As V issued command after command, the various links of the Counterintelligence intelligence agents, hackers, and combat teams were dispatched in turn, beginning to operate quickly.
For this operation, V did not believe he would lose to the so-called mysterious corporation.
The only thing he needed to pay attention to and worry about was the assistance from hostile companies; the time left for him was not much.
Without causing much of a stir, this operation was just business as usual for Arasaka's Counterintelligence.
It was just that this time the target had become 'Ascension Technology'.
Night City was also as chaotic as usual, which was quite normal.
...
Night.
Afterlife Bar.
This is Night City's most famous bar, and famous mercenaries in Night City will choose to come here to take jobs. And this place also has Night City's biggest jobs and the most rewards.
Every night, it is always lively here, with mercenaries coming to take jobs, employers coming to post commissions, and Afterlife's famous fixers all gathered here.
Afterlife, as usual, welcomed the mercenaries who came here looking for commissions.
But tonight, an unusual regular came here.
"New face, if you want to enter Afterlife, you have to report your name first."
At the entrance of Afterlife, security stopped a person.
He was tall and burly, with a mask installed on his ferocious face, and all four limbs were cybernetically modified, the metal prosthetics exposed to the air without cover, revealing the terrifying weapons inside.
Afterlife's security guards are already very strong, but standing in front of this person, they still need to look up at him.
However, the security guard was not afraid of him because of his highly modified appearance and tall stature; no one dared to cause trouble in Afterlife, unless he was Adam Smasher.
But obviously, although the degree of modification of the person in front of him was sufficient to exceed the standard, he was still far from Adam Smasher.
"It's me, Balom."
A heavy electronic sound came from the person's mask.
Hearing the person's words, the security guard was stunned for a moment, looked at the person in front of him with a questioning look, and after a moment of thought, seemed to confirm his identity.
"I didn't expect it, Balom, it's really you. You've changed so much I didn't recognize you, alright, you can go in."
Balom is a regular at Afterlife and often comes here to take jobs, so as Afterlife's security, he naturally knows him.
It's just that the person in front of him is too different from the face in his impression.
The previous Balom, although also strong and tall enough, was not as exaggerated as he is now, his legs were not modified into prosthetics, and he didn't even have a mask installed on his face.
He still vaguely distinguished that this person was Balom from his upper face and eyes.
As soon as Balom entered the Afterlife Bar, his exaggerated modified appearance attracted the attention of many people in the bar.
"Who is this guy...?"
"Why do I feel a bit like Balom? Is it him?"
"No way, I saw him a few days ago, this doesn't look like the same person at all."
Some people were discussing Balom, and their conversation reached the ears of Maine's team nearby.
Maine's team members are also regulars at Afterlife, and tonight they also came here to look for commissions.
"He's a really exaggerated big guy, who is Balom?"
Rebecca put her legs on the table and asked casually with her hands behind her head.
Hearing Rebecca's question, Maine's eyebrows under his sunglasses raised slightly, and he glanced at Balom in the distance.
"Balom? I know that guy, a famous mercenary in Afterlife, a modification fanatic, dares to install any prosthetic he can on himself. I even suspect he came from the Whirlwind Gang.
I've seen Balom before, and I don't think this person is him. There were rumors before that Balom's mental state was abnormal, suspected of Cyberpunk, and even killed his teammates in a mission.
At that time, his modification intensity wasn't this high, if this person is really Balom, then he would have already become a Cyberpunk, how could he be sitting here leisurely drinking." Maine said with a big smile.
If Luoqi were here, he would definitely complain that Mann was not qualified to talk about others.
Many people in the bar focused their attention on Balom, including idle mercenaries like Maine and employers looking for a good hand to do commissions for them.
Balom also noticed this, and the enhanced auditory senses installed on him allowed him to perceive everyone's discussions, but he didn't care.
He ordered a drink, picked up the glass, felt his hands that no longer trembled, and the inexhaustible strength in his body, a smile appeared on Balom's face.
Maine was right, he was indeed a modification fanatic, the strength brought by cybernetic modification intoxicated him, he wanted to stuff any prosthetic that could be installed onto himself.
Originally, his body was not as strong as it is now, and the installed prosthetics had long reached their limit, the Ripperdoc had repeatedly warned him not to continue installing prosthetics.
Although he really wanted to make the Ripperdoc shut up, his trembling hands, his dazed mind, and the teammates he had killed all told him that he had reached his limit.
However, all this changed two days ago.
Balom's Ripperdoc brought him a mysterious drug and told him that as long as he injected it, he could increase his physical strength and enhance his tolerance for prosthetics.
Balom was extremely excited and readily bought the Ripperdoc's potion.
And it was indeed as the Ripperdoc said, he became stronger. The powerful body and clear mind made him extremely excited.
Not because he no longer had to worry about Cyberpunk, but because he could continue to install prosthetics again.
Obviously, Balom is already hopeless, he has once again modified himself to the limit. But this time, I am afraid there is no drug that can save him.
"Hello, you must be the famous Balom."
Not long after he sat down, a suit man came up to Balom.
This also made many mercenaries sigh, it seems that showing strong strength really leads to endless jobs.
"It's me."
Balom nodded, not caring why he could recognize his identity even with such a big change.
"Hehe, I have a commission here, I wonder what your intentions are?"
"Tell me about it."
The suit man handed him a chip and motioned for him to insert it.
Without much hesitation, Balom took the chip.
As the chip was read, Balom also learned the content of the commission.
"This job of yours is too simple, and the reward is not enough, I don't take such small jobs."
Throwing the chip back to the suit man, Balom refused his commission.
After injecting the serum, his vision was different. In his eyes, only big deals were worth his time, these small skirmishes were a complete waste of his time.
"Then I won't bother you."
Seeing Balom refuse, the suit man was not annoyed, but instead showed a satisfied smile and said, as if his purpose had been achieved.
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