Under Morris' silent guidance, Li Wei's squad navigated the intricate paths on the outskirts of Wasteland Town.
Beneath their feet were cracked concrete and overgrown weeds, surrounded by scattered rusted metal skeletons and abandoned industrial equipment. The entire environment still maintained the typical dilapidated appearance of the Badlands' fringe.
Only in the occasional shadows could some newly deployed sensor nodes be detected, hinting that this area was under strict surveillance.
In the distance, the Wraiths unit could be vaguely seen establishing temporary Guard Post, their figures appearing and disappearing in the dust, indicating that this area had just received new Garrison Force.
As they followed Morris through a seemingly ordinary metal door, the environment abruptly changed.
Behind the door was a simple corridor, its walls covered with matte metal panels and its ceiling embedded with strip lights emitting a soft white glow, a stark contrast to the desolation outside.
The air here was clean, carrying the metallic scent characteristic of precision machinery and a faint smell of coolant.
Although the space here was not large, every detail showcased craftsmanship beyond the general standards of this era—flat seams, neat wiring, and a nearly silent environmental control system.
Li Wei noticed that at the end of the corridor was a heavy sealed door, and on the ground in front of it were clear traces left by transport equipment, suggesting it might lead to deeper areas.
But Morris stopped here, guiding them into a simply furnished reception room to the side.
The interior furnishings were extremely simple: a few basic chairs, a display panel embedded in the wall, and almost no other decoration.
The only special feature was the holographic projection in the center of the room, which was gradually taking shape—the image of an east asian youth with black hair and black eyes. Its realism far surpassed common projection technology on the market, with astonishingly clear details.
"Welcome to Wasteland Town, Special Envoy Li Wei," the projection spoke, its voice simulated by a high-quality synthesizer, carrying a hint of non-human precision and steadiness. "I am the person in charge here; you can call me 'Archmagos.'"
Li Wei quickly scanned this obviously meticulously modified space, then looked at the holographic projection, whose technical level far exceeded the ordinary. In his heart, he gained a more intuitive understanding of the 'Archmagos'' technical capabilities.
He tidied his collar, which was slightly disheveled from battle, stepped forward, and with a standard posture, nodded slightly, responding neither subserviently nor arrogantly: "Thank you for your timely assistance, Mr. Archmagos. I am Li Wei, a Special Envoy and Senior Action Supervisor from Kang Tao CN Headquarters. My presumptuous visit this time is on behalf of Kang Tao CN Headquarters, hoping to establish a direct communication channel with you and express our sincere desire for friendly exchanges and potential cooperation."
His wording was formal and clear, directly stating his purpose without any circumlocution or probing.
Osiris' projection nodded slightly: "I am aware of your intentions. This is also one of the reasons I decided to act."
He candidly admitted his control over information, "I am very curious, after the Arasaka Tower incident, with various factions either fearful or scheming, why did Kang Tao CN choose 'friendly exchange' as its first step?"
Li Wei seemed unsurprised that Osiris knew the inside story. He answered frankly: "There are three reasons. Firstly, it is based on respect for strength. The technical power you and your team have demonstrated surpasses current common understanding. It would be unwise to be an enemy of such an existence.
Secondly, it is an assessment of your modus operandi.
From the limited information analyzed, your actions are more purposeful and efficient, rather than simply seeking chaos or destruction, which provides a basis for cooperation."
He paused briefly, looking at Osiris' projection with an honest gaze, "Finally, this is the consistent philosophy of Kang Tao CN Headquarters. We believe that, where possible, establishing stable, mutually beneficial relationships brings far greater long-term benefits than endless confrontation and scheming.
Especially when facing unknown and powerful forces, extending goodwill is the most effective way to reduce the risk of misjudgment and initiate dialogue. The actions of the North America Branch do not represent the overall will of Kang Tao, and I express my regret for them."
Osiris' projection maintained a natural listening posture, his processing core simultaneously conducting multiple analyses: voice print patterns, micro-expression changes, heart rate fluctuations, and other physiological data were all being monitored in real-time.
All data pointed to the same conclusion—Li Wei's statements had a high degree of credibility.
This conclusion triggered a series of cascading evaluations.
The pragmatic attitude and cooperative inclination displayed by Kang Tao CN indeed showed a clear distinction from Arasaka's authoritarian suppression and Militech's utilitarianism.
This reminded him of some memories from before his Crossing. Traditional business wisdom like "harmony brings wealth," though blurred in this era, still seemed to cast a faint shadow in Kang Tao CN's corporate behavior.
Although this world was not his homeland, Osiris, as the Archmagos who had undergone complete mechanical modification, always upheld logic and efficiency as his highest principles.
However, those memory data from before his modification occasionally influenced the weighting of his judgments. At this moment, these memories slightly elevated his initial impression of Kang Tao CN.
Further data comparison also supported this judgment. Kang Tao CN's corporate behavior data showed that they focused more on maintaining long-term cooperative relationships and demonstrated a more long-term vision in R&D investment than North American companies.
These qualities were all bonus points when he evaluated potential partners.
Osiris' projection leaned slightly forward; this subtle movement was both consistent with human social habits and precisely calculated.
Within his highly rational thought framework, these preferences based on past memories had been converted into quantifiable evaluation parameters, becoming legitimate variables in the decision matrix.
"I understand," Osiris' projection spoke again. "Your honesty is valuable. As you said, meaningless confrontation consumes resources, and efficiency and cooperation are what I advocate."
He paused briefly to conduct a final risk-benefit assessment.
Cooperating with Kang Tao CN could introduce a partner with deep expertise in technology and manufacturing, which would be beneficial for potential future base construction and development.
Their relatively gentle operational style would also be easier to integrate into a management framework.
Most importantly, that faint preference stemming from cultural roots aligned with logical judgment at this moment.
"I have received Kang Tao CN Headquarters' desire for friendly exchange and cooperation," Osiris finally said. On his projected image, the corner of his mouth seemed to curve into an extremely subtle arc. "I believe there is a basis for dialogue between us. Regarding the specific possibilities for cooperation, we can discuss further."
A flicker of imperceptible relief flashed in Li Wei's eyes. He nodded solemnly again: "Thank you very much for this opportunity, Mr. Archmagos. Kang Tao CN looks forward to engaging in dialogue with you."
Thus, within the wasteland workshop, on the eve of the coming storm in Night City, a new force—Kang Tao CN from the east—established initial contact with the mysterious "Archmagos" in a way that surprised everyone.
And this, perhaps, will quietly alter the future balance of power.