Cyberpunk - Badland Madman [Cyberpunk 2077]

Shaking his head at the god stuck on Earth, Cypher walked away as he noticed the time. He removed his lab coat and entered the elevator.

"Build the custom replicators while I go meet Michiko. I'll crank out the Durasteel when I'm back before we catch whatever new itch hits tonight," Cypher said, grabbing a bulletproof suit, plain black with a white shirt.

Casually, he locked the house and got into his car. He loved driving it.

####

Michiko Sanderson arrived at the Continental in her executive AV. Her hair stark blue, she was dressed in a corset-style golden dress with black feathers on the arms; the neckline was broad and deep, revealing her skin from neck to her midriff.

"Michiko-sama."

Michiko smiled at the old man who had arrived before her. She received his bow and walked beside him. "Zaburo-san! I hope there is some good news?"

Zaburo only shook his head. "I'm afraid not. I have exhausted all contacts. We know that Blackhand is making moves, but no one knows who is paying him."

Michiko sighed and entered the elevator. "So this is a meet and greet then?"

"Indeed, he said he would accept no agreement until he received something in return. Blackhand's backer is the one he seeks." Zaburo lowered his head in a remorseful bow. "Forgive me, Michiko-sama. I shall find what we need as swiftly as I am able."

Michiko shook her head. "It is not your fault. Blackhand is no easy man to find. Now, tell me about Cypher Blackwell. What kind of man is he? What should I expect?"

"He is intelligent, charismatic, and fears nothing. I do not believe he fears Arasaka either, and that makes me wonder what he keeps hidden. He holds every card and knows it, and he will not hesitate to play them. A philanderer, yes, but one wise enough to keep such matters private…"

Michiko listened to it all as the elevator finally came to a stop at the highest level of the hotel part, which was one floor below the Atlantis. As the elevator doors opened, she saw multiple armed guards in black suits and long trench coats standing along the long lobby. They all wore glasses, unmoving. They were all Aldecaldos she knew.

There was nobody to guide them or even welcome them. And it was just her and her bodyguard. Still, she walked with a confident stride, all the way to the end of that long lobby. It was the penthouse floor, from what she knew.

Eventually, she reached the door at the end. Two tall men guarded it, and one of them showed a hand to stop them.

"Only Ms. Sanderson."

"Alright." Michiko stepped forward.

The tall man turned, opened the door, and entered. She followed him inside, eyeing the penthouse carefully, and recording it using her cyberoptics. She liked the taste of this man, at least. The old, early 2000s interior did something for her. It was nostalgic. No minimalistic, brutalistic bullshit.

Eventually, she crossed a hall with a high ceiling and a beautiful chandelier, then climbed a wooden staircase. She knew this must have cost a fortune. And at last, the guard knocked on the door marked 'office.'

"Mr. Blackwell. Your guest has arrived."

"Let her in."

The guard only turned the doorknob and stepped aside.

She pushed the door herself, shocked a little as she felt nervous. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt that. The man she was about to meet was being hailed as a genius of the century in the boardrooms of every corporation worth something.

And it was her wish to secure his help to take Arasaka for herself. It wasn't going to be for free; she knew it and was ready to pay the appropriate price.

As she entered the spacious office, she was blasted with loud electronic music, but slowed down. She looked around to find the man, only noticing wooden furniture everywhere: a dark brown table, chairs, bookshelves, and elegant carpets.

Bam!

"Fuck!"

She heard a voice just then and walked over. Around the wooden sofas, she reached the grand office table. She walked around it as well and looked down underneath it.

Bam!

"Die!"

She saw the man, dressed in just a white shirt and black pants, with messy hair and a shoe in hand. And it seemed she was right on time as the man smashed a cockroach with that shoe.

"..."

Michiko silently stepped away and waited.

Eventually, Cypher Blackwell came up, smiling towards her. But instead of greeting her, he put on the shoe first.

"Why're you still standing? C'mon, let's sit. I accidentally dragged this bastard in with me in my suit."

She followed him to the wooden sofas and sat across from him.

"Thank you for giving me your time, Mr. Blackwell."

"Ah, sorry I dipped out of the party so early that day. I wasn't feeling too great."

Michiko nodded and tried to think of something to talk about. As she did that, she realised how he had broken her focus and flow just now, completely taking over the meeting.

"Drinks?"

Before she could answer, the man was already up, pouring something into two glasses. It was something expensive, she could tell from the scent. When she saw the bottle eventually, she knew how expensive.

"So, what can I do you for, Ms. Sanderson?"

Michiko tried to gather her thoughts and took a sip first. The burning bitterness helped.

"Since my people failed to deliver what you wanted, I believe it is wrong to discuss business." She smiled gracefully. "For today, I hope we can treat this as a simple meeting to build a friendly relationship."

"Well, ain't exactly hard to figure. You want my help making your spot on the Arasaka board stronger. Use my tech and my awesome brain to crank out a few projects and build some cred."

Michiko's grip hardened on the glass. No, it wasn't easy to guess her intention. Not many knew she was on Arasaka's board right now, let alone the fact that she ran a small faction in it. She had kept her position vague.

Does he have spies in Arasaka? No, Obsidian is too fresh.

She took another sip and just nodded.

"It's pointless, I'd say. You ain't got the Emperor's hand on your head. You try anything, he's gonna spank your ass."

Michiko frowned hard, very confused. "How much do you know about Arasaka?"

"Enough for me to know you ain't even on the successor list. Yorinobu's a rebel, a letdown, and honestly, I kinda get it. Shitstain only knows fuckin' joytoys and pissin' his time away. You're American, all Americanized, everything the old man can't stand. Hanako's the only real successor. Dumb little doll just asks how high when daddy says jump. Assuming the old bastard ever kicks the bucket."

"He's very old." Michiko blurted without realising. She felt the need to take a stand. The man knew too much.

"Just because the body's dead don't mean the man's gone, Ms. Sanderson. Guess you've still got some homework to do. So get that pretty face back home and get on it. As for my help..."

Michiko reclined back as the man walked to her and leaned his face close to hers.

"I don't do freebies, especially not for corpos like Arasaka. You want me? Then come back with a deal that's worth my damn time. Give it a few days. There's gonna be a big announcement. That oughta help you figure out what you've gotta offer."

Michiko found herself overwhelmed. The man in front of her knew everything. No, he knew more. And she was the one who ran Danger Gal. She was supposed to know everything.

I don't even know much about him.

She was at a loss for words.

"What announcement?" Michiko asked.

"Something big and powerful."

A weapon?

Michiko realised she wasn't prepared enough to deal with Cypher Blackwell. Just being an Arasaka didn't mean anything in this office. This man wasn't going to respect her or fear her just for being related to Saburo Arasaka.

"I… will wait then."

To that, the man smiled and walked away.

"I ain't trying to be harsh, Ms. Sanderson. Just know the game you're playing is deadly, and the stakes are damn high. I'm warning you, you ain't ready for this. Now, about you and me, how about we grab dinner later and do a proper meet and greet?"

Offering his hand after punching me down.

Michiko sighed and nodded. That was all she could do. Being seen having dinner with Cypher Blackwell itself would help her gain a meeting with a few board members of rival factions. After all, at the end of the day, all board members wanted Arasaka to grow bigger, wealthier, and more powerful. And most collectively believed Cypher Blackwell's brain could help.

That was the only reason why they hadn't killed him by now. Besides, they already knew Militech had tried to recruit him and had been rejected. And as long as that equilibrium existed, Arasaka was willing to slowly lure him in.

No family to blackmail with either. But if he sends Hanako…

Michiko swallowed her pride and smiled. "I wouldn't mind a dinner."

"Alright, that settles it. I'll shoot the details over to Zaburo. I gotta bounce, so..."

Michiko quickly got up. "As do I, Mr. Blackwell."

She walked towards the office door, hearing him follow right behind. She didn't know why, but this man made her nervous. Like she had nothing to offer him, nothing to use against either.

But he's a nobody.

"By the way…"

She paused and turned, instinctively taking a step back as the man was too close. But even as her back pressed against the door, the man reached in with a hand. She felt it, his finger reaching her neck and… fixing her locket.

"If you don't mind me asking, Ms. Sanderson, do you love America?"

Michiko frowned. What kind of question was that? She stared into his organic eyes, formulating an answer herself.

"I… I like it here."

"Hah. And I fucking love America. Not this one, though. The real one. Anyway, it was nice meeting you. Stay alive."

The man opened the door for her, and she just walked out of it, lost in thought. She followed the same guard and eventually left the penthouse. Her expression never changed the entire way, still frowning.

What did he mean by that? He hates NUSA? Militech? Was that a hint?

Ding!

Before long, she was standing in the elevator going up to the AV pad.

"How was it, Michiko-sama?"

Michiko stirred from her thoughts and looked at her bodyguard. "He loves America."

"Huh?"

####

"Hah! She got mindfucked, didn't she, Atlas?"

[I did sense her confusion, nervousness, and anxiety through her vitals.]

"Pfft, her face at the end was worth it. Nice ass, though."

[Is that all you see in women?]

"No. Tits matter, too."

[...]

Cypher grabbed his suit jacket and walked out of his office. He left his penthouse and walked a few doors down that same hallway.

"You dug up anything on Lucy?"

[She fears you. She fears Arasaka. She believes the moon is the only place beyond their reach.]

"Hah, she doesn't know about Arasaka's orbital station? She can't be that dumb, man."

[ESA commands significant influence and retains a monopoly over space affairs. Their position on the Moon is stable, and both Arasaka and the NUSA are careful not to antagonize them. Nevertheless, the outcome is the same. She would not be safe on the Moon either.]

Cypher arrived in front of the door of the penthouse given to Maine's crew.

"Can we help her?"

[With ease. Our Continental Ripperdock can remove her Arasaka-issue Deep Dive Port, erase her identity, and make her an untraceable new one. However, I do not believe she would accept such assistance. She deeply distrusts others, especially corporations as powerful as ours.]

"We? Powerful? We're not even a year old."

[Does not change her views on Obsidian.]

Cypher sighed and turned the doorknob.

"Keep an eye on her, Atlas. She's no different than Jane. Just a kid who got abused and experimented on. I've messed with too many things already. I don't know what's waiting for her now."

[I will do that, Cyph.]

With that, Cypher opened the door and entered.

______________________

Check out Cypher X Judy, Cypher X Rebecca, Hanako Arasaka Solo NSFW ART, and advance chapters at [email protected]/MrPlotThickens Or Subscribestar.adult/mrplotthickens

Advance chapters on [PATREON] are in long-form format. I have 10 long chapters of this story on P@treon. That's equal to 35-45 NovelPhoenix chapters.