Chapter 693 - 664: Positive Strength (1)

The world is different due to the invention of prosthetics, the rise of corporations, and the form of global warfare, which has led to different research directions for weapons.

Everyone knows that nuclear bombs are the most powerful, but what determines whether a weapon is excellent goes beyond its explosive power: if this incredibly powerful bomb cannot reach its intended target, then it’s nothing.

So, sometimes, whether a weapon can break through thick defense nets and deliver a fatal blow is more important than its explosive power.

How war technology manages to deliver bombs to the enemy’s home depends on reality.

In this world, the interception success rate for missiles is incredibly high: before Bartmos blew up the internet, companies had reached the pinnacle of AI and computing technology development.

Powerful computing tech allows them to accurately predict and intercept most forms of rockets and even long-range missiles at that time—

But on the contrary, because of the financial collapse of former Mei Country and the fragmentation of the entire nation, the world fell into chaos, allowing companies to pay mercenaries of all kinds.

Cheap mercenaries, chaotic environments, and individual soldier technology relying on prosthetics made the success rate of stealth missions higher and higher, and the collapsed economy made most organizations more inclined to choose low-cost activities...

And the subsequent collapse of the internet further led to a large-scale setback in human technology levels, so most companies won’t extend their combat distances beyond a continent or even a nation during wars.

The European Union, which controls intercontinental strikes, relied on the mass projector early established on the Moon to become the true military dominator of this world.

Lille is different: when the wars began in his world, intercontinental-level strikes were quite mature, and ballistic missile technology was overwhelming compared to this world.

He knows a lot about ballistic missile technology.

"...I have a feeling you want to use this thing to blow up Arasaka’s carriers, but it’s impossible."

The netherworld dogs are ready to go.

Armored vehicles back on the road in groups, though not even a tenth of the troops remain, the drones, anti-aircraft guns, air-defense missiles, and even submarines hidden in the warehouse will be very useful in the future.

But Hansen still doesn’t believe they can make it through; he feels more like he’s back in soldier times now:

Even though he thinks this is an unwinnable battle, he will carry out every order from the commander.

The short-haired robots and hellhounds, these two robots under Lille’s control, repeatedly climb on the nuclear-powered airship.

Hansen always feels Lille might accidentally blow this thing up; after all, it’s cutting-edge technology, and if not for the operation manual given by the client, he wouldn’t dare to mess with the stuff on it.

But Lille is very professional: professional robots, professional humans... or say anthropomorphic AI.

Lille didn’t speak; Hansen pointed out fluently why this is impossible:

"The Kujira aircraft carrier has a very complete long-range weapon defense system; it can defend against super dense bombing from air fortresses and can submerge and leave the surface, flexibly avoiding threats of massive explosions.

Even if you can achieve something military technology can’t, breaking through Kujira’s interception system, you still can’t find the target—

Even military technology couldn’t accurately find it on radar; how could you?"

"...The Black Wall will severely damage Kujira’s signal equipment. They need time for repairs."

Hansen shook his head: "Kujira’s backup equipment can directly link with any Arasaka base’s computers; Night City has Arasaka Tower. It might take a bit of time to fix the carrier, but restoring combat capability only requires activating backup channels with Arasaka Tower and Kujira."

He might be preparing to launch planes to blow us all up."

As a former Military Technology Commander, Hansen knows his enemy very well.

Arasaka Tower...

"You mean Kujira will share a network with Arasaka Tower."

"To be exact, it’s the Arasaka Company network in Night City."

While modifying the airship’s nuclear power module, Lille had a plan forming in his heart—

Not a hundred percent successful plan, can even say hardly any chance of success.

Because this hope comes from outside...

From Night City.

"Someone will poke a hole in Arasaka Tower."

Lille said calmly, and Hansen also nodded calmly after hearing this—

At this point, panicking further would be impolite.

"Whew—" Hansen equipped himself with a stimulant, wore full combat gear, and prepared to leave.

"You’re by far the gutsiest I’ve seen, but if you end up getting everyone killed... then you’ll be the kind I despise the most."

"This isn’t something for a military commander to say, is it?"

Hansen grabbed a clip belt and turned to leave.

As a former commander for New America’s and Military Technology’s forces...

He has no morals.

In the stadium, the rapid footsteps of soldiers, the heavy steps of mechas, the roaring engines of vehicles, and the sound of numerous weapons fixed in place mixed together.

Lille began seeking allies...

Finding someone capable of assaulting Arasaka Tower.

[Lille: David, there’s a job.]

...

[Contractor: Brother Burger King]

[Burger King: David, there’s a job. The aircraft carrier anchored offshore by Arasaka Group was attacked by me, and it might be using Arasaka’s network in Night City for strategic reboot.]

[Burger King: I want to attack this aircraft carrier, and I need you to hack into Arasaka Tower and provide me with an interface.]

[Burger King: This mission is dangerous; the price is 1 million euros.]

[Burger King: But no deposit.]

Far away in Haywood, David was stunned.

He has special communication tools left by Lille, just like others in OCT’s network realm, communicating through cross-dimensional data channels.

But this pathway had been shut down ever since the thermobaric bomb detonated in Dog Town.

As for David, it hit suddenly, and he was transporting the second batch of supplies during the explosion, with his convoy stuck in Haywood, hiding in the slums...

With the network gone, most of the people in Burger King’s crime syndicate are in confusion.

The Vortex Gang and the Six Street Gang are still furious, but most people naturally fled at the scene.

David was no exception: if he were in Taiping State back then and got involved, he would have resisted immediately, but he wasn’t!

So they hid where they could.

The Man and his group were boasting and observing on the side, not noticing David suddenly exiting the conversation, but Lucy instantly sensed something was off—

"What’s wrong?" Lucy asked, somewhat puzzled but also... scared.

"...There’s a job."

The thing Lucy feared most happened.

Now the clash between Burger King and the corporation isn’t just normal crime...

This is challenging the corporate order!

A commission at this time?

Almost simultaneously, a message entered Lucy’s cyber modulator in the noisy cyberspace—

In the situation where the entire city network is sealed, whoever can communicate, either it’s Burger King... or the company!

[Unknown Communicator: Kushinada Lucy, hacker in Network Operations Equipment Department, Employee Number #5368.]

[Unknown Communicator: Return to your post now; we can disregard the things you’ve done before.]

[Unknown Communicator: Daughter, come home; Dad and Mom miss you. There’s no good result in fighting the company.]

The emotions in her head instantly disappeared, and Lucy felt her blood freeze.