"Karl, you're here too?" "Karl, you ca?" Brown and Andy spoke at the sa ti, both startled to hear each other say the sa thing. They
"Karl, you're here too?" "Karl, you ca?" Brown and Andy spoke at the sa ti, both startled to hear each other say the sa thing. They
"Karl, you're here too?"
"Karl, you ca?"
Brown and Andy spoke at the sa ti, both startled to hear each other say the sa thing. They turned and looked at one another.
Then, in near-perfect unison again, they said:
"You know Karl?"
"You two know each other?"
Karl laughed as he walked up to them. "What a coincidence."
"We used to work together back in my rcenary days," Andy nodded toward Karl. "Didn't expect the world to be this small—so you know Brown too?"
"Most of us rcs ca up through Afterlife. The circle's not that big," Brown replied. He glanced over Karl, who was dressed in a formal suit, and comnted, "Looks like you're here as a guest tonight."
That made sense. Both Andy and Brown were wearing looser, more combat-suitable outfits—when compared to Karl's suit, it was clear who was playing what role this evening.
"Andy, you're here guarding Mr. Johnson," Karl noted. "And judging by your getup, Brown, that must an..."
"Kerry's here too?" Karl asked.
Brown and his squad currently worked as Kerry Eurodyne's bodyguards. If Brown was here, Kerry couldn't be far.
"Kerry's performing as one of the opening acts for the banquet," Brown confird.
"Didn't expect him to accept Hansen's invitation. I thought this kind of gig wasn't his style."
"His agent accepted it. Kerry wasn't thrilled about it," Brown said, glancing around the venue. "Still, this place is packed. I figured he'd be the only celebrity here, but I'm seeing all kinds of big nas—folks I've only seen on holos before."
"And not just celebs," Andy added. "Mr. Johnson's here, the Animals showed up, I even spotted so 6th Street guys earlier. Usually these people are throwing down the mont they cross paths, but tonight, they're all just chatting like old friends. It's kind of surreal."
"Well, the street's not always about bloodshed," Karl said. "Gangs fight over turf for a reason—to create stable channels of inco."
As Karl chatted with Andy and Brown, he heard the distinct sound of soone approaching.
What made it obvious was the cadence—deliberate, direct, and steady. Whoever it was, they were headed straight for him.
He turned.
So many familiar faces tonight.
"Karl, I didn't think it'd actually be you."
Dressed in a simple pale red evening gown, Blanca stood before him, a drink in one hand.
"Blanca," Karl nodded politely.
The good news: he now confird that Militech had indeed sent soone.
The bad news: that soone was Blanca.
Noticing the woman's familiarity with Karl, Brown and Andy exchanged glances and tactfully stepped away to give him so privacy.
After the two moved off, Blanca gave Karl a once-over, her eyes lingering on his face. "So... who are you here representing tonight?"
"Can't I just be here on my own behalf?"
"If you wanted to, I'm sure Kurt Hansen wouldn't mind welcoming you as a personal guest. But... that's not your style."
"You know pretty well," Karl said honestly. "I'm here on behalf of Arasaka."
"Arasaka?"
As the na—one etched deep into the minds of any Militech personnel—left Karl's lips, Blanca's brows imdiately furrowed. But after a long mont, she relaxed and smiled faintly.
"So the paycheck must be a fat one."
"It is," Karl admitted. "In fact, it's the highest-paying gig I've ever taken."
"Then," Blanca said, "I'm guessing you already figured out why I'm here."
"To sabotage the negotiations, make things harder for Arasaka."
"Wrong," she said, suddenly grinning. "I'm just here to attend a party... and watch my dear rival try to take down her target."
"Take down a target?" Karl narrowed his eyes. "You're not Militech's lead tonight?"
"C'mon," Blanca chuckled. "You think they'd hand a top-tier op involving Arasaka to soone who's only been a departnt head for three months?"
Any job involving Arasaka was a major score for Militech—and vice versa. There was always a race to grab those assignnts. Since Kenichi Hoya had been promoted to director at Arasaka following his uncle's appointnt as VP of Arasaka Tower, it made sense Militech would send soone of equal rank. Blanca wasn't on that level—yet.
"So your original plan was to interfere with the deal..."
"That's not my job," she cut in. "If I made a move and got caught betraying Militech's interests, that'd be a death sentence. I'm just here to see if my rival can pull it off. If she does? I'll back off and let her have the spotlight—for now. But if she fails, especially in a deal with Arasaka? Then I'll... let's say I'll be ready to make a move. Loyalty and competence matter in our line of work. If she's lacking both, she doesn't belong in that seat."
Karl rolled his eyes. "Coming from soone who used to leak transport routes before you even got promoted... saying words like 'loyalty' is a bit rich."
"So you're just here to watch the fireworks?" he added.
"What else can I do?" Blanca said with a shrug. "But now that I know you're the Arasaka rep... I can finally relax. Ti to make my next moves."
"You really trust to pull this off?" Karl asked. "What if I ss up and your arch-nesis lands the deal instead? You counting on my 100% success rate?"
"Of course not," Blanca said, stepping forward and tapping a finger against the lapel of his suit. "I just believe in the guy who's never let down. The sa Karl who couldn't even grab a bite on the street without getting jumped."
"Oh, give a break," Karl groaned.
"So, your nesis is the one leading the Militech op tonight?"
"Let's call her... the last hurdle before I move up."
"Well," Karl smirked, "since we're already going head-to-head—guess I'll do you a little favor."
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