He still quite enjoyed communicating with a straightforward techie like Tuladine, even though he didn't understand much.

"You looking for me? What's up? Don't tell me you're going to ask about the inner workings of Miner No. 7 again?"

"Of course not."

Although Tutu was very interested in that, he was seeing Jiao Ao now on official business.

"I recently picked up a gig and need a favor from you."

Tutu wrapped an arm around Jiao Ao, who had just walked out of the bar, and turned back inside to find a private room on the second floor.

"A gig? You need me?"

Jiao Ao looked suspiciously at the person in front of him, feeling that this mechanical guy must be up to something.

"Yeah, and it's a big job too."

Tuladine wasn't the cunning type; his mouth worked faster than his brain, and he often spoke before thinking things through.

"Remember that big mess in Dog Town a while back? We found some connections to Zeta Technology in it, and you came to mind. Weren't you always saying your boss was an animal? Now's your chance; help me out and get back at those bastards."

Jiao Ao had always wanted to do something big, but now that the opportunity had come knocking, he felt a bit of hesitation.

"...."

Tutu kept rambling on, not noticing Jiao Ao's expression.

"That thing is called the Human Brain Array, I think. I want you to help me find out roughly which server room or server it's hidden in, and which floor the surveillance center is on. You'll definitely get paid."

"Let me tell you, this thing is an absolute atrocity. Linking human brains together to use as a computer..."

——————

In the end, Jiao Ao didn't give Tutu any real answer. Even the next day at work, sitting at his desk, his mind was a blur.

And he didn't intend to agree with Tutu. If it was important, maybe he could use this intel to sell out those mercenaries and get himself a promotion.

"Human Brain Array...."

Driven by curiosity, he subconsciously started searching for related data on his computer.

Jiao Ao was decent with computers; otherwise, he wouldn't have gotten his hands on so many cybernetic parameters to brag about on the city forum.

But the result was nothing.

Either this thing didn't exist, or it was classified information he couldn't access at his current level.

"...."

Refusing to give up, Jiao Ao opted to use his superior's computer IP permissions to continue his search in the Zeta Technology database.

And indeed, he found a clue.

[Native Organ Transfer Agreement]

Zeta Technology wasn't a biotech firm, so a contract involving flesh and blood stood out.

The content showed that Zeta Technology had bought over ten human brains three months ago for unknown purposes and destinations.

And there was a related operation in the tech and operations department this afternoon.

Location: Haywood Community Orphanage

Time: 2:00 PM

Demand: 10 experimental subjects

His instinct from working in the company for years told Jiao Ao that this was a serious matter, not something a small fry like him should get involved in. It involved top-secret company information, and dipping a toe in could get him killed.

He still had a bright future, an enviable corporate job, and salary; he couldn't throw it all away for a bunch of lunatic mercenaries.

However, the illicit thrill and curiosity of crossing the red line weren't something a drugged-up, overworked person could resist.

Compelled by his uncontrollable mind, he made an excuse to his boss about going out for materials and quietly slipped away.

The community orphanage was a welfare building funded by the city government and the company. After all, in a place like Night City, orphans and abandoned babies were abundant. Many parents might not live to see their children become adults, and the underage death rate was as high as 7%.

Even just for company PR and political grandstanding, such orphanages had to exist, though nine-tenths of the funds might be embezzled, and less than one percent would actually reach the orphans.

Zeta Technology's vehicles were already parked outside the dilapidated wall, and there were people on watch, indicating they had been inside for some time.

Jiao Ao didn't dare to bet that they'd show mercy just because he was a colleague. This wasn't his first day on the job, so he chose to slip in through a hole in the wall.

Thanks to embezzled funds, the orphanage couldn't afford maintenance, leaving holes in the wire fence everywhere, cut by mischievous kids. There weren't even cameras, and the guard was just an old disabled man scraping by.

Who would rob a dirt-poor orphanage anyway?

Such actions would only earn the local community's hatred and attacks; only an idiot would do that.

Jiao Ao quietly made his way into the building. The presence of company personnel was easy to track, with security agents, discussions among the orphans, and clues so abundant that it was impossible not to find them. They were in the principal's office on the second floor.

He hid in the old equipment room on the ground floor, took out a palm-sized drone from his bag, and after interfacing with it, the little robot flew up slowly to the second floor, sticking to the edge below the principal's office window, and activated the listening device.

Inside the office, two Zeta Technology agents were exchanging something, and the principal, who was supposed to be there, was absent.

Agent A: "Why do they need kids? There are plenty of brains among the street drifters. If that's not enough, just stroll through a hospital for a dime a dozen."

Agent B: "Orders from above, plenty of questions, just do your job faithfully."