"Temporary contract."
Hearing the NetWatch agent's words, Karl instantly knew what he was getting at.
"You want to hire us to take out the Voodoo Boys?"
"Now that your netrunner has lifted the data lockdown, I've regained control of the surveillance systems. The Voodoo Boys sent fifty people—targeting me."
"Fifty? For a gang like the Voodoo Boys, that's basically going all in. You guys at NetWatch got some beef with them?"
"A bunch of lunatics trying to cross over to the other side. You think they'd sit down and negotiate when they bump into someone trying to keep them on a leash?"
Karl narrowed his eyes slightly. He had a feeling there was more to it, but didn't bother digging.
As a merc, all that mattered was the job and the payout. If the client didn't want to talk, there was no need to ask.
"Alright then—let's talk payment. The sooner we close the deal, the sooner we get to work. This time it's full pay up front—no deposits."
Karl casually holstered Endless Night. The rest of the squad stayed quiet, waiting to hear what kind of price the NetWatch agent would throw out.
Taking down the Voodoo Boys? No biggie. If anything, they had a score to settle.
If it hadn't been for their sudden intrusion, they would've pulled Wildwoman away, grabbed the car, and been long gone.
"To repel the Voodoo Boys… what would a team like yours usually charge?"
The agent had access to tons of merc and bodyguard data but still couldn't pin down what KK Squad might ask for.
"You're the one hiring—you tell me."
That said, Karl gave it a moment's thought and named a fair number.
"Since it's local, plus the Animals are backing us up, and I've got a personal grudge in the mix, I'll cut you a break. Fair price—twenty-five thousand eddies."
Normally, taking on a fifty-man gang would be 1K per head—so 50K. But with 20+ Animals helping? Knock off 15K. Already onsite? Cut another 5K. Bit of personal payback? Drop 5K more. That brings it cleanly to half.
"Only twenty-five thousand?"
The agent had expected hiring KK Squad for this kind of work to cost at least 100K. Hearing Karl's rate—so fair and clean—he agreed instantly.
"Alright, send me your contact. I'll wire it right now."
"Didn't know NetWatch agents had 25K to just throw around. You guys are loaded."
"Not really—just happens my clearance allows it."
They exchanged contact info, and once the eddies hit Karl's account, he didn't waste time with small talk.
Twenty-plus elite Animals versus fifty Voodoo Boys—who weren't exactly built for direct combat? Pretty even match. But wait too long and someone else might beat them to it. And if the client thought the job wasn't worth the eddies? That'd be a headache.
"Go for it, Oliver. V—this new gig includes a cut for you. You and Jack take the front. T-BUG, you've got net-side."
"You got it."
Each of them replied in turn. Oliver added, "This won't take long."
Compared to the Animals hiding inside the Grand Empire Mall earlier, the Voodoo Boys attacking from outside weren't exactly subtle.
Bright daylight. Fifty dark-skinned gangers sprinting through the street? Real subtle, huh.
If it weren't for the risk of offending T-BUG, Oliver might've dropped a plantation-era joke right there.
But there are things you just don't say to friends.
His finger tightened on the trigger.
Double tap.
BZZZT—BLAM BLAM BLAM!
As gunfire exploded outside, loud and relentless, the NetWatch agent turned toward Karl—who still hadn't moved.
"You're not going out?"
"Too far. Lazy."
Karl said it casually, dropping into a chair as the agent stared at him in disbelief.
"Normally if we're short-handed, sure. But today we've got a whole wall of muscle charging in. No need to leave anyone watching the rear."
His eyes wandered toward the window behind the NetWatch agent.
"Wait a sec... I didn't even notice earlier—I was too busy chasing you. This is the projection room of the mall cinema, huh? Got any good movies loaded? Might as well watch something while they finish up."
Seriously?
A few minutes ago, this guy was ready to snap his neck—and now, just because a contract was signed, he's asking to watch a movie?
The NetWatch agent ran a scan using his medchip.
Mental state: Normal.
What?
He pulled the diagnostic log.
Turns out, Eastern cooperation models showed historical precedent for mutual celebrations—food, drinks, hangouts—after contracts were sealed. For example, Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, two ancient Chinese warlords, hosted a feast after taking down the Qin Dynasty.
In that context… Karl inviting him to watch a movie wasn't just normal—it was culturally appropriate.
Must be a regional thinking thing.
Choosing to trust the analysis, the agent calmed himself, pulled up a chair, and sat down next to Karl.
"What kind of movies do you like?"
"Got any recs?"
"How about a western? Old-school stuff."
"Damn, didn't peg you for the nostalgic type. Figured someone from a top-tier org like NetWatch would be all about pushing the digital frontier."
"If I really wanted that kind of future, I wouldn't be working for NetWatch. Pushing too far—just like the Voodoo Boys—never ends well."
As the two settled in and a dusty old western started rolling, Oliver's voice cut in over comms:
"Karl, you're slacking again. I wanna watch a western too."
"Buy your own BD later. And what do you mean slacking? Entertaining the client is work. You want return business or not?"
Karl's reply came with zero guilt.
Back in his day, being able to wine and dine a client? That was a skill all on its own.
.
.
.
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