Get comfortable, turn the page, and let’s see what this story has been hiding 🔥 ✦ “Heavy Hearts” The club’s ornate English sign looked a little thin in daylight.
Night had not come yet, so the place had not begun to show its charm.
Heavy Hearts was famous for its ancient Egyptian pyramid shape and the green beam that lit the sky after dark.
Its security was just as famous for being rough.
No one could really explain why this building, like the Black Sapphire, had managed to become one of Dogtown’s few landmarks.
Maybe because Mr.
Hands kept his office somewhere high inside the luxurious structure.
After all, someone had to handle business for a lawless place like this.
The two security guards at the entrance checked the power assault rifle on Cade’s back.
“Sorry.
You have to follow house rules.
This thing stays with me for now.” Cade shrugged without arguing.
“Fine.” The guard pressed the comm button behind his ear.
“He’s here.” The person on the other end should have been Mr.
Hands.
Cade’s small pistol was generously returned to his waist, probably because Mr.
Hands did not believe anyone in Dogtown could threaten him with one handgun.
After the guard swiped the access card and opened the door, Cade steadied himself and cleared his throat, ready for his first meeting with this “big shot.” For mediocre fixers with no real name, disrespect might not matter.
But for a fixer like Mr.
Hands, one careless sentence could tank his opinion of you.
Without Barghest protection, if Cade wanted to survive, Dogtown’s Mr.
Hands was the first gate he had to pass.
Of course, if Cade wanted to become a gambler who passed out on Glitter outside the black market, none of this would be necessary.
The colonel was still pressing down on him from above.
Cade had to bring one hundred percent.
Ding.
Heavy Hearts was not a tall building.
On the third floor, a classical luxury hallway with soft carpet led to Mr.
Hands’s office.
Cade reached the door and knocked gently on the wood-scented electric panel.
“Come in, my friend.
No need to stand on ceremony.” In person, Mr.
Hands’s voice carried more weight than it had over holo.
Cade pressed the door button.
The room looked a little like a finely appointed European suite, with a sunken conversation area in the center.
Mr.
Hands sat quietly on the sofa, reading a book.
“Mr.
Hands.” Cade greeted him softly and stood honestly beside the sofa, waiting for the fixer’s judgment.
[System Notification] Character: Mr.
Hands Affiliation: Dogtown, Pacifica Affinity: -10 Development Value: Extremely High.
Milestone Reward: Raise Affinity to 0 to receive Body +2 and an Epic Tech Sniper Rifle, Nekomata.
Manufacturer: Tsunami.
‘Okay.
The panel really is not giving me any hints anymore.
So much for newbie benefits.’ Complaints were complaints, but Cade still studied this fixer he had supposedly never met.
What he did not understand was why Mr.
Hands’s affinity toward him was so low.
‘Did he investigate this body’s old record?’ The milestone reward was tempting, though.
Above Epic-tier weapons, there were only Iconic and Legendary weapons left.
Tsunami’s Nekomata tech sniper rifle offered plenty of value for the price.
Mr.
Hands closed his book.
His gaze shifted slightly toward Cade’s arm.
“Hard to believe crude chrome like that belongs to one of Hansen’s trusted people.” Great.
Cade’s cyberware had been insulted again.
As for Mr.
Hands calling him one of the colonel’s trusted people, Cade could not make sense of it.
Shouldn’t Hansen’s trusted people be Barghest commanders sitting in the Black Sapphire all day, partying nonstop with more eddies than they could count?
Cade had just been kicked out of Barghest yesterday.
The line made no sense.
Mr.
Hands stood and spoke slowly.
“Have you ever heard this story?
The buffalo on the African savanna are very strong.
The lion may be king of the beasts, but even lions do not attack a herd carelessly.
They stare each other down with everything they have.” “And you, my friend, are the lion released to circle me.” Cade’s mind was quick, and he had no desire to deepen the fixer’s dislike.
“I think the colonel simply cannot swallow losing that shipment, Mr.
Hands.
You know how it is.
In Night City, Barghest cannot exactly strut around asking questions.” “As for me, I am only extra hands.
Not a lion.
I’ll follow your lead.” Mr.
Hands had not expected his little test to be defused like that.
His pleasant smile returned.
“Very good.
You really are a charming young man.” “As for what Hansen wants done, nothing is fixed yet.
But you need to put away that military way of handling things.” “Here, you learn to deal with fixers and edgerunners.
Work under me for now.
We will see what comes of it.” Cade nodded.
Their first exchange had been smoothed over well enough.
Sitting on the sofa, Mr.
Hands folded his hands together and leaned forward, watching Cade.
“I am not like you young people.
I have a family.
A daughter.
Some matters must be handled cleanly and efficiently.
Unnecessary trouble stops outside Dogtown’s gates.” “Especially given your identity, and Colonel Hansen’s.” Cade answered, “I understand, Mr.
Hands.” “You listen, and you know how to adapt.
Next, we see whether you can get things done.” Mr.
Hands’s eyes brightened, and Cade knew the fixer was sending him something.
Sure enough, transfer text lit up in Cade’s vision.
“We have some old associates.
Those edgerunners from the city do not intend to let this matter go.” “But everyone is only trying to eat.
There is no need to make things hard for each other.
Read the file, then handle it.” Cade looked at the profile on a netrunner and froze on the spot.
[Name: Sasha Yakovleva]…
So in 2075, that united, stubborn edgerunner crew had already made a small name for itself in this city.
“Do you know her?
Or is she an old friend?” Mr.
Hands’s insight was anything but ordinary.
Even a tiny change in Cade’s expression was easy for him to catch.
Cade lied and denied it.
He slowly shook his head.
“I just find it surprising.
A woman that young already has more than a dozen criminal records with the NCPD.” “Netrunners are not judged by age.
Young minds move fast, and anyone wearing a netrunner suit tends to be trouble.” In the file, Sasha’s smile was sweet.
In footage intercepted by the NCPD, she was even flashing a peace sign at the camera.
“Whether you know her or not is your secret.
I do not care.” Mr.
Hands had no intention of digging deeper.
“Go find a netrunner friend of mine in Dogtown.
They know a few offensive and defensive tricks.
As long as nothing traces back to you or Hansen, everything is manageable.” “If they come up empty, that crew will naturally give up.” Cade received another contact from Mr.
Hands.
All the mission details were on the brief shard the fixer handed him.
“One more thing, my lion.” Mr.
Hands sounded amused.
“Watch the braindance on the coffee table.
Get a feel for it.
At the very least, you need to understand what the colonel wants you to pay attention to.” Cade picked up the braindance wreath without hesitation.
Light flared across his vision, and his senses rapidly sank into someone else’s point of view.
✦ ✦ ✦ Ready for more?
CREATORS’ THOUGHTS EmberHollow Thank you for reading.
I hope this chapter pulled you deeper into the story.
Stick around, because there’s still a lot waiting just ahead.