Gearbound: Cyberpunk 2077-Chapter 177

Not only was Dexter there.

Even T-BUG, the elusive netrunner who never showed her face, had made an appearance.

After some brief pleasantries, Dexter finally got around to revealing the plan he had cooked up.

"First, you'll head to Konpeki Plaza, stroll right in under false identities."

"Then, T and the Flathead will help you breach the hotel's subnet."

"And finally—the most important part—you'll sneak into Yorinobu Arasaka's penthouse suite and swipe the Relic without leaving a trace."

"Oh, and credit where it's due—thanks to Mr. Leo for securing the braindance from Ms. Parker. Without it, we wouldn't have known what was in that suite."

Dexter finished, and T-BUG followed up.

"Motion-activated cameras, the latest security firmware, auto-turrets, and a brand-new model of scanner... The whole room's defense grid is hooked into the hotel subnet."

"We can't shut it down from the outside, but if you get the Flathead into the hotel and let it crawl through the ventilation ducts, it can locate the Arasaka netrunner monitoring Konpeki 24/7. Take them out, and the penthouse security system goes offline."

Jackie gave a low whistle.

Leo nodded slightly.

Turns out Dexter wasn't pocketing all that money for nothing. At least so far, this plan he and T-BUG had cooked up seemed airtight.

If everything went smoothly, they might actually pull it off—grab the Relic without making any noise.

T-BUG's tone grew serious. "One thing I have to emphasize—Konpeki Plaza might not be a warzone, but it's close enough. For your own safety, you've got to be careful. Avoid killing anyone if you can help it."

"We'll try," Leo replied. "That's the best I can promise."

No plan is immune to chaos.

If things really went sideways, they couldn't just take hits without striking back.

Leo paused, then added, "Dexter, about the fake identities—can you be more specific?"

Dexter began explaining slowly.

"Jackie here is going by Ramón Victorino. Miss V is Hanna Conwell. And you, Mr. Leo—your alias is Luke Weili."

"You're all representing Militech, here to negotiate with Arasaka's head of security, Takigawa Hajime. That gives you the perfect cover to bring the Flathead in."

Then V suddenly asked, "Wait, what about Adam Smasher? What if he's in the penthouse when we get there?"

All three had seen Evelyn's braindance. They knew that the legendary merc from decades past had become Arasaka's loyal enforcer.

He was now serving the corporation with absolute devotion.

T-BUG spread her hands. "I looked into Smasher's record. After he joined Arasaka, his entire history went dark. The corp's kept everything about him locked down."

"But it's fine. If he's in Night City, it's likely as Yorinobu's personal bodyguard. He should only be around when Yorinobu is."

"So if you time it right and enter while Yorinobu's out of the room, you'll be fine."

Leo emphasized the word. "Should?"

"The Flathead—remember?" T-BUG said, exasperated. "Once it's in the Konpeki surveillance room, I'll have full visibility. That includes the penthouse, Yorinobu Arasaka, and Adam Smasher's biometric signals."

"Leo, I know you've got doubts, but trust me, alright?"

"Alright."

"As long as you don't make a mess, everything will go smooth."

Dexter gave them a final look. "Any more questions?"

Honestly, the plan Dexter and T-BUG had put together was pretty damn solid.

They'd accounted for just about everything they could.

Leo had nothing more to add. freewebnøvel.coɱ

V and Jackie both shook their heads.

"Good. Before you go, though, I've got a question for you, Mr. Leo... What do you think of Evelyn Parker?"

The moment Dexter said it, V and Jackie visibly tensed.

Leo had already told them that Evelyn was planning to cut Dexter out of the job.

Now Dexter was suddenly bringing her up—had he found out?

The two kept their mouths shut and looked toward Leo.

Leo, however, stayed calm and collected.

"She's young, but ambitious. Just because she's been to Konpeki a few times, she thinks she's ready to go after the Arasaka prince's toys."

Dexter raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "That all?"

Leo didn't hesitate. "That's all."

"That's all?"

Dexter didn't seem satisfied with the brief answer.

Leo met his gaze without flinching.

"Dexter, if you've got something to say, say it. No need to beat around the bush."

"Hahaha, don't be mad, Mr. Leo. Just making conversation."

Dexter didn't actually know anything. He was simply sniffing out tension, acting on his instincts as a middleman.

Normally, clients didn't mingle much with the mercs they hired. But Evelyn—she not only knew Leo, she'd trusted him with a critical piece of intel: the penthouse braindance.

She hadn't sent it to Dexter directly.

She'd given it to Leo, who had then passed it on. That was enough to raise some suspicion.

But since Leo had denied it, Dexter decided to let it go for now and focus on the mission.

...

Since they were heading into Konpeki Plaza, a high-end hotel, they couldn't exactly show up dressed like mercs. And Dexter, naturally, had already taken care of that.

Back when he was putting the plan together, he'd commissioned three custom-tailored suits for them from a boutique called Jingūji downtown.

They say clothes make the man, and that held true here.

Once they'd changed into the sleek suits, even Jackie's rough street vibe got toned down. He still didn't look like a cubicle jockey, but maybe a high-level field agent or executive bodyguard.

As for V—dressed to kill, she looked every bit the part of a counterintelligence director.

Looking sharp and fully equipped, the three of them picked up the case with the Flathead and left the Afterlife. A Delamain cab waited for them outside, ready to take them to Konpeki Plaza.

...

At the same time.

High above the Pacific Ocean. An elite flight formation soared across the sky.

Multiple fighter jets from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force escorted a central passenger aircraft—its destination: Night City.

On board the large jet, aside from crew and security, only one person sat face-to-face with Saburo Arasaka in first class: Goro Takemura.

Saburo had remained silent the entire flight.

The mood in the cabin was heavy, tense.

Security personnel kept their distance from first class.

Even the crew who had to enter to serve them moved with the utmost caution, terrified of doing anything wrong. Fortunately, so far, Saburo Arasaka hadn't said a word of complaint.

They just had to make it to Night City, and they'd be in the clear.

Staring out at the unchanging sky, Saburo finally broke the silence with his first words of the trip. "Takemura."

"Yes, Master Saburo!" Goro Takemura replied immediately, sitting up straight.

"If you had a son like Yorinobu, what would you do?"

"Use the sword in the mother's hand to cut the wanderer's shadow. When a father sees a son's disloyalty, he draws the blade."

That's what Goro Takemura thought—but only in his head.

He wouldn't, couldn't, say that out loud. Still, if his own son ever dared betray the Arasaka name, he wouldn't hesitate to make an example of him.

Goro had grown up in the slums of Chiba. Arasaka had given him a chance to climb—given him purpose and power. Goro Takemura had risen quickly through the ranks thanks to Saburo Arasaka's keen eye. Out of countless candidates, he had chosen Goro to serve at his side.

And Goro's loyalty was absolute.

When Saburo said east, Goro didn't look west.

"When I was young, I served as a naval pilot. By the age of 23, I was already a lieutenant and an ace. But back then... I was too young. Too naive."

"I will never forget 1942. During a routine bombing run over Guadalcanal, my fighter was nearly shot down. I was badly wounded but managed to return to base."

"After filing my report, I blacked out. They sent me back to Tokyo. At the hospital there, I learned I'd never fly again."

"My injuries left me blind in one eye. My right arm was nearly destroyed. The pain was unbearable. At that time, I would've preferred dying in the skies over Guadalcanal to living as a cripple."

Saburo was known for being stoic and severe.

He gave off an air of cold, calculating control. Few ever truly knew what was going through his mind. That unpredictability made him all the more intimidating.

But now, in the wake of repeated betrayal by his own son, he seemed lost in the past.

Goro said nothing, simply listening in silence.

Saburo's life story was corporate legend—every Arasaka employee knew it by heart. It played in the hallways, lobbies, and elevators of the company headquarters. For someone like Takemura, who worshipped him, those stories were practically scripture.

"I once considered seppuku. I was ready to take my life in a cherry blossom grove outside the hospital. But just as I was about to drive the blade in... I had a revelation. I saw the truth of the world."

"Before that vision could fade, I pulled the blade from my gut and returned to my family."

"I dove into political theory, economics, and history. I swore to become my father's successor—and to one day lead Arasaka to global supremacy."

Goro quickly bowed his head. "Master Saburo, you have already done so."

Saburo Arasaka had taken control of the company after his father's death in 1960. Under his leadership, Arasaka had grown far beyond a manufacturing firm—into a power that touched every corner of the world.