Cyberpunk: 2075.

Chapter 621, Section 35: Haruko's Request

Receiving Haruko's message was nothing special for Karl.

Although Mr. Kenichi Shiro had an agreement with him that he could not call or text Haruko first, Haruko would send Karl good morning and good night messages almost every morning and before going to bed at night. Since Haruko took the initiative to send messages, Karl could naturally reply every day, which did not constitute a breach of the agreement.

According to what Carl knew, Arasaka Seigen becoming CEO would have some impact on Haruko.

Recently, Haruko obtained a formal position at the Arasaka Group—an external director of the Night City Board of Directors.

This is a position that requires handling communication, acceptance, and networking between Arasaka and external companies. During the Arasaka Tower incident, this position was held concurrently by Michiko Arasaka while serving as the CEO of Arasaka North America. Later, as Michiko Arasaka led Arasaka America back into the Arasaka Group, this position remained vacant until recently, when Nobuyuki Arasaka personally appointed Haruko to this role.

According to Nobuyuki Arasaka's official statement, Haruko inherited her mother's ability to navigate social situations skillfully. After Saburo Arasaka's unfortunate and despicable assassination attempt, Nobuyuki Arasaka hoped that this relative, who rarely appeared in public, could take on the responsibilities her mother had undertaken at that age and contribute her strength to the Arasaka family as an important member of the "Arasaka" family.

However, those within Arasaka knew that this was actually a deal.

In dealing with the assassination of Saburo Arasaka by military technology, Nobuyuki Arasaka displayed a completely different approach from his previous hawkish methods.

When everyone thought that Nobuyuki Arasaka would definitely make a big deal out of this, and might even trigger the Fifth Corporate War, he chose to criticize military technology in the media and on moral grounds, and created some conflicts that could be described as "trivial" in his actions, before expressing his willingness to communicate with military technology.

The trap meticulously set by the opposition within Arakawa suddenly fell apart—they had thought that Sei-nobu would seize the opportunity to unleash a bloodbath, but instead they were met with an elegant net-closing.

While the impeachment motions citing "damage to company interests" were still locked in the encrypted server, the biometric signals of the proposers had been permanently removed from the Arasaka intranet. Rumors of a complete replacement of the Dubai branch members spread silently within Arasaka like ink dripping onto rice paper.

After gaining control of certain interests among his own people, Arasaka Sei-nobu, who had reached a certain level of understanding with the dove faction to which Arasaka Michiko belonged in terms of slowing down and communication, handed over many important positions in Night City to Arasaka Michiko.

When the authority of the Night City was presented in a gilded gift box, Haruko's name was branded on the velvet lining at the bottom of the box—like a silver needle hidden in the center of a chocolate.

The young diplomat's schedule is subtly divided: in the morning he sends a cute pink emoji to Karl Doe's fingertip, and in the evening he rewrites the terms of the agreement negotiated between the new United States and Arasaka.

The media chased after the flashing lights of the upcoming "Senobu-Miles handshake of the century," but no one noticed the blank period in the president's schedule where communication was constantly taking place. Just as her mother had done fifty years ago, Haruko persuaded the president of the new United States to personally negotiate with Arasaka—except this time, it was the president of the new United States who came to meet with Arasaka's personnel.

Carl replied with doubt, but the answer he received was not what he expected. It turned out that Haruko had really encountered some trouble, or rather, that Haruko had really encountered some serious trouble that threatened her.

Her request was somewhat delicate, at least from Karl's perspective as a man.

As an external director, Haruko naturally had to attend the meeting between CEO Arasaka and the new US president, which was watched by the whole world. It was Haruko's first time appearing in public in a formal position, and she hoped that the public image of her first appearance would be the one that best reflected her wishes.

Haruko wanted Karl to help her choose clothes and makeup—to put it more bluntly, she wanted Karl by her side while she got ready. Right now, Haruko had very few people she could consult. While Chiyome was loyal, her ninja training from childhood didn't include courses like "Sengoku-era seduction techniques." She always wore a mask during missions, never showing her face. Asking her for advice on makeup and clothing? Clearly unreliable.

As for her mother, Michiko, her aesthetic sense was too "advanced." Haruko, having received a traditional education, dared not trust her mother's judgment. If she were dressed up as a strange woman with a blue-green afro and a gaudy Western cowboy outfit, Haruko would rather refuse to attend the event on the spot.

Since Chiyo and her mother are both unreliable, there are even fewer candidates left.

Mashi is still dealing with her final exams at the academy, and while Mr. Kenichi Shiro might understand these things, Haruko would prefer that the person evaluating her be Karl, rather than this respected elder whom she considers a father figure. Besides, what daughter doesn't dislike her father's aesthetic sense? Haruko really couldn't compliment Kenichi Shiro's strange color combinations when he dressed her.

Of course, if Haruko wanted, the world's top stylists would be vying to serve her, but ultimately, the opinions of outsiders couldn't put her at ease as much as Karl's. She liked the outfits Karl chose, and even more so, she liked how he saw her.

However, asking a guy to help her choose clothes and do her makeup is a bit of an overreaction. Haruko also knew that most men weren't good at these kinds of things, so she carefully chose her words when sending the message, afraid of seeming too demanding.

"Is it okay if I don't understand it very well?"

Karl thought for a moment and sent a message: "When it comes to clothing, I always choose what's suitable for combat and action. Others take me to buy clothes. If you're going to dress up, are you not planning to wear your usual clothes this time?"

Karl was referring to the cherry blossom-colored kimono—the one Haruko wore almost every time she saw him.

“I can accept anything Karl chooses,” Haruko said softly over the communicator, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing her cuffs. “But this time I’m attending as a board member, so I need to be a little more formal.” She paused, a helpless smile playing on her lips. “I don’t want to end up like my mother, showing up in her unconventional ‘high school girl uniform,’ which made that style popular throughout America. Just thinking about it is strange enough.”

"Ms. Michiko's attire..."

Carl thought for a moment, then said with a hint of exasperation, "I understand. Can I come over at eight o'clock tomorrow morning?"

“I will wait for Karl whenever he comes.”

Haruko's lips curled up slightly, her smile becoming even more genuine than before.

Actually, asking Carl to help choose clothes was just an excuse.

What she really wanted was to be there on that formal occasion—

Let the empty seat next to him rightfully belong to Karl.

(End of this chapter)