Cyberpunk: 2075.

Chapter 879. Chimera, Enclosed Space

"What is this?!"

Looking at the enormous thing that appeared in the image, Oliver was stunned: "A weapon of war? Even tanks aren't that big. Although I personally don't dislike spiders and even quite enjoy eating real spider barbecue, this mechanical spider is ridiculously huge."

"Is it hard to start eating, or is it that you can't eat it?"

Jack even had the leisure to joke: "So you don't have a big appetite?"

"I guess so. My teeth might not be strong enough to bite into a steel spider directly."

After Oliver replied, he asked, "Does anyone know what this thing is? Hansen's ultimate secret weapon? I saw those Japanese Mewtwo-style games that imitated the old style, it seems like they can just throw out a weapon for any war."

"It shouldn't have come to that extent."

V examined the Iron Spider in the video Johnny sent and analyzed it based on his experience: "It looks like something specifically designed for urban warfare. See those ghost hounds surrounding it? Looks like it's about to be activated. This thing appearing in the Dogtown brawl will probably bring a lot of surprises to New America."

While his companions were chatting, Karl examined the object, and the more he looked at it, the more familiar its material seemed, as if he had seen it somewhere before. After a moment's thought, he remembered.

"This is a chimera."

Carl said, "I've seen fragments of this thing before. They say it was an all-terrain urban warfare robot developed by military technology during the War of Unification in order to take Night City."

"Remnants of military technology?" V looked at the Iron Spider. "Is this thing very powerful? How would it be in a fight?"

"It's hard to say. It's a specialized weapon adapted for urban warfare. The initial plan was to use thirteen of them to suppress the entire Night City. You can imagine the specific strength yourself. But looking at how it's about to be activated, it's kind of funny to think that military technology is being used against the face of New America."

As Carl spoke, he noticed a figure.

"Oh, it seems Johnny, you've found the right path. Your path is correct."

"How to say?"

Johnny didn't know what in the scene he was seeing led Carl to make that judgment.

"See that black guy over there wearing orange sunglasses and with short hair? He's the one whose hands and chest have been replaced by mechanical muscle arms."

Following Carl's prompting, the team noticed the man standing on the edge with his arms crossed, silently watching the chimera, through the images transmitted by Johnny.

"That man's name is Albert Murphy. You could say he's Hansen's bodyguard, or you could say he's the boss's second-in-command. In short, although his position and status are not as high as Bennett's and Gago's, he is extremely trusted by Hansen. His appearance usually only means one thing—"

Carl continued, "Hansen is nearby. Basically, if you see his shadow, it won't be hard to find Hansen."

"It was easier than I expected."

After discovering that the place he had randomly infiltrated was actually the right spot, Johnny started boasting again: "I was wondering how difficult it would be."

"You've done well today, okay?" Oliver looked around again to make sure there were no drones nearby before saying, "So, Carl, what should we do? We're heading towards Johnny's. Johnny got in through the pipes, so should we follow him? To be honest, I don't have a good impression of pipes."

"I feel the same way."

Jack chimed in with his own complaint: "You decide what to say about Carl."

Listening to his companions' discussion, Carl thought for a moment and said, "I'll infiltrate alone. I'll be a smaller target, making it easier to search for Hansen's trail. It will also be easier to escape after I succeed. When he tries to detonate it, I'll give him a shot."
"Too many people can actually increase the risk of accidents. Please help me plan an escape route. If a nuclear explosion really can't stop it, I'm counting on you to clear a path and get me out."

"You're going in alone?" V hesitated. He felt it wasn't safe, but then he thought that if a nuclear explosion really happened, in that critical moment, only he and Karl would be able to react immediately and escape at full speed.

Jack, Oliver, and even Johnny weren't unable to react and run, but their chances of survival were probably slim. So he finally nodded: "Then be careful, Carl. Since Hansen is planning to detonate the nuclear bomb, he certainly isn't prepared to perish together with New America. Let's find out his pre-planned escape method. If we can seize it, even in the worst-case scenario, we can still escape with that."

In case something really happens, leaving someone fast and quick-reacting outside will allow him to lead Jack and the others to safety.

"Well, then I'll leave it to you. My life is in your hands."

Carl, as captain, made the final decision, and no one else raised any further objections.

It's not that they didn't want to take risks with Carl, but as friends and teammates, they were self-aware enough to know that they couldn't match Carl's speed. Going in might actually be a burden to Carl, and they might even make Carl worry about their escape.

Rather than doing that, they might as well take care of everything for Karl outside, so that if he really wanted to run, they could just rush over and grab him as soon as possible.

"Hopefully, we won't end up like in the Mewtwo movie, having to drag people out of a nuclear explosion to escape."

"Don't say anything unlucky."

T-BUG interrupted Oliver in the communication channel and earnestly reminded Carl: "Be very careful, Carl. If a nuclear explosion really happens, EMP may paralyze all communications. I'm afraid I won't be able to provide you with any support then."

If it really explodes, I'll rush to Dogtown immediately. Please be careful. In the worst-case scenario, we'll meet at the checkpoint. If I can't find you there—I'll go in and look for you.

"When the time comes, please inform Officer Andy, as well as the mercenaries you know, Mann and Brown. If possible, also inform Roger and Kerry. However, Roger and Kerry have probably already received news of my being hit by a nuclear bomb, so they should be more composed and used to it. Don't let a hacker like you come in. Stay calm, T-BUG."

Johnny said in a relaxed tone, "And you, Carl, always running away when things don't look right."

"I have legs, of course I can run."

Carl spoke casually, and then began to infiltrate the location sent by Johnny.

His method of infiltrating was naturally the same one Johnny had already verified as safe, and as he crawled through the narrow pipe, Carl thought of Misty's divination.

Avoid: enclosed spaces.

If we're talking about closed-off areas, then the places I'm going to next might be a bit like that.

(End of this chapter)