No one expected this kind of chaos to erupt from the newly formed team that had just joined Peter. Dangerous? Absolutely. But isn't that exactly what he wanted?
In Night City, if you want to be famous, you have to go big. That's just how it works.
Just like Claire, the bartender at Afterlife, once said—"If you want to become a legend in Night City, you have to die first—and you have to die big."
Although Peter's team wasn't the main force responsible for the attack on the military base, their involvement was undeniable.
Their names would soon echo throughout the alleys and towers of Night City.
What's more shocking, Peter had directly crippled the primary military tech force stationed in the city. The executives at Militech must be bleeding inside.
"I feel damn good about it," Peter said, grinning from ear to ear.
And that same grin—the moment of Peter detonating the military base—was now playing on screens inside Kang Tao's headquarters.
Ling Xiaohan had immediately contacted Xu Shiming when the news broke.
"Did that lunatic just... detonate the nuclear fuel stored in the Militech base?" Xu Shiming asked, voice dry as dust.
Ling Xiaohan was no calmer.
"When Peter first infiltrated the Militech compound, he didn't have a nuclear bomb. Based on the footage, it seems he triggered the facility's stored nuclear fuel or a warhead already on-site."
Her eyes were filled with disbelief.
That Peter would go so far—for just a few newcomers on his team?
He'd provoked one of the world's three corporate giants without a second thought.
"It's like a f*****g fever dream," Xu Shiming muttered.
"Peter's emotional volatility is... impossible to predict."
Ling Xiaohan's gaze shifted to Xu Xinyue, who stood frozen in shock.
Looking back now, it was a miracle that Xu Xinyue's actions hadn't truly angered Peter. Had she—or anyone at Kang Tao—attempted to harm someone close to him...
They would've been next. Nuclear stockpile or not, Peter would've found a way to turn their headquarters into rubble.
With a grave expression, Xu Shiming snapped out orders.
"Call every continental director under Kang Tao. Tell them to drop everything immediately. Five minutes—we're having an emergency meeting."
"Those who don't show up... don't bother coming again."
---
Meanwhile, at the top floor of the Arasaka Tower, Arabata Laixuan stood by the window, watching the distant mushroom cloud rising from the direction of Militech's base.
He didn't need satellite images to understand what had happened.
The reality was burning into the sky for all of Night City to see.
"Peter... What kind of monster are you?" he whispered, sweat soaking his brow.
Behind him, Goro Takemura remained silent, but a subtle flicker of disappointment crossed his face.
How could Laixuan—son of Saburo Arasaka and heir to the empire—be so easily rattled by a mere mercenary?
When violence shattered the city decades ago, Saburo Arasaka had quickly restored order and rebuilt the tower in under two months.
By comparison, Laixuan looked like a coward.
Suddenly, a notification rang out—
Ding~
[Caller ID: Hanako Arasaka]
Laixuan's startled expression shifted as he answered the call.
"Hanako... what is it?"
"Brother, is Father's body still in Night City?" Hanako's voice was calm.
Laixuan blinked, confused. "Why do you ask?"
"I'm planning to hold a float ceremony to honor Father in Night City. You received my invitation, didn't you?"
Of course, this was part of Laixuan's ploy.
He wanted to lure Hanako back to Night City. Tokyo headquarters might still bow to him as the apparent heir—but Hanako remained a threat.
His only obstacle to complete control of the Arasaka Group.
Fortunately, now that she was partnering with Peter, he had another route.
He'd already sent a commission to Peter through the black market.
The objective? Assassinate Hanako Arasaka.
If Peter accepted, Hanako would be gone.
And with that, Laixuan could seize the Arasaka Group and light the spark for the Fifth Corporate War.
Hanako's expression remained unfazed.
"I'll be returning to retrieve Father's remains in a few days," she said. "As for your float ceremony... I'll consider it."
"Fine. I'll wait for your reply."
Laixuan ended the call, suppressing a scowl.
Meanwhile, Hanako stared at the dozens of heavily armed mechanical units in front of her. She smiled, confident.
"Miss Arasaka," an assistant approached with a tablet, "we just received satellite updates on the target. Please look."
Hanako's eyes scanned the screen. Her brows rose ever so slightly.
"He... did something this crazy?"
The report laid everything bare—Peter's unhinged attack on Militech, the destruction, the fallout.
---
China – Kang Tao Headquarters
In the massive boardroom, the regional heads of Kang Tao sat, one after another. Not a single one had dared to skip this meeting.
Because they already knew—more or less—why they were here.
And all of it could be traced back to one name: Peter.
---