...Heading to Arasaka Academy...
"Target positioning, prosthetic overheating, movement impairment, memory erasure... Let's start with these and get familiar with them."
Karl bought the golems and walked out of the hacker shop. He spent a total of 20,000 euros on this shopping spree, adding to the 192,000 euros spent on modifying his prosthetic body. In just one morning and afternoon, he had spent 212,000 euros.
The money goes fast.
After deducting the 212,000 euros from the 1.12 million he had, and considering expenses for travel, food, and miscellaneous software, Karl's current balance was around 900,000 euros.
Reflecting on it, if the heiress hadn't given him that million, he wouldn't have been able to afford these upgrades.
But now, he was just one gun away from being mission-ready again.
After some thought, Karl decided to ask Oliver to get him a weapon.
He hadn't tried many other brands, but he was familiar with Kenshin. Given the current situation, he needed a reliable gun to carry around. It was too dangerous to be unarmed on the streets of Night City, and now wasn't the time to be picky.
The message to Oliver quickly got a reply. Oliver said he was still testing guns and would bring a QianT to Karl later. He also asked if Karl needed a pickup.
It seemed his full-time driver was fully embracing the role.
Suppressing the sarcastic comments that would undoubtedly make Oliver complain, Karl declined the offer for a pickup. It was Oliver's rare day off to test guns, and Karl had time to stroll around.
After sending Oliver the unnecessary message, Karl took a leisurely walk through the streets.
How could one describe the streets of Watson District in Night City?
Karl averted his eyes from a thug wearing a BD player on his head, moving his lower body and hands in public.
Nearby, a woman dressed in garish attire stood at the entrance of an alley, waving at passersby. Karl noticed several figures lurking in the shadows behind her.
Open displays of desire and street solicitation…
Nothing particularly unusual.
Just as Karl thought this, a car sped past, kicking up dust that almost hit his face, followed by the sound of gunfire. Another vehicle, seemingly in pursuit, zoomed by quickly.
Karl shielded his face with his clothes, but a thin layer of dust still settled on him, souring his mood.
People in Night City were truly rude.
Maybe he should shoot them and teach them a lesson about reckless driving.
Acting on impulse, Karl drew his gun and fired two rounds without hesitation.
Pop. Pop. He mentally added the sound effects as the bullets hit their target.
He watched as the pursuing vehicle's rear tire blew out, its path twisting erratically. Satisfied, Karl holstered his Lexington and chose to forgive them.
Most vehicles in 2075 had reinforced tires; blowing one out wouldn't cause a catastrophic accident. This small revenge was sufficient.
"Next time, don't drive recklessly," he thought with satisfaction.
Karl, now in a better mood, recalled something he saw the previous day.
Arasaka Academy admissions...
Wasn't it in the city center?
With nothing else to do, he decided to check it out.
Karl hailed a combat taxi—a taxi equipped to protect passengers with force if needed. Combat taxis were commonplace in Night City, and those who rode standard taxis were considered quite bold.
"Where to?" asked the driver.
"Arasaka Academy," Karl replied.
The driver glanced at him, perhaps noting his age, but said nothing further, driving off quietly.
In 2075, the most famous combat taxi was the "Draman," an AI-driven vehicle with firepower comparable to an armored vehicle. However, due to its high cost, it hadn't fully dominated the taxi market, so most combat taxis in Night City were still human-driven.
For companies, human drivers were just disposable labor. AI could malfunction or face technical issues, but humans, driven by the need to support their families, wouldn't strike and would often pay out of pocket to maintain their vehicles for optimal performance—a profitable arrangement for the companies.
During the ride, Karl researched Arasaka Academy, gaining a basic understanding of it.
Simply put, it was a school designed to train corporate loyalists.
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