Chapter 61:
In order to explain how the bed sheets were turned into handkerchiefs, Li Pan casually compiled a martial arts novel and wrote it in the daily newspaper. He handed it in as a mission progress report, saying that he carried the handkerchief in his pocket and kept it safely. .
I never expected that the company was incredibly generous in terms of monster settlement. As long as the manager judged that there was no problem, the task was considered completed and he was given a silver key.
In the end, Li Pan had finished his day's work. He fished online all day, then got off work and came to the agreed place to meet Uncle Chen.
This is a small restaurant at the junction of the old capital area and the commuter area, under the canal bridge and at the tip of the river view terrace. The restaurant is a triangle. One side of the window faces the countless high-rise buildings, and the other side overlooks the thousands of lights of apartment shacks in the distance.
Shit Burger
is not Li Pan's personal opinion, it's the name of the restaurant, THE SHIT BURGER...
By the way, this restaurant sells burgers... What the hell is the name...
As soon as you enter the door, the flow of people is not bad, and Takeaway robots queue up to pick up food.
"Xiao Li, this way."
"Hey, Uncle Chen, I'm sorry for coming so early. It's so busy after work. You must have been waiting for a long time."
Li Pan smiled and sat across from Uncle Chen, now wearing a hamburger restaurant A handsome man with a wheat complexion in a waiter's uniform came over with a dinner plate.
"Hello, your meal is ready. Please enjoy your meal."
Okay, I just brought everyone over.
Li Pan smiled and said nothing, and Uncle Chen said without hesitation,
"Try it, this burger is a bit more expensive, but it does taste pretty good."
"Thank you for your compliment, please use it slowly."
Kawasaki Ayato smiled gently. Li Pan nodded and turned to receive other customers.
Li Pan looked at his back and smiled at Uncle Chen,
"He speaks Chinese quite well. Is he really proficient in eight foreign languages?"
Uncle Chen took out a Coke from the plate,
"There are fourteen mother-tongue-level languages. Well, these days there are very few young people who are self-study without relying on intelligent assistance."
Li Pan nodded repeatedly,
"Yes, yes, such ambitious young people are really the backbone of maintaining public safety! Come and see, is the warehouse oversized and underqualified?"
"It's okay. He is still in the internship period, and he came in through the back door. He is not a pillar. It is just right for him to practice with you." Uncle Chen
sent a photo from the communication channel. This is three young police officers, wearing police uniforms. Wearing a formal dress and swearing an oath to the Security Bureau.
Standing on the right is Yamazaki Ayato. Of course, this must be a pseudonym, but the name tag on the police uniform has been removed and replaced with the brand of the Fourth Investigation Division.
Li Pan sweated, "Ah... Uncle Chen, does it really matter if you just tell me the secrets of the bureau?"
There was something Li Pan didn't ask, but your mission in the third department is not to 'keep it secret' ? ?
"You can find out before he even joins the company, so it's not a secret."
Uncle Chen opened the lid of the Coke, took out a small ice cube from the cup and placed it on the table. If you look closely, you can see that there is a small transparent insect in the ice cube.
"Nano robot, used for positioning and tracking. It is anti-detection and will only be activated when the ice melts. It doesn't matter, he is here to check me. You are on the focus list recently, and they will investigate no matter who you come into contact with. Since the project has been
established Well, I will send an infiltration investigator to your place after all. Isn’t this kind of stupid young man just right?"
Li Pan swallowed, damn, this kind of infiltration investigator was not what he was looking forward to...
"No, the fourth department? Counterintelligence Investigation Division? So I am a spy??" "
The Fourth Division investigates all hostile forces against the Security Committee. When it was first established, the main investigation targets were the defeated parties in the previous generation's war and the remnants of the Legion forces. But now 0791 The fourth branch of the branch is mainly investigating the Red Tengu, an extremist terrorist organization that splintered after Gao Tianyuan surrendered." Uncle
Chen was eating a burger while talking to Li Pan through encrypted communication,
"That kid was originally going to be assigned to go undercover in Gao Tianyuan. However, our contact person there was thrown from the roof of the building. That line is temporarily unsafe, and there is no place for him in the bureau. Aren't you short of people to recruit, so you transferred him here? I'm here to investigate you. Don't worry about his background, just use it casually."
Li Pan was speechless for a while, how could he not mind this, the company is so dangerous! If this guy accidentally got killed by a monster, I'd think he was the one who succeeded! You can’t even wash yourself off by jumping into Tokyo Bay!
"No, Uncle Chen, just tell me what you want. I'm just a part-time worker. If you have anything to do, just give me your orders. At worst, I don't want the two thousand and five months, so why not resign?" Uncle
Chen Gulu Gulu sucked on the coke,
"So you don't have to worry about it. They are just handling things according to the rules and acting in accordance with the law. Who told you to suddenly appear in the past few days, and frequently participate in the internal affairs of Gao Tianyuan, and you have a deep relationship with the Ye family? So several departments have noticed you.
But in fact, the Security Bureau and Monster Company have been cooperating for a long time, and they know each other well. They just don’t have enough authority to contact you.
In fact, as a member of the safety committee of your company, we have always been The third branch is responsible for key confidentiality objects and has the first priority on the security list.
Because it is too troublesome to follow the laws and regulations on the table, and there is no room for maneuver at that time. Our third branch People and your local managers will maintain private communication to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings and conflicts between the Security Bureau and you. When necessary, the entire Security Bureau can even use the power of the entire Security Bureau to assist you in dealing with monsters. Of course,
most Most of the time, we actually entrust you to assist in handling and keeping monsters. After all, you are the experts in this area. Most of the general managers are monster consultants hired by our three offices. And we are also your consulting company. "
It turns out that there is such a tacit understanding under the table. The security department is also the company's security guard...
Then Uncle Chen dipped the fries in the sauce and said,
"But Xiao Li, I have to advise you, since you are taking advantage of the company. , when you have reached level 5 and strengthened, don’t run around in the streets and kill people. If you make such a big noise, the security bureau will be watching from top to bottom. We can’t openly mess around, we can only wait until you are caught. In the house, come out on bail. Everyone is in trouble, why bother?"
Li Pan understood, "Hey, Uncle Chen, look at what you said, am I not a new employee? Now I understand, try to avoid it, and I promise not to leave any life for you. Trouble."
Uncle Chen smiled and said,
"This time Yamazaki Ayato is just here by the way, mainly to show you this photo. Does anyone else have an impression?"
Photo?
Li Pan took another look at the sworn photos of three young police officers. On the right was Ayato Yamazaki, on the left was a cold-faced man, and in the middle was a local Asian with a Chinese character face and silkworm eyebrows. He was very distinctive. Li Pan When Pan took a closer look, it looked familiar, and when he thought about it, he remembered it.
"...Ah, yes, I've seen him before!"
There was a chance encounter.
When Li Pan rushed for the interview, this was the person he passed by. Then when he walked in for the interview, the examiner also had the exact same face shape, which was almost printed from the same mold.
Yes, that was the interview! In the engineering school, the interview for the starship petty officer! That time I was thrown into the trash!
"It's this guy! Didn't he go to heaven? Why did he go to the Security Bureau again...Wait a minute, was that interview really for Starfleet recruitment?"
Li Pan suddenly understood. In fact, he was dragged by the motorcycle. When I was running around the streets, I really didn’t understand it.
No, do we need to roll it up like this? Isn't it just to go to space and work as an engineer to repair antennas? Moreover, a school officer is just a lieutenant. With a mere non-commissioned officer rank, there is no need to punish people to death like this, right?
In the end, the enemy could not be found, and Li Pan could only think of racial discrimination and the grievances of the Butterfly Society.
But what if we are not just recruiting engineering soldiers?
"This...Uncle Chen, could it be..."
Uncle Chen shook his head,
"I know your parents, but I haven't done that yet. The Security Bureau has its own rules when recruiting people, although most of them are from New York University, Science and Technology, etc. There are places where elites are recruited, but in fact, junior colleges also have one or two places to select more professional talents.
I looked at your transcript. You have some talent in mechanics, you are also good in military subjects, and your parents also have military backgrounds. If you are In the past, if you were sent to Mars for training for a period of time, you could be directly incorporated into the operations department."
Uncle Chen took a sip of Coke and looked out the window at the slums covered in darkness by the huge shadows cast by the tall buildings on the other side.
"But that's the way things were done in the past. It's a pity that I was on a business trip at the time. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had to write a letter of recommendation in your file." Li Pan didn't complain much about being cut in line, and jumped from the single-plank bridge
. An elbow knocked him away, and his life completely went astray.
When I was young, I was ignorant. I was beaten so hard that I couldn't swallow it. After entering society, I was beaten every day. Only then did I realize that there was no way to do it in the first place. What were I thinking about?
When the dream is awakened, there is nothing to look forward to or feel disappointed about.
"Thank you, Uncle Chen. I don't mind anymore."
Uncle Chen smiled and said,
"Don't mind? The Security Bureau can't even find out why the Oda family offended you. As soon as you join the job, you close the door and kill all the dogs. If you want Isn't it because of this that the bureau should re-hire me, a guy who is
about to retire, to come back and take care of you? This family robbed you of your opportunity to get ahead. You can recognize his appearance to this day, and you still say you don't mind?
Li Pan, let's be frank and honest. The company and the security bureau have reached a tacit understanding and consensus to keep the monsters' security secret. If you continue to cause big troubles, I will still have to help you tie it up. Then let's be more direct
. I'll help you find out the matter, find the person for you, and bring it to you. You can do whatever you want with it. You don't have to do anything. How about it?" Li Pan thought for a while, "Okay, I'll give it to Uncle
Chen
. You want to save face and abide by the tacit understanding with the Security Bureau, but I won’t bother you to take action. Just give me a name. I promise not to use companies and monsters to deal with them. I will also inform you before taking action so as not to make it difficult for you.
In addition, I have a friend here, Uncle Chen, can you check it for me?"
Li Pan sent Huang Dahe's information.
Unexpectedly, Uncle Chen shook his head and said,
"I can't help you with this matter. It involves internal fighting at the level of a large company. It is not convenient for our security bureau to get involved."
Li Pan also understood, which meant that Huang Is Yamato really being targeted by the company?
Since the Security Bureau and the others were watching him the whole time, it was impossible that they didn't know about Chengzi and Huang Dahe. They even provided information about their own people and actually refused to provide assistance. I'm afraid Huang Dahe has fallen into the hands of the company.
And I'm afraid he is still at the same level as Monster Company and a member of the safety committee. Otherwise, they wouldn't be unwilling to intervene in all three places. No wonder Shiba can't find it.
But the burgers in this Shit Burger are indeed quite delicious. It’s really rare to have synthetic meat like this. It’s probably the SHIT from HOLYSHIT... I
had a meal of junk food with Uncle Chen and heard the private information from the Security Bureau. After the suggestion, Li Pan decided to bring Yamazaki Ayato into the company.
Just follow the rules.
It doesn't matter if you are an ordinary person, but these days when you are a corporate dog, the Public Security Bureau is a hurdle that you can't get around. After all, they represent the Safety Committee. If you don't have the courage and ability to win a corporate war, you'd better Let's all get along well.
What's more, Li Pan has nothing to do with Red Sky Dog. If the fourth department needs to be investigated, let him investigate it. What's there to feel guilty about? There is a mountain of tasks sent from the fax machine. Wouldn't it be nice to have an extra 2,500 yuan for free labor?
However, since Uncle Chen gave such a clear warning, there are probably a lot of agents watching him. He needs to keep a low profile recently, as the NCPA mission may not be possible.
Anyway, she had enough money for the current loan repayment, so Li Pan drove to pick up Cheng Zi in the evening, and the two of them went to find the cyberpunks she knew and asked them to search for the whereabouts of Huang Dahe.
Cyberpunks, these people are generally veterans who work part-time as bounty hunters and private detectives. They walk on the edge of legality and illegality. They have citizenship themselves. At the same time, they often go to dungeons, wilderness and various conflict zones. The business they do is also difficult to distinguish between black and white, and they are like a group of knight-errants outside the system.
Although Uncle Chen hinted that Huang Dahe was taken away by the company, Chengzi was naturally worried, fearing that his son would die somewhere in the Night City for no apparent reason.
This is when the contacts that I have accumulated come into play. Mercenaries like Wallenstein are often on the front line. Naturally, most of them have interacted with Cheng Zi, an emergency medical nurse at NCHC, who picks up trash and performs surgeries. People on the verge of life and death naturally know each other. Help, the importance of solidarity and mutual assistance.
So he agreed to every word and helped spread the word, letting the middlemen of various forces, various teams and lone wolves know that Chengzi was looking for his son. Everyone hangs out in the same circle. Even if you are too lazy to help her find her, just don't shoot her to death if you see her.
Li Pan actually yearns for freelance work like cyberpunk. After retiring from the army, working as a cyberpunk can earn a lot of money even though it is risky. What’s more, it’s more freedom. You don’t have to be a company dog and have to go to work every day. Working hard with no conscience, helping the board of directors exploit those poor people at the bottom.
But there are requirements for being a cyberpunk. In addition to citizenship, you need a prosthetic body and equipment to do missions. If you want to open a personal office or mercenary company to avoid taxes, you also need a veteran certificate. And if you want to take on missions, you must know each other. Human right? If you don’t have any connections, which intermediary would call you out of the blue and send you a task? Isn't it obvious that you are either trying to trick people or recruiting cannon fodder?
Therefore, middlemen and mercenaries are also two-way choices, and trust relationships are established through long-term interactions. There is almost no mutual trust between people these days, which is why only comrades from the army can join forces to complete tasks.
As a result, the car automatically found its way and arrived at the 'Have a Bad Death' bar where cyberpunks often hung out in the suburbs, where they encountered a large number of people engaged in a gunfight.
There were cyberpunks on both sides, licensed bronze or silver hunters, crackling, clicking, but only small weapons shooting, and they were all level three ammunition.
After all, if there is any most obvious difference between cyberpunks and regular company outsourcing teams and security forces, it is that they are stingy and poor, and they are reluctant to use military ammunition... Stopping in a roadside parking lot,
Li Pan and Chengzi waited in the car for a while, and Chengzi asked acquaintances to learn about the situation.
"They said they started arguing when they were dividing the money."
Well, that's basically impossible to persuade. Comrades are comrades, and brothers are brothers. Everyone is working hard to make money. It is too common for people to fall out over uneven distribution of spoils.
Li Pan looked at Chengzi,
"How are you? Can you still hold on?"
Chengzi tied up his hair,
"I'm fine, I'm used to it, but Li, are you okay?"
Li Pan was confused,
"Me? What can I do? "
Chengzi glanced at him up and down,
"You've replaced your entire body's skin with ceramic armor. This is a major surgery. Why don't you stay home for a day? The anesthetic must have worn off. Don't you feel any pain?" Oh, it's okay
. No anesthesia was given.
"It doesn't matter, it hurts a little at first, just bear with it and you can move..."
Chengzi punched him.
"But 'die a good death'? It's too unlucky..."
"Oh, he died on the bed with a urinary catheter inserted, how can he be called a legend of the Night City."
Chengzi pushed a contact to Li Pan.
"Queen of Steel, VAJIRA, who is this? A worker in the entertainment industry?"
The contact's avatar only had a back view, which seemed to be that of a woman, with the front and back curved. Li Pan liked it casually, but it showed that the other party's authentication was required to add. Friends.
Chengzi introduced, "VAJIRA, the King Kong who commands the Yaksha people in Sanskrit.
She was a colonel of the special forces before the war, with a group of brothers under her. Later she became a mercenary leader and arms dealer, and now she is the boss of 'Have a Bad Death'." The most powerful middleman in the Night City, the mission completion rate and the survival rate of his mercenaries are the highest among all cyberpunk teams." "
Oh, you want to entrust her to find Yamato?"
Chengzi smiled bitterly,
"Entrust her? You know entrustment How much does she charge for agency fees alone? If you want to meet her, you have to pay at least five figures.
I'm here to find someone else, but it's your first time coming to her place. You need to report it in advance. If she doesn't let the company... When people come in, you just wait for me in the car."
"I understand, I understand. But there won't be any robberies in the bar, right?"
Li Pan gestured OK, looked at the cyberpunks who were having fun outside, and then looked at Judging from the bag that Cheng Zi held tightly in his hands when he got in the car, it must be the 'garbage' used to entrust the task.
"It's okay, they don't dare to mess around in the Queen's territory. Didn't you see that they were fighting like this, not even a bullet casing would fly into the bar..." Chengzi hesitated, then opened the bag and gave
Li Pan a look. .
It's a spine...huh? ? Wait, wait a minute, this one looks so familiar, it seems like...
"It was removed from the cyberpsychopath who was massacred in the heart of the city that day."
Chengzi gritted his teeth,
"I want to install it, and I have to install it. Only then can we have the strength to bring Yamato back."
Li Pan opened his jaw and was speechless for a moment, then the system spoke in his ear.
'The Iron Queen has approved your friend request, and now you can start chatting. '
(End of this chapter)