Chapter 207: Operation Collapse
Roland hummed an indistinct tune as he walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the distant Militech building. A faint smile crept onto his face as he imagined how the New United States would react once the place was blown apart.
Maybe this was like teasing a tiger’s whiskers—but then again… who here wasn’t a tiger?
Besides, Militech was clearly in a state of having the will but lacking the strength. More importantly… Roland was confident they wouldn’t be able to trace a single clue back to him. Given Zed’s methods… no one would ever know.
“Kelly, on the day the operation begins, cut off the entire network of the Militech building. Completely isolate it from the outside world.”
“Understood. Should I activate their internal lockdown systems?”
“…Go ahead and lock it down.”
Roland considered it briefly before agreeing. After all, a lockdown wouldn’t stop Zed, so it made no difference. It would also prevent anyone inside from escaping and leaking information.
“How should we respond to the message from the Highriders?”
“Hmm. Tell them I’m not available. Say I’m in Nevada handling some business. As for how to phrase it, you’re all experts at that kind of surface-level courtesy.”
Roland waved his hand casually.
“I understand.”
Lissandra nodded and began drafting the reply.
“Oh, and name this operation ‘Operation Collapse.’ Once this is over, Militech’s influence in Night City will hit a historic low.”
Roland spoke with a deep, steady gaze.
“Yes.”
With the decision officially issued, Night City immediately began to move. The forces of Night Corp, the forces of PROJECT—even the city government and the NCPD—were all unknowingly making preparations for this plan.
Before long, an armed AV without a serial number appeared above an abandoned factory. Similar scenes played out at several other derelict industrial sites.
As time passed and night fell, figures emerged from the darkness, boarding the armed AVs one by one in silence.
Yet none of the AVs took off. They were all waiting for something.
...
“You’re telling me PROJECT rejected my request to visit?”
Brill frowned, clearly displeased, as he questioned Weis.
“Yes. They said their boss is currently not in Night City and is handling urgent matters in a city in the western Nevada Republic.”
Weis glanced at PROJECT’s reply before answering.
“Tch… what an ungrateful bunch.”
Disgust flashed across Brill’s face. The reply made him think of a word he knew all too well—brush-off.
If they truly wanted to meet him, they would have proposed a time or offered some alternative. Saying only that the person wasn’t around was an obvious refusal.
“How long until that Twelve Angels guy reaches Night City?”
Brill couldn’t help asking.
“Based on his speed, probably another two days.”
Weis thought for a moment before replying.
“That slow?”
Brill looked at Weis in surprise.
Weis had expected that reaction—he’d felt the same way when he first heard it. But who knew what that Twelve Angels was thinking?
“Forget it. Since he’s dodging me, we’ll wait until the Twelve Angels arrives and deal with it then.”
Brill narrowed his eyes, thought briefly, then shook his head.
As for leaving… he wasn’t one of those people living up in the Crystal Palace. If he left now, the outcome probably wouldn’t be pretty.
It would be better to wait for the Twelve Angels and apply pressure to PROJECT together. If both sides could get their hands on the technology, that would be acceptable.
Seeing Brill’s reaction, Weis knew he wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon, so he stopped paying attention to him. He still had something else to handle outside.
Not long after, Roland noticed an AV departing from the Militech building. After having Kelly confirm that Brill wasn’t on board, Roland stopped worrying about it.
“That guy really is lucky…”
There was something odd in Roland’s gaze, because… the AV closest to Brill inside the entire Militech building had already left.
“Notify Zed. Tell them to move.”
“Received.”
At that moment, Zed—standing inside an AV with his eyes closed—received the message. He glanced at the surrounding Shadow Stream members and spoke calmly.
“The operation begins.”
As his words fell, several armed AVs slowly rose from different abandoned factories, then accelerated toward the same destination.
Inside the Militech building, Brill—who had been preparing to report upstairs—immediately spotted the sudden appearance of numerous AVs outside.
“What’s going on?”
He froze, a question instantly surfacing in his mind.
When did all these AVs coordinate their return?
The very next second, a piercing alarm rang throughout the entire Militech building.
Brill’s face instantly filled with panic.
You’ve got to be kidding me—someone’s attacking the Militech building?!
He didn’t have time to think further and immediately rushed outside, no different from anyone else.
Militech’s security personnel quickly located this high-value individual and moved to protect him.
“Mr. Brill, please follow us. We’ll escort you to the AVs.”
“Alright, alright—move faster.”
Brill nodded repeatedly, cursing the lunatics who dared attack the Militech building.
Boom!
A massive explosion rocked the structure. Brill felt the building shudder—and his heart with it. To make a Militech building with this level of defenses tremble…
Just how much explosives did those insane bastards bring?!
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—
With more than a dozen sharp whistling sounds, dark figures leapt down from the sky, turning into streaks of black light as they slammed straight into the Militech building.
Crash!
As glass shattered, under the vigilant gazes of the surrounding Militech security personnel, Zed slowly stood up, rolled his neck, and slung a bag over his shoulder.
He turned to face the people in front of him. A red glow flashed in his eyes.
The moment Brill saw that red light, he felt his entire body go cold.
Author's Note
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