Cyberpunk: 2075.

Chapter 732, Section 146: The Peak and the Intersection

Dogtown was now in an unprecedented state of chaos, with various factions vying fiercely for power in this lawless land.
The elite troops of the Ghost Hounds, fully armed, patrolled all the key roads; the armed men of Arasaka appeared and disappeared in the streets and alleys; the special forces of military technology moved slowly in the shadows; not to mention the various advance teams sent by other companies, all gathered here at this special moment.

The plane crash that killed President Rosalind Miles was like a bombshell, completely shattering the fragile balance that Hansen had barely maintained over Dogtown. All factions, both overt and covert, were frantically searching for the president's whereabouts, trying to ascertain her fate as a key bargaining chip for their subsequent actions.

In this chaotic quagmire, not only are external forces vying for power, but even within the same camp, undercurrents are surging. Members who are nominally from the same organization often find themselves at each other's throats due to factional struggles or personal interests.

When company employees bump into each other on the street, instead of helping each other out, they may draw their guns on each other because of their respective secret missions. The struggle between different factions is even more brutal than the struggle against rival companies.

The forces that Arasaka Company sent to Dogtown this time were mainly divided into two groups.

One is the 'Akechi Squad' led by Akechi. This well-trained tactical team is equipped with state-of-the-art cybernetic bodies and weapons. After encountering an unexpected incident with military technology, they are currently undergoing underground repairs.

The second team sent out by Arakawa—if one person can be called a team—was none other than Vice President Kenichi Shiro, who infiltrated under a disguise.

This high-ranking company executive meticulously concealed his true identity, navigating the intricate alleyways of Dogtown alone under a completely different guise. He not only lied to his nephew Kenichi and Kazuya, but also used his high-level privileges to hide the true nature of the operation from the lady he served.

This was a meticulously planned solo operation. Kenichi Shiro deliberately avoided deploying any of Arasaka's elite troops, choosing instead to venture into the lion's den alone.

He was more aware than anyone of the deadly risks of this operation—it was almost tantamount to putting his life on the table. That's why, in his conversation with his nephew before he left, he deliberately left behind a nearly farewell message.

The situation in Dogtown is far more dangerous than it appears on the surface.

Kenichi Shiro knew he was stepping into a potentially fatal trap: he had no backup, no way out, and not even the most basic intelligence support.

He couldn't be sure whether Rosalind Miles's plane crash was truly a staged event orchestrated by Military Technology, nor could he rule out the worst possibility—that Dogtown King Hansen might have reached a secret agreement with Military Technology and New America.

If this is true, this area has likely become a meticulously planned killing field, with the aim of completely eliminating any destabilizing factors that could hinder their restart of the 'Metal War' (i.e., the War of Unification) before tomorrow's crucial meeting.

After all, the Metal Wars ended in Dogtown, and for the new America and military technology to reignite the war, there is no better place than Dogtown.

In such a desperate situation, where the worst-case scenario is possible, the Arasaka personnel will be ruthlessly annihilated once their identities are exposed.

Kenichi Shiro understood this better than anyone, but he had no other choice. At this moment, all he could rely on was his honed skills and his almost obsessive belief—he had to trust his judgment and believe that this seemingly crazy solo operation was precisely the most likely way to achieve his reconnaissance objective.

In this perilous steel jungle, every second of survival is a gamble with death, and Kenichi Shiro is prepared to risk everything.

In this world, there are very few people that Kenichi Shiro can completely trust, and just before taking action, he had entrusted his most important instructions to one of them, who would then relay them to the other when necessary—this was his final preparation for the worst-case scenario.

Even though he was destined to die here today, he felt no fear, only a cold-blooded resolve.

Standing on the edge of the abandoned high-rise, Kenichi Shiro slowly injected a vial of amber-colored vitality serum into a bluish-purple vein. As the liquid flowed into his bloodstream, he let out a long sigh, his exhaled breath dissipating into the air. These special serums were his last trump card—unlike the youth serum that Saburo Arasaka used to prolong his life, this military-grade vitality serum could forcibly awaken the body's potential in a short time, allowing the user to return to their peak condition, at the cost of severe physical damage. He carried four vials in his portable syringe.

Kenichi Shiro silently calculated in his mind, "Sixteen hours."

Each dose can maintain peak condition for four hours, and four doses are roughly the amount needed for one day. Medical reports show that continuous injections for more than three days can lead to complete physical collapse, but he doesn't need that long—one day, just one day of peak condition is enough.

The moment the drug took effect, all the muscle fibers in his body trembled. It wasn't pain, but a groan as his long-dormant fighting instincts were forcibly awakened.

The speed of nerve conduction suddenly increased, and the sensitivity of the senses increased exponentially. Even the prosthetic body, which had been through many battles, emitted a faint hum under the sudden shock.

At this moment, Kenichi Shiro's reaction speed has returned to its golden age of twenty, his muscle strength has recovered to the peak state of his thirties, and his decades of accumulated combat experience and tactical thinking perfectly control this body enhanced by the drug.

He slowly moved his knuckles, listening to the crisp cracking of his joints. Sporadic gunshots could be heard in the distance, clearly discernible with his enhanced hearing. The afternoon breeze of Dogtown, still carrying a hint of heat and the smell of blood, brushed against his face, but his eyes were calmer than ever—every minute of these sixteen hours was precious.

However, he would personally go and find out what military technology and the new America were planning!
"No matter what military technology and the new America are planning, I will lead you to find out. Don't worry."

Mingzhi smiled reassuringly at his subordinates, then took a mask from the technician and gently put it on. With the help of the mask, Mingzhi's appearance changed.

"This is the second layer. If the first layer weren't a chip projection, I'd be a complete idiot."

With strange thoughts in mind, Mingzhi, who had changed his appearance and was dressed in ordinary clothes, continued to instruct his worried subordinates: "I don't have many cybernetic bodies, so it's easier for me to disguise myself. Don't worry about me. We have a communication connection, right? I'll ask you for help if anything happens. Now rest assured, I will bring you supplies."

"Your Excellency, I wish you great success in your military campaigns."

Facing his subordinates who were bowing to him in unison, Mingzhi's lips twitched slightly.

'I don't really like this kind of blessing.'

Holding a disguised 'Freedom' weapon produced by the Constitutional Military Industry, Michiki walked out of the temporary stronghold.

His actions subtly intersected with those of Kenichi Shiro after he stepped down from the upper echelons.

Both of them were now focused on the same goal.

That's the stronghold where 'Slippery,' a former Voodoo gang member, is now located.

(End of this chapter)