Cyberpunk: 2075

"Maki Takemura...."

Karl said this name, but it felt very strange. He seemed to have never seen anyone with such a surname among the participants of the Arasaka Tower meeting in Night City:

"I've never heard of that last name."

"It's just a small family."

Mashi chuckled and said: "This is just a small family that was able to set foot in Arasaka in the previous generation because its relatives were appreciated. Compared with the established families in Arasaka, it is really nothing."

"Relatives are appreciated by a small family in Arasaka... Then your family's situation should be quite respected."

A small family that is usually appreciated does not allow even the younger members of the family to drive the Herrera GTS at will. What's more, the fact that Mashi can appear in this four-story banquet hall represents a status.

In this banquet hall, the level of the participants is not low.

The two chatted for a while, and Mashi took a small plate with four sweet shrimps from the hand of a passing waiter.

"Boiled sweet shrimp, do you want some?"

Mahi held the plate with one hand and gestured to Karl.

"I thought people would prefer eating sweet shrimp raw at this kind of banquet."

"Sashimi? There may be more banquets held in Kyoto, but this is still North America after all."

"Even if it's a banquet in Arasaka Tower?"

"The style of the person in charge may be different."

Mahi said, moving the plate towards Karl: "Do you want me to peel it off and feed it to you?"

"No, that's really eye-catching."

Karl didn't mind if his friends peeled shrimps for him, but the action of slowly peeling the shrimps and then bringing them over would probably attract the attention of the people around him. What do you think of a banquet participant handing shrimps to a security guard in charge? How suspicious.

"You really don't want it?"

....How about you get me something that doesn't need to be shelled, so I can eat it secretly. "

Karl glanced at Maki's hands and complained: "Arasaka's banquet actually requires participants to peel the shrimp shells themselves. I thought it was some basic etiquette to have an elegant banquet and not let participants get their hands dirty."

"This must be that guy's habit."

Seeing that Karl refused to eat, Mahi had no idea of ​​eating. She placed the small plate on a table nearby and said:

"I heard that when he ate shrimps in the army, he ate them with the shells on. It seemed that it was because it could replenish the calcium that the human body lacked. Therefore, according to his preference, shrimp dishes were not served whole. Will shell."

"Is that habit of the army... Arasaka Saburo?"

Saburo Arasaka, the helmsman of the Arasaka Group, is an old man who has lived for 157 years. If it is his preference, then the Arasaka Group must follow it from top to bottom. It is just an old thing that has lived for such a long time, even with its shell. Eat shrimp... ． .

"He is not afraid of stomach bleeding if his stomach is punctured by a shrimp shell."

"That person has a dedicated medical team around him. Not to mention stomach bleeding, even if the entire stomach is damaged, it can be immediately replaced with a biological stomach developed by the Department of Biology. He can eat as he pleases, but I heard Said he often just eats an energy bar to finish his meal."

"Energy bar...is this some kind of memory of the past?"

Probably understand.

The emperor at the top has his own preferences, and the people below have to cooperate.

When Karl was still about to say something, he saw a figure approaching.

Eyes move.

Sakura-colored kimono.

"Greetings from long distance."

When Mashi saw the approaching figure, she lowered her head slightly, placed her hands on her waist and abdomen in front of her, and with the bend of her spine, she saluted the girl walking in front of her: "Miss Haruko."

"Maki."

Addressing Maki directly by name without any superfluous title is a rather intimate form of address, just like the gentle expression Haruko shows to Maki now:

"We haven't seen each other for a long time."

Are the two acquaintances?

Karl, who was on the side, looked at the two people, then looked at the place where Haruko was in the distance, and found that those people had dispersed.

Everyone started chatting in the banquet hall. It seemed that the relevant politeness and swearing of allegiance were over, and it was time for free activities.

These people are quite knowledgeable. They need to show up in front of the leader when necessary, and then leave after leaving an impression before the leader becomes impatient. No wonder they can hold such a position in Arasaka, all of them are very skilled.

Of course, Karl also noticed those people who seemed to be scattered and moving around freely. Their eyes were directed towards this direction intentionally or unintentionally. They seemed to have left to do their own things, but in fact, from the beginning to the end, their hearts were where Haruko was. Never left.

Who Haruko talks to, what she does, and who she says to whom are all very particular. They often look at each other.

One sentence can explain a lot of things.

Moving his eyes away from the particularly active Arasaka executives, Carl's attention returned to the conversation between Maki and Haruko. The conversation between the two was unremarkable. They didn't say anything special, it was just... Chatted for a few words.

Listening to the words, the two seemed to be quite familiar in the past, but they never met again after Mashi came to study at Arasaka Academy in Night City. This was also the first time Haruko met Mashi after coming to Night City. .

Is it a long-awaited meeting between friends? That's about the same as mine.

When Carl thought so, he found that Haruko's eyes turned to him.

Stare~

n

Stare~

? ?

Maki, who found Haruko staring at Carl beside her, thought that Haruko was concerned about the security personnel. Although she didn't know the purpose of Carl's visit today, Maki, who was willing to cover for him, made a puzzled look and looked at Haruko who stopped the conversation:

"Miss Haruko?"

Haruko was attracted by Maki's puzzled wordsl, and retracted her gaze on Carl. Facing Maki, she smiled slightly, and then said:

"Let's go to the side to eat something Maki, I'm a little hungry."

This sentence was exactly what Maki wanted to do, so she gave Carl a look, nodded and followed, and then walked towards Haruko who was on the side.

Maki's eyes and nods seemed to silently tell Carl that she would not let his identity be exposed.

But this... was exposed from the beginning.

It is better to say that the client this time is Haruko. The real reason why Carl hides his identity is to avoid causing panic among others at the banquet.

But it is not easy to say this now... It is impossible for a security guard wearing a helmet to join the conversation between Miss Haruko and her friends.

I have to find a chance to explain it clearly.

Watching Haruko, Maki and Chiyo who followed Haruko walk to another corner, Carl retracted his gaze and scanned the banquet floor, but found something strange.

Where is Mr. Kenichi Shiro?

Where is Mr. Kenichi Shiro who was chatting with people just now?