Chapter 255 - 236: King Yan Calls the Name, Jotaro Loses His Composure

H8 Skyscraper top floor, Cloud Peak premium club.

The TV displayed scenes of relentless explosions, and Jotaro’s hypocritical face was incredibly somber at this moment, the usual laxity gone without a trace.

He had just one thought, "This is too exaggerated."

It was the first time he had been threatened by name—usually, he was the one calling for someone’s head, forcing someone to make a film.

But this was different, he was the one being called out, and it wasn’t just any call out:

The other party had directly named him on Channel 54 news, along with various other major and minor news outlets, creating a huge uproar known throughout the city.

He wouldn’t even dare to pull something like this.

For such matters, if it were the average person, Jotaro would only feel like laughing—making such a big scene, the NCPD would just step in and waste the guy, no need for any excuse.

It wasn’t the first time his name had been discovered, nor was it the first time he had been cursed and told that someone wanted him dead.

He had also dealt with a fair share of NCPD cops, killing off all the brain-dead civilians who angrily came demanding the return of their children or siblings—

This time was different.

His name, called out by a brain-dead gang, resulted in him sending out his own gang, looking for NCPD support, and even spending a fortune to get Arasaka’s backing.

Yet so far, these three freaks had killed over a hundred members of the Tiger Claw Gang, shot down dozens of drones, knocked out helicopters, and broken through the NCPD defenses—

Now, they were in Westbrook, headed right for him!

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"

Jotaro jumped up, losing his composure, pacing frantically.

Even situated in a towering skyscraper, despite being several streets and dozens of floors away, with numerous gang members and NCPD between him and those three maniacs...

He still couldn’t feel safe!

[Communicator: Boss]

[Boss: Jotaro, you’ve caused too much trouble for the gang this time, after handling this think about how you’ll atone.]

[Law-Abiding Jotaro: My sincerest apologies!]

[Communicator: Chief]

[Chief: Are the evidence cleared yet? Hurry up!]

[Law-Abiding Jotaro: Why can’t the Terrorist Mobile Team get involved?]

[Chief: The Chief doesn’t allow it, don’t worry about it, get moving!]

[Communicator: Weapons Supplier]

[Weapons Supplier: I know you’re in a hurry, but don’t rush, we have our ways.]

[Weapons Supplier: I’ve said it before, those three are not ordinary people.]

[Weapons Supplier: Now, do as we say, open up the entire Cloud Peak network.]

[Law-Abiding Jotaro: If I open it all up, do you still need to help me? Do you think I’m an idiot!]

[Weapons Supplier: Watch your tone, Jotaro-san, you’ve already tried to be clever with us once.]

[Communicator: Ueno]

[Ueno: Boss, save me..]

[Law-Abiding Jotaro: Idiot! Go to hell!]

[Communicator is out of service area.]

He continued to pace back and forth, the messages from others flashing through his mind...

He couldn’t believe it, he couldn’t accept it, he didn’t understand, he was furious: Why? Why was the business he had painstakingly built over the years now shaking on verge collapse overnight?

The excessive pressure reminded him of when he was younger, the suffocation he felt after blowing all his money gambling.

Then, instinctively he thought about how he had gotten rid of that choking feeling: It was nothing more than buying and selling.

The Tiger Claw Gang couldn’t protect him, the NCPD were worthless, only the company remained...

With that thought, he quickly strode toward the computer room.

The Tiger Claw Gang was no place to stay any longer.

Connecting Arasaka to their network meant not having control over which data to clean, how to get through this crisis was now entirely up to the company.

[Law-Abiding Jotaro: Fine, what’s your plan?]

[Weapons Supplier: Finally, you’re getting it. As a reward: those three have a way of entering from high altitudes, the NCPD ground troops can’t stop them.]

[Weapons Supplier: If you’d decided a bit later, those men might already be sending bullets to your head.]

Another imposing man in a purple suit didn’t dare to utter a word, just sitting there.

Usually, he was the boss of Cloud Peak, but with Jotaro there, he was just another worker.

That night, everyone in the H8 Skyscraper was trembling with fear.

...

[NCPD Patrol #2091: Evidence found, suspected armoured plate from the criminal vehicle, evidence collected.]

[NCPD Police Chief #0123: Criminal vehicle not found, continuing search.]

[NCPD Police Commissioner #0099: I’m done with this! Fucking Fort, I’m striking! My people, clock out! Hawar, Stings...]

[Click.]

[NCPD Chief #0134: Why not let the Terrorist Mobile Team intervene?]

NCPD patrol cars drove through the streets, collecting the tattered armored plates that Mackinaw had shed.

Lille and his two companions watched in the darkness atop the roof as the cars drove away.

"Route’s chosen, I’ve inserted a power control command into the grid, they haven’t noticed yet, there will be a power outage along the way soon, we head for the darkness."

V flexed her wrists, eyeing the Spider Silk Emitter in her hand, "Not bad—I was just wondering when we could swing through the air again, has this been altered at all?"

"It has been changed, I went back and discussed improvements with... people on the net, I’ve also upgraded the magnetic adhesion gloves."

[Magnetic Adhesion Suit Model 2]

[Description: Better components, stronger suction, a surface material with greater friction coefficient, an optimized energy conversion system, and improvements built on the Model 1 for more powerful individuals.]

[Provides up to 15000N of normal force, with optimized adaptive software to reduce energy consumption and enhance stability.]

The materials last time were purchased in haste by old Vic.

This time, the materials were sourced through reverse engineering from Marvel, and for the parts that couldn’t be reversed, they were carefully selected, overall making it more of a polished product, rather than a makeshift one.

After finishing their discussion, the buildings and streets opposite the trio began to experience power outages as per the sequence Lille had implemented.

"All set, let’s move."

Lille stood up, but noticed Jack and V both looking at him, as if to ask: who’s back are you going to cling onto this time?

"...I can swing across on my own." Lille replied irritably and then took the lead and jumped out—

Ziip.

Spider Silk shot out from a mechanical arm, then was grabbed hold of by the arm, the pulling force calculated by Little Octopus to be within Lille’s tolerance.

The force was distributed through the exoskeleton strapped to Lille’s body to various parts, to prevent dislocation—

Thud.

Then, latching onto the wall was done by two mechanical arms that regulated the magnetic force, leaving one of Lille’s hands to maintain his balance.

The mechanical hands themselves were light because most of the weight still had to be supported by Lille, but their performance in other movements was excellent.

Lille clung to the wall, looking back at the street behind him—feeling good not to be tossed around.

Jack and V exchanged a glance and swiftly followed.

The three swung their way across, leaping between skyscrapers, and the streets of Westbrook experienced intermittent power outages in some areas.

They were like three ghosts leaping between the buildings—

And soon they had arrived opposite the H8 Skyscraper.

Going in circles, back at the start, it’s worth noting that their investigation had begun on Japan Street, and H8 Skyscraper was located right there.

But back then, they had no idea where Jotaro was hiding; now, Lille was certain he was inside.

Cloud Peak had many unspeakable secrets, and as a participant, even a lead, it was time for him to be accountable for the business here.

It’s just...

Thud.

The three arrived at a building across a viaduct from the H8 Skyscraper.

Lille looked down at the NCPD cordoning off the ground.

It seemed a little too smooth.

It would only take a hop over the viaduct bridge beneath the gate adorned with "Matchless Under Heaven" to reach the exterior of the Skyscraper.

Although to date, the details of their operation in Company Square remained a mystery, the company and NCPD should at least be able to guess that they possessed special high-altitude gear.

Why weren’t there swarms of drones and defensive setups between buildings as expected?

Perhaps the defensive perimeter was too large, too costly, and they were unwilling to invest the funds?

It was a possibility...

But having come this far, there was no reason to be scared away.

"What are you looking at?" V came up to Lille’s side with a nimble hop against the wall, "The view is indeed nice, I understand you didn’t have time to appreciate it last time."

"That’s not the reason... Just be careful when we go in, something doesn’t feel right, it’s too easy."

"Easy isn’t good?" V pouted, "Take a look at Jack, who else can... who can have a big meal while working?"

She meant to say who else could blow a helicopter to smithereens, but after seeing Jack eating heartily, she changed her phrasing.

Jack, who was busy replenishing his energy, darkened at her words.

"We’re already badasses," V patted Lille and pointed to the gate on the viaduct, "See, that’s what it says about us there."

"Better safe than sorry, let’s go."

Targeting Jotaro... let’s see what else you’ve got to pull out.

The trio descended, swiftly crossing "Matchless Under Heaven."]