Cyberpunk: 2075.

Chapter 854, Section 64: The Entanglement of Power

"This is a recording device. I made some minor modifications, but the results should satisfy the people in the biotechnology department."

After completing the underground investigation, Carl left the underground eco-park and returned to the surface. As he handed the recorder to the special operations team member, he saw Oliver and Jack walking out of the underground exit one after the other.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Carl. The tremor just now was terrifying. I was about to go down and help them."

Hearing the team members' thanks, Carl simply nodded slightly, not paying much attention: "Don't worry, there was just a small problem down there. You'll understand the details when you look back at the recorder."

As he spoke, he moved closer to Oliver and Jack, who were standing some distance away: "How's your search going? I've almost found a clue here."

"It seems you've found a clue too."

Oliver held something in his hand and said, his words causing Carl to raise an eyebrow slightly: "Oh, you found it too?"

“Pretty much,” Oliver said. “Jack and I weren’t far apart when the collapse happened; we met up after walking just a few steps. We investigated together and managed to find something out.”

As he spoke, he took a few steps closer and handed the item in his hand to Carl: "Take a look, does it look familiar?"

“This is…” Carl took the item Oliver handed him, examined it carefully for a few moments, and a look of surprise appeared on his face. “This looks like a fragment of a kunai? Where did you find it? I think this material…”

"The standard weapon used by the Ninja Hundred Group, right?"

Jack picked up where Carl left off, a complex expression on his face: "I thought the 100 Ninja Group had been mostly wiped out during our previous joint operation, but I didn't expect there to be remnants. And it seems that in order to protect themselves, they've regained their rationality and are operating in the shadows without needing their master's orders. What do you think?"

"I haven't found any direct clues related to the Ninja Hundred Group, but I have found some traces that may be related to Dog Town."

Carl recounted the items he had found and the general information he had gathered. Oliver and Jack listened and fell into deep thought.

"It seems this matter is not so simple."

After a moment of contemplation, Oliver said, "Jack and I found clues related to the Ninja Hundred, while the traces you found point to Dogtown. If these two clues are connected, it makes sense—perhaps the remnants of the Ninja Hundred are hiding in Dogtown right now."
That place was indeed a melting pot of all sorts of people, suitable for their infiltration, and the professional capabilities of the 100 Ninja Group were more than sufficient to carry out this type of mission.

He changed the subject, his expression turning serious: "But I always feel things aren't that simple. The traces you found don't seem like the operating style of the Ninja Hundred Group; they're closer to the methods of another professional team, so..."

“Perhaps the two sides are collaborating, or perhaps they each did something at the same time?” Karl interjected, his voice laced with speculation.

“That’s what I think,” Oliver said. “But it’s strange that the 100 Ninjas should have been desperately trying to escape and hide after their master was completely wiped out.”
Moreover, Sei-nobu has already relented, allowing them to return to Arasaka—as long as they swear allegiance to him, although they can no longer operate under the name of the 'Ninja Hundred Group,' they can at least serve as security or guard personnel in some non-core departments. What are these escaped ninjas thinking?" "They're not reconciled, are they?" Karl replied calmly. "Don't underestimate them just because they were once just bodyguards for that old bastard Saburo. The Ninja Hundred Group's treatment is top-notch—the best weapons, the strongest cybernetic bodies, the most exquisite uniforms, and the most refined food. As long as they remain loyal, they have almost everything, and even after retirement, they enjoy the best treatment."

Moreover, most of them had gone through brutal selection processes to stand out, enduring countless hardships and trials. Now, although Sei-nobu is willing to forgive them, he's only offering them unimportant security positions in minor departments. The salary is probably not even enough for a single meal for them in the past. The difference is too great, and it's understandable that they find it hard to accept.

"It's already exceptionally lenient of Sei-nobu to spare their lives, especially considering they were brainwashed by Arasaka Saburo's ideology of loyalty," Jack sneered, interjecting. "And yet they're dissatisfied? What right do losers have to make demands?"

"It's not that I'm making demands, which I can understand to some extent. If you're not satisfied with the treatment, then just keep working against me."

Carl said in a relaxed tone: "Anyway, it's just a life for them. They may have been orphans or came from the slums. Don't underestimate them. They may not be any less hardworking than us. They have all gone through hellish trials to get to where they are today."

As the saying goes, whether they're unknown or famous, perhaps their hard work and struggle deserve only the latter.

“If they could really continue to fight on their own, I might think more highly of them, and even admit that they do deserve the title of ‘Ninja Hundred Group’.” Oliver’s tone turned cold. “But now it seems that these guys who have been brainwashed by ‘loyalty’ have not truly come out of that distorted view of loyalty.”

He recalled the traces of another group that Karl had mentioned, and after a moment of contemplation, he continued, "I have a feeling that there is indeed a professional squad with a different style from the Ninja Hundred Group."

The person issuing the orders to that squad is very likely the new master of the Hundred Ninja Group. These ninjas have just lost one master, and they might already be eagerly looking for their next one.

"Then the target can basically be locked in."

Carl stood on the construction site in Pacific State, his gaze fixed on the distance—in the direction of Dogtown.

In Dogtown, are there really people worthy of the loyalty of the 100 Ninjas?
of course not.

For an elite team like the Ninja Hundred, who have followed Saburo Arasaka for years and whose vision is beyond the heavens, who else in this world is worthy to be their master besides Saburo himself?
But what if they are no longer the 100-man ninja group of yesteryear, but just a group of nameless, wandering, and defeated soldiers?
Perhaps, by a narrow margin, some people are still qualified.

Now that things have come to this, in order to survive, if these remaining ninjas really want to find a new master, the only one in the entire Dogtown who can barely catch their eye is probably the 'King of Dogtown'.

But
A hint of doubt crossed Karl's mind.

He clearly remembered that the King of Dogtown had a long-standing partnership with the biotechnology company, and the experimental products circulating in this construction site were ultimately all transported to his place. If it was indeed him who ordered his men to do it, what was his motive?
Surely they can't just take advantage of the cooperation to rob us because they can't afford to pay?

(End of this chapter)