chapter 118

.. Kenichi Zaburo...

"Have Maine and the others confirmed Tanaka's whereabouts?"

Oliver, returning after catching up on the latest BD wreath, seemed impressed by the progress. "As expected of a team with three hackers. They work fast."

"I wouldn't call it fast—more like efficient," Karl replied, leaning back in his seat. "They found out Tanaka often orders customized BD wreaths, so Maine came up with a plan: track down the editor responsible for customizing Tanaka's wreaths and use him to set up a meeting."

Karl smirked. "And it just so happens I know the guy. Maine's message says the editor is someone named JK. Turns out JK, whose full name is Jimmy kurosaki, specializes in custom BD wreaths for high-profile clients like Tanaka. This mission landed right in my lap."

"What's the plan, exactly?" Oliver asked, intrigued.

"Simple," Karl explained. "These types of custom BD wreaths require private meetings between the client and the editor. Tanaka's hard to locate because he's constantly under Arasaka's protection, but JK? Much easier to find. We'll grab JK and use him to lure Tanaka out."

Oliver frowned slightly. "What if Tanaka brings bodyguards?"

Karl chuckled. "This is a private setup, remember? Even corporate dogs like Tanaka need to protect their reputations. He won't risk showing up with an entourage. That's the whole point of meeting an editor like JK in private."

Oliver nodded. "Fair enough. So, have they found out where JK is?"

"Maine's team is still working on it," Karl said as they walked toward the Sky Hera parked near the Ritz Bar.

As they settled into the vehicle, David, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, spoke up. "If you're talking about JK, his name is Jimmy kurosaki. He's a well-known BD wreath editor with a huge fanbase. His real identity isn't exactly a secret."

The three men turned to David, surprised.

"You seem to know him well," Oliver remarked.

David nodded. "I've seen all of his BD wreath series."

Oliver smirked. "Makes sense. You sell BD wreaths, so you'd know about these things better than most."

Fortunately for Karl's team, Jimmy kurosaki's identity wasn't well-hidden in Night City. By the time they dropped David off at home, Mann's team had already gathered detailed information about him.

Maine's message was straightforward: "We've confirmed Jimmy Black's whereabouts. He'll be at a club tomorrow. That's when we'll capture him."

Karl was satisfied with the plan. Maine's team would handle the logistics of the capture, allowing him to stay focused on the bigger picture.

After parting ways with Oliver and Jack, Karl returned to his apartment. After a quick shower, he sat at his rented computer and browsed the Night City local network for news updates. One headline caught his eye—not about Night City, but about wanderers.

"Wanderers: The Nomadic Family Unit"

The article described a group of nomads in the Badlands called "Buckle," known for causing chaos along Highway 43. According to the report, internal divisions within the group might soon lead to its collapse, thanks to the efforts of the New United States military.

Karl skimmed the rest, dismissing the government's self-congratulatory rhetoric. What stood out to him was the name "Buckle."

Why does that sound familiar? he wondered.

Filing the name away in his mind for later, Karl continued scrolling through the latest headlines. Another piece caught his attention, this one detailing corporate politics between Arasaka and Militech.

"Peace Restored in Night City Following ACPA Incident"

The report claimed that a former Militech R&D director had attempted to bring Advanced Combat Powered Armor (ACPA) into Night City to provoke a war. After a brief conflict, both corporations reached an agreement, with Militech taking responsibility for the incident.

Karl smirked at the spin. So, they found their scapegoat. Figures.

As he was about to shut down for the night, a knock at the door startled him.

Checking the camera feed, he saw a man in a black suit standing outside. The visitor appeared to be in his forties, with obvious prosthetic modifications visible under his clothes. His East Asian features were sharp, and a pair of glowing yellow cybernetic eyes stared directly into the camera.

"Who is it?" Karl asked through the intercom, his tone cautious.

The man didn't answer immediately. He simply stood there, calm and composed, before finally responding: "Kenichi Zaburo. Mercenary K."

Karl frowned. Kenichi Zaburo... The name didn't ring any bells, but it sounded distinctly Japanese.

Not one to take chances, Karl quickly armed himself. He threw on his bulletproof jacket, holstered his Nova pistol, grabbed a Crusher shotgun for backup, and secured a few grenades to his belt. Only after fully preparing himself did he open the door.

"What do you want?" Karl asked, his tone sharp as their eyes met for the first time.

Kenichi Zaburo smiled faintly, his gaze unwavering. "Let's talk."