Cyberpunk: I'm Not a Scavenger - Chapter 90: A Turning Point (Patreon)

As Pantheon stepped out of the shrine’s gates, dawn had just broken.

Glancing at the dozens of unread messages in his contact list, he swiped through them casually without reading them closely. He found Lucy’s account and sent her a message.

“Is everything going smoothly over there?”

Lucy replied almost immediately. A video call connected, revealing Lucy's melancholy face. She looked almost like a young widow.

She quickly scanned Pantheon’s body, confirming that aside from a few bloodstains, he wasn’t missing any limbs, and only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.

“You bastard! Why did you have to go in alone and play the hero?!”

Lucy’s tone was urgent and tinged with reproach. Pantheon turned sideways and flexed his arm to show her his bulging muscles.

“I haven't fulfilled my promise to you yet. How could I possibly leave?”

This immediately held back Lucy’s tears, and she gave Pantheon a playful glare.

“Is that the weird uncle?”

Rebecca blinked her fluorescent red cybereyes and squeezed her way into the frame from the side.

“Great! You're still alive! I thought that half-ton fatso had flattened you!”

Pantheon's face darkened. That little runt really knew how to hold a grudge.

“Shoo. Children shouldn't interrupt grown-ups.”

“Jackie, how did things go over there?”

“You bastard! Put me down!”

Jackie grabbed Rebecca by her clothes, lifted her up, and set her aside.

“You wouldn't believe how much money the Tyger Claws had stashed in that casino.”

“Five million eddies! Amigo, we're rich!”

Pantheon said nothing. Five million was barely a fraction of what he'd taken from Biotechnica before. Logically speaking, this amount of money didn’t really fit the Tyger Claws’ status.

Fuck! Had that idiot Taki Kazo used the money to bribe Arasaka and hire outside help?

What a disaster!

Pantheon felt a stab of pure frustration.

Under his agreement with Wakako, the outlying casinos and nightclubs controlled by the Tyger Claws’ hardliners were his to deal with. The headquarters and the remaining territory were hers.

If the Tyger Claws had moved all the money beforehand, hadn't they cheated him out of his share?

He'd have to work things out with Wakako. Surely she'd show him that much respect.

“King, you really pulled it off.”

Maine's dark face appeared on the screen. He looked at Pantheon with open admiration. A thought crossed his mind, and he asked casually with a smile.

“I wonder if you’re still short-handed?”

“We’re definitely short-handed! I was just about to look for a few reliable people to give a try. What do you think, Jackie?”

“Absolutely! Now that you’re the boss, you can’t be as careless as you used to be. Hahaha.”

Before they could exchange many more words, the others arrived as well, and the screen quickly became crowded.

Dorio smiled and waved at Pantheon.

Kiwi stayed her usual aloof self. With a cigarette between her lips, she gave Pantheon a small nod by way of greeting.

Sasha also rushed back from outside, her eyes carrying a hint of concern as she looked at Pantheon. Seeing that he was okay, she gently reminded him.

“King, remember to get a checkup once you’re back.”

“Let's have a proper drink at the Afterlife later! I can't wait to tell the girls my stories!”

Pilar's long arms reached over the crowd, his gold-plated fingers wiggling wildly. Rebecca shoved her brother's head down and squeezed back into the frame.

As he looked at the familiar faces on the screen and listened to their chorus of concerned voices, Pantheon’s exhaustion vanished in an instant.

“Amigo, you’re a legend in Night City now.”

At that, Pantheon smiled and gave the camera a thumbs-up.

“No, my friends. You're the real legends!”

...

“Beep, beep!”

“Ugh! Who is it? Pantheon… Pantheon, you… you better answer that!”

Pantheon climbed out of bed and answered the comms call with obvious impatience.

“Meredith, you’d better have something important!”

“Well, our newest legend sounds a little fired up.”

Meredith took a few admiring glances at Pantheon’s bare torso before teasing him offhandedly.

“Fuck! Just spit it out!”

Pantheon’s eyelid twitched as he snapped back irritably.

Meredith reined herself in a bit and explained the situation to Pantheon with a smile.

“The operation went off without a hitch. We’ve already obtained the data on Arasaka Corporation’s experimental cyberware.”

She paused for a moment, her gaze toward Pantheon taking on a different tone.

“Senior management is extremely pleased with your performance. Would you be interested in a long-term partnership with Militech?”

“Name your price. Funding, intelligence, any equipment you want. The company needs a top-tier mercenary, and we'll do everything we can to make you the next Morgan Blackhand.”

Morgan Blackhand, my ass.

Pantheon cursed silently to himself.

Corporations desperately wanted legendary mercenaries under their control. Since when was making him one supposed to be a favor to him?

Besides his reputation and a couple of books, what had Morgan Blackhand actually gotten out of it? He was just another knife in corporate hands.

“I’ll have to think this over. As you know, I’ve never liked being told what to do.”

Pantheon lit a cigarette and brushed it off casually.

Meredith studied him closely. Her instincts told her that their partnership might not last much longer.

“I understand. The strong have their privileges. Take your time. Militech's doors will always be open to you.”

Meredith nodded slightly, then smiled meaningfully.

“Then I won’t bother you tonight. Sweet dreams, King.”

Comms ended, and the screen went dark.

But not long after, Pantheon received another private message from Meredith. The photo showed some kind of iconic weapon, along with an address. The same place as before.

“Damn it!”

Pantheon cursed under his breath, lost in thought.

Lucy crawled out from under the covers and snuggled up against his back.

Feeling her warmth against his back, little Pantheon stirred again.

“What are you thinking about?”

Pantheon gently stroked Lucy’s cheek and said, half-jokingly.

“I'm going to end corporate rule, crush Saburo Arasaka under my heel, and become the sun of this world.”

“And if anyone looks at me without bursting into tears, I'll give them a front-row seat at a nuclear test and a generous helping of lead.”

“You’re crazy.”

Lucy rolled her eyes at him, the corners of her mouth curving slightly upward.

He might seem like a reckless clown, but he was more dependable than anyone she knew. Once he set his mind to something, he always seemed to pull it off.

Still, when she thought of his shameless charm and the countless moths drawn helplessly to his flame, Lucy couldn't help feeling irritated.

“Hahaha!”

Watching her adorable expression, Pantheon suddenly felt a surge of desire.

“Ah! Mm! Not there...”

...

High above the Badlands, a large AV bearing the Arasaka emblem sped toward Night City. A distinguished corporate executive sat beside a window, rapidly scanning the documents in her hands.

She had short silvery-white hair, piercing eyes, and an impeccable face.

“Ms. Valerie, we’ll be landing shortly. Please fasten your seatbelt.”

The flight attendant reminded her softly. Valerie smiled and nodded at the flight attendant, then put away her documents.

She looked out the window, her heart racing.

Night City, I’m back!