Cyberpunk: 2075.

Chapter 927, Section 137: She's at Home

Jefferson Perales was just mentally planning to ask Carl to recommend a professional security team afterward when, not long after, a team that perfectly matched his expectations arrived at the scene.

Jefferson could not hide his shock as he watched the well-trained personnel file down the stairs.

Their movements were perfectly synchronized, and when they stood still, they made not a sound. They exuded a cold, professional aura—this was Karl's team.
Even laymen can tell a team's level from its standardized actions, because if a team can't even do the most basic standardized actions, it's unrealistic to expect it to be any elite.

The team Jefferson Perales was facing was a disciplined team with an unmistakable sense of elite discipline.

Even though Jefferson didn't know much about their equipment and couldn't tell what their cybernetic bodies were, he was certain that any one of them could easily take down the security guards who had been with him.

In fact, Jefferson Peralez's feeling was not wrong, because the troops operating under this standard were all former members of the Pheasant Faction. In the past, they were at the level of protecting Hanako Arasaka and Saburo Arasaka, which was naturally incomparable to an ordinary small security company like SSI.

These people came as temporary bodyguards after receiving a communication from Karl.

Because Karl's position is different now, even though he feels he can handle things on his own, his opinion doesn't mean his subordinates think so.

Although everyone knows that even if they were there, they might not be able to help with anything that could threaten Karl, it wouldn't be considered loyalty to just watch the person you're loyal to act without doing anything yourself.

Just like there can only be one sun in the sky, there can't be two suns in the sky. The sun can't fall. If they really encounter a problem, they might not know how to do anything else, but surely they can risk their lives to cover Lord Karl's retreat?
Don't underestimate these elites. Back when they faced Arasaka Yorinobu's forces, each of them was prepared to confront Adam Hammer head-on, and even devised a meticulous plan of how to delay, how to restrain, and how to buy precious time from that monster.

This was only under the circumstances of obeying orders back then. If it were up to the current situation where they were guarding Lord Karl, even if Adam's heavy hammer came, they would be confident that they could risk their lives to deal with that monster.

Of course, that would require a professional team to be present. Now, Karl has forcibly limited the number of people who came to protect him to eight, because there are a lot of other things to do. Karl understands their loyalty, but too many people are really unnecessary.

A grand display might be necessary in some situations, but in the city, if people are really needed, there are always special operations teams and terrorist mobile units that can be called in, so the number of people is not a problem at all.

After tacitly handing the scene over to the police, Carl texted the restaurant owners to let them know he was safe and the shop was intact and needed no repairs, while gesturing for Jefferson and his daughter to get in the car.

Sitting in the back, Carl took out a chip he had obtained during the search, inserted it into his phone, and then showed its contents to Jefferson Perales sitting next to him.

“Just found it, it even had data protection—which I easily cracked.” Karl tapped his phone screen, bringing up a command document. “It contains the operational orders given to this SSI team by the people behind the scenes.”
"It's actually quite lucky. Your security team's unprofessionalism has actually helped us a lot. Some of them didn't even destroy the data after receiving the order, which allows us to follow the trail."

Jefferson Perales had mixed feelings listening to Carl's words, which were hard to define as praise. After all, they were his former security team. Even if they hadn't been on his side from the beginning, seeing how incompetent they were described by Carl still made him feel a little strange.

However, Jefferson Perales quickly suppressed these superfluous emotions and steadied himself to seriously study what Carl had deciphered.

The order given to SSI by the person behind the scenes was brief.

The Kirding Project has hidden dangers:

Notify all field agents of Blue Team:
The Koding Project is currently assessed as a Class B safety hazard, and emergency response procedures have been initiated immediately.

Alpha-Blue Team immediately proceeded to the target coordinates to take control and capture the primary target, ensuring its survival. Command center has authorized the immediate initiation of termination procedures should the team face capture or inability to evacuate.

"This is."

Jefferson Peralez's gaze fell on the final 'Initiate termination procedure immediately'.

"I had it in my head, but I just cracked it on the side."

After confirming that Jefferson Perales had read everything, Carl put his phone away.

"However, we can now confirm that the people behind SSI are indeed monitoring you at all times. Judging from their purpose, your contact with me this time is considered a security risk, and they plan to kidnap you and take you back to erase this memory."

Jefferson Perales watched as Carl put away his phone, and nodded as he thought about what had happened: "It seems that my escape from control was also unexpected by them. The more appropriate course of action would have been for us to separate before they made their move against me."

"I guess the fact that you were able to take Miss Zechi along and make contact with outsiders in private meetings meant that they already saw it as a threat of you getting out of their control, and that's exactly what happened."

Carl looked through the car window at another car, where Zechi was being protected by Carl's men: "But in my opinion, it's Jefferson, that your love for your daughter has escaped their control. They probably didn't realize how strong a father's desire to protect his child can be when he senses a threat."

That is the spirit that can fight tenaciously even when memories are blurred and one is being manipulated.

"It seems I have to thank Zechi, who came all the way back from abroad after hearing about the campaign's setbacks."

Jefferson Perales smiled, then his gaze hardened: "Next, go to my house. Since they're monitoring me around the clock, my residence must be full of their equipment. We can find a breakthrough there."

"I just hope they don't leave too quickly."

Carl nodded in agreement, then, as if remembering something, turned to Jefferson: "Speaking of which, Mr. Jefferson, does your wife need protection?"

"Elizabeth."

Jefferson Perales thought of his wife and nodded slightly: "I'll contact her right away. We're in touch. I'm leaving everything to you, Mr. KK."

"rest assured."

Before Carl could finish speaking, Jefferson, who was checking the location, suddenly changed his expression and immediately asked, "What happened?"

"She's at home."

This was Jefferson's answer.

(End of this chapter)