Chapter 861 - 140: Through the Storm (2)

The Fourth Corporate War is also known as the "Ocean War"; both OTEC and CINO wanted to acquire the bankrupt IHAG to fill in the gaps of their respective businesses.

At the beginning of the war, nobody had hopes for OTEC: CINO possessed the world’s most advanced submersibles and other patent-protected vessels, practically the ruler of the seas; even Arasaka’s aircraft carriers used their technology, while OTEC only had a bunch of seemingly less robust ocean technology.

But as mercenaries for Military Technology, Lao Snake rode OTEC’s biological weapons like a ghost on the sea, raiding numerous marine resource platforms and, until the war ended, had never been caught.

In a world where most people doubted him, he relied on flesh and blood to take down many Arasaka-affiliated oceanic war vehicles. With countless victories, as the final winner, he became a legend in Military Technology’s mercenary group at Night City.

Basically, among the three initiators of the fourth war, OTEC, relying on Military Technology, won big, confining CINO to Europe, gaining more ocean ecological platforms, and becoming the world’s largest plastic supplier—

Of course, the war between CINO and OTEC became irrelevant after they reached an agreement, leading to a conflict between their mercenaries Arasaka and Military Technology.

Eventually, the Fourth Corporate War went overboard, ending with the detonation of a nuclear bomb at Night City’s Arasaka Tower, while the European Union’s economic bureau nationalized Arasaka’s European assets, so now there are Arasaka products here but almost no Arasaka services.

CINO has since been operating under the "runner-up" title after OTEC; if anyone wants to buy advanced ocean technology, OTEC would surely come to mind first.

So when Grove and Strange from Foxstone’s CINO whale farm stepped in saying they wanted to buy fish to Bruges, they were flabbergasted.

Firstly, CINO’s biological weapon technology was not mature, at least not like OTEC, which had been verified through military actions.

Secondly... aside from the crazy mercenaries and company soldiers, who would ride a fish?

However, whatever the case, they did make the purchase.

At this moment, CINO’s manager reported the matter, and the upper management quickly responded:

It’s a free market policy, sell if they pay.

"Pleasant cooperation, Mr. Grove, Mr. Strange, wishing you a pleasant journey—

I was thinking maybe if the journey is pleasant, we could open the intelligent-controlled biological passenger operations, at that time..."

"We’ll talk about it then."

Elliot waved his hand, interrupting Foxstone’s CINO manager.

[Loading CINO’s Intelligent-controlled Oceanic Biological Use Agreement...]

[ID: CINO/USER/AE-04576]

[Summary of terms:]

[This product is for short-term rental usage, applicable for non-commercial oceanic travel or demonstration activities.]

[CINO Company is not liable for any accidents occurring during usage (including but not limited to mechanical failures, navigational errors, and oceanic risks).]

[Users are prohibited from making any form of public evaluation or comments on the performance, navigation system, range, or comfort of this product.]

[Users agree to grant all related publicity rights to CINO Company, with the company releasing official materials externally.]

[...]

[If users violate the terms of this agreement, CINO Company reserves the right to pursue legal liabilities, including but not limited to terminating the lease, freezing deposits, and initiating economic claims.]

"I think this is unreliable..."

Sevens’ face was pale ever since sitting atop the whale’s head—

When did EU officials get reduced to sitting on a whale’s head for travel?!

At this moment, he began to intensely miss traveling on luxurious ferries and airplanes: the planes with soft beds, delicious wine, being able to take a bath before landing, reviewing his itinerary with cyber-chip assistance...

Now here he is sitting on these whale heads!

"I think this is reliable!"

Sevens felt a firm pat on his shoulder, turned his head to see it was not Elliot, but his worker friend Carl!

"My dad told me our family used to be pirates! Haha! I’m a big-bearded pirate!"

Although Elliot felt equally uneasy: he is just a mere greasy couch potato!

Carl’s rough laughter also infected him as he climbed onto the whale’s body, feeling the soft texture underfoot, and special boots made it nearly impossible to slip.

The whale was an entire 18 meters long, weighing 42 tons, with eight total seats; its bones had been remodeled by advanced ocean technology, connected directly to the cabin, extremely stable.

He glanced at the still-bound-seatbelt mercenaries trio, Carl, and Sevens, feeling like he was in a dream, mumbling as he settled into the seat:

"My God... I never thought I’d be doing something like this..."

Carl hugged Elliot: "Buddy, you were born for this!"

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a water jet gushed from beneath the surface, the whale began to move!

[Johnny: Amazing, the ultimate solution is to become CINO’s guinea pigs...]

[Johnny: But now we can ride like Waylan Snake.]

Johnny stood at the whale’s forefront, arms outstretched towards the surging sea, gazing as dark clouds clustered overhead—

Elliot’s mind went blank, only reverberating Carl’s words in his mind:

He was born for this!

Indeed, it was only at this moment, as the whale departs the shore, stepping onto a path of hostility towards the company, raising flags and crying out for rebellion, did he feel alive!

Just like at the factory, when Carl raised the shield, when he and his comrades charged at the cyber-psychos...

The whale’s motion and the ocean’s sway evoked waves of nausea in his brain, akin to the scorching heat in the factory, reminding him he had once again breached the safety zone drawn by the EU—

His physical body had never been closer to death, yet his spirit had never felt more alive!

He suddenly realized a fact: in the previous 28 years of his life, he was comfortable but also in pain, he just never admitted the pain, numbing himself with amusement...

Now he felt pain, but was full of vitality!

He looked into the void, gazing at Lille and Johnny that only he could see: "I want to do big things! I want to fiercely slap the company’s face with my good brothers! Even if they have money and are colossal, I will slam their face hard!"

Johnny looked at the sea and chuckled:

[Johnny: "I want to kill him!" said Elliot, "no matter how great and glorious he is."]

The gigantic tail fin slapped the water surface, the sky roared with thunderous claps—

From now on, they were entering the sea.

Foxstone’s CINO manager watched their backs as they left, feeling somewhat sentimental.

But what he felt was... today’s business was truly good.

Besides this few impetuous kids’ order, he could also sell this news to other companies for a tidy profit.