Chapter 39: Chaotic Memories

Yellow earth and drought-resistant plants came into view, with huge pipes marked with numbers emerging like veins from the ground.The industrial factory district and skyscrapers became distant.

They lurked in the gray sky, blending with the faded projection ads as background.

They were the same three black transport vehicles.

John’s previous workplace liked to call them flathead toasts.

These things came with tactical-grade alloy armor, ordinary firepower couldn’t penetrate them, with broadened explosion-resistant tires and a bunch of expensive systems, a fully armed team could jump out at any moment.

The three vehicles surrounded the target car in a pin formation.

John was wondering how to intercept them when he heard a loud whistling sound from behind.

"F*ck, are you guys carrying anti-tank missiles for work?"

He gripped the steering wheel, initiated the vision assist system, and the glass remained unaffected by the missile exhaust and smoke.

Eden maintained a calm expression as he began commanding the battle, as if such equipment was merely standard company issue.

Harbor didn’t fear the Gaia Cells at all.

They intercepted missiles right to the face, firing two in succession, followed by drones carrying EMP bombs that detonated directly.

John saw the opposing convoy instantly thrown into chaos.

All three flathead toasts lost control, crashing into the yellow earth and piles of rocks before barely stopping, while the target vehicle they were protecting flipped over the guardrail and tumbled down the slope.

Harbor Company only stopped at close enough distance.

The team led by Eden was well-trained and also had a military style:

There was always a reconnaissance drone scanning overhead, equipped with high-spec scanners that could aid hackers in breaking in, and if encountering snipers or high-threat targets, they could dive down with bombs for a close-range detonation.

John held a gun behind a large boulder.

From his side view, he could only see dirt and dead grass, with no discernible targets except for a few vehicles.

[Scan results transmitted/received.]

The hacker sent back the data.

The scenery in front of John’s eyes changed.

It was as if he put on a scanning filter, the color contrast of the scenery became distinct, moving inverted triangles hovered over the enemies’ heads, with red data streams outlining their bodies.

Information was the foundation of reduced casualties and efficient firepower.

Eden’s team included professional snipers.

Armed with tech rifles equipped with high-penetration electromagnetic bullets, any target caught in their sights from hundreds of meters away could randomly have their brains blown out.

John felt okay, comparatively, Alonna’s recoilless sniper was even more awe-inspiring.

At this moment, Tinfoil spoke in the voice chat.

"The target is running, syncing images now."

A signal appeared in front of John, confirmed reception, and a playback window popped up in the top left of his view.

The screen showed the bottom of the slope, where someone had already struggled out of the burning car.

The lens repeatedly focused, zoomed in, and activated the scan.

"Target confirmed, the metal box is in his hand, this guy is the one Plato has a bounty to eliminate."

"A lackey of the Gaia Cells is in the way, can we bypass?"

"It’ll take time to break through, they are holed up for a fight and showing signs of calling for reinforcements, we must expedite the operation or we’ll have to withdraw!"

"Driver, go retrieve the item."

...

[Mission Objectives Updated]

[Retrieve the stolen metal box. (Not Achieved)]

[Bring back Geoffrey. (Optional)]

John suddenly received the mission.

He left the direct confrontation to other team members, turned around, returned to the vehicle, and accelerated towards the crash site.

Bullets poured around the vehicle’s body.

Eden’s command came through the voice chat, initiating suppressive fire to alleviate pressure on John’s side.

Whoosh——

The armored vehicle came to a screeching halt at the edge of the slope.

John opened the car door and jumped into the deep ravine, brushwood and various debris scraping past him, bullets whizzing overhead.

"I’m here."

"There’s someone behind the car."

A reminder came through the earpiece.

Just as John raised his rifle—a fully armed man stood up from behind the flipped engine hood, clad in tactical armor, head wrapped in a black mask and integrated goggles.

Bam bam bam!

Black-red blood splattered, the brain matter mostly covered by a mesh net, the body twitching as it fell backward.

"F*ck!"

John was glad he had aimed preemptively.

This guy was a professional combat soldier, with rapid reflexes and good equipment, if John hadn’t hit the head, he would definitely have been injured.

[△17/80]

John tucked behind cover, discarded the remaining half-empty magazine, pulled out a full one from his waist, and only then felt secure.

He hunched forward.

"Holy sh*t, go after the target, everyone advance!"

"John, get a move on, these Shark Coins are all coming for you, and we’re also on the attack."

"If all else fails, just hunker down behind cover."

...

The earpiece filled with varied chaotic sounds.

Bullets already fired into the deep trench.

He had no other choice but to run to the back of the sedan, where he saw a guy in a suit trembling with a metal box.

[Name: Geoffrey]

[Affiliation: Tiebang Logistics (Former)]

[Description: Eden City resident database deleted, social security records deleted, unknown project experiment volunteer (Plato subsidiary files).]

"WTF? Little Jeff?"

John’s eyes widened.

This guy was actually his former colleague, and they used to work in the same transport team.

Flashes of many scenes flooded John’s mind.

Including gambling at the bar, secretly stealing spare parts during vehicle maintenance, joking crudely in the driver channel during missions...

Memories blurred with the man before him.

Geoffrey’s pupils constricted painfully, lips slightly trembling, he looked puzzled at John: "You... you know me, don’t you?"


"F*ck, are you kidding me?"

"I... I don’t remember you, it’s true, damn it, you do remember me right, f*ck, they’re liars, it’s all fake, the item must be kept... I saw it!"

"What’s going on, what happened to you?"

John tried to calm him down.

Geoffrey was on the verge of a mental breakdown, looking more haggard than a street streaker’s drug addict, basically unable to answer.

John decided to take him back.

But as soon as he poked out, there was a barrage of gunfire, beeping countdowns, and the sound of metal objects rolling closer and closer.

John grabbed Geoffrey and dove forward.

The overturned vehicle exploded, with fire waves skimming past rocks, a great shock turning John’s stomach upside down.

His vision blurred.

Gaia Cells’ soldiers emerged at the edge.

He intended to lift his gun to retaliate, but before pulling the trigger, that guy’s head got shot, fell beside him.

Geoffrey clawed over with the metal box, slapping John’s face.

"You know me, don’t you? Damn it, I... I don’t remember you, but that’s right, listen, they’re altering..."

He didn’t finish speaking, his head exploded.

The bullet went through Geoffrey, riddling him with holes, and kept on desecrating the body.

At that moment, John understood something.

The Gaia Cells weren’t here to pick him up...

They were here to silence him.

The metal box rolled to the ground.

Plato’s emblem covered in fresh blood.