chapter 120

.. Difficult...

"Three hundred thousand eurodollars a month?! Karl, you still insist you have no ties to the eldest daughter of the Arasaka family?"

The next day, after learning about the details of Karl's contract, Oliver slammed the steering wheel of the Sky Hera, disbelief etched across his face.

"I can't believe it! Did a rich woman really take a liking to you?" Oliver teased, though his concern peeked through.

"Oliver, stop talking nonsense." Karl rolled his eyes. "It's a legitimate contract for a bodyguard job. I'm only required during critical moments. Honestly, I might not even be needed most of the time. It feels like they're just keeping me as an emergency backup."

Oliver, still unconvinced, pressed on. "Backup or not, you're not ditching us to become some corporate mercenary, are you?"

"I said it's a part-time gig," Karl replied patiently. "It's not like I'm walking away from my freelance work. Besides, I doubt they'll call me often. It's just a precautionary measure, that's all."

Jack, who had been listening quietly, finally chimed in. "That does make sense. After what happened last time, they're probably looking to spend money on extra protection—just in case."

Oliver nodded, his teasing demeanor giving way to genuine analysis. "Not only do they have bodyguards on the surface, but now they've got mercenaries like you as backup. Looks like the Arasaka heiress was seriously shaken after the last attack. But realistically, with Arasaka's elite security forces, it's unlikely you'll ever need to step in, right?"

"Exactly," Karl agreed. "If someone managed to break through Arasaka's security to attack her, it'd have to be a threat on the level of an ACPA (Armored Combat Power Armor). At that point, yeah, it'd probably be messy."

Oliver exhaled heavily, his hands resting on the steering wheel. "So, in other words, earning this kind of money won't be easy if you ever do get called in."

Karl shrugged. "Looking on the bright side, the chances of someone targeting an Arasaka family member are slim. Even if they did, they'd have to bypass her security first. Realistically, I'm pocketing at least 300,000 euros every month for doing nothing."

Oliver hesitated, recalling the attack just last month. He opened his mouth to argue but stopped himself, not wanting to jinx it.

Jack offered a final piece of advice. "If something does happen, don't face it alone."

Karl smiled. "Don't worry, I'm not an idiot. If it gets dangerous, I'll call you guys for backup."

As Karl finished speaking and settled into his seat, Jack's prosthetic eye flashed briefly. A message had just come through.

Jack's expression shifted into something uncharacteristically complicated. The change didn't escape Karl and Oliver's notice. Before they could ask, Jack broke the silence.

"My ex-girlfriend, Camila, just reached out. She needs my help."

That name immediately brought a hush over the car.

Camila.

Jack had mentioned her once—drunkenly—at a party. She was a childhood friend and former sweetheart who had joined the Valentino Gang with him. Unlike Jack, who had left the gang after certain events, Camila had stayed. By the age of twenty-eight, she had risen to become a senior member of the Valentino Gang, an impressive feat in an organization of over 6,000 members.

For her to reach out to Jack now, something significant must have happened.

Even though Jack and Oliver had left their respective gangs, they still had ties to them. If trouble arose involving someone they cared about, it was impossible to turn a blind eye.

"Jack, what's going on?" Karl asked, his tone serious. "If it's bad, I'll skip class today."

Jack shook his head. "No need for that, Karl. It's not that serious."

He glanced at his message again, a faint smile breaking through. "She just wants me to check out a place in District. They're stretched thin and need someone they can trust."

Jack's eyes flicked to Oliver. "It's related to the Sixth Street Gang."

Oliver's brow furrowed. "District... that's the main battleground between the Sixth Street Gang and the Valentino Gang, isn't it? It's not exactly a high-value area, but people will always fight over scraps."

Jack nodded. "Exactly. It's the usual turf war nonsense. After I drop Karl off at school, I'll head over there to see what's going on. If it's an acquaintance, I'll try to give them some advice."

"Advice?" Oliver scoffed. "You think anyone in the Sixth Street Gang will listen to me? I was kicked out after a week!"

Jack chuckled. "That's why I'm not holding my breath. Still, it doesn't hurt to look."

Karl leaned back in his seat, feigning nonchalance. "Just don't get too caught up in it. And Jack, you might want to think about how Misty will react to all this."

Jack froze at the mention of his girlfriend.

Oliver, suddenly realizing the potential fallout, shot Jack a look of mock pity. "You're in trouble now, man."

"It's just one day!" Jack protested weakly. "I'm not doing anything wrong. I'm treating it like a job—a paid commission. As long as neither of you tells her, how would she even find out?"

Karl smirked. "Are you sure about that? Misty has a knack for uncovering things with her tarot cards, even if her shop barely sees customers. I wouldn't count on her not noticing."

Jack's face fell slightly, and Karl couldn't help but laugh. "Good luck with that, buddy. You're going to need it."