Chapter 62: The Assault

“Micks, you did a decent job, but you need to keep working. I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.”

After having the Imperial Guard robots store Kelly’s body, Roland left the basement and addressed Micks, who was still standing by the door.

Hearing Roland’s words, Micks immediately brightened with relief. He had been terrified that his boss might be dissatisfied and decide to recycle him as scrap on the spot…

“And one more thing. How you spend that money to search for what I want is your business. But if I come back next time and don’t see results that satisfy me—you know exactly what will happen.”

“Yes, yes, of course, boss! Don’t worry. I know what to do. I’ll work twice as hard—I'll definitely live up to your expectations.”

Micks flashed a practiced smile, knowing he was temporarily safe. As long as he paid attention, Roland wouldn’t care about his small tricks around the office or elsewhere.

Roland nodded, turned to leave, but paused to look back.

“Right—tell the people outside that I came here to commission you to find an item. Don’t reveal our connection.”

“Understood. I know how to handle it.”

Satisfied, Roland stepped onto the AV, with the two Imperial Guard robots following behind.

Just as the AV was about to leave the outskirts’ Junkyard zone and enter Night City, an alert suddenly sounded.

“Warning! Missile rapidly approaching. Defensive protocols engaged. Prepare for impact. Estimated time to collision: five seconds!”

Roland’s pupils tightened sharply at the urgent broadcast. He quickly put on Lights’s exoskeleton helmet and looked out the window.

The scan displayed a rocket-propelled warhead streaking toward the AV—and it also pinpointed the source.

A convoy not far below was speeding toward them, clearly ready for combat.

Immediately, a panel on the AV’s exterior opened, deploying an outward-expanding defensive metal layer.

BOOM!

The rocket slammed into the AV’s hull. The violent shock sent the vehicle trembling in midair, the impact rippling through the cabin—but none of the three passengers panicked.

After all, the passengers were just two Imperial Guard robots and Roland, equipped with the PROJECT·Light Template.

As the smoke and flames cleared from the air, the convoy below stared up expectantly, waiting for the AV to fall. But instead…

Only the defensive layer had been torn open. The propulsion system had taken some damage, and one external machine gun had been destroyed—but everything else remained fully operational.

Seeing this, the convoy leader panicked. He snarled at his men behind him:

“Keep firing! Blow that thing out of the sky!!”

Even they were shocked at the AV’s defenses. Their launchers were powerful enough to down most AVs, and intelligence had indicated that the target’s AV shouldn’t have this level of protection.

But now there was no turning back—they had to continue the attack.

“Unit One, get down there and deal with them. Let me see what you can do.”

Roland frowned as he watched someone below picking up another launcher. He turned to the Imperial Guard robot on his left.

Receiving the command, Unit One nodded slowly as the AV’s door opened.

The convoy members froze, stunned—they hadn’t expected this.

“What the hell is that idiot doing?! Are they insane?!”

“Maybe they’re scared and begging daddy for mercy! Hahaha!”

“Hmph. Who cares? Aim at the door and fire!”

The squad leader barked the order.

“Boss… someone’s by the door!”

The squad leader paused, then stared toward the open hatch—just in time to see a towering figure leap out.

BOOM!

A thunderous crash shook the ground, kicking up a massive cloud of dust that blotted out the convoy’s vision. For a moment, everyone was stunned—they had never expected someone to just jump out.

“All threats must be eliminated.”

As they raised their weapons in panic, a synthetic voice echoed through the dust.

Bang!

A gunshot rang out as a streak of red light cut through the air, plunging into one of the vehicles.

BOOM!

The orange-red explosion lit up the faces of the nearby convoy members. The squad leader’s pupils shrank, and he roared:

“Get the hell out of the cars!!!”

Everyone slammed the brakes and dove out.

Roland watched them scatter below.

“Open fire. Destroy their vehicles.”

“Your will.”

The AV pivoted, exposing multiple mounted machine guns. In an instant, a torrent of bullets—an iron storm—rained down, ripping the vehicles to shreds.

The convoy members trembled in fear. They had never imagined an AV could deliver this kind of firepower.

Meanwhile, Unit One strode forward, raising its [Jamil IV Charged Rifle].

“Take that thing down! Otherwise none of us are making it out alive!”

The squad leader charged with his weapon raised.

Unit One shifted its right hand. Instantly, the module on its right shoulder unfolded into a shield.

Whoosh—

A red flash swept across the squad leader, leaving only half of his body behind.

The convoy members who had been about to rush out immediately cowered back.

One man dove behind a broken car, waiting for Unit One to leave.

But suddenly, the world spun—Unit One grabbed the car by its underframe and hurled it away.

The vehicle rotated midair before crashing heavily into the ground.

“Clearance achieved.”

“A-ah… ahhh!!!”

Swish—

The charged shotgun fired. The red blast vaporized the man into a cloud of blood.

Seeing this, the remaining members finally snapped and rushed out to fight. Flames and gunfire erupted across the battlefield.

But soon, only screams remained—followed by the cold, mechanical verdict:

“Clearance achieved.”

“Unit One, leave one alive. I need information.”

Unit One immediately halted, putting away its weapon and turning toward the lone surviving target.

The battlefield was silent. Only one person remained alive. Everyone else had been reduced to blood mist or scattered limbs.

The only “intact” corpse was the close-combat attacker whose head Unit One had crushed.

The remaining survivor stood dazed, face smeared in blood—his legs entirely gone.