chapter 116

Hit the Heart

"What happened, Karl?"

Jack noticed Karl returning to their table in a daze and couldn't help but ask about his earlier conversation with a stranger.

"Nothing important," Karl replied quickly, brushing off his emotions. He shifted the focus. "Have you checked out the BD wreaths at the Ritz Hotel?"

Oliver, catching on to Karl's attempt to change the subject, responded, "Not yet. I've been browsing the menu for a while and can't make up my mind."

"Anything special about them?"

David chimed in, "Oh, definitely. You can customize the sensory experience, adjust the pain levels, and even tweak a bunch of other settings. It's way more advanced than the typical BD wreaths you find on the market."

"How so?"

David thought for a moment. "Well, most commercial BD wreaths dull sensory input a little to avoid accidents. But here, you can set it to 100% intensity—or even crank it up beyond that for an extra thrill. Though I can't imagine anyone wanting to max out pain levels... unless they're insane."

"Are there any specific BDs worth trying?" Karl asked, his curiosity slightly piqued.

David nodded. "They've got the infamous James Norris BD here. You know, the one that re-creates his cyberpsychosis rampage. You can actually feel the pain of taking multiple gunshots if you turn up the settings... though I doubt anyone sane would want to try that."

"Is the editor here the same as the one who made the cyberpsychosis series? JK?" Karl asked, his tone sharpening. He still held a grudge against the BD editor who had used his likeness in their works without permission.

"Nope," David replied. "The Ritz Hotel works with another editor, JA. While JK is known for his cyberpsychosis BDs, JA is more focused on pushing the boundaries of sensory customization. In terms of technical skill, JA is ahead."

"Not JK, huh…" Karl relaxed a bit. He had briefly entertained the idea of confronting JK if they were present.

"Should we grab a few BDs to take home? It's not every day you get access to high-end custom wreaths like these," Karl suggested, though his personal interest was limited.

"I'll try one out first," Oliver said, picking a BD from the catalog. The Ritz Hotel offered private booths where guests could connect to BD wreaths. Not wanting to experience anything too personal in public, Oliver excused himself and headed to a booth.

"What about you two?" Karl asked Jack and David.

"I'm not into this stuff," Jack shrugged. "I'm just here to hang out with you guys."

David hesitated, looking shy. "I think I'll pass on this one..."

Karl chuckled. "Innocent as ever, huh? Well, let's grab another round of drinks then. My treat."

As they ordered their drinks, Jack suddenly fell silent, his attention drawn to a group entering the hotel. He nudged Karl and gestured toward the scene.

"What's up?" Karl turned to look and immediately understood Jack's reaction.

"Why would Arasaka employees come here so openly?" Karl muttered.

Three corporate agents in Arasaka uniforms strode through the lobby, their presence immediately drawing attention. It wasn't unusual for Arasaka employees to frequent places like the Ritz Hotel, but they usually kept a low profile. The fact that they were openly displaying their affiliation meant only one thing: corporate business.

Karl watched as the Arasaka agents approached a pale, nervous-looking middle-aged man sitting near the bar. A member of the Mox Gang, responsible for security at the Ritz Hotel, tried to intervene, but one of the Arasaka agents raised a hand, stopping her.

"This is private company business. Stay out of it," the agent said coldly.

The Mox enforcer hesitated, then stepped back, respecting the unspoken rule: don't interfere with corporate affairs unless absolutely necessary.

"What do you think's going on?" Jack asked.

"Probably an internal factional issue," Karl replied dismissively. Corporate infighting was common in Night City and rarely worth investigating. But as he glanced at David, he noticed the younger man's uneasy expression.

"Curious, David?"

David nodded hesitantly. "What happens in situations like this?"

Karl smirked, sensing an opportunity to teach David a harsh truth about corporate life. "Let's find out. If you're planning to join Arasaka, you'd better get used to this sort of thing."

The two of them quietly followed the Arasaka agents as they escorted the pale man out through the hotel's back entrance. Jack stayed behind, watching them leave.

Outside, in a dimly lit alley, David witnessed a chilling scene. The two agents forced the man to his knees, holding him in place by his shoulders. The third agent calmly drew a Kenshin pistol and aimed it at the man's forehead.

"This is…" David's voice faltered.

"An execution," Karl said bluntly.

Before David could react, the gun fired. The sound was sharp but not deafening. The man's body jerked as the bullet hit, then collapsed lifelessly to the ground. The agents let him fall unceremoniously before stepping away.

David stood frozen, the sight of the lifeless body burning into his mind.

"Welcome to Night City," Karl said dryly. "Get used to it."

David swallowed hard, his hands trembling slightly.

That single gunshot didn't just kill a man—it struck David's heart, shattering his illusions of what corporate life truly entailed.