Chapter 145: What? Is This Really Snake? - It’s the Cyber Age—Still Playing a Traditional Villain?

Chapter 145: What? Is This Really Snake? The "Bai Tie" gang was a typical example of a moderate faction. Unlike other gangs that specialize in specific trades, it does a bit of everything—not the best, but not the worst. This versatility is precisely why Xie Qingyan valued it; it's unobtrusive, relatively low-profile, and most convenient when executing tasks. However, this doesn't imply they lack strength. With the support of "Prism," Song Ziyou's forces used blitzkrieg tactics in their assault on "Furious Wolf." "Chu Cuicheng, surrender obediently!" Song Ziyou felt more gallant than usual as he commanded his gang to launch the attack. It was time for him to bask in glory. Indeed, even gang leaders have their pride. Although he and Ding Jun often had to humble themselves before corporations, they weren't entirely submissive. That energy had to be expressed somehow. Especially after the incident with "Long Knife Gang," he had been reprimanded frequently by Xie Qingyan—even if Su Lin's involvement justified it. But with the hierarchy as it stood, he couldn't exactly argue his case against her; blame where blame was due. Now was the time to prove himself! "Charge!" Despite being pulled in different directions themselves, "Bai Tie" members were even more exhilarated than "Furious Wolf," and a large-scale gang war was about to erupt, the chaos instantly enveloping the entire Tenth District. Song Ziyou understood that every second counted. Numerous parties had their eyes on the situation, waiting for a chance to benefit—similar to what happened in the Sixth District. Such circumstances might not change for many years. So, speed was of the essence; delay could lead to unexpected complications. That said, it wouldn't be so quick. They say a centipede dies but never falls. A gang as large as "Furious Wolf" would never be without the ability to counter, no matter how worn down. Chu Cuicheng recognized the critical nature of this battle; surviving it might preserve the Tenth District. Thus, besides standard armament, he did not hesitate to use potent "Ereks" on his subordinates, aiming to fully harness their capabilities. He even led from the front, engaging Song Ziyou head-on after activating his own chip. "Song, today I will chop off your head and use it to fuel my war tank!" After being tormented for so many days, his rage had reached its peak. In this situation, it was a life-or-death struggle between the two gangs. "Try me then!" Song Ziyou laughed heartily, activating his own chip as he met the challenge. Capture the leader first! If he could take down Chu Cuicheng, securing the Tenth District would be much easier. "...These chips really are useful." Not far off, Lin Yue and Lin Xing, who had been lurking, observed the clash between the two leaders and remarked. Xu Shi, who was controlling Lin Xing, felt a tinge of guilt. Shameful to admit, as the leader of the "Overlimit Plan," he hadn't witnessed many chip-influenced battles firsthand, only remotely during the previous raid on the "Shark Tooth" warehouse. But neither the inspection bureau nor those gang members from Ding Jun were more than C-level "Enhancers," so it was difficult to witness any grand spectacles. This time was different. Both Song Ziyou and Chu Cuicheng were noble B+ level "Enhancers," capable of nearly A-level performance with chip enhancement. It was indeed thrilling. Chu Cuicheng's ability was "Firearm Mastery." Lin Xing watched as he juggled five guns like a trickster, ceaselessly spewing fire. Darn, was he the contemporary Yue Man... no, was he the current Aphelios? As for Song Ziyou, his ability was "Expansion," and after activation, his body swelled rapidly, doubling in size in a mere instant. Both his physical defense and power were significantly enhanced. Xu Shi even felt a bit dizzy, thinking of the resemblance to the prison warden from his childhood fear movie "The Rock." Song Ziyou, post-transformation, looked more monstrous than ever. But back to the point, the combat between the two exemplified the importance of "Twin" chips—Xu Shi realized that without the chips, their performance would not have reached this level. For instance, Song Ziyou would naturally suffer from the typical heavy-warrior drawback of being cumbersome... but with the support from "Twin," his agility noticeably increased, allowing him to fight with ease even under the pressure of five guns. Similarly, Chu Cuicheng used the chip to further refine his skill, masterfully wielding five different firearms without a gap in firepower, even seamlessly reloading to maintain perfect aim at vital spots—a remarkable feat. The surrounding small fry were no different; they activated their chips before engaging in combat. Clearly, for a chaotic place like Night Sin City—or Void City—the "Twin" chips had become an essential tool. There's a stark distinction with and without them. He could already envision a future where everyone was akin to playing card characters in battle, warming up before fights, or else they'd be embarrassed to partake... "Should we... join in now?" Lin Yue didn't think much ahead but, having tasted the sweetness of waiting in ambush before, cautiously inquired. “...No rush, let them fight it out.” Lin Xing shook her head. "Our task is to clear out the small fry first and gather the defected 'Furious Wolf' members we turned." Besides them, many other gangs in the Tenth District sought to fish in troubled waters. We won't let them interfere. For those 'Furious Wolf' defectors, it was easy to identify them; it was planned they'd use "Ereks" during the battle. So, the order was, join us without using the drug. If not, there would be no mercy. As for those two... let them bite each other; the battle won't conclude so quickly. Just as she finished speaking, she inserted a chip into her neuro-computer. This wasn't "Twins" but another flagship product from "Snake Loop," called "Sandstorm." In truth, Lin Xing herself was a cyborg, not an "Enhancer," so "Twins" had no effect on her; she required a different combat chip. Time to fight! Lin Yue hesitated briefly before following her lead. But my sister sure seems cool... And so. The battlefield in the Tenth District, from a bird's-eye view, became very interesting. The center was the climactic showdown between the giant and the gunslinger. But expanding outward from this nucleus were the cyborg and assassin sisters leading their forces in harvesting. Their ranks continually swelled as more joined the fray... So, this wasn’t just any typical card battle. It had turned into a real-life game of Snake. ... Sometime later. Boom— The duel between Song Ziyou and Chu Cuicheng neared its conclusion. Who is the victor? The answer: neither. Both were left defeated. As the smoke cleared, the two gang leaders lay sprawled on the ground. Both were in terrible shape. Chu Cuicheng, visibly numb, theoretically shouldn’t fear a heavy, high-defense opponent as a speed-based marksman. But Song Ziyou, an agile hulk, had become a hexagonal warrior; despite the red-hot barrels, he remained untamed. Conversely, although Song Ziyou's attacks were hefty and deliberate, the mere shockwaves were enough to unsettle Chu Cuicheng. Song Ziyou was also worn out. Naturally, after activating "Expansion," ordinary bullets inflicted minimal damage, and even special rounds lost potency. Nevertheless, being under constant fire from five guns was unsustainable. Still. "You're about to collapse too, which means I win." Gazing at the scarred, severely burnt-handed Chu Cuicheng, he cracked a self-satisfied smile. "As if you can last much longer." Chu Cuicheng retorted with defiance, "You're done as well." "Not necessarily." Song Ziyou steadied himself, grinning, "Holding you off is enough for me. By now, 'Bai Tie' should have turned the Tenth District upside down—uh?" Mid-sentence, he abruptly stammered, his eyes wide with shock. "…Haha, not quite so successful, are you?" Chu Cuicheng felt a wave of panic upon hearing this. He realized that if it turned into a prolonged battle, the "Furious Wolf" might not hold out. Even if Song Ziyou managed to trap him there, should the outside fall, he would be doomed all the same. But witnessing Song Ziyou's expression—could it be that his men managed to hold their ground after all? His vision blurred, but the very thought brought a reluctant smile to his face. Victory was his! However— When he cleared his eyes and saw the truth of the situation, the shock on his face was no less than that of Song Ziyou. Because what surrounded them wasn't "Bai Tie" or "Furious Wolf." Instead, it was an amalgam of different forces, including several unknown ragtag groups. And standing at the forefront, with victorious smiles, were the sisters Lin Yue and Lin Xing. "Sorry, but it's my win," Lin Xing said, retracting the blade from her left hand and returning to her normal appearance, smiling sweetly at the bewildered leaders. "You... are you 'Spark'?" Chu Cuicheng asked, his eye twitching as if he didn't already know. He only had to see, after all. Every gang had its emblem—discernment was straightforward. What he truly wanted to ask was, "How did 'Spark' manage to reach this point?" In terms of size, it was merely a mid-tier faction, possibly weaker than some gangs during a war of attrition... Despite its recent rise, consolidating the Tenth District's forces so quickly seemed improbable. Soon enough, understanding dawned—behind them were several "Furious Wolf" members, notably unenhanced by "Ereks" and seemingly unscathed by battle. Ah! These useless cretins! Unbearable! "It seems Chu's most loyal followers weren't quite as loyal," Lin Xing mockingly quipped, crouching before him with a sly smile. Chu Cuicheng almost choked on his fury. Yet, it was Song Ziyou who felt the greater shock. He hadn't overlooked destabilizing the "Furious Wolf" morale during earlier skirmishes, utilizing similar methods. He had already lured many "Furious Wolf" members... but why did these end up aligning with "Spark"? Even some from "Bai Tie"? Seriously, based on what? The answer lay in "Spark's" stellar reputation. Xu Shi mused internally. Credit to Lin Yue's radiant aspiration, which was surprisingly attractive in the disparity-ridden realm of Sin City. Add to that the potential for more growth within "Spark," the dual incentives drew considerable attention. Some joined after weighing their options, recognizing "Furious Wolf" was a sinking ship, opting for a safer bet. Of course, a portion wasn't similarly swayed, like some steadfast "Furious Wolf" supporters and those swayed by "Bai Tie." However, as "Spark's" numbers skyrocketed, they too prudently switched allegiance, with some unwittingly slipping into line—an inevitable course correction. "Damn! A thousand deaths wouldn't suffice for you two harpies!" Seeing no escape, Chu Cuicheng struggled to his feet for one last stand. Unfortunately, the chance never came. Lin Yue seized the moment, swiftly stepping forward to silence him with a dagger. Dead. "You..." Watching Chu Cuicheng slump like a rag doll, Song Ziyou felt a chill run down his spine. But, contrary to his fears, Lin Xing merely gestured for some "Bai Tie" members to help him up. "Relax, Leader Song. Our goal aligns with yours—eliminate 'Furious Wolf'." Lin Xing smiled warmly, "Now, with Chu Cuicheng gone, what conflict remains between us?" She didn't hesitate, "Spark merely took the opportunity; we had no intention of opposing you or 'Bai Tie.'" Indeed, her words rang true. While appearing seamless, the sisters’ success lay in capitalizing on the chaos caused by "Bai Tie" and "Furious Wolf," opportunistically sweeping in—not challenging the raw strength of "Bai Tie." A real confrontation would have been unnecessary, risking further post-battle complications. Especially considering the aftermath—"Bai Tie" belonged to "Prism," and a potential conflict might invite corporate wrath, including from "Dragon City." Attempting to consume both "Furious Wolf" and "Bai Tie" might not only exceed their capacity but escalate into an irreparable situation, as Long Tianding had warned. Given "Spark's" standing, indulging in rash decisions wasn't feasible; the consequences of provoked corporate backlash lay beyond the young assassin's grasp. Therefore— “We don’t ask for much, just half of the Tenth District, how about it?” (End of Chapter)