Cyberpunk: I'm Not a Scavenger - Chapter 82: Enemies from Beyond the Heavens (Patreon)

Although the spider hadn't made a sound, one of the netrunners seemed to sense something and abruptly stood up.

Not a sound had escaped. Was that guy using cheats or what?

Pantheon made the spider cling to the server. Its optical camouflage rippled, and it vanished in an instant.

The netrunner looked around but found nothing unusual. Eventually, he decided his nerves were playing tricks on him.

Pantheon waited silently for more than ten minutes. Nothing happened. Only then did he guide the spider slowly back to the ceiling.

Leaving the server room, the spider followed the shadows beneath the eaves while Pantheon surveyed every area outside the shrine's main hall.

Aside from Tyger Claws smoking and boasting in small groups, he found no security measures beyond what he'd expected.

Surely Taki Kazo wouldn't send hundreds of Tyger Claws after him? He'd just be sending them to their deaths.

The spider slipped through the corridors, avoiding the sentries along the eaves, until it reached a heavily guarded private courtyard behind the shrine.

The courtyard was laid out as a traditional Japanese kare-sansui dry garden, with several low tables in a pavilion at its center. A geisha with her face powdered white performed an odd dance to the music.

Taki Kazo, the current leader of the Tyger Claws, was entertaining guests with several of his trusted senior lieutenants.

The high-definition camera on the spider's abdomen gave Pantheon a clear view of everyone present.

A corpo in a custom Arasaka suit occupied the seat of honor. He regarded the Tyger Claws with cold, undisguised arrogance.

To his left knelt a gaunt, haggard old man in a traditional kimono, a long sword resting across his knees.

The last guest was impossible to overlook. He was a mountain of flesh who looked to weigh more than five hundred kilograms.

Tattoos of dragons, elephants, tigers, carp, and Hannya masks covered every inch of his bare torso.

Pantheon's scan also revealed a staggering number of implants: titanium-alloy bones, BioDyne lungs, strength-enhancement kits, and super-heavy subdermal armor...

"Nomiyama? A Japanese sumo wrestler at yokozuna level?"

Pantheon laughed when the information appeared on his retinal display.

The spider crept closer along the roof and trained its directional microphone on the gathering. Taki Kazo's fawning voice came through the headset.

"Mr. Koizumi, we owe this opportunity to the support of Arasaka Intelligence Division. You have our deepest gratitude!"

Koizumi, the Arasaka corpo, gave a disdainful snort.

"Kazo, the Tyger Claws have been a disappointment lately! If you fail again, you'd better be prepared to commit seppuku!"

"Hai! Hai! You have my word!"

Taki Kazo immediately prostrated himself, sliding an envelope toward Koizumi.

"A small token of our gratitude. Please accept it, Lord Koizumi!"

The other senior gang members prostrated themselves as well. Their overwhelming 'sincerity' finally won Koizumi over.

"Very well. Perhaps you're not beyond redemption after all."

Koizumi discreetly slipped the envelope into his pocket, a faint smile appearing.

"Don't worry. Arasaka will handle the pressure from Militech. You need only concentrate on dealing with that 'King.'"

"Hai! Hai!"

After several rounds of sake, the mood in the pavilion grew livelier.

Taki Kazo turned to the old swordsman and bowed all the way to the ground again.

"Master Shimura, I'm terribly sorry I failed to protect the Yamada brothers! The fault is entirely mine!"

Hiruzen Shimura had traveled from Tokyo expressly to avenge his disciples. As he remembered the horrific deaths of his beloved students, a murderous light flashed through his clouded eyes.

"Ichiro and the others were hardly accomplished swordsmen, but they were still my disciples. If someone defeated them, then I failed to teach them properly.

"This time, I'll use my own blade to show him what true swordsmanship is!"

Taki Kazo nodded again and again, doing his best to soothe Master Shimura. The last thing he wanted was for the old man to die before the cyberware even arrived.

Then he turned toward the mountain of flesh and bowed respectfully.

"Lord Nomiyama, we're truly grateful you traveled all the way from Japan!"

Nomiyama laughed like rolling thunder, setting the sake cups rattling.

"Kazo, I didn't come to Night City because you invited me. I came for power!

"I wonder whether Night City has any prey worth my full strength."

He slapped his enormous thigh and turned to Koizumi.

"When is Arasaka's experimental cyberware arriving? I can't wait any longer!"

Nomiyama's rudeness irritated Koizumi. This musclebound idiot had no idea what the experimental cyberware was actually meant to do.

Koizumi only hoped he would survive long enough for Arasaka to collect sufficient data.

Suppressing his irritation, Koizumi set down his cup and answered.

"Rest assured, Lord Nomiyama. The super-heavy skeletal reinforcement kit and Berserk System are undergoing their final tests at our headquarters in Japan.

"They'll reach Night City within a week.

"With them, your strength will exceed human limits and set new records."

"A week?"

Nomiyama grinned, grabbed a huge steak from the table, and stuffed it into his mouth.

"Hahaha! I hope that mercenary King lives that long. It'd be a shame if someone else killed him first."

The spider retreated in silence. Hiruzen Shimura's eyelids twitched as though he'd sensed it. He did nothing, however, and the little spider slipped away safely.

"Arasaka really must think highly of me."

Pantheon narrowed his eyes as he considered what he'd learned. Swordmaster Hiruzen Shimura and the sumo wrestler Nomiyama. Arasaka was even supplying them with custom experimental cyberware.

"Hold on. What did Koizumi mean when he said Arasaka would keep Militech off their backs?

"Do they think I'm working for Militech?"

Pantheon's mind raced as a new idea took shape.

"If you enjoy stirring up trouble so much, I'll give you something even bigger to deal with."

He couldn't suppress a smile at the thought of what came next.

The call connected after a few rings, and a holographic image appeared on the car window. Meredith appeared to be working late. She was angrily berating a subordinate.

"Useless idiots! You can't handle one little job without making me step in!

"Screw up again and you can all get the fuck out!"

Having vented her anger, she dismissed her subordinates and rubbed her temples.

"What do you want, King?"

"Good news. Very good news."

Pantheon didn't waste time. He sent Meredith part of the data. One glance was enough to make her leap out of her chair.

"Don't send information like this over the Net!"

Meredith paced the room, practically radiating ambition.

"Room 204, No-Tell Motel. We'll talk in person."