few smaller cars seemed to accidentally bump into it a few times, causing them to crash directly into the neighboring vehicles, tangling the already dense traffic in place.

The driver watching the dazed Ragnar Armored Vehicle shouted: "The car’s awesome, you badass!"

Just after he yelled, he received a communication request.

[Communication Incoming]

Ding-dong—

"Regina’s guys? What’s going on at the checkpoint?"

"I don’t know, but someone started shooting, and everyone just floored it—quick, tell me where to go, other Military Science dogs are coming this way."

"Follow closely."

A 66-type modified car, flashy yet practical, quickly came to the front of the car, the driver glanced at the rear-view mirror—

Unknowingly, he had been surrounded by four Wanderer vehicles.

Lille sat in the car and made a call to Regina through the driver: "We’ve picked up the guy."

On the other end, Regina’s voice sounded a bit strange: "...Although I think it’s unlikely, Burger King, there’s a suspected case of cyber madness at Highway 3 intersection..."

"It’s none of our business." Lille realized, "No wonder the cars were running like their lives depended on it—do you want me to catch that guy?"

"Better if you catch him." Regina thought for a moment, "A Military Science guy ’catching the madness’ right now would help us force them to lift the blockade if we can pin this down, but Military Science guys will be here soon, you need to move fast."

"Got it—hope he’s still alive." Lille turned to his own people, "Navi—turn around, there’s a cyber madman at the checkpoint, have your guys swap Cedric from the driver and bring him back."

"What about the driver?"

"He’s got a new job."