"Yo, Mr. Kenichiro."
"Today's an important day, Karl."
"Hello, Mr. Kenichiro. Your bodyguard, Karl, has arrived."
"No need to be so formal."
Kenichiro gave Karl a sidelong glance. The kid had been grinning nonstop ever since he walked in, and he couldn't tell what was so amusing.
"You'll be acting as my bodyguard today. My seat will be close to Miss Haruko's. Do you understand what that implies?"
"I do."
Karl nodded.
"If there's any danger, I'll abandon you imdiately."
"Good. As long as you understand."
Kenichiro's cybernetic eye flickered slightly, then he gestured toward a group in the distance.
"See that guy chatting over there?"
"Which one do you an, Mr. Kenichiro?"
Karl followed his gaze and spotted a group of young n in Arasaka uniforms talking casually. But he wasn't sure which one Kenichiro ant.
"The one with short black hair and gold-rimd round glasses."
Karl zeroed in: a smug-looking guy among them, gesturing with his hands and occasionally flashing a contemptuous grin.
"Who's that?"
"Fujioka Kaoru."
"Fujioka Kaoru?"
Karl repeated the na. It didn't ring any bells, and just as he was about to ask more, Kenichiro explained:
"He's with the dovish faction."
Ah—now Karl got it.
"I thought most of the Arasaka younger generation preferred the more aggressive, hawkish approach."
"Sotis, lineage takes priority. They all understand the seat they're ant to occupy."
After that cryptic note, Kenichiro revealed his real concern.
"He has ambitions."
"Ambitions?"
Karl looked at Fujioka again. He looked to be in his late twenties.
"For who?"
Haruko? That seed unlikely.
If so Arasaka second-gen even thought about going after Haruko, her father would likely obliterate him before anyone else had the chance.
Haruko's fate was decided only by her mother and Saburo Arasaka himself—nobody else had a say. A re dove like Fujioka wouldn't even qualify to fantasize.
If not Haruko, then—
"Chiyo."
"Huh?"
Karl blinked.
"What?"
He had to confirm it again:
"He's after who?"
"Chiyo."
Kenichiro's tone turned cold.
"You know she ca to Night City against orders and used her credentials to access equipnt support here at Arasaka Tower. Fujioka saw her at that ti—and fell in love at first sight."
Karl recalled Chiyo's face. Sure, she was beautiful. A classic stunner. But sothing about this so-called "love" felt fishy.
Karl raised a brow.
"So, have you figured out his real motive?"
"No investigation needed. It's obvious just by looking—he's too young to hide it."
Kenichiro kept his eyes on Fujioka, now stepping into the elevator with his entourage.
"Chiyo's bloodline may be questionable, but she's my disciple—and currently Haruko's bodyguard. So what do you think Fujioka really wants?"
"As a dove, he's trying to align with the Young Chick faction?"
"People without status always harbor foolish ambitions."
"Delusions of grandeur, huh."
Karl nodded. But before he could say anything else, Kenichiro was already walking off.
"Mr. Kenichiro?"
"The eting's starting soon. We need to get ready."
"Ready for what?"
"Grab your gun."
That told Karl everything he needed to know.
This wasn't going to be a simple boardroom discussion.
Arasaka Tower stood 2,034 feet (620 ters) tall, with 140 floors. The topmost—Floor 140—was the private domain of Night City's Arasaka Chief Executive, Michiko Arasaka. But since Michiko spent most of her ti traveling across North Arica, the floor was rarely used.
Today's high-level eting would take place seven floors below the top—on Floor 133.
Inside the elevator—just Karl and Kenichiro—Karl watched the floor numbers climb and finally asked a question that had been bugging him:
"I rember that the higher your floor in Arasaka Tower, the higher your status—kind of like climbing the ranks. So why aren't the board mbers eting on Floor 139, right below the CEO's office? Why 133?"
"You're stepping into information only the highest levels are supposed to know."
Kenichiro replied, but still offered an explanation:
"133 is the highest floor board mbers are allowed to use. Floors 134 and 135 are reserved for Lord Saburo whenever he visits Night City. They've been remodeled into traditional Japanese residences. Unless Lord Saburo is physically present and personally calls a eting, no one—even board mbers—is allowed to enter. Ever."
Karl didn't need to ask what would happen if soone did.
Now it all made sense.
If Saburo himself only occupied 134–135, no one in their right mind would dare hold a eting above that.
The elevator reached Floor 132—where security personnel were stationed. Beyond this point, the lift was locked. They would have to walk up to the 133rd-floor eting room from here.
"Usually, board etings are held in the lower-level atrium. But this one's different."
Just before the doors opened, Kenichiro added that final note.
But Karl had already figured that out the mont he told him to bring a gun.
Different indeed—ard guards attending a board eting? Sothing was up.
The elevator doors slid open.
Standing outside was a wall of steel.
Or rather, a man fused with steel and cyberware.
"You're a little late."
The "man" spoke, his crimson eyes locked onto Kenichiro before shifting to Karl.
"But your timing is perfect."
"Let's hope so."
Kenichiro stepped out. Karl followed close behind.
As they passed the man, Karl turned his head slightly and smiled.
"Good morning, Mr. Adam Smasher."
.
.
.
📢 Chooms, Listen Up! 📢
You can now jack in and get 100 chapters ahead on Patreon for Cyberpunk: The Relentless! 💾🔥
Stay synced with the chro, the carnage, and the chaos—early access is stacked and ready. 🧠💀
🔗 Join here: patreon/c/MrMagnus👤 Patreon na: SrMagnus
Preem support as always, chooms. See you in Night City. 🌆💫
Reviews
All reviews (0)