Chapter 154: Dancing with Wolves
"How is it, Song Zhaomei? Is this the prototype you wanted?"
Even through the slightly blurry 3D hologram, Aguilar could sense Song Zhaomei's excitement and eagerness.
It seemed this caged bird was desperate to break free.
On her end, Song Zhaomei scanned the AI neural matrix prototype using Aguilar's cybernetic eye device. After confirming that the device's parameters aligned closely with her expectations, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The item Aguilar brought was most likely authentic.
Though Aguilar saw the prototype as just an ordinary mechanical device, to Song Zhaomei, it was her key to escape the cage and unlock the door to freedom!
Having worked as a hacker agent for the Bureau of Federal Intelligence (BFI) and risking her life multiple times for Myers ' "New North Star" project, Song Zhaomei was long tired of this life. This time, she wanted to live for herself.
"Seen anything worth noting, Hacker Nightingale?" Aguilar's hoarse voice carried a faint trace of sarcasm.
Ignoring his veiled mockery, Song Zhaomei calmly replied, "It's what I wanted, but I can't yet verify its completeness."
"I'll need to personally test the prototype to determine if it will actually work for me."
Clearly, in this transaction, Song Zhaomei was as cautious as Hansen, not trusting anyone blindly.
After all, her life was at stake. She couldn't afford to let these people pull any tricks on her.
"We've prepared what you wanted. Now, what can you give us in return?"
This time, Kurt Hansen spoke, his eyes fixed on Song Zhaomei's 3D projection. Although he couldn't see the nuances of her facial expressions, her voice revealed subtle clues.
When people lied, they always gave something away—whether through their expressions or voices, reflecting their psychological state.
As the leader of Dogtown, Hansen had honed an extraordinary ability to discern lies through years of scheming and deceit. Even highly trained agents would struggle to deceive him.
"You want to disrupt Myers ' grand plan for a unified New America. What I can bring you is a way to stop this war and potentially crush Myers ' plan entirely."
Song Zhaomei's voice was steady and firm. Hansen couldn't detect any falsehoods, but her audacious confidence drew a disdainful chuckle from him.
"Well, well. You really live up to the name 'Nightingale.' You sing better than you talk."
"You alone can stop the entire New American army? What are you planning? Hacking the cybernetics of those brainwashed soldiers or assassinating Myers directly?"
"Hah! If you had that kind of skill, the Bureau of Federal Intelligence wouldn't be able to hold you."
As Myers ' former subordinate, Hansen knew better than anyone how formidable Myers was. The ambitious president was not only brilliant but also a terrifyingly skilled fighter.
In a one-on-one duel, Hansen wasn't sure he could win, let alone someone like Song Zhaomei, a hacker with no combat abilities.
Moreover, as a former New American colonel, Hansen understood how difficult it was to hack the cybernetics of military soldiers.
The military-grade ICE defense systems would instantly pinpoint a hacker's location if they triggered an alert, and the army's own hackers would swiftly retaliate.
Hacking even one soldier was challenging enough, let alone an entire army of thousands!
So, hacking the soldiers' cybernetics or assassinating Myers was out of the question.
"Hansen, give the lady a chance to finish. Let's hear her out," Aguilar interjected, silencing Hansen's doubts.
He believed that a desperate Song Zhaomei, longing to break free from her cage, wouldn't gamble her freedom on a half-baked plan.
A dying billionaire would empty their wallet in their final moments, and a terminally ill hacker would rack their brains for a way to secure a lifeline.
Once Hansen and the others quieted down, Song Zhaomei continued calmly, outlining her plan:
"I need Hansen to pretend to present this prototype to Myers as a decoy. That will lure her into using Air Force One to come near Night City."
Before she could finish, the ever-cynical Gago shook his head. "Tsk, that won't be so easy."
"Myers is cautious. Even if you present her with this, she's unlikely to retrieve it herself. She'll send someone else."
"Besides, how can you be sure Myers will listen to you and bring Air Force One near Night City? What if she doesn't?"
Gago's skepticism wasn't unwarranted. As a seasoned politician, Myers was a cunning old fox. She wouldn't risk her safety just to retrieve an AI neural matrix prototype.
This went against her modus operandi.
Facing the group's doubtful gazes, Song Zhaomei remained composed and explained,
"When the New American forces push into the western territories, Myers will use Air Force One to hover over Night City for a political stunt."
"She'll do this to boost troop morale. Your missiles can't reach a high-altitude aircraft, so Myers won't worry about her safety."
At this point, Hansen's eyes widened in realization as he guessed Song Zhaomei's intentions.
Sure enough, she confirmed his suspicions in the next moment:
"So, I'll use stealthy infiltration to force Air Force One to descend into your missile range."
"Then you can use missiles to take the aircraft down."
Her words hung in the air. Even the ruthless Dogtown warlord Kurt Hansen couldn't help but applaud her deviousness.
This Nightingale was more ruthless than he'd imagined!
"Hahaha!"
"Taking down Air Force One with missiles? It almost sounds like you hate Myers more than us rebels do! Ahahaha!"
Hansen laughed heartily, savoring the irony. This transaction seemed more like Song Zhaomei's personal vendetta against Myers , while he'd be the one bearing the infamy of assassinating the president.
That this clever little bird could concoct such a flawless "kill with a borrowed knife" plan impressed him.
"You want me to take the blame for killing the president, eh? To risk worldwide condemnation so you can escape your cage? Dream on, Song Zhaomei!"
"You must think I'm an idiot."
Hansen unflinchingly exposed Song Zhaomei's true intentions. But instead of flinching, she calmly unveiled her backup plan:
"I'm not asking you to destroy Air Force One. I'll be on board when it descends. All you need to do is force it down."
"Air Force One has a robust defense system and won't be easily destroyed. Once it crashes, you can capture Myers and hold her hostage."
With that, Song Zhaomei paused. What happened to Myers afterward—whether she lived or died—was up to these rebels. Song Zhaomei only cared about getting what she wanted.
"Interesting," Aguilar remarked, smiling.
The plan suited his employers' interests perfectly. Capturing Myers would destabilize the eastern territories and delay New America's unification. Amidst the chaos, his bosses in the Cuban faction could seize more territory.
"Song Zhaomei, your plan is excellent. My employers will be thrilled. I'll personally ensure you get your reward."
"I swear it on my name—Aguilar."
Even Aguilar had to admit, this little bird had a sharp mind, presenting a near-flawless plan with no apparent flaws for now.
"I only hope you keep your promises and give me what I want. I won't concern myself with anything else," Song Zhaomei replied, her voice as calm and detached as ever.
"Hahaha! Deal!"
Hansen laughed, thrilled at the prospect of turning the tables on Myers , his former superior. The thought of defying her filled him with forbidden delight.
But as Song Zhaomei prepared to dance with wolves, she felt no relief.
On the contrary, after securing Aguilar's promise, her unease only grew.
She knew she couldn't let events unfold entirely according to Hansen's plans.
To ensure her survival and success, she needed to bring in another wildcard—a disruptor who could shift the balance.
And she already had someone in mind.
...
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