The security environment on East Republic Road began to improve in version 0.5 when the number of players surged.

The change was gradual, and a new order was quietly being established.

This can be seen from multiple angles.

The gang members who used to extort protection fees door-to-door, eat for free, and readily slash people with knives haven't vanished entirely. After all, the gangs do have businesses on this street—restaurants, bars—they can't just give them up. At least they're cautious not to cause outrageous incidents here.

Paying the bill honestly, making change properly.

For the gangs, there's good news and bad news.

The bad news is that all illegal businesses besides color and gambling suffered heavy blows; stockpiled organic organs and limbs were confiscated, drug factories were raided completely.

The losses were nothing short of severe.

The good news is that revenue from legal businesses like bars and restaurants has increased, though it's still far from making up for the losses in the gray area industries.

The gangs feel these newcomers are insane, not engaging in certain businesses themselves and even destroying others' livelihoods, genuinely brainless.

But faced with the players' formidable power, the smaller gangs couldn't afford to offend them, having to retreat from this street.

After all, their lives are singular, not like countless mad dogs, endlessly visible.

"This place is far better than Taiping Continent."

A hacker following Placid looked at the bustling snack street.

Their gang also operated similar small restaurants, but both the quality and volume were much poorer than here, struggling on the edge of profit and loss, supported by gang funds.

Due to lack of money and channels on Taiping Continent, they could only raise prices and cut costs. Because of low costs and high prices, even gang members didn't want to eat at their own restaurant.

This led to greater losses, ultimately leading to closure. Despite having no competition, they couldn't sustain it.

Though close to Dogtown, the Voodoo Gang couldn't even get leftovers from Dogtown.

"Focus, we're here to execute a mission."

Placid wasn't displeased with his subordinate's distraction, just reminded him slightly.

"It's just a geographical difference, we'll have it too. When Taiping Continent's development restarts, it'll be even better."

"Find the suitable internal network entry point, try to analyze the peripheral data, then customize uploading the Demonic Puppet, complete the mission."

Outsiders like them seem out of place here, shouldn't stay long.

Originally, they didn't need to come here to work; routine tasks only required connecting to the city network with a hacker chair, then infiltrating through the network interface of the company from the city network.

But this company apparently had its private network, they couldn't find its IP address in the city network, had to do a face-to-face interview. If recognized, it would be troublesome.

Hackers are like online keyboard warriors, calling the shots on the net, splendidly unhindered.

When caught offline, they wouldn't utter a sound.

Before long, they found several seemingly usable interfaces by familiar paths.

"The network cable on the left perimeter wall seems connected to inside the hotel, worth a try."

"There's an open network gateway in the alley on the right, these people are truly careless, initially thought it'd be challenging, now looks like we can finish early."

"Jabba, you go to the alley on the right to assist Kanbar, keep an eye out. If there's anything unexpected, disconnect his connection immediately after he retreats, I'll stand guard for you."

Placid always felt something was amiss, looking at the seemingly ordinary crowd.

Prior to arrival, they'd already checked nearby surveillance perspectives, found a route with the least camera coverage, deliberately avoiding surveillance footage, shouldn't draw much attention, yet why did it feel like many were watching?

However, what Placid didn't know was, the moment they entered, their photos had already been delivered to Lucy by the street vendors on the snack street.

After all, although blacks are everywhere in Night City, seeing a few in the crowd is normal, amidst a predominantly Asian player group, three chunks of coal still stand out.

Especially the burly one, resembling exactly the one seen last time on Taiping Continent.

To say it's a coincidence, Lucy wouldn't believe it.

Though Lucy was more curious why the street vendors willingly acted as bar informants?

Even in gang-run operations, their staff wouldn't be so attentive.

When she posed this question, the clever vendor replied directly.

"Why bother about others, doing business around this bar is safer than elsewhere, and business is good, shouldn't I keep an eye out?"

"Besides, these three don't seem like good people, you gotta be careful."

Placid could only blame his fierce appearance, anyone seeing him at first glance wouldn't think he's a good person.

The vendor spoke proudly as if accomplishing something great, back when gangs ruled, doing this could earn rewards.

Lucy fell silent, she thought in everyone's eyes, companies were actually all alike, none were good.

How come their own company's reputation seems okay?

"I..." Lucy initially wanted to reward a few hundred Euro dollars, but after consideration, decided to call Lin Miao.

"Uh...what?...Okay...it's up to you."

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