Gearbound: Cyberpunk 2077-Chapter 183

"Went smoothly enough."

Leo's expression remained blank, without the slightest hint of relief.

"Save the celebration for after we're out. Cracking champagne at halftime is bad luck."

As if to confirm his words—

T-Bug's panicked voice came through.

"Bad news. Yorinobu Arasaka shook off Hideyoshi Kojima. He and Adam Smasher are headed toward the elevator you're in."

V and Jackie were both taken aback.

Konpeki Plaza had more than one elevator. So why—of all the ones available—did Yorinobu pick theirs?

If they just rode it straight to the ground floor, they would run straight into Yorinobu and Smasher.

Smasher was one thing, but Yorinobu would instantly recognize the case Jackie was holding—the same case meant for the Relic.

That would be the end of it.

No way they could just go down like this.

Leo's mind raced, and soon he had a plan.

His gaze locked onto the floor display. When the elevator passed the 42nd floor—the floor of the Azure Suite T-Bug had picked out earlier—

Leo quickly hit both the "42" and "Open" buttons.

The elevator stopped. The doors slid open.

"Leo, what are you thinking? Are we really going to lug this case back to the room?"

"Yorinobu's waiting for an elevator, right? Let's give it to him. Once he's on his way up, we head down."

Leo stepped out of the elevator. V followed without hesitation, cutting the nearby surveillance feed without needing a word.

Jackie hesitated for a second, then stepped out with the case.

Just as Leo planned.

Once they cleared the elevator, it dropped to the ground floor—then shot up toward the top of the tower.

Leo suddenly remembered something.

"Bug, are you still tapped into the hotel subnet?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I've got a bad feeling. We've already got what we came for. Pull out before any other Arasaka netrunners catch you."

"What about you?"

"We're almost out."

"Alright. Stay sharp. I'm disconnecting now."

Leo glanced toward the Azure Suite.

"Is Flathead still in the surveillance room?"

V nodded. "Should be. Why?"

"We're not wasting it. It's too valuable to be a one-time tool."

A flicker of concern passed across V's face. "If we take it with us, we might trip the alarms. We shouldn't be drawing attention now."

"Then we don't use the front door. V, take over for Jackie. Have Flathead crawl through the vents. Hide out on the first floor. Once we're clear, guide it out of the tower and rendezvous with us outside."

Their eyes lit up.

Of course.

This hotel was massive. Finding a window to crawl out of wouldn't be hard.

Not for Flathead, at least. The courtyard was swarming with guards and cameras—bad news for people, but not for Flathead.

It had optical camouflage. Neither human eyes nor machines would see it.

"Here."

Jackie handed over the control chip for Flathead.

V took it and slotted it into her neural port, beginning remote control of Flathead's exit.

"Dear guests, is there anything I can assist you with?"

A voice came from behind them.

A staff member from the service desk had approached, noticing the three standing outside the elevator without moving.

Konpeki Plaza had service desks on every floor, not just the lobby.

Their motto: "To serve the guest, wherever they are."

"Thanks, but no. Something came up—we're heading back."

As they spoke, the elevator carrying Yorinobu and Smasher had gone up, then returned to the 42nd floor, arriving right in front of them.

"Our elevator's here. We'll be on our way."

The three stepped in.

The doors closed.

Outside, the staff member bowed deeply.

"Please take care. Thank you for staying with us. Konpeki Plaza welcomes your next visit."

The elevator descended, nearing the lobby.

Jackie let out a breath.

"That was close."

V looked just as shaken.

Leo, too, relaxed a little.

They'd thought they'd be trapped in the penthouse by Yorinobu and the unknown guest from the AV that landed on the roof.

But they'd made it out.

Now, it was simple.

Ride this elevator down to the parking garage next to the lobby, hop into the Delamain cab, and disappear.

Even if Yorinobu went to open the safe again, he wouldn't know the Relic was already gone—unless he actually opened the case.

But one question still lingered in Leo's mind.

That AV that had landed on the rooftop...

Who the hell was inside?

---

Top floor of Konpeki Plaza, the Tavernier Suite.

Saburo Arasaka stood with his hands behind his back.

Old, nearly buried in the earth already—yet still exuding an oppressive, unquestionable aura. Even Adam Smasher, whose hands were soaked in blood, stood far off like a scolded schoolboy.

Yorinobu sat slumped on a short stool like a rebellious child caught red-handed.

"Takemura. Leave us."

Goro Takemura turned from scanning the room. "Saburo-sama, I haven't finished the sweep."

"No need. This is my son's suite."

Takemura glanced at Adam Smasher, wariness in his eyes. "Should I retrieve the item now?"

Adam Smasher.

A notorious Night City thug.

Arasaka gave him a second life.

Takemura despised him. In his eyes, mercs like Smasher, driven by money and status, were always one step from betrayal.

Still—

Even he had to admit—facing Smasher, he'd have no better than even odds.

"Leave it to me. You can go."

Takemura gave a deep bow and walked toward the elevator.

It didn't open.

In use.

Helpless, Takemura turned and headed back to the rooftop helipad.

Saburo hadn't said a word—but if even his most loyal bodyguard had to step away, Smasher knew he was no exception.

Smasher knew his place.

Everything he had came from Arasaka.

Without them, he was just rotten meat, long since decomposed.

He was strong—but Arasaka had made him that way. They could take it away just as easily.

So he followed Takemura without a word.

Once the two were gone, Saburo finally exhaled.

"When will you grow up?"

Yorinobu's eyes twitched. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Why can't you be more like Kei? Become someone like him?"

Kei Arasaka.

Saburo's eldest son. Yorinobu's brother.

The perfect heir. Loyal, competent—everything Saburo ever wanted.

But Saburo's pride had died in the Fourth Corporate War.

"Like him?" Yorinobu shot to his feet, as if burned.

"Do you think I've grown old and forgotten what he did to me?"

He trembled with fury, face flushed—so different from the dejected man he was moments before.