Cyberpunk Edgerunners: David Martinez With A System! [15]

“And some? They get shredded by cyberpsychos.” His smile grew sharper, his foot grinding down slightly.

“You really think NCPD has time to care about some rich brat getting trashed at school?”

“You think your dad would risk everything just to pick a fight with the Animals?” Katsuo flinched, his breathing ragged. David’s words had finally pierced through his arrogance, replacing it with genuine fear.

The best part? David had zero ties to the Animals— But Katsuo didn’t know that. And Night City ran on fear. Katsuo shook his head frantically, still clinging to his delusions of safety.

“You—you wouldn’t dare kill me! My father is on the Arasaka Academy executive board!” David simply laughed. A slow, mocking chuckle.

“Kill you? Nah. But you know, Katsuo…”

“Sometimes living is worse than dying.”

His grin widened, taking on a sinister edge.

“For example…”

“I could have you snatched off the street. Turn you into a doll. Sell you off.” Katsuo’s breathing hitched, his pupils shrinking in pure horror. David leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper.

“Ever been to Kabuki, Katsuo? I hear they’ve got a real demand for pretty boys—especially ones with a little… modification.” The implication sank in instantly.

Katsuo’s entire body trembled, his mind reeling from the absolute nightmare David had just planted in his head.

And then— His eyes rolled back, and he passed out cold. David clicked his tongue, stepping off his chest.

“Damn, that was easy. Didn’t even have to try that hard.” He stepped back, watching Katsuo’s unconscious, armless body twitch slightly on the ground.

“Fucking lightweight.” Before he could enjoy the moment further, a deep mechanical hum filled the air. David turned, squinting at the skies above the academy courtyard.

A large armored AV was descending, sleek and black, bearing the unmistakable Trauma Team insignia.

A loud automated voice blasted from the speakers.

“STAND CLEAR. EMERGENCY RESPONSE IN PROGRESS.”

The armored transport landed smoothly, its side door hissing open.

A team of fully armed operatives spilled out, rifles raised as they secured the perimeter.

Meanwhile, the medics moved fast, unfolding a high-tech stretcher and scanning Katsuo’s condition.

“Vitals stable. Temporary shock-induced unconsciousness.”

One of them pulled out a compressed air injector, pressing it to Katsuo’s chest.

“Administering stabilizer.”

With precise efficiency, they lifted him onto the stretcher, securing him for transport.

And just like that—

Katsuo was hauled away, disappearing into the luxurious armored transport that lifted off moments later.

David watched the scene unfold with mild amusement.

“Man, these corpo brats got it easy.”

Trauma Team would show up for them over the dumbest shit.

Some of their premium clients even had coverage for minor injuries and panic attacks.

Break a nail? Trauma Team.

Lose a fight? Trauma Team.

Meanwhile, if a regular street kid got gunned down, the only thing they got was a quick trip to the landfill.

David sighed dramatically, shaking his head.

“Wouldn’t mind that kinda service, to be honest.”

Still— This had gone exactly as planned. His real goal hadn’t been to just humiliate Katsuo. No. It was to get Arasaka’s attention. And now? Now, he was on their radar.

Exactly where he needed to be. David’s smile turned sharp, calculating. This wasn’t about his mother’s wish. This wasn’t about “honoring the dream.” It was about setting the stage.

For what? For the biggest monster in Night City to come hunting for him. Adam. Fucking. Smasher.

Tracking that bastard down was next to impossible.

Hell, even if he leveled Arasaka Tower to the ground, there was no guarantee he’d show up.

The only time Smasher had ever been truly visible was when he was acting as Saburo Arasaka’s personal enforcer.

And that meant Arasaka had to notice him first.

Well—

After today?

David was certain they would.

He adjusted his jacket, tossing one last glance toward the skies where the Trauma Team AV had disappeared.

Then, with a smirk, he turned and walked away.

….

At this point in time, there was no telling where Adam Smasher could be lurking—perhaps somewhere in Night City, honing his craft as a “chef,” concocting a variety of sauces with flavors as lethal as his combat skills.

Meanwhile, in the aftermath of the jaw-dropping incident that had left the entire campus reeling, David was inevitably summoned to the principal’s office.

Strangely enough, despite the severity of his actions—ripping off Tanaka Katsuo’s cybernetic arms in broad daylight—the NCPD had yet to make an appearance to haul him away.

It was… peculiar.

David had even mentally prepared himself to bolt from the scene if things went south. After all, what kind of Night City legend doesn’t have a wanted level with the NCPD? It felt like a rite of passage for anyone trying to carve their name into the city’s chaotic history.

“David, are you even listening to me?”

The voice of the middle-aged man sitting across from him snapped him out of his thoughts. The man’s oily face reflected the dim light of the office, his tone carrying a mix of annoyance and authority.

David shrugged nonchalantly, leaning back in his chair. “Yeah, I’m listening.”

“Then do you have anything to say for yourself? What you did to Tanaka Katsuo has caused a serious disruption to the academy’s reputation—”

“Yes, yes, I get it,” David interrupted, waving his hand dismissively. “Go ahead and punish me however you want. Suspension, expulsion, whatever. Honestly, I don’t care.”

His tone was casual, almost lazy, as if he were discussing the weather rather than his potential punishment.

“David, your attitude is completely unacceptable—”

“Alright, that’s enough.” David stood abruptly, slinging his bag over his shoulder. “Just send the punishment notice to my email. I’ve got things to do.”

Without waiting for a reply, he turned on his heel and strode out of the office, whistling a carefree tune as he left.

The principal, a corporate puppet under Arasaka’s thumb, had nothing more to say. David hadn’t bothered to show any respect because he saw no point in it.

Stay at Arasaka Academy, climb the ranks, and become another cog in the corporate machine?

No, thanks.

David had no interest in following the path of a corpo soldier like the fabled “V,” who had clawed their way up the company ladder only to be discarded like trash when they became inconvenient.