We had an issue with the chapter release — by mistake I uploaded Chapter 341 when the next one should have been Chapter 351. Sorry for the confusion! It's now fixed, and once again, apologies for the mistake.
-
-
-
"Oh, so those braindances weren't just FX-ed stunts… They were actually recorded live?" As the waitress at El Mexicano Picante served more c
"Oh, so those braindances weren't just FX-ed stunts… They were actually recorded live?"
As the waitress at El Mexicano Picante served more coffee, Kerry slowly pieced things together through his conversation with Karl. He finally realized that the braindances he'd watched weren't just studio-crafted simulations—they were actual, live combat captures. Karl and his team weren't BD stars… they were mercs.
"Seems like you don't watch much BD, Kerry," Karl commented with a grin. "For a trained eye, those kinds of recordings are easy to spot."
He pulled out his phone and casually showed Kerry his contact info. "If you don't mind, feel free to save my number. I run a merc crew—pretty reputable around Night City. If you've ever got any special jobs, we're always open for hire."
Karl had never forgotten: securing contracts is just as important as finishing them.
And Kerry? He was loaded. Probably had more than a few problems that needed "off-the-books" solutions. Plus, someone like him probably had no idea what merc rates looked like—which made him a potential goldmine of a client. Not leaving a contact would be straight-up irresponsible.
"You're handing out your number… to land future gigs?" Kerry looked at Karl, ready to decline. He was used to turning down wild collaborations from all sorts of people backstage or after shows.
But just as the words were on the tip of his tongue, something stopped him.
He remembered an incident—not long ago.
At his mansion in North Oak, a group of thieves had broken in. Their target: his prized guitars. They slipped past his hired security team and managed to grab one—only to be taken down by his automated defense bots just before they escaped.
If it weren't for those bots, he'd have lost a rare, vintage guitar.
That was the moment Kerry realized: he could no longer trust his expensive security team.
Kerry wasn't the paranoid type—but he wasn't stupid either. His label, MSM Media Group, had rivals. Big ones. Corporate ones. They wouldn't dare hit him in the open, but a staged "accident"? A kidnapping? A quiet "suicide"? That was entirely within the realm of possibility.
And if his current bodyguards couldn't stop some petty thieves, what good would they be against pros?
The way Kerry saw it: different problems need different solutions.
If Karl's crew were mercs—real ones, not just wannabe muscle—then maybe they knew other teams. Teams they themselves didn't want to mess with. That alone could be valuable insight.
"You guys know any security teams you'd hate to go up against?" Kerry asked suddenly. "Y'know, ones that make you think twice about even taking the job?"
The entire table froze.
The crew exchanged glances—not shocked, but definitely surprised.
That… wasn't a question they heard every day.
Security teams they would rather not face?
Well… they did exist.
Adam Smasher with Kenichiro Saburo, or Ken'ichiro Shirō paired with Chiyojo, or one of Arasaka's elite ninja-black ops hybrid teams… those were the types of setups that'd make any merc quietly nope out of a contract.
But guards like that? They didn't exactly freelance.
Karl cleared his throat and gave a diplomatic answer: "To be honest… people like that are already under permanent contracts. Even if you wanted them, Kerry, you wouldn't be able to hire them."
"I see." Kerry looked mildly disappointed. Guess it wasn't so easy finding truly reliable protection.
"But…" Karl continued, "I do know some solid mercs. Not traditional security types, sure—but they've got experience guarding VIPs. They've run long-term protection contracts before. If you're interested, I could arrange a meeting. You could judge for yourself whether they're a good fit."
"You mean... hire mercs as bodyguards?"
Kerry mulled it over.
It was actually kind of brilliant. Who better to understand how to break security than someone who knew exactly how to protect it?
Mercs weren't just muscle—they knew how other mercs thought. That made them attack and defense, all in one.
Kerry was definitely intrigued.
Still, this was just their first meeting. He didn't know Karl beyond reputation. Trusting a total stranger's recommendation with his personal security? That was risky.
But Karl had said he'd arrange a meeting. Let him judge for himself.
"Alright," Kerry said, still trying to keep his cool. "What's their rate? Don't waste my time if they're overpriced or underqualified. I'm not some rich fool, y'know."
He tried to sound seasoned. Like he wasn't new to the merc world.
But to Karl and the others?
It was adorably obvious he was a complete rookie.
Didn't even ask for qualifications. Just jumped straight to price.
But Karl wasn't about to roast a potential client.
Instead, he gave Kerry a friendly rundown of a merc team he had in mind:
Team Brown.
Right now, they weren't tied up with any long-term contracts—and they were actively looking for steady work.
Friends helping friends. That's what Karl was about.
And who knew? This gig might just work out for everyone.
-
-
-
🔥 Cyberpunk: The Relentless
📢 Chooms, Listen Up! 📢
You can now jack in and get 100 chapters ahead on Patreon for Cyberpunk: The Relentless! 💾🔥
Stay synced with the chrome, the carnage, and the chaos—early access is stacked and ready. 🧠💀
🔗 Join here: www.patreon.com/c/MrMagnus
👤 Patreon name: SrMagnus
Preem support as always, chooms. See you in Night City. 🌆💫