The Maelstrom gang's vehicle, carrying Kai and his employer, Blanca, did not enter a factory as Kai had expected after arriving in the northern industrial district of Watson. Instead, it took several turns before stopping in front of an apartment complex.
Back when Watson was still planned to be another city center, wealthy individuals built numerous apartments on the outskirts of the industrial district, seemingly to separate themselves from the working-class residents. However, as Watson declined, these once-affluent apartments became less and less inhabited by the rich. After the rise of the Maelstrom gang, the remaining wealthy residents moved out entirely to avoid the constant extortion for "protection fees." Now, the only people living in the northern industrial district's apartments were factory workers, ironically enjoying the isolation once intended for the rich.
As Kai recalled this information about Watson, he found himself appreciating the choice of venue for the upcoming discussion with his employer's counterpart.
Compared to a cold, steel-laden factory—one that also carried unpleasant memories for Kai—the apartment setting was far more agreeable. Negotiating in such a place, with open windows letting in sunlight, was a much more pleasant experience.
Though, given Night City's pollution and smog, the sunlight was never quite as bright as it should be.
As the vehicle came to a stop in front of the apartment complex, Kai first noticed two Maelstrom gang members standing guard. Each held a well-maintained Saratoga submachine gun.
[Militech M221 Saratoga]: Originally designed as a corporate security weapon, this submachine gun's signature clack sound made it a favorite among gang members. Of course, its affordability and ease of modification also played a role. If you ever see someone carrying this compact yet deadly firearm on the streets, it's best to steer clear. Saratoga is no Lexington—it's not something you want to mess with.
Why did my information recall include a blatant case of gun bias? Kai mused. Both guns are made by Militech. Back in the day, Lexington and Saratoga were even named after sister aircraft carriers. Now, in 2075, people are still comparing them like this.
As something of a Lexington enthusiast, Kai had swapped out his Lexington for home storage, but he still held sentimental value for it as his first gun. Even so, upon seeing the Saratoga submachine guns, his hand instinctively rested on the Kenshin pistol at his waist.
If these Maelstrom lunatics suddenly turned on their own people and started shooting, he wouldn't be able to protect his employer.
The chances were slim, but as a bodyguard, he had to be prepared.
Fortunately, the Maelstrom gang wasn't that unhinged. They didn't bring people in for negotiations just to kill everyone, including themselves. As the vehicle stopped, the two Maelstrom guards lowered their weapons, stepping aside in a gesture of welcome.
"It's time to get out," Blanca said simply, opening the door and stepping out of the car.
Kai glanced at the silent driver in the front seat. Seeing that he had nothing to say, Kai followed his employer, stepping out of the vehicle.
As he did, he caught a distinct sound—the unmistakable click of a gun safety being switched off.
The sound had come from the driver's seat.
So, they've already prepared to cut off any escape routes, Kai thought.
Maintaining a calm expression, showing no sign of surprise, he quietly walked to Blanca's side. The two Maelstrom guards watched them with interest but made no move to stop them as they entered the four-story apartment building.
Once they had disappeared inside, one of the guards approached the driver, still holding his Saratoga.
"Did they do anything unusual on the way here?"
"Nothing much," the driver, a high-ranking Maelstrom member equipped with cybernetic scanner eyes, replied. "That corpo dog seemed a bit nervous. My scanner picked up a spike in her adrenaline, but it's probably just nerves about the upcoming negotiation—not an attempt to betray us."
"And what about the bodyguard? That punk—the one who took out the Barb and wiped out one of our strongholds?"
"That kid…"
The driver's scanner eye flashed red for a moment as he considered his words, his voice carrying an unusual uncertainty.
"He wasn't nervous at all. Not even a little. Even though he knew he was being taken straight into our territory, he didn't react. Compared to those amateur mercs who piss their pants the moment they get in the car, this kid… he's got guts. But…"
"But what?"
The guard frowned, sensing hesitation in his friend's voice—something highly uncharacteristic of him.
"I get the feeling the reason he wasn't nervous is because… if he wanted to, he could kill me easily. Like, the only reason he wasn't scared was that my life was already in his hands. Can you believe it? I didn't even dare run a single red light on the way here—just because he was sitting behind me. I didn't even breathe too hard, afraid that if I pissed him off, he'd take me out. I only had the guts to unlock my gun's safety after he left the car."
The driver's voice grew slightly louder as he spoke, his expression shifting into something resembling post-traumatic shock. He reached up to wipe his back, only to find it drenched in cold sweat.
"Come on, that's a bit much…" the guard started, but then hesitated as he saw his friend's expression. He wasn't lying.
As if seeking confirmation, the guard asked again, "Was it really that bad?"
"Probably worse than I'm even making it sound. He doesn't have any subdermal armor that could tank bullets, and he was only wearing a basic bulletproof vest. But I swear, if he wanted to, he could wipe us all out without taking a single scratch."
"Without a single scratch…?"
The guard turned to glance at the apartment building where Kai had just entered, suddenly unsure. "Inside that negotiation room, we've got ten of our guys standing by. That's ten guns pointed right at him. He couldn't just kill them all at once… right?"
But as he said it, even he didn't sound convinced.
Because when Kai had passed him earlier, for just a moment, he had felt the same eerie sense of dread.