ctnovel Chapter 1172 - 380: An Unsolved Mystery, an Inexplicable Question (Part 2)
Chapter 1172 - 380: An Unsolved Mystery, an Inexplicable Question (Part 2)
But at this moment, an untimely voice rang out."Just... isn’t doing this somewhat inhumane..."
The voice was hesitant, uncertain, causing others to involuntarily look towards the source of the sound.
Humane...
When would this word ever appear in the company, especially in Huang Ban’s tech research department, which ranks only second to the drug development department in terms of experimental body consumption.
No concept of humanity or compassion exists here at all.
But Tanaka noticed that the person speaking wasn’t some newcomer to the company department; on the contrary, he was an old employee who had handled eight or ten experimental bodies by hand every year.
He wanted to scold or laugh at the other, saying that employee was softhearted and should focus on the company’s interests, asking if a few lives were worth talking about when...
Suddenly, Tanaka’s heart skipped a beat, and an inexplicable thought popped into his head.
[Yes, using live people for exoskeleton experiments... indeed seems inhumane, such actions are truly cruel; we could completely use safer, more appropriate methods to test exoskeletons, which would just be slower at most]
This... how could it be... how could I have such a stupid thought?
He looked toward his colleagues full of doubt, yet many had strange expressions as if they’d had their inner thoughts exposed.
On ordinary days, once such words were spoken, they’d almost certainly be ridiculed by everyone, but somehow, everyone present avoided eye contact, and no one opened their mouth to scold.
Everyone kept their heads down, and an inexplicable atmosphere of self-reproach and regret settled in the research department.
Reflecting on everything, on his own actions, Tanaka couldn’t help but feel his hands were drenched in blood, as if burdened by sin, and regretted everything he had done.
How could it be like this...
In the silence, the electronic clock showed the time as 18:01.
Outside Huangban Tower
The gigantic Four-handed Divine Statue located in the company plaza lowered its head, its hollow eyes glancing towards the plaza with a flash of blue light before falling silent again, as if nothing had happened.
————
As guests from the Otherworld, players each have their own interests and hobbies, especially since the diverse exoskeletons and advanced technologies of the cybernetic world can fulfill most of their imaginations, leading to a wide variety of choices.
Many choose to cosplay as their favorite characters, with large groups choosing from Super Earth or Masked Rider
Smaller groups choose various anime, manga, and novel characters, naturally including many American comic superheroes.
However... unlike superheroes, players always favor those few that are the most popular.
Bat Family?
Nonexistent.
Who would want to play Robin for other players, in case they get captured and beaten to death with a crowbar, or randomly end up with an extra dad?
Besides, their butts aren’t perky enough to play the rich boy.
As for Tim, who is that?
So
We are all BATMAN!
There are at least four Batman players active in Night City, and their appearances and gear are quite similar, making it impossible for outsiders to tell them apart unless they are players themselves.
Among them, of course, the most elite and powerful is the Exchange Coupon.
The Exchange Coupon didn’t go to Cuba to join the fight, simply feeling it wasn’t the right place for him, and with the European Community and Cuba’s retaliations against Horizon Corporation coming one after another, Night City also needed people to guard against their infiltration teams, so the Exchange Coupon chose to remain in Night City.
At night, as usual, he swung between the city’s skyscrapers using a grappling hook gun; his jet-black armor perfectly blended into the night, leaving only a fleeting black silhouette when passing by colorful billboards.
This allows the Exchange Coupon to simultaneously experience the thrill of playing as two superheroes.
His opponents were no longer those thoroughly cleansed gangs, but rather company dogs attempting to hack Horizon Corporation, European agents trying to conduct sabotage operations in Night City, mercenaries hired by Cuban drug dealers, and cyber-psychotic madmen.
Compared to a few months ago, Night City’s security environment has noticeably improved, but as they say, three feet of ice doesn’t form overnight; violent incidents still occur from time to time.
However, after patrolling Japan Street, Exchange Coupon found no potential crime scenes, and everything seemed normal.
But for Night City, everything being normal is the most abnormal thing.
Something’s not right
He stopped on the rooftop of a hotel and pressed the communication button by his ear.
"Brother Eye, did the surveillance network notice anything out of the ordinary?"
Though he really wanted to name his AI Alfred, unfortunately someone had already registered it.
After accessing Horizon Corporation’s surveillance network, Brother Eye can use almost all the cameras in Night City, except for the city center, especially in Santo Domingo, where nearly every corner is fully covered.
[Brother Eye: Exchange Coupon, everything is normal in Night City today; according to this morning’s report, the crime rate in Night City has plummeted in the past month, with the number of deaths from conflicts dropping from an average of 16 per day last month to 0 yesterday, setting a historic low; your contributions are not insignificant]
That’s why it’s not normal.
There hasn’t been any extra change compared to last month, especially as the map has expanded to cover most of the United States; the player population in Night City has been significantly diluted, making it improbable for crime rates to drop.
Exchange Coupon, unconvinced, asked decisively.
"What about those Vortex Gang modification lunatics, have there been any signs of activity?"
[Brother Eye: Most of the Vortex Gang members have joined the Watson District disaster area reconstruction plan, and no conflicts broke out at the Death Dance Bar last night as well]