Cyberpunk: I didn't cheat.

With bodyguards leading the way, the group headed to Thiago's secret youth training center.

Vito curiously touched the inner lining of the Underworld Guardian, and his manner made Tommasino want to make a sarcastic remark.

“Kid, stop touching things like a country bumpkin. Follow your old man, and you’ll be driving a car like this one someday.”

Vito continued to give Tommasino the silent treatment as he examined the in-car camera of the Phantom.

"What are you looking for? If you're just looking for change in a crevices, you don't need to go to all this trouble. I'll give you a wad of small bills for pocket money."

Vito said as he examined her.

"There might be someone hiding in the trunk of this kind of car, listening to your secrets through a camera, then hacking your car, driving you to a secluded place, killing you, and finally using your face to play imitator with that damn boss."

Thomasino glanced at Vito with his prosthetic eye and then transferred him a thousand euros.

“Poor kid, you’re so overwhelmed by debt that you’re almost going to have cyberbullying. I’ll give you some money personally so you can go see a doctor. Don’t delay any longer.”

Vito suddenly started moving, and Thomasino slammed against the back of his seat.

"What's gotten into you now, you little brat?"

Vito sped along, then veered off course and drove to an abandoned building.

Thomasino is poised to strike, hoping to avoid any disadvantage from Vito.

Vito pulled out a euro and jumped out of the car.

"Get out here!"

Tommasino was puzzled; could Vito really have cyberbullying?

The trunk was opened, and a sound came out.

"Don't shoot! I'm unarmed!"

Dogtown's rule of thumb: If you rent the limited edition Night City Guardian, a mercenary will spawn in your trunk.

"There really are people here?"

A mercenary was pointed at by Vito and forced to get out of the car. Tommasino cursed and immediately called for security.

Thomasin got out of the car, his anger rising within him. He had just returned to Night City when he found a living person hidden in the trunk.

Who are you?

Thomasin asked in a low growl.

The mercenary kneeling on the ground remained silent.

"He's from the Vortex Gang and has a criminal record with the NCPD. It's possible he's being employed by someone."

Vito glanced at the prosthetic eye and then spoke to Thomasino.

How did you know?

Vito pointed to his head.

"I am a friend of justice and a nemesis of evil. I am one of the chief collaborators in the case outsourcing program that NCPD is currently developing. I can tell if someone has a criminal record just by glancing at them."

Thomasino stared coldly at the person on the ground.

Security arrived within a minute.

Thomasin gave the order.

“Read his brain, then make him disappear.”

Security personnel swiftly moved forward, pinned the person to the ground, administered a powerful sedative, and then lifted him into a car and drove away. The entire process took less than thirty seconds.

Vito looked at Tommasino, who was exuding an aura of authority. He thought to himself that the old man wouldn't have gotten this far if he didn't have some tricks up his sleeve. Pretending to be Vito's friend was probably his strange hobby.

"So? Are we still going to Thiago's?"

The message was quite clear: this person was likely arranged by Dr. Thiago, probably because Thiago sensed something was wrong; after all, the dogs in Dogtown have a keen sense of smell.

"Go on, you keep driving. I'll leave An at the entrance, just you and me going in. If a war breaks out, are you confident you can kill everyone inside?"

Thomasino looked at Vito, his previous amiable expression completely gone.

Vito waved the euros in his hand.

“My pistol might be a little slow. You can have your men get me a baseball bat so it will be easier to handle when we start fighting.”

Tommasino waved his hand, and a security guard took an alloy baseball bat from the car and handed it to Vito.

Goodness, there really is one. Vito was just saying it offhand, after all, it just doesn't look right for someone in a suit to suddenly pull out a baseball bat.

Vito swung the baseball bat twice.

"Let's go, Tatsuya, we're going to the finals."

The convoy continued onward, and the silent Tommasino asked Vito a question as they neared their destination.

How did you know there was someone in the trunk?

Vito said casually, without mentioning that he had seen a suspicious solid interface.

"Guess."

Thomasin urged his men to act, and on the Emperor 620 behind them, the hackers in the security team read his mind and reported back.

[This man was hired by Thiago to install a microwave listening device without electronic components in the car, but because we set off earlier, he hid inside the car with the help of several hackers. It will take us some time to track him down.]

Thomasin replied.

[Find the useful information, then eliminate those hackers.]

"It was Thiago who did it. I'm really curious what kind of magic Dogtown has that even someone like Thiago would dare to do something like this to me."

Vito looked at the dog town residents by the roadside.

"They're probably desperately looking for a way to survive; after all, some things can inspire courage."

"Courage? He should know better than anyone how powerful his former partner was, yet he still had the courage to rebel."

Vito slowly parked the car at the parking lot at his destination.

“You’re always like this, thinking you can control everything, thinking Thiago will accept your arrangements, but the truth is, there will always be someone who wants to break free and spit in your face.”

The two got out of the car, and Thomasino instructed security to guard the entrance and exit. He then led Vito, who was carrying a baseball bat, into the Dogtown youth training camp.

After getting off the elevator, Vito saw the entire youth training camp, which was decorated like the reception hall of some high-end clubs, with professional security, top-notch display equipment, and a large professional reception area.

Thiago brought a woman to greet Tommasino.

“Welcome, Mr. Musso. This is the head of youth training, her name is…”

“I’m not interested in what her name is, Thiago. Don’t waste my patience. Let’s get straight to the point.”

A flash of malice crossed Thiago's eyes. These arrogant continental scum had looked down on him from the beginning, and they had even secretly tried to drive him away. It was simply despicable!

"Alright, Mr. Musso, let's get straight to the point. How about we watch a group match first? Our star player, Kroos, has some new techniques to showcase."

Thiago smiled and invited Tommasino to join him. Tommasino didn't speak, but gestured for Thiago to lead the way.

Vito, carrying a baseball bat, prepared to follow.

"Excuse me, sir, your baseball bat is not allowed..."

"It's normal for a baseball hero like me to carry a baseball bat, right? I'm also a scout, and I'm here with Mr. Musso to discuss business."

After saying that, Vito followed the two people in front of him. As for the person in charge of youth training, she seemed to have received some message and hurriedly walked into the elevator.

We sat down in a luxurious private room, and the holographic projection was turned on.

A five-on-five football team match was projected.

These children are very young, but they all have prosthetic bodies installed.

"Look at this, Mr. Musso, a player who can use Sianwistan briefly!"

Chapter 131 Escape from Midwitch Valley

Seemingly to showcase Swansea, the player named Kroos deliberately didn't wear a shirt.

His dribbling was very delicate. He first used a shoulder drop feint to receive the ball and get past a defender who came to block him. Then he took a big step forward with the ball, and two defenders pressed him hard.

Facing two defenders blocking him, he activated Sianwistan, dribbling the ball through their midfield in an instant and then scoring a goal with a powerful shot.

"How is it, Mr. Musso?"

Thiago was somewhat smug at this moment, and he looked up at Tommasino and Vito with his chin held high.

At this moment, an unexpected change occurred; Cross suddenly collapsed to the ground and began to convulse.

Thiago's expression changed drastically, and he quickly made a phone call to the scene.

"What's going on? What are you doing?!"

Vito stroked the baseball bat and slowly opened his mouth.

"The Sinweistein that the child was fitted with is for adults. It originally covered five-sixths of the spine, but now it covers the entire spine, which puts a lot of strain on the nerves. You've tested it many times, haven't you?"

It's tough on that kid, enduring it all this time. And the goalkeeper with the leg prosthesis—his jumping motion is completely distorted. The prosthesis is utterly incompatible with his body; it was forcibly installed.

Thiago stared at Vito.

"You're an expert, aren't you Vito?"

"Vito, that's Vito."

Vito rubbed the bat harder and harder, his eyes fixed on Thiago.

Thiago touched his nose and shifted his gaze to the projection.

“It’s alright, I’ll address these issues. I’ve been busy with other projects lately and haven’t been paying much attention to youth training. I’ll keep following up and resolving these problems, Mr. Musso. We can…”

"You really enjoy fitting children with prosthetic bodies?"

Vito spoke coldly.

Thiago's face flushed red as he roared.

"Why the hell do you guys always interrupt others! I'm the one who gave these brats a chance to live! I'm sending them to clubs in Europe! I'm letting them escape this damn dog town!"

Thomasin stood up.

“Dr. Thiago, I hope you can control your emotions. I have some company matters to attend to, and Vito will handle the communication with you.”

After saying that, Thomasino walked up to Vito, took the baseball bat from Vito's hand, and then whispered something.

"The hacker has made a new discovery. Our plan remains the same. Remember to spare his life."

After saying that, Thomasino walked out of the private room, where two bodyguards were already waiting at the door.

Tommasino tossed the baseball bat to his bodyguard and turned to Thiago, saying something.

"I hope your conversation will be free of tension. Vito is also a technical talent, and I think you'll have a lot in common."

The door to the private room closed, and Thiago sat down on the sofa, tugging at his tie with some annoyance.

“I’m sorry, Vito, I didn’t mean to get angry at you. I’ve just been having a lot of things bothering me lately.”

Vito carefully observed the other players in the holographic projection, and finally sighed softly.

Thiago composed himself, and his voice regained its confidence.

“Vito, you’re an expert. You can spot so many problems at a glance. None of my men are as good as you. And you’re so young. God, you must be a genius!”

Vito looked at Thiago, unmoved by his sweet words.

"Doctor, are these your best players?"

Thiago patiently explained.

“They are the talented ones, but not the best. We have many promising talents here waiting to be developed. Do you like playing baseball?”

Vito shook his head.

"I only like hitting people with a baseball bat."

Thiago hesitated for a moment, then quickly changed the subject.