Gearbound: Cyberpunk 2077-Chapter 196

Jackie and T-Bug eventually tired of chatting.

Jackie moved over to help Leo with whatever he could manage, while T-Bug browsed the emails left behind on the previous owner's computer, curious to find out what kind of person he was and who he had been in contact with.

Since the room had no beds, V just reclined in the chair to rest.

Leo stayed at the workbench, continuing to craft firearms.

—

Three hours later.

Leo and T-Bug were sitting across from each other, playing a round of Sette.

V and Jackie crouched to the side, watching.

Sette was a popular card game in Night City, where players built decks using cards representing different corporations, battling it out on a board that symbolized a battlefield.

Best two out of three.

The game wasn't complicated—only three types of cards existed: Leader cards, Unit cards, and Event cards.

Each corporation faction had multiple leaders.

For instance, Leo's Arasaka deck had Saburo Arasaka, Saburo Arasaka [Lily], and Saburo Arasaka [Alter] as leader options.

Each leader had unique abilities, but only one could be selected per match.

Unit cards were simple—they represented different kinds of troops.

Event cards worked like magic or trap cards from older games. Each had specific activation conditions.

For example, Leo just played an Event card called Shootout Every Day, which could only target Militech.

Its effect worsened city security under Militech control, preventing T-Bug from drawing cards for two turns.

—

Four hours later.

"Forget the game—look at this," V said, spinning the computer monitor around so everyone could see.

On the screen, dressed sharply in a suit, stood Yorinobu Arasaka, facing the press at what looked like a formal conference, addressing the journalists and the countless citizens watching Night City's news feeds:

"Good morning, Night City. You sitting there, you might know me, or you might not."

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am the CEO of Arasaka Corporation and current head of the Arasaka family. My name is Yorinobu Arasaka."

"You may have already heard—my father, Saburo Arasaka, was murdered last night."

"I wonder how many still remember—Night City's independence was secured thanks to Arasaka's supercarrier."

"And now, my father dies in this very city—a bitter irony."

"I will not forgive the ones responsible for his death, but even more important than vengeance is the safety and happiness of my family and employees."

"Thus, I am making an important announcement."

"I will double the number of Arasaka Special Operations Forces stationed in Night City."

"Perhaps to President Myers, this seems like a violation of the Arvin Accord, a provocation, an act against the New United States and Militech."

"But tell me—what is murdering my father, if not provocation?"

—

"Hold up, that's not all," V said, fast-forwarding to another broadcast.

Now it was Rosalind Myers, President of the New United States and former CEO of Militech, facing the cameras.

"The New United States government expresses deep concern over Arasaka Corporation's increasingly hostile posture."

"Any accusations toward Militech or our government regarding the death of Saburo Arasaka are not only baseless but deeply irresponsible."

"Militech and the New United States have always respected and upheld the terms of the Arvin Accord."

"But if provoked further, I assure you—we are prepared to respond fully."

"During the Unification War, we proved that Arasaka is not invincible."

"And if necessary, I will gladly remind his son of that fact."

—

At first glance, Yorinobu's statement seemed normal enough.

But the deeper you thought about it, the bigger the problems became.

He talked about reinforcing the Special Forces.

But he never issued a public bounty for the murderers of Saburo Arasaka.

Regardless of whether Militech actually sent assassins, Leo's team had definitely stormed and escaped Konpeki Plaza—that was realer than real.

Yet Yorinobu hadn't even mentioned it.

Normally, the city would be plastered with wanted posters.

Or...

maybe they weren't actually being wanted at all?

Leo frowned.

Something was off.

He quickly dialed a contact.

"Hey, Leo." Linari's face popped up in the holo-call.

"Hey. How's it going?"

She tilted her head slightly. "Same as usual."

"You remember you said you were digging for dirt on that... someone? How's that going?"

Without saying names, Leo got the message across.

Linari smiled slyly. "Found some, but not enough to bring charges."

"Keep it up. Let me know if you need help."

Linari winked. "Thanks. But you didn't call just for that, did you?"

"Nothing gets past you. Tell me—has Arasaka put out any bounties through NCPD yet?"

"Why you asking?"

"Just curious."

Seeing Leo didn't want to explain, Linari didn't push.

"Hold on. I'll check."

Two minutes later.

"Nothing."

"No bounty? Got it. Thanks."

Leo was about to hang up when Linari suddenly asked, "It wasn't you, was it?"

Leo's face stayed perfectly calm. "What are you talking about?"

"You know... that whole Konpeki Plaza thing?"

"Impossible! Not me! No way! You're imagining things!" Leo fired off denials rapidly. "Why would you think that?" ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

Linari pressed a finger to her lips, winked, and said, "Woman's intuition."

Ending the call with Linari, Leo immediately rang another number.

"Hey, Rogue."

"Kid, you really stirred some shit up, huh?"

Even though the news hadn't reported anything about them specifically, Rogue clearly didn't rely on mainstream media for her info.

She wasn't some politician's lackey—her intel network was something else entirely.

And Rogue had known about Leo's job with Dexter from the start, even if she hadn't known every detail.

There was no point lying to her.

"It's complicated."

"How complicated does it have to be for you to kill Saburo Arasaka?"

Leo flinched.

"Wasn't us," he said quickly.

To his surprise, Rogue didn't press the issue.

"I figured," she said lightly.

"You believe me that easily?"

Leo blinked, caught off guard.

He had prepared a whole speech to convince her.

Now it seemed it was all useless.

Seeing the faintly surprised look on Leo's face, Rogue chuckled.

He had the right mix—looks, skill, brains, and just enough edge when it mattered.

Still, Rogue had to admit, there was a small part of her that liked catching him off guard like this. It made him feel a little more real.

"Kid, I've crossed more bridges than you've walked roads," Rogue said, her voice tinged with nostalgia.

Back during the Fourth Corporate War, when Arasaka Tower was stormed, there wasn't just Johnny Silverhand's team—

there were three full assault teams.

Johnny's Alpha team led by him, Spider Murphy, Santiago, and some of the best cyber-mercs of the era.

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