"Alpha squad, authorized for full deployment, take down these unknown attackers."

On the B3 floor of the Zeta Technology Mansion, over a dozen light Power Armor Soldiers were ready for action. Once the deputy minister's weapon restriction order was lifted, they charged upstairs with astonishing agility.

The mobility of the light Power Armor was akin to urban warfare superheroes, with a weight of 500KG and a speed of 200KM/H, they were essentially street sweepers. Even the MT-3 couldn't compare to these external armors. Players had often suffered at the hands of these super gear during clashes in Night City with corporations, and most anti-armor weapons were ineffective against these humanoid tanks.

Upon reaching the first floor, they didn't even need to take the stairs; with a light leap, they grabbed the second-floor railing, and with another push, they reached the third floor, scaling up to the 10th-20th floors where the players were located with ease.

Seeing these behemoths enter the field, the players put away their playful demeanor and started taking their opponents seriously.

As for the Exchange Coupon still active on the 38th floor, the events downstairs were none of his concern.

The leg modifications of his Lynx Claw not only enhanced his agility but also made his movements as silent as a ghost, making almost no noise as he moved through the ventilation ducts.

Directly below him, a commander-like captain was holding a radio:

"Quick, the target is escaping towards Zone A5, probably heading to the helipad. Block them with two squads."

"And what about that bat freak, damn it, haven't you caught him yet?"

Where did this cyber lunatic come from, prowling the Zeta Technology building in broad daylight, clad in black and scaring people?

His ruthless attacks were terrifying, and none of the security teams that encountered him survived. A sense of fear was spreading among the security personnel. If they didn't eliminate him soon, his position would be at risk.

Yet, the captain didn't know that the freak he mentioned was right above him, four meters high in the ventilation duct, watching him from above.

After taking down this command node, the security system upstairs would be in chaos for some time, giving those people a good chance to escape.

Thinking of this, the Exchange Coupon hesitated no more, throwing a dart far away, which immediately startled the surrounding security. In a flash, bullets rained down on the location of the dart. Seizing this brief gap, the Exchange Coupon leaped from the ventilation duct, with a hooked rope tied to his waist, like a spider descending on prey.

He activated Sianweistan, in the slowed down world, with one hand he swatted away the captain's raised rifle and grabbed the captain's neck with the other, quickly pulling them both back to height with the grappling hook.

He then looped the rope around the captain's neck and released it.

Crack!

In a brief free fall, the captain's spine was snapped under the force of gravity, killing him instantly.

By the time the surrounding security reacted, the breach in the ventilation duct was already empty, with only the captain hanging from the rope, still swaying.

A silent terror gripped the nerves of every security personnel.

"Is he...is he still nearby?"

"I just saw him, he looked like a giant bat, in the blink of an eye the captain was dead..."

"Am I next?"

"Come out, you freak!"

Someone couldn't stand the oppressive atmosphere and fired a round towards the duct, but aside from blowing up the exhaust pipe and spraying high-pressure steam, they found nothing.

No one knew if that monster was lurking in some corner watching them, ready to strike at any careless moment.

————

"This way, quick!"

A team of nurses hurriedly retreated through the corridor on the 37th floor.

This path ran through the office area, with transparent glass curtain walls on both sides.

Hassan's former colleagues were right behind that wall, watching the fleeing team coldly from the glass, with his shadow reflecting on the glass behind them, as if his former self was also watching from behind the wall.

Indifference.

Not only indifference to extending a helping hand, but also indifference in not stopping the traitors for the company, a kind of indifference that cared only about personal interests.

They just stood behind the wall, coldly watching, like emotionless, cold machines.

Leading the way, Hassan felt their scrutinizing gaze, and also sensed the faint emotions in those gazes.

Confusion.

Disdain.

Envy.

Every kind of emotion, but no one willing to stand up.

Just yesterday, Hassan was one of those standing behind the wall.

But today, he chose to step beyond that wall.

No longer willing to be under the company's control, not wanting to continually plot and scheme for those damned bills, but as a human, to do what he truly wanted, and not become a beast, devoid of conscience and morality, only pursuing profit.

"Hassan. Middle, stop right now."

Someone called out Hassan's name, it was his direct superior, standing right at the corner ahead.

More accurately, in the manager's office.

This path had office areas on both sides, with the manager's office directly ahead, separating the path in a T-shape.

From behind bulletproof glass, the manager attempted to use his past authority to make this junior employee surrender.

"Or Zeta Technology won't let any of you go, you should know the consequences of offending the company."

"I know perfectly well."

Hassan raised his gun, pointing at the manager behind the wall.

"As if my surrender now would make you let me go. So save it, and prepare to get fired, you idiot."