The pursuit continues.
"Get used to it."
John wasn't planning on offering any genuine comfort to Gerry; instead, he advised them to prepare themselves ntally. Opportunities to claw your way up in Eden City co at the cost of risking your life, because there are too many at rock bottom.
Radiant Dust Farm is constantly under threat.
In the Cyber Era, business competition can't escape violent ans like assassination, kidnapping, and theft.
The protein food factory often sends people to harass.
Farm owners spend large sums of money daily to hire rcenaries to protect their land and retaliate against competitors.
The industrial zones around Radiant Dust Farm have all been abandoned.
Gunshots are fired daily on the streets away from the city, breeding gang mbers and street racing gangs. There are even hovercar attacks from afar, and professional body collectors consider the farm owner a key client.
"Is it normal for soone to be blocking the road up ahead?"
John and Maya also saw it:
Electric road cones had been installed on the main road near Radiant Dust Farm, exactly like those used in checkpoints across districts, with stones scattered about that hadn't yet been cleared away.
It looked like the work had just been done recently.
But this is a fucking industrial zone!
Even though the Owl Town Gang and the Black Gold Gang are the biggest gangs in the city, all they can do is bribe the checkpoints; they've never set up electric gates at the West District and Sakura Cross Street entrances. It's akin to carving out territory right under the nose of Eden City's authority!
"Have you t the farm owner?"
Maya asked John seriously.
Unlike the inexperienced Gerry, she clearly understood what this behavior implied—decades ago, it would have sparked an independence war!
John nodded.
Maya exhaled a breath, shaking her head in amazent.
"...This is a truly powerful figure."
Just as they approached the checkpoint, the motorcycle pursuers behind them instantly slowed their speed. Through the rear-view cara, they could see the armored vehicle spewing bullets gradually increasing the distance, with only the automatic gun turret firing a farewell salute.
Bang!
It suddenly shuddered on the spot, and the window glass shattered into shards, as if a small bomb had gone off nearby.
The automatic gun turret fell silent.
John and the others instinctively shrunk their necks, listening to the thunderous boom resonating in the air through the window.
They kept their eyes fixed on the cara's footage.
The driver's seat of the armored vehicle trembled once more, and the hood visibly dented in, a blue fla flickered out from the deford section, erupted, and transford into thick smoke and a fire tornado that devoured the whole vehicle!
The motorcycle assassin roared in fury and fled in a panic.
The farthest vehicle was suddenly engulfed in a blood mist. Half of the gunman and driver's bodies vanished into thin air, exploding into fragnts and sending the street racing gang mbers on the side screaming in terror.
"Sniper rifle, military-grade, kinetic anti-material weapon."
Maya rendered a professional assessnt.
Yet John felt a strange sense of familiarity.
tal road cones flickered with yellow light. Two patrol cars fully equipped with alloy armor and automatic machine guns were parked in front, with several rcenaries in bulletproof vests standing scattered around the guard post.
They were equipped with advanced prosthetic limbs, concealed mantis blades, and were holding smart rifles adorned with spray paint and DIY components.
Swoosh—
Gun barrels had already been raised atop the cover and abandoned building rooftops.
[Buzz—]
[Stop, buddy, don't cause trouble!]
Surprisingly, the checkpoint had loudspeakers, and electrical noise echoed through devices hidden in the building.
[Scan detected, no signs of hacking.]
John noticed hackers hiding in the building, who had already pinpointed them through special scanning equipnt.
This was a professional rcenary squad.
Two sunglasses-wearing burly n lifted their rifles, covering each other as they approached the armored truck and perford a check.
Their arms were covered with deep purple tattoos, with cooling vents flashing yellow lights—indicating that the embedded lee weapons were on standby, ready to spring out a mantis blade or ion blade at any mont.
The sunglasses-wearing tough guys completed their inspection, waved their fingers in the air, motioning them to roll down the bulletproof window for a talk.
His bushy beard was rugged, yet his actions were polite enough.
Maya stopped Gerry.
She activated the armored truck's external communication equipnt, identifying themselves to the sunglasses man through bulletproof glass and armor.
The other party shook his head.
"That's not how the rules work, buddy. Nowadays we all have to follow procedures, just trying to earn a living, no need to make it difficult for each other... Relax, open the door, and do a simple scan to make sure you haven't brought in any bombs or other dangerous items."
John stepped out of the vehicle along the cargo box, exposed to surveillance and the gun barrels of the rcenary team.
No one likes being checked with a gun pointed at them.
He was cautious of any unexpected incidents and needed to stay in an open environnt to fully utilize his prosthetic body's advantages.
"Uh-huh, thanks for cooperating, buddy."
The man in sunglasses, protected by firearms, picked up a mobile device and began scanning John's prosthetic body information, contacting Radiant Dust Farm, while other rcenaries were preparing to board the armored truck...
Beep—
A horn suddenly sounded from afar, and a yellow and black desert vehicle with light armor roared towards them.
Woosh, bang—
It ca to a stop on the gravel road, and the driver's door opened, blocking the upper body of the driver. Only brown pants and a pair of won's military-style thick-soled boots were visible.
Talia slamd the door shut, clapped her hands to draw attention, and shouted with a rough voice to lower the barrier.
"That's enough, BOYS, let him pass."
"Hey..."
The man in sunglasses frowned and turned, gazing through the top of his fras and exchanging a look with Talia, finally putting away his device and completely lowering the automatic barrier.
Gerry drove the armored truck smoothly through the checkpoint.
Talia invited John to sit in her car, and as she passed by the man in sunglasses, she paused, raised two fingers and twitched them, speaking mockingly.
"Smooch, smooch, did you forget to give sothing?"
"Tsk, Talia, that's not how the rules work."
"No worries, trust ... This is John. If you follow the news channels, you might have heard the na, but it's not important. What's key is that he saved Nando's life, you understand ... uh-huh, right?"
"...Alright."
The man in sunglasses pursed his lips, shook his head, chuckled, and extended a hand to shake with John.
"I've heard your na, buddy. Just doing business, we shouldn't have any grudges."
"Item: Electronic Beacon [Radiant Dust Farm 034]"
The man in sunglasses handed John a magnetic sticker.
This item served as a pass, only available to trusted VIP custors and vehicles from the Wanderer Camp. It would send an early ssage to the checkpoint when near the farm, allowing the barriers to lift automatically.
John tapped on the window of the armored truck and tossed it to Gerry, then turned to ask,
"How did you know I was coming?"
Talia pointed her finger towards the sky.
"She saw you."
John looked up along the gray-white factory wall, the towering building disappearing into the clouds.
He thought of the earlier sniper presence, realizing suddenly.
"Alonna's here?"
"YEP~"
Talia drove with John, leading the desert vehicle while the armored truck followed through the streets.
With Alonna here, it ant Nando had returned to Eden City.
The shell company set up by Damascus Camp had completely given up on construction business and turned to Radiant Dust Farm. Both parties reached a cooperation agreent, starting to select locations across the city to build shops.
John noticed the old industrial district near Radiant Dust Farm being reconstructed, with large equipnt seen everywhere, connecting abandoned buildings into a park around a central multi-story skyscraper.
All these projects were handed over to the Wanderers.
The farm owner provided massive funds, essentially employing all of Damascus Camp.
"That's quite a big move."
"Haha, that old man is indeed impressive, but we're not bad either. Damascus Camp has fully established itself in Eden City, just like the Seven Clans of Wanderers having their base..."
Talia seed very excited.
The days when company slaves suppressed wanderers with public opinion and local advantages would soon be history.
John listened with a smile, saying nothing.
Rebuilding the industrial zone, declaring war on protein food companies, supporting Damascus Camp, and controlling border imports and exports...
The power involved behind the scenes was unimaginable.
The farm owner's cooperation with the Wanderers was to provide manpower and force for his comrcial empire. To achieve this level, there must be other collaborators behind the scenes providing political shelter and funding sources.
John suddenly understood why the farm owner set up barriers—it was to showcase skill and attitude, give partners confidence, and intimidate other comrcial rivals.
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