Chapter 295 - 274 Little Flat Head

Mercedes had driven a small van and chose Chinatown for the meeting spot, taking Jack and V right back to the familiar territory they knew well.

That’s much more like it, the shady deals between corporate dogs and street rats always happened out in the open, not in some fancy restaurant.

Jack held a package of pink-colored All-Food Meat Paradise in his hand, with a label that read, "Tastes just like the real thing!"

"I prefer these places anyhow, that Mayor Elder tries too hard to be fancy."

But once you’ve tasted real meat, the difference between it and this cheap synthetic street meat is quite noticeable.

V had finished off a piece too and was tossing the trash into a bin as he said, "Is that all we got now? I never noticed before, but why does this meat taste so odd..."

As he spoke, he nudged Lille with his elbow, "Explain, will you?"

Lille spoke slowly, "It’s all protein, but the protein you ate at Ashes is natural, cut straight from a cow.

What you’re eating now... remember Tina we rescued from the Six Street Gang last time? That black market meat dealer.

According to the info in her database, the protein base used in this meat is SP-3R1N, derived from a worm... called earthworms."

"What’s an earthworm?" Jack asked earnestly.

Everybody knew they were eating synthetic meat, but how many people really cared to understand the technology and components behind it?

And how many could sift through information channels accurately to learn about that technology?

The food companies had even less of an obligation to educate people on these matters, take it or leave it — if you don’t eat it, someone else will.

Crickets, earthworms, even maggots could be the raw material for synthetic meat, simply depending on which was cheaper to produce.

Lille thought for a moment and then said, "Ever seen a maggot? It’s somewhat similar."

V and Jack were stunned, the latter still chewing automatically.

They might not have seen cows.

But they had seen maggots on corpses!

The thought was enough for Jack to want to spit out the meat in his mouth, but Lille pointed to the van parked by the sidewalk...

"He’s here."

Jack’s face turned red as he struggled, but eventually spat it out with a "Ptui! Mierda... I swear I won’t touch this stuff again until... um, I forget about all this."

Lille shook his head regretfully, "No need for such a strong reaction, earthworms are actually quite healthy, healthier than some of the additives in that meat."

Hearing this, V grabbed a packet of All-Food Meat is Heaven from a nearby vending machine and studied the ingredients listed on the package:

Gusto-Polymerase X9R5, EuphoriX Beta-Omega Vitathrive, Biocompat Catalyst AX-23E, Superbinder Zeta-9Phi...

No wonder the names kept getting weirder and weirder.

If one didn’t have sufficient knowledge, attempting to make synthetic meat recklessly could result in poisoning and death.

At that moment, Mercedes walked over, dressed in her work attire: a black suit with a snug skirt, covered with a coat.

That distinct corporate drone vibe made people keep their distance.

Biotechnology companies might have lots of docile, production-type employees, but with military technology, the majority of the workers could pull out powerful military firearms from their pockets and had professional prosthetics to boot.

Being in security, this was their perk, giving them an impressive presence as they walked.

Seeing this woman, V discreetly spat on the ground,

Dressed so provocatively, who was she trying to impress?

Sitting down at the stone table, Mercedes lit a cigarette, "You’ve met with Perares. Word about it has already spread across the corporate circles."

Lille nodded, "Yeah."

Mercedes first glanced at him and then covertly scanned V and Jack with the corners of her prosthetic eyes.

Why did it feel like someone was harboring animosity against her?

But never mind, Lille was the one in charge.

"Got a job for you. You like high-tech prototypes, right? We’ve got a shipment coming in, experimental military robots, interested in taking a look?"

Mercedes handed Lille a chip, and as he looked at the chip, a subtle thought crossed his mind...

This experimental robot...

It wouldn’t happen to be called Little Flat Head, would it?

Lille took the chip and inserted it into his neural interface.

[Military-Grade Robot: Little Flat Head MTOD12 Model]

[Module: Optical Camouflage Armor DX4 Model]

[Description: Utilizes the latest dynamic optical camouflage technology, capable of real-time alteration of the robot’s exterior colors and patterns, perfectly blending into the surrounding environment, achieving an almost invisible effect, significantly enhancing stealth reconnaissance capabilities, suitable for various terrains and lighting conditions.]

[Module: Military Technology Immersive Combat Robot Operating System CR-8]

[Description: Transforms robot sensors into sensory signals through advanced algorithms, offering an immersive operating experience.]

[Module: Titanium Alloy Fiber Drive Device (Prototype)]

[Description: Made with lightweight, high-strength titanium alloy fiber, it provides powerful motion, supporting fast movement and agile operations, ensuring stable maneuverability in complex terrains, including urban ruins, mountains, deserts, and more.]

[Module: Fully Integrated Link System IN5]

[Description: Realizes real-time data exchange and command transmission with the command center and other robot units through high-speed wireless communication technology, supporting coordinated combat.]

[Module: Military-Grade High-Power Data Interface XP2]

[Description: Compatible with nearly all types of interfaces, it controls signal pulses with precision.]

[Module...]

It really is the Little Flat Head.

The item was good, definitely a classic piece integrating many spy industry essentials.

In the original work, this thing should have been stolen by the Vortex Gang, and because it was stolen, Mercedes nearly got axed.

Now it’s the other way around, Mercedes seems to want somebody else to lose their head.

After Lille finished reading, he removed the chip: "Good stuff, are you in charge of this? How much?"

"No, just showing it to you," Mercedes pulled out another chip, "We don’t sell this, the company uses it for itself.

But I happened to get hold of the convoy route map, if you’re interested..."

Lille immediately stood up: "I’m not interested."

Mercedes was taken aback, but as Lille stood up, so did Jack and V, without the slightest hesitation, showing no intention of staying!

She was dumbfounded and quickly reached out to grab Lille: "Hey! You’re just going to walk away like that?!"

"Why the fuck wouldn’t I walk away, I don’t have a grudge against military technology, we’re partners!"

Lying through your teeth, huh!

Mercedes tried to grab him, but his prosthetic arm amiably caught her hand, and she quickly blurted out, "We can talk! I’ll give you money..."

"That’s more like it," Lille sat back down, "I’ve learned a thing or two from politicians lately. Let me guess, you’re dissatisfied with your own people, thinking of shaking things up a bit in positions? We’re old friends, just say it and I won’t refuse to help you, but if you keep probing with that corporate approach, it’s a bit discourteous."

Mercedes didn’t speak, taking a deep drag on her cigarette, the thick smoke painful to her chest.

Why didn’t this kid come to find her at the hotel? When the time came, she could take him down hard with her high-end prosthetics, now his brain wasn’t at her disposal...

She glanced again at V, who was watching her expressionlessly.

Mercedes averted her gaze, thinking: Quite a looker.

She flicked the ash from her cigarette and placed the chip on the table: "Here’s the situation, I was thinking of hiring the Vortex Gang to do it, but dealing with gangs... the risk is too high.

Since you say we’re old friends, are you in or out? If you decide to take the job, your customs declarations will be looser in the future. If you don’t, and I’m gone, your days won’t be as comfortable as now."

Lille took the chip: "Of course, I can help you, but I’m not doing this job. Military technology is a big company, and I can’t afford to mess with them."

Mercedes’s eye twitched.

You’re really modest, aren’t you.

"...So what do you really want?"

"Let the Vortex Gang do the stealing, I’ll help you wrap things up."