Cyberpunk: 2075.

Chapter 709, Section 123: Confirmation

While Dogville V was rescuing the president, someone was also making a move in Arasaka Tower.

The two were moving quickly inside the tower, and the one walking in front was Kenichi Shiro. His subordinate, who was following beside him, looked at Kenichi Shiro's rapid pace, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke.

"Mr. Kenichi Shiro, are you really determined to go to Dogville in this situation? Isn't that far too risky?"

The subordinate's voice betrayed his unease. In such a situation, it was highly inappropriate for Kenichi Shiro, as the vice president, to personally take such a risk!

No need for further explanation.

Kenichi Shiro raised his hand to stop the other party's advice, his cold gaze sweeping over everyone before he stopped and explained briefly: "I'm only taking a small number of elites with me on this mission, so it won't cause too much of a stir. But the plane crash of the new US president is too suspicious, and the timing is too delicate. I suspect that the new US government is behind this, or even that it might be a show orchestrated by Rosalind Miles herself."

His eyes darkened slightly, and his tone became serious. "Tomorrow is the day of negotiations. If we don't find out the truth tonight, Miss Haruko's safety will be in jeopardy. I must go there in person."

"But what if your safety is actually orchestrated by that new US president to prepare for an attack during tomorrow's meeting? Wouldn't that put your safety at risk?"

“In that case,” Kenichi Shiro interrupted him, his gaze as calm as still water, “sacrificing myself is better than putting Haruko-san in danger.”

He turned to this man who was both his subordinate and his nephew, his tone unusually gentle: "Kazuya, if I don't return from this trip, you go and see Karl for me."

“Mr. Karl?” Kenichi was stunned, the image of the man who was always treated coldly by his uncle, yet whom he genuinely respected flashed through his mind.

“Yes, go find him.” Kenichi Shiro’s gaze pierced through the window to the sun, which was so clear on the high floor. Every word seemed to be engraved on steel. “Tell him—this is my request, my plea, to ask him to protect Haruko.”

"Mr. Carl will protect Miss Haruko?!"

Kenichi Kazuya's pupils suddenly contracted. He clearly understood the weight of Kenichi Shiro's words. The profound meaning behind those few words made his breath catch in his throat.

This means that in Kenichi Shiro's heart, if something were to happen to him, the only person who could truly protect Haruko-san would be Karl.

He didn't trust any of the people who had deep ties with Haruko, not Chiyome, Haruko's personal bodyguard since childhood, nor Haruko's birth mother, Michiko Arasaka. At this critical moment of life and death, the only person he chose to entrust with his affairs after his death was Karl!

This realization left Kenichi and Kazuya in disbelief.

Even after calming down and thinking it over, he admitted that Karl was indeed the best person to protect Haruko, but he never expected that these words would come from his uncle's mouth.

"Didn't Uncle always dislike Mr. Carl the most? He always called him 'that kid,' 'that kid.' But faced with a responsibility more important than life itself, Uncle actually put aside all his prejudices and chose Mr. Carl, and even did so in an almost pleading manner!"

The attitude he displayed while speaking was clearly a sign of bowing down to Karl, which completely overturned Kenichi's perception of his uncle. He had never seen someone as proud as his uncle who would show weakness to anyone.

While Kenichi was still in shock, Kenichi Shiro pondered for a moment and added, "However, if I'm safe and sound and come back before tomorrow's meeting," he suddenly lowered his voice, "then just pretend nothing happened. I didn't say these things, and you don't need to relay them to that kid Karl. Just pretend none of this ever existed, that you know nothing and heard nothing."

After saying that, Kenichi Shiro raised his voice slightly, as if issuing a warning: "Did you hear me clearly?"

Faced with his uncle's sudden raised voice, Kenichi and Kazuya were startled and nodded smartly.

“I understand. If nothing happened, then nothing happened.”

"That's good, that's enough."

Kenichi Shiro nodded in satisfaction and resumed his steady steps, but after only a few steps, he suddenly stopped, as if some unfinished thoughts had held him back.

“There’s one more thing,” his voice became unusually solemn, his metallic tone carrying an undeniable air, “You must confirm that my life signs have completely disappeared before you tell that kid Karl this. Remember, it’s after you’ve confirmed my death.”

"Understood." Kenichi and Kazuya nodded solemnly, their Adam's apple bobbing involuntarily. The two continued walking, their footsteps echoing in the empty corridor, until a blinding beam of light suddenly tore through the darkness.

The outer wall of the building in front of us was slowly opening, and blinding sunlight poured in like a tide, illuminating the hovercars quietly parked on the helipad. The streamlined bodies reflected a cold metallic luster, and the engines emitted a slight hum, like a beast ready to pounce.

"You're going to travel there by airship?" Kenichi and Kazuya frowned, their voices unconsciously lowering. "The entire Dogtown should be under maximum martial law right now."

At this sensitive moment when newly elected US President Rosalind Myers was attacked, regardless of whether the truth was that Hansen was trying to harm the president or that Rosalind had orchestrated a political conspiracy, any foreign hovercar attempting to enter Dogtown at this time would be tantamount to suicide.

"Just one leg." Kenichi Shiro cut him off abruptly, his rough fingertips unconsciously rubbing the treads on his sidearm, a habitual gesture that betrayed his inner tension.

"Get off when we reach Taiping Prefecture, then figure out a way to sneak in." His gaze briefly swept over the hovercraft waiting on the tarmac, then turned to the distant horizon.

Finally, he offered a word of comfort to his concerned nephew.

“Don’t worry, I know better than anyone the risks of taking this personally.” Kenichi Shiro’s voice was low. “But given the current situation, I can’t find another person who is capable of doing this and whom I can trust. Karl also has more important things to do right now.” He slowly turned his head, his sharp gaze meeting Kenichi Kazuya’s. “Now I trust my own judgment more, even if this decision might cost me my life.”

Kenichi Shiro tightened his collar: "The only thing I can do now is pray that this judgment won't be wrong."

After saying this, Kenichi Shiro stepped into the hovercar.

But before the airship took off, he poked his head out again.

"Remember, you must make sure I'm dead!"

(End of this chapter)