Chapter 148: Justice and the Price of Blood
To escape punishment, Joanne shamelessly used the name of the Biotechnology Corporation. However, Morgan had anticipated this move and was ready to counter it.
"No need for that, Ms. Joanne. You're no longer the technical director of Biotechnology."
Morgan gave her a faint smile and produced a dismissal letter signed by Niccolo, the head of Biotechnology. "Sorry, but even the company can't protect you now."
"So, you'd better cooperate and come with us."
Joanne's face turned deathly pale as she stared at the letter in Morgan's hand. It bore Niccolo's signature and the company's official stamp. The realization hit her—she had been sold out by the company!
Dallas presented the municipal arrest warrant, and Morgan held the dismissal letter. The thoroughness of their preparation made it clear that someone powerful wanted her gone.
Joanne surmised that Biotechnology must have struck a deal with LA Corporation, and she had been ousted from the game.
"To hell with Biotechnology! Niccolo, you bastard! Screw you!"
Joanne lost all composure, cursing loudly. She knew Niccolo had been involved in the gene fusion experiments, but she alone was left to take the fall.
She couldn't accept such an outcome willingly.
As the anti-terror squad escorted her away, Joanne looked at Ivanov's lifeless body on the ground. Only then did she realize the true cause of her downfall—Biotechnology had abandoned the experiment altogether.
The company had invested vast sums of money, connections, and countless lives to create gene warriors. But when faced with LA Corporation's experimental project "Leaf Bud," their efforts proved futile. What use was there in continuing?
Joanne guessed Niccolo was probably busy purging the company of anyone involved in the human experiments to avoid implicating himself.
More likely, Joanne was being served up as a scapegoat, while the others would face only token punishments. The incident would be swept under the rug.
Watching Joanne, discarded like a worn-out rag by her company, Morgan felt no sympathy. Her downfall was her own doing.
"Morgan, now that Ivanov is dead, how do we explain this to Mr. Li Ang? Are we supposed to drag this corpse to your company's lab?"
Meredith approached, glancing at Ivanov's charred, foul-smelling body. She was visibly reluctant.
Transporting such a grotesque thing across Myers to Night City wouldn't be easy. By the time it arrived, the virus in Ivanov's body might mutate, leading to an outbreak.
"If that happens, it'll be a disaster!"
"Don't worry about it. I'll handle the body. As for your President Myers, she's already aware of the situation."
"You don't need to answer to anyone else."
Morgan Blackhand waved her off, signaling Meredith to leave with her Militech team. They had merely been bystanders today.
Now that the show was over, it was time for them to exit.
"Fine, we're out of here."
Relieved, Meredith wasted no time gathering her soldiers. Mann spoke briefly with Morgan before boarding the vehicle to leave as well.
Once the Militech team departed, Morgan turned to V, whose expression was complicated. Smiling, Morgan said, "V, you did well this time. Mr. Li Ang is very pleased with your performance, especially your timely reporting. That's crucial."
As Li Ang's personal bodyguard, Morgan knew his preferences. Above all else, Li Ang valued thorough reporting.
One didn't need to excel in other areas as long as they excelled at reporting. The more accurate and timely the information, the more trust Li Ang placed in that person.
In this case, V's prompt feedback during the Biotechnology incident had earned Li Ang's approval.
While it seemed like simple reporting, Morgan saw it as a test of obedience. Employees who were disobedient or overly clever were swiftly dealt with by Li Ang.
For example, Alt Cunningham, who once secretly contacted the Voodoo Boys and nearly cost Johnny his life, had been punished by Li Ang. She was sent to the cyberspace to capture rogue AIs for half a year.
It wasn't until Alt reported Spider Murphy's existence to Li Ang that she was promoted to management and began overseeing the Matrix servers.
Otherwise, she would have had to endure Li Ang's punishments much longer.
"What will happen to the Wanderers? Are they going to be sent back to the lab for more experiments?" V asked directly. "Also, Mr. Li Ang knew about their suffering all along, didn't he?"
At this moment, V couldn't help but feel that all corporations were alike, and LA Corporation might also be conducting human experiments with Biotechnology.
Seeing V's confusion, Morgan shook his head with a smile and patiently explained:
"V, you don't need to worry about the wanderers. They'll be sent to Watson, where they can work to earn treatment at Little China's medical center."
"I promise you, they'll have a better life than before. LA Corporation never mistreats its workers."
"As for whether Mr. Li Ang knew about this..."
Morgan glanced at Joanne, who was being escorted away by the anti-terror squad. He said slowly, "That doesn't matter. What matters is that someone is held accountable and pays the price. Whether they're a scapegoat or not, at least some big shots bled for the little people."
"V, the justice you're seeing now is being delivered by LA Corporation. The root of the problem may not have been entirely eradicated, but at least a criminal has been punished."
"Have you ever seen someone like Adam Smasher serve time for killing civilians? Not even once."
Morgan's words left V speechless. He realized that, for the wanderers, this outcome might indeed be the best they could hope for.
The rogue genetic monster was dead. The evil scientist had been brought to justice. The inhumane experiments had been halted.
It all seemed like a stereotypical, feel-good ending where good triumphed over evil. But V knew it was merely a façade, a result of negotiations between powerful corporations.
For every person who cried, someone else laughed. For every death, someone else lived.
Joanne had died as a scapegoat, while many Biotechnology executives and researchers continued to escape justice.
Biotechnology's cruel gene fusion experiments might have ended, but the corporation remained untouchable.
Morgan's voice pulled V back to reality. "V, come with me to the company. Mr. Li Ang will personally explain your next mission."
Realizing he had little choice, V agreed, albeit reluctantly.
"Alright, I'll go."
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