Chapter 140: Dumb Goose

"Time to split the money, time to split the money!"

By the time the takeout arrived, Karl had already completed his deal with Blanca. She was quite interested in the Arasaka data stored in the chip and bought it from Karl for 30,000 eddies. This brought their total earnings from the job to 70,000 eddies.

After informing Jack and Oliver about the deal, Karl transferred their shares—23,000 eddies each. The extra 1,000 eddies? Same as always, it would go toward the takeout bill.

"Compared to the 2,000 eddies we got from working for Faraday, Wagako's job netted us 23,000 each. That's a ridiculous difference," Oliver muttered, checking his bank balance. "Good thing we decided not to take any more jobs from that cheapskate."

"Technically, if you subtract the extra from the trade, our actual commission was 13,000 eddies per person," Karl noted.

And taking out Tiger Claws wasn't the same as dealing with Scavs.

That said, even if Faraday had sent them after Tiger Claws instead, Karl doubted the payout would've been much better. Given how stingy he had been in both of their previous contracts, it wasn't hard to imagine.

"I have no idea how Maine puts up with him," Jack said, shaking his head as he bit into a slice of pizza. "That kind of fixer isn't even worth working with."

"No rep means no gigs. Sometimes you just have to suck it up," Karl replied, chewing on his sausage-and-potato pizza. But as he kept eating, something felt off—

"It still tastes like soggy cardboard, same as before. But for some reason, today it's actually tolerable. This place isn't bad. Oliver, make a note of it—we might order from here again."

"Relax, young master, I never forget a good spot in Night City," Oliver said, tapping his temple with a finger. "All logged in here."

"Wouldn't hurt to go all in for a day," Karl mused before turning to Jack.

"Speaking of food, hey, Jack."

"Hmm?"

Jack looked over, confused, mid-bite. He saw Karl setting down his pizza, looking serious.

"You remember the promise we made?"

For a moment, Jack drew a blank.

"Promise? What promise?"

Oliver, on the other hand, caught on instantly. He walked over, placed both hands on Jack's shoulders, and gave him a shake.

"Yeah, remember? We agreed that after we wrapped up this cyberware job…"

Oliver deliberately slowed his speech, waiting for Jack to recall on his own. And sure enough, as soon as Jack heard that, something clicked.

"Oh! You mean how I said that after this gig, we'd all hang out at my place? I'd make nachos and steamed pork?"

"That's not the important part."

It was rare to hear those words from Karl, someone who took food very seriously. But in this case, it was true. Wiping his hands on the napkin that came with the pizza, Karl walked over and, along with Oliver, started shaking Jack back and forth like a human rocking chair.

"The important part is something else entirely. Don't tell me you forgot—"

Karl leaned in.

"You promised you'd invite someone."

"And besides Vik, you also have to invite…"

Jack gulped.

"…Misty."

Under Oliver and Karl's shaking, Jack finally said his girlfriend's name.

As soon as the words left his mouth, Oliver and Karl stopped rocking him. But Jack's face showed an awkward expression that completely clashed with his usual demeanor.

"Can't we wait a bit? Didn't we say we'd have a gathering on Christmas too? It's December 5th today—Christmas is the 25th. It's not that far off, right?"

"Jack Wells… are you the kind of man who doesn't keep his promises?"

Oliver's words were clearly meant to provoke him, and Jack fell silent.

His lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but he hesitated halfway through, closing his mouth again. His expression shifted several times—nervousness, unease—until finally, it settled into determination.

"Alright, then tonight! We'll do it at my place, and I'll invite Vik and Misty too!"

"That's what we wanted to hear!"

Karl wasted no time, immediately dialing Vik on his phone.

"I'll call Vik."

"I'll let Mama Wells know."

Oliver also started making a call, leaving just one person for Jack to contact.

"Hey, Vik, got time tonight? We're planning—"

"Mama Wells, how's your day going? We're planning—"

Watching Karl and Oliver already making their calls, Jack sighed but didn't hesitate.

Beep… beep…

Click.

"Jack?"

A familiar soft voice came from the other end. Strangely, Jack found himself feeling nervous again. His usually loud and boastful heart pounded hard a few times before he finally, in a quiet voice, called out his girlfriend's name.

"Misty."

"What's up?"

Misty seemed to pick up on the nervousness still lingering in Jack's voice. She chuckled as she spoke. "You must have some kind of surprise for me, right? I just did a reading, and guess what? It told me that harmony and happiness await you in the near future. I was just about to tell you that when you called."

Hearing his girlfriend's voice, Jack wasn't sure why, but all the nervousness in his heart melted away. He found himself smiling.

"Guess I can't keep anything from you, Misty."

"Of course not! I'm the greatest fortune teller in Night City!"

Misty's proud words made Jack laugh, and then he finally spoke.

"I want to have dinner with you tonight. Karl, Oliver, and Vik will all be there."

"That sounds great! I… I'm free tonight. Are you coming to pick me up?"

"Of course. Oh, right, Misty—"

"Hm?"

"Dinner's at my place tonight."

"…"

At Jack's words, Misty—who was usually so cheerful and easygoing—fell into rare silence.

A few seconds passed.

Karl and Oliver, having just finished their own calls, were staring at Jack with nervous anticipation.

Finally, he heard Misty's voice again.

"Can I…?"

It was a simple question, but Jack's smile grew even brighter.

"Of course!"

Seeing Jack's face light up, hearing the firm way he spoke, Karl and Oliver turned to look at each other.

"Today's a good day."

"Yeah, it really is."

They both smiled, exchanging words like two dumb geese.

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