MHGA Chapter 207 – Clearing the Mind
"Kairo Retsu-san, while the fact that you can supply the Afterlife with milk at a low price is… certainly a good thing, in truth, most people here don't want to drink the milk you brought."
Claire spoke with a bit of resignation on her face. "They feel… like you're insulting them."
She hoisted the big metal bucket and moved it behind the bar, preparing to store it in the cooler. "We actually still have a lot of milk left over… The Afterlife doesn't really know what to do with it."
"What's the big deal? Just drink it, or pour a cup and give it to some homeless guy outside." Kairo Retsu sat beside the bar. "For now, give me a cup of Granny Felyne's Love. I'll sit here for a while and then head out."
"One Granny Felyne's Love, coming up." Claire gave a helpless smile but still went to heat up the milk for him.
Kairo Retsu rested his chin on one hand, seated by the counter, quietly pondering his next move.
There weren't too many things the Hunters needed to take care of in Night City…
First was the Kirin. As an Elder Dragon, it was an exceptionally difficult foe.
Second was the matter of David.
And in Kairo Retsu's eyes, David's problem was even harder to deal with than the Kirin.
No matter how powerful the Kirin was, it was still just a monster—with a limit to its strength.
But David's issue… was an issue of the entire era.
"And then there's the matter of Arasaka… Truly a problem we can't avoid."
Kairo Retsu let out a long sigh.
Arasaka Corporation.
Whether in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners or Cyberpunk 2077, Arasaka was an omnipresent force.
David's Sandevistan, and the cultivation of Lucy to dive beyond the Blackwall, were both products of Arasaka.
Even though the events of Cyberpunk 2077 were still a year away, the underground infrastructure for Mikoshi should already exist.
If Kairo Retsu wanted to change this world… he could only think of one solution.
"Saburo Arasaka…"
His fingers tapped rapidly against the bar.
Let Yorinobu Arasaka collaborate with David. Make Arasaka truly a tool in Yorinobu's hands.
Only then would David have the foundation he needed to truly change the world.
But before that, the ones who needed to be dealt with were—
"Saburo Arasaka and Adam Smasher…" Kairo Retsu mused.
Saburo was the true wielder of power in Arasaka. But according to the events of 2077, if Saburo and Mikoshi were dealt with—and the Soulkiller issue resolved—then Arasaka could fall under Yorinobu's control.
As for Adam Smasher, a monster made almost entirely of Arasaka military tech—ninety-seven percent cyberware—
David wanted to take him down.
Kairo Retsu remembered the look on David's face when he brought up Adam Smasher to the other Hunters.
David wanted to handle that matter alone. He said he wanted to settle the score with that grim future himself.
"Haah…" Kairo Retsu covered his face and sighed. "So damn much crap."
After a long exhale, he took the hot milk Claire had placed in front of him, glancing around the bar—when he noticed a few familiar faces.
A big guy with Gorilla Arms, a woman in hacker gear with a cyber-modded face, a blue-clad woman with a build bulkier than most men, and a tall, lanky man with unusual hand implants…
Seeing them jogged Kairo Retsu's memory—he suddenly remembered something extremely important.
"Ah… almost forgot about them." He scratched his head in annoyance. "What do we do about Maine's crew and Lucy?"
"…Guess I should go ask David."
With a loud clap on the table, Kairo Retsu stood up, ready to leave the Afterlife.
After organizing his thoughts here, he felt much clearer about Night City—and had the outline of a plan.
"We'll split up."
He clenched his fist. "Us… and David."
"Let David take care of the future he's chosen to rewrite. The rest—Night City's problems—leave those to us!"
Meanwhile—when David and Gloria returned to Night City, carrying a treasure gifted by Laios, Gloria sat frozen on the couch.
On Kabru's advice, Laios had selected one of the unused treasures from the Golden Country to give to David, to help with his living expenses.
Though David didn't know the first thing about appraising valuables, the brilliant golden gleam was enough to tell him…
At the very least, he now had enough money to provide his family with a decent life.
And Gloria now understood… even if David didn't return to Arasaka Academy, there were still other ways he could live well.
If she insisted on changing David's mind, then that would only be… dragging him down.
"David…" Gloria looked at him with heartache. "Have you really made up your mind on what you want to do?"
She reached out to touch David's face. "Ever since I woke up, you haven't looked relaxed even once…"
"I've thought it through seriously." David held her hand and spoke firmly. "Night City almost took you away from me once—I won't let that happen a second time."
"And besides…" David pulled a smile across his face, though it was a little forced. "Your son's a one-in-a-million genius—even Arasaka doesn't have many like me."
"Mm." Gloria laughed softly. "Boys really do grow up all at once."
"Mom."
David smiled too. "When I get back… there's a girl I like that I want to introduce to you."
"Wait for me."
He stood, picked up the treasure, and prepared to find a way to exchange it for money, planning to place Gloria somewhere safe.
Sandevistan engaged—and in an instant, David vanished from the doorstep.
He dashed through crowds, down familiar streets—and stopped at a fork in the road.
To the left was the path he always took. Follow it, hop on the monorail, and he'd be at Arasaka Academy in no time…
To the right was a path he'd never chosen before.
"Wait for me, Night City." David drew a deep breath and turned down the unfamiliar path.
"Lucy," he whispered her name, accelerating inside the Sandevistan, "wait for me."
Elsewhere in Night City…
A silver-haired girl with glowing rainbow highlights looked to her side in confusion.
"…Why do I feel… something strange?"
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