Players Invade Cyberpunk-Chapter 784 - 253: No Production Line? Then Steal One! (Part 2)

"To achieve the efficacy level of brand-name drugs, you have to invest significant funds into reverse engineering, and conduct double-blind clinical trials to verify efficacy. Even so, brand-name drug companies continuously improve pharmaceutical techniques and formulations to enhance efficacy and create new patents..."

In short, unless you pour a substantial amount of money into it, even if you manage to produce generic drugs, their effectiveness will be significantly compromised. It's not just about having the equipment or formula.

The cost of the entire process likely won't be lower than that of brand-name drugs.

If making money were really that easy, Lin Miao wouldn't be considering this idea.

However, Gloria's words didn't sway Lin Miao's decision.

"So, if we can have a group of research technicians from pharmaceutical companies along with AI assistance, we can quickly begin generic drug production."

"...In theory, yes."

Gloria realized that among the players, from engineers to construction workers, and drivers, everyone was present. It seemed quite reasonable and logical that some had work experience in pharmaceutical factories, right?

"But the equipment and raw materials..."

Gloria was aware of how expensive those things were, far beyond what ordinary assembly line machine tools could compare to.

She suddenly fell silent because Gloria remembered the question Lin Miao had asked her earlier.

'The technology and equipment for producing drugs'

Drugs are actually a type of medicine, just possessing strong addictive and hallucinogenic properties. Morphine is also a type of painkiller.

Theoretically, equipment used to manufacture drugs can be utilized to produce other medicines without any issue.

But the question is that Night City is still an international metropolis on the surface. Even in Dog Town, there are no production lines of this scale, at most just small underground workshops akin to those of the Tiger Claw Gang.

Lin Miao didn't keep secrets from Gloria anymore.

He couldn't afford to import chemical production lines in large quantities, especially since the mass production of generic drugs would need to be concealed from Military Science and other pharmaceutical companies.

The black market in Dog Town couldn't hide from those guys, and buying from the market wasn't realistic either.

The best option left was only one.

Steal.

The original brutal nature of capital is always bloody, just like the players' first job was robbing the Night Wanderer. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Cuba!?"

Gloria also realized what Lin Miao intended, and her mind was shaken.

There's no need to discuss morality with demonic forces like the Cuban Drug Trafficking Group, they should just go for it together!

Most importantly, robbing the Cubans wouldn't overtly offend too many people because beating drug dealers is inherently justified, firmly taking the moral high ground.

But the biggest issue is...

Moreover, the Cuban drug cartel isn't just a group of dozens or hundreds, but a state-level force that conducts global drug trafficking, transporting at least fifteen tons of drugs daily into the United States through various channels, valued at over 8 billion Orokin. With shipping planes, floating ships, armed escort teams, and even coastal submarines, they control 80% of the world's chemical synthetic drug market, making even the once globally notorious Colombian drug lord Pablo seem like small fry in comparison.

Golden Triangle?

Just a roadside stop.

And the most interesting thing about cyber world drugs is that the collapse of America had already led to the first South American war under the guise of eliminating drugs, despite the United States' true aim of seizing Chilean and Bolivian lithium mines.

For this, the United States even developed a gene-editing virus that incinerated poppy fields across South America. However, the consequence was angering the European companies secretly funding the Colombian drug lords, and eventually, Colombian drug dealers detonated a handheld nuclear bomb in Manhattan in 1993, further worsening the already deep economic crisis in the United States.

Since then, the South American drug industry has also been in decline, transferring massively to their former partners—Cuba.

After all, chemical drugs don't require the large-scale planting of poppy fields like heroin does; once the factories are built, enticing small white pills, sprays, candy, and chocolate can flow endlessly off the production line.

The Cuban government, already teetering due to the color revolution, just watched as the Cuban military bought by drug dealers drove tanks into the government justice department's building, executing dozens of judges and hundreds of justice department members on the spot, and razing the building that burned for three days and nights without extinguishing.

Since that day, the air in Cuba has been permeated with the smell of cocaine, lingering for a full forty years, even until today.

Incidentally, Mexico originally had drug cartels too, and the government couldn't handle them until the Cuban Drug Trafficking Group took thunderous action to clear out and eliminate local drug organizations, bringing Mexico a bright universe.

Of course, the drugs flowing into Mexico's market have only increased.

With such ruthless figures in the background, it's no wonder Hansen could operate in Night City for a full seven years.

And even if you win, Cuba is so far from Night City, and across a sea, even if you take down their factory, how will you transport it back?

Afterwards, will Europe retaliate for the same reason?

Players aren't crazy enough to withstand a nuclear bomb attack.

Gloria didn't speak, but her worried look towards Lin Miao was unmistakable.

"Drug dealers must be fought, Gloria. Difficulties aren't excuses for us to evade the issue."

Lin Miao wasn't doing this out of pure justice; that would be akin to handing his head over to the other party as a target to shoot.