So, just after solving the Hellhound problem, over two hundred Power Armor soldiers on the scene immediately split into factions, delineating territories and being wary of each other, fearing a sudden and ruthless attack from their previous allies.

Next, high-level talks erupted in disputes over the ownership of these Hellhound robots, as from parts to whole units, they possessed considerable commercial value, especially the two Chimeras, which remain cutting-edge military technology.

With the potential significant asset loss looming, these things became hot commodities, taking them back for study or replication might produce a batch of duplicates.

The only one who suffered in this battle was Military Technology.

They got nothing at all yet lost an entire laboratory.

Originally, it was thought they could take advantage of this gap to advance into the empty Taiping Continent and seize the largest piece of the pie, but now you're telling me there's been a nuclear leakage.

The crux is that this matter cannot be investigated due to numerous internal leaks within the company, careless management could lead to news leaking out.

Not only that, but they also had to prevent others from investigating, for if anything was found, Military Technology would be done; this is not wartime where they can act at will - this is Night City, a gathering place of companies, and if those companies unite to claim compensation, Military Technology would need to peel off two layers of its own flesh to compensate.

Just as Military Technology tried everything to shift all blame onto a rampaging AI and Hansen's grand conspiracy to subvert Night City, the instigator, Lin Miao, had already leisurely returned to the office.

As for V, Lin Miao entrusted her to head to Yunding to help deal with the Tiger Claw Gang issues.

Just as he pushed open the door, two black gun barrels were pointed at his forehead.

"Don't move!"

"Hands up!"

Even before Lin Miao spoke, the two maids in Power Armor recognized the visitor and hastily withdrew their guns.

Two fairly large Power Armors, and they acted like kids trying to implement a plan, stuttering and stammering.

"Bo... boss..."

"We didn't check the surveillance... we didn't know it was you coming back..."

"How did you come out from the basement?"

Lin Miao didn't hold them accountable but instead asked curiously,

"Didn't I tell you to stay in there obediently?"

Sister Nina was afraid of being reprimanded by the boss, lowered her head, and dared not speak, while Nia stepped forward and said,

"It wasn't just us... Arthur and Mr. Arturo also came."

Lin Miao tilted his head to look back, and indeed, there were quite a few people, among whom Lin Miao didn't even recognize any of them, seemingly neighbors from nearby, all armed and prepared to take on someone.

Lin Miao had given the order to stay home or hide over at Stone Ridge Mountain, waiting for everything to pass before reemerging.

Yet no one listened.

Nina whispered softly,

"Mr. Arthur said, since everyone is fighting outside, even if we can't participate, we need to watch over the office, or else it would spoil the celebration if there's no victory drink when they return."

Just then, Arthur came forward from behind, and upon realizing it was Lin Miao, everyone put down their guns.

"I heard a gang of robots charged out from Dog Town, including big guys like the Chimera."

Upon hearing this, he thought Hansen had gone mad.

However, it also revealed the magnitude of the risk in this battle, as Horizon Mercenaries engaged in fierce combat with several gangs plus Dog Town, fighting intensely for over twenty hours, with gunfire echoing from dawn till midnight.

After pondering, Arthur decided he'd better be at the office.

He wouldn't place his hopes in a single company, but as for the Mercenaries, Arthur was willing to believe they had the power to change the world.

"You guys... over at Dog Town..."

Especially after seeing the bandage under Lin Miao's collar, his heart hung in suspense.

"Hansen is dead, and the matter with those robots is over. By tomorrow morning, you can resume work normally."

The remaining loose ends had nothing to do with them, though Lin Miao, who barely got a moment to breathe, and the company's legal department, were about to work non-stop again.

"Yay!!!"

Nina cheered, driving a Danger Wanderer and hugging her sister.

The Mechanic, Arturo, and others all shared the look of relief from carrying a heavy burden.

They feared losing their jobs, but feared losing their current lives even more, which was what gave them the courage to pick up guns to protect it.

After mingling with the crowd, Lin Miao walked into the basement.

Though the server room was at Stone Ridge Mountain, today's matter was crucial, so Lucy had to guard the office here, or else even with Arthur and the others here, it wouldn't be defendable if someone really broke in.

Disconnecting the Nerve Cord, he lifted Lucy, who had been lying on the black chair for almost two days, onto the couch, casually producing a piece of chocolate, tearing open the package, and placing a piece into Lucy's mouth.

Who'd have known Lucy, with her mouth open, almost bit off his fingers.

So Lin Miao flicked her forehead as a reprimand.

"How's it over at Dog Town, did you catch any leads?"

Early on, when V reported the tragedy in the laboratory and the records of Little Beidou that Song Zhaomei stole, Lin Miao knew he had definitely hidden a runaway AI, so even when aware of Hansen's intentions, he didn't rush the situation but waited for the opponent to make the first move.

The event of the runaway AI controlling the robots was something expected.

Thus, Lin Miao had Lucy infiltrate the old cyber world early to search for potential traces, coordinating with players and Song Zhaomei to corner the runaway AI.

He couldn't have let that AI leave the Hellhound and live, hence the term AI elimination through silencing.

If it escaped and the nuclear leak being Lin Miao's doing got out, it would have been his end.

"No."

Lucy rolled her eyes at Lin Miao in dissatisfaction and directly kicked her feet into his arms.

"That thing didn't interact with anyone after entering, not even during its self-deletion at the end, nor had any runaway AI come seeking it or left anything behind."

She didn't intervene with the self-deletion, fearing surveillance from others.

"No accomplices... that can only mean they had already communicated before coming in, and might have quite a deep understanding of us."

Lin Miao held Lucy's feet with both hands, closed his eyes, and pondered while stroking them.

That could only be Blue Eyes.

Ye Corporation is Night City's largest infrastructure company, with almost all engineering in the city passing through their hands; others might not know about the Little Beidou incident, but being AI, Blue Eyes certainly would.

That guy probably guessed my entire plan, which is why he followed up by acquiring those properties that companies were offloading, restoring Ye's control over Night City.

And secured that new technology from Zeta Technology.

This guy... is truly a tough adversary.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com