"EMP?"
Gino held his cup and reminisced.
She had modified an electromagnetic pulse emitter, accidentally taking out the contraband materials stolen by the Owl Town traitor, which led to all sorts of troubles.
According to Gino's description:
The other components weren't anything special, but the core decryption parts used Plato Company's anti-invasion electric kernel.
ICE can be commonly understood as a firewall.
The most advanced anti-cracking technology of the Cyber Era, major tech companies are willing to spend heavily to build their research teams, using ICE to compete with hackers, ensuring their prosthetic bodies aren't easily hacked into.
"Where did this come from?" John asked.
"Do you remember, a cyber psycho appeared downtown some time ago?"
"I remember, it was the night we sent the doctor back."
John could still recall the image of the special action team's hovercar sweeping over the rooftop—at that time, the Black Light had left him weak and half-dead, not even considering going to join the commotion.
Gino, like most hacker girls, always maintained high-intensity surfing and knew more details:
It's said that the warehouse of Plato Company was blown up that night, with the Exile and Ghoul teaming up, grabbing high-level prosthetic bodies, and storming into the company to take a bunch of stuff out.
The black market was flooded with all sorts of good goods that night.
Gino, with limited funds, camped out to bottom fish and bought a blind box, receiving Plato's experimental stage protective hardware.
This firmware was hyped to the sky.
Plato's executives even vowed—the experimental stage ICE could block the top-notch hackers, and the internal traps were like a maze, where the younger hackers would burn alive if they dared to hack.
After receiving the goods, Gino had a sudden whim and tried reverse running the hardware subroutine, resulting in:
The modified EMP being able to pierce through the defenses of other companies.
The thickest shield became the strongest spear!
"Just one shot, and the drone came down. Even I didn't expect it... you understand?"
Gino recalls, still feeling surprised.
Seeing John's apparent interest, she regrettably stated, "All these things were taken by my Eastern captors, in the secret room of an abandoned casino in Owl Town, I was locked in there back then."
[Mission Progress Update]
[Return to the Abandoned Casino, Find the Lost Hardware. (Unachieved)]
John recounted the events of last night.
Gino heard about the interrogation of those who kidnapped her by the Owl Town gang, and a pleased curse escaped her mouth.
John worried that the Eastern people would ransack the scene.
Gino said the passage was very hidden, made specifically for stashing stolen goods; with enough luck, it might not be discovered.
So John drove Silver Rider back to Sakura Cross Street.
At this moment, the dawn was faint.
Sunlight shone on the scorched bridge, the car wreckages had already been cleaned up, a driverless cleaning machine slowly passed by, leaving behind a damp road surface and faint traces of stench.
Silver Rider sped along the coastal avenue.
The factory occupied by the Ghoul had already been consumed by flames, billowing smoke mixing with the industrial exhaust high in the West District.
John looked distantly through the car window:
The Owl Town gang enforcers guarded the premises.
The remaining Ghouls from last night had been killed by them, the bodies piled up and stacked on the roadside, their miserable deaths silently warning the street's passersby.
Whoever causes trouble at Sakura Cross Street will pay the price.
The red light ended.
The street voice broadcast began to remind.
John honked to urge the car ahead, turning past the intersection.
[Sakura Cross Street - Abandoned Casino]
John stooped through the dented rolling shutter door, the dust-covered abandoned casino filled with signs of smashing, faintly visible was a dragged long bloodstain.
The person was likely dead, possibly even their body burned to ash.
Just as John predicted, the whole abandoned casino was searched by the Owl Town, but the gang members were careless, clearly not finding the crucial spot.
Likely Long Chuan Ze wouldn't be interested in the unfortunate guy's assets, just pure abuse and punishing a traitor.
Based on Gino's hint, John found a power-off, glass-shattered pinball machine.
Lifting the operation panel revealed a data slot.
John pulled out a connection cable, used Black Light to take over the system, and the tightly-sealed wall bounced outward, after pulling open, exposed a few square meters of secret room.
The space was narrow, and the facilities simple—metal tables and chairs, scattered clutter, and shelves.
In a corner, John found an ammunition box, inside neatly stacked ICE firmware, with one piece noticeably missing, likely the one Gino used.
Just the Plato Company logo on it indicated the valuable goods inside, but alas, this unfortunate soul hadn't sold the items before being killed by Long Chuan Ze.
John scanned the surrounding area with his prosthetic eye.
On the wall was a circle of discolored sealing coating, mismatched with the surroundings due to dampness and time.
He stepped forward and removed the cover plate.
Dug out a silk-wrapped bundle from the hidden compartment, which upon opening, revealed a Single-Molecule Samurai Sword.
[Weapon: Samurai Sword - Gambler]
[Accessory: Sharpened, Durable Coating]
The Eastern samurai culture in the Cyberpunk Era was given a new interpretation, amplifying the extreme and violent, while certain elements inspired the designs of weapon merchants.
This high-tech blade was an early product of Raqi Industry.
When they entered Eden City to expand the market, they launched a series of weapons with Eastern elements, offering customized colors based on client demands and issuing exclusive product serial numbers for a price.
This series is still innovating.
The one in John's hand is an early custom edition, its original owner seemingly in good financial condition when purchased.
Though he fell into hard times, he didn't sell the sword, as if it was a kind of fantasy, a mental capital carrying hopes of a turnaround.
John associated his miserable state—falling into the point of colluding with Ghouls for travel fees.
An ironic sense of desolation.
"Is this the Gambler?"
John examined the samurai sword.
Black alloy handle, narrow guard, with a long blade featuring ukiyo-e dark patterns.
The metallic blade is a faint navy blue, reminiscent of the most popular suit color among last-century Eastern gangs, also easily bringing to mind arcade halls' pinball-addicted gamblers.
John organized his spoils and left.
As he sat into the driver's seat, he received a call.
[Vito Russell: John, well done, Macao has already picked up Gino in the East District, it's thanks to you that this girl returns home intact, wish she learns a lesson though.]
"Her fate hadn't ended, haha, I'm serious, luck truly sided with Gino, she nearly bought it."
John recalls, feeling the thrill.
Mr. Vito smiled.
[Who would've thought otherwise... last night, someone was speeding and shooting at Sakura Cross Street, I've heard some news... hmm, this job has truly been tough on you, the originally promised reward is insufficient, I'll double it for you.]
"Quite generous."
[You deserve it.]
Vito poured himself another drink with interest.
[You've caused quite a stir on the Eastern turf, the Owl Town gang is asking about your name, don't worry, we've got you covered, you're just a neutral mercenary, walk through the streets as you please, no one but Ghouls will seek retribution.]
He raised his glass to John, saying once more.
[The Black Gold Gang never shortchanges friends, once you return to your apartment, you'll see the gift we prepared, money is money, gesture is gesture, Dan Street officially welcomes you.]
Vito finished speaking and hung up the phone.
John gradually accelerated, settlement information appeared before him.
[Task: Rescue from the Hot Pot (Completed)]
[Reward: Payment, Device Invasion Countermeasure Kernel, Transport Protocol 308 (Program), Samurai Sword - Gambler, Special Pass, Unknown Keepsake.]