When you upgrade from an agent to a senior agent, it means you can command ordinary agents and soldiers, becoming part of the management with real authority.
Now, because Arasaka lost the exoskeleton, the company's top brass decided that the original senior agent Chris had committed a serious work mistake and was suspended for investigation.
Arthur Jenkins, although trying hard to shift blame, must quickly find a way to make up for the company's losses to secure his position.
Valerie was the one handpicked by Arthur Jenkins.
He promised that if Valerie could catch those damned mercenaries or retrieve the exoskeleton to recover the loss, she would replace Chris's position, become a member of Arthur Jenkins' faction, and get promoted to a senior agent.
Valerie originally thought that the opponent might have completed their job and would be lying low for a while, avoiding the heat, and she was ready for a protracted battle. But unexpectedly, the opponent dared to provoke her...
Fine, she is never intimidated by anyone when it comes to hacking skills!
Valerie was sitting in her seat, pondering how to retaliate against Mercer, but failed to notice how unexpectedly smooth her route had been.
Green light followed by green light, consecutive green lights made the agent next to her, who was already feeling uneasy and eager to get back to the company, unconsciously speed up the car, but Valerie and the agent were completely oblivious.
Until suddenly, an unread message popped up in her prosthetic eye, sent to her personal contact.
[?: Miss Valerie, I have a suggestion.]
Valerie wasn't nervous, just frowned, sneering.
[Valerie: Don't pretend, I know it's you, A, right? You've managed to get my contact info so quickly... You're more troublesome than I thought.]
[?: I never meant to hide, but I think you should hear this friendly suggestion.]
Valerie squinted, pondering the purpose of the contact.
[?: For certain personal reasons, I don't wish to confront Miss Valerie and become enemies, so I hope you will stop the pursuit and not come after me.
If so, perhaps one day we could help each other and even become friends.]
Valerie almost laughed—just a mercenary, does he really consider himself something significant?
[Valerie: Alright~ Then why not become friends now, return the exoskeleton voluntarily, and I can apply for a sum of money for you, as if we're paying to buy back the exoskeleton. After this is over, you could even have a drink with me.]
[?: This exoskeleton has already been sold to Military Science, besides, I'm not negotiating with you...]
[?: I'm warning you, Miss Valerie.]
[?: If you keep chasing me, it might be dangerous, you know~]
[Valerie: You can try.]
[?: Then let's try—by the way, it's a good habit to buckle up, keep it up.]
Valerie's face changed slightly, and before she could warn the agent next to her, she suddenly saw through his side window view, a small truck speeding fast from not far off the intersection.
The fully loaded small truck had obviously noticed a small car about to rush into its path, and its horn sounded with brake lights flashing, but its weight prevented it from quickly stopping its momentum.
Experienced truck drivers know that in such situations requiring emergency braking, sometimes they can only hope the other party is lucky, while they dare not randomly turn the steering wheel at high speeds.
"Watch out!" Valerie only had time to shout, then hugged her head and braced for impact.
The moment the agent driving the car turned his head, he exclaimed in shock: "Shit!"
The agent instantly activated his Krenzikov, and as the world slowed, desperately tried saving the car.
He didn't foolishly choose to decelerate—but stomped hard on the pedal, and V's sports car accelerated extremely quickly, in a blink darting ahead.
To be honest, the agent's reaction was quite good, combining the rapid increase in speed and the truck driver's conscience revealing to slightly turn the wheel, the whole car only scraped its tail against the truck.
Suddenly, the car spun a 360-degree drift on the ground, almost rolling and flying off.
Valerie hugged her head, luckily the airbag deployed timely, causing her to hit the bag first before impacting the window and seat, yet even so, left her somewhat dizzy.
The built-in biomonitor started alerting, and trauma team's alarm also triggered, as Valerie took several seconds to forcibly open her eyes and regain consciousness.
At this moment, the agent in the driver's seat beside her was frightened, asking nervously: "Are you okay, Valerie?"
"I'm fine..." Valerie also nodded nervously, then managed to push open the car door, unbuckled her seatbelt, and walked out from the car.
At this moment, that small truck had finally stopped after skidding seven or eight meters.
[?: Wow, nice reflexes.]
[Valerie: Damn! Was this your doing?]
[?: This is the one and only, final warning, do not come after me.]
[Valerie: You think we're afraid of this? Do you know how important the item you took is to Arasaka? Do you even realize what attacking an Arasaka agent means?]