Wangshan:
"...Shit! What you said makes sense, but where the hell am I supposed to get 500k worth of goods? You want me to hand you a truckload of garbage? You think the Tax Bureau is stupid? That I can just pay consumption tax and they won't check prices online?"
Broomhead:
"That's simple… But wait, your net-handle is Wangshan? That's so artsy. Closet poet, huh?"
Wangshan:
"Fuck off! I don't need that from a mop-head! Skip the crap—get to the point!"
Broomhead:
"Fine. I'll send you a temporary mercenary contract. You provide long-range sniper support, help me raid this place. I'll cover the risk. We split the spoils. Your share will be processed under my company's name, funneled through internal pricing—your account will be clean. Anything beyond 500k is your bonus. Deal or not?"
Wangshan:
"Didn't expect you, broke bastard, to be such a company dog… Fine. This could work. But tell me, this Akiyama Dojo—does it really have 500k worth of goods?"
Broomhead:
"Of course. Look at this sword—they gave it to me. Snatch another five or six and we're set."
Wangshan:
"They gave you one and you still want to rob them? You've got issues…"
And so, Li Pan and Cerberus' sniper Wangshan struck a deal—signed the contract, joined forces, and set their sights on the Akiyama job.
Whether K had vouched for him out of upper-echelon protector's authority, as Night City's arbiter, or simply because she lusted after his body—
This time, she had indeed guaranteed Li Pan's safety, smoothing things over with the ninjas and Cerberus, wiping away potential aftermath.
Considering K had wielded the "Fruit of Face" and Li Pan himself had killed a Spider and blasted a head, sure, he still wasn't Cerberus' match—but taking two bullets and walking away with a settlement was fair enough.
Everyone had to eat. Li Pan could let things slide with Wangshan. But the grudge with the Akiyamas—that would not be easily resolved.
Because this wasn't his doing.
Unlike Cerberus, which he had provoked, the Akiyama feud hadn't come from him picking a fight.
He hadn't gone looking for Akiyama trouble. Nor did the Akiyamas give a damn about a penniless mop-head.
It all stemmed from them making the first move—stealing from the company. Thieves, guilty consciences.
Strike once, and they'd strike again. Sure, this time they tossed out Ayako as a scapegoat to distract him, but sooner or later they'd clash head-on with Monster Company.
Besides, Li Pan needed to uncover the truth behind the last company's annihilation. And since the Akiyamas were the first faction to extend claws afterward, both publicly and privately, they were unavoidable.
So no matter how many sweet dates or bitter blows he took, the knives would come out one day.
At military school, he hadn't been a total slacker. He at least knew you couldn't guard against thieves forever. Better to strike while the enemy was unprepared.
And right now—just after a million had hit his account, after his groveling apology, when the enemy thought things were settled—this was the moment they were most relaxed. If not now, when?
Headquarters agreed.
What, you think the company was blind? A proxy GM suddenly receiving a massive deposit, flagged by the Tax Bureau? Of course they'd notice. If Li Pan had really sold the company for a measly million, the Security Council would laugh themselves sick.
Shit—why settle for 2.5k before if a million was coming anyway?
Anyway, HQ had faxed over inquiries. Li Pan responded with a long-winded, embellished, and misdirected essay—carefully omitting Cerberus. What I do with my money is none of your business.
The gist: Akiyama had disrespected Monster Company.
Yes—after seeing K brandish Night Corp's banner to pressure Five Chariots Academy, Li Pan understood: companies cared about face.
Well, then. The Akiyamas had only compensated his damages. What about the company's?
Monster Company—a proud Security Council member, the 0791 Branch GM (even if "acting")—ambushed at his own doorstep!
A legitimate, tax-paying warehouse gutted!
Did the company have no dignity?
Where was the company's compensation?
Li Pan was standing up for the company. How could they not respond?
So HQ replied quickly, affirming his essay, supporting him. Basically: Go ahead.
Li Pan asked, "Great! So… budget? Action funds?"
The phone rang.
"Hello? What did you forget to say?"
The landline said:
"Since HQ acknowledges your judgment, confirming 0791 faces hostile forces targeting us, risking corporate war, we grant permission to apply for Corporate War Readiness."
"Oh? Corporate war readiness? Like star destroyers? Great, ship me a dozen!"
"Corporate War Readiness refers to equipment developed by our R&D from 'Monsters'—designed for company wars. Reference confidential tech lists. GM-level clearance required.
Application requires: report, directive, war-readiness request, action plan. Three copies. Approved by HQ, Subsidiary 01 GM, and one unrelated subsidiary GM. Upon full approval, a war fund account is opened. The assigned manager oversees equipment application and usage guidance."
"So besides HQ and 01, I need to win over another manager?"
Li Pan thought back. 01 seemed like a GM of GMs—a steward. Their opinion mattered.
"Can I pick who?"
"State reasons. If available, HQ may approve."
"Got it."
So Li Pan set things in motion—drafted the plan, sent Shiba-18 and Rama to scout the Akiyama Dojo, and had Ah Qi bring over Kotarō.
By the time intel was gathered and the company arranged for a meeting, Kotarō arrived.
"Grateful for your boundless kindness! I, Sealing Demon Kotarō, will dedicate my life to the company!"
He collapsed in a practiced dogeza as soon as he entered. Just out of prison, cyberware unactivated, body still weak.
"Enough, enough—stop kneeling all day."
Li Pan, busy with documents, skipped the pleasantries.
"Kotarō, remember this: when you were doomed, the company pulled you out. Don't forget it.
Now—what do you know about the Akiyama Dojo?"
Kotarō, waiting nervously for an interview these days, knew the dojo info he'd leaked had triggered this. Excited, he answered:
"Yes! The Akiyama Dojo was bestowed to the Akiyamas by the Oda Clan, located in the Old Capital District beside Sakura Park. Takamagahara staff train there in traditional culture. Current head: Akiyama Kageoka…"
"Alright, spare me the public info."
"Uh—yes."
"When was it granted? How many generations?"
"Um… ten-something generations? During the Eighth Neo-Tokyo era…"
"Exactly. The Eighth Neo-Tokyo—real estate boom. Central district land was worth fortunes. And stingy Oda just casually handed the Akiyamas prime property for a dojo?!"
Kotarō froze. He had never considered it.
Yeah. Takamagahara had protected them before, but after twenty years, even Muramasa had been crushed by Night Corp. How had Akiyamas held prime real estate?
Li Pan tossed him blueprints.
"Look. Sewer maps, power lines. Nothing under the dojo. All blank. Deleted.
That dojo sits atop a sealed underground palace. No drainage, no wiring. Even the park was redesigned to avoid digging it up.
You're Oda's ninja heir. This is family business. You must know.
Why did Oda give them this dojo? What's buried beneath? What are they guarding? Answer me.
Kotarō—are you useful to this company?"
Kotarō broke into sweat, pupils shaking. He racked his brain, gnawing a fingernail. Finally:
"The underground holds… Oda Kamitsuke's divine palanquin!"
"A coffin? Which Kamitsuke? They're all called Kamitsuke."
Li Pan flicked through his tablet.
Kotarō paled. No escape now.
"No, not just any. The first Kamitsuke. Founder of the Oda Clan and Takamagahara. The infamous Demon King…"
Li Pan blinked.
"That was centuries ago! And wasn't his coffin at Atsuta Shrine? They moved it to Tokyo sewers? What blasphemy."
Kotarō confessed further:
"In the Eighth Neo-Tokyo boom, Takamagahara was at its peak—nearly a Council member. Society was euphoric. Stock market soaring. Everyone believed anything was possible.
They launched countless high-tech projects. Among them: resurrecting the Demon King Oda Kamitsuke through biotech."
Li Pan narrowed his eyes.
"Resurrect? You mean cloning?"
"Not mass-produced cyborgs. Custom genetic constructs from Oda's DNA. Beyond super-soldier augments—memory replication, consciousness upload, full QVN access. A true post-human evolution. Level Six tech.
The first test subject: modeled after the original Kamitsuke, his life reconstructed virtually to build an artificial persona. Codename: Demon King Project.
If the Ethics Council investigated, they'd claim it was movie props—those historical epics filmed with clone battles.
But costs skyrocketed. Bioengineering, augments, genetics—too much for one company. The bubble burst, Takamagahara collapsed. Projects were abandoned.
Ayako once wore shrine maiden outfits at school festivals—said her family were hereditary priests. They likely tended the divine palanquin.
And you saw her cyber-tech. Their Ittō-ryū swordstyle complements augmentation—probably spinoffs of the Demon King Project. Generations of Akiyamas tested bio-weapons."
"Interesting. You're more useful than I thought."
"Thank you for your praise."
With these secrets, Li Pan understood: the Akiyama Dojo was an entrance to the Demon King lab. Takamagahara, even after collapse, had kept poking at it under cover of cultural training.
But with Oda remnants splintered, ninjas scattered, defense companies shut down—funding was gone. The labs were being liquidated.
As for their interest in Warehouse 7? Probably tied to the Tangled Fate / Deathbond—a contract that could revive the dead.
Maybe they really had a biotech Demon King sealed there.
After all, even a suit could be resurrected.
A Demon King returning could unify Takamagahara remnants.
Tsk. The Akiyamas—faithful guardians and tomb-keepers. Their "noble cause" was resurrection of the Demon King.
That was enough ammo to persuade HQ.
"Kotarō, your augments seem solid. From the Demon King Project too? What level?"
"Yes. Using Sealing Demon family's secret ninja tools, my body is fully converted to Level Five. But activation requires your approval."
Not bad. A Level Five ninja soldier. Plenty strong.
Li Pan patted his shoulder.
"Combat value in the tens of millions. We'll hold off registering you until after tonight's battle."
Kotarō flushed with shame.
"Yes."
What, guilty about fighting your old Akiyama kin? About betraying Oda's legacy? Please. A traitor acting shy.
Li Pan ignored him, organized the intel, and submitted it. Three-way approval came swiftly. He entered the meeting room, turned off the lights.
Click.
Across the round table, a badge projection lit up—the manager he had nominated to join the approval panel and guide the operation.
"General Manager of Subsidiary 081."
"Subsidiary 0791. Second managerial meeting. Guidance on corporate war-readiness equipment.
According to regulations, the reporting manager and guiding manager are present. The meeting may now officially begin."
.
.
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⚠️ 30 CHAPTERS AHEAD — I'm Not a Cyberpsycho ⚠️
The system says: Kill.Mercs obey. Corporates obey. Monsters obey.One man didn't.
🧠💀 "I'm not a cyberpsycho. I just think... differently."
💥 High-voltage cyberpunk. Urban warfare. AI paranoia.Read 30 chapters ahead, only on Patreon.
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