The Militech AV flew over the Badlands. Along the way, Jax saw many things on the AV's internal screens that he had never known before.
For instance... the Badlands wasn't just home to nomad families; there were also many military zones stationed in this area.
Militech seemed to have spread like dandelions, leaving many outposts here. Every ten or so kilometers, you could spot a Militech squad.
And then there was... the territory exclusive to the dangerous girl squad, the Jaguar Squad.
Beneath two natural high ridges, a small fortress stood in the valley.
The Militech AV circled above a few times before landing on the fortress.
Tiger Woman was the first to exit the AV, followed by Jax, Maine, and the others.
The three dangerous girl members she brought stayed on the AV, driving it away and flying towards another location.
"Where is this?" Jax walked beside Tiger Woman. The woman was very tall, not much shorter than Jax, though certainly not comparable to Dorio, but she was half a head taller than Kiwi and Lucy.
With one hand on her hip, Tiger Woman carried a heavy weapon, walking at the forefront with a heroic and refreshing demeanor. Hearing the question, she replied, "A temporary outpost. It's ours exclusively."
"Stationed here? Won't Militech cause you trouble?" Pilar hesitated for a moment beside them and asked.
He was really a bit confused. As a native of Night City, he understood Night City and also learned about the outside world from many people.
For example... after Mayor Lucius invited Arasaka to settle in Night City, Militech immediately dispatched many people to station outside Night City.
And this squad, as well as the previous Arasaka agents, hell... from their conversation, Pilar also realized that these were clearly "their own people" from different factions, right?
"Cause us trouble?" Tiger Woman smiled, shook her head, and didn't explain to Pilar.
Because there was no need. If it weren't for Jax, Maine and his crew would never have been able to interact with her in this lifetime.
To be honest, Tiger Woman didn't dislike these people, because their loyalty made Tiger Woman feel good, but they were too reckless, and recklessness without confidence was foolish...
As for Pilar's question, hah, if it were other Arasaka squads stationed in the Badlands, adjacent to Militech, then they would definitely get beaten. But this was Michiko's exclusive squad, you fool!
Do you understand what an exclusive squad means?
The Jaguars were not just Michiko's subordinates, but also her confidantes. They were the kind of people Michiko would specifically keep by her side when doing something big, her closest and most intimate people.
Forget it, these mercenaries couldn't possibly know these things... the difference in rank was simply too great.
Thinking this, Tiger Woman led everyone into a building.
After taking an elevator, walking through a corridor, and then undergoing an iris scan, everyone entered a room.
The room was dimly lit, with the only light source coming from the giant screens. A girl wearing a hacker suit and a black cat-ear helmet sat in an executive chair. A small screen floated in front of her, which she poked with her hand.
It was a virtual screen, and she... was playing a game, a game where a yellow candy bean ate small black beans.
"Shoko, I've brought the people. Where's the Boss?"
The girl lying in the executive chair turned her head upon hearing this. The cat-ear hacker helmet covered her entire face, revealing no features. With a yawn, she said, "Talking to the Captain about something. It seems Naomi said her medical technology had another breakthrough and needs the Boss to pay for it?"
Tiger Woman's mouth twitched, and she said, "Alright, the squad's funds are going to lose tens of millions again."
Behind her, Maine's mouth gradually widened.
How much?
Tens of millions?!
"Please wait a moment. You can sit down and rest for a bit," Tiger Woman turned to Jax and his crew and said.
But the girl sitting in the executive chair had already walked in front of Jax, examining him closely. Bending slightly, she looked at Jax, who was sitting on a long bench, and said, "You really haven't installed advanced cyberware..."
"It's truly amazing. How exactly did you manage that?"
She said to Jax, then seemed to realize something and added, "Oh, right, my name is Asahigari Shoko."
Jax looked at her, completely unfamiliar with this person.
Asahigari Shoko... I'm still Toyokawa Shoko!
He was indeed a fan of the dangerous squad, but that didn't mean Jax knew every member of the dangerous squad, especially... this kind of personal team belonging to Michiko. People Michiko valued, each and every one could be called a talent without exaggeration.
Such individuals were mostly used for secret missions, so their identity information would naturally not be disclosed externally.
Just as Jax was about to speak to the other party, Tiger Woman spoke first, interrupting her teammate Shoko's conversation with Jax: "Alright, Shoko, where has Moira been recently?"
"The Rat is currently in Canada shooting a magazine cover," Shoko looked at Tiger Woman and said casually.
Jax's eyes moved.
Moira... he knew that name.
She was the public face of the dangerous girls!
She was also his little cat's favorite dangerous girl. Sasha had many things related to Moira.
For example, Q-version figurines, cute purple rats, and co-branded headphones and mice, etc...
Moira, the most outstanding stealth detective among the dangerous girls, and also the most famous operative of the dangerous girls.
Tiger Woman ran a hand through her hair, stood up straight, and was about to ask about Moira when Shoko suddenly spoke.
"The Boss is calling."
"Answer it, what are you waiting for?"
Shoko nodded and snapped her fingers.
On the huge screen in the center behind her, the previously dark screen lit up, and then an image appeared on this hundred-inch large screen.
A woman in a suit sat in an executive chair; it was Arasaka Michiko.
Behind her, there was a woman with a pair of cute bear ears, wearing advanced armor, and with a cross symbol on her chest.
"Naomi, I'm telling you again, you want to purify water resources, fine, but you want to send the purified water resources to impoverished areas, that's not going to happen."
"Do you really think I'm running a charity?"
"Boss, this is also beneficial, didn't you say..." The bear-eared girl had just said a few words when she saw the people on the other end of the screen.
Then, she paused, retracted what she was about to say, and instead nodded to Shoko and Tiger Woman on the screen, then stood behind Michiko.
Arasaka Michiko also looked at the screen, revealing a sweet smile. She cheerfully said, "Good afternoon, Maine's crew."
"Some of you probably know me, but some don't, so I'll just give a brief introduction of myself."
Michiko placed one hand on her chest; it was a prosthetic arm, looking unremarkable, gleaming with a metallic luster. She said with a beaming, approachable smile:
"My name is Arasaka Michiko, currently holding multiple positions at Arasaka Corporation: Business, Netwatch Deployment, Asset Management, Diplomatic Relations, Government Affairs..."
"Hmm, in short, I hold many positions at Arasaka."
She continued with a chuckle, "It's a pleasure to meet you all."
On Jax's side, Maine's eyes were wide. He had never imagined that one day he would be able to come into contact with such an important figure...
Honestly, Maine naturally knew the name Arasaka Michiko, just as he knew Yorinobu Arasaka, Hanako Arasaka, and Saburo Arasaka. The names of these important figures were famous worldwide; living in this world, it would be strange not to know them.
But knowing didn't mean understanding.
After all, why would a mercenary bother to understand the affairs of the world's top elites? They were people they would never come into contact with in this lifetime. Instead of spending time understanding them, it was better to honestly take jobs, make money, and drink.
Therefore, hearing Arasaka Michiko introduce herself now, Maine was speechless, his brain jammed. He looked at the "beautiful girl" in front of him, who was older than him but looked like she could be his daughter, with a comical expression on his face.
But no one noticed that the moment Lucy in the squad saw Michiko's face, her expression changed subtly. She began to get a little nervous, held her breath, and quietly lowered her head, covering her face.
Jax stepped forward, looked at Michiko on the screen, and said, "What do you want us to do?"
"Wow, that's quite direct," Michiko said, her smile fading. She placed her hand on the table, lightly tapping the luxurious solid wood desktop, and said, "Then I'll tell you the reason why I'm helping you."
"I like talent. Although some people say that this world is never short of talent, I believe that's a wrong statement, because the people they find can't even be called talent."
"Only individuals who have reached the pinnacle in a certain field, exceptionally gifted people, can be called talent. And you, Jax, you are the talent I recognize. You possess combat power that others don't understand, but I have seen many guys like you, yet none of them belonged to me."
Michiko's eyes were bright, filled with undisguised desire. Her lips curved upwards, and she softly said, "So, I want you, Jax."
"Boss, that's too direct," Naomi coughed behind Michiko.
"Shut up, Naomi, you who only spend my money but don't help me earn it!" Michiko said without turning her head.
"Become your person? I killed Yorinobu, did such a thing, and now you want me to become your person?" Jax looked at Michiko and asked seriously.
"Hmm, is there a problem?" Michiko retorted.
"I attacked Arasaka in front of the whole world, becoming a problem for Arasaka. Can you solve this?"
"This matter, it is indeed quite troublesome," Michiko said, stroking her chin.
She stroked her chin for a while, then smiled and said, "I think you seem to have misunderstood something."
"Hmm?" Jax looked at her.
"Do you think that because of this, Arasaka will truly start to take you seriously? This matter is indeed quite troublesome, but the trouble I'm talking about is not quite what you think."
Michiko's eyes moved. From his fragmented words, she understood Jax's meaning.
Then, she smiled and said:
"This trouble is the trouble of me protecting you, because it will require me to spend a lot of time and use a lot of connections to solve. It's not the trouble you caused Arasaka. I mean, do you really think that what you did today can truly affect Arasaka?"
"Don't be ridiculous, you're taking yourself too seriously, Jax. There are people all over this world who resist Arasaka, and there are countless people who have caused a greater impact than you. Why do you think you've truly affected Arasaka?"
Was Jax a huge problem for Arasaka?
What a joke... Take the reason Michiko was attracted to Jax—Morgan Blackhand—for example.
Even Morgan Blackhand was not a huge problem for Arasaka, because a vast empire would not truly crumble due to the intervention of an ant.
Arasaka, in front of this giant that housed countless people and ruled half the world, an individual's proportion was truly insignificant.
"In short, I can help you solve this matter. You can safely return to Night City, but on the condition that you become my people."
Michiko continued, "If you still don't believe it, think about Rogue. She blew up Arasaka Tower, yet now she lives peacefully in Night City and has become the most formidable Fixer. Whose credit do you think that is?"
"Holy shit..." Beside Jax, Maine and Pilar said simultaneously.
Rogue, was she originally Arasaka Michiko's person?!
Does this mean we've learned Rogue's big secret?!
"Come, tell me your decision." Michiko looked at Jax seriously, and at this moment, a certain aura of authority, belonging to a superior, emanated from her slender body.
Jax looked at Maine and his crew, wanting to hear their thoughts.
"You decide, Jax, we'll all listen to you," Maine immediately said.
He had figured it out: his group was just being carried along by Jax.
From the moment Michiko appeared, she hadn't exchanged a single word with them, nor had she even glanced at them; her gaze remained fixed on Jax.
How to put it... she certainly appeared kind, cute, sweet, and charming, but deep down, there was also an inherent nobility that kept people at a distance.
Only those Michiko favored could speak to her, could approach her.
She wasn't as approachable as she seemed on the surface.
Jax smiled, then calmly said, "Then, my choice later might disappoint you all."
"No way," Rebecca said, still clinging to Pilar, grinning at Jax.
Dorio also walked up, placing her large hand on Jax's shoulder: "Jax, like Maine, I'm willing to trust you."
"Damn... damn, why does this feel so wrong?" Kiwi looked left and right, taking a deep breath; she really wanted a cigarette at this moment.
But on someone else's territory, especially the territory of such a big shot, Kiwi didn't dare!
But she just kept thinking... Jax was about to do something foolish?
These words, these expressions, damn it, Maine and Dorio were practically screaming encouragement!
No, was there anything bad about joining Michiko?
Not taking advantage of such a big opportunity, what the hell was he thinking?
"Have you decided?" Seeing Jax turn around, Michiko smiled again.
"Yes, I've decided. I'm very grateful for your assistance and help. If it weren't for you, we would have been in trouble with the Arasaka agents. However, I'm not prepared to become your subordinate," Jax said seriously.
Michiko's smile remained as she softly asked, "And the reason?"
"I just publicly attacked Arasaka, attacked the corporation, and not even a day later, I become your person. If that gets out, what kind of reputation would that be?"
"Rogue also opposed the corporation like you, but isn't she with us now?"
"That's because she's old," Jax said calmly, then continued, "But I'm different. For me, my reputation is everything. After all, some things are more important than life and death."
"Call me an idiot, or call me arrogant, but I really have no intention of becoming a corporate dog."
My heart is like fire.
To light a fire and then immediately pour cold water on it to extinguish it, what kind of sense does that make?
Moreover, Jax's disdain and aversion for corporations stemmed from his very core. He could cooperate with corporations because he was a mercenary, but he would never become one of them.
He feared that if he joined a corporation, he would forget where he came from and who he was.
After hearing Jax's words, Michiko nodded, smiling, "A wild horse is hard to tame, Jax. Your words won't make me change my mind."
Jax fell silent.
If Michiko truly set her sights on him, she had a myriad of ways to impose her will.
Jax couldn't resist, nor would it be possible for him to resist.
Taking a deep breath, Jax for the first time thought about using "words" to defeat a "boss."
Yes, to Jax, Michiko was a big boss right now.
He glanced at the achievement badge, and Jax made up his mind.
The next instant, the badge changed, and the Presence skill activated!
Jax instantly enhanced his Presence.
[Presence]
Active Skill: After use, can increase or decrease the user's Presence. Effect 1: Presence increased, your Presence in others' eyes increases, and your words are more likely to be trusted by others.
Effect 2:
For a moment, Jax himself didn't feel any change, but from the perspective of others, it seemed... the skill really had an effect?
Just now, Tiger Woman, who had been standing straight and listening to Michiko, suddenly turned her head to look at Jax, and Shoko, who had been idly looking at his phone screen, also looked up, as did Lucy, who had been looking down.
"Miss Michiko, I intend to make a deal with you," Jax looked up, his voice magnetic and deep.
"Tell me," Michiko was startled for a moment; her expression didn't change, as Michiko had specifically learned emotional control.
But in her eyes, a hint of surprise flashed.
She wasn't exactly an overly domineering person; when recruiting people, she primarily used persuasion and made deals with them.
Because Michiko wanted not only the person but also their heart.
She needed people who would be 100% loyal to her, not those who might betray her at any moment.
Otherwise, no matter how strong, Michiko wouldn't consider them, which is why the members of the Jaguar squad were mostly civilians and refugees.
But Michiko wasn't an easy person to talk to either.
Someone at her level, kind? Don't be ridiculous.
Precisely because of this, Michiko found it quite strange that she wasn't annoyed by hearing Jax talk about a deal.
But... she wanted to hear what Jax had to say.
"Three..." Jax stretched out his hand, extending three fingers, but the next moment, he suddenly changed his mind, "No, two years."
"Within two years, I will become the most outstanding mercenary in Night City, and our group will become the strongest mercenary team in Night City.
By then, we can absolutely cooperate. Instead of tying me to your side, wouldn't it help you more to let me become the King of Night City?"
You help me deal with Arasaka and get me back to Night City. I promise you, if I fail to achieve what I just said in two years, I will voluntarily become your person, your subordinate.
But if I succeed, then at that time, I will only help you with one thing, one thing that will not violate my principles."
Michiko narrowed her eyes, her smile fading: "Then I ask, what do you mean by 'not violating your principles'?"
"For example, not harming the people around me, not violating my principles. Outside of that scope, even if you ask me to kill Militech executives, or assassinate the NUSA president, I'm willing to do it."
Michiko fell silent.
Arrogant, truly arrogant beyond belief!
But, it's true... with Jax's physical condition, if he were given the highest-spec implants like Tiger Woman and Moira, then... he could directly become a monster like Adam Smasher.
But the problem is, with so many implants, becoming powerful would actually make it impossible to assassinate such important figures.
Because as soon as you step into their monitoring range, then... you'll encounter countless powerful hacker teams, and your internal implants will be instantly disabled.
Whether Arasaka or Militech, while they create the highest-grade implants, they also bind them.
Take Arasaka as an example: a high-level combat agent has top-tier implants in his body, but a corporate executive only needs a word, presses a button, and can instantly disable all the cyberware in that person, turning him into a cripple.
But what if... Jax could continue to get stronger without installing cyberware?
What if in two years he truly could achieve Adam Smasher's combat power without installing cyberware?
Then at that time... Jax would become the person feared by all the powerful elites in the world!
Someone whom hackers cannot monitor, technology cannot restrain, someone who can use violence to punish them...
Thinking of this, Michiko suddenly became a little excited.
She found that what Jax said seemed plausible?
Instead of binding Jax to her side, making him harbor resentment, why not... give it a try?
Two years is nothing to Michiko; it would pass in the blink of an eye. If Jax succeeded, then Night City... she could naturally enter it. If he didn't succeed, then Jax would have to work for her!
But there was one prerequisite: Jax could not install high-level implants; otherwise, the deal would be directly canceled!
She needed a walking human nuclear bomb, not a nuclear bomb filled with machinery!
"One thing isn't enough," Michiko immediately said.
"Then, it depends on how much money you can offer at that time," Jax said seriously.
Michiko smiled, "Mercenary code?"
"Yes, but I will prioritize your jobs then."
Behind Jax, Maine and his crew were stunned by what they heard.
They believed Jax could become the strongest, because this kid Jax was indeed a freak!
He was always getting stronger!
But... Maine's crew becoming the coolest mercenary team in Night City?
Why?!
Just with these few average people?
Maine was almost getting cyberpsychosis just looking at the implants on Tiger Woman; let alone installing them, he simply couldn't install those implants!
And in the team, Lucy, Kiwi, Sasha, were indeed rare excellent hackers, but... among these three, only Sasha's talent could be considered top-tier among hackers, while Lucy and Kiwi were excellent hackers, but not the absolute best!
Rebecca was also an ordinary mercenary girl, with no other advantages besides being reckless. Pilar, on the other hand, had the skill to craft weapons,
But... that was about it.
Dorio was also an excellent mercenary. This... becoming the coolest mercenary team?
Don't be ridiculous!
But if Jax knew Maine and his crew's thoughts, Jax would smile.
Maine's crew... would they really be weak?
They really wouldn't be weak.
After all, David's mother had already joined the team, so was David far from joining the team?
That kid could even exchange blows with Adam Smasher, though he was badly defeated, but how many people in this world can avoid being instantly killed by Adam Smasher?
That thing smashes down from dozens of stories high, like a damn nuclear bomb; how many people can block it?
And Jackie was also an excellent mercenary. After installing cyberware, Jackie's potential was not weaker than David's. Therefore, Jackie was also considered a high-level combatant.
Do you understand Jackie Welles, the Night City legend who killed Saburo Arasaka?!
And most importantly... V!
As long as he found V, got V to join their group, and then loaded her up with cyberware, then... would becoming the King of Night City be a difficult thing?
Standing behind V, who would be afraid of Adam Smasher?
You should know, Johnny's presence didn't strengthen V, but rather had side effects on V.
V's strength wasn't because the chip merged with her brain, but because... she was already that powerful!
In other words, when V later annihilated Smasher, she was fighting with the side effects of cyberware and the chip. So if she didn't have the chip, V would be even more awesome!
Damn, we're really strong!
"Let me think about it," Michiko didn't agree directly, but said.
She continued, "You all rest here during this time. Tiger Woman, find some ripperdocs to help them with their treatment."
"Boss, can I go?" Naomi suddenly said from behind Michiko.
"You go? Do those minor injuries need you to treat them?" Michiko immediately became displeased.
Naomi, the first member of the Jaguar squad, the captain of the first team, she wasn't a powerful mercenary, but a...
Exceptionally talented... doctor!
Afterward, Michiko ended the conversation.