Players Invade Cyberpunk-Chapter 635 - 204: Valerie Is Dead—Was It Your Choice, Idol_2
It's impossible for Horizon Corporation to have any deep relations with military technology or New America.
Valerie has confirmed this.
As Lin Miao said, the vast majority of people in this world have lost their so-called ideals, and military technology is no exception.
You can't grow so many white lotuses in a muddy pit.
Nearly a thousand people, and so strong. If military technology were made up of such people, Huang Ban and the Free State would have been flattened thirty years ago.
"No matter what, your life is in my hands, so you should flatter me a bit to please me. If you make me unhappy, I might just kill you here."
Lin Miao turned her back to Valerie, so she couldn't see the expression on his face.
But it's certain that Lin Miao lost a lot of money and resources because of Huang Ban's actions, and even delayed the engineering progress. No one would blame him for killing an Agent Huangban to vent his anger.
"..."
Valerie's breath caught. She said so much just to trade for her own life, and Valerie wasn't yet at the point where she could disregard her own life.
"Breaking a promise is not something a businessperson should do…"
"Do I have any written agreement with you?"
Lin Miao turned around, a loaded handgun already in his hand.
"No matter what agreement it is, it should be guaranteed by a contract in black and white. This is a convention left over from thousands of years ago, but I don't recall signing any contract with you."
"And do you think that even if I let you go, Huang Ban will spare you? Do you think you can just return to the streets of Night City and live normally as if nothing happened?"
Lin Miao aimed the gun at Valerie's head.
"Maybe I can use you and Albertson to settle this issue, claiming that you two made a deal with the Chaotic Blade Association for money, deliberately stirring up conflict between Huang Ban and Horizon Corporation as an excuse to smuggle equipment. Even if Mizuki wants to cause trouble for me, at least I'll have a few months of peace."
"You…"
Looking at the dark muzzle, Valerie's heart sank to the bottom. It was always a gamble, a gamble to live or die, but when the other party didn't acknowledge a verbal agreement, fear of death was inevitable.
"It seems that your so-called ideals are no different from Huang Ban's…"
Bang!
Valerie shut her eyes, driven by fear, she futilely raised her hands to stop the bullet, and she even smelled the gunpowder as the bullet neared her.
But the expected pain never came, only her eardrums buzzed from the pressure and sound as the bullet passed by.
Lin Miao lowered the gun and turned to walk away.
"Don't lump me in with those money-driven creatures you associate with."
"Agent Huangban Valerie died in Golden City. I'll have this reported in the news on Channel 54 the day after tomorrow. You go find Gloria and have her arrange a facial surgery for you. I'll prepare a clean new identity for you. Whether you choose to flee far away or stay in Night City has nothing to do with me."
"But I hope you'll remember, you won't be so lucky next time."
"… So, I get to keep my life?"
"Cherish your second life, Valerie. I rarely give anyone a second chance."
————
In a blink, three more days passed.
Counting prisoners, spoils, and calculating losses, it all took time and effort. Even with AI assistance, it took a long time to sort everything out.
And we also had to wait for the resurrection of all fallen players.
Over fifteen hundred people—their gathering could fill a soccer field.
The open space on Stone Ridge Mountain was crowded with heads, Lin Miao looked out from the second-floor balcony of the office, seeing nothing but heads.
Everyone looked at Lin Miao expectantly, whispering among themselves in a chaotic scene that made Lin Miao feel like he was a high school principal giving a speech on the first day of school.
"Ahem."
He cleared his throat, indicating that he was about to speak, and the players below fell silent instantly.
"First, I must thank you all. Your bravery and courage repelled those malicious invaders, successfully protecting the waterplant and industrial area under construction, as well as the workers who were unharmed under your protection."
"For this, whether on the frontline or in the logistics behind, each of you will receive a [Warrior Medal]."
Saying this, Nina and her sister, Nishikawa Lingmei, among other NPCs that Lin Miao specially brought from Night City to Stone Ridge Mountain, each followed by two transport platforms, began personally awarding medals to each player.
The design of the bronze medal wasn't complex, a circular badge with an engraved simple topography of the Salinas River Valley.
But what was important was that it represented the glory players received.
"Thank you, my warrior, big brother (player)."
The simple words, along with the unremarkable medal, made the Sword Saint, the first to receive a medal from the NPC, deeply moved, especially when it was personally pinned on him—it made him want to puff out his chest to the sky.
Even if it meant climbing the mountain and dying a few more times, he would gladly do it! 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺
Which man hasn't dreamed of having a chest full of colorful medals as a badge of honor?
It's the most direct proof of heroism.
Not to mention the hero medal given by a beautiful girl, more precious than gold.
Although Nishikawa Ayami was only six or seven years old, clueless about anything, she even had to stand on a transport platform and tiptoe to pin medals on players.
