In this era where everyone is competing to be the worst, anyone who isn't thoroughly rotten has the advantage.
Lin Miao: "No wonder they're soldiers under Colonel Hanssen's command. Just by looking at them, you can tell they're mighty heroes, each worth ten n."
Gago and his companion didn't disagree with this assessnt; they genuinely thought so. After all, the Netherworld Dog had few rivals locally, and anyone who dared to challenge them got bitten to death by these pups.
Lin Miao and Gago, surrounded by soldiers, got into the elevator while Bennett stayed downstairs. Hanssen was cautious of Lin Miao sneaking others in with them.
In the elevator, looking at layer upon layer of unfinished Gemstone Cyan buildings, Lin Miao remarked knowingly,
"Gemstone Cyan... I rember ten years ago, the Taiping Continent advertised it as a place where elite celebrities of the world would gather, showcasing the greatness of the United States."
"But now we all know, New Arica, Night City, are pretty much like this hotel; flashy on the outside but empty inside, a slight push might make them collapse."
"It's all superficial; no matter how good the decor is, it depends on who's sitting inside. The Colonel has been stationed at Gemstone Cyan for seven years; he'd know if a hair fell outside. If Miles hadn't feared Huang Ban back then, the Colonel might have taken over the whole Night City."
Even though Gago joined later in charge of finance, he seed more sympathetic to Hanssen than Bennett and the others. Whether he was sincere or not, only he knew.
"So you're intent on running Dog Town's black market like this, letting Taiping Continent stay in turmoil? Maybe you could persuade him; this isn't a long-term strategy..."
"The Colonel has his plans. It's not my concern."
Gago interrupted Lin Miao, not wanting to end up hanging under an overpass for a slip of the tongue.
Ding—
The elevator reached the top.
Just stepping out of the elevator, Lin Miao saw a wall. Hanssen, a towering figure at 2m2, was even bulkier than Bennett, standing alone blocking the entire elevator door. The shadows cast by the external light enveloped Lin Miao; looking up, he could only see Hanssen's red-glowing cyber eyes, imposing.
He extended his right hand, grinning with gleaming teeth
"Mr. Lin, I've been waiting for you for a long ti. Now that we're both at Taiping Continent, we can be considered family."
"Family?"
But Lin Miao didn't shake his hand; he looked at the massive hand that could envelop his entire head and paused, smiling back
"I'm not interested in shaking hands with family."
The atmosphere dropped into an ice pit, silence enveloped the surroundings, even Gago was stunned, wondering what was going on?
Didn't he know Hanssen had snipers all over the place, ready to blow his head off at any mont?
He stepped back twice, retreating into the elevator, fearing the blood might splatter on him later.
Under his horrified gaze, Lin Miao faced seven or eight snipers, and Hanssen himself in battle readiness, walking forward with his arms open
"Damn it, we should be hugging!! Ah, hahahaha!"
He laughed heartily, hugging Hanssen's shoulders, as if he was truly embracing his brother with warmth, while Hanssen's muscles were tense, ready to tear Lin Miao apart with any sudden move.
What the hell!
This guy must be insane, right?
Seeing Lin Miao's actions, not just the snipers, even Gago was sweating profusely.
The boss of the lunatics is a lunatic; he shouldn't have considered Lin Miao as a normal person, as he was no different from the street crazies.
Hanssen sensed Lin Miao wasn't making any moves, rely embracing him and laughing, his cyber eyes unable to detect anything on him, hard to figure out.
After a hint of bewildernt, Hanssen laughed and embraced Lin Miao in return,
"I never thought you'd consider as family, it's all my fault, my fault."
Their size difference was like a bear and a passerby, spectators feared Hanssen might accidentally strangle Lin Miao.
Yet the two incongruously walked arm in arm toward the inside of the hotel.
Watching their backs fade away, Gago finally caught his breath, wiped the sweat off his forehead, and quickly followed.
"Coming to Dog Town today to et with the Colonel, I wanted a face-to-face discussion about Taiping Continent's future, those rumors circulating outside, I trust the Colonel has his judgnts, not swayed by sensationalist reporters looking for big news."
"Eh."
Hanssen withdrew his hand and casually said
"I know what those reporters are up to; they wish for bigger troubles, willing to say anything for news. Anyone sensible wouldn't care about their words."
"And Mr. Lin, you're the manager of Taiping Continent now, with capable soldiers cleaning up even the Chaotic Blade Association, your word could decide anyone's fate."
"But Dog Town is a complicated place; acting carelessly could be dangerous. Even my head could be moved elsewhere if not careful."
While chatting, they reached the door of a private room. The scene at the door wasn't harmonious; several people were tied up tightly at the entrance, shivering.
Coincidentally enough, Lin Miao knew them, their mugshots circulated among the gaming community.
Within Taiping Continent were so notable drug lords; several sieges let them escape. While guessing they fled to Dog Town, he didn't expect Hanssen had captured them today.
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