Players Invade Cyberpunk-Chapter 773 - 249: Usurpers in the Magpie’s Nest (Part 3)

Potato: "The question is, who will drive it? None of us here can drive a hovercar."

This game isn't just about using WSAD and spacebar to drive; there are plenty of players who still struggle with manual transmission.

But Wildman said,

"Remember the tank we captured from the Chaotic Blade Association last time?"

After the last battle, besides the Great Mount Pill, a tank with broken tracks was also towed back to Big Sur for repairs during the loot settlement.

"I had Big Boss try it out; with a skilled driver, it's easy to pick up. Just practice a few times, and you'll be able to drive it normally."

Potato's mouth was wide enough to fit a fist.

He truly didn't expect the driver skill to be so versatile.

Virtually no player spends points on [Driver] skills. As they say, as long as you can drive, what's the use of putting precious skill points into that when Engineering and Combat skills are the current top picks, plus with AI being so advanced, being a driver seems like a dead-end job.

Turns out someone did max out [Driver] skills to mastery, and even managed to drive a tank.

"Alright then, you guys decide."

It's 2 to 1 now; even if Brother Ni disagrees, it's still a tie. However, Brother Ni wouldn't disagree because he's taken Big Boss's money. How can a worker resist their boss?

But the thought of potentially sitting in a hovercar driven by Big Boss made Potato uneasy, with an ominous feeling creeping in, so he had to change the subject.

"So what do we do next? It seems we can't use the Cleaner's smuggling route, and without water transport, how can we explain things to the French?"

Potato didn't believe he could get into Dog Town openly by just driving a Red Cross car.

Big Boss, at the driving seat, sneered at Potato's concerns.

"The BOSS said he'd collect the money himself, so why are you worried? He'll handle it, and we just need to wait."

What NPC doesn't deliver after getting paid?

"I've already reported it to the BOSS. He said he'll talk to Hansen, and the water will definitely arrive on time."

Wildman said,

"But I've discussed with the Truth Department, and we're planning to turn this Cleaner outpost into our base, requisitioning several nearby buildings for players to rest and stockpile supplies. It may not be as comfortable as a dormitory, but at least you won't be sleeping in the streets and waking up with a whole bunch of debuffs the next day."

Since the outpost was taken down by all players and without using Lin Miao's architectural designs, neither Lin Miao nor the Truth Department saw it justifiable to charge fees for profit.

So, after a few players deliberated and gathered a lot of player suggestions, they decided to set the lodging fee at 50 Euros a day. For players entering Dog Town, this amount is a pittance, and this money is managed by hacker players' programmed system, used to improve the renovation of the buildings and cover power supply costs.

As for embezzlement, it's impossible; whether it's Horizon Corporation or between players, every transaction is meticulously recorded, with no possibility of altering system data, not even by the current top hacker players. Any player can request to trace any fund flow and its purpose at any time.

Even inflating prices or falsifying accounts to take kickbacks won't work, because W will monitor Night City market prices in real-time. Without sufficient reason, even factory players wouldn't have the privilege to choose the price of raw materials. Dare to charge protection fees or any other unauthorized income, and you'll have a bounty on your head in no time, with PvP mode enabled.

Your best bet is that your reputation among players is high enough that even with PvP mode on, they won't consider claiming your bounty.

Of course, this refers to players being unable to embezzle funds within the system operation. If you have the skills to siphon off from Huang Ban, then Lin Miao can only say that you deserve to earn that money given your capability.

In this situation, players are very confident in pooling funds together, not worrying about their money being misappropriated or needing to withdraw only to be swarmed by a group of white-clad Truth Department members and beaten up.

Potato: "Oh dear, it sounds like we're lords with our own territory now."

Excitement was evident on their faces. The Cleaner outpost was different from officially assigned green zones like Stone Ridge Mountain or Big Sur NPC areas; it was land they seized themselves from wild beasts in a red danger zone. Though it's risky, there's immense satisfaction.

Until Big Boss posed a critical question.

"Where are the construction materials coming from? Is there a building supply merchant in Dog Town?"

Even if Red Barrel took on the construction, they can't just conjure materials out of thin air.

The building supplies stockpiled in Dog Town had long been used up by the locals, and the black market doesn't sell them either.

Wildman: "....."

Potato: "....."

As if to respond to the players, a notification suddenly popped up on each of their interfaces simultaneously.

[New items available in the official store]

Upon clicking open, it was indeed [Construction Materials]

Lin Miao had even kindly categorized them for them: composite panels, tiles, cement, bricks, paint, all inclusive, and even quite a few civilian equipment like generators, refrigerators, air conditioners, etc.

Prices were consistent with market ones.

There was just a minor issue: each price tag had a Dog Town logistics fee suffix attached.

Just having sent Karelinna away, Lin Miao was laughing heartily inside. Did they really think that once they entered Dog Town, Lin Miao couldn't profit from the players anymore?

As the saying goes, keeping the benefits within one's circle, Lin Miao, who was committed to creating a self-sustaining system, couldn't possibly let players spend their hard-earned money on Dog Town merchants.

Give it here!

——————

While using his network to help Hansen reach European hackers, Gago suddenly saw a new message in his email inbox. Upon opening it, he looked solemn and immediately forwarded the email to Hansen.

"Colonel."

"Lin Miao from Horizon Corporation proposes we meet to discuss future matters in Dog Town."

Hansen, who was racking his brains about how to handle these dangerous mercenaries infiltrating Dog Town, was surprised by this statement.

"He wants to meet with me?"

"Yes."

"Where?" 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Hansen suspected this guy was trying to lure him out for an ambush, which he wasn't going to agree to.

Gago slowly said, "Gemstone Cyan."