Charter Hill—still the same Charter Hill. For any corporate employee just stepping through the company's doors, not yet high-ranking but ris
Charter Hill—still the same Charter Hill.
For any corporate employee just stepping through the company's doors, not yet high-ranking but rising, this neighborhood was undoubtedly the ideal place to live. Clean, secure, and even bordering on upscale, living here signaled that one had shaken off the chains of the lower class and stepped into a new chapter of life.
As Karl watched corporate employees rushing down the street—focused, hurried, no idea if they were headed for overtime or simply off to blow off steam in Japantown—he realized that while the district was full of corpo drones, it had its perks.
Everyone here seemed driven by the lash of time, marching briskly, fully immersed in their own routines. No one had time to look around. That self-centered busyness inadvertently made Karl, standing right in a surveillance blind spot, virtually invisible—drawing zero attention.
He'd considered disguising his face, maybe even moving only through blind zones or wiping the memories of anyone who saw him. Turned out, there was no need.
After exchanging a quick nod of farewell with Blanca as she drove off, Karl started walking.
His movements were steady and precise, weaving through the crowd and hitting surveillance blind spots with uncanny accuracy. He moved past people like a ghost—and not a single soul noticed.
Here.
He stopped in front of a luxury high-rise. One glance at the camera over the entrance was enough. He hacked in, made it look away temporarily, and slipped inside.
The NCPD Commissioner, formerly from the corporate world, lived at the top of this elite building. A fitting home for someone of his status—one of the few with genuine official authority in all of Night City.
Honestly, with that rank, he could've lived in a North Oak villa. Who knew why he'd opted for Charter Hill, a place more tailored to middle management.
Surely it wasn't the same reason as Blanca—wanting to be close to work?
With that thought, Karl stepped into the elevator lobby. As he approached, the elevator responded and opened automatically.
"The target lives on the top floor, but the elevator won't take you all the way," came T-BUG's voice over comms. "He's cautious. This building has twenty-four floors, but the elevator only goes up to twenty-one. After that, you'll have to take the stairs.
"The residence spans the top three floors, but the Commissioner himself lives only on the very top one. Between floors twenty-one and twenty-two, and again between twenty-two and twenty-three, there are identity verification doors. You'll need to be careful."
As Karl stepped inside, he raised an eyebrow at her briefing.
No mention of pre-hacked access? No assurance that everything was already unlocked for him? Was security that tight—even T-BUG hadn't cracked it?
"Couldn't you have just hacked all the doors like you did with the elevator? I thought I'd be strolling to the top."
"His security is tight," T-BUG replied. "Remote access risks alerting him. When you reach the verification points, just plug in and wait—I'll open the door. Or, better yet, do it yourself.
"Oliver and Jack are already in through the emergency stairs and ventilation system. V's bringing the scapegoat now. I need to keep comms open with all three of them and help V, so don't make me do everything, Karl. I'm tired."
"Fine, fine. If even you're saying you're tired, I'll stop being lazy."
With that, Karl leaned back in the elevator, watching the numbers climb on the panel. As it rose, he opened his comms and messaged:
Karl: "Mr. Johnson, you there?"
Johnson: "?"
Karl: "Looks like you are. Good. I was worried if you didn't respond, I'd have to call Andy."
Johnson: "Why Andy?! I'm a squad leader now! I don't do fieldwork anymore!"
Karl: "Just thought of you first. Andy's a team lead now, right? Pretty close to your level?"
Johnson: "You brat, always scheming. Andy's well-liked, sure—he's from the same neighborhood, everyone respects him—but he's still a rookie. Just a patrol officer. That squad's led by my niece. I'll send you her number. And don't get any funny ideas."
Karl: "Still just a patrol officer? Man, Mr. Johnson, you're really blocking his promotions just because you couldn't climb the ladder yourself, huh... Never mind. I don't need her number. I already have it. I'm here for you."
Johnson: "You have it?! Since when?"
Karl: "Since she asked me if she could sell that braindance recording—remember, the one with MAX-TAC? Not important now. Let's talk business."
Johnson: "Not important?"
In his seventh-floor office at the precinct, Johnson frowned deeply. Not important? That was outrageous.
His niece had plenty of admirers in the department. She wasn't bad-looking either. And this brat called her not important?
Just as Johnson was about to go full uncle-mode and remind Karl what a catch his niece was in Night City, Karl messaged again:
Karl: "Anyway, you told me not to worry about seizing power. But I think you should start thinking about it."
Johnson: "What's that supposed to mean?"
Karl didn't explain. As usual when he needed cleanup duty, he just sent Johnson his current location.
At first, Johnson didn't think much of it. But as he stared at the address… his eyes widened.
Wait a minute.
Wasn't that the Commissioner's building?
Leaping to his feet, Johnson yanked his coat from the rack and bolted from the office.
Facing the stunned looks of the other officers on the floor, he shouted a phrase he hadn't expected to say again:
"Deploy—full squad, now!"
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