Compared to distant factions in other regions, the people of Night City were the ones truly shaken.
"Hey… am I dreaming? How the hell did a mech from Braindance show up right in front of me?!"
"Oh my God… how big is that thing? If it falls, we're dead for sure…"
"All I know is it's got a sword on its back!"
"Haha, I told you. I told you I wasn't crazy. See that? That's the ultimate weapon they sent!"
While most people were anxious or terrified, one ordinary middle-aged man stood out. He wore a black knit cap, black-rimmed glasses, and had a full beard. Right now, he was pointing at the towering Tyrant Sword Demon Unit with manic excitement.
"Look. Look! The aliens are here!!"
Gary ran around from person to person, shouting at the top of his lungs, spittle flying everywhere.
Finally, someone had enough and punched him.
"Fuck off. What aliens? If aliens were coming, they would have made a move already. This is probably just another piece of tech from PROJECT corp. Stop acting like a lunatic!"
"I'm not crazy. This is a revelation. A revelation!!"
Lying on the ground, Gary clutched his cheek and kept shouting wildly. The man who hit him shook his head and walked away, no longer interested. Meanwhile, a few people nearby actually seemed convinced and quietly gathered around Gary.
" Vik, what do you think?"
Leaning against the counter, Misty smiled and turned to Vik beside her.
"What do I think? I'm standing here watching, aren't I?"
Vik chuckled and shook his head, clearly not taking it seriously. Still, that massive construct did leave him slightly uneasy.
Vik was no longer the underground doctor secretly running a cyberware clinic. He was now a fully licensed Ripperdoc, complete with certifications and his own proper storefront.
This was largely thanks to certain people. Namely, Jackie and the others. With their help, he had stepped into the open and no longer needed to work out of that basement.
Over time, more and more people had come to recognize Vik's skill and character. Gradually, his reputation had become excellent.
"Jackie probably knows something. If you're curious, you can ask him."
Vik said with a smile.
"Forget it. His comms aren't going through right now. He's probably on another job. It should be fine though. I can't even read Jackie's fate anymore."
Misty shook her head, then lowered her gaze and began arranging the tarot cards on her desk.
...
"What do you… think?"
"How many times have we held meetings because of PROJECT now?"
"Third time, I think…"
Opus and the others exchanged helpless looks. The machines that appeared during the war with the New United States had only piqued their interest. This one, however, was outright terrifying.
Logan Doyle rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. PROJECT's growth rate was beyond anything they had anticipated. Just from this newly revealed war machine alone, he could already imagine what might come next.
He could picture similar constructs appearing on space battlefields.
If a weapon like this entered a space engagement between fleets, what would happen?
With that terrifying mobility, protected by an Energy Shield, and wielding a massive, devastating blade, there was no doubt it would completely dominate the battlefield.
None of their warships could withstand a strike from that blade. The only possible defense would be technology on the same level. Relying on the enemy's own technology to counter them.
Given enough time, it might be possible.
But clearly, they did not have that time. PROJECT's rise was completely out of sync with their own development speed.
"Let's trade resources for their technology. We have no foundation in this area. Starting from scratch and expecting results isn't realistic."
"That's exactly the issue. If we give them more resources, who knows what they'll end up building next…"
Logan Doyle spoke with visible fatigue. Encryptus silently observed their troubled expressions while discreetly uploading the entire conversation.
After Lissandra entered the Crystal Palace, she had already discovered this so-called traitor. No, not a traitor. The most ambitious genius among them. Someone who had long figured out a different path.
If the Highriders were simply absorbed into PROJECT, then there would be no need to worry about PROJECT destroying them.
Encryptus agreed because he had seen it clearly. The technologies controlled by PROJECT had already surpassed every other faction. It was the only force with the potential to truly lead humanity into the stars.
At that moment, Roland, inside PROJECT corp, smiled after hearing Logan Doyle's words. He was not wrong. If they could obtain resources from the Highriders this time, progress on the Celestial Dragon God being built beneath Nevada could be pushed even further.
But now, it seemed unlikely the Highriders would agree to that.
"Then what can we offer in exchange?"
Everyone lowered their heads, thinking.
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration appeared in Opus's eyes.
"I've got it. PROJECT has always wanted to build a base on the moon, right? Then we give them a piece of undeveloped land. Let them build it themselves. We won't provide any additional support. Transportation will be entirely up to them."
The Highriders' senior officials immediately lit up at the suggestion. They quickly realized its value. Not only could they obtain PROJECT's technology, they could also slow down PROJECT's development. Two goals achieved at once.
"Hmm… should we try to get their energy technology while we're at it? That's the real key, isn't it?"
"…Not realistic. That's not something they'll give up for just a piece of land."
"Yeah… that's true."
They all nodded. That technology was the foundation of everything PROJECT had built. Their core advantage. Without paying a heavy price, there was no way they would hand it over.
Especially since PROJECT effectively monopolized it. So far, they had only managed to replicate a few inferior versions using weapon manufacturing techniques and samples. The gap between those and PROJECT's true energy tech was still enormous.
Seeing that a decision had been reached, Encryptus quietly cut off the transmission.
Roland, having observed everything, smiled.
Giant mech technology? If they wanted it, they could have it. After all, they never specified which generation.
Compared to that, the lunar base was far more important.
And while they were at it, they could establish a space station as well. Some of the space warships they had been keeping hidden could finally make an appearance.
For example, the Narol space transport ship beneath Nevada. That vessel was enormous, and it came equipped with its own defensive systems.
Since the Highriders were not going to assist with transport, they would handle it themselves.
Besides, once all those resources were transported up there, they would not be used up anytime soon. There was no reason to rush back.