Cyberpunk: 2075.

Chapter 629, Section 43: A pitiful person?

Four days after Carl handed the weapons over to the Tsunami Design Bureau.

The whole city was speculating about KK's whereabouts, while the person in question was sprawled on the sofa in his apartment, letting Mewtwo's neon lights flow across his retina, until Oliver kicked open the door, bringing in a gust of hot street air mixed with the smell of engine oil.

"The boxing match is about to begin." Oliver's prosthetic eye gleamed. "Jack and V are both close to making it to the finals."

"That match featuring Razor Hughes, the former member of the Animals Gang who later became a boxing champion?" Carl sat up from the sofa and removed the Mewtwo device. "The exhibition match where the boxing champion 'returned to his boxing roots,' which Old V has been talking about for three months?"

"You actually remember the full name?" Oliver's eyebrows furrowed in surprise. "I thought you didn't care about that."

Carl shrugged, somewhat speechless. "If Old Wei had just shown the video of that boxing match once, I wouldn't have cared." He then looked around the empty apartment. "So those two sneaked out on their own, not inviting us to the match?"

“Professional rules.” Oliver’s mechanical fingers traced the match-up chart in the air. “V has taken down all the underground boxing rings, and Jack has sent every neighborhood champion to the hospital—but there’s only one spot in the final.”

Carl suddenly burst out laughing. Now he understood why they hadn't called him and Oliver over. They were afraid of seeing them all bruised and battered, weren't they?

“I bet Vee went over there, maybe even to treat their concussions,” Carl quipped. “Let them fight it out. It doesn’t matter who makes it to the finals anyway. I remember Vee saying that the boxing ring is the easiest place to build friendships between men, so let them build some more friendships.”

"By the time we arrived, they would have probably already finished fighting."

Oliver, holding the car keys, said, "So guess who wins?"

“I don’t know who will win, but I know that when we go back to the Wolf’s Bar, we won’t be the two of us getting yelled at by Mrs. Wells. She’ll definitely yell at V and Jack for beating each other so badly that she won’t even recognize them.”

"That makes sense."

Oliver flicked his keys: "Didn't see Johnny either. Did he go with him?"

"They went to Kerry's place early in the morning, by car."

"Where's T-BUG?"

"Among the street champions that Jack beat up, there was one named Rhino, who was T-BUG's former teammate. The team disbanded later, but the two of them still have some feelings for each other. T-BUG heard about Rhino and went to visit her. However, if today were Jack and V's match, T-BUG might have gone with Rhino to join in the fun and happened to see V and Jack fighting over there."

So, it turns out it's just the two of us at home today?

"almost."

Carl turned to look at the keys in Oliver's hand: "To be precise, I was the only one home. You just came back from going out. What were you doing?"

"They've been busy repairing cars downstairs until now, but since everyone else is busy, why don't you come out for a walk with me? You haven't left the house for days, have you?"

Go out for a stroll.

Listening to Oliver's advice, Carl glanced at him and thought for a moment.

"also."

Carl also felt that he had become lax after not touching a gun for four days, so he thought it would be good to take a gun out for a stroll. Given the situation in Night City, he would soon have something to show for it.

I feel like my current thoughts are exactly the same as when I first came to Night City.

With strange thoughts running through their minds, Carl and Oliver went downstairs and got into Oliver's 'Quartz EC-L R275', a car Carl hadn't ridden in for a long time.

This was the first vehicle Carl had ridden in since arriving in Night City, even though it was a two-seater.

"Seeing you sit down next to me, I now realize how fast time has flown by."

Oliver started the engine and stared at Carl sitting in the passenger seat: "It's been almost two years in the blink of an eye. Who would have thought that you, who had just arrived in Night City, and I, who had just been kicked out of the gang, would both be doing quite well now? Back then, I never thought about this at all. When I first asked you to partner with me, I was just thinking about making sure I didn't starve."

"Are you trying to get sentimental? Drive, where to?"

Carl knew that since Oliver had decided to take him out for a stroll, he must have already chosen a location.

And as expected.

As the car drove on, Carl noticed the building where Cloud Top was located appearing in front of him.

doubt.

strangeness.

It dawned on me.

Strabismus.

"Hey, don't get me wrong, Carl."

"You don't really think I'm that kind of person, do you?" He spoke rapidly, as if afraid of being interrupted. "The kind of person who—sees V and Jack busy boxing, Johnny running off somewhere, and even T-BUG not having time to deal with us, so he drags you to Genting for some fun?"

Carl wanted to say that this was the kind of person he was, but considering his friend's feelings, he sighed and said, "So what are you doing here at Genting Highlands? Don't tell me you're planning to go in and sit for a bit. You know I'm not interested in this place, and with our current 'reputation,' I'm afraid all the guests inside will be gone in less than ten minutes."

“It won’t take ten minutes, one minute is enough for them to run away.”

Oliver stopped the car, and after seeing Carl get out, he gestured with what he was holding: "I'm here to talk to the Tiger Claw Gang."

"To talk business?"

Carl glanced at what Oliver was holding and realized it was a paper document instead of a gun.

"You're here to discuss business with the Tiger Claw Gang, so you're probably here to see their boss, right? Coming to Cloudtop to do so makes sense, since Cloudtop is one of the Tiger Claw Gang's top businesses. But you're here to discuss things, so are you representing the Sixth Street Gang?"

"That's not true."

Oliver shook his head: "I've already left the Sixth Street Gang, how could I still represent it? In fact, my dad said that it's better to be less constrained in my current situation than to be involved in a gang. I'm here representing my sister."

Carl thought about Oliver's sister's situation. She seemed to be a cyborg medic in the Sixth Street gang, but not a member; she was just a neighborhood cyborg medic with some connections. And today, Oliver was representing her.
Before Carl could speculate further, Oliver revealed his purpose: "My sister knows something about the sex dolls in Cloudtop. Although after Andy's incident, the Tiger Claw gang in Cloudtop hasn't dared to kidnap ordinary citizens to do this kind of thing anymore, all the sex dolls in office have signed contracts."
But you know the contracts those sex dolls signed at Genting Highlands—they might work half their lives just to pay off the so-called 'cosmetic surgery,' and maybe they could never pay it off. In some cases, they might not even get protection because of insufficient benefits. My sister was thinking of having me talk business with them, to see if I could introduce the sex dolls Genting Highlands was unwilling to protect to her. She could help treat some of them, so the sex dolls could live and continue to pay tribute to the Tiger Claw Gang, benefiting both sides.”

“A typical Night City solution.” Carl understood. “Squeeze people dry until they’re completely drained, then give them a chance to climb back up and be squeezed dry again.”

Oliver's fingers tapped unconsciously on the edge of the document, making a distinctive crisp sound. "My sister calls it 'sustainable exploitation.'" He paused. "But it's still a little better than just throwing people into a landfill."

Above Oliver and Carl, the holographic sign at Cloudtop projected a flawless image of a sex doll, smiling and winking at passersby. Carl noticed a teardrop-shaped decorative chip beneath her left eye—the mark of the Tiger Claw Gang's latest "Melancholy Beauty" package, priced enough for a homeless man to survive for half a year in Watson District, and the modifications required for the sex dolls to fit that package involved at least four parts of the body.

“So,” Carl said, “how does your sister plan to talk to those Tiger Claw gang members? To persuade them with her skills? Or,” Carl glanced meaningfully at the pistol on Oliver’s waist, “something more practical. If it’s that kind of thing, I wouldn’t mind making a move?”

Oliver gave a look that was somewhere between a smile and a grin: "My sister has prepared an offer they can't refuse—after all, in Night City, the word 'humanitarian' is best translated as 'long-term profit-sharing plan'."

Is it a profit-sharing plan?

Looking at Oliver's expression, Carl could see the truth.

It was because I got to know Oliver that I realized his personality was more or less inherited from his family. I also met Oliver's sister, Karl, many times. Her real purpose, compared to profit, was perhaps more concerned about the lives of these sex dolls. But such things could not be stated explicitly in the documents.

Oliver's sister earned her share, and she used her share to maintain the sex dolls that should have been maintained by the Tiger Claw Gang. That was her business. But if the Tiger Claw Gang knew that she was doing good deeds, they might take advantage of that and increase the percentage in the revenue-sharing agreement signed by both sides.

Those who should be protected are unwilling to be protected for their own benefit, and when they encounter someone who is willing to protect them out of kindness, they will naturally make that person pay the price for their kindness for their own benefit. Therefore, Oliver's sister must not show the slightest sympathy in the documents.

In the negotiations for the cannibalistic business, she had to portray herself as a shark who had spotted a business opportunity and smelled blood. She was there to get a share of the already squeezed profits from the sex dolls, so that the Tiger Claw Gang would not find an opportunity and would truly give those 'waste-making' sex dolls a chance to survive.

Oliver's sister obviously couldn't negotiate this opportunity herself.

She's just a cyborg doctor, unable to meet with the Tiger Claw Gang's higher-ups. Or rather, any random cyborg doctor who comes to discuss business will either be shot by the Tiger Claw Gang's henchmen or thrown out. That's when a famous person is needed.

And coincidentally, there are two people here who are qualified enough, or rather, one person is qualified enough. If there are two of them, the Tiger Claw Gang might have to give them a warm welcome first and then ask about their purpose.

Carl and Oliver have a lot of influence, but simply having enough influence can't keep up with the ever-emerging, profit-driven individuals within the Tiger Claw gang. Hundreds of hotheads pop up in Night City every day, and nobody knows what they'll do. Since it's impossible to keep a close eye on everything, some necessary measures are essential.

Instead of trying to get them to accept it through reputation, let them see tangible potential benefits and accept it willingly.
For now, that's how it is.

Tiger Claw Gang is a large gang with a long history, with nearly 5,500 members.

And this quantity
That's roughly twenty-two times the size of the Voodoo Cult.

This number isn't large.

"Your sister's 'profit sharing statement'..." Carl suddenly flicked the document, "Isn't the ink probably laced with painkillers?"

Carl's joke eased Oliver's somewhat uncomfortable mood, which had been building up as he took out the documents, anticipating a talk with the Tiger Claws. The peculiar smile he wore when he saw Cloud Peak returned to his face: "I don't think the Cat Claws can afford that price. A 15% cut—that's just enough to make the Tiger Claws think we're the same kind of people."

Oliver flashed a standard gangster grin, revealing his teeth. "After all, in Night City, a philanthropist doesn't live more than three days, but a greedy vulture can live into the next century."

The neon lights of the distant Cloud Top cast long shadows of them. Carl noticed that as they approached the floor where Cloud Top was located, members of the Tiger Claw Gang were observing them from the shadows. Upon noticing them, everyone scattered in terror, but he paid no attention to them, acting as if he hadn't seen them at all.

As Carl stepped into the elevator, he sensed a subtle surveillance. He knew that from the moment they entered the building until they pressed the button for the Cloud Top floor, everything had been urgently switched to the Cloud Top Tiger Claw Gang leader's presence.

So he smiled, and smiled at the spot where he sensed he was being spied on.

"Talk about business."

Carl mouthed the words without speaking, but he knew that the Tiger Claws of Cloudtop would do everything in their power to read what Carl was saying from his lip movements.

Then, Karl continued speaking silently.

'You'd better give me a good price, otherwise...'

Carl smiled gently: "I just happen to be in a bad mood today."

Not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can easily threaten the Tiger Claw Gang and come to discuss business.

It just so happens that Carl and Oliver are here today.

'Ding. '

As the elevator arrived, the doors opened, and Carl and Oliver saw Tiger Claw gang members dressed in suits, waiting respectfully outside.

"Welcome to Genting, Mr. KK and Mr. Oliver. Regarding the business you mentioned, we are happy to meet with you and discuss it as soon as possible, however..."

The Tiger Claw gang member used his eyes to intimidate the people behind him who saw Carl and Oliver, some of whom were either fearful or eager to try, and tried to adopt a pleading posture: "Please don't go too far."

He was good at negotiating business, but even when facing KK, he couldn't make an absolute compromise in order to protect his family from being wiped out by his boss and to ensure his future.

"We are willing to pay protection money to your NCPD squad, please."

As his body trembled, Karl gently patted his shoulder, as if to comfort him.

"I told you, I'm here to discuss business."

Karl's voice was soft, yet it was like a drawn sword.

The NCPD database had been opened for him, and all the information about the Tiger Claw Gang was now in his view.

[File Expand]
Name: Kenta Nakamura (Mid-level executive of the Tiger Claw Gang)
Criminal record:

Suspected of assaulting NCPD officers (3 cases, all closed as 'self-defense')
The investigation into the alleged suicide of Angelina Jolie has been terminated, and evidence has been lost.

[Detailed Record]
Julie | 27 years old | Genting Contractual Partner
Date of death: November 23, 2076

Cause of death determined as suicide.
Location of death: The body was found next to a garbage compactor in the back alley of Genting Highlands.
Contract signed before death: on file, now terminated.

turn on.

2076年11月23日7点05分解约。

Contract Notes: Revenue generation capacity declined, maintenance terminated, signatory: Kenta Nakamura.

Carl looked at the documents, and at the same time, he looked at Kenta Nakamura, who was pleading in front of him like a pitiful person, and then gently patted him.

"It's business."

(End of this chapter)