"I wonder what business brings you to me?"
Roland studied the smiling middleman before him, a Fixer named Norik, and spoke evenly. "I need you to gather some intel—specifically, which gangs in Night City have been clashing lately and are running low on weapons."
"No problem at all. That's a simple job—three thousand eddies should cover it. I'll also be taking a thirty percent commission. I trust that's acceptable?"
"Of course."
A faint orange glow flickered in Roland's eyes as the money transferred directly to Norik's account. The Fixer grinned and rose from his seat.
"Pleasure doing business, Mr. Roland. Here's my contact info. If you ever need something, feel free to reach out again."
Roland gave a small nod and left. Fixers came and went in this city—only the big names managed to stick around.
As for this Norik, he was probably just another small-time operator soon to be replaced.
It had been almost a week since Roland arrived in Night City. In that time, he'd grown used to the chaos—the noise, the flashing lights, and the ever-present need to stay alert.
After all, you never knew when some psycho might jump out of an alley and shoot you—an honest-to-god lunatic.
Meanwhile, Lissandra had nearly completed the task he'd assigned her, and Roland was glad he hadn't traded for any high-tier weapon blueprints.
Even this small handgun had nearly failed to get off the ground...
There were gaps in both materials and tech, but thanks to Lissandra's precision and control, things had stayed manageable. It made Roland all the more certain the investment had been worth it.
The model was still just a simplified version for now...
But the good news was that the production line was nearly complete, capable of small-scale mass production of the [Czech II Smart Pistol].
The problem now was finding customers.
He had some ideas for marketing, but his current budget didn't allow for major ad campaigns.
Ideally, he needed a corporate or gang partner to secure some funds before expanding outreach.
Partnering with a corporation was straightforward. Working with a gang, though... well, nothing showcased a weapon's quality better than performance in a real firefight.
As for corporations, Militech had already reached out with a recruitment offer, which Roland politely declined—but he didn't burn the bridge either. Future cooperation was still on the table.
What surprised him was that someone from Arasaka had also approached him.
Considering Arasaka had been driven out of Night City, that was unexpected... though, remembering their ties with the Tyger Claws, it made sense.
Roland's attitude toward Arasaka was similar to his stance with Militech—perhaps even a little warmer. He knew how the future would unfold: Arasaka's eventual return and rise to power were inevitable.
With his current lack of strength, he had no reason to provoke that giant.
After wrapping up with Norik, Roland returned home to wait. Fortunately, the wait wasn't long—so short he almost thought the Fixer had scammed him.
But the intel proved useful, so he let it slide.
"Hm... looks like the Valentinos and Tyger Claws have been butting heads lately... Guess it's time I paid the Padre a visit."
...
"I hear you wanted to see me?"
The Padre eyed Roland with a curious, unreadable expression.
"That's right. I'd like to meet with the Valentinos' leader to discuss business. Of course, speaking directly with you, Padre, would be just as good."
Roland nodded politely and took a seat across from him.
The Padre narrowed his eyes slightly. "What kind of business?"
"I've heard the Valentinos have had some heavy clashes with the Tyger Claws recently—and that you're coming up short on firepower."
"Seems you did your homework before showing up. Not exactly top-secret info, but the fact you brought it up means you've got an idea in mind. So—do you have a solution?"
The Padre studied the young man carefully. Roland's face looked almost too young, and that made him wary.
Roland smiled faintly and drew the Czech II Smart Pistol from his side.
"A smart pistol? I think you've come to the wrong buyer. Those things aren't cheap—not exactly suited for us."
The Padre's tone flattened as he slowly shook his head.
"No. Trust me—you won't find a smart pistol on the market with better performance for the price. This one goes for only fifteen hundred eddies."
"Fifteen hundred, huh? Tempting price. But if that's the case, why wouldn't I just buy Kang Tao's Super-class Pistol? It's even cheaper than yours."
The Padre laced his fingers together, watching Roland intently, waiting for his answer.
"Our model outperforms the Super-class Pistol in every category—firepower, rate of fire, and magazine capacity. You could even compare it to a Yukimura. Of course, you don't have to take my word for it. Try it yourself."
Roland extended his hand in invitation, his confidence unmistakable.
The Padre regarded him a moment longer, then took the weapon. "Excuse me for a bit." He stood and walked out.
When he returned, his expression had shifted—complex, but clearly impressed.
"How much stock do you have?"
"That depends on how much you want."
Roland's smile deepened. He could tell the Padre was hooked.
"Let's see... start with five hundred units."
The Padre didn't hesitate. Roland nodded approvingly—it was clear the man had already cleared it with the Valentinos.
Moments later, Roland received a transfer of 250,000 euros.
"That's the deposit. The rest depends on you."
"No problem. Relax—I'll have the shipment ready by next week."
Roland left soon after, satisfied. To be honest, his plan was simple—make some fast cash.
He'd flood the market just long enough to grab attention, then sell the weapon's blueprints outright. That was what he called quick money.
If things went as planned, he'd soon have a hefty amount of Blue Essence in hand. Then... it'd be time for a serious shopping spree—and maybe try his luck with a few Essence draws.".
Just to test the waters, of course. The prizes couldn't be that bad... right?
"Oh, and if you're interested, I also sell smart ammo. I can promise—no one in the city can beat my prices."
Roland's tone was calm but confident. He never saw the gun itself as his main profit—the real money was in the cheap smart ammo that came with it.
The Padre nodded slightly. He had a good sense of Roland's capabilities now. During his test firing, he'd even looked into the man's background.
In his view, Roland was about to carve out his own corner of the market.
A weapon on par with Arasaka's Yukimura, cheaper by far, easier to reload, plus his company's innovative smart ammo line...
It wouldn't be long before this kid made a name for himself. And there was no reason to make an enemy out of a potential ally.
In fact, the Padre hoped Roland would manage to rise despite pressure from the major corps—because that would make him a valuable client.
As for whether this pistol could dominate the entire handgun market?
The Padre didn't think so. Kang Tao and Arasaka weren't amateurs. The playing field wasn't even close.
The Super line was still cheaper, and the Yukimura had a stellar reputation. Maybe someday—but not yet.
Besides, there were always cheaper kinetic pistols and more powerful tech handguns out there.
Still... this one was a damn fine killing tool.