Cyberpunk: 2075.

Chapter 913, Section 123: Time to Get Down to Business

Carl arrived at the CEO's floor in Arasaka one minute later.

"I'm so tired. I only realize how tired I am when I relax."

Carl threw himself into the specially made sofa in the room, letting out a groan of satisfaction mixed with pain.

He stretched his almost stiff limbs, turned his head to the side, and complained to the others in the room: "You have no idea how I've survived these past few days. Every day I open my eyes and work, and at most I sleep for six hours. In between, there are endless things to deal with."
Occasionally, I even have to stand on a big screen like Hansen, forcing a 'peaceful world' expression on the screen for the whole city. Honestly, I'm exhausted. I really don't understand how Hansen managed to appear on screen every day to promote himself. I feel like I'm falling apart after just a few days of this."

Six hours?

Without even looking up, Mashi casually swiped a newly signed electronic document into the 'processed' queue with her slender fingers. Now quite skilled at handling documents, she glanced at Karl.

"You should know that, according to the company's internal statistics, this is an excellent amount of sleep that only directors can maintain. Many junior employees can't even go back to their apartments more than a few times a week, and it's normal for them to go home once a month."

"Don't take this kind of systemic exploitation for granted as the norm."

Carl stared at Mashi: "So your sleep is like this too?"

“Of course I’m different.” Ma Xi raised her chin slightly, her tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible pride, like a bird showing off its feathers. “I have two more hours.”

Are there any days off?

“Theoretically, yes,” she said, her gaze shifting slightly as she glanced at Haruko. “But as you know, it’s a busy time right now, so no.” She twirled a strand of hair between her fingers, unconsciously spinning it around.

"How long has it been since you last went back to your place?"

"Almost," she blinked, as if doing mental calculations, then smiled. "It's been about a month, hasn't it?"

"."

Carl shook his head, as if trying to shake the numbers out of his ears.

"To be honest, I actually 'admire' you guys."

Karl's gaze swept over Mashi, Chiyome, and Haruko in turn, his tone tinged with exhaustion: "Normally, I always thought that the reason people above work so hard for their subordinates is so they can go home early and enjoy life. But it turns out that in Night City..."

He paused, then sighed: "Those at the top are working themselves to death, and those below are working themselves to death. What is this? It's simply the ultimate involutionary overtime hell."

"Karl, you've experienced some of those feelings to some extent, haven't you?"

Hearing this, Haruko blinked and smiled at Karl: "Working must be tiring."

"I'm exhausted. I have to admire you guys who are professionally trained by Arasaka. I really can't compare to you in this aspect."

"No, that's not what I meant."

Haruko gently shook her head, temporarily putting aside her work. When she looked at Karl again, her gaze had become calm and focused.

"I mean, Karl, now you finally understand what it's like to lead a large group of people and control a huge force."

Haruko looked directly into Karl's eyes: "Now that you've experienced what it feels like to be at a high place, do you understand?"

"It's not that being at the top is lonely or anything like that." Karl thought for a moment and replied, "Overall, it's similar to how I felt before, except there are more people around and more things to worry about. And now I understand more clearly that there are some decisions that no one can make for you, so you have to be more serious about what you do."

Hearing him say that, Haruko's lips curled up slightly, forming a gentle and knowing smile.

"As expected, Carl, you haven't changed at all."

"Change to what?" Karl looked over, puzzled.

Haruko didn't answer immediately. She picked up the tea that Chiyome had brewed on her table, took a sip, put down the teacup, and said, "Become like them."

Her gaze was fixed on the floor, as if she were looking through the floors at the people working below.

“Treating working like crazy as an honor, sacrificing one’s life as the norm, and then gradually getting used to it and tacitly accepting it.”

She turned back, her eyes warm: "Most people are used to conforming. They follow what others do and then never ask whether it's right or wrong. It's just a habit. But Carl, you seem like you'll never change, just like when I first met you."

"Treating overtime as a virtue is wrong in itself."

Carl said, but he could understand those who worked hard: "But you can't say they're used to it. It's impossible for people to get used to suffering. The reason they're numb and compliant is simply because they have no other choice."

"If you don't do it this way, you can't survive; if you don't do it this way, you can't get promoted. Whether it's for simple survival or ambition, no one is truly numb and submissive. Compared to them, I'm probably just different because I have more choices, so I won't do it this way. Since that's the case, of course I won't change."

Carl saw things very clearly. If it weren't for his abilities, being a company dog ​​might be a blessing, and just being able to barely survive would be a stroke of luck.

He just happens to have some skills and happens to want to do something. There's no reason for him to think he's so great because of that, nor is there any reason for him to look down on those who work hard.

It's just that I'm not used to it. It doesn't mean that other people's way of life is wrong, nor does it mean that other people are doing hard work. What's really wrong are the things and systems that force them to work so hard.

That's it.

Haruko repeated softly, her eyes slightly narrowed like two crescent moons, the light flowing within them gentle and resolute. There was no longer any scrutiny or calculation in them, only pure and undisguised intimacy.

"That's why I feel that Karl is Karl."

"Yes, I also believe that I am who I am."

Karl nodded naturally, but Maki, who was listening to Karl and Haruko's conversation, unconsciously paused her hand slightly.

Just then, the sound of a file gently sliding onto the table came from the side.

Maki hurriedly picked up the fallen documents, a barely perceptible pause appearing on her face.

She looked up, her gaze quickly shifting between Karl and Haruko, finally settling on Karl as if drawn by a magnet.

Looking at Carl, she felt a sudden tightness in her chest, an emotion that left her feeling somewhat lost, so she could only mask it with work.

"Okay, okay!" She deliberately raised her voice, clutching a document tightly to her chest. "Karl, you've rested long enough, haven't you?"

As she spoke, she pulled out the list that, according to rank, was at most her responsibility:
"It's time to get down to business!"

(End of this chapter)