"Apologies, Mr. KK. We didn't expect you to arrive in such an unconventional vehicle." A squad leader of the Barghest—Dogtown's paramilitary
"Apologies, Mr. KK. We didn't expect you to arrive in such an unconventional vehicle."
A squad leader of the Barghest—Dogtown's paramilitary enforcers—hurried over, waving off the soldier who had been conducting the inspection. He stepped up to the car window and offered Karl a sincere apology:
"Your entry registration has already been approved. I'll have the checkpoint gate opened immediately. You may proceed. Mr. Kenichi Kazunari is already awaiting your arrival inside Dogtown."
Hearing the squad leader's apology, everyone in the car finally realized what had gone wrong—because their modified Hella looked far too average and unimpressive, the guards never imagined anyone important would arrive in such a vehicle.
As Karl looked at the Barghest captain apologizing, he couldn't help but feel a little amused.
This whole situation felt like one of those classic scenes—someone dressed plainly gets stopped by hotel security, only for the hotel manager to rush out in a panic once they realize who it is.
Classic "face-slapping reversal" trope.
Still, Karl wasn't the type to throw a fit over a simple misunderstanding. Smiling, he responded with a gesture of humility.
"No, we're the ones unfamiliar with the local rules."
To the nearby Barghest soldier—who had just been arguing with Oliver and Jack—this was simply unreal. He had at least heard the name: KK, Night City's infamous killing machine... and now that very man was apologizing?
Karl continued, "We forgot that smaller vehicles are supposed to use the service route. That's on us."
"Is... is that so?" the squad leader stammered, clearly thrown off by the unexpected humility. After a short pause, he gathered himself and added, "Still, not recognizing you was our mistake. Please, proceed."
Soon enough, the massive gate dividing Dogtown from Pacifica creaked open, and the Hella rolled forward.
Watching the car pull away, the squad leader still couldn't quite believe that KK had just apologized to them. Just then, he overheard the younger soldier from earlier mutter under his breath, "KK... doesn't seem as scary as the rumors say. Thought he'd be skinning people alive over a campfire by now."
That did it.
The captain walked over and delivered a hard kick, sending the younger Barghest stumbling.
"Still mouthing off? You've gotten too comfortable dissing outsiders. One day, someone's gonna pull a gun on you, and it's not gonna be pretty."
The younger guard stayed quiet, rubbing his side. Still, he grumbled, "How was I supposed to know he was KK?"
"You don't even recognize the other two in the car, do you? That was Oliver and Jack. If it came to a fight, our whole squad wouldn't last a minute against even one of them. And you were running your mouth like some street punk!"
"But… we've got turrets and unmanned combat mechs. There's no way one guy could take out all of us..."
Another kick.
"You think you'd still be alive by the time the systems activate? Use your damn head. Next time you talk shit, I'll let your sister teach you a lesson, you mutt."
Upon hearing his sister mentioned, the young guard shut up and replied with his head bowed, "Yes, sir… brother-in-law."
"Call me Captain. I don't have a dumbass little brother."
"But Captain, you just called me a mutt… doesn't that mean you're—"
"You little—!"
Unaware of the beating happening behind them, Karl and the crew rolled into Dogtown in their Hella. As the gates fully opened, a whole new world revealed itself before them.
In the driver's seat, Oliver—his new Kirosugi optics zoomed in—spotted a massive ring-shaped building in the distance. "That stadium... that's Dogtown's, right? Damn, it's huge. I can see it from here."
"That's because of your new optics," Jack said, squinting. "I can barely make out its shape. I've gotta get my eye mod upgraded. The zoom on mine sucks."
"That's the EBM Petrochem Stadium," Jack explained. "It was funded by EBM Petrochem back in the day, but the project was abandoned halfway through when Pacifica fell into ruin. There's a rumor that after the Unification War, Barghest shot down a nuclear cargo airship from New USA, and it crashed right into the stadium. Its nuclear generator supposedly powers all of Dogtown now."
"Sounds legit," Oliver said, scanning the well-lit streets. "Clearly, they're not short on power. No way this place could survive without independent power—Night City's government would've shut them down ages ago."
"Let's move on," Jack said, changing the subject. "What's the plan? Where's Kenichi Kazunari meeting us? The Lapis Lazuli Tower?"
"That's Barghest HQ," Karl replied. "I wouldn't mind, but if we're not invited, I doubt Colonel Hansen would be happy about unannounced guests."
Karl scrolled through his messages. "We'll be meeting him later to talk business on Arasaka's behalf, but for now, he's booked us a hotel. Also managed by Barghest. Hope you don't mind slumming it a bit, Lord Jack?"
"Fine, but it's not up to me. The driver's got the wheel."
"I just want this job to go smoothly," Oliver sighed. "Representing Arasaka and negotiating with Barghest… even if we're just the 'faces,' it still feels weird. Like we're pretending to be something we're not. Karl, what's that princess of yours thinking, anyway?"
"No idea," Karl admitted. "She's paying us, so we work. Isn't that what mercs do?"
"But you and her… you're not just merc and employer, right?"
Oliver gave Karl a skeptical look. He trusted Karl, but that Arasaka heiress? Not so much.
Who knew? Maybe she was trying to rope Karl into corporate business one step at a time.
And once you get tangled up in corporate schemes… getting out isn't easy.
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