chapter 113

Dream, Become a Legend

"There's no doubt—you did an excellent job on this trip."

The fixer had his men escort Hiromi Sato away to exact justice for the poor child. After questioning Sato about his reasons for killing the child's father, the fixer stepped forward and gave Jack a big hug.

The fixer, an old man with age spots dotting his face, exuded a calm and kind demeanor. On the streets, no one would ever guess he was the most well-connected fixer in the entire Heywood district.

After hugging Jack, the fixer turned to Karl. "This Slipknot job is wrapped up. As a token of my gratitude, I'd like you to accept a little something extra from me."

Ding.

Karl's account notification blinked: 90,000 euros transferred.

Karl could only marvel at the fixer's generosity. The job's total payment was 60,000 eddies, but the fixer had personally added another 30,000. His generosity was dazzling, leaving Karl with no choice but to admire him.

Compared to Faraday, a mediocre and insufferable fixer, Karl could only admit that he appreciated this man's professional style.

"If you ever need more work in the future, don't hesitate to come to me," the fixer added.

Karl, with his freshly padded account, made sure to reciprocate the kindness. After transferring 30,000 euros each to Oliver and Jack, he checked his balance: 990,000 euros. He was nearly back at the million-mark again.

But with his prosthetic body still in its adaptation period, Karl didn't have many expenses. He had no urgent need for a new vehicle and was content with his current apartment. Food expenses were practically non-existent since pork had recently come in. With no pressing needs, his money remained mostly unused.

Oliver and Jack weren't inclined to ask Karl for money either, even if he wanted to give it.

Of course, Karl also remembered that if he discounted the unexpected one-million-eddy bonus from the eldest daughter of the Arasaka family, he'd actually spent more than he'd earned. But those kinds of surprises didn't happen often.

Karl concluded: it's better to take on more gigs.

His thoughts were interrupted when Jack said, "Priest, we'll be off now."

After handing Hiromi Sato to the fixer, the trio left King's Avenue. They returned the battered Quartz to the garage and swapped it out for the newly repaired Sky Hera before heading off toward the Wild coyote Bar.

Karl hadn't visited the bar since school had started. Although it had only been three days, he was already craving Mama Wells's famous French fries.

On the way, Karl sent the mission information to Mann and his team.

Karl: We've obtained Tanaka's itinerary. I've sent it your way. I need you to find an opportunity to kidnap him.

Mann: Got it. Don't worry. With this intel, we'll handle it quickly.

Mann's team, consisting of two active netrunners and one recuperating, was far better equipped for tracking operations than Karl's team.

Karl: I'm counting on you. Let us know if something goes wrong—or once you have him.

After sending the message, Karl ended the communication.

The mission had gone smoothly.

"Hey, Karl."

Not long after the message exchange, Jack spoke up. "What's your purpose for doing these gigs anyway?"

"Purpose?"

"Yeah, like your goal. For example, I became a merc because I want money and fame. One day, I want to become a legend—like Morgan Blackhand or Weyland Snake. I want everyone in Night City to know my name."

Oliver chimed in from the driver's seat. "Same here. I want to earn money and build a reputation. Someday, I'll prove the Sixth Street gang wrong for kicking me out. I'll make them grovel to me for the jobs they once scoffed at. That's why I became a merc. But you? I don't see that kind of desire in you."

As he turned the vehicle down a side street, Oliver continued, "Sometimes I wonder if you're a monk or something. But even monks in this city would struggle to stay as calm and warm as you are. Honestly, Karl, you're so different. You feel like a beam of sunlight in a place that's nothing but cold and dark."

Jack added, "To put it simply, you're the kind of person who smiles at everyone. And you respect people—every kind of person. That's rare in Night City. Respect, Karl. You even showed it to that old man we met a while ago. In my whole life, I've never seen anyone treat people like that in this city."

"Respect?" Karl tilted his head. "You're saying I'm just polite?"

"More than polite," Jack said. "It's like… looking at you, I feel there's still some hope for this city. You make people think, 'Maybe not everything is terrible here.' You're like proof that there's still something decent left."

Oliver nodded. "Yeah. But that's also why we don't know what drives you. Why do you do this, Karl? What's your dream?"

"My dream?"

The question left Karl silent. What was his dream?

Since arriving in 2075, Karl had been going with the flow—teaming up with Oliver, recruiting Jack, taking jobs. He had never stopped to think about what he truly wanted.

So… what did he want?

Karl looked up at the towering skyscrapers of the city center, visible even from Heywood.

"I think my dream," he began, "is to reach the top and become a legend."