Chapter 53: Operation Commences

“So you’re the team we’re partnering with.”

Roland slipped on Light’s armor template, rolled his shoulders, and spoke. After giving White a brief glance, he shifted his focus directly to Vilet.

One of the main reasons he agreed to Kiwi’s proposal was precisely because of this person—Vilet.

Standing beside them, Kiwi immediately picked up on Roland’s shift in attitude. When she noticed him staring fixedly at Vilet without moving, an odd look flickered through her eyes.

“No way… does Yi actually go for this type?”

Kiwi couldn’t help letting her thoughts run wild.

“Hey, boss… this guy doesn’t look like someone we can afford to piss off…”

Golor edged up to White and whispered.

“You needed to tell me that? With that exoskeleton armor and that level of cyberware? I wouldn’t even dare imagine it.”

White muttered through clenched molars.

“Are you Kiwi?”

Tina stepped up to Kiwi, sounding a little unsure. Hearing someone call her name, Kiwi froze, staring at the unfamiliar woman in front of her. She was certain they’d never met.

“And you are?”

“I’m Tina. You probably don’t know me, but I know who you are. I’ve seen your netrunner studio.”

Tina smiled faintly as she regarded Kiwi.

“Looks like someone on your side knows someone from mine,” Roland remarked after glancing over at the two women talking.

“Yeah, probably a connection from the netrunner scene,” White replied with a nod, acknowledging the competence of both. If the netrunner was someone Tina knew—and someone who had chosen to partner with this monster—then their skills were unquestionably solid.

The only thing left to figure out was their temperament…

Thinking this, White couldn’t help studying Roland more closely. The metallic plating of his exoskeleton looked like overlapping silver scales; black synthetic muscle fibers traced along the joints, energy conduits were hidden beneath, and his helmet featured six gleaming eyes.

And was that long white hair hanging down from his head? White wasn’t sure. But judging purely from appearance, this was not someone easy to get along with—more like a cold, efficient killing machine.

“This job’s simple. White and I will infiltrate and steal the data. The rest of you handle external support. Kiwi, Tina, and Rich will provide remote netrunner backup.”

Roland briefed them calmly. After a short pause, he added, “Right, and I’m here on behalf of my boss to ask you something. Any of you interested in joining our company?”

Everyone froze at the sudden recruitment pitch, clearly not expecting a corporate offer out of nowhere.

“No. I don’t like working under a company. If I wanted to, I’d have joined one already.”

White rejected the offer instantly. Roland shook his head, disappointed—it was a shame. He really did want his own squad; it would save him from having to run around handling everything himself every day.

Yes, he technically had plenty of people under him, but very few were genuinely capable, and even fewer were fully trustworthy. So he ended up doing most things personally.

Just like now. And of course, there was one more honest reason: Roland just enjoyed getting out and stirring things up himself.

After hesitating for a moment, Rich and Golor also shook their heads. Golor simply hated the corporate lifestyle, while Rich shared White’s reasoning.
With his netrunning skill, he could easily get hired—but he had zero interest.

Roland then turned to Vilet and Tina. He could tell the two of them were thinking about it.

“We’ll need some time to consider. Can we give you an answer later?” Vilet finally said.

White and the others shot them startled looks—they clearly hadn’t expected that response.

“Vilet…”

“I’ll explain after this job, boss.”

Vilet shook her head and looked off into the distance, unwilling to elaborate.

Tina stepped quietly to her side, clearly holding the same position.

Roland nodded and sent his contact information to them both.

“Alright, let’s head over to the All Foods plant in Watson. Get yourselves ready—we’ll begin as soon as we arrive.”

White and the others nodded, then trudged back to the vehicle looking deflated, completely different from the energy they’d had when they first arrived.

“Looks like Vilet and Tina really are considering joining the company,” Kiwi remarked as she sat down beside Roland.

“Probably tired of the edges-of-society lifestyle—or thinking the risk is too high. Joining a company offers more stability than living like ordinary edgerunners.”

Roland adjusted the car’s systems casually as he spoke.

“By the way, in a little while, the company will probably have enough spare funds to custom-build a Cyberware set just for you. Any thoughts on what you want?”

“…Is it expensive?”

“…Obviously.”

“Do I have to pay for it?”

“Selling you wouldn’t even cover it.”

“Then I’ve got no opinion. Do whatever.”

…

“This is the All Foods factory. We’ll take a look inside once we breach their systems.”

Kiwi stared at the massive industrial complex in the distance, orange light flashing across her eyes.

Rich and Tina immediately began their intrusion routines, hacking into the factory’s internal systems.

“Hm… can’t see the production floor. They probably intentionally didn’t install cameras there…”

“The entrance—holy shit. Two Militech fully automated heavy turret guns right at the gate!”

“Looks like around forty people inside? Maybe more. Most of them are Maelstrom. Hardly any non-Maelstrom personnel working in the building.”

“Send whatever you’re seeing to this computer.”

Roland pulled a laptop from the car’s trunk. Soon, three separate displays appeared as the trio streamed their feeds in. Roland and the others began analyzing the data instantly.

“That firepower’s going to be a pain…”

“Yeah. Best if we avoid a direct fight. We grab the intel and get out.”

Roland nodded. There were plenty of people inside, most armed with SMGs and rifles—heavy firepower. Roland didn’t fear it himself, but the others definitely didn’t have his level of ballistic protection.