Chapter 192 – The Crew
📢 [Net Alert – Incoming Transmission]
We've jacked into the feed: https://x.com/SrMagnusBookGot beef with the story? Lines making your optics bleed? Wanna flatline our ego in real time? Drop your hottest data-spit right there.
No need to be a corpo gold-tier on Patreon to roast us. Even broke-ass streetrats can vent for free on X.
See you in the grid, chooms.
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🟦💿 TOP 30 POWER STONE LEGENDS 💿🟦🦾 CYBERPUNK: 2077 COMM-LINE TRANSMISSION 🦾>> SYSTEM STATUS: POWER CORE ONLINE>> SOURCE: USER BACKBONE NETWORK>> SIGNAL BOOST DETECTED – 30 TOP OPERATIVES IDENTIFIED>> INITIATING TRIBUTE...
💥 In the neon-soaked alleys of Night City, only the toughest stand out. These 30 cyber-souls didn't just survive — they charged the grid with raw energy. Because of them, this story keeps pulsing, page after page.
🔌 TOP 30 POWER STONE OPERATIVES 🔌⚡ DevilsArray⚡ DaoistahH8hp⚡ Indarius⚡ lomp⚡ INDRA32⚡ Roach_mobile⚡ SaintWeetard⚡ Drwall⚡ Demiurge_Ohara⚡ Cryotivity⚡ Alex_IK⚡ Koo_Znack⚡ KnuckledBehemoth⚡ AshGraveborn⚡ Demitri_9896⚡ Osiris_Dawns⚡ Derpy_Bird⚡ SaidElMane⚡ Renegade_Lemur⚡ Overshotfir979⚡ aayojibear⚡ Phavalve⚡ Descentofpotential⚡ leokratos⚡ Ain388⚡ Chirag_Mangla⚡ Edermask221⚡ Datboi9968⚡ Burning_Toast
🛠️ These legends aren't just names on a list — they're the chrome under the skin, the data behind the blade, the ones who power this ride through the underbelly of the future.
📡 So if you're jacked in and reading this... know that you're running on the pulse they provided.
From the Afterlife to Watson, from Pacifica to Arasaka Tower — your support echoes through every neon-lit street.
See you in the next chapter, chooms.📍 Transmission End 📍
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"Karl, got a minute to talk?"
Just after transporting the exosuit to a warehouse he'd rented in Watson for 500 eddies a month, Karl got a call from Rogue.
"Rogue?"
Karl raised an eyebrow. "You got a job? Small one? Big one?"
"No, not yet. I don't have anything worthy of someone like you… yet."
Rogue continued, "What I mean is—you hit the jackpot."
"Jackpot?"
Karl instantly caught on and glanced back at the warehouse behind him.
"No wonder you're the top fixer. I just dropped it off, and you're already calling."
"In Night City, there's not much that gets past me."
Rogue admitted it without hesitation, her tone cool and confident. "That gear's gonna be tricky for you to move, right? Name your price—I'm ready to take it off your hands."
"You sure we're not planning to use it ourselves?"
"A Militech-tagged beast that rumbles like thunder and lets half the city know when you're walking around? You really plan to use that?"
There was a hint of laughter in Rogue's voice. "Don't play coy, KK. I've seen hundreds like you. Young mercs, trying to bluff their way into a better deal. That's fine. I'll offer 160,000 eddies."
Officially, this model sold for 180,000 eddies. Rogue offering 160K was seriously generous. Used gear—especially military hardware—was notoriously hard to move. Even if it was basically new, most buyers would start by slashing the price in half. Rogue's offer was damn close to full retail.
Honestly, the price showed real respect. Even Oliver and Jack, reading the texts Karl was typing through the comms, lit up at the numbers.
"Hold on, I'll check with my crew."
Karl said it like it was just protocol, but deep down, he already wanted to make the deal.
That price was just too good to turn down.
"40,000 eddies each. Sounds good to me."
That was T-BUG's take. Jack and Oliver didn't even respond with words—they just nodded.
It had exceeded all expectations. They'd figured a second-hand sale would net them around 80K or 90K max. Maybe 100K if they got lucky. 160,000 eddies? That was unheard of.
"Looks like we won't be keeping it after all."
Karl said it for formality's sake. After getting unanimous agreement from the team, he answered Rogue. "Send someone over to pick it up. You need the warehouse code?"
"Your warehouse—and the ones next to it—they're all mine."
Figures.
No wonder she called so fast.
Ping.
160,000 eddies transferred instantly.
Rogue didn't waste a second, and Karl had to respect that kind of decisiveness.
Say what you want—when it comes to fixers, Rogue was unmatched. She dropped 160K like it was pocket change.
After splitting the cash with the team and ending the short call with Rogue, Karl looked one last time at the exosuit that no longer belonged to them and shook his head.
"A hot potato, but a tasty one. Sold."
For mercs like them, an exosuit like this wasn't practical in the city. Selling it had been the best move.
"When we've got people out in the Badlands, maybe we can stash this kind of stuff out there," Oliver mused, clearly still attached. "Looks badass, yeah, but in the city? Use that thing once and everyone knows."
"Forget it. It's handled now."
Jack glanced up at the sky. "It's getting late. What do you say—head home and get some rest?"
Hearing them talk about heading back, Karl suddenly remembered something and called out to his teammate, "T-BUG."
"What's up?"
"Let's get together. Didn't we say it was time for the team to meet up in real life too? And while you're at it, take the dog back for a tune-up. How about meeting at Oliver's place? You know the address, right?"
"Today?"
T-BUG's voice paused a moment. "Alright, I'll head over now. You guys think you can make it in thirty minutes?"
"Probably need fifty."
Oliver seemed pretty excited about seeing everyone but had his own priorities when it came to time. "We'll pick up some food on the way—cheaper than ordering takeout. Can you drink?"
"Not really, but I can handle a bit."
"Cool. I'll get just enough. If you get drunk, you can crash in Karl's room upstairs. The three of us guys will bunk in mine—no need for you to go home late."
"Huh?"
T-BUG sounded surprised. "What's with the gentleman routine, Oliver? Doesn't sound like you."
"Well, we're all friends now. I'm not a total blockhead—I know how to be respectful when it counts."
"Fair enough."
Karl nodded from the side. "Don't worry, T-BUG. My room's cleaned by one of those robot maids—100 eddies a month tier. Totally tidy. If you can't sleep, feel free to check out the braindances. On the second row of my shelf, there's one called Counting Sheep to Sleep—really puts you out. You can use that if you need."
"Alright then. Fifty minutes it is. See you guys at Oliver's. And don't forget to hand over Qiuqiu when I arrive."
"You mean Bella?!"
"No way, it's clearly Sir Woofwoof!"
Unbelievable.
Listening to them argue again over the dog's name, Karl could only sigh as Oliver's brief moment of gentlemanly composure got completely eaten by the dog—metaphorically.
They'd been fighting about this for days and still hadn't settled on a name?
Honestly, it's a robot dog—you just connect to it and go. The name doesn't even matter. Just mash them all together: Qiuqiu-Bella-Sir Woofwoof. That should keep everyone happy.
This was all Fujiwara Ryōchō's fault anyway. Why'd he only buy one cyberdog? If he'd gotten three, they wouldn't be fighting at all.
The sound of their endless bickering in the comms buzzed in Karl's ears as he sat in the back seat, sighing again and again.
Team harmony really was important—so important that they'd all risk their lives to cover each other, yet argue all day over what to name a dog.
Just four people, and this much noise. He couldn't even imagine how someone like Maine managed a whole team.
He still had a lot to learn.
Thinking of his teammates, Karl glanced at a darkened contact in the comms list—V's number. Either out of range or offline.
After a moment of thought, Karl left him a message.
"How's the family life treating you these days? If things aren't going great, you're always welcome in Night City. As a friend, I'd be happy to have you here."
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.
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