Chapter 24: Get Started

"You're just a coward! No need for explanations, the last time you nearly got killed your bravery shattered," Sun Jack said with disdain while quickly surveying the surroundings.

At the moment, the car had passed through scanning and entered the security checkpoint, within the rich district, it was noticeably less crowded, with not many people around, and surprisingly, there was even some greenery.

The villas were hidden within white spherical rain shields, making it impossible for those outside to see inside. From a distance, they looked like giant eggs.

"Don't think I didn't do anything; I spent a lot of money to find resources." Just then, Sun Jack saw a dim light glowing from one of the spheres in the distance, marking it.

"That's his place, the kid into rock music chose Gaofeng Technology's silver package. There are six robots stationed inside: four standard human-shaped robots armed with M221 Saratos, backup weapons are R-46 Storms, standard four defensive grenades, two flash grenades. Si Ai, Jack, and Tapai are responsible for that; no problems, right?"

As Sung 6 spoke, the robot models, their weapons specifications, and even the weak points of their kinetic cores were swiftly displayed in front of Sun Jack.

Clearly, the guy had done his homework in advance, which lessened Sun Jack's dissatisfaction somewhat.

"There are also two AA beast-types. Priest, you've encountered this model before when you were in the army. You'll be able to coordinate with them without a problem, right?"

The Priest, wearing sunglasses, didn't say a word. He silently chambered a round and gave a slight nod.

"Ok, as for the net stuff, King Kong's got it covered. We're almost there, get ready, the gate's about to open."

As the rain shield rose, Sun Jack saw the warm artificial sun inside, the green grass, villas constructed like giant treehouses, and two pet puppies playing with a ball on the grass.

Even more peculiar was that inside, there was the clear and pleasant sound of bird calls serving as background music. The peace and beauty of the haven beneath the rain shelter made Sun Jack almost think he was dreaming— the disparity between where the poor and rich lived was just too great.

"Jeez, is this where rich people live?" Si Ai lit a cigarette and leisurely enjoyed the surroundings, seemingly her first time bearing witness to it.

At that moment, Sun Jack saw a human dressed in a tailcoat walking towards them.

"Didn't they say there was no one inside?" With a "swoosh", a blade crackling with electric arcs popped out from Sun Jack's forearm.

"Relax, it's just a butler AI, not a living person. The exterior is simulated skin. King Kong has already breached the villa's network firewall. It'll be over soon."

The polite butler robot approached the car and just as it began to speak, its body started convulsing uncontrollably.

After a violent series of spasms, its body went limp, and it collapsed to the ground, the mouth emitting a heavy metal version of a Buddhist sutra composed of various 0101s.

Following that, the artificial sun hanging in the rain shield flickered briefly, and the pleasant background music was replaced with the low and solemn sound of a Buddhist chant.

And just then, a virtual projection of King Kong, dressed as the Buddha, appeared from outside the sun. "Benefactors, I've taken care of the... internal network, the surveillance automatic alarms, and hacker defense; soundproofing is also enabled. Everyone, act quickly. However, Gaofeng Technology's ICE is too strong, I can't hack into those security robots, you'll have to deal with them yourselves."

No sooner had the voice died away than four robots swiftly rose from the corners of the villa, weapons in hand and charging at them.

"Damn it, what a show-off," Tapai griped as he was the first to rush out of the car.

The instant Sun Jack heard the sound of gunfire outside, he took a deep breath, grabbed a combat drug, and plunged it into his neck with force.

In an instant, everything around seemed to slow down a bit, and Sun Jack's senses became extremely sharp.

Sun Jack quickly pushed the door open and rushed out, gun resting on Tapai's shoulder, using Tapai's sturdy body as a shield, charging towards the security robots ahead.

"Take one down fast! Don't let them coordinate!" Sun Jack kept pulling the trigger, causing sparks to fly from the robots' neck area.

But Tapai was tough, and the robots weren't much softer, even as they were being shot continuously, they just wouldn't fall, the bulletproof metallic material that made up their bodies was evident.

Seeing this, Sun Jack raised his prosthetic arm, and as his five fingers bent backward, a pitch-black barrel appeared in the palm of his hand.

With a "whoosh," a shell flew out, followed by a loud explosion, and the robot was blown to pieces.

"This piece of crap is useless; you should have bought a few rocket launchers from the start," Tapai said disdainfully, shaking the submachine gun in his hand.

"You talk as if it's easy! Do you know how much a rocket launcher costs? Can we afford it? Stand firm, don't sway," Sun Jack instructed, resting the barrel on Tapai's shoulder and firing another shot at another robot.

Meanwhile, the robot exchanging fire with Si Ai also collapsed to the ground, sending sparks flying and spasming, with her odd-looking long gun, seemingly a sniper rifle, blowing away half of the robot's body.

As Sun Jack and the others targeted the last robot, the lush villa shaped like a treehouse slowly opened its garage door.

The pitch-dark garage lit up with four red lights, and King Kong immediately warned from above, "Careful! It's AAB!!"

Before the words had fully faded, a black blur streaked out of the garage, attacking Sun Jack and Tapai.

The thing was incredibly fast. If it weren't for the combat drug Sun Jack had taken, he wouldn't have even been able to react.

But even though his perception could keep up, his bodily reflexes couldn't. In the crisis, the only thing he could do was to forcefully push on Tapai.

Sun Jack's intent was to use the force of the push to separate the two, but it was quite evident that he had underestimated Tapai's weight; this was not space.

He got pushed back, but Tapai remained in place.

With a "bang," accompanied by a fierce metallic clash, Tapai was sent flying by the blur, crashing through the rain canopy and creating a hole.

Sliding across the ground, Sun Jack felt a burning pain in his arm. Fortunately, since he landed on grass, it wasn't enough to break the skin.

As he struggled to stand, he finally saw what the thing that had attacked them was.

It was a robotic cheetah the size of a car, its body smooth and streamlined, the color a matte black throughout. If not for some exposed joints, it would be hard to distinguish it as a metallic creature.

What was even more bizarre was that its lower half, like a typical male cheetah, also had a stick.

At that moment, the creature was staring intently at Sun Jack's prosthetic body with its red metallic artificial eye as if scanning and analyzing, yet also as if wary of something.

Before he could extricate himself from trouble, another blur shot out of the garage and, with a trailing shadow, pounced towards Si Ai.