Chapter 15: The Operation Begins!

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[Tetsuya Daichi: Tomorrow? But we don’t even have a chance to dive deep today! I heard there’s no plan for diving tomorrow either, so we…]
[Moser: We don’t need their permission, there’s no time.]

Watching Moser calmly brewing tea from a box that looked incredibly expensive, honestly, everyone present felt a bit… disconnected.

We’re supposed to escape Arasaka! We’re facing an entire team of Arasaka agents, a dozen hackers, dozens of ordinary security guards, and a full set of automated security systems!

How can you talk as if we’re going on a picnic tomorrow?

[Lucy: Why? What happened?]
[Moser: The dear director is sending me a set of laboratory-grade cybernetic limbs. I suspect there’s a catch with them.

Even if there isn’t, there’s bound to be a mess of programs—any one of them could fry me.

And if I can’t handle the cybernetic modification and end up crippled, or if it requires a long adaptation period, or if after successful installation she transfers me away, how are we supposed to escape?

So there’s no choice—we run tomorrow.]

[Leon: Then why not tonight!?]
[Tetsuya Daichi: Yeah, under cover of night, we can move more stealthily, and there are fewer guards.]

[Moser: Because I want that cybernetic set!

Though it has risks, I can fine-tune it once I have it.

That set would cost at least a million, no—ten million euros outside!

Where else can we find such treasure after escaping?

Not only the cybernetics, but we must also get our hands on the Relic chips. I remember they’re usually stored in refrigerated lockers near the medical bay after use.]

The chat fell suddenly silent, everyone staring at him with complex expressions.

So it’s money over lives.

[Moser: Don’t worry. The cybernetics will be delivered by a hovercar tomorrow. When the hovercar arrives, that’s when we move.

My plan is to first use the servers to neutralize the armed forces inside Arasaka’s underground facility.

Then, when the hovercar is brought in upstairs, we’ll use the automatic turrets and robots at the entrance to take out the guards on the hovercar.

After hacking the hovercar, we’ll take the cybernetics and everything we can scavenge and make a run for it.

My advice is to loot as many valuable items as possible and gather enough food and water supplies for at least three days.

Don’t forget to search the bodies for any money you can transfer—put it all into any money chips you find. Don’t be foolish and leave it in our Arasaka employee accounts.

Later, once we find a public network, we can open new accounts with the Euro Consortium’s banks. Arasaka can’t touch those.

We’ll take a roundabout route to confuse Arasaka’s pursuit, avoiding a direct path to Night City.

But once we enter the Badlands, things will get easier—endless dust storms will conceal our tracks.

Various nomads and the Scrap Knife gang can also provide supplies.

We won’t stop in any city along the way; we’ll travel through the Badlands straight to Night City.

Then I’m thinking of hiding out in Dogtown in Pacifica first. It’s a military tech hotspot, and Arasaka can’t infiltrate it.]

[Kyoko: There’s a place like that in Night City? Dogtown?]

[Moser: After the 2070 Unification War started by New America ended last year, Colonel Hanson, sent to Pacifica, refused orders to evacuate Night City and became a warlord, claiming his territory.

He’s turning Pacifica’s stronghold into a huge illicit smuggling hub. This guy is smooth and commands a group called the Hellhounds.

Backed by military tech and Night City’s complex situation, Dogtown has become a no-man’s land.

Night City doesn’t care, New America can’t control it, and Arasaka can’t get in. The military tech folks just use it for fencing stolen goods and don’t bother with anything else.

So entering Dogtown might just be our first step to freedom.]

[Lucy: Looks like you already have a detailed plan?]

[Moser: Dealing with people inside Night City risks exposing our identities. Until we’re strong enough to handle potential Arasaka agents, I want to focus on operations in the Badlands and Dogtown first.

Also… the water in Dogtown is pretty murky, which makes it easier for me to connect with various parties. The best way to fight the company is to find another company. I already have ideas.

More importantly, I suspect there might still be special cybernetics left over from the New America War—behavioral trait faceplates.

This thing can completely change your appearance—from face, skin, voice, posture, hormones, even identity info!

With that, I can tweak it and maybe even replicate a simpler version.

Then we can openly roam Night City and hunt down Arasaka’s bad luck. Once we’re strong enough, we’ll take down Arasaka—they don’t own Night City.]

[About dealing with Arasaka…

Actually, I have a plan. So just trust me and act accordingly. I promise to deal a heavy blow to Arasaka.

I guarantee, one day, I will cancel the warrants on us so we can walk openly anywhere.]

[Lucy: Okay, I trust you.]
[Kyoko: Me too!]
[Tetsuya Daichi: So, what’s our specific plan?]

[Moser: First, I’ll send you the device takeover program I use. Tonight, take turns keeping watch so I can be alerted the moment the hovercar arrives.

Second, based on what we’ve scouted, think about any gaps we can fill.

Anything valuable we can take when we leave.

Also, pack your personal gear, but not too much—

We still need to carry the cybernetic limbs, which aren’t small, so leave enough storage space.

Third, mark all the targets for hacking and attention with the cameras. I’ll personally connect to the servers and eliminate all dangerous targets—the agent captain is high priority!

After I kill him, remember to bring his body. I recall the medical bay has a professional cybernetic storage freezer. I’ll perform a little surgery on the hovercar to strip the valuable parts.

He dared glare at me today… I don’t get it—daring to glare at a hacker. Tonight, I’ll glare him to death.]

[Kyoko: Moser’s terrifying… but… I don’t think I’ll sleep tonight, so I’ll keep an eye on him!]

[Leon: You’re petty too. So what if he glared at you during the interrogation?]

[Moser: Also?]

[Leon: I’ll keep a close watch on all hovercar movements, guaranteeing you’ll get the alert the moment it arrives!]

[Tetsuya Daichi: I’ll stay in the room managing surveillance with my laptop, marking all armed threats. Lucy, you, Leon, and Kyoko handle disabling the alarms.]

[Lucy: Roger.]

[Moser: Good. After the hovercar appears, I’ll immediately go connect to the server, crack the Guardian AI, and use the server’s computing power to strike the hackers inside the base.

You must leave at the same time, cut the alarm signals, and prevent me from triggering alerts during forced server hacking.]

[Moser: Don’t be afraid. Even Arasaka agents can’t withstand my hacking programs.

Just throw out my rapid hacking tools mindlessly. Once the hack succeeds and the puppets are sent out, they can’t handle it.

The only one to watch out for is the agent captain—his ICE might be unhackable. Even with my programs, it requires high neural computing power.]

“Alright, the tea is ready. Everyone, have a taste.”

Moser picked up a cup and poured tea for everyone.

[Lucy: …So, does that mean we can leave here soon?]

Moser turned to look at her pale face and smiled.

[Moser: Yes, together, we’re going to Night City.]

She took a deep breath, raising the cup. The scalding tea forced her to pause and just breathe in the aroma.

Yet, whether it was the scent of the tea or Moser’s smile, her trembling hand finally steadied.

[Lucy: I understand.]

[Kyoko: Lucy-chan, nervous?]
[Leon: Kyoko, why are your legs shaking so much?]
[Tetsuya Daichi: Leon, calm down.]
[Kyoko: Baka! Leon, you’re a total baka!]
[Moser: Oh~ Classic anime lines showing up!]

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[Lucy: …So you really like the anime world, huh? No wonder you love Sailor Moon so much.]
[Moser: …Can’t let this go, huh?]
[Leon: Hahaha, once we get to Night City, I’ll find you an even cooler Dreamer!]
[Tetsuya Daichi: Actually, those immersive games now are even more fun than Dreamer.]

As they chatted, the tension that had numbed their limbs and chilled their bodies slowly faded, replaced by the lingering fragrance of tea and warm mist.

Until curfew at night, everyone returned to their dorms to carry out the plan.

Only Moser remained alone in his room, breathing deeply. He held his head, eyes squinting as he thought, simulated, and anticipated every possible outcome.

He assessed potential risks, and after confirming the initial plan had no flaws, began considering backup plans.

What if they failed to cut off the alarm system as planned, triggering alerts when hacking the servers? What if they couldn’t seize the hovercar? What if the hovercar was too slow and got intercepted at the border station?

One contingency after another flashed through his mind, making his body flush faintly with heat.

I can do this.

Get everyone out… without a single casualty.

These kids are all counting on me… I can’t mess this up.

He repeated this self-hypnosis many times until his mind exhausted new plans.

Finally, he exhaled deeply, his expression resolute as he lay down to rest—gathering strength.

At four in the morning, the encrypted comm ringtone suddenly sounded in his ear, and Moser snapped awake.

[Leon: The hovercar’s arriving! I heard from the security room—they’ll open the base gate in twenty minutes and take control of the hovercar’s systems!]

[Moser: Report the situation!]

[Daichi: Security personnel locations have been marked in everyone’s cyber-eyes. No worries about surveillance. I’m still controlling the monitoring and security devices on underground levels 1 and 2! The elevators are empty and available.]

[Lucy: Assistant Dr. Oda in the medical bay is still working overtime. Watch out for people in the medical bay during the operation.]

[Kyoko: The agent captain we’re focusing on is currently on the first floor directing security. No abnormalities.]

[Moser: You three, go cut the building’s security alarms. Once the alarms are down, immediately head to the medical bay’s freezer to seize the Relic chips and implant them.

Take all remaining Relic chips, then rendezvous with Daichi in the monitoring room.

Don’t forget to bring two cybernetic storage coolers. I’ll wait downstairs for your signal before hacking the servers.

Move out!]

After issuing orders, Moser took a deep breath, stood up, grabbed his laptop, and stepped forward.

At the moment he opened the door, the neighboring doors opened almost simultaneously. Lucy, Leon, and Kyoko all looked at Moser, who merely gave a thumbs-up.

[Moser: The alarm shutdown’s on you!]

[Lucy: We’re heading to the monitoring room now. Moser, be careful.]

[Moser: Understood.]

They exchanged one last look and then turned toward the corridor sides.

Moser entered the elevator, pressed the button, and walked in.

He pressed the button for basement level two and slowly closed his eyes.

When the elevator doors opened, the familiar vast server room appeared before him.

The hacker chairs they used to dive deep into still lay quietly amid the tangle of neural connection cables.

Moser’s expression was calm as he approached, lay down, and connected the neural cables to the port at the back of his head.

Come on…

Guardian AI.

Let’s see how long you can hold against Bartmos’s death wish!

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