Neon-colored flowers bloomed in the night, the rhythmic beat of the festival drums mixing with the crowd's exclamations, like a mournful elegy. Holographic koi swam between skyscrapers, LED lanterns flickered crimson, and amid the floral rain, Hanako Arasaka's parade float slowly approached—like a futuristic dream.
Karl had already paid for his meal and quietly slipped into a stairwell, reaching a monitoring point he had scouted earlier. He drew out a monomolecular wire and connected to the system. Data streamed before his eyes—the full feed from all surveillance cameras deployed prior to the parade streamed into his mind.
"There are a few people in troublesome positions," Karl thought. "If we want to infiltrate the float, we might need to deal with them first."
Truth be told, Karl was surprised at how smoothly he had hacked into the camera system.
He had made meticulous preparations—installing the cameras in extremely discreet locations and personally designing the wiring to avoid detection by Arasaka operatives. Even so, he had estimated that only about 20% of the cameras would survive undetected. But now, upon linking in, he found all of them perfectly functional.
"Arasaka security really is shit. Did they even take this seriously?" Karl raised an eyebrow.
It was indeed baffling.
This parade security involved none other than Hanako Arasaka—a core member of the family. For Night City's Arasaka forces to be so lax with their security was tantamount to treating her life as expendable. If something happened to her, the security chief wouldn't just be fired—they'd be expected to commit seppuku.
Still, Karl quickly recalled the identity of Arasaka Tower's current head of security in Night City.
Even after Seiji Arasaka took control as the new head of the corporation, he hadn't made major changes to the personnel installed by Michiko Arasaka. Perhaps he wanted to win over his niece, or perhaps he felt purging Saburo's loyalists was more urgent. Whatever the reason, the head of security was still Adam Smasher.
Considering the long-standing tension between Michiko and Hanako, it made sense that Adam Smasher wouldn't go out of his way to ensure Hanako's safety.
Thanks to Adam Smasher's "negligence," Karl found the job considerably easier.
He had prepared several contingency methods to make up for any blind spots in camera coverage. But now, with no cameras damaged, the plan had become simpler—just use the footage to lay out a route.
While Karl was planning his next move, messages started popping up in the team comm channel.
Oliver: I'm watching the festival show in Japantown. Karl, sounds like you're running a job—need a hand? I'm just killing time.
V: You're in Japantown too, Oliver? Panam and I are here too. Wanted to see how flashy this festival gets. Karl, need backup?
Jackie: Misty and I are just outside Japantown—too crowded inside. Holler if you need us, we'll rush in.
T-Bug: I'm here too. It's lit.
Seeing the messages, Karl was caught off guard—they were all here?
He thought for a moment, then replied:
Karl: "Nah, we've got this. Mr. Johnny Silverhand is pretty capable. If something goes wrong, I'll call you immediately."
V: Alright, stay sharp. It's Silverhand's first proper gig—if things go sideways, we've got your back.
Karl: Got it. Thanks, V.
Karl understood their concern.
Typically, when a team member carried out their first official mission, the whole crew would tag along for support. It was rare for someone like Johnny to debut with just a two-person team.
Though this arrangement matched Johnny Silverhand's cocky, arrogant personality, having only Karl as backup felt risky. No one said it out loud, but they were all clearly worried—hence why they showed up.
Karl wasn't arrogant—if things went south, he'd call for help without hesitation. In that regard, he never cared about pride. Having V and the others nearby was reassuring.
After confirming that backup was in place, Karl went over the camera feeds one last time.
Pterodrone UAVs hovered in the night sky like silent ghosts. Nekomata tech sniper rifles glinted with cold light as sharpshooters lay hidden in shadows. Arasaka soldiers in combat suits were scattered throughout the area, forming an invisible net over the entire district.
"Got it all memorized."
Karl gave a slight nod and contacted his partner for this job:
"It's go time, Mr. Johnny Silverhand."
"Finally, I get to stretch my legs?" Johnny had been itching to move. "I've marked all those Arasaka mutts. You ready?"
"Proceed along the route I give you," Karl said calmly. "Just a warning—there are no second chances. One mistake, and the whole mission fails. Understood?"
"Hah!" Johnny scoffed. "Back when I was torching Arasaka scum with a guitar in one hand and a rifle in the other, you probably weren't even born yet. Burn me to ash, and I'd still find a way to jam myself down their throats and choke the bastards to death."
"Alright then." Karl ignored the bravado and calmly confirmed Johnny's location before giving instructions.
"Our first objective is to eliminate the snipers and operatives who might spot us during infiltration. Nearest target is at your 9 o'clock, three meters above you. Climb up through the billboard gap. I've already jammed his comms and simulated his status replies. You'll have a six-second window, starting in five. Ready?"
"Been waiting all day."
"Then go."
As Karl's voice faded, the countdown began.
One second. Two... Five.
Johnny moved like a panther, leaping onto the iron platform above the billboard. A sharp plug extended from his cybernetic arm, and before the sniper could react, it pierced the connection port at the back of his neck.
[System Alert: Breach Complete.]
"One down."
Karl (calmly): "Next target coming up. Get ready—you've got ten seconds this time."
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🔥 CYBERPUNK: THE RELENTLESS
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🔥 THE STORY DOESN'T STOP HERE. NEITHER DOES HE.
Night City breaks people every day.
Some crawl away.
Some disappear.
And some simply refuse to stop.
Cyberpunk: The Relentless has 500+ chapters ahead available for readers who want to keep going.
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⚡ NO BRAKES. NO MERCY. NO TURNING BACK.
🔫 High-intensity combat
🌃 Night City
🤖 Cyberware & chrome
💀 Deadly enemies
🏢 Corporate warfare
🔥 Escalating conflicts
⚔️ One relentless road forward
Every victory creates another enemy.
Every enemy leads to something bigger.
And Night City always wants another body.
🔥 500+ CHAPTERS AHEAD.
👉 Why stop now?
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