"Welcome to tonight's shopping showcase! It's your favorite host, Moska! Today, I'm bringing you products from the hottest corporation on the market right now, PROJECT Corporation! Let's roll the video!"
As soon as Moska finished speaking, he spun in place, steadied himself in one smooth motion, stood upright, then snapped his head up with a bright smile and pointed toward the large screen behind him.
A massive PROJECT Corporation logo appeared, then slowly faded, revealing a towering figure.
"Is that a new robot from PROJECT?"
"Looks like it…"
"I wonder what it can do… now I'm getting curious."
"Damn, didn't expect you to be rich."
"Not really. Some of PROJECT Corporation's robots are actually pretty affordable."
"I think you've got a very different definition of 'affordable'…"
Across the streets of various cities, crowds had gathered around public screens, watching PROJECT's advertisement.
This time, PROJECT had clearly poured in serious money. Every major media outlet willing to take sponsorship had been covered. As for those that refused, it was mostly due to the forces backing them.
What Roland didn't expect was that even Arasaka's news channels had agreed to run the promotion.
He had assumed Saburo Arasaka would hold a grudge and refuse. Now it seemed more likely they were worried he might tear up the agreement, so they chose to show goodwill instead.
Unfortunately, Roland accepted the goodwill, but the agreement would still be broken.
There was no room for others to sleep peacefully on his turf.
"Apple Robot. A security unit you can trust completely. Your most reliable line of defense, protecting your personal safety at all times. No matter the threat, it will stand in front of you."
"If you live in fear of violence or stray bullets, choose Apple Robot. Equipped with PROJECT Corporation's exclusive Energy Shield, it provides unmatched protection."
As the narration continued, footage of a New United States nuclear strike appeared.
Then came the image of PROJECT forces deploying an Energy Shield under the blast, followed by the aftermath where the shield remained intact.
The footage had clearly been edited. The explosion looked much closer than it really was.
But it was more than enough to convince the public.
And the results were immediate.
As soon as the footage aired, PROJECT's sales orders surged, especially for the Apple Robot.
Watching the advertisement, Myers's expression turned extremely grim, but there was nothing she could do.
After all, the New United States wasn't entirely controlled by Militech. Other media outlets still existed, even if their influence was limited.
After the Apple Robot segment, the focus shifted to the medical robot, Source Code Nami.
Energy-based healing, nanomachines, medical agents, regenerative fluids… all integrated into a single unit.
Buying one was essentially the same as hiring a fully equipped medical team.
Among those affected, aside from Militech, Trauma Team felt the pressure the most.
Apple Robot handled security.
Source Code Nami handled medical care.
In some ways, they were even more capable than a full Trauma Team squad.
And cheaper.
This wasn't competition.
This was a direct attack on their business.
If the performance matched the advertisement, their market would take a hit sooner or later.
Mid-to-high-tier clients would be the first to go.
Gold-tier clients would hesitate and compare costs.
Platinum-tier clients, who valued their lives above all else, would likely keep both options.
But those in between would start canceling contracts.
That was a serious problem.
Instead of confronting PROJECT, Trauma Team chose a different approach.
Cooperation.
They proposed bundling their services with these robots, while subtly emphasizing their own importance in critical situations.
Roland didn't reject the proposal outright. He simply said they could take their time discussing it.
There was no rush.
After all, PROJECT wasn't stopping at just these two models.
There were also mid- and low-tier robots meant to flood the market.
And then there was Camille.
A product designed specifically for corporations such as security firms and weapons manufacturers.
With Camille's performance, Roland was confident it would attract buyers. Even if those corporations had concerns about hidden backdoors, most would assume their own netrunner teams could handle it.
The Source Code series covered a wide range of applications.
Unlike the PROJECT series, which focused on military use, the Source Code series handled espionage, assassination, security, medical services, and civilian applications.
Among these, security, medical, and civilian services were the main focus. The others were reserved for specialized models.
This launch covered everything from cleaning and security to healthcare, cooking, navigation, and even city service units.
Anyone paying attention could see it.
PROJECT wasn't just selling products.
They were taking over the market.
At the same time, concerns began to spread.
All Source Code robots used AI.
That alone made many people uneasy.
So while interest was high, many chose to wait and see.
Meanwhile, hover robots were also part of the lineup, available in multiple variants. Compared to the others, these might actually become the biggest hit.
And then there were the rocket boots.
A sleek new mobility product that used energy from the soles to accelerate and hover just above the ground, similar to earlier hoverboards.
They were bound to become a trend.
"Lissandra, how far do you think this launch will spread?"
Roland turned to her.
The Source Code virus had already spread through PROJECT's existing products, mainly security robots and smart weapons. It now covered all cities under PROJECT's influence.
It had already spread across the New United States as well.
The only place left untouched was across the ocean.
But that was only because Lissandra hadn't made a move yet.
Once she did, it wouldn't take long.
...
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