Let say it again because so people clearly don't get it:I keep seeing complaints about the lack of updates on We b no vel and W at tp ad. And honestly? I don't care.Yes, so novels haven't been updated in over a week. But I'm going through a breakup that's torn apart. I lost my cat. I've lost friends. And there's a lot more going on that you don't see.
Don't co at with nonsense about updates.Everything is up to date on Patreon, and if you want more, that's where it is.I'm posting this ssage there too — and over there, people are kind. They get it. They never complain, even when I make mistakes. Thank you for that.
I'll post on We bn ovel and Wa tt pa d when I have the strength to. Not before.
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"You do realize I'm not your corporate liaison, right?"
"Of course I do."
"And you're also aware that I'm busy."
"That too."
"You're aware?"
Seated at the agreed-upon restaurant table, Kenichiro gave Karl a sharp look as the latter casually twirled spaghetti Bolognese around his fork and took another bite.
"All this… over a few lee weapon blueprints? Is this really what you thought was worth contacting for?"
"I didn't exactly have many other contacts on your side for deals like this," Karl replied, chewing without a care. "And you were the one who set that condition."
Out of everyone in Arasaka Karl had ever crossed paths with, only three were close enough to call on—and two were explicitly off-limits. That left Kenichiro.
Hearing that, the fire in Kenichiro's eyes dimd slightly. So, Karl had held his end of the bargain after all. No calls to Haruko, no complications. Just business.
If this was the extent of his audacity, it could be tolerated.
Better to be treated as a glorified fixer than to have that woman involved.
After a short pause, Kenichiro pulled a thin business card from his coat pocket and slid it across the table.
"For trivial matters like this in the future, speak with my subordinate. His contact is on the card."
A business card? In this day and age?
Karl arched an eyebrow. Carrying a subordinate's card ant that person was more than just a grunt—soone Kenichiro clearly trusted.
"I'll rember that." Karl slipped the card into his coat and took another bite before asking, "So I handle the rest of this through him?"
"No more bothering with minor tasks."
Kenichiro was about to rise, then seed to recall sothing. He produced a familiar object—a rhomboid-shaped wooden block. Karl squinted.
That looked exactly like the one he'd brought back from the Badlands.
But his had been shattered—along with the little bird sculpture inside. So this one…
"We traced the typhoon's path and calculated a likely drop zone. We launched a large-scale search."
Kenichiro tapped the block lightly with his thumb. "This was the sixth recovered. When other corps beca aware, we had no choice but to perform a saturation strike. Anything unrecovered was destroyed."
"Bold move," Karl muttered, sipping his lemon water. "So… what are you getting at?"
"We're missing sothing."
Kenichiro gripped the block tightly—and crushed it with a single hand.
Shards and splinters rained across the table. When he opened his palm, there was only sawdust.
Karl frowned. "No paper inside, huh?"
"Precisely. Of the seven blocks—including the one you brought back—this was the only one without a ssage."
"Maybe it was a decoy? To throw people off?"
"It's possible," Kenichiro acknowledged. "But this one… was the last. Retrieved in chaos, just before the strike."
"And?"
"It cost the life of a loyal subordinate."
Kenichiro's voice dipped, a rare edge of emotion threading through it.
"He was my chosen successor for internal operations. Killed en route to Night City with this block in hand. Security vanished. When I arrived, all that remained was this—verified to contain nothing."
His hand trembled, barely suppressed. Then he steadied himself and fixed his gaze on Karl.
"I was going to handle this personally. But you called —for this insignificant matter. And because of that, I lost valuable ti."
"I understand," Karl said, already anticipating where this was going. "You want to handle it since I'm free. That's fine. As long as there's a payday."
"I'll authorize a proper contract for your team."
Karl blinked. "Not just , then? We're talking full squad op?"
Kenichiro nodded.
Fine by him. The team had just finished their last contract and was between jobs anyway.
Karl flipped the card over—its reverse side was filled with mission details. His eyes narrowed.
So it had been planned all along.
Looking up, Karl saw Kenichiro already standing. "Any specifics?"
"Find the note. Or the data it contained."
That was it.
Outside, Kenichiro's car was already waiting.
So—find the missing intel.
Karl stared after him, hesitating. Then he looked down at his nearly empty plate, half-rose to speak, and quietly sat back down.
Watching Kenichiro's car vanish down the street, Karl stabbed into another bite of pasta.
'I was thinking this pasta was actually decent... Was even gonna get another serving for Haruko.'
He sighed.
'Maybe it's better to just tell Chiyo next ti she ssages .'
As he ate, he turned the card over again.
One word jumped out at him—one Oliver constantly had on his lips.
Cloudtop.
.
.
.
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