"You're still arguing? I just t a new fixer and ca back."
Getting into the car after leaving Afterlife, Karl looked at his three companions, who were still bickering over the comms, and sighed. "Is naming a dog really that hard? If you ask , either take a vote or just call it whatever you like. This kind of bionic dog just needs a connection, it doesn't even require a na to respond."
"This is sothing that needs to be decided properly, Karl. How can we just vote on it?"
Even though Oliver said that, Karl's words had already caught his attention. "Weren't you just handing out jobs to Brown and Mann? How did you suddenly end up eting a new fixer?"
"You know Old Captain, right? He's gotten into the fixer business recently. He's trying to make a na for himself and has been reaching out to rcs for work. Called up and said he'd like us to take on so jobs for him in the future—big money involved."
"Old Captain? How the hell did he get into this?"
As a Santo Domingo native, it was actually Oliver who had introduced Karl to Old Captain's used car site. Hearing that he was now working as a fixer was surprising, to say the least.
"Fixers live and die by their connections and cash. As a well-known used car dealer, he's got both. Maybe he just thought, 'Hey, I can do this too.'"
Jack glanced at Karl, who had settled into the back seat. "So what, Karl? You thinking of taking jobs from him?"
"I told him if he has anything that piques my interest, he can send it my way."
Karl continued, "And Old Captain isn't the only new fixer I t today. The owner of Afterlife, the so-called 'Queen of Fixers,' Rogue, was there too. She saw walk in and asked if I was interested in work."
"Rogue?!"
Hearing that na, both Jack and Oliver—and even T-BUG, listening over the comms—were visibly surprised. Jack, being the quickest to react, asked, "You an the living legend?"
"Sothing like that."
"She's at Afterlife right now?"
Oliver followed up.
"Yeah, she is. What, you wanna go et her?"
"Better not."
Oliver hesitated for a mont at Karl's suggestion but eventually shook his head. "I'm just surprised that soone we grew up hearing stories about is suddenly in our circles now."
"That's what happens when you make a na for yourself in the rc world," T-BUG comnted over the comms. "I've heard about Rogue's skills. Rumor has it that if she wanted to, she could get you anything you need. Even the most classified corp intel has passed through her hands at so point."
"So basically, she's got connections everywhere."
Karl shook his head. "I've been eting more and more fixers lately. At this rate, I might end up with more work than I can handle."
"That's a good thing, Karl," Oliver said as he started the car. "Better than constantly running into assholes like Faraday, right?"
Oliver was still holding a grudge against Faraday for pocketing large portions of the contract money. While rcs agreed to a set price before taking a job, the fact that a fixer could take such a hefty cut ant that Oliver had zero intention of working with Faraday again.
"That bastard Faraday has wised up. He probably figured out that we learned the truth about the paynt from Mann and hasn't even bothered calling us for jobs anymore. That whole 'one-and-done' cash grab strategy..."
Jack scoffed, clearly sharing the sentint. "No sense of longevity at all. Now I see why guys like Father and Wakako are the top fixers in their districts, while soone like Faraday, despite his experience, is still bouncing between territories. No one actually wants to work for a guy like that."
"That kind of fixer is actually the norm," T-BUG interjected, having worked with more fixers than anyone else in the crew. "Most rcs work under fixers like Faraday—or even worse, the ones who are both greedier and less competent. Ever heard of Cormac? That bastard has a reputation for selling out the very rcs he works with."
"I heard about him from Mann. He did a few jobs for the guy and said he's just another Faraday. Thinking about it now, if even Mann's crew had to deal with that, I guess it really is the standard."
Karl frowned. "So what you're saying is, as rcs who only got screwed over by Faraday, we're actually the lucky ones?"
"Flip that thought around, Karl,"
Being the last to join the team, T-BUG had a sharper perspective on the matter. "It's not that you haven't encountered worse. It's that those bottom-feeding, incompetent fixers knew better than to approach us—because they wouldn't be able to handle it."
Pissing off the wrong rc could cost a fixer their life. And getting on the bad side of KK's crew wasn't just a death sentence—it was a lesson in suffering.
After saying that, T-BUG added sothing completely different: "So, people should stick to what they're good at. That's why I think Oliver and Jack should just let handle naming the dog. We'll call it 'Ball-Ball.'"
"It's Bella!"
"Sir Woofington!"
I give up.
Karl sighed as the conversation circled right back to the dog's na. He had skillfully changed the topic with the whole 'new fixer' discussion, but T-BUG just had to drag it back. Resigning himself, he lay back in the seat, resting his head against the bionic dog curled up next to him, and closed his eyes.
Contacting the Boss
Karl: The teams have been assigned. Do you need to review the personnel?
Ken'ichiro: No need. There aren't many rc teams in our intel that you'd work with. I already know the ones involved—the leaders are Mann and Brown, from the escort mission.
Figures. A detective agency operative would have that kind of information.
Karl: So I make the final call on this, right? Does it need to be reported?
Ken'ichiro: There can't be any official records, but you still need to report the operation. Be at Konpeki Plaza tomorrow at 9 AM.
No paper trail, but I still have to file a report? Might as well submit it in writing while we're at it...
Ken'ichiro was making sure to follow protocol down to the last detail.
Karl: Got it. What floor?
Ken'ichiro: 100th floor, Tavernier Suite. Once you arrive at Konpeki Plaza, wait outside the security periter. Soone will escort you inside. After that, another person will guide you through the building. Just follow their lead and take the designated elevator to reach your destination. I'll ensure access permissions are granted.
Ken'ichiro then added sothing that made Karl open his eyes.
Ken'ichiro: Also, I won't be the one you're reporting to. You shouldn't be asking where I'll be, either.
Not Ken'ichiro?
Karl had already guessed what this ant, but he wanted to confirm it anyway.
Karl: So you're saying…?
Ken'ichiro: Miss Hanako wishes to et you in person.
Hanako Arasaka wanted to et Karl.
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