Chapter 245: Invitations from the Megacorporations

Words : 1637 Updated : Oct 7th, 2025

The second person to arrive at the VIP booth was Meredith. "Been a few days, and you've already delivered me a major gift. Say what you want directly," Meredith said, crossing her legs and lighting a cigarette. Leo slid a chip across the table. "Take a look." Meredith inserted the chip into her reader. [Item List: MediCombatExo-3 Units ×10] [Description: A mobile battlefield hospital and combat stimulant production factory, combining military-grade durability with precision required for medical operations.] Meredith frowned immediately at the first item. "Military-grade exoskeletons? Absolutely not. If those show up in Night City, the consequences would be severe." "But they're fine in the Badlands?" Meredith sighed, exasperated. "Still no. Pick something else. If you want to use them in the Badlands, we can talk." "Fine, then let's go for super tanks or ACPA armor—something for warfare." Meredith nearly dropped her cigarette. "Be serious." "Looks like your influence has dropped quite a bit. How about equivalent medical-grade prosthetics?" "What you're asking for is a bit beyond my expectations. What I can provide is military-grade, and none of it comes cheap." Meredith accessed her database and pulled up a long list of options. Leo selected a few. [Model: Precision Operative Prosthetic Arm (PAA-3)] [Description: Designed for precise medical operations like drug preparation and laboratory work. Features built-in micro cameras, magnifiers, and interchangeable tool heads compatible with lab equipment.] [Model: Multi-Functional Medical Prosthetic Arm (MTA-4)] [Description: Highly flexible joints and extendable fingers for precision surgery. Equipped with micro-sensors for accurate pressure and temperature measurement, ensuring surgical safety. The surface is coated with antibacterial material to prevent cross-infection and includes a tactile feedback system for realistic touch sensations.] [Model: Remote Operative Prosthetic Arm (TMA-5)] [Description: Integrates high-speed data transmission and precise motion capture systems for accurate and real-time remote operations.] [Model: Rescue-Oriented Prosthetic Arm (RTL-2)] [Description: Designed for emergency and battlefield rescue missions. Highly durable with an integrated medical kit, suitable for harsh environments.] Leo picked a pair of each, causing Meredith's expression to darken. On top of that, he added a few other prosthetics as decoys. Leo shrugged. "It's all mass-produced stuff. I'm not selling it. Why so tense?" "..." Meredith hesitated, then continued scrolling through the chip's contents. "You planning to open a hospital?" "Keep looking," Leo replied. [Infantry Firearms: Crusher ×200, Omaha ×50, Ajax ×200, Achilles ×50] [Heavy Weapons: Rocket Launchers] [TN: Jesus is he arming a army] Meredith stopped reading at this point—the list was all too familiar. The quantities, however, were staggering—enough to arm an entire battalion. "With all these weapons, are you finally starting your own gang? Militech could back you; we'd have a long-term partnership." "Nope. They're for personal use. Is that a problem?" Meredith's face darkened. "You're no fun. You're asking for too much. Half of this has to go, and none of it can appear within the city." "That works." Leo reluctantly agreed and placed another chip on the table. "Here's the chip. Verify it." The chip contained a list of NCPD personnel involved in recent controversies. It would be a crucial tool in the upcoming political battles in Night City. Of course, the NCPD was just an appetizer. The true target was using this leverage to pressure NCPD board members, ultimately influencing Night City's municipal government. After verifying the list and confirming it aligned with Militech's intelligence, Meredith smiled. "Not bad. Not bad at all. Are you sure you don't want to sign a long-term contract with us? Militech has a long history of working with solo operators. Morgan Blackhand, Weyland the Boa Boa... "With our support, you could surpass them entirely." When these legendary names were mentioned, the usually composed Jackie felt a surge of emotion— Militech claimed they could surpass those legendary figures! V immediately noticed Jackie's tendency to spiral and patted him on the shoulder. "Yeah, it's impressive, but we're not doing too bad ourselves right now." Jackie snapped back to reality but couldn't resist asking out of curiosity: "Speaking of which, is Morgan Blackhand still alive?" Meredith gave a faint smile. "Hard to say—so, feeling tempted?" Leo shook his head. "Not for now." "That's a shame. As a gesture of goodwill in our partnership, let me offer you some personal advice: politics is a murky swamp. As a lone wolf, you're better off not getting too deep, or you'll end up covered in filth." Leo countered with a sudden question: "Speaking of which, your people at Militech don't have... peculiar preferences like Falton, do they? Just making sure, so it doesn't blow back on you." Meredith looked at Leo and burst into a smile, one that was oddly meaningful. "As far as I know, our people mostly like blondes with big hips—what about you?" she teased, flipping her golden hair. Jackie suddenly felt a heavier weight on his shoulder. Leo shook his head. "Not interested. Anyway, if there's nothing else, I have a full schedule. Let's wrap this up." Still smiling, Meredith pulled out a slip of paper with an address from her cleavage. "You won't know unless you try. If you're curious, come here." She walked out before Leo could even take the note. V snatched it first and sneered. "Hah, a motel? Never thought corporate dogs went to those places. So, you interested? Into this type? You don't even look like a proper American." Leo chuckled. "Why would I go? Strip me down, and my Sandevistan implants will give me away. Then a hundred Militech grunts would storm in." [TN:look like Leo will not get Sir John Phallustiff] "Fair point. So, blondes with big hips, huh?" "Not my thing. Enough—Kangtao's people are here. Keep it professional." V shot Leo a suspicious glance, then looked at Jackie, finally shaking her head quietly. Clatter Kangtao's representatives in black suits entered. They placed two briefcases on the table. "We don't like this place. Let's get straight to business." "Fine," Leo agreed readily. "The first matter: we want operational data from your recent Sandevistan use. In return, we'll upgrade your cyberware for free." Leo shook his head. "It's not that I don't want to give you the data. The hardware is damaged. At most, I can provide the failure logs." "Damaged?" The Kangtao rep sounded more intrigued than disappointed. "Even better. We still want the data." Leo raised his hand to signal he wasn't finished. "Hold on, I have a condition: I'll handle the repairs myself. You just need to provide the equipment and materials. "Additionally, I need something for neural repairs." "That's acceptable. What you need is in the case. As long as you can find someone skilled enough for nanotech surgery, you can do it yourself. "But nanotech surgery isn't simple. I suggest you tread carefully." Negotiations with Kangtao were always straightforward. The first deal was sealed immediately. Leo opened the first case, immediately scanning the contents: a programmable, single-use nanotech surgery robot for repairing neural cyberware. The design was perfect for his needs. Leo rubbed his chin. Every time Kangtao sent a representative, it was someone new, making it impossible to establish rapport. Their behavior was uniform, unlike individuals such as Meredith or Bryce. It felt as if he were dealing with a faceless entity rather than distinct personalities. Still, Leo verified the equipment while scanning the chip for inspection. Once done, he preemptively spoke. "I'm guessing the second matter involves our use of smart weapons—you're welcome to collaborate." Finally, the Kangtao rep showed a hint of surprise—confirmation that Leo had accurately anticipated they wouldn't press about the weapons' origins. The two sides seemed to have an unspoken understanding. The Kangtao rep nodded, skipping formalities, and opened the second case. "Our company has developed weapon modification plugins based on your combat style. We're also offering vehicle-mounted weapon customization plans. "There are two conditions: data feedback and advertising. We'll use your experiences to create promotional materials. "If you can provide real-time material, like braindance recordings, that would be even better." Leo nodded and handed over a second chip. The rep raised an eyebrow again—Leo had the chip ready in advance rather than preparing it on the spot. This suggested either extensive preparation or an acute understanding of the corporation's preferences—both traits Kangtao valued. Beyond his dealings, Leo's repeated transactions showcased his technical expertise and exceptional initiative. His handling of the H8 Megabuilding aftermath further demonstrated a firm yet calculated decisiveness—not recklessness. From Kangtao's perspective, Leo was a prime candidate for mid-to-upper management. The rep concluded with one final offer: "If you ever consider leaving the lone wolf life, Kangtao would be happy to offer you a position." With that, the Kangtao team left—efficient and without unnecessary pleasantries. Jackie and V exchanged glances before turning to Leo. "Was he talking about you? Didn't sound like we were included." Leo thought for a moment. "His Mandarin isn't great. Probably a translation error—added a few extra words." "Oh." "Hey, your turn. Stop messing with the headset. Did you see your boss's skills just now?" Leo nudged Bryce, who slowly lowered his headset. The device allowed Bryce to remain unaware of anything Leo didn't want him to notice, passing the time with simple online games. Bryce's expression was complicated. Beyond the deals, he had his own job offer for Leo. Three major corporations had extended olive branches to Leo in a single day. These firms symbolized power and wealth. And yet, this man had no intention of joining any of them—not even for a long-term contract. The world was truly insane.

Chapter 245: Invitations from the Megacorporations

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