The Maelstrom vehicle carrying Carl and his employer, Blanca, entered the Industrial Park in northern Watson District. Yet instead of heading into some factory as Carl had expected, it wound through the area before finally turning up in front of an apartment building.
Back when Watson District had still been planned as another City Center, wealthy people had built many apartments along the edge of the northern Industrial Park, as if that could separate them from the areas where lower-level employees lived.
But as Watson District declined, fewer and fewer wealthy people remained in those apartments. After Maelstrom rose to prominence, they all moved away to avoid the gang members who regularly came calling for necessary "protection fees." Now, the people living in the apartments of northern Watson District's Industrial Park, enjoying that "wealthy" isolated lifestyle, were merely factory workers.
Information about Watson District flashed through Carl's mind, and he rather appreciated the location chosen by the other party for their upcoming discussion with his employer.
Compared to factories that were gloomy, reeked of steel, and brought back rather unpleasant memories for Carl, apartment buildings like this were much more to his liking. Leaving everything else aside, being able to look out at broad stretches of sunlight during negotiations would put anyone in a better mood.
Though Night City's sunlight was not particularly brilliant because of the smog caused by pollution.
Once the vehicle stopped before the apartment building, Carl first noticed the two Maelstrom members standing outside. Each held a well-maintained Saratoga Submachine Gun.
Militech M-221 Saratoga: Originally designed as a weapon for corporate security, this submachine gun's distinctive clattering sound was clearly more popular among gang members. Of course, its relatively low cost and ease of modification likely played a part as well. In any case, if you encountered this firearm on the street—a gun that looked smaller and cuter than other submachine guns of its class—it was recommended that you stay away from whoever carried it. The Saratoga was no Lexington. It was not to be trifled with.
Why did recalling information come with firearm discrimination? They were both Militech guns. Back then, Lexington and Saratoga had even been named after sister aircraft carriers. By 2075, people were still comparing them.
As half a "Lexington" enthusiast, Carl had replaced his Lexington and left it at home, but half his heart still belonged to Lexington, his first gun. Even so, upon seeing the Saratoga Submachine Guns, his hand lightly settled over the Kenshin Pistol at his waist.
If these Maelstrom lunatics ignored their own people and started spraying bullets inside, he would not be able to protect his employer.
The possibility was low, but as a bodyguard, he had to keep such things in mind.
Maelstrom was not insane enough to drag people over for business talks just to kill them alongside their own men. Once the vehicle stopped, the two Maelstrom members holding Saratoga Submachine Guns stepped aside from the entrance, lowering their weapons outward in a gesture of welcome.
"Time to get out."
Blanca said only that before opening the door and stepping out. Carl glanced at the silent driver in the front seat. Once he confirmed that the man did not intend to say anything, he got out as well. But as he stepped down, he heard a faint sound.
It was the sound of a gun safety being switched off.
And it came from the driver's seat.
Looks like they were ready to block the way even before negotiations began.
Carl got out with a calm expression, showing no particular surprise. He slowly walked to his employer's side and followed her into the four-story apartment building before them, under the welcoming gazes of the two Maelstrom members.
After they had fully entered the apartment building, one of the two Maelstrom guards approached the driver with a Saratoga Submachine Gun in his arms.
"Did they do anything unusual on the way here?"
"No. That Corpo Dog seemed a little nervous. My optical scan showed her adrenaline levels had risen significantly, but she was probably just nervous about the upcoming negotiations, not planning to break the deal and start something."
"What about the bodyguard who came with her? That kid was the one who took out Devil and wiped out one of our Maelstrom hideouts, right?"
"That kid."
At the mention of him, the red light in the cybernetic eye of the Maelstrom member—a man of no small standing in the gang despite serving as a driver—flickered. Then he spoke in a tone that suggested he was not entirely certain and did not quite believe it himself.
"He was not nervous at all from beginning to end. Even knowing he was being driven into our territory, he stayed calm. Compared to those random mercs who nearly piss themselves the moment they get in the car, he had some guts. But..."
"But?"
The Maelstrom guard did not understand why his friend was hesitating. It was nothing like his usual self.
"I got the feeling that the reason he didn't care was because he could kill me easily whenever he wanted. The reason he wasn't afraid was because my life had been in his hands the entire time. Would you believe it? While driving here, I didn't even dare run a single fucking red light just because he was sitting behind me. I barely even dared to breathe too hard, afraid that one wrong look from him or one bad mood would make him kill me. I only dared to take out my gun and switch off the safety after he left."
As he spoke, the Maelstrom member, who felt as though he had survived a disaster, could not help raising his voice. A delayed look of panic gradually appeared on his face. He reached behind his back and discovered that cold sweat had soaked it through.
"You're exaggerating..."
The Maelstrom guard began to say that, but then noticed that his friend's expression did not look like a lie. His words stalled, and as though seeking confirmation, he spoke again. "Was it really that bad?"
"It might have been worse than I said. From what I felt, he didn't have any Subdermal Armor capable of taking bullets head-on, and he was only wearing an ordinary basic bulletproof vest. But I felt that if he wanted to, he could kill all of us by himself without taking even a scratch."
"Without taking even a scratch."
The Maelstrom guard looked toward the apartment building Carl had entered and said with little confidence, "There are ten of us Maelstrom members in the negotiation room today. Ten guns pointed at him. He can't kill us all in one go, can he?"
Yet even as he said it, he did not sound certain.
Because he remembered that when the other man had glanced at him while passing by, he too had felt the same strange fear as his friend.
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