Cyberpunk: From Dogville to Legend

Chapter 438 Hero (V)

"Can dreamers withstand this level of cyber warfare?"

The military technology representative's hands, resting on the table, seemed to tremble slightly. Perhaps the crazy company that dared to ignite Taipingzhou really could do such a thing?

Once the terrifying thought entered my mind, it wouldn't go away, especially with the woman's strange eyes in the slightly dim room.

The situation was already irreversible; Washington had firmly restrained the out-of-control Lark, and hacker attacks across the entire national machinery rapidly flooded Night City's network. Night City Hall and cyber surveillance gave the green light—

This is a one-sided war.

Lai Xuan sneered, "Are you planning to take care of Arasaka as well?"

It has to be said that the decision-makers in military technology have played a really good role in this tactic of binding each other together. It would be really against common sense if Arasaka didn't take action. Is it really necessary for Arasaka to put on another show?
However, Emma had not communicated with him beforehand, so Lai Xuan was unsure of what to do.

His most prized asset on the internet, V, is currently commanding the frontline troops of Arasaka in Dreamer, desperately resisting the pressure from the Badlands. Lai Xuan has no one left to rely on.

This is really difficult...

Lai Xuan's worried expression was deeply hidden in his eyes; he was ready to give the order.

However, Emma stood up.

"Now that we've come this far, I can announce something—"

Emma's eyes gave the company people present an extremely unpleasant feeling...

"I hereby declare the Fifth Corporate War... begun?"

now!

The Dreamers' ICE was already enveloped in a dense mass of data. The network monitoring system, which had barely managed to maintain the Night City subnet, even lowered the sensitivity of the black wall to specifically accommodate these hacker attacks, which were equivalent to several orders of magnitude of the number of mobile AIs!

This behavior is tantamount to degrading the status of internet surveillance...

Emma's declaration of war caused a scene in this world's history to mirror the events of 2023.

It's important to understand that even wars of unification weren't classified as corporate wars. This kind of localized conflict should have been classified as a regional armed conflict, but Emma's words put all the companies in an awkward position.

who cares?
Emma has just received news that Rin has entered the network connection... She awaits the retaliation from cyberspace.

"That's fucking tough!"

The politicians of Night City were all pointing their fingers at Emma and yelling, "Then don't blame the Night City officials for not upholding principles of fairness. How much have you Dreamers done—"

"Then shut up."

Emma's hologram appears to be interfered with, which is why their subnet is already in a very unstable state.

"Shall we wait and see?"

A virtual sphere appeared on the conference table throughout Night City, and all map sections began to blur rapidly, revealing the entire North American continent. Starting from Washington, D.C., parabolic lines appeared across the entire map of the new United States…

Not only that--

The attacks from Night City were equally impressive.

At this moment, there may only be one way to save the Dreamers subnet: to completely shut down Night City's network under network surveillance.

Who could accomplish something like this?

Even that guy from before wouldn't work...

Unbeknownst to them, this company had already aroused the suspicion of these giants. Emma smiled mockingly.

The shouting of this group is too noisy.

She just wanted to show these companies what a disastrous defeat at the network level looks like.

"The city has fallen!"

Before the military technology representatives could even maintain their tense mood for a minute, Washington announced that Dreamers' data fortress had been destroyed in an instant, as if it were made of paper!
The process seemed to go too smoothly, leaving the surrounding companies somewhat taken aback.

Emma watched silently as the data fortress was breached. Theoretically speaking, Emma was currently connected to the network, and the wire connecting her brain to the computer on her back was the path that could kill her.

Emma could be burned to death instantly if the companies wanted to, like a tiny, insignificant piece of data in cyberspace.

"This is the Dreamers' data fortress? Their defense?"

Before the representative of military technology could speak, the representative of Peizhuo Petrochemical spread his hands and began to examine Dreamer's financial data and other information. Moreover, the Night City company had already found Emma's contact information.

Military technology breathed a sigh of relief, his forehead covered in beads of sweat.

He still couldn't understand why Kurome was killed so easily. Even if the Dreamers might have retained some of Rin's technology, Kurome shouldn't have died without transmitting anything—

Miles's underhanded move put military technology in a passive position.

Perhaps this explanation is clearer: Miles and Kurome each had their own plans and neither of them let military technology know that Rin was still alive, so they paid the price for their overconfidence.

"Behead!"

Almost without hesitation, several corporate cyber teams that were among the first to breach the Dreamers' data hub in cyberspace seized Emma's communication links, like a chain—

Emma's entire consciousness projection in cyberspace was seized by the enemy.

The cyber soldiers, faithfully carrying out their superiors' orders, did not hesitate to use the attack program kit on the panel to take down Emma!
Emma just watched quietly on the screen!

hum!
The entire screen flickered, and Emma's status instantly went dark!
ended?
Lai Xuan was starting to lose his balance.

The companies, still in shock, turned their gazes to Arasaka without hesitation.

Arasaka's position at this moment was extremely awkward...

Lai Xuan had no idea what Rin was doing. The hacker from Arasaka had already pointed out the report: Taipingzhou in cyberspace was like it had been washed away by a flood, with nothing left!

Cyber ​​warfare is the key to future warfare. At this moment, as long as the troops are deployed to Taipingzhou, the encirclement by Ara-saka will have lost all meaning.

Lai Xuan looked at these unfavorable reports but did not respond.

Instead of showing any weakness in the unfriendly gazes around him, he said, "Arasaka will continue to accompany us. We will only choose what is in our best interest—"

Wow!

Suddenly, a lot of noise appeared on the screen, and the connection to the venue became unstable instantly!
"what happened?"

The network administrators of Night City Hall and NCPD immediately noticed something was wrong.

Lai Xuan was also startled. The words "[Pop-up]" began to appear clearly in his eyes. This meant that Arasaka's hacker was preparing to rescue Arasaka Lai Xuan!
"There's a problem with the subnet, Lord Lai Xuan!"

Lai Xuan felt a sudden, inexplicable panic, and almost instinctively thought of Rin.

Could it be him?
Keep in mind that Night City has now become a prominent world stage. Can Rin really hijack Night City's network and cause a second shutdown under the watchful eyes of so many forces?!
Lai Xuan watched helplessly as his progress bar in the notification box got stuck halfway through!
The logging out process for everyone in the entire venue came to a complete halt. The world seemed filled with noise and jarring sounds, and it was as if their senses had been shut down.

Night City Network…

The network monitor is currently trying to check for network problems and has discovered that the network seems to be... down?

Wow!

The scene was sliced ​​open like an electric current, and Emma appeared in the same spot as before. This time, however, she could move freely, as if she had appeared out of thin air in the holographic venue…

Everyone seemed to have lost the ability to move, except for their two eyeballs.

in addition…

Lai Xuan felt that he was fine, but in order to avoid any disturbance or suspicion in the venue, he remained standing and frowned as he looked at Emma, ​​who left behind black and red data particles with every step she took in the venue.

"you!"

The military technology representatives were unable to move and could only watch helplessly as Emma slowly approached them, but there was nothing they could do.

The red and black data blocks, in particular, sent chills down the spines of all the company representatives present! "A black wall!"

"You damn bitch!"

"屮!"

Black wall?

Emma's smile was full of sarcasm. "You thought you had the game in the bag, darling?"

The woman's slender hands, adorned with eerie cybernetics-colored manicures, gently rested on the shoulders of the military technology representative. She leaned close to his ear, whispering as if to a demon.

"Aren't you using the Great Firewall too? Internet surveillance even opens backdoors for you. Sometimes I really admire your decision-makers."

"The internet is down! How did you manage to do that?"

Pei Zhuo Petrochemical was terrified that he would be next. If Emma continued down this path, he would be the next target to be pinned down on her shoulders.

Although the hologram shows Emma touching their bodies, it actually means that their digital signals have been tampered with by hackers on the network and redirected to Emma's line.

Therefore, it is not an exaggeration to describe it as having easily shifting between offense and defense.

"Didn't you say that Dreamers could only defend themselves this way? I said, the corporate war has already begun, and you are just the appetizer. Your network nodes, servers, and hacker groups are secrets held by Dreamers."

"How about it?"

Lai Xuan felt as if he had been thrown into an ice cellar...

It's fair to say that Rin is probably the most outstanding person in the world; he has an almost deconstructive understanding of the internet.

Emma stood up. She didn't want the military technology representative to die on the spot. The tougher Taipingzhou's attitude was, the smoother the plan would go. Perhaps Arasaka's concession plan could be realized (snatching the meat back from the mouth of the military technology company)!

"So the dreamer doesn't want to talk about it anymore."

Emma stood behind the leading politicians in the Night City Hall, her hands slowly outstretched, and streams of red and black data surged into the room like a sea of ​​blood, rushing towards everyone!

"What the hell is this weird thing?!"

"Damn it! I want to quit!"

"Emma!!!"

The military technology representatives were manipulated like puppets. Behind Emma was a very blurry black figure, so large that it seemed it could easily cover the room with a palm.

The countdown has begun!

Night City is brought to a standstill. Rin will hunt down Lark in cyberspace until the weapons of this new America are completely destroyed. Miles' efforts will be in vain, and he will be "rescued" by Rebecca...

With Arasaka besieging Dogtown without attacking it, New America wouldn't want to give up this outpost and would have no choice but to compromise with Arasaka again.

Everything is progressing steadily, like the slow spread of tree roots!
"Everyone, sit still and watch how the Dreamer will crush your confidence just as he crushed the Night Clan!"

Yoriyuki Arasaka narrowed his eyes, "Let the Free State take action against the nearby disputed areas!"

This was practically a spell that immobilized the enemy. Lai Xuan, this adventurous wolf, wouldn't let such a good opportunity slip by. Moreover, Lai Xuan's order was given in person, which made many of the representatives in the meeting grit their teeth in shock and fear!
Emma squinted at Lai Xuan, whose expression was calm.

"What? Miss Emma, ​​have you thought this through? Arasaka is right behind Dogtown right now, and you'd better think twice before making a move against us."

Superficial verbal friction is necessary.

Emma shrugged. "Whatever, Dogtown in Pacific Island is ours!"

"You dare?!"

The military technology representative unconsciously growled.

boom!
A red, electric current-like data bolt ripped through the sky and slammed into the guy. Accompanied by a groan of pain, the representative of military technology seemed to have his soul ripped out.

The chilling screams caused many female company representatives and politicians to scream out loud instantly.

Emma's sudden action confirmed her intention to start a war, and the representative of Pedro Petrochemical really behaved himself.

"Don't!"

Emma wasn't actually the one who made the move; she was just quietly looking up at the huge, ghostly figure looking down at her.

AI?

Or is it a living person?

"What on earth is that thing!"

"Releasing AI from within the Great Firewall: Does the Dreamer really want to become the enemy of all companies?"

Lai Xuan thought Rin's move was terrifying. Even he had to admit that no one except AI could know whether this thing was human or not.

The corporate war has begun, and Arasaka has gained the upper hand.

Kangtao's representative remained calm. The companies all knew about the Black Wall development and carried it out in secret. There was no harm in bringing it out into the open, but that didn't mean Kangtao would just let it go.

“Miss Emma, ​​I have a question.”

The person attending the meeting was the regional manager for the United States, a blond, blue-eyed North American, just like the former manager. The former manager was Abernathy's lover, who had long since been purged.

Emma wasn't very interested in Comto either, even though it was a company Rin was focusing on...

It was just said that Arakasaka was negotiating with Kangtao.

"Have you already achieved the capability to create a nuclear deterrent in the cyberspace, similar to that in the real world?"

Emma paused for a moment.

"This is a hero of dreamers, a strategic weapon in the network, I have no comment."

The representative from Kangtao truly embodies the spirit of a company full of tough guys. "In that case, Kangtao would like to offer you all a piece of advice: the era of great competition has arrived, and Kangtao will be ready to fight for you no matter what."

A North American was speaking Chinese with a very strong emphasis on word order...

"So, Miss Emma doesn't intend for me to withdraw?"

“Kangtao is willing to sacrifice himself, but Kangtao is not a pushover. You can ask Mr. Lai Xuan about this. If you insist on this, Kangtao does not mind participating in the war ahead of schedule.”

Kangtao's supervisor seemed completely unconcerned about his life, even smiling and nodding as he pointed at Arasaka.

After all, Comto knew that Herman was a gift from Arasaka, so naturally they wouldn't tear each other apart and start blaming each other. Comto's market share in North America was only in smart weapon solutions.

Emma pondered for a moment, then extended her hand in full view of everyone, and the progress bar for Kangtao's withdrawal began to load.

The new American revealed a smile with a distinctly Chinese flavor. "Kantau is not willing to fall behind, but I still hope this matter can be resolved peacefully. If war is to break out, Kanto naturally has plans. I hope Mr. Lai Xuan will keep this in mind."

"Comtau announces that, in order to protect its existing assets, we are participating in this competition in North America. As for the outcome..."

Lai Xuan pursed his lips, sensing the meaning behind Kang Tao's mediation.

Emma then gestured, "Then please take your leave, Mr. Conderson. The Dreamers would like to continue working with you..."

Kang Tao nodded and smiled, then logged off the network.

Other companies were devastated...

Emma looked like a butcher slaughtering turkeys in front of a chicken coop, her gaze dangerous and heavy.

At this moment, in the network, the Black Wall carrier, which was desperately resisting the attack, was undergoing a terrifying tearing. Rin's gaze had already found the out-of-control weapon!
What unsettled Rin was that the foolish decisions made by the internet surveillance system were escalating the Nightingale's resistance...

Her hand had already reached out to Rebecca, the girl who had already made contact with Miles!
……

……

(End of this chapter)