Cyberpunk: 2075.

Chapter 671, Section 85: How Much Time
David knew the name Nottingham-Wenrio, having personally seen the current leader of the Sixth Street gang at a Christmas party. David's impression of this middle-aged man was that of a kind uncle who treated young men like him from Santo Domingo. Now, however, he had stumbled upon intelligence during a mission that suggested an assassination attempt on him.

“We need to remind Oliver immediately.”

This was David's first thought, but Carl stopped him: "No need to rush."

As he spoke, he carefully read the instruction: "Judging from the instruction, it's something they'll only be planning to implement in three days. Right now, things are still in the planning stage. Did you notice the time? The instruction was just given today. We don't need to rush to inform them in just a few minutes. Besides, the authenticity of this thing still needs to be verified. Don't act rashly based on a possible guess."

Carl told David to calm down and not get too excited, because being too hasty in dealing with things often leads to bad outcomes. This doesn't mean Carl didn't value the intelligence; in fact, when he saw the instructions targeting Oliver's father, several countermeasures had already flashed through his mind, including immediately issuing a warning. However, after thinking it over calmly, he didn't act rashly.

What he's more concerned about now is which company is being referred to in this directive.

The mission reveals that Nottingham-Wenrio was targeted for elimination because he was a pro-New American faction within the Sixth Street gang. If the corporation wanted to channel its resources into Badlands, it would have to go through him. Therefore, the plan was to eliminate him, creating a power vacuum and chaos within the Sixth Street gang, and allowing the company's own forces to infiltrate the organization.

However, as far as Carl knew, most of the companies and forces, large and small, had already moved into Night City. This was clearly not just a signboard indicating their intention to do business in Night City. The resources they were investing in were definitely not what one would expect from ordinary companies moving in.
This means that a company that already existed in Night City, for some purpose, wanted to expand its influence in Night City, so it planned to send resources from the Badlands to invade Santo Domingo, a long-established district of Night City.

Carl felt strangely familiar with this behavior, as if he had seen similar behavior somewhere before.

After a brief recollection, Carl realized where this sense of familiarity came from.

Night City's classic hellish jokes.

Does the new United States have a formally established military presence in Night City?

Of course there are.

The only organized force stationed in Night City, theoretically belonging to the New United States army, is now called the Hounds. It used to be part of the New United States army, but it has now severed ties with it.

New America.
It looks so familiar.

Having worked extensively within the military technology sector and in conflict with New America, Carl instantly understood which company was which.

Military technology.

The new America and military technology, though once inseparable, are now only superficially connected.

Military technology has always been among the world's leading companies, but the new United States has never been a leading country. Undoubtedly, the new United States is a suitable proxy for military technology, but for the new United States, military technology is a piece of meat that, once swallowed, can enhance itself and turn it into a real wolfhound.

Military technology needs a docile, semi-paralyzed, half-dead new America government—a pretty facade they can wield on global boards. Meanwhile, the politicians of this new America are constantly eyeing the industries and weapons platforms controlled by this military-industrial giant—the real bargaining chips that could instantly elevate a second-rate nation to superpower status. "It seems that while that president is constantly making some kind of deal with Arasaka, someone else watching her is also planning to teach this now disobedient dog a lesson, one that's rapidly growing into a treacherous wolf."

Carl spoke in a language David didn't quite understand, but David still managed to grasp some of the meaning.

"Karl, you mean this is about military technology and the new America?"

"Pretty much. Considering that the president is coming to Night City in a few days, which company do you think would be the one that, in the lead-up to this time, is specifically tasked with eliminating pro-New America personnel and infiltrating Santo Domingo from the Badlands?"

This is obviously self-evident.

In the shadows of Night City, countless companies seek to take down New America. But those who dare to launch a surprise attack on Santo Domingo from the Badlands and emerge unscathed right under the noses of New America's intelligence agencies—Karl can't think of a second name besides military technology.

'White-nosed Hawk.'

Looking at the word, Carl understood that this was probably an elite squad within military technology or the anti-presidential faction within the new America, and he also had a rough idea of ​​the employer's identity.

Instead of using official channels, they let the local thugs in Santo Domingo investigate signs of intrusion in their own backyard. These bureaucrats in New America aren't entirely brainless.

He suddenly remembered the figure dying on the barren land—Li De, the 'ace agent' of the new America—and felt Li De's misery even more.

A top-notch agent is forced to act alone without any support, and may even be used as bait. Meanwhile, truly national security-related classified operations are outsourced to street intermediaries rather than entrusted to this "most loyal soldier." It seems that within the new United States, there are people who are jealous of his talent or doubt his loyalty.

Karl did something that crossed the line as a mercenary, but was perfectly reasonable as Karl.

He took out his phone and, while saving the employer's data to the storage chip, also copied the data for himself, intending to take it back and review it.

After all, this involves Oliver, so he has no reason not to watch it.

David watched Carl's actions without saying a word, clearly indicating that he also approved of Carl's behavior.

However, time was tight because they needed to make an extra copy. Even though Carl and his team acted quickly and didn't waste any extra time besides copying, twenty minutes after the mission started, with ten minutes left before the employer's thirty-minute deadline, Carl and David noticed at the same time that the lights in the house had come on.

Clearly, the affair between the target and his mistress did not last long.

(End of this chapter)