Chapter 250 - 232: Cyber Psychopaths

"News 54."

"Breaking news, numerous Arasaka military drones have appeared at the Bellevue Overpass in the Geisha District, where intense gunfire has been reported."

"The armed militants have strong firepower, and the area has turned into a war zone."

...

"WNS News."

"Breaking news, a terrorist attack has occurred near the Bellevue Overpass, with terrorists wielding high-powered weaponry. Arasaka Company property has been attacked."

"The NCPD has begun to lock down the Geisha District."

...

"Reliable sources indicate that Arasaka is launching a mechanized strike against the group known as ’those big shots buying idiots like Burger King,’ due to the group’s possession of corruption evidence between the company and the NCPD."

"The NCPD has mobilized police forces to Japan Street and the Geisha District and has locked down the H8 skyscraper."

"Previously, according to our reporters, the H8 skyscraper is controlled by a gang called the Tiger Claw Gang. Is there any connection between the two?"

...

"The terrorists have caused significant damage to company property and city assets."

"These terrorists are suspected to be the same group that caused severe destruction at Company Square and City Hall recently. Their goal this time is to attack the H8 skyscraper and create large-scale chaos."

"NCPD Deputy Chief Jerry Fort stated, ’Such crimes will never be tolerated, and we thank Arasaka Company for providing riot support.’"

...

"An anonymous citizen has provided substantial evidence that the H8 skyscraper houses numerous sex slaves kidnapped to provide illicit services to city officials and company executives."

"The origin of these sex slaves is closely linked to the recent kidnapping cases in Japan Street, the Geisha District, and Westbrook."

"Mayoral candidate Jefferson Peralares commented, ’This incident exposes the current government’s incompetence and corruption. If the NCPD cannot protect the city, more chaos like this will occur!’"

...

"The H8 skyscraper is an advanced building rebuilt during the reconstruction of Night City, providing excellent living conditions for hundreds of residents and has never witnessed a crime under NCPD protection."

"All residents in the building are law-abiding citizens; the terrorists’ declaration is a challenge to city order and decency."

"Mayoral candidate Wilton Hot stated, ’The terrorists are full of lies. If they truly care about the city’s safety, why don’t they submit evidence to the government for anti-corruption?

They will never conquer this city. The brave NCPD will protect citizens from harm. This city will never surrender!’"

...

"The involved group released a message online: ’If you have a conscience, step out of our way. Think of your children, siblings; everyone could be targeted, sold to dark, tiny rooms and suffer inhumane torture.’

"The entire criminal evidence has been uploaded to the News 54 website, revealing an atrocious human trafficking network."

...

"The terrorists issued a crime alert to Night City, but Deputy Mayor Hot declared they would never retreat."

"Any information about these terrorists can be reported through the website below. The NCPD and the Night City government sincerely invite you to unveil the true faces of these villains."

...

"We will continue to verify the authenticity of these documents."

...

"Verified clues can earn a reward of up to 1 million eurodollars."

...

David led his team to Ellenan Street as soon as possible.

Televisions on the street kept broadcasting the breaking news, each side processing the information at hand.

This was the first time David was caught in the middle, scrutinizing the news related to him:

As he realized the truth, the various reports with their distinct viewpoints made the truth seem unimportant.

What mattered was making more people believe the media itself.

The street was empty, doors were tightly shut, and the flickering neon lights emitted an electric glow.

The Phoenix Nightclub was hidden in an alley off Ellenan Street...

After a few turns, passing through dirty streets, dripping pipes, you could see the sinful place hidden in the desolate area.

The road to the nightclub was blocked by roadblocks, with two Tiger Claw Gang members standing guard, if your prosthetic eyes were good enough you could see the nightclub sign inside.

Neon lights on the wall spelled out "Phoenix."

And...

"These bastards..."

Everyone in the team felt both disgust and fury.

They saw a girl dismembered and hung on the outer wall, her eyelids propped open with stakes to keep her expression fixed.

The guards at the gate moved the stone barricade aside, "The last car!"

A car engine started, heading outside.

It looked like a few cars had left before, David and his team arrived a bit late.

"Let’s intercept that car," David suddenly said, "Man, let’s stop that car, there might be someone inside."

Lille just wanted David to keep watch, waiting for them to attack together.

But now he had a different idea.

"I agree, but you should check with the Burger King."

"Okay."

[David: Bro, there’s a car leaving the Phoenix, there might be someone inside.]

[Lille: If you’re not afraid to die, then go ahead, don’t ask me these minor things.]

"Bro said... If I’m not afraid to die, then go ahead, and I’m not afraid to die."

Man cocked his two pistols, "Let’s do it—no objections, right?"

Dolly, Pila, and Rebecca all nodded, feeling a bit excited, the atmosphere was charged for a fight.

Qi Wei and Lucy exchanged glances, looking somewhat conflicted.

But neither of them said anything, silently activating their prosthetic eyes to begin scanning the Tiger Claw Gang.

The van slowly exited the alley, gradually accelerating, then...

Man and David both stepped out into the street, aiming at the driver and co-driver positions—

Bang, bang, bang!

The bullets shattered the windshield, killing the driver instantly!

But this shot poked the hornet’s nest, and the Tiger Claw Gang at the intersection immediately turned their guns and opened fire!

"Hit!"

"I see it, find cover!"

Bullets rained down on them, hitting the ground and the cover, concrete splintering!

As soon as the Tiger Claw Gang opened fire, their combat prosthetics jammed. David, Man, Dolly, Pila, and Rebecca quickly moved between cover, shooting while aided by hackers, making their targets almost stationary!

But there were just too many of them, outside the alley, inside the bar...

Soon, the alley was filled with Tiger Claw Gang members, the two hackers started sweating—

Their nerves were overheated from repeated hacks, they needed to rest!

Soon the team was pinned in the middle of the alley, bullets relentlessly pounding their cover, almost immobilizing them!

The Tiger Claw Gang’s firepower and numbers were far more than they had imagined!

"Shit—" Rebecca pulled a hand grenade from her pocket, yanking the pin, "Throw the grenades!"

David and the others nodded, tossing their grenades—they weren’t concerned about where they landed, just threw them first!

Boom!

Deafening explosions!

Then something strange happened; the gunfire on both sides of the alley stopped—if you listened closely, it was not that it stopped but had gotten quieter.

It was odd.

Prostrate on the ground, Rebecca raised her head cautiously, "Did we get lucky, killed them all?"

"No..." Lucy’s voice was strange, "On my side... the Tiger Claw Gang near the nightclub started firing backward."

Qi Wei also spoke in a similarly peculiar tone, "It’s the same at the alley entrance... wait, it seems like one person! He’s attacking the Tiger Claw Gang!"

David lifted his head, swallowing, and looking toward the nightclub, "The alley is very quiet..."

Thud.

David heard a sound above his rain shelter, he looked up—

"As expected, equipped with auditory assistance, very rare."

A voice came next to David’s ear, it was Japanese and very familiar—

David’s pupils shrank sharply, it was the guy from the Meiquan District!

A blade was pressed against his ear.

The Man Team turned and saw a man wearing a red evil ghost mask with a knife to David’s head.

"Rare choice of combat prosthetics, what made you choose to fight?"

Everyone’s hearts leapt into their throats—this man’s phantom-like moves only meant one thing:

He had high-level Si Anweisitan!

Not just Si Anweisitan, the ghostly figure wore only red and green shorts, his entire body exposed, almost his entire upper body was replaced with gray-black synthetic materials—

This indicated that his entire upper body was replaced!

And not just the upper body, his legs were almost completely replaced, with some kind of footgear for better movement...

He stomped, but no sound was made.

"Can you hear it?"

David shook his head with difficulty.

"Then you haven’t grasped the zen...," the ghost said, looking at a wall.

Lucy was biting her lip, hacking, sending smoke from her hair.

But the ghost didn’t feel any discomfort, all his prosthetics were functioning normally.

His calm mind suddenly wavered: "Seems you also have..."

A man with a headband also suddenly appeared at the alley entrance, holding an M2038 tactical shotgun—

"Bastard!!!!"

Boom!

The ghost vanished, David was hit by the bullet!

"Get out of here!"

"They’re both cyberpsychos!"