Cyberpunk:Gained a body of steel

Peter walked out of the apartment and dialed Dexted Sean's number.

"Yo, Mr. Peter, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Dexted Sean."

A black man with dreadlocks and a thick beard appeared on the contact screen.

"Ah, I know you. You're the middleman who was once on par with Rogge in Night City," Peter said coldly.

"Heh, that's all in the past. I'm just a small-time middleman now. How about it? Would you like to take on my commission, Mr. Peter?" Dexted Sean responded smoothly, though he was puzzled by Peter's tone. He didn't mind, though. Business was business, and he was used to dealing with mercenaries who cared little for pleasantries.

Peter raised an eyebrow. "Since I'm calling you, do you think I'm just going to ignore it?"

Dexted Sean chuckled. "Hahaha, straight to the point, Mr. Peter. Alright, I'll send you the address. Come here, and we'll talk."

Dexted Sean quickly sent Peter a location. Less than a minute later, Peter used his super speed to cover the distance from the Valley area to Gramsci Burger, the place Dexted Sean had specified. Perhaps Peter was moving too fast, but he didn't spot Dexted Sean's luxury car when he arrived.

A few minutes later, Peter saw the car turn into a somewhat messy alley, and Dexted Sean stepped out with a large bodyguard who looked capable of handling a fight.

Peter walked toward them.

The bodyguard seemed momentarily stunned. He had been told by his boss that it would take Peter about half an hour to arrive, so he'd gotten out of the car to wait. It turned out that Peter was faster than expected.

However, the bodyguard didn't say anything. Since Peter had arrived, he opened the door to let him speak with his boss.

As Peter entered the car, Dexted Sean, who had been resting with his eyes closed, immediately spoke.

"Didn't I tell you to wait for Peter to arrive before opening the door?"

Dexted Sean's voice was harsh, expecting the bodyguard to have some explanation for why the door was opened.

"Boss, Mr. Peter is already here," the bodyguard said.

Dexted Sean froze for a moment. He had done his homework and knew Peter lived in the Heywood Valley area. It wasn't the usual time for Peter to be out and about, so he had expected him to take around half an hour to arrive. Surprised, Dexted Sean quickly adjusted his demeanor. It didn't matter why Peter was early—it just meant they could talk sooner.

"Ah, Mr. Peter, welcome," Dexted Sean said, a friendly but calculated smile forming on his face. "You're the famous Peter, I presume?"

Peter gave a small smile in return. "Yes, I know you, Dexted Sean. You're one of the top middlemen in Night City. Only Rogge, Queen of the Afterlife, can match your status."

Dexted Sean quickly waved off the praise. "No, no, I've just returned to Night City. I'm a small middleman, just getting started. It's nothing to boast about."

Peter saw through the act. Dexted Sean was being modest, but Peter knew the truth. He had once been at the top, equal to Rogge, but had taken a year-long break from the city.

"Let's get moving," Dexted Sean said, signaling the driver.

As the car began to move, Dexted Sean studied Peter closely. Contrary to what he expected, Peter didn't carry the typical aura of a hardened mercenary. He had no obvious battle scars or bloodlust radiating from him. Instead, he seemed like an ordinary, well-mannered individual. Dexted Sean had heard rumors that Peter had caused quite a stir in a Tiger Claw Gang stronghold recently, taking down everyone except the small-time leader. That was enough to show Dexted Sean that Peter wasn't someone to be underestimated.

The driver started the car, and the journey began.

"Before we talk business, Mr. Peter, I want to ask you something," Dexted Sean said, lighting up a cigar.

Peter was already anticipating this question, but he listened patiently.

"My question is simple: Do you want to be an unknown person, living a peaceful, stable life, only to die old and bedridden with a catheter in your veins? Or do you want to become a legend, someone remembered in history, even if it means dying young?" Dexted Sean asked.

Peter leaned back in his seat and shrugged. "Both of those options are acceptable to me."

Dexted Sean raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "That's a new one. Mr. Peter, which one do you think suits you best?"

Peter gave a calm smile. "The one that suits me best is to become a legend in this world and live peacefully until the end of my life. Of course, I'd prefer to live a healthy life while doing so."

Dexted Sean burst out laughing. "Hahaha, Mr. Peter, you're definitely different from those clueless guys I've spoken to. When I ask other mercenaries this question, they never even think about the second option."

Peter shrugged nonchalantly. "Maybe it's because their abilities are limited to one path."

Dexted Sean nodded, recognizing Peter's point. Many mercenaries in Night City were tough but lacked education and foresight. They were warriors without much thought beyond the next paycheck. Peter, on the other hand, had the background to understand the bigger picture.

"By the way, Mr. Dexted Sean, I really want to ask you: would you choose to be famous in history or remain unknown?" Peter asked, his tone calm but probing.

Dexted Sean hesitated for a moment. He knew Peter was no fool, and this question seemed like a test. Peter had already proven himself to be different from the usual mercenaries, and Dexted Sean was curious about how he would respond.

"Why do you ask?" Dexted Sean replied, his tone careful.

Peter chuckled lightly. "Well, I know you're not afraid of danger, but you're clearly afraid of dying. The first thing you did when you got into trouble with Huangban was kill him and run away. So, tell me, which path would you choose?"

Dexted Sean's eyes narrowed. He hadn't expected Peter to call him out so directly. For a moment, he didn't know how to respond. The truth was, Dexted Sean had made many decisions based on self-preservation, even when it meant betraying others.

After a brief pause, Dexted Sean let out a slow breath. "You're right, Peter. I'm not exactly a saint. But I'd still choose to become a legend. After all, it's better to be remembered than to fade into obscurity."

Peter smiled, satisfied with the answer. He could see that Dexted Sean was not as invincible as he seemed, and his willingness to reveal his fears meant Peter had the upper hand in their negotiations.

The car continued down the road as the two men prepared to discuss business, both of them aware that the path ahead would lead to much more than just money.

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