Cyberpunk: 2075.

Chapter 788, Section 202: Work Hard
"Hey Carl, still working overtime?" V's voice, crackling with static, came through the phone, with the faint sizzling of a frying pan in the background.

"Oliver is cooking today, which is rare for him. He's working on that specially selected Angus steak. He said he's going to show you his authentic American pan-frying method, and he's chosen asparagus and black truffle mashed potatoes as side dishes."
What time will you be back? If you really can't get away, we'll pack a meal and bring it to you. By the way, Hua Zi and her gang are under control now, so the pressure on your end should be much less, right?

Carl held his phone to his ear, his gaze sweeping over the flashing messages on the computer screen in front of him. He rubbed his aching neck, his voice weary: "I'll have to wait a little longer. My replacement—that guy named Mingzhi—is already on his way. He can go home after the handover. By the way, how did your talks with Hansen go after I slipped away from the banquet yesterday?"

"Hansen's party?" V paused for a few seconds on the other end of the phone. Carl could hear Oliver humming a tune in the kitchen in the background. "Actually, nothing substantial was negotiated. Reed, representing Rosalind Miles, set the terms, but that old fox Hansen..."

V sneered, "The way he held his wine glass back then, it was like he was listening to some kind of fantasy. I guess he either looked down on the proposal or simply didn't believe Rosalind could keep her promises, but—"

Suddenly, the communicator crackled with the sound of clinking cutlery, followed by Jack telling Johnny not to move. After the noise subsided, V's voice came through:
"Today's attack on the Hua Zi faction is definitely enough for Hansen to reassess the situation. All his carefully prepared bargaining chips are now useless. His partner has suddenly become a prisoner. I bet he's locked in his room right now, repeatedly calculating based on the intelligence he has on hand—whether to continue betting on the already out-of-power Hua Zi faction, or turn around and accept the olive branch from the new America."

"Hansen is a smart man, but he's also a gambler at heart. After all, he was able to use military technology to fight against Arasaka at the end of the unification war and set up his own flag. He's very bold. Who knows what he might do then? I feel that something will definitely happen after Dogtown."

Carl looked at the flashing message, clicked on it, and began to read it while saying, "So who did Hansen ultimately choose as his successor, Chester Bennett or Gagozab? After all, Hansen held that banquet in the name of choosing his successor, so the successor should have been announced by now."

"You mean the next Dogtown leader?" A meaningful pause came from the other end of the communicator. "Hansen played a clever trick—it looked like he chose both, yet it also looked like he chose neither."
In my opinion, he knew his two capable lieutenants better than anyone else. Bennett was radical and ambitious, while Gago was ruthless and calculating. It would be difficult to gain the respect of either of them.

Karl chuckled: "Equal power? To get those two guys who want to kill each other to cooperate sincerely?"

He shook his head: "Unless Hansen can live forever, which regime in history with power divided in two hasn't been stained with blood? When Hansen is gone, do you think they won't turn every street in Dogtown into a battlefield?"

"I guess Hansen doesn't care about that. He doesn't care about the consequences after he dies. Although Hansen may not think that way, I think it's pretty much the same. He just needs to keep Bennett and Gago in check while he's alive. Or do you think that Hansen might have been involved in their conflict?"

"Is this the method? That does fit my impression of Hansen. He's definitely a cunning Johnny. Don't even think about touching that liquor. If you want some, go buy it yourself. It's my liquor!"

Hearing the sudden increase in volume on the communication line, Karl sighed.

While he was at work, everyone else was leisurely preparing meals.

"Alright, I'll talk to you guys about the other things when I get back. My people are almost here, so I'll hang up now. See you later. Oh, and ask Jack to fry me some fries. I haven't had them in ages. I'll have them with ketchup today."

"Okay, I'll tell Jack in a bit. We'll hang Johnny up here for now!"

V's urgent shout before the communication was cut off made Carl feel as if he could see the scene inside the base with his own eyes—Johnny was probably up to something again.

I remember Johnny complaining about forming a band with Kerry, saying that Kerry stole his guitar strings; but later when I was chatting with Kerry, he complained that Johnny stole his guitar strings.

Looking back now, these two clowns probably stole from each other so much that they'd forgotten whose strings they originally belonged to. But if we're talking about who was more outrageous, Johnny was definitely a little more suspicious. Carl stuffed his modified phone into his pocket, stood up, and took a few steps toward the office door. As the automatic door opened, a somewhat familiar, yet actually quite unfamiliar, face appeared before him.

"Your Excellency Karl, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Goro Akechi stood before Karl.

“Nice to meet you.”

Carl looked at the face and nodded: "So, you'll be taking over my job from now on?"

Mingzhi bowed slightly: "I am only responsible for daily maintenance. Communication and subordinate management still require your personal handling." He paused for a moment, "Although there is relevant information and data, my behavior pattern cannot be completely replicated by you. In certain key situations, you will still need to come forward in person."

"Is it for a critical occasion? Okay, I understand."

Karl looked at Akechi and smiled, "It's so good that you came. I'm finally free from being cooped up in Arasaka Tower all day. I'll leave the rest to you, Akechi."

"It is my honor to serve His Excellency Karl."

Mingzhi bowed his head in response, but a strange feeling swept through his heart.

This Mr. Karl was completely different from the rumors—the company internally described him as a terrifying and cruel man with an intimidating and intimidating presence, but after actually meeting him, it was found that he was more like the image described in the rumors on the street: easy-going, kind, and even somewhat gentle.

This sense of equality is truly rare.
Could this be some kind of pretense to appear close?

Goro Akechi felt that this was not the case.

Perhaps his ability to discern was insufficient, but he genuinely felt that Karl's gratitude and joy towards him were truly heartfelt.

To be treated with such affection and kindness by this gentleman.
A sense of diligence welled up in Mingzhi's heart.

I must do my best to maintain this gentleman's daily life.

(End of this chapter)