Gearbound: Cyberpunk 2077-Chapter 165

Normally, a braindance placed you in the recorder's point of view—in other words, first-person perspective. However, Judy had taken special care with this particular braindance, allowing Leo to watch the entire recording in third-person.

The penthouse suite belonging to Yorinobu Arasaka was as opulent as one would expect. Leo focused on the various security and alarm systems throughout the room, including a hidden turret in the ceiling. The mission's main objective—the Relic—was secured in a safe beneath the floor near the floor-to-ceiling window. Judy had even highlighted the switch to open the safe, located on the nightstand by Yorinobu's bed.

It only lasted a few minutes, but the braindance contained an enormous amount of information. There was no question that having it would make their mission far more likely to succeed. If they had barged in blindly, the sensors would have picked them up, triggering an alarm even if no guards were present.

Leo exited the braindance to find Evelyn and Judy watching him.

"Well?" Evelyn asked. "This braindance should help your team quite a bit, right?"

"It definitely cuts out a lot of trouble," Leo admitted.

Breaking into the hotel and disabling the alarms would require time and planning, but people like Yorinobu Arasaka generally had their own defense squads. Considering Yorinobu was staying at Konpeki Plaza, it was safe to assume that everything from the penthouse down was designated a security zone. Even the hotel's own guests wouldn't be allowed near it. If Leo had been the head of security, he would have done the same—maybe even called in additional backup from Arasaka Tower.

Arasaka's special ops forces had a global reputation. Many corporations and individuals hired them to protect against mortal threats or safeguard priceless assets. But if something happened to Arasaka's interests, those forces would prioritize defending the corporation, not the client. Their code of bushido demanded loyalty to their commanding officers, even at the cost of their own lives. It wouldn't have surprised Leo at all if Yorinobu, as the heir to Arasaka, had the place swarming with them.

Evelyn, however, sounded nonchalant. "Don't worry about that. He has no bodyguards at all. He disbanded them a while ago."

Leo frowned. "Why would he do that?"

Even someone like Meredith Stout, a mid-level corporate manager, would travel with two top-tier security agents. So why would Yorinobu Arasaka, of all people, dismiss his entire security detail?

"You know about Arasaka's intel gathering, right? You sneeze in Night City, they hear it in Tokyo. Yorinobu believes all his bodyguards are just eyes his father planted on him."

Leo sighed in understanding. He knew that in Japan, the father-and-child dynamic in powerful families could be... complicated. It made sense that Saburo Arasaka might keep tabs on his children.

"So, why does Yorinobu carry the Relic with him? What's he planning? Isn't he worried about losing something this valuable?"

"He stole it from an Arasaka lab. He's planning to sell it to the NetWatch," Evelyn said.

"Why? He's the heir to Arasaka, right? Once Saburo is gone, wouldn't the entire Arasaka empire be his? Why do this?"

Evelyn let out a derisive snort. "He's nothing more than a figurehead right now. He disobeyed his father ages ago, and he's long since lost favor."

Leo frowned. Arasaka, as one of Night City's largest corporations, was always the subject of rumors. Saburo Arasaka had three children and a granddaughter:

Kei Arasaka, who had been Saburo's favored heir but passed away some time ago; Yorinobu Arasaka; Hanako Arasaka; and Michiko Arasaka, Kei's daughter.

The Arasaka family was a classic example of a Japanese conglomerate, and Japan itself often disguised a feudal society beneath its modern veneer. Deep-rooted traditions—like favoring male heirs—still persisted. If Saburo Arasaka hadn't been so stubborn and traditional, he might have handed over the company to Hanako when Yorinobu ran off to join the Steel Dragons. But after Yorinobu returned, Saburo still let him keep his position.

Judging by Evelyn's tone, however, Yorinobu had once again provoked his father after coming back, and Saburo had stripped him of power.

"What exactly did he do?" Leo asked.

Evelyn recalled those quiet moments after everything, when Yorinobu would sit on the edge of the bed, smoking a cigarette and talking about his past. "He wanted to nationalize Arasaka—he'd already contacted some government officials about it. As soon as his father died, he planned to hand all of Arasaka's assets over to the state."

"But the plan leaked," she continued. "Saburo heard about it, and with just a few phone calls, all those reform-minded politicians in the central ministries either committed suicide or disappeared under suspicious circumstances. After that, Yorinobu was completely muzzled. If he shows any hint of disloyalty now, he's finished."

Leo took a moment to absorb what she'd said. "He planned to nationalize Arasaka? And didn't he realize that if he pulled it off, he'd have nothing left?"

Evelyn shrugged. "I wouldn't know. People born with a Dimond spoon think differently. You've heard the story 'The Emperor's Golden Hoe,' right?"

She was referring to the tale where two poor farmers imagined a lavish life for an emperor, yet their own limited perspective led them to believe the emperor just used a golden hoe in the fields—completely missing that an emperor didn't need to farm at all.

Going by Evelyn's account, Yorinobu's best move might have been to act meek and obedient, doing enough to regain Saburo's trust. Instead, he stole the Relic and planned to sell it.

Leo frowned. "He took the chip. Doesn't he realize he's doomed if Saburo finds out?"

Evelyn didn't seem bothered. "Who knows? Maybe he thinks it's foolproof and believes no one will catch on. And even if they do, it's his problem, not ours. Whether the Relic really holds Silverhand's consciousness or someone else's, that thing is going to make us filthy rich, pushing us straight into high society.

"Think about it, Leo. After this job, you could live in North Oak, drink the finest champagne and wine, drive the flashiest rides, have all the women you want... everything you ever dreamed of. If you felt like enjoying top-tier sashimi, you could hop on a plane to Japan, have a meal, and fly right back."

Leo waved her off before she got carried away. "Okay, enough hype. You should be more worried about yourself."

Evelyn looked puzzled. "What's there to worry about?"

"Once Yorinobu realizes the chip is gone, won't he suspect you?"

Evelyn just smiled. She didn't seem scared at all. "I already told you—he planned to sell it to NetWatch. He's got no reason to come after me. And he has no idea I'm targeting the Relic. Besides, if Arasaka launches an investigation, they'll start with the big shots, not me."

Leo couldn't help a dry reminder: "You're wrong, Evelyn. You don't get how corpos like Arasaka handle things. When something blows up, they don't start at the top—they go after the ones who got too close without real protection. Especially someone like you, who cozied up to Yorinobu without rank or backup."

Evelyn didn't seem fazed. "Are you scared now? High risk, high reward. The data on this chip is worth a fortune, which is why it can make us rich beyond our wildest dreams. I've already mapped everything out for you. All you have to do is sneak in, grab the chip, walk right back out, and give it to me. It couldn't be easier.

"Don't worry about Arasaka. Chances are they won't even notice, and if they do, by the time they figure it out, we'll be long gone. Arasaka is huge, but the world's bigger. They can't control everything."

They talked a little while longer, but it became clear Evelyn had no further intel to give. Leo stood up to leave.

"I'll walk you out," Evelyn said, following him out of the private room.

They made their way into the packed dance floor area, where music and chatter filled the air. Suddenly, Evelyn grabbed Leo, opened a door off to the side of the dance floor, and led him left and right through a short hallway before ducking into a storage room. She pushed Leo in first, then shut the door behind them, leaning against it.

Leo raised an eyebrow. "What's going on? Is there something you couldn't say back in the booth?"

Evelyn brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Some things are better left unsaid in front of Judy."

Leo folded his arms. "Fine. Speak."

Evelyn locked eyes with him. "Don't hand over the braindance Judy gave you."

Leo looked confused. "What do you mean?"

Evelyn's lips parted. "I know you have a small team. You and whoever else... I'm the one posting this job, you're the one doing it, so where does Dexter fit in? We don't need him. We can cut him out."

Leo's eyes narrowed. He already knew Evelyn had a nerve, but this was more reckless than he'd expected.

Lowering his voice, he hissed, "Are you out of your mind? This is basically suicide."

Just as a sketchy fixer would be blacklisted by every merc, a merc who double-crossed a fixer would be shut out by every middleman. This gig still might fail, or the chip might sell for less than they hoped. Yet here Evelyn was, burning her bridges before they even got paid.

It was madness.