Cyberpunk: 2075.

Chapter 928, Section 138: This won't do.
Jefferson Perales' home was a penthouse apartment on the 25th floor, and Elizabeth Perales was sitting on the sofa when Carl stormed into the apartment with his men and Jefferson and Zerg, who were being protected in the middle.

She was stunned by the sudden turn of events. Her gaze passed over the fully armed personnel and finally landed on her husband and daughter. Besides fear, she was filled with confusion.

“Jefferson, Zech? What’s going on?” Her gaze shifted to Carl, who was standing to the side, giving her a strange look. “Didn’t you two go out on business? How come you’re back with KK?”

KK's face was so famous that it would be strange if Elizabeth didn't recognize him. However, she couldn't understand why her husband and daughter would come back with the famous KK.

"You're alright?!"

Faced with a bewildered Elizabeth, Jefferson Peralez was both relieved that she was alright and somewhat shocked.

Elizabeth was even more puzzled by his intense reaction. "Should something have happened?"

“I’m sorry, Ms. Elizabeth.”

While Elizabeth was still confused, Karl made his move.

After apologizing to Elizabeth, he appeared behind her, who was sitting on the sofa, before she could react.

The precise, instantaneous strike to the carotid sinus triggered a reflex syncope in Elizabeth, giving her no further chance to regain consciousness and leaving no marks on her body. In Karl's swift action, Elizabeth's body went limp, and she silently lost consciousness.

"This"

Jefferson and Zech both widened their eyes and froze on the spot.

All of this happened so suddenly that the father and daughter couldn't keep up with the changes. They could only stare blankly at the figure slumped on the sofa, unable to understand why Karl would do such a thing.

They had rushed back at full speed because they were worried that something might have happened to Elizabeth. They were overjoyed to find her safe and sound, so why did Karl suddenly intervene?
"Don't worry, I'm a professional."

Carl, being experienced, quickly got to work after offering a brief reassurance to the family.

As he pulled out the monomolecular wire and connected it to Elizabeth Perares, he instructed his men to begin their work.

“Investigate the entire room; I need to make sure all the surveillance footage and secrets are uncovered.”

After completing the connection and giving instructions to his subordinates to get them moving, Carl then turned to Jefferson and Zech and explained:
"I need to make sure that Ms. Elizabeth will not have any problems, please understand."

Jefferson, now realizing what Carl was saying, nodded.

He understood the necessity of Carl's approach.

After all, there should have been SSI members protecting the house today, but Elizabeth is the only one there, which doesn't seem right.

Given that SSI has been confirmed to have defected, the fact that his wife Elizabeth is still safe and sound is particularly suspicious. At this point, it is understandable to take action and use some rather crude methods to check her.

However, despite his understanding, when he looked at his unconscious wife on the sofa, his eyes still unconsciously revealed deep worry. After all, she was his beloved wife with whom he had shared many years of life's joys and sorrows, and the two were indeed a truly loving couple.

Zechi, however, appeared more composed than her father. Perhaps it was the experience of almost becoming the sole survivor of the family that had made her mature so quickly. In the interval between Karl and her father's conversation, she had already gone among Karl's men and, using her familiarity with the layout of the house, guided them to begin checking various points in advance.

While the team members were on their way, Carl didn't give Jefferson much to worry about for long.

The entire process took less than thirty seconds: cracking the interface took only a moment, searching for data took ten seconds, and deep reading took twenty seconds. With a slight turn of his wrist, the monomolecular wire connecting Elizabeth's nerve port had already retracted into his sleeve like a silver snake.

"no problem."

Carl's words had just put Jefferson at ease when his next sentence made Jefferson's heart jump again: "It's just that the memory was erased for a period of time."

"Memories from a certain period of time have been erased?!"

Can you call this without any problems?

"Well, it was about an hour. It was probably after you and Miss Zechi went out that Ms. Elizabeth sensed something was wrong and was about to do something, or something happened, so her memory was erased. But for some reason, they didn't harm Ms. Elizabeth herself."

Carl said, glancing at Jefferson, "It's as if you are something very precious that cannot be harmed."

"Something very precious."

Jefferson listened to Carl's words and realized something: "Mr. KK, are you referring to my identity?"

"It must be. The person behind the scenes has done so many covert operations, even going so far as to directly manipulate your memories and try to change your personality. Their goal is probably quite ambitious. And Mr. Jefferson, your greatest value is probably your status as a mayoral candidate."

Carl gestured to Jefferson that he could attend to his unconscious wife, then straightened up and continued:
"Think about it, Mr. Jefferson. If you are successfully elected, what would happen to a mayor who is completely controlled? What would happen to Night City then? This is probably the situation that many forces dream of—the ambition of the people behind the scenes is indeed not small."

As Karl was speaking, several gunshots suddenly rang out from the upper floor where they were, followed by muffled groans. Karl's subordinates' communications then connected to his side:

"Lord Karl, a hidden space has been discovered upstairs, and we have dealt with the people hiding inside."

Carl listened to the communication, nodded slightly, and then looked at Jefferson, who had suddenly raised his head at the sound of gunfire: "It seems that some people are bolder than we thought."

Judging from the reaction speed of those behind the scenes, they should already know they are involved in this matter. Under such circumstances, knowing that they will come to this place, they still do not leave and try to do something.
This audacity goes beyond mere boldness; it borders on arrogance.

It seems that my absence from Night City for a while has emboldened some people.

This is not okay.

It's only been about a month, and someone with such audacity has already jumped out. If this continues, in two months, will someone dare to challenge me? In four months, will a street cleaner appear openly in front of me? In two years, will two thugs come to rob me?

We need to teach them a lesson.

(End of this chapter)