Chapter 113: Chapter 106 Model "Independent Media" and Former Employees

Delamain Enterprises, a bizarre company.

There weren’t any living people in this company anymore.

At the start, the management realized the power of AI and acquired a self-driving AI from an intelligent AI company.

The initial investment in the self-driving AI was enormous, but the management saw AI’s potential and reaped the rewards after a few years—

The AI driving greatly reduced company operating costs—at least they no longer had to worry about employee injuries.

However, the management wasn’t satisfied with just AI driving; they expanded Delamain to handle management decisions, replacing a large number of middle managers.

After replacing the middle managers, they set their sights on the production line.

If AI can drive, make decisions, and manage planning, automating the production line shouldn’t be a problem, right?

And they indeed saw the future; Delamain really managed to automate the production line.

With things going this way, even the IT people responsible for maintaining the Delamain program started to slack off—since things were like this, how about you maintain yourself?

Amazingly, Delamain was up to the task. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

But... Delamain drove, Delamain made decisions, Delamain even handled car production and maintenance, and self-maintenance, so what was the point of the management?

Delamain even concluded that AI was superior to humans; if he couldn’t fire the company owners, he might as well buy the company or sell it off.

The final result was that Delamain really bought the company, making it entirely devoid of people.

Of course, Lille knew all this, but as for how Delamain managed to live here in AI form, no one knew.

Why didn’t the super corporations and cyber oversight bother him? No one knew that either.

Maybe they didn’t even know that Delamain was devoid of people.

"Welcome to Delamain Enterprises. It has been detected that you have unfinished transportation orders.

Night City is currently under partial lockdown. Please wait a moment."

"Damn, the famous Delamain, didn’t expect your backup plan to be an AI."

Jack circled around the display screen with great interest: "But a boss needs a reliable driver, and rumor has it that Delamain’s top package can take down an entire military unit!"

"An entire military unit? Really?" V clicked his tongue and then looked at Lille, "Unfinished transportation order? What did you do?

"Remember I ordered some things from Old Vic? It’s tough to get out, and once we’re out, we can’t get back in, so I had Delamain deliver the goods."

But apparently, the lockdown even stopped Old Delamain—but there should be a route soon enough.

The Delamain lobby was very narrow. As soon as you entered, you could see a large screen displaying Delamain’s bald head and stiff face.

There were only long sofas at the sides to sit on, in the simplest of simplicity.

Since this was an AI taxi company, virtually no one came to the lobby, so it became extremely simple and narrow, leaving more space for the workshop at the back.

But currently, with no one here, the lobby felt quite spacious.

Dolly came in carrying Man and put him down on a seat.

Man’s dark face looked somewhat...unwell, though not exactly pale.

"Thanks a lot this time...damn Faraday, he never said this job would be so dangerous."

Lille didn’t comment much—to be honest, without his intervention, Faraday might have dropped this job.

If Faraday dropped it, Man’s team wouldn’t have had this outcome—but Man himself wanted to investigate Biotechnology, so he couldn’t blame others.

Pila stood by, scrutinizing Lille’s party without speaking—unless it’s a gathering or among companions, he was quite reticent.

Qi Wei didn’t hide her curious gaze; Lille had hacked a Bimong Armored Vehicle, military-grade ICE.

So, was there an even more formidable hacker behind the Burger King squad?

After setting Man down, Dolly also gave her thanks, but Rebecca outright asked the pressing question: "So what do we do now? Find a self-driving car to get out?

NCPD still has downtown on lockdown, right? Do we just charge through the blockade?"

"No rush, NCPD can’t possibly seal the City Hall area seamlessly."

The NCPD was severely understaffed. Sealing the boundaries like Westbrook to Downtown, or Watson District to Downtown, wasn’t much pressure.

These places were connected by elevated bridges; just raising the bridge allows a small team to complete the blockade.

But City Hall was different; there were many intersections, and it seamlessly connected with Haywood, with many roads and lots of hoodlums.

They also had to consider the residents’ feelings—those who could afford to live here had some clout, and prolonged lockdown wasn’t an option.

Either seal everything, or if that’s not possible, leave a gap.

Lille even called for backup.

Multiple factors combined, and maybe the lockdown would be lifted in the latter half of the night: if they couldn’t catch anyone, what else could they do?

At most, the NCPD would work overtime, extending patrols at intersections—and keeping an eye on every Mackinaw.

After saying this, Lille looked at the haggard man, "Manuel Mendoza? Let’s talk, what do you know."

"I..." Mendoza looked at Morton, "You speak directly."

Morton, however, had completely broken down, still in shock.

She thought she had everything under control, but last night, the company suddenly fired her, citing experimental failures caused by operational violations.

But those things were all done by Koch!

She collapsed against the wall—yesterday, she was living a secure life in the company, holding countless resources, controlling money, people, and assets.

This was the advantage of being a project manager, even though you didn’t manage that many people, the parts you managed carried 100% control.

In an instant, she had nothing!

And she now realized that Military Science had sealed the subway station to wipe them out in one fell swoop!

"I... Koch had me fired, my accounts, prosthetics, and property were all frozen..."

Lille frowned: "Diana Kuno’s evidence showed that you caused many deaths at Red Ochre. Do you have any explanations?"

"Me?! It was that bitch Koch! She pinned all the blame on me and colluded with Military Technology to kill me!"

"Yes, you’re exactly right. So, do you have solid evidence? If you mean the chip Kuno gave you—here it is, and it contains none of what you need."

Morton suddenly realized everything.

No wonder Koch went to great lengths to have her killed.

Mendoza and Murphy, standing aside, understood too.

If they all died here, the trail would end, and Morton would be the sole suspect, with no further leads.

But Morton didn’t die—did she have a way to turn the tables?

"I..." Morton gritted her teeth, "I know where the Nightingale Project data is stored. At Black Antelope Automobile Company, ostensibly an automotive assembly business, but actually housing the Nightingale Project’s data servers.

You can get data on Koch’s violations there. Besides here, it’s only stored in the Biotechnology Building, but I suggest you go for Black Antelope."

The reason was obvious.

Lille pondered and asked: "Can you get inside? I know the company must have erased all your traces; I mean... like contingency measures."

Morton looked surprised at Lille, understanding everything.

"I used to be a project manager, but as you said, my permission would be entirely erased, no chance of backdoors.

But I secretly saved some biometric data and accounts of my subordinates, using their names to leave a few backdoors.

Now the data is on me, and you can figure out how to use it."

Morton moved her neck, the chip embedded there.

Lille and V exchanged a glance—

Why ask this? Of course, they’d seen how other companies’ old hands played tricks.

V sent Lille a message.

V: These corporate dogs always think about biting back after quitting; that’s pretty nasty, right?

Lille: You’ve seen how companies treat their ex-employees, haven’t you? There are reasons for it.

V: That’s fair.

Lille pondered a moment and asked: "Can your subordinates’ information be used in the Biotechnology Building?"

Morton nodded: "Of course, Koch’s private schemes can’t halt company operations.

But the company’s security must be several times normal now; these details can’t substitute for your appearance. If such tech existed, spies would go anywhere they wanted."

Lille agreed.

Such tech wasn’t entirely nonexistent—the Intelligence Bureau of New America had face-simulation prosthetics, but they couldn’t get them now.

But no worries, they could still attempt to infiltrate the Biotechnology Building in unexpected ways.

Like in Atlanta.

Lille looked at Mendoza again: "You’re not planning to post a commission? There’s no mediator for you now."

Mendoza was stunned: "You dare take this commission?"

Lille nodded: "Just pay enough. I need funds to rent several cars, then I’ll send people your way, are you in?"

This reporter hesitated, but recalling his experiences in the last few hours, he felt angry and indignant.

How could the company be so outrageous!

If Lille could hear his thoughts, he’d definitely say: You’re kind of cute.

Just then, Mendoza’s phone rang. He glanced at Lille for permission: "Can I take this? Zora Barnes, another reporter I contacted. She’s investigating Councilor Brad Nowood.

She might have been at the subway station then."

Lille raised an eyebrow, immediately understanding a few things.

Like why Koch only used private networks for personal matters but managed to involve Military Science and get a government lockdown contract.

Lille pondered and asked: "Where’s she from?"

Mendoza hesitated: "Independent media...like me."

Lille raised an eyebrow: "Independent media? Like you? Don’t you know who buys your news?"

"Uh... she might be helping WNS Radio. Fine, not quite like me in that sense."

Not quite, didn’t mean Mendoza had no ties to major media.

Clearly, Mendoza meant that his contact was WNS’s rival, News Channel 54.

WNS was backed by Arasaka, News Channel 54 by Military Technology.

Unofficial, but with strong ties to major stations, that was the new era’s "independent media."

Finding Arasaka’s dirt went to News Channel 54; Military Technology’s dirt, straight to WNS.

Small wonder that old-era media struggled to eat while new-era media lived in luxury.

But before contacting a TV station, better ensure the dirt’s authenticity; if the execution was reversed...

That would be disastrous—Mendoza in the game seemed to have discussed the Nightingale Project with News Channel 54, likely thinking Biological Technology dirt could be sold to Military Technology.

Lille stroked his chin, thinking this was too good to be true.

Perfect—got to sell each other’s dirt.

"Go ahead—if she wants to keep investigating, tell her Burger King will handle her orders involving the big names, and she should send action funding now."

Lille motioned for Mendoza to take the call while looking into the distance.

Delamain’s headquarters was at City Hall’s outer edge, just two streets from Haywood.

He saw fires rising in Haywood’s air.

A few minutes later, Delamain spoke:

"NCPD has lifted part of the lockdown. Vehicles have entered City Hall, and your transportation order is about to be completed."