Cyberpunk: 2075.

Chapter 666, Chapter 80: The Parents Who Provide Food and Clothing
"What did I come to you about?"

Listening to what Carl said, the old captain's gaze swept over Mashi and David before settling back on Carl, his eyes conveying a clear meaning.

Can we start talking now?

Seeing his puzzled expression, Carl simply looked at David and asked, "David, are you free?"

"of course."

David immediately understood what Carl meant, but his gaze fell on Maki: "But Takemura-kun."

Mashi's slender fingers were holding a spoon, scooping out cake from the snack box she had brought herself. Hearing this, she looked up and said, "I'll go back after I finish experiencing it with you guys." Her voice was clear, and her gaze shifted between Carl and David, quickly understanding something from their subtle expressions.

“My original purpose for today was just to have Carl come and see me. I only came to celebrate since I saw that you, David, have also joined the company. I don’t plan to stay too long. I’ll prepare myself and then officially start my job.” Mashi smiled and tucked a stray strand of blue hair behind her ear, deliberately slowing her speech to emphasize, “Let’s chat a little longer, then I’ll go back and wait for you guys.” She paused meaningfully, “You can slowly discuss your ‘business’.”

Maki had a faint smile on her lips. Far from being upset that the class reunion had been interrupted by the unexpected middleman, she was secretly delighted by this pleasant surprise.

Although this would indeed shorten the time she could spend with Carl and David, she initially came along to see where Carl often worked as a mercenary and what mercenaries were like. Now that she had seen the afterlife and happened to encounter the classic middleman assigning jobs to mercenaries, it was exactly what she wanted. It allowed her to see things she had never seen before, so naturally she had no complaints.

"A little while later?"

The old captain glanced at Ma Xi.

Since this young lady said she would only stay for a short while, he naturally wouldn't mind too much. In fact, if KK were there to vouch for her, it wouldn't matter if this matter were revealed to Carl's friends. After all, it was just a small matter that some company executives looked down on and asked them, a group of street middlemen, to handle. As for David...
The old captain's gaze shifted to David.

Judging from Carl and David's conversation, it seems that Carl intends to involve David in the work as well, which would be a great deal for him.

His original plan was meticulously crafted: he would only hire KK to bring one or two team members, and he had even rehearsed the bargaining lines three times in his mind. Before the morning mist in Santo Domingo had even dissipated, he was already thinking about how to use alcohol and personal favors to reduce the commission by 20%. But if KK took the initiative to bring along Captain David, his eyes would gleam.

This child probably doesn't know his own worth, but the old captain knows perfectly well.

In the mercenary network woven by middlemen, a mercenary like David should have been priced at double the usual rate. His youthful explosiveness and ability to utilize Sianwistan were worth that price, not to mention the honesty that old-school mercenaries rarely possessed. Now, there are only two top-notch mercenaries in the city who are willing to take jobs at the standard price: V and David.

But recently, V has become quite cunning, daring to raise prices without even finishing reading the task briefing.

The old captain glanced at KK. If Mann were leading the team, he wouldn't dare to even consider it—that towering man could crack the negotiating table with his fists, but KK was never picky about prices. Rather, for KK these days, taking jobs was probably just a daily habit.
"It's not a difficult task. I'll tell you the details later. In short, it's just about getting data from a car for me."

The old captain deliberately drew out the last syllable of his sentence, his tone as if coated with honey, as if discussing a weekend picnic: "Since we're all old friends, I naturally can't offer a low price. So, Carl, what do you think?"

He rubbed his fingers together and held up a number.

“Package at the team’s base price.” Carl saw through the old captain’s intentions. This middleman from the company did have his charms—he could round down the price when selling modified cars, tell dirty jokes while drinking, and even frequently give away a bunch of gifts. He also had a good relationship with them. But after all, he was a middleman, and his true nature remained. His habitual price-cutting behavior made Carl unable to help but mutter a complaint:
“You know our capabilities. If you’ve come to us, this job is definitely not as easy as you make it out to be. It’s at least three times more difficult. I’ll give you face, since I brought David in this time. Just give me and David the package price of a standard mercenary team. I won’t ask for more.”

"A base price for a squad?"

The old captain, the middle-aged man whose original name was Muammar Sheyes and who changed his name to Reyes after leaving the company, had a sudden flash of interest.

The basic price that Karl mentioned for a team could not possibly be the standard price of the KK team. After all, it would cost a lot of money to hire the entire KK team to help, and there are no jobs on the market worth doing that now. The standard mercenary team that Karl mentioned naturally refers to the rules of the afterlife.

Mercenary teams from the afterlife are much more expensive than street mercenaries. After all, those who can make it to the afterlife and take on jobs are more or less considered people in the street scene. However, although they are expensive, compared to the price of the KK team, it is negligible. In fact, compared to KK working alone, it may even save a lot of money.

For the price of KK alone, which is deliberately considered cheap, you can not only hire KK, but also get David Martinez as a bonus? That's a steal.

"You're really giving your brother face, so it's a deal then?"

The old captain stretched out his hand, his tone ending with the joy of a fisherman who had caught a hundred-pound fish.

"It's a word."

Karl extended his hand and shook it: "However."

His words made the old captain's eyelids twitch, but he was relieved when he heard Karl's words the next moment.

"However, I need to finish chatting with my friend first."

Carl pointed at Mashi.

"Easy to say."

The huge commission saved was surging through the old captain's veins, making his voice even louder: "Seeing that Claire didn't come over, it must be your request not to be disturbed, right? Well then, I'll personally bring you some things to serve you. I'll cover all your expenses today."

The old captain, who had stood up, had that slyness that belonged to a company dog ​​back on his face.

In that instant, another calculation flashed through his mind.

Even if we booked a whole round, it still wouldn't be as cost-effective as this commission.

If it weren't for the fact that the two sides were so close and the age difference was too great, the old captain would have wanted to call Karl his "bread and butter" in gratitude.

(End of this chapter)