Can Be Killed at Any Time

After the Maelstrom vehicle carrying Karl and his employer, Blanca, entered the northern Industrial Park of Watson District, it didn't head to a factory as Karl had imagined. Instead, it twisted and turned before finally stopping in front of an apartment building.

Back when Watson District was still slated to become another city center, the wealthy had built many apartments on the edge of the northern Industrial Park, as if to separate themselves from the areas where their lower-level employees lived.

But as Watson District declined, fewer and fewer wealthy people lived there. After the rise of the Maelstrom, to avoid being constantly visited by Maelstrom members demanding 'protection fees,' they all moved out. Now, the apartments in the northern Industrial Park of Watson District are inhabited only by factory workers enjoying the 'rich people's' isolated life.

As information about Watson District flashed through his mind, Karl admired the location chosen by the other party for the conversation with his employer.

Compared to the gloomy, steel-filled factories that brought back unpleasant memories, he clearly preferred this kind of apartment building. Even if it was just for the location of the negotiation, looking out at the sunlight would improve his mood.

Although the sunlight in Night City wasn't that bright due to pollution-induced smog.

After the vehicle stopped in front of the apartment building, the first thing Karl saw were two Maelstrom members standing in front of the building, each holding a well-maintained Saratoga submachine gun.

Militech M 221 Saratoga: Originally designed as a weapon for corporate security, this submachine gun's signature clicking sound is clearly favored by gang members. Of course, it can't be denied that this is due to its relatively low cost and easy modification. In short, if you encounter this gun on the street, which is smaller and cuter than other submachine guns, it's recommended that you stay away from the person wielding it, because the Saratoga is not a Lexington; it's not to be trifled with.

Why does recalling information come with gun discrimination attacks? They're both Militech guns. Lexington and Saratoga were once named after sister aircraft carriers. In 2075, they're still being compared.

As a half-'Lexington' enthusiast, Karl had replaced his Lexington and kept it at home, but half of his heart still belonged to his first gun. Nevertheless, upon seeing the Saratoga submachine guns, his hand subtly reached for the Kenshin Pistol at his waist.

If these Maelstrom lunatics didn't care about their own people and started spraying bullets inside, he wouldn't be able to protect his employer.

Although the possibility was small, as a bodyguard, he had to pay attention to this aspect.

The Maelstrom wasn't so insane as to bring people over for business and then kill them along with their own men. After the vehicle stopped, the two Maelstrom members with the Saratoga submachine guns moved aside from in front of the apartment building, lowering their weapons to the outside in a gesture of welcome.

"It's time to get out."

His employer, Blanca, said just that, opened the car door, and stepped out. Karl glanced at the silent driver in the front seat, confirmed that he wasn't going to say anything, and got out of the car as well. However, as he got out, he heard a sound.

It was the sound of a gun safety being switched off.

And the sound came from the driver's seat.

'Looks like they're ready to block the road for this negotiation.'

With a calm expression, he got out of the car, not showing any surprise. Karl slowly walked to his employer's side, following her into the four-story apartment building, welcomed by the gazes of the two Maelstrom members.

After they had completely entered the apartment building, one of the two Maelstrom members guarding the door approached the driver, holding his Saratoga submachine gun.

"Did they do anything special along the way?"

"No, the Corpo Dog seemed a little nervous the whole way. My cybernetic eye scan showed that her adrenaline was elevated, but that should just be nervousness about the upcoming negotiations, not an intention to take action and break the contract."

"What about the bodyguard who came with her? Isn't that the kid who took down Devil and wiped out one of our Maelstrom strongholds?"

"That kid..."

When he mentioned him, the red light of the Maelstrom member's cybernetic eye, who held a high position in the gang but worked as a driver, flickered. Then, in a tone of uncertainty and disbelief, he said, "He wasn't nervous at all from beginning to end, even knowing that he was being taken to our territory. Compared to those no-name mercenaries who get so nervous they're about to piss their pants as soon as they get in the car, he has some guts, but..."

"But what?"

The Maelstrom member guarding the door didn't understand why his friend's words were so hesitant, unlike his usual self.

"I have a feeling that the reason he doesn't care is because he can easily kill me if he wants to. The reason he's not afraid is because my life has always been in his hands. Can you believe it? I didn't even dare to run a red light while driving here, just because he was sitting behind me. I didn't even dare to breathe too loudly, for fear that he would kill me if he was in a bad mood. I waited until he left before daring to take the gun off safety."

Responding, the Maelstrom member, feeling a sense of relief, couldn't help but raise his voice, and a look of panic gradually appeared on his face. He reached out and touched his back, only to find that his back was covered in cold sweat.

"You're exaggerating too much..."

The Maelstrom member guarding the door was saying, but noticed that the expression on his friend's face wasn't lying. His words couldn't help but stall, and then, as if to confirm, he opened his mouth again and said, "Is it really that exaggerated?"

"It might be more exaggerated than I said. In my feeling, although this guy doesn't have any Subdermal Armor that can withstand bullets, and he's only wearing ordinary Bulletproof vest, I think he can kill all of us alone if he wants to, without even getting a scratch."

"Without even getting a scratch..."

The Maelstrom member guarding the door looked at the apartment building that Karl had already entered behind him, and said a little uncertainly, "There are ten of us Maelstrom members standing in the negotiation room inside today, with ten guns pointed at him. He can't kill them all in one breath, can he?"

Saying so, he didn't dare to be sure.

Because he remembered that when the other party glanced at him as he passed by, he had the same strange feeling of fear as his friend.