Chapter 38: Thriving!

Chapter 38: Thriving!

"I don't have time to joke around with you. Lord Saburo wants us to kidnap someone in Heywood. This needs to be clean and discreet—no one can know we were there."

After speaking, Hiromi Sato placed two storage chips on the glass table. They contained the target's identity information and the primary execution plan.

Without hesitation, Take Higashi and Jotaro plugged the chips into their neural interfaces. A torrent of data surged into their minds.

A clear 3D model of the target, along with detailed textual descriptions, etched itself into their brains.

"Alt Cunningham? A top-notch corporate hacker? And just a defenseless woman?"

Upon learning that their target was merely a female corporate worker, Higashi and Jotaro both breathed a sigh of relief. The task seemed far less challenging than they had initially feared.

At least it wasn't a mission where they'd be risking their lives.

"I don't quite get it. Why does Lord Saburo need us to kidnap a female hacker? Surely the elite corporate units would be better suited for this job."

Higashi wasn't carried away by optimism. He understood that good fortune seldom came without strings attached—every seemingly easy task often bore hidden and hefty costs.

Hearing this, Jotaro also began to notice something wasn't right.

Arasaka's internal forces included elite corporate squads, such as the top-tier "Lone Wolf Hundred."

"I've already asked for you. Lord Saburo wants as few people as possible to know about this. When it's over, we just need to take care of those involved and leave no loose ends," Sato said with a chilling laugh. "As for anything else, that's not our concern. Do this right, and I guarantee we'll all be safe and prosperous!"

With the stakes made clear, Higashi and Jotaro had no choice but to accept the task, even if they had lingering doubts.

If the company wanted them silenced afterward, it would depend entirely on Lord Saburo's mood. Either way, they now knew of the plan. Opting out wasn't an option—they'd take that secret to the grave.

If they pulled this off, though, and eliminated those loose ends, they might just live to enjoy their fortune.

In any case, completing the task gave them a chance at survival, but refusing it guaranteed a grim death.

"Fine! For our wealth and fortune, we'll give this mission everything we've got!"

Jotaro gritted his teeth and declared his commitment. Higashi quickly followed suit, agreeing to the plan.

Life or death, success or failure, they were all in now. As long as the company didn't send them back to deal with the mess in Kabuki, anything was negotiable.

"Good. It's settled. We move tonight. The sooner this is done, the better!" Sato nodded in satisfaction.

---

[Level 5 Mission: Establish LA Company as a dominant corporate power in Watson District!]

[Status: Completed]

[Rewards: €$500 million, 50,000 corporate credits, 1 roulette spin opportunity]

Standing outside Viktor's cyberclinic, Li Ang smoked a tasteless but harmless e-cigarette while checking his system panel.

His LA Company was thriving!

He had completed more system missions, and today, he achieved a Level 5 task. This meant another chance to draw legendary items from the roulette.

Li Ang had a habit of saving his draws for a bulk session, so he held onto this opportunity for now, waiting for the right moment to spin.

After all, single pulls rarely yielded miracles.

"Spin, initiate!"

With the roulette wheel spinning on his system panel, Li Ang used up 50 draws in one go.

**[Results of the 50 roulette spins:

Legendary: Perfect Morph Mimetic Mask Technology

Rare: Amat M41A Pulse Automatic Rifle (Standard Rifle from the Alien Universe)

Epic: Kikuchi Optics Mk3, Self-ICE, Auxiliary Heart, Darra Polytechnic DS1-Pulse SMG…

All Darra Polytechnic products unlocked for the host!]**

Among the rewards, the legendary Perfect Morph Mimetic Mask Technology stood out.

This was black-ops tech from the Cyberpunk 2077 New United States Intelligence Agency, capable of perfectly mimicking another person's appearance, voice, and behavior.

The system-enhanced version was even more remarkable, immune to detection by hacking or optical scanning devices.

With this disguise tool, Li Ang could truly become "a thousand faces in one."

"This is incredible!" Li Ang marveled internally.

As he contemplated how best to use the new device, Lucy appeared at his side, wearing a sleek, waist-baring outfit.

"Want something stronger?"

Lucy held out a Marlboro cigarette between her slender fingers, offering it to Li Ang.

"Thanks." Li Ang accepted it but didn't light it right away. Instead, he asked, "How's Maine?"

"Almost done. Old Vik said the Sianvistan was easy to install, but removing it to fit something else takes time."

Lucy giggled. "Maine's reluctant to give it up. It's hilarious watching him act all sentimental about it."

Li Ang chuckled and nodded. He knew that new-generation mercenaries like Maine were often obsessed with the power cyberware granted them.

But not everyone could handle the strain of cybernetic enhancements. Legends like V, who were both iconic and resilient, were rare.

"This new Sianvistan should suit him. It's a bit weaker than the previous one, but it won't overtax his body."

Li Ang had swapped Maine's old Sianvistan for the Zetatech Sianvistan Mk.3, an epic-grade implant from the system.

Though its time-slowing effect was reduced to 50%, with a shorter duration by two seconds, its cooldown was only 30 seconds, allowing frequent activation during missions.

"Maine will be more agile and efficient with this."

"Li Ang, you're not like the typical 'good guy' I imagined. That's what I like about you," Lucy said, exhaling a wisp of blue-gray smoke. "I've worked for corporations before, so I know the world doesn't hand out free lunches."

"When you take something, you often pay with your life. But with you, we get fair deals."

"And we don't have to fear being discarded by the company. I haven't felt this secure in a long time."