Samsara Space: They're all begging me to heal them one more time.

Upon hearing "holy water" and "profit sharing," the bald captain who had been pretending to be dead instantly widened his eyes.

Rogge also fell silent.

She was all too aware of the current value of "holy water".

That wasn't just money; it was the hard currency of Night City, the only lifeline for countless cyber lunatics.

Zhang Yuan has turned "risking his life for military technology" into "mining for gold"!

"You're turning this entire Badlands into a bounty hunter's paradise."

Roger took a deep breath, looking at Zhang Yuan's expressionless face. "You're even crazier than Johnny was back then... but he only knew how to blow up buildings, while you know how to kill people with money."

"make a deal."

Rogge raised his glass:

"I will release the message. Starting tonight, Badlands will be the graveyard of military technology."

"It's a pleasure working with you."

Zhang Yuan clinked glasses gracefully.

[Hint: You have formed a strategic alliance with the story faction "Rebirth Mercenary Group".]

Just then, a piercing air raid siren suddenly blared across the wilderness.

"What's going on?!" The bald captain jumped up.

"The show is about to begin."

Zhang Yuan looked out the window and saw a heavy airship bearing the "Kang Tao" logo swaying and crashing towards them in the distance, trailing thick black smoke.

Behind it, several military-grade drones were in hot pursuit.

"That's Hermann's car." Zhang Yuan stood up, straightened his platinum armor, and said, "It seems our Mr. V has already made his move."

……

Badlands, east of Mount Luoji.

Boom!

The massive Comtau AV, like a burning meteorite, crashed heavily near an abandoned power plant, sending up a cloud of yellow sand.

"It worked! Haha! That EMP was amazing!"

Panan excitedly patted the steering wheel as she drove her recovered Nissan Tingwei.

Don't be too happy yet.

In the passenger seat, V clutched his head, his vision blurring due to Relic's malfunction. "The military technology guys are at it too. They want Herman too."

"Then let's see whose car is faster!"

Panam slammed on the gas, the wheels kicking up dust as he hurtled toward the crash site.

However, when they arrived at the scene, they found that the situation was more complicated than they had imagined.

The area around the crash site has been cordoned off by a group of elite agents dressed in Contau uniforms.

Further out, several armored vehicles equipped with military technology were rapidly approaching.

A three-way battle!

"Contau's security system isn't down yet! That's a smart machine gun turret!" Johnny Silverhand roared. "V! Take cover!"

Da da da da!

A dense barrage of fire instantly covered the positions of V and Panan.

"How are we supposed to fight this?!" Panan was pinned behind a rock, unable to lift his head. "We need heavy firepower support!"

"Qiang? Are you still there, Qiang?!" V shouted into the communication channel.

"I'm up in heaven, bro V!"

Ah Qiang's voice came through amidst the loud noise of the wind, "But I'm in trouble. Those bastards from the Blue Team have deployed a swarm of drones, and I'm dogfighting them! You'll have to rely on yourself on the ground!"

In the sky, the platinum-colored transport plane was being attacked by more than a dozen suicide drones. Although A-Qiang's Gatling gun was roaring wildly, it couldn't come down for the time being.

"Damn it..."

V gritted his teeth, watching the military technology troops getting closer and closer.

If they get to Hermann first, everything will be over.

Just then, a chilling energy fluctuation suddenly emanated from the ruins of the crash site.

The Contau agents suddenly went berserk, ceasing all firing at the outside world and instead pointing their guns at their comrades.

"That's mine!!"

"Get out of my way! Don't touch Herman! He's my stepping stone to advancement!!"

"Nobody can take my money away!!"

The agents, their eyes bloodshot, were killing each other in a fight for control of the entrance to the aircraft.

They were no longer well-trained soldiers, but a pack of wild dogs driven mad by a desire for a bone.

"This is..." V was stunned. He had seen this kind of scene before at Genting Highlands, but it was not quite the same.

【Original Sin Chip - Greed】

Herman carries not only Relic data, but also an inactive Sin chip!

"Damn, this is mental pollution!" Johnny's expression changed. "V! Back off! That chip is amplifying everyone's possessiveness! It's turning everyone into misers!"

But it was too late.

An invisible golden ripple spread out.

V felt a buzzing in his head.

Johnny in Relic didn't go mad; instead, he became unusually quiet. But deep within V's heart, an uncontrollable desire surged up.

"Hermann is mine...that's my livelihood...no one can take him away from me..."

V's eyes began to bloodshot, and the gun in his hand involuntarily rose, even pointing at Panan beside him.

Panan's breathing became rapid as he stared intently at the crashed AV:

"That's my chance to turn things around... I want this plane... it's all mine..."

Even the military-tech soldiers in the distance became sluggish and greedy. They began to fight over the spoils, even brawling over who would rush in first.

Just as V was about to pull the trigger, killing his teammates to monopolize "hope"...

"quiet."

A clear, cold voice, imbued with sacred majesty, pierced through the swirling sandstorm and spiritual turmoil.

A figure clad in platinum armor slowly emerged from the sandstorm.

With each step he took, the yellow sand beneath his feet parted automatically.

The wave of "greed" that drove everyone into a frenzy of fighting melted away instantly when it reached a five-meter radius around him, like snow meeting the blazing sun.

"It seems Mr. Herman has brought an extraordinary gift."

Zhang Yuan walked up to V, who was struggling in pain, and placed a hand on V's forehead.

[Purification & Full Power Activation]!

hum!

A cool, golden sensation instantly washed over V's brain.

The crazy thoughts of wanting to possess it for oneself and wanting to kill everything for profit were forcibly suppressed.

"Huff... huff..."

V was panting heavily, the gun in his hand fell to the ground, and cold sweat soaked his entire body.

He looked up at Zhang Yuan, his eyes filled with both fear and gratitude.

It's that feeling again.

This feeling of being looked down upon by a god and being forcibly "redeemed".

"Can you still stand up, V?"

Zhang Yuan withdrew his hand, his tone calm, "To shoot one's own people for a little money is not in line with our company's values."

"...I'm sorry." V ​​gritted his teeth and stood up, glancing at Panan, who had also regained consciousness and looked terrified.

"Go, bring Herman out."

Zhang Yuan turned around to face the group of military-grade armored vehicles that were approaching in a chaotic manner, and the two Blue Team Reincarnators who jumped off the vehicles.

"As for these greedy blue-skinned dogs..."

A cruel smile curled at the corner of Zhang Yuan's mouth beneath the mask:

"Perfect timing, my new pet is hungry."

[Lust and Bloodshed]!

boom!

The next second, to the horrified gaze of the Blue Team troops, the corpses of the Contau agents on the ground suddenly exploded.

Countless crimson fleshy tentacles grew from the corpse, quickly intertwining and merging to form a writhing wall of flesh that blocked Zhang Yuan's path.

"Go."

Zhang Yuan waved his hand gently:

"It's time to eat."