The story begins as Lai arrives at Langlo Space Station. The investigation team is warmly welcomed by high-ranking officials from New Jackson City and executives from various corporations, led by Ingelius Technologies. They board a shuttle en route to New Jackson City, located in the completed Section A of the Ringworld megastructure, not far from the station.
During the journey, Lai is secretly informed of a recently leaked report: a journalist had captured evidence of WWHI (World Wonder Heavy Industries) executives bribing New Jackson City officials in exchange for monopoly rights on the next phase of the Ringworld.
The team quickly shifts focus to investigating WWHI. They begin inspecting several companies headquartered in the city center. During the inspection, Lai uncovers suspicious financial discrepancies and forged data in the company’s reports—hidden beneath seemingly legitimate transactions. Through his internal sources, Lai confirms his suspicions. Excited by the prospect of a major breakthrough, he reports the findings to the team leader right in front of WWHI and city executives, and they draft a detailed follow-up investigation plan.
However, soon after leaving the company premises, Lai’s convoy is ambushed in the city center. Dozens of light armored vehicles, cybernetic bikers, and augmented mercenaries attack the group. After eliminating several attackers, Lai attempts to rescue a colleague caught in the crossfire. As enemy fire intensifies, he realizes the situation is unsalvageable and escapes while carrying a wounded team member. After over two hours of desperate flight through the city’s sewer systems, Lai collapses from exhaustion and injury.
He later awakens in a stronghold of the local gang known as the Deadeye. While initially planning his escape, Lai is unexpectedly offered refuge by their leader, Rod. After hearing Lai’s story, Rod and his crew agree to shelter him, seeing him as a fugitive of the “government stooges and corporate idiots.” During his time with the Deadeye, Lai recovers from his wounds and learns shocking rumors and hidden truths about New Jackson City and the Ringworld project. Thus, Lai joins the Deadeye and gains their support.
Over the following weeks, Lai conducts covert investigations across multiple regions. Eventually, he turns his attention to the cargo ships responsible for transporting goods between Ringworld Sections. Under Lai’s direction, the Deadeye hijacks one such freighter. After neutralizing several security personnel, they retrieve the ship’s true manifest and use its ultrawave transmitter to contact headquarters.
Lai transmits all findings to his superiors and receives orders to hold position and await further instruction. He shares the news with Rod, who remains skeptical. Years on the streets have taught Rod not to trust any official government channels.
While the two argue, other members of the crew discover smuggled Fluvinian captives aboard. Through them, they learn the real conspiracy: Ingelius is the true mastermind. They deliberately exposed World Wonder’s corruption to divert the investigation team’s attention while concealing their own crimes.
Unbeknownst to Lai, his transmission was intercepted. Midway through orbit, their cargo ship is attacked by an unidentified vessel. Rod and the Deadeye mount a desperate defense. In the end, Rod sacrifices himself by crashing the doomed freighter into the enemy ship to buy time for Lai and two Fluvinian children to escape. Rod’s death devastates Lai. His pride and arrogance crumble. If not for his blind ambition, his friends might still be alive.
Lai continues his investigation, gaining support from several other gangs. With help from the veteran Skybird Gang, he obtains a crucial piece of intelligence: a new investigative delegation is scheduled to arrive in one month.
One month later, Lai hacks into Langlo Space Station, uses its encrypted communications to reach his most trusted contact back at headquarters, and transmits all collected evidence. Three days later, he walks directly into the arriving delegation and exposes the truth: the bribery by WWHI, the collusion among various interstellar corporations, and the embezzlement of state funds.
Just as Lai concludes his testimony, the Ingelius representative smirks coldly—and shoots him dead in front of the delegation.
But they didn't know this was Lai’s plan all along.