Chapter 26

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Night City.

In the North Oak sector of Westbrook, Stone Mountain.

This area hosts a high-end residential district funded and constructed under the leadership of Arasaka, where the majority of Arasaka's senior executives, even if not always residing here, have property holdings.

North Oak draws the highest concentration of high-income groups in Night City, with its comfortable green environment and spacious standalone villas, attracting many investors, tycoons, senior managers, and star musicians to purchase real estate.

Atop Stone Mountain, in a Japanese-style estate, a black Arasaka company limousine is parked, with the driver-cum-bodyguard Maxim standing by the car door, his expression resigned.

Maxim checks the time; it's already seven in the evening. He has missed the entry time for the boxing match he booked but can only suppress his irritation as he waits for his boss to leave.

Today is the day Maxim's boss and his only son have their weekly dinner together. The father and son seldom meet due to work and school, so they set aside time each week to eat out and catch up.

Finally, the wooden door of the Japanese estate is pulled open by a servant, and a father-son duo emerges. The older man, a burly middle-aged figure wearing black sunglasses, is followed by his respectful son with shoulder-length hair.

"Mr. Tanaka, please get in the car,"

Maxim hurries to open the rear door of the car, ushering his boss and young master into the vehicle, then quickly jogs around to the driver's seat, closes the door, and prepares to depart.

"Mr. Tanaka, which restaurant shall we be dining at tonight?"

"Yūjin."

...

At the Yūjin restaurant.

After expressing that he needs to talk alone, Tang Yu takes a seat.

Gloria looks up slightly confused, wondering what they could possibly need to discuss alone other than the theft of the cyberware. She takes a piece of sushi and puts it in her mouth, trying to conceal the nervousness in her voice.

"What is there to talk about?"

Tang Yu wipes his hands with a wet wipe, speaking calmly.

"About your future."

Gloria's eyes widen in shock, and she stops chewing the sushi in her mouth, not expecting that Tang Yu would want to discuss her future.

Her eyes quickly regain their calmness, even a hint of dejection as she forces a smile.

"Mr. Tang, you overestimate me. What future do I have? I'm content as long as I can work more to ensure David graduates from Arasaka Academy."

Gloria feels that unless a miracle happens, there isn't much hope for her future. But even if such an opportunity arose, she would rather it go to David.

Tang Yu sees that she has abandoned any illusions about her future. The daily grind and setbacks have stripped this woman of the belief in what might be possible, and all she hopes for now is to give her son the dream career she once coveted.

But the more downcast a person becomes, Tang Yu believes, the more they lose clarity in thinking about themselves. In his eyes, Gloria's capabilities and character certainly deserve more.

Her single-handed negotiations with the headmaster of Arasaka Academy, the desperate attempts to acquire the Sandevistan cyberware, and dealing with Cyberpunks show an independent and responsible nature.

Even while handling many complex forces alone and managing to earn money, she's single-handedly providing for David's education at Arasaka Academy. Were it not for the car accident, her dealings would surely have succeeded.

Thus, Gloria has gained Tang Yu's attention, and compared to her, David is still just a kid who hasn't yet grown into a legend.

So, Tang Yu decides to offer Gloria an opportunity that could change both her and David's lives.

"Interested in being a middleman?"

Tang Yu cuts straight to the point, extending his olive branch. If Gloria shows even a hint of hesitation, the offer will be retracted.

To him, life is a grand adventure, and opportunities are fleeting. No one waits forever, and that applies to Gloria as well.Gloria was shocked when she heard about the middleman invitation and instinctively covered her mouth to prevent an exclamation of surprise.

She never anticipated that Tang Yu wanted to talk to her one-on-one to discuss a middleman collaboration.

Gloria was well aware of the significance of being a fixer in Night City.

They thrive on intelligence, live by connections, and stand by their reputation, navigating seamlessly between the lawful and the lawless.

If done well, one could become a legendary figure like Rogue Amendiares, the Queen of the Afterlife, wielding real power from the heights of Night City.

Moreover, the invitation came from Tang Yu, the Deputy Head of Arasaka Counterintelligence, which meant backing from the most powerful Arasaka Corporation in Night City, ensuring top-tier information, compensation, and resources.

However, Gloria was well aware of the risks involved; accepting the invitation would bind her, with no power or influence of her own, as a vassal to the other party.

Shared glory and shared ruin, she might even become a disposable pawn at any moment.

It was all a matter of whether she would end up in heaven or hell, depending upon their whim.

Yet when Gloria looked at Tang Yu, she didn't hesitate for a moment and agreed decisively.

"Okay, I agree!"

Tang Yu seemed somewhat surprised; he had expected the usually cautious Gloria to need some time to consider, but her reply was firm and straightforward, not at all the behavior of a gambler.

"You can think about it for a while," he said.

Gloria firmly declined the offer to consider longer, instead looking earnestly and resolutely as she spoke.

"I trust you," she said.

"If that day really comes," she continued.

"I trust you will spare David..."

Tang Yu couldn't help but smile wryly. It seemed that ultimately, this woman was afraid of him. And he understood: no corporate lapdog gives away meat without expecting something in return. If they do give it away, there were sure to be hooks hidden within. But this suited his intentions perfectly.

A middleman's cooperation should not be mixed with extra emotions. Trust is based on the assignment; a good fixer is one who can resolve the issue.

Seeing Gloria's stance, Tang Yu stopped probing and raised a cocktail from the table in invitation, which Gloria mirrored with her own glass.

The glasses clinked together.

"Ding!"

"A pleasure to work with you,"

"To a fruitful collaboration!"

They both drank, emptying their glasses and formalizing their partnership.

Meanwhile, David in the buffet area glanced at them, noticing they seemed to be getting along okay. His mother hadn't begged Mr. Tang for his sake, which comforted him someway.

He didn't want to owe a new debt after just clearing one—no way could he hold his head high in front of Mr. Tang if that happened.

"Well, at least I accepted the gift box," he thought.

As David was pondering how to face Tang Yu, his benefactor, his eyes inadvertently caught a very familiar figure entering the restaurant.

The figure, upon entering, looked around and almost immediately locked eyes on David at the buffet area.

Their looks of surprise clashed in an instant.

Katsuo?

David Martinez?

Neither expected to see the other there, thus their looks were full of astonishment.

Katsuo placed his hands in his pockets, his surprise turning into a joyful surprise, and a smile gradually appeared as he waved at David.

The middle-aged, burly man next to him noticed his son's gesture and followed his greeting gaze. It was a boy about the same age as Katsuo, sitting in the buffet area with a plate, staring back in bewilderment. The man had no recollection of the boy.

"Is he your classmate from the academy?"

Tanaka, wearing his aviator sunglasses with a deep tone, asked.

Katsuo, beaming with excitement, replied to his father, "Yeah, we're really good friends at the academy."