Cyberpunk: 2075.

Chapter 626, Section 40: Tsunami
The process of contacting Haishao went more smoothly than Carl had expected.

Although it is considered one of the world's three top arms giants alongside Military Technology and Arasaka, Tsunami Design Bureau has always maintained a distinctly different character. While its competitors were busy expanding their business empires, this Osaka-based company has focused on only one thing for a century—manufacturing the perfect firearm.

Its headquarters still looks like it did in its early days: smaller than some medium-sized companies, yet it uses the most traditional technical staff structure. Here, from the chief engineer with three doctoral degrees to mechanical geniuses discovered from the streets, everyone has an almost obsessive love for firearms. Generous salaries, excellent benefits, and a pure technical atmosphere make the staff's morale and treatment almost utopian in this era.

When KK’s design requirements were received, the entire design department of the Tsunami Design Bureau in San Francisco was in an uproar. These engineers, who were obsessed with weapons, dispatched a special team to Night City by plane almost immediately after confirming that it was a weapon design requested by KK himself, after making online communication.

No true firearms artist could resist such a double temptation—to conquer the weapon design challenges that required precision comparable to neurosurgery, and to personally forge the aesthetics of killing for KK. When the design briefing spread throughout the department, even the laziest engineer ripped off the holographic glasses he used to watch music videos out of boredom.

“You know what? It’s like having Stradivarius create the ‘violin of the future,’ and we’re redesigning a violin for Paganini, the most famous violinist of the future.” The chief ballistics expert crushed his third stimulant in the break room, his pupils trembling slightly from over-excitement. “Except our strings have to be able to cut through armored vehicles, and the performer has to be that madman who can play 24 Caprices out of bullets.”

This description, so heavily influenced by personal musical tastes, meant that few in the design department could actually understand its full meaning. However, they all gleaned one thing from the chief ballistics expert's words.

That is, this meticulously designed weapon is destined to become famous worldwide with KK's activities, and its designers—some of them—will also rise to fame as "top weapon designers," becoming famous worldwide as well.

Those who are able to enter the Tsunami Design Bureau—especially its core design department—have already reached a level that is difficult for ordinary people to achieve.

Wealth, status, like-minded colleagues—they possess a job and life that 99% of people in this era envy. However, after enjoying too much comfort, they begin to pursue the only thing missing in their lives—fame.

Yes, reputation.

Of those gun designers who remain unknown, aside from a few masters who created classic weapons, how many can achieve worldwide fame? Today, the designers at the Tsunami Design Bureau yearn to have their names stand shoulder to shoulder with those legendary weapon designers. They dream of becoming world-renowned through their weapon designs and having their names forever etched on the monument of history.

Now this opportunity is right in front of them.

Designing a weapon for KK, or even designing weapons for the entire KK squad—how many people could resist such an offer?

Legendary mercenaries are always the best way to make a weapon famous, with designers and weapon users complementing each other.

Just as Mallorian's reputation spread far and wide with the use of Morgan Blackhand and Johnny Silverhand, and even today there are still die-hard fans who remember their designs and believe that even though Mallorian has not released any new weapon designs for many years, it is still the best weapon design company. Designing weapons for KK would undoubtedly imprint the excellence of Tsunami and their individual excellence in Tsunami into the minds of people all over the world.

This is a rare opportunity that's hard to come by.

This cushy job is destined to trigger a bloodbath.

Even in the Tsunami Design Bureau, where factional struggles were rare, this time the flames of war were unusually ignited. Those who lacked ability or seniority were ruthlessly eliminated in the first round; those who barely qualified but lost in the competition ultimately only received a consolation prize of having their names listed at the end of the project.

As soon as the design team's private plane took off, this hastily erupted infighting revealed a consensus—the designers at the Osaka headquarters wouldn't get a share of the profits this time.

As a branch office, the San Francisco team had always been considered inferior. At every company meeting, the Osaka headquarters, relying on seniority and departmental authority, always held them in a superior position. Now, they finally had a chance to shine—if they completed this project, they could trample the headquarters underfoot. The San Francisco branch kept the news tightly under wraps, not allowing a single whisper to leak out.

"Internal strife aside," everyone reached a tacit consensus, "we must not let headquarters find out before the finished product is released."

This almost fanatical sense of secrecy, the desire to quickly finalize deals, left KK somewhat bewildered by the San Francisco design team's unusual enthusiasm when they met.

"We have long admired your reputation, Mr. KK. We are aware of part of your requirements. Please be sure to entrust this task of designing a weapon for you to us. With the expertise of our San Francisco design team, we are absolutely capable of creating a weapon that will satisfy you."

When the middle-aged man, still wearing his lab coat and glasses, eagerly reached out his hand, the world before Karl seemed to slow down abruptly.

His pupils contracted slightly, and his gaze completed a comprehensive assessment in a fraction of a second: there were no dangerous prosthetics on the other person, muscle memory indicated no professional training, and no miniature explosive devices were hidden under the skin of his palm. Only after confirming that every safety parameter was within the green threshold did Karl allow his perception system to return to normal time flow and slowly reach out to shake hands.

"Hello."

Carl felt the increased pressure in the other person's hand as they shook, confirming that the grip was unconscious and not a trap, and then greeted them. However, his greeting was interrupted the moment he said "hello".

"What an honor! What a great honor!"

The middle-aged man gripped Karl's hand tightly, shaking him enthusiastically up and down, his face practically overflowing with excitement.

His voice trembled slightly with excitement: "Please have complete faith in our capabilities! We are the top design team in the industry, and we can absolutely create a weapon that will satisfy you! As for the cost—" He paused, as if afraid Karl would refuse, and quickly added, "You don't need to worry at all! We've discussed it; for custom-made weapons for you, we'll only charge the basic cost, and subsequent maintenance will be free for life! As long as you choose Tsunami, we—"

Before Carl could even finish a sentence, this middle-aged man, who clearly had no business experience, had already rattled off a list of benefits and incentives. Not content with that, he started offering additional guarantees in his own capacity, leaving Johnny Silverhand, who was watching from the sidelines, somewhat dumbfounded.

"I suddenly realized that when Morgan wanted a weapon and approached Malorian, their behavior didn't seem so outrageous after all."

Johnny Silver Hand said to V.

(End of this chapter)