"The machine gunners move their positions in batches, while the rest alternate and retreat. Move quickly."

Perhaps David and his group's cybernetic bodies, marksmanship, and combat skills are not the best among the players, and due to the secret mission in Cuba, they are even lagging a bit behind the current version.

But their ample training and tight cooperation allow them to achieve a combat power of 1+1>2. With just a few people, under orderly commands, they managed to stop nearly a hundred armed drug dealers from launching a raid.

This situation left the drug dealers' commander both shocked and angry.

"Where did these people come from?"

Someone next to him answered.

"The undercover said they are Americans, like mercenaries from some Horizon Corporation, coming here to eliminate us."

"Nonsense!"

The commander didn't believe the unheard-of Horizon Corporation; this must be an elite armed force from some large corporation.

The Cuban drug dealer organization is scattered, and information flow is low; some people don't even know New America has declared war on Cuba.

"Where's that undercover? Bring him here."

————

David and Jose got separated by gunfire, frantically breaking through to escape.

Dodging through a hail of bullets, the surge of adrenaline kept David strangely calm in his fury. As he fired back at the drug dealers, he tried to locate his mother and teacher.

No panicked screams, no discomfort at killing

The previous training from his mentors was being revived in David; skillfully firing, finding cover, avoiding shots, reloading—at just 18, he seemed born to be a soldier on the battlefield.

This was David's most dangerous time since arriving in Cuba with the skilled group over a month ago, and it was the first time he truly encountered what war means.

Jose grabbed the willing-to-run David.

"Follow me, find them after we break out."

"But..."

David wanted to say something, but Jose interrupted.

"Kid, you have to live. Only those who live have a future. Going back now means death."

He glanced painfully at the burning stronghold behind him but did not look back.

David hesitated for a moment and chose to follow Jose's breakout because he believed in his mentors' capability to protect his mother.

Nobody knows better than David how legendary these people were in Night City.

The fierce gunfire confirmed that his mentors were fiercely engaging with the drug dealers; going back would only cause trouble.

As the skilled team attracted all the attention from the armed drug dealers, with Jose as the local connection, the further they ran, the fewer drug dealers they faced, quickly escaping the encirclement.

As they ran further, the gunfire behind them became sparse. The darkness of the night forest overshadowed the camp's blazing firelight. Exhausted, they dared to stop and catch their breath, pondering the curious nature of the raid.

"How did they... find this place?"

David leaned under a slope, panting heavily to recover his strength.

"Maybe they followed you here; it's not your fault... this day was bound to come."

At this moment, Jose lost the decisiveness of leading David out of the encirclement, sitting weakly on the ground, his bright eyes dim in the darkness.

"Maybe I shouldn't have taken them in. Perhaps they could have survived outside..."

David wanted to comfort Jose but didn't know how to start. The fact that Jose didn't blame him for the attack on the camp showed immense rationality.

No grief is greater than a dead heart.

This man has no idea what GCZY or SHZY means; he's simply trying to help those persecuted by Cuban drug dealers survive by joining the guerrillas, hoping one day this country can escape the drug scourge and return to normal.

But in a world where order is crumbling day by day, his aspirations are too extravagant.

"You're right, Jose, their deaths are all your fault."

"Who?"

David wanted to raise his gun for defense but was shot in the shoulder by a bullet from the dark, immediately bleeding profusely and losing combat strength, collapsing to the ground.

At this time, the man slowly emerged from the bushes, holding a pistol that pointed directly at Jose.

"If it weren't for your stupidity, they wouldn't have died."

"You..."

David widened his eyes. He had seen this man before darkness fell, also a member of the guerrillas.

This action made him understand that those drug dealers were probably brought here by this guy.

"Why? Aren't you comrades?"

"Comrades?"

This word seemed to ignite anger in the thin man.

"This guy leads us into the marshland, drinking sewage, eating grass roots, living a life worse than pigs and dogs. Now he's bringing all you troublemakers into the camp, and this kind of scum can be called a comrade?"

In the silence, Jose raised his head, speaking softly.

"Kevin... you weren't like this two years ago..." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Yeah, I was bewitched then, believing your bullshit, dreaming of overthrowing warlords, saving Cuba, improving people's livelihood... But people change, Jose, everyone changes. How can you talk ideals when you can't afford to eat?"

"It's been 80 to 90 years, from thousands to now just dozens, still dreaming here?"

Kevin's gun never left Jose's head.

"You stay honest. I know you carry those outdated combat prosthetics from dead men, junk that you dare to use."