Chapter 16: Chapter 16
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Gloria faced Maine and the others anxiously. Despite her desire to keep the dealings with Maine a secret, David, who stood by her side, could sense that something was off.
When David saw a group of strangers suddenly barge through the door into their home, his tone was unpleasant as if dealing with debt collectors, and from the muscular black man's questions, it was clear that this had to do with a cyberware deal.
"Could it be that mom scammed the other party but didn't deliver the merchandise? And how did she acquire that cyberware in the first place? How did she get involved with the higher-ups of the Arasaka company?"
There were too many questions in his heart, and he wanted to understand what was really going on, but the tense atmosphere didn't give him a chance to speak up.
Gloria noticed David's hesitation and felt extreme anxiety. If she discussed this matter in front of David, all her secrets would be revealed.
"No, I absolutely can't let David find out!"
She was well aware of the stubbornness that David hid deep within his heart. If he found out she had stolen something, he'd probably refuse to attend Arasaka Academy even if it killed him.
At that moment, Tang Yu said something that almost pulled her back from the brink of helplessness.
"This matter has nothing to do with Gloria."
"Maine, I want to discuss a business deal with you."
"How about we step outside to a more suitable location to talk?"
Gloria turned her head to look at Tang Yu, her eyes filled with gratitude. She hadn't expected him to step forward at this moment, take over the conversation, and cover up the truth that was about to be exposed, helping her out of the most difficult situation.
Maine didn't immediately refuse but retorted instead.
"Who are you? What's your relation to this matter? Why should I negotiate a deal with you?"
Maine might look like a muscular, tough-as-nails cyberpunk who's always on the front lines and has survived countless shootouts, but he wasn't reckless in his dealings with people.
So, when faced with Tang Yu's proposition, he didn't immediately reject it. He just wanted to get the cyberware and leave without getting involved in any other disputes.
Gloria took the initiative to explain: "Maine! I didn't mean to delay the transaction or keep your money. That day I intended to complete the deal but got into a serious car accident on the highway!"
"Mr. Tang saved us, both David and I just got out of the hospital and couldn't find the time to explain this to you."
"As for Mr. Tang's identity, it doesn't matter if you don't know him. He is my benefactor. If it comes down to it, I'll refund you the money for the transaction! I won't sell the merchandise anymore!"
Gloria was worried that Maine, a cyberpunk, would be very sensitive about Tang Yu's senior position at the Arasaka company. If a conflict broke out, it could endanger Tang Yu's life.
Waiting here for Maine and the others was part of Tang Yu's plan. After receiving a tip from Susan Abernathy, he knew that Gloria had sold the Sandevistan cyberware to a cyberpunk named Maine. Since they had now come looking for it, there was no need to continue protecting Gloria. Her sincere demeanor had already revealed her intent and choices.
Tang Yu got up from the couch and stepped in front of Gloria, facing Maine squarely.
"This deal is not up to you to decline."
"I can give you this cyberware."
"But that would only leave you with one outcome."
"And that is death..."
These words came out light-heartedly from Tang Yu's mouth but made Maine's heart tighten up a bit.
He wasn't absolutely sure at this point whether the threat was part bluff, part serious, or just an empty statement, but the tone was clearly more combative.
"Don't try to play any tricks. I think there's no need for us to continue this conversation."
Maine ignored Gloria's desperate explanations and just looked at Tang Yu, continuing to surmise: "You're a corporate guy."
Clearly, Maine had guessed Tang Yu's true identity based on his attire and Gloria's nervous behavior. He just wasn't sure of Tang Yu's exact status at the company. Even if Tang Yu was a corporate lapdog, there were ranks even among them. If he was just a low-level corporate employee, Maine wouldn't have much to worry about.
When Maine asked this question, as they spoke, the other companions around also furrowed their brows, looking curiously at Tang Yu, equally intrigued about his true origins.
Everyone was waiting for Tang Yu to reveal his identity when a calm voice came from outside the door, answering their questions.
"Arasaka Corporation."
"Deputy Director of Counterintelligence."
As soon as the words fell, Lucy, with a cigarette between her fingers, quietly walked into the apartment.
Her response immediately captured the attention of everyone in the room, none of them had expected such an identity.
Maine turned back and looked towards the composed Lucy, pressing her for answers, "How do you know his identity?"
Faced with Maine's interrogation, Lucy simply lowered her gaze, exhaling a ring of smoke as if the matter at hand had nothing to do with her, and then she continued.
"He's not wrong, if you install this cyberware, the corporation will indeed watch you like a predator until the cyberware plays you to death, then they'll come to collect your corpse."
A woman in a red leather coat and tall stature, wearing a mask, asked sternly, "What does this have to do with the corporation?"
Lucy lifted her eyes that shone like neon, looking expressionless, directly at Tang Yu in front of her.
"I don't think you want to discuss this matter here any longer, do you, Mr. Tang?"
When Tang Yu saw Lucy reveal his true identity, he already knew that she must have read the contents of the chip, which was about a conversation he had with his boss, James. The content she knew was limited, as he regularly changed his storage chips, and generally, the contents wouldn't last more than forty-eight hours.
Tang Yu then put on his suit Jackieet and walked towards the broken door, passing Maine, he said indifferently.
"Don't just stand there, grab your things."
At this moment, Gloria picked up on Tang Yu's hint. After a moment of thought, she handed the bag she was holding to Maine, which contained the military-grade Stanistlav.
Maine took the bag, not expecting to get the cyberware in such a way. Being a reasonable man, now that the item was in his hands, he had no reason to cause more trouble in someone else's apartment, his rough voice carrying a touch of embarrassment.
"I didn't expect you'd been in an accident. It was my fault for kicking in your door; I'll compensate you for the repairs, sorry!"
He then transferred two thousand Eurodollars to the other party, which was more than enough to fix the door and pay for a month's rent in the apartment.
But Gloria wasn't concerned about the door. Instead, she handed a stack of Eurodollar bills to Maine too, saying, "Take the money for this transaction back with you, please don't trouble Mr. Tang. You're still short ten thousand, I'll transfer it to your account later."
Gloria's gesture made Maine feel somewhat abashed. It was obvious she was repaying Tang Yu for saving her life. The woman preferred to deplete her own funds rather than burden someone else, an action Maine actually admired deep down. He had decided to advance the payment for the transaction based on his trust in Gloria's credibility and character.
After accepting the money, Maine nodded in agreement and then turned to the nervously fidgeting bearded man beside him, saying, "Pilar, you're the one who blew the apartment door open, you'll be responsible for fixing it, or you can forget about that golden-hand cyberware!"
Pilar immediately became unhappy, flustered, and defensively said: "Maine, it was clearly you who told me to blow it open. I said we should knock on the door but you didn't listen, and now you want to pin this on me, I'll remember this debt!"
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