The woman responsible for driving didn't bother to hide her cybernetic enhancements. With a sweep of his prosthetic eye, he saw the sheer number of augmentations that made his scalp tingle.
Unknown model of Sianwistan, unknown model of Mantis Blade, nanomaterial armor, Krenzikov, muscle enhancement module, frontal cortex ICE...
You think you can mess with people like this? You're truly unafraid of cyberpsychosis!
The girl in the passenger seat, who looked young, was also intimidating, and the two hackers in the back, just by the black customer service in their coats, cost tens of thousands of Euros. That's high-end gear that a regular Street Kid couldn't afford!
"Just passing by, saw a big bonfire and looked. Any other questions?" V's tone wasn't friendly.
Reaver had a hard expression as if wanting to step forward and say something, but Officer Han's cold stare stopped him in his tracks.
"No more questions. I've already noted your identities. If we discover any evidence later or need your cooperation, I hope you'll cooperate with the investigation."
Officer Han smiled gently as he stepped back, gesturing that they could leave.
V raised the glass and sped off with a press on the gas.
Reaver stared incredulously at Officer Han only after they were far gone: "Do you know what you're doing? The people in that car definitely have issues!
How can we just let them go like this? If we go and search now, we might still find some key evidence!"
"Is that so? When you open that car door to make them pull over, you'll find your brain filled with Magic Puppet Program, or worse, have a shotgun pointed at your head."
Officer Han, somewhat frustrated, turned to look at him. "Reaver, you've been in this line of work for a while now, haven't you learned yet? Can't you see their identity?"
"A damn bunch of gang punks disrupting the peace..." Reaver cursed.
Officer Han sighed helplessly: "These people are damn Edgerunners! They're not on the same level as the street thugs you know, do you get it?"
"I don't get it! All I know is they've run away! This case is probably going to become a cold case now!" Reaver angrily clenched his fists.
"Fool, do you think they're afraid of you? Even if they don't kill you face to face, do you think you can arrest them? I'm telling you, these Edgerunners usually act because a fixer has given them a job.
And the big shots behind those fixers are more terrifying and troublesome than the next!
You know what happens when you bring them in? Before our car even gets to the police station, you'll get a call from above asking us to release them! You don't comply, then you have to pack up and go, letting someone else nicely escort them out!"
Officer Han was equally riled up, glaring at Reaver as he spoke: "Let's go, report the specific situation to the higher-ups, let them make the decision, don't get yourself killed."
Reaver, gritting his teeth, could only nod angrily after a moment: "I don't even know if our work has any meaning left, are we just cleaning up those street punks?"
Officer Han didn't respond. He had survived in the NCPD for over twenty years, not by being able to fight or run, but by having a sharp mind, being cautious enough, and never creating trouble for himself.
Being a cop in Night City requires knowing when to open your eyes and when to shut them. A hothead like Reaver, even if he survives, will one day lose his job because he never learned to shut his eyes.
The higher-ups assigned Reaver to follow him, hoping Reaver would learn some of the unwritten rules of working at NCPD from him, but so far...
This justice-driven guy won't learn unless he encounters something significant.
Reaver could only watch V drive away with a full face of resentment, sitting back in the police car with pent-up frustration, angrily slapping the steering wheel.
Officer Han leisurely lit a cigarette, unhurriedly returning to the passenger seat.
"What do we do now?" Reaver asked sarcastically. "The suspects are gone, can we clock off now?"
"No, that would affect attendance and deduct our pay—let's take a spin, just don't take me into Vortex Gang territory."
Officer Han's manner made Reaver boil with anger, but he could only stay sullen, start the car, and continue 'investigating' nearby.
Fairness? Justice? Ha... To hell with Night City!
...
Meanwhile, V was also surprised. While switching to Polaris auto-pilot, she frequently turned her head to check the rearview mirror: "Just like that? It's the first time I've met such an agreeable NCPD."
"Look at what you are now... If I were a cop, facing someone like you with the modification level of an Anti-Terrorism Mobile Squad, I wouldn't just let you stop, even if you were committing murder in the street, I'd pretend I didn't see a thing."
Mercer remarked sarcastically, and V paused for a moment before bursting into laughter: "Seems like I'm 'the boss' now, huh?"
"Uh-huh." Mercer grinned, with the car under Polaris' control heading toward Rebirth.
Sitting in the back seat, he suddenly thought of something, glanced at Qiwei's hand, and then commanded Polaris to drive the car to a stop in front of a pharmacy supply store.
When Mercer returned, he had some basic medical kits in hand.
"Put one in your car; later we'll make sure everyone's car is stocked with a set of these basic first-aid kits."
Mercer shoved one into V's car trunk, took one back to the back seat, opened it up, and took out iodine and other disinfecting items, extending his hand towards Qiwei who was beside him.