Originally, Elena hadn't planned on seeking out Leon. She intended to find a more secluded location to avoid Eteon Corporation's surveillance and then figure out a way to treat Hattie's virus.
But considering her car's performance and Leon's mysterious abilities, she ultimately decided to come. She wanted Leon to upgrade her vehicle so it could go faster.
"I came to see if you can quickly modify my car, make it faster," Elena admitted honestly.
The enemy was incredibly strong—strong enough that her car couldn't outrun them. Without Leon's nitrous modifications, she would already have been captured. Now, she needed extreme speed, something only Leon could provide. She had already heard via broadcasts that Leon had earned the title of West Coast Car God. With his expertise, enhancing her Porsche to its maximum speed would be a piece of cake.
"Ding dong, new mission released…"
Mission: Complete a special operation—obtain the Snowflake Virus and hand it to the system for analysis and research to repair DNA defects.
Rewards: Team level increases by 2, weaponized laser headlights, auction proceeds from the virus amounting to 100 million USD.
Note: Side missions may be triggered; always pay attention to mission alerts.
The rewards were generous. Just leveling up twice was enough to tempt Leon. On top of that, weaponized laser headlights meant he could shoot anyone he wanted. And a 100 million USD income? Irresistible. There was no reason for Leon to refuse this mission.
However, the system implied that the task wasn't simply modifying vehicles for them—it likely involved working together to resolve the virus problem. Leon's mind raced and quickly understood the system's intentions.
"I can modify your car, but can you afford my fees?" Leon asked.
His rates were high; a high-speed engine alone could cost tens of millions—enough to buy a top-tier supercar elsewhere. Elena hesitated. She and Hattie didn't have that kind of money—just a few thousand dollars for upgrades wasn't enough. The thought of paying tens of millions was unimaginable.
Seeing them struggle, Leon's idea was confirmed.
"Here's a cheaper option," he said with a sly smile. "I can take you to your destination, but there's one condition."
"What?" Elena was surprised. Could this really be so easy?
"After you retrieve the virus, hand it over to me for destruction. I can do it right in front of you," Leon proposed. His goal was the virus itself. Every time he gave items to the system for processing, they vanished like magic. To make them believe, he could let them watch the virus disappear piece by piece. It would be labeled as 'destroyed.' Since the system would use it to repair his DNA, it wouldn't be misused. Leon wasn't worried about the virus escaping again—without it, destruction was effectively guaranteed.
"Aren't you afraid Eteon Corporation will come after you?" Elena frowned. Anyone else would keep their distance, terrified of the consequences. But Leon seemed indifferent. The corporation was enormous; taking him out would be trivial for them. Leon must understand that. Elena was puzzled—he didn't behave like a normal person.
"You don't need to worry about Eteon. I can safely take you anywhere. Just say yes or no," Leon said casually.
"…And what do you want in return?" Elena asked hesitantly.
"Thirty million. Whether you get it from the U.S. or pay it yourselves, I want thirty million," Leon held up three fingers.
Asking for free would raise suspicions, but charging a fee made sense. He was a businessman, and profits simplified things. Refusing payment would actually make Elena uneasy.
Elena opened her mouth to refuse, but Hattie quickly tugged her sleeve. "Agree to it. We have no other choice."
Indeed, falling into Leon's hands was far better than Eteon's. At least he understood the virus's danger and would destroy it right in front of them. Hattie had no objections.
"Alright. Since Hattie agrees, I'll agree too," Elena nodded. Now the virus problem was the priority; money could be resolved later. Leon grinned—another thirty million in his pocket.
"So, where are you headed next?" he asked.
"To find the scientist who developed the virus. He can remove it," Elena explained.
"Where is he?"
"East Coast, New York."
A journey spanning the United States—4,500 kilometers—was about to begin, an epic cross-country adventure!
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