John's vision was filled with streams of red data and flickering mosaic bars.

Even so...

He could clearly see Vito's gun-drawing motion.

Two Jingke combat robots with advanced combat algorithms, high-sensitivity reflection units, and full Prosthetic Bodies made no reaction.

They even released the suppressed John.

Mr. Vito withdrew his gaze from the corpse, his eyes turned kind, and he even helped John to his feet.

John's mind was a bit chaotic as he looked at the corpse in the seat with unclosed eyes.

"Who is this guy?"

"Company dog, well... very high-level company dog, a member of the board of Jingke Heavy Industry. Okay, you probably won't understand... In any case, he's one of the most powerful people in Eden City."

Vito flipped the silenced pistol in a very professional inspection gesture, revealing a long-hidden military career.

He handed it back to John with the grip facing up.

"A gun from the Raqi Group, hmm, very good, you can publicly claim he was killed by Eastern people's assassination."

"Only an idiot would believe that."

"Hehe."

Mr. Vito chuckled as he adjusted his vest.

"Every big shot's death is very complicated yet simple; those who care about his life are only thinking about dividing power and interests."

It seemed like Vito's words were directed at others in the room.

He cast a cold glance at the two security robots:

They stood silently with guns drawn.

Under the ballistic masks, a faint red breathing light flickered, easily reminiscent of surveillance cameras, as if a beast lay dormant at the unseen end of the data stream.

John furrowed his brow, instinctively questioning.

"F*ck, I'm a mercenary, now showing up at the accident scene, won't it end up blamed on me?"

"Don't worry, kid, the company only pursues profit, eliminating a scapegoat holds no value. Mid to lower tier benefactors have no choice; ordinary people's lives are a mess, who cares who you and he are?"

Vito stepped forward and pulled the tie from the corpse, cushioning it in his hand.

John watched him inspect the corpse, unable to hold back his question.

"A company dog doing so well, just dies like this?"

Vito curled his lips, his tone full of disdain.

"He couldn't predict his own death, John. Big shots hiding behind the scenes for too long easily forget... primal methods of resistance aren't necessarily wise, but they remain formidable."

Mr. Vito contentedly took two steps back.

He waved lightly, his heavy gold ring reflecting on his prosthetic limb.

The two security robots received the signal and silently left the room.

"Now we can talk, time is limited..."

Vito raised his hand and rolled up his shirt, revealing conspicuous scars on his arm and a black-gold colored expensive mechanical arm watch.

The Cyber Era has already abandoned traditional clocks.

But he liked these vintage items.

"The corpse collectors will be here in ten minutes, you've got to hurry up and ask, also, what you just said was heard aloud. Be careful if Jingke's top truly makes you a scapegoat; it'll be very awkward."

"F*cking squid, Vito!"

John angrily stuck up his middle finger.

"You planned it, additional compensation is just saving goodwill for me to unlock your daughter's lockout program!"

He completely lost respect for the Black Gold Gang's Godfather in front of him.

"... Shouldn't have returned the gun to you."

Vito was in a good mood, curled his lips without minding.

He regained the Speaker's majesty, as if still standing in an office, ready to pick up a sliced cigar and sample expensive whiskey the next second.

"If you still want to ask, show some respect, kid."

"When did you start targeting me!?"

"Gino."

Vito calmly replied.

John indeed had skills, not particularly intelligent, but clever enough, conspicuous among street newcomers.

Vito initially let him rescue Gino without any plot.

Purely investing in mercenaries, testing his skills, giving young people a chance to rise and access the gang.

There was follow-up to this, but John wasn't aware.

Macao picked up Gino from Ryan's clinic.

He was very grateful to John for saving his sister, spoke many good words in front of Mr. Vito, emphasizing the task's difficulty, hoping to secure future and material rewards for the mercenary.

However, Vito astutely noticed one thing.

Gino sold to Ghoul, the Prosthetic Body equipment heavily infected, logically couldn't survive back to the West District.

He suspected Ryan's clinic.

Afterward, he arranged for some "patients" to test.

That alcoholic doctor indeed had some skills, but when facing late-stage electronic pollution cases, he didn't exceed Vito's imagination with methods.

The problem could only be on John.

Vito hadn't exposed his demand, nor secretly contacted John, since Jingke Heavy Industry was watching closely at the time.

If they detected the lockout program's potential to be cracked...

It's very likely they'd move Angelica where Vito couldn't reach.

He paused here, looked at Angelica.

"I know what you want to ask, no need to feel awkward, Ariani doesn't know these things; things between you two are quite pure."

"Sounds like your father-daughter relationship isn't very smooth."

"She hasn't spoken to me for a long time, not lacking opportunity, rather watched closely by Jingke, already lost the desire to communicate."

Vito said with a bland expression.

"..."

John couldn't help but reassess his impression of Angelica.

She would work as a waitress at his bar, listen to customers' stories, curious about mercenary task details, attempt cooking, collect all sorts of modified cars in the garage, invest a fortune in viewing scenery chips...

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