Cyberpunk: 2075.

Chapter 687, Section 101: You Alone

The person who sent the message wasn't a stranger, but Karl was still somewhat surprised when he saw that familiar name pop up on his phone screen.

Based on the timeline, the person who sent the message should still be working overtime, making final adjustments for the upcoming New America and Arasaka matters.

Kenichi Shiro: How have you been lately? I heard that you obtained a new weapon from the tsunami and have been testing it. How are the tests going?
How strange. Mr. Kenichi Shiro, who should be working overtime, actually came to check on me, and even asked me about weapons.
Karl wasn't surprised. It was expected that Kenichi Shiro knew he had received a new weapon from the Tsunami Design Bureau. After all, the Tsunami Design Bureau had never deliberately hidden anything from other companies; in fact, several testers had even gathered around Karl when delivering the weapon, saying, "Mr. KK, you should make good use of this weapon's performance and open the eyes of those arrogant and incompetent guys at the Osaka headquarters."

Concerned about weapons inquiry
Karl narrowed his eyes slightly. The two things seemed unrelated, but a clear connection was gradually forming in his mind.

Kenichi Shiro's sudden concern and unusual interest in the new weapon—these details, like scattered puzzle pieces, are automatically piecing together in his mind.

A vague guess surfaced in his mind, and a knowing smile unconsciously appeared on his lips.

A knowing smile played on Karl's lips in the dim light as his fingertips tapped lightly on the screen.

"Get to the point, Mr. Kenichi Shiro. We're so familiar with each other, why are you resorting to the middleman's tricks?" There was a hint of sarcasm in his words.

"Let's play the emotional card first before getting down to business. To be honest, hearing this kind of concern from you is quite touching. This is the truth. I really feel that you, Mr. Kenichi Shiro, have actually learned to care about me. It really moves me." Karl emphasized this point.

“However,” Carl paused, continuing to type, “this approach really doesn’t suit you. Caring for someone isn’t something you can just bundle together in one sentence, offering words of concern and getting down to business.” His thumb hovered over the send button, and after a moment’s hesitation, he added, “If you’re going to learn, you have to do it step by step.”

After clicking send, the message was quickly transmitted to Kenichi Shiro.

On the other side of the screen—Kenichi Shiro's always sharp eyes were now fixed on his phone screen. After reading the message, an unusual embarrassment appeared on his usually expressionless face. In the office, only the cold light of the monitor reflected Kenichi Shiro's stiff posture. His knuckles holding the phone were slightly white as he silently sat on the screen, a silence spreading between the two of them.

Kenichi Shiro hesitated for a moment. He wanted to send a message, but he didn't know what to send.

If he finds out and learns it, will he feel like he's bowing down to this kid? Does that prove that he's lost, that he's indeed inferior to this kid in communication, and that he's truly not as good as him?
But I won't send it; what this kid said does make some sense.
Because of his social status, Kenichi Shiro, who rarely asks for favors, is indeed very bad at building relationships. Since childhood, he has always been in a position where he doesn't need to build relationships with his superiors, he just needs to listen. He doesn't need to build relationships with his subordinates either, he just needs to talk. He has never changed this habit of getting along with Haruko, who is very close to him and is like a daughter to him, and Chiyome, his apprentice whom he treats like his own daughter.

He certainly understands the exchange and transaction of interests; in fact, he has been trained and educated in this area since childhood. However, he lacks the sense of equality that requires building relationships and engaging in conversations with others. In the company, the only person who can be considered his equal and with whom he can have emotional exchanges is Takemura Goro. But neither of them are the type to build relationships or be loyal only to those they protect.

An emotion rose within Kenichi Shiro.

This feeling is called helplessness.

He really didn't know how to deal with this brat, and he really didn't know how to build a relationship with him.

At the same time, Kenichi Shiro also realized something. Although he had always regarded Karl as a brat, in some ways, he was indeed the one who most admired Karl's future and had the highest hopes for his abilities.

Kenichi Shiro had high hopes for everyone in Carl's team, and among them, he thought V was the most similar to himself. He had high hopes for V and even personally gave V a hint that if he wanted, he could become or even succeed him in his position in the future. However, this optimism and appreciation seemed to be somewhat less than the complex feelings he had for Carl.

Kenichi Shiro himself was well aware that all his negative emotions toward Karl were tinged with personal feelings. If personal feelings were set aside, Karl was the person he was most satisfied with, most admired, and most optimistic about. In fact, if it weren't for his overly close relationship with Haruko, Kenichi Shiro would have used every means to cultivate Karl shortly after their first meeting, instead of watching Karl now exceed his planned development and forge his own path.

Now, without realizing it, I've actually started to agree with this kid's advice, and I think I really need to learn something from him, and that his words are right?

Kenichi Shiro, who suddenly realized this, had mixed feelings.

Did he finally understand that his resistance was merely a manifestation of his unwillingness to accept defeat, or was he actually already attracted by Karl's abilities and skills, and had come to accept him in his heart?
How can you admit that!
"I don't need you to teach me."

Kenichi Shiro's stiff and indifferent response was not unexpected by Karl; in fact, in Karl's view, this was just Kenichi Shiro's personality.

Karl was actually very sincere towards Kenichi Shiro; every word he said was heartfelt, including those seemingly offensive jokes, such as asking "Are you bored?" when he received a message—that's what he really thought, and that's what he said.

This time, when he told Kenichi Shiro the "correct way to communicate," he simply felt that this was how it should be expressed, and sent it out directly.

He harbored no ill will toward Kenichi Shiro whatsoever.

On the contrary, he was quite grateful to Kenichi Shiro: the part-time job he signed up for allowed him to earn a stable monthly income of euros, and although he always gave him cold looks, he never failed to provide the support he needed. In Karl's eyes, Kenichi Shiro was a very reliable person.

But since the other party doesn't want to chat, let's get down to business.

"So, what is it that requires you to come to me, Mr. Kenichi Shiro?"

"I need you to protect Haruko."

The simple words made Karl pause slightly.

"You alone."

These words made Karl's eyes widen slightly.

(End of this chapter)