Players Invade Cyberpunk-Chapter 811 - 262: Besieging Horizon Corporation

The storm is brewing inside Taiping Continent, and outside, Night City is just as turbulent.

A large number of high-level players have entered Taiping Continent, but that doesn't mean the original places are peaceful and safe. Now, every day, dozens of new players start leveling up on Stone Ridge Mountain. They need to fight to gain experience and level up. Any criminal behavior that violates simple morals or bounties can become their reason for action. The system's criteria for determining enemy units have a very odd weight, with a rather flexible moral bottom line, and each attack has different damage caps.

Some are taken out on the spot for the NCPD to deal with the bodies, while others are severely injured and handed over to the NCPD for sentencing. For six whole months, the various industries of the gangs have suffered unprecedented damage, no less than the impact of the nuclear explosion fifty years ago.

They resisted, launching an attack on Horizon Corporation in a secret organization by Huang Ban, in alliance with the Chaotic Blade Association and Night Wanderer outside the city, but all three battles ended in total defeat. Even the support equipment provided by Huang Ban couldn't salvage the situation, plunging them into a complete low point. Not even those domineering gang members collecting protection fees are seen on the streets anymore.

However, the gangs, cornered, are like wounded beasts. Perhaps they can eventually crawl back to the surface after laying low for a long time, but that's irrelevant to the current gang bosses.

In fact, being a gangster is all about the present, not the future.

The Kabuki District remains as lively and crowded as ever. In the narrow and crowded hallways and alleys, you might discover a new world of micro-commercial districts, with small restaurants, barber shops, and even red-light districts with clerks shouting at their doors.

The narrow alleys filled with smoke and fire are the best hiding places for mercenaries, and also rendezvous points for players leveling up.

"Invitation."

A burly man blocked the door. Even without the bionic eye scan, the murderous aura emanating from him was palpable.

The visitor, despite wearing a plaid shirt, couldn't hide the redneck vibe unique to the Sixth Street Gang. He looked back at his boss, then took out a business card and handed it over.

After scanning with the bionic eye, the big man said,

"Weapons are prohibited here. All combat implants must be forcibly shut down."

The two cooperatively handed over their two revolvers and hidden grenades, and under the control of a hacker lurking in the shadows, locked their entire combat implants before pushing the door open and entering the room.

Inside were fierce fire stoves, cooking utensils, a big refrigerator, and more. Here was the back kitchen of a restaurant in the Kabuki District. The preparation area in the middle had been cleaned up, leaving only a big table and chairs. A chef was still cooking quickly in the stove area behind.

Once the visitor entered, someone at the table greeted him,

"Yo, isn't it Morton? You're really late. I thought the Sixth Street Gang got orders from their masters not to come."

The speaker was Brick, the head of the Vortex Gang. His extensively modified face was unmistakable.

"Shut your mouth, spare us the oil spew. No one gives a damn about you here."

The current leader of the Sixth Street Gang, Morton, couldn't be bothered to even look at Brick. He casually pulled out a chair to sit down.

Present were all familiar faces: Brick from the Vortex Gang, Morton from the Sixth Street Gang, Ishikuro Juro from the Tiger Claw Gang, and an old woman, Okada Wako. The seat for the Valentino Gang boss was empty, but there was a TV instead. On the screen was the boss of the Valentino Gang, Francisco, his shirtless body tattooed with skulls and crosses.

In other words, besides the Cleaner and the Netherworld Dog, the heads of all significant gangs in Night City were gathered in this kitchen-turned-meeting-room, with their bodyguards standing behind them, maintaining a serious atmosphere.

"Since everyone is here, let's start. No need to wait for the absent ones."

Even while incarcerated, Francisco, who could still remotely control the Valentino Gang, was evidently the initiator of this meeting.

"I've heard in prison about what's been happening outside. The Valentino Gang has already lost seventy million Orokin during this period. I'm sure the losses under each of you are likewise substantial."

Everyone's expressions were unpleasant. The Vortex Gang, which suffered the most, had many of its bases and assets in the Watson District torched, and after another clash with Huang Ban, they were reduced significantly by Agent Huangban's subsequent reckoning, nearly stripping them of their major gang status.

Economically, the Tiger Claw Gang fared the best, running the largest money pit in Night City, Yunding.

"However, we have been rooted in this city for half a century. Every inch of the street in Night City is soaked with our brothers' sacred blood. It's a world fought for by countless brothers."

"I know we've had many grudges against each other in the past, but under the threat of those guys, I think we should set aside our differences, stabilize our foothold, and under God's watch, rebuild a tower of Babel that belongs to us."

The murderous gangsters were, however, reiterating God and the Lord. This was the method the Valentino Gang used to maintain internal unity: religion and family.

"I second that."

Morton slapped his palm onto the iron table.

"Additionally, we need to transfer assets to a safe place. Those guys know Night City's sewers better than we do, like filthy rats."

Brick: "I suggest we move to our Watson District. There are plenty of open spaces for tall walls, safer than fighting alone."