Players Invade Cyberpunk-Chapter 735 - 237: The Banner on the City Wall Changes Hands
On the large projection screen facing the door, a Sphinx cat moves vividly on the grassy ground; it seems like the image was captured using live-cat motion capture.
The red carpet is laid out with some simple dark wooden furniture and leather sofas, not overly decorated with luxury or extravagance.
"These days, what you see isn't necessarily real; relying on prosthetic eyes to distinguish with current cosmetic technology is still too difficult." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮
Lin Miao walked naturally to sit across from Handz as if he were at his own home, observing the room's setup, and continued speaking.
"Everything can be transformed now; even if someone used a synthetic face to disguise themselves as Mr. Handz standing in front of me, I wouldn't be surprised."
"Haha, why would that happen."
Handz let out an awkward laugh, seemingly reminded of an unfriendly memory.
"The most important thing in business is trust; if I'm not planning to show my true face, I wouldn't have invited Mr. Lin here."
He reached out to grab the kettle from the table and poured two glasses. Clearly, he had investigated Lin Miao before the meeting and knew he didn't like to drink, so he served water produced by Horizon Corporation.
"I heard about the morning incident at Great Empire Mall, a bunch of instigated fools causing trouble there, temporarily restrained by Mr. Lin's people. But, pardon me, such mindless fools aren't exclusive to Taiping Continent and Dog Town; they're rampant throughout Night City. As long as someone offers a bit of drugs, desire's slaves could do anything for another hit."
"The forces tangled in Dog Town are complex; many big companies have a hand in it. Outsiders want to come in for a share, using Dog Town to achieve their goals, while insiders wish to kick out competitors and maintain the status quo. Those people see Mr. Lin's sharp edge and want you to crash the gate of Dog Town. The final result would either require you to bleed or mutual destruction, allowing them to take advantage. This is a simple issue I believe Mr. Lin couldn't fail to understand."
"To avoid the situation tilting towards an unknown direction, I hope Mr. Lin and your people can think thrice before acting, move cautiously."
Compared to other intermediaries, Handz was clearly more astute, valuing balance over making more money.
"That's it?"
"That's it."
Lin Miao paused in silence and then laughed.
"You're a smart guy, Handz, then you should understand that many things can't be avoided just because you don't want to do them."
"We're all chess pieces on this board; where we go isn't decided by us but by the player."
"How to preserve power, build relationships, expand oneself, and not lose value is what we should consider."
Handz remained silent, but a hint of prudence crossed his brows, indicating that Lin Miao's backer was determined in their agenda for Dog Town, unlikely to easily give up.
However, Lin Miao's people weren't military technology as Handz imagined; it was the agitated players eager to enter Dog Town's new version.
Night City's gangs, weakened during the day, can no longer satisfy players seeking higher levels, becoming discarded toys whose destruction they eagerly seek.
Otherwise, they might really dismantle those gangs entirely.
Besides the underwater entrance first discovered by the vixen, they subsequently found two more suspected Little Beidou Laboratory collapse sites underground, currently exploring.
The barrier of Dog Town blocks Night City Corporation's gaze, missiles block military technology's air force, but for players tunneling underground, it's ineffective.
At this rate, the possibility of direct underground conflict with the Ghost Dogs grows, which isn't what Lin Miao wishes to see.
"Does this mean they're determined to give Dog Town a change of scenery?"
Handz, realizing Lin Miao's military tech was adamant, began to tread carefully.
Lin Miao nodded, "At least in my view, their attitude is quite resolute."
Handz pondered, uncertain about Lin Miao's and his backer's intentions or how they planned to handle Dog Town's issue.
Was it merely replacing Dog Town's leader with one who would heed them, or reclaiming Taiping Continent under Night City's jurisdiction, or... letting military technology settle directly.
If it were the latter two, that would be bad news for him, as the network he's cultivated for years might face substantial disruption.
But risk often entails reward.
The greater the storm, the bigger the catch.
He candidly stated,
"Most people's understanding of Dog Town is superficial; let me explain to you, Mr. Lin, how to make informed choices after understanding."
"Kurt Hansen stands firm in Dog Town; his Ghost Dogs are part of it, but it's also due to the support of others."
"The biggest force behind him is Havana's drug cartel. Half of the United States' drug business flows from Dog Town; whether Hansen lives or dies, they refuse to stop the business."
"Next are the major arms companies; worldwide, only a few exist, naturally including the one behind Mr. Lin."
Resolving Kurt Hansen and smuggling military technology from Dog Town are two different matters.
