The United States is different from traditional countries; it is a newly emerged immigrant nation, and due to its particularity and the short time since its founding, it has hardly experienced any dynastic changes.

Neither the Civil War nor the split and reunification wars of the U.S. were truly wars to topple the nation from bottom to top but were, in reality, internal conflicts between those in power.

Even now, despite the original United States republics being split, no matter how bad things get for their people, they've never thought about rebelling or anything much beyond hoping that the system can reform itself, much like the Civil War.

At most, there are protests and demonstrations, and occasionally looting sprees—but that's about it, which is why those big North American corporations can act so recklessly.

This difference is evident in various aspects between the parties, just like how Lord Dong could never understand why the French would take to the streets to protest every day over trivial matters, sometimes even escalating to confrontations with local military police.

And this Mewtwo not only awakens the class consciousness of these increasingly numb Cyborgs but also rekindles their longing for the past as a beacon of freedom.

Many might see that so-called beacon of freedom as a lie, a fairy tale propped up by propaganda machines, but no one said lies can't become reality.

Californians resist the war of unification by the New America government, not because they deny they were once citizens of a great nation leading the world.

Once there is a common ideal, the atomic individuals fragmented by modern society will be re-united.

By then, ethnicity, skin color, religion, and borders will no longer be barriers, as corporations have long crushed these traditional concepts, exploiting everyone indiscriminately.

(Apparently, writing about strikes touches the scrutiny threshold more than writing about Sisi, at least the latter gives me a chance to revise, rather than outright informing me of banned content and closing the chapter.)

————

The reputation of Horizon Mercenaries within the fixer circles in Night City is not good.

While local mercenaries can clear a scene to rescue, kill, and kidnap, secret infiltration and data theft are among the 'delicate work' they also handle.

Fixers will select a group of skilled individuals as quality outsourcers, assessing task difficulty, and dispatching appropriate ones to them, usually more cost-effective than those peripheral roving mercenaries.

However, Horizon Mercenaries' loyalty belongs to Horizon Corporation, so fixers cannot cultivate them as trusted aides.

Moreover, Horizon Mercenaries' task completion rate is very worrying; they seem better at botching tasks rather than finishing them.

It's not that fixers don't give players tasks; rather, assigning players tasks would ruin their own reputation, having been scared by these maniacs.

When tasked to upload the Puppet Virus to a computer host at a certain bar, these lunatics either brazenly storm into the bar, installing the virus in front of everyone, or get discovered while sneaking, then violently kill all gang members present, making a tiny issue known to all.

After a couple of times, no one would hire Horizon Mercenaries anymore.

And now, with gangs eliminated, fixers in each district are either recruited, or preparing to gather their belongings and seek opportunities in other cities; only a few can still maintain their status through businesses between companies. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Consequently, a massive number of third-rate mercenaries unable to find jobs are forced to change professions, marking the first downturn in Night City's mercenary ecosystem since the Crimson Era.

"Zeta Technology..."

After taking Lin Miao's task, several player groups simultaneously focused their attention on this company.

Unlike a giant like Military Technology that can have a skyscraper in the core 'first ring' area of the company square, Zeta Technology, despite being a city council member, has much smaller capital; its office building is in the 'second ring.' Although it's also a core area, compared to the former, it's far inferior in decoration and number of floors.

However, it still reaches several dozen floors high, with a large [Zetatech] logo hanging on the smooth outer glass, looking quite impressive.

"I wonder when our Horizon Corporation can have such an awesome building," Brother Ni mused.

Brother Ni was still an 'Independent,' relying entirely on the giant still preparing what seemed to be a fishery company, making them veteran players still 'Independent' players, having to consider Horizon Corporation as 'our company.'

"What's the point of a tall building when they barely pay you? Pure cattle," Tutu, the individual entrepreneur, expressed disdain while looking at Brother Ni, the top Stealth Department operative.

"Speaking of which, how are you planning to steal the technology? Any plans ready?"

"This company actually uses human brains as computers; I used to have a good impression of them, thinking their products had good value for money—but now, it's all ruined; compared to them, Punch Mouse is a saint..."

As Tutu rambled on, taking the topic further off track, several players simultaneously turned around and formed a circle.

Jianxue: "I've heard, last time suppressing Chimera, just Zeta Technology deployed two armed hovercars and over ten light power armors; the chances of a frontal assault are slim, maybe we should... find a plane and crash it in."

"Anyway, they don't know we're here to steal technology, so it's unlikely to trigger any alarms; if necessary, I can still load some explosives and play a 9/11 event reenactment, blow it up big!"