"Looks like it worked well," Megan said, analyzing the footage from hidden cameras with Aclesia.
"Worse than I imagined," Aclesia replied, her tone flat with disappointment. As a perfectionist, she couldn't hide her dissatisfaction with 'Father's' performance. He didn't awaken any superpowers—he was just a durable punching bag.
"The first generation always has some issues. This time, it's just about sending a message," Megan shrugged, indifferent to the monster's capabilities. She was more focused on making a statement: Biotech still has trump cards.
The infection speed, however, did satisfy Aclesia. It only took about ten seconds for someone scratched by the monster to transform into a 'sub-body'.
Unfortunately, it was dealt with by the Spartan soldiers before the transformation could fully manifest.
If only I could experiment on their bodies… Aclesia's eyes lit up with excitement at the thought.
"I didn't expect them to have such weapons," Carter muttered, watching soldiers in yellow biohazard suits disinfect the area with grim resolve.
"Do you think those bio-players would be kind?" Catherine scoffed beside him. "To promote their new fuel, they've seized who knows how many people's land."
Capital fed on suffering, and Biotech was no exception. Though the creation of new fuel was certainly a technological triumph, it came at the cost of countless agricultural collapses and the extinction of entire crop species.
Profit, always, demanded sacrifice.
"Are they planning to get involved?"
Carter watched as the biohazard soldiers didn't destroy all the monster tissue but collected samples instead—clearly for research.
"They're really not afraid of death," Emil said.
"They'll set up a research facility in the old castle on Baker Farm," Carter revealed. "They want to study that monster."
"See? Who knows how many more people will die now," Catherine chuckled darkly.
"Thinking everything's under control, being arrogant and blind—that's typical of so-called important people," George said, shrugging. He guessed that some high-ranking official saw immense potential in the monster and decided to move forward with research.
Just like the infamous Spartan Project, once upon a time.
Hmm?
Carter suddenly froze, a prickle of unease crawling up his spine. He sensed something—or someone—watching them. He turned sharply toward the nearby forest.
"What's wrong?" Catherine asked.
"There's something there!" Carter shouted, dashing into the trees with his weapon raised. His team followed close behind.
They combed through the forest, but found nothing.
"Captain, did you see wrong?"
"No! Carter isn't mistaken!" Catherine called out, scanning her analysis map on her micro-computer. Suddenly, her eyes widened. "It's up there!"
Everyone looked up—just in time to see a black shadow zip past overhead.
Da-da-da!
Carter fired without hesitation, but visibility was poor, and the figure was too fast. Not a single bullet found its mark.
"It's gone." The large heat signature vanished from Catherine's screen. The opportunity for pursuit slipped through their fingers.
"What the hell was that?" Emil asked, eyes scanning the trees.
"From the visual data, it was human-shaped," Catherine said, analyzing the still images.
"A mutant like that monster?"
"Congratulations, you're right."
"I'd rather be wrong."
"I'll report it," Carter said grimly. "Let's head back and rest. Something tells me this forest won't stay quiet for long."
---
Night City
In the aftermath of the monster attack, the executives at Military Technology held an emergency meeting. Their plan: a full-scale pressure campaign.
First, they submitted a report to the government, stating that Biotech was undeniably responsible for the attack. They accused Biotech of gross negligence and demanded a thorough investigation.
Next, they launched a media blitz, bombarding the public with terrifying images of the monster. The implication was clear—Biotech is a threat to society.
But Biotech didn't even respond.
"Good morning~ Night City! This is your old friend, Stanley! Did you hear the news? A monster rampaged through Military Tech's territory, killing people and toppling buildings. Those new recruits? Like chicks in a slaughterhouse. If the Spartan team hadn't stepped in, who knows what would've happened!"
"They say Biotech released the beast? But I think they directed it! These days, Biotech doesn't even dare leave their front gates."
"Speaking of which, I haven't seen any Biotech employees in a while," said Ethan Cross, catlike in appearance as always.
"There's nothing out there but bullets. Why risk it?" Lily Cross replied, one hand on the steering wheel, wind tousling her hair.
"Don't even joke," said Arasaka Yuto, nervously peering out the window at the thinning crowd. "Feels like a war's about to break out."
"Then go home and drink some milk," Lily teased, though her thoughts strayed to her busy parents. She, too, planned to prepare for what was coming.
Yuto sighed, then asked, "Where's the Captain?"
Today's mission was to oversee the upcoming memorial for Arasaka Saburo. His remains were scheduled to circle the Arasaka-controlled region before being transported via aircraft carrier.
Security was tight. But Leon Black, their captain, hadn't shown up yet.
"He has other matters to handle. He'll be here later," Mike Taylor's booming voice answered from the back seat.
That's barely an excuse, Yuto thought.
---
Queen of Hearts' Race
Leon Black followed Danny into what looked like a high-end club—strangely luxurious for a time of chaos.
Below, people fought for their lives. Up here, the elite drowned in luxury.
Leon scoffed, tossing aside an arm he'd sliced from an Animals gang member. Danny's terrified eyes met his.
"Hello, Section Chief. Having fun?"
Danny, still dazed from the top-tier Braindance, could hardly process what was happening. "How... how are you here?"
"Today's weather: clear skies, light breeze, perfect humidity," Leon said casually, walking toward him. "It's a great day for killing."
"You dare touch me?! Do you know who I am?!" Danny shouted, frantically sending out distress signals.
"Don't waste your time," Leon said, sinking into a leather sofa. "This place is sealed. I've burned the network gear and jammed all signals. No one's coming."
Danny clutched his bleeding arm, trembling in pain.
"Now I ask, you answer."
"Go to hell!" Danny spat.
Snap! Leon extended his molecular wire, slicing deeper.
"Aaaahh!" Danny screamed.
"I said—I ask, you answer." Leon's voice was colder now. "Who sent Lena Fox to Team Six? You or Aiji?"
"Him! It was him!" Danny gasped, sweat dripping down his forehead. "He said you had a platinum-level hacker… so he struck a deal with me. Said it was part of personnel restructuring."
"I see." Leon nodded slowly. "Hand over the security layout for the memorial."
"Here!" Danny yanked a neural chip from behind his ear and tossed it over. "Take it! Just let me get treatment!"
"That's all for now," Leon said, vanishing and reappearing in front of Danny in an instant. "I'll extract the rest myself."
With one brutal strike, he knocked Danny out.
Leon leaned over the unconscious man, beginning a forced data scan directly from his mind.
"Useless as he is, he sure knew a lot." Leon muttered, tossing aside the still-smoking husk of Danny's burnt-out neural port.
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