The Corpo Dog Appears

"Jackie, come over and have a drink with us."

Jackie Welles had just walked into the Afterlife bar when the Valentinos gang member, who had been clamoring to Mrs. Welles about wanting to have a drink with Jackie, immediately stood up, reaching out to beckon Jackie over to join them.

Before Jackie could say anything, Mrs. Welles, who was carrying a tray, had already stopped them, "Jackie, you're just in time. Come help me, take these things over to those two customers over there."

"Got it, Mom."

Having been roped into labor as soon as he got home, Jackie Welles could only express his apologies to his friends who had invited him for a drink with a look. He steadily took the tray from his mother's hand and walked towards Karl and Oliver, placing the dishes in front of them and then sitting down next to them.

"What's your name, mano (brother)?"

Jackie Welles himself had truly appeared before them, but for Karl, who had already met Viktor before, well, it was still pretty ordinary.

"Karl."

Karl picked up his glass of Sweet Tea and took a sip, "You can call me KK too."

This Sweet Tea, doesn't it just taste like lemon iced tea?

"Oliver."

Oliver also picked up his bottled ice beer and gestured to Jackie, "Your name is Jackie, right? I heard it just now. Let's have a drink together, I don't mind getting to know new friends."

"That's perfect."

Originally, Jackie was just a little worried about his mother's bar after seeing the unfamiliar mercenaries and wanted to test them out. But he quickly realized that these two weren't the dangerous types he had imagined, and immediately accepted Oliver's invitation.

He got up and ran to the bar, grabbing a bottle of beer just like Oliver's after being nagged by his mom. Jackie even cut a plate of Spanish ham slices (ingredients unknown) and brought it over. On the way, he didn't forget to apologize to the Valentinos gang friends who had invited him earlier, "I might have some things to do later today, so I won't drink with you guys. I'll hang out with my new friends here."

"Then you must come next time."

"Of course!"

Jackie, with a face full of smiles, put down the Spanish ham slices, sat down, and took a big gulp of beer.

After drinking, Jackie turned to the two again, "Have some ham, you two friends are mercenaries, right?"

"A team that was just formed yesterday, we haven't even received a single mission yet."

Karl drank his 'lemon iced tea' and stuffed another french fry into his mouth, discovering that the fries were crispy and delicious, "We heard that we might be able to find work at the Afterlife bar, so we came early in the morning."

"A team that was just formed yesterday?"

Jackie's eyes flashed with surprise when he heard Karl's words, "Looking at your gear, it doesn't seem like it. Is there someone guiding you behind the scenes?"

Mercenaries who have just entered the industry often don't understand the importance of weapons and armor. Don't be fooled by the fact that the Afterlife bar is full of mercenaries who don't even have a Fixer. Before they realize the importance of bulletproof vests or subdermal armor, they don't know how many times they've walked between life and death, or how many teammates have died. They only see the glorious scenes of those legends on the streets, and have the single thought of becoming mercenaries, but there are plenty of reckless fools who aren't prepared for anything.

"We got some help from a Ripperdoc named Viktor, he's really a good guy."

Facing Jackie, who had a smiling, honest, and trustworthy demeanor, completely lacking the fierce look he had when he first came in, Oliver didn't think much and blurted out something that wasn't that important.

But Karl, who was next to him, noticed that beneath Jackie's seemingly burly and reckless exterior, there was an extremely meticulous mind. After just a few words, Oliver had been tricked into revealing information.

But this little thing didn't really matter, so Karl stuffed a few more fries into his mouth.

These things were indeed delicious, but the Afterlife bar didn't have any accompanying salt and pepper or ketchup, not even mayonnaise.

"Viktor?"

Hearing this familiar name, Jackie immediately realized that the Viktor Oliver was talking about was likely the Viktor he knew.

"Is it the Viktor from Watson District?"

"Yeah, do you know him too?"

"Of course, brother, we're old acquaintances."

The smile on Jackie's face became even brighter, and he dropped his last bit of suspicion towards Oliver and Karl. People who could be actively helped by old Vik couldn't be bad people. Now it seemed like he was really going to have two more friends.

After Karl also joined the conversation, the group chatted about topics related to old Vik for a while. Then Jackie started talking about his own situation, "I'm like you guys now, a mercenary who hasn't been in the industry for long. I've taken a few missions, but they're all small stuff.

As for Fixers, I know one, but I feel like my level isn't high enough yet, and I don't want to bother them yet. I'm thinking of improving myself first, so that I can get missions from other Fixers based on my strength rather than my connections."

"You have ambition, Jackie. Unlike me, I always rely on my dad and older sister. If it weren't for Karl, I wouldn't have thought of how to make it on my own."

Oliver admired Jackie, a guy who had already done a few missions and had a Fixer connection but didn't use it. But he glanced over and noticed that Karl was chatting while quickly finishing the fries.

Jackie had already noticed the almost empty plate in front of Karl, and said with a hint of pride, "Karl, how are the fries? My mom fries them, I've been eating them with corn chips since I was a kid and I'm still not tired of them."

"They do taste good, but I feel like they'd be even better with some ketchup."

"That's right, I think so too, but my mom has always been unwilling, she just likes the original flavor." Jackie felt that he and Karl were too compatible in this regard, his tone a little excited, wishing he could drag Karl to give his mom some advice right now. But before he could do so, new customers walked into the Afterlife bar.

"Suits and ties, Corpo Dogs."

Oliver said in a low voice, and just like he said, the person who walked into the Afterlife bar with a frown was a female corporate employee with exquisite clothes, makeup, and a pretty face, but her arrogant expression ruined her appearance.

"Keep your voice down, or we'll get bitten by the dog."

Jackie also lowered his voice, a mocking smile on his face.

Not many people have a good impression of Corpo Dogs, who work for big companies, look down on ordinary people, but kneel faster than anyone else when facing their superiors.

"She's looking over here."

While Jackie and Oliver were talking in low voices, Karl's calm voice immediately made them look up, and then the two watched as the Corpo Dog walked towards them with a clatter of high heels.

She heard us? What kind of cybernetic ears are that sensitive?