If Santo Domingo's air is filled with the smell of chemical waste, then Watson District's air is all about rust.

As an abandoned industrial area, rusted metal sheds and containers can be seen everywhere, and the pedestrians on the streets and the buildings on both sides all give off a rusty hue.

The exterior walls of those buildings are covered with oil stains that have turned black and moldy. The broken windows are plastered with newspapers, and the dark, old appearance reminds the Truth Department of the dilapidated buildings in suburban industrial zones.

It's hard to believe that quite a few people are still living here.

The group, wandering around Watson District following the mission information, has surely had their eyes opened.

"This place is even crappier than our urban village, what kind of big news can there be?" A good brother rubbed his nose, saying he could smell that odor even with his sense of smell turned off.

"Forced demolition? According to the setting, the Night City government probably wouldn't compensate for the demolition, right?"

"Compensation, seriously." The Propaganda Department chuckled, "Even if a whole family was laid out on the ground, they wouldn't make the front page of today's newspaper."

The five of them wandered here for half a day and still didn't spot any reporters from channel fifty-four.

"Big guy, where's that journalist? We've been wandering for ages, and those spider eyes have already noticed us."

"Supposedly at the Hai Aopu Processing Plant in Hokkaido, you'll know once we get there."

The Truth Department couldn't help but complain, what the heck, we're in California, not in Neon, where the hell is Hokkaido supposed to be?

A2 seemed thoughtful upon hearing the Truth Department's words, and in two or three steps leaped up to the top of a stack of containers, leaping northward.

No one knows why, but regardless, the same prosthetics on A2 and 2B perform over twenty percent better than on normal players, like they're overclocked or something.

Propaganda Department: "Did she find something?"

Truth Department: "Follow her and see."

The four of them followed, running and jumping over the containers with A2 until they reached an abandoned factory by the waterfront. But other than a pile of randomly placed scrap metal, there was nothing.

Yet A2 said,

"It should be here."

Though he didn't want to argue, the good brother still asked,

"How do you know?"

Then A2 exchanged a glance with 2B, and 2B directly picked up the good brother by the neck and jumped onto the container.

When the good brother steadied himself and looked at the factory area, he immediately cursed.

"Holy shit!"

In the vast open space of the factory area, the steel bars and trash that seemed randomly piled on the ground now revealed themselves, from a high vantage point, to spell out the orderly letters

'HELP'

A2 continued to explain,

"This was the second largest port in Night City during the 20th century. The Neon People who were active here liked to call it 'Hokkaido,' which is also the second-largest island in northern Neon, Hokkaido."

Her tone was so calm that the Super Earth trio felt like their intelligence was being subtly disdained.

The Truth Department stared for a long time, only to nod and say, "You're awesome, our money wasn't wasted."

Then he turned to shout at the empty factory area,

"Where is everyone? We spent so long looking; you're not seriously going to stand us up, are you??"

No one responded.

But 2B suddenly looked towards a container at the corner of the factory area.

"Over there."

Good brother: "Big guy, I'm suddenly starting to feel like the two of us are just accessories to these two."

"Accessories, my ass. This is basic quality every Super Earth soldier should have."

The Truth Department retorted stubbornly, "It's just strong perception. When it really gets down to a fight, they'll still have to count on us."

He walked over and banged on the container door,

"Open up quick, Super Earth Truth Department, I suspect you need a Truth Department re-education!"

"If you don't open up in one second, it will be considered treason!"

The people inside not only didn't open the door but also seemed to be pushing something to block the door even more tightly, judging by the sounds.

"Damn dissidents!"

The Truth Department jumped back to make space, and A2 stepped forward, slashing three times swiftly with her sword and sheathing it.

The sealed container was immediately chopped into pieces.

"Don't come any closer, or I'll start shooting!"

A middle-aged man with glasses staggered back inside the container, holding a handgun.

He was obviously scared shitless, his hand holding the gun shaking like crazy, and if it weren't for not having the safety off, the Truth Department reckoned it'd probably go off accidentally.

Behind him was a scruffy homeless man hiding.

The Propaganda Department paid no mind to the impotent threat from the guy and went forward, slapping the man's handgun out of his hand.

"Crazy fool, you called the mercenaries and now you don't open up? Planning to skip the bill or what?"

He kept poking Lewis on the shoulder with his finger, forcing him to back up repeatedly, feigning ferocity, saying,

"I'm telling you, whether or not you end up using our service, you're still paying. Come up short, and we'll take care of you too!"

Instead of being frightened by the Propaganda Department's words, Lewis seemed relieved as he remarked excitedly,

"You're mercenaries, took my request?"

Propaganda Department: "... Yeah, what else?"

"That's fantastic." Lewis adjusted his crooked glasses and started pulling the Truth Department and Propaganda Department towards the slashed-open container.

"Let's find a safer spot to talk."

As for the words those two threw out earlier, just treat them as nonsensical ramblings.

Super Earth? Probably just a code phrase.

If they were really from the City Hall or the company, there wouldn't be this much chit-chat; they'd have killed him already.

......

Sitting in the car, Lin Miao suddenly received a call from Reyes.

"Lin Miao!"

The captain's voice was extremely anxious,

"Did you accept that old woman's request/package?"

"Is there a problem?"

"Take your brother's advice, right now, immediately, drop this request/package and pretend nothing ever happened. No one will hold you accountable for this."

"That journalist reached out to Regina, Faraday, and a dozen middlemen before Wagako, and no one in Night City dared to take it!"

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