Chapter 229 – Personnel in Position

"Yo, Mr. Kenichiro."

"Today's an important day, Karl."

"Hello, Mr. Kenichiro. Your bodyguard, Karl, has arrived."

"No need to be so formal."

Kenichiro gave Karl a sidelong glance. The kid had been grinning nonstop ever since he walked in, and he couldn't tell what was so amusing.

"You'll be acting as my bodyguard today. My seat will be close to Miss Haruko's. Do you understand what that implies?"

"I do."

Karl nodded.

"If there's any danger, I'll abandon you immediately."

"Good. As long as you understand."

Kenichiro's cybernetic eye flickered slightly, then he gestured toward a group in the distance.

"See that guy chatting over there?"

"Which one do you mean, Mr. Kenichiro?"

Karl followed his gaze and spotted a group of young men in Arasaka uniforms talking casually. But he wasn't sure which one Kenichiro meant.

"The one with short black hair and gold-rimmed round glasses."

Karl zeroed in: a smug-looking guy among them, gesturing with his hands and occasionally flashing a contemptuous grin.

"Who's that?"

"Fujioka Kaoru."

"Fujioka Kaoru?"

Karl repeated the name. It didn't ring any bells, and just as he was about to ask more, Kenichiro explained:

"He's with the dovish faction."

Ah—now Karl got it.

"I thought most of the Arasaka younger generation preferred the more aggressive, hawkish approach."

"Sometimes, lineage takes priority. They all understand the seat they're meant to occupy."

After that cryptic note, Kenichiro revealed his real concern.

"He has ambitions."

"Ambitions?"

Karl looked at Fujioka again. He looked to be in his late twenties.

"For who?"

Haruko? That seemed unlikely.

If some Arasaka second-gen even thought about going after Haruko, her father would likely obliterate him before anyone else had the chance.

Haruko's fate was decided only by her mother and Saburo Arasaka himself—nobody else had a say. A mere dove like Fujioka wouldn't even qualify to fantasize.

If not Haruko, then—

"Chiyome."

"Huh?"

Karl blinked.

"What?"

He had to confirm it again:

"He's after who?"

"Chiyome."

Kenichiro's tone turned cold.

"You know she came to Night City against orders and used her credentials to access equipment support here at Arasaka Tower. Fujioka saw her at that time—and fell in love at first sight."

Karl recalled Chiyome's face. Sure, she was beautiful. A classic stunner. But something about this so-called "love" felt fishy.

Karl raised a brow.

"So, have you figured out his real motive?"

"No investigation needed. It's obvious just by looking—he's too young to hide it."

Kenichiro kept his eyes on Fujioka, now stepping into the elevator with his entourage.

"Chiyome's bloodline may be questionable, but she's my disciple—and currently Haruko's bodyguard. So what do you think Fujioka really wants?"

"As a dove, he's trying to align with the Young Chick faction?"

"People without status always harbor foolish ambitions."

"Delusions of grandeur, huh."

Karl nodded. But before he could say anything else, Kenichiro was already walking off.

"Mr. Kenichiro?"

"The meeting's starting soon. We need to get ready."

"Ready for what?"

"Grab your gun."

That told Karl everything he needed to know.

This wasn't going to be a simple boardroom discussion.

Arasaka Tower stood 2,034 feet (620 meters) tall, with 140 floors. The topmost—Floor 140—was the private domain of Night City's Arasaka Chief Executive, Michiko Arasaka. But since Michiko spent most of her time traveling across North America, the floor was rarely used.

Today's high-level meeting would take place seven floors below the top—on Floor 133.

Inside the elevator—just Karl and Kenichiro—Karl watched the floor numbers climb and finally asked a question that had been bugging him:

"I remember that the higher your floor in Arasaka Tower, the higher your status—kind of like climbing the ranks. So why aren't the board members meeting on Floor 139, right below the CEO's office? Why 133?"

"You're stepping into information only the highest levels are supposed to know."

Kenichiro replied, but still offered an explanation:

"133 is the highest floor board members are allowed to use. Floors 134 and 135 are reserved for Lord Saburo whenever he visits Night City. They've been remodeled into traditional Japanese residences. Unless Lord Saburo is physically present and personally calls a meeting, no one—even board members—is allowed to enter. Ever."

Karl didn't need to ask what would happen if someone did.

Now it all made sense.

If Saburo himself only occupied 134–135, no one in their right mind would dare hold a meeting above that.

The elevator reached Floor 132—where security personnel were stationed. Beyond this point, the lift was locked. They would have to walk up to the 133rd-floor meeting room from here.

"Usually, board meetings are held in the lower-level atrium. But this one's different."

Just before the doors opened, Kenichiro added that final note.

But Karl had already figured that out the moment he told him to bring a gun.

Different indeed—armed guards attending a board meeting? Something was up.

The elevator doors slid open.

Standing outside was a wall of steel.

Or rather, a man fused with steel and cyberware.

"You're a little late."

The "man" spoke, his crimson eyes locked onto Kenichiro before shifting to Karl.

"But your timing is perfect."

"Let's hope so."

Kenichiro stepped out. Karl followed close behind.

As they passed the man, Karl turned his head slightly and smiled.

"Good morning, Mr. Adam Smasher."

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