"Mr. Peter, we should have settled the payment for Yinglong's schematics last time."
Xu Xinyue did her best to suppress her emotions, managing a smile despite the tension in her voice.
Though a hundred thousand euros was nothing to her—it simply meant buying fewer luxury items for a while—even if the expense were reported to the company, no one would raise an objection. But Xu Xinyue felt that she had already lowered her posture enough. She hadn't expected Peter to be so indifferent, completely ignoring her attempts at diplomacy.
"I know," Peter said plainly. "That's why I'm only asking for one hundred thousand."
His face was calm, emotionless. He clearly didn't care about appearances or playing nice. He held the blueprints now—he had all the leverage.
"Alright. Come to the receiving lab. I'll get the money ready for you."
Xu Xinyue barely restrained the anger boiling inside her. But she couldn't forget Ling Xiaohan's warning over dinner the previous night.
---
Last night…
"Xinyue, your grandfather has given strict orders this time. If you mess up with Mr. Peter again, you'll be forced to go on blind dates with those pampered young heirs."
Ling Xiaohan spoke casually, sipping red wine as if what she said didn't carry any weight.
"What? Why me?" Xu Xinyue nearly exploded. "Can't someone else handle that guy? He doesn't even act like a gentleman!"
Clink!
Ling Xiaohan set her glass down hard and gave her a cold look. "You messed up last time. Naturally, you have to make it right. If you don't want to cooperate, you can always go back home."
The real reason behind pushing Xu Xinyue toward Peter wasn't just business—they were wary of Peter's unpredictable nature. His recent activities had been thoroughly investigated. The conclusion? Peter's actions were entirely dictated by his own whims.
Even though a cooperation agreement had been reached, his erratic personality posed a risk. One bad memory—like the incident with Kang Tao—could sour everything in an instant.
With no better options, Xu Xinyue eventually agreed to Ling Xiaohan's request.
---
Back to the present…
"Very good. I hope Miss Xu learns to control her emotions. That's all. I'll hang up now."
Peter ended the call without waiting for her reply.
Furious, Xu Xinyue marched to a nearby trash can and kicked it several times to vent her frustration.
Once she cooled off a bit, she dialed Ling Xiaohan's number.
"What is it? Don't tell me you offended Mr. Peter again," Ling Xiaohan asked sharply.
"Aunt Ling… that Peter still wants 100,000 euros for the Yinglong blueprints."
Ling Xiaohan almost laughed. "That's it? Money? Kang Tao's budget is still huge. If building a good relationship with Peter costs even a million, it's worth it."
"I'll send someone with the money right now. Just keep your emotions in check. Do you understand?"
"…Yes."
Xu Xinyue could only comply.
---
"Peter, who was on the phone?"
V raised an eyebrow, curious about the call.
"A liaison from Kang Tao."
"Kang Tao? Why are you dealing with them again?"
"I went to the biotech division with Sasha recently to get some materials. I used them to strike a deal with Kang Tao," Peter explained.
"I negotiated for a research institute. I plan to develop robots and external prosthetic limbs—and upgrade your weapons while I'm at it."
Peter glanced at the three women sitting at the dining table.
"Wait… you know how to do that stuff? When did you become a tech expert?" V asked, genuinely surprised.
"I've been studying it recently. Found some fascinating research paths. Don't worry, I'll design a custom loadout for each of you," Peter replied calmly.
"Fine by me. That knife you gave me is already amazing. As for firearms… your Yinglong's caught my eye."
V pointed toward the smart rifle hanging by the door.
"If you like Yinglong, take it," Peter said casually. "I can always build another one."
Having the complete schematics meant he could recreate and even improve the weapon, as long as he had the parts.
He also thought of Adam Smasher's eight-star blunderbuss. He hadn't retrieved Johnny's belongings yet—he'd make a trip tonight.
The thought of wielding a dragon rifle in one hand and the eight-star cannon in the other made Peter a little excited.
"Seriously? Then I won't hold back," V grinned.
She had coveted Peter's Yinglong for a while. After all, it was a top-tier smart rifle gifted by Kang Tao. Even the black-market arms dealers hadn't heard of Yinglong, and the elite vendors who had didn't sell them.
Watching V claim another of Peter's gifts, Sasha and Lucy couldn't help but cast longing looks in his direction.
"I can upgrade your hacking systems," Peter offered.
He had recently been researching the surveillance and neural drive chips from the Cyan Bi Building's netrunners. He had a development roadmap—but the current conditions limited his progress. Once he secured the right equipment and materials from Kang Tao, he'd be able to manufacture bodies and chips that could rival the most advanced tech in Night City.
With that promise, Sasha and Lucy turned back to their food. No matter how advanced the outside world became, nothing could compare to Peter's cooking.
---
"Sasha," Peter began casually as she slurped noodles, "I don't want to meddle in your team's business… but you should be cautious about that middleman—Faraday."
"Faraday? He's Mann's main point of contact for job postings. They've been working together for two or three years without any issues."
Sasha was surprised. She trusted Peter's instincts but also respected Mann's leadership. Faraday had always come through for them.
"I've heard he's now involved with Militech. He may be planning something against the board."
Peter leaned forward, his tone serious.
"You should ask Mann if Faraday mentioned anything about the prosthetic 'King Kong.' If so, drop him immediately."
Peter didn't reveal everything. He knew Faraday had already started planning the King Kong rebellion with Militech. The mission route Faraday gave Mann's team—stealing Tanaka's car—was more than a coincidence.
"If Faraday's next job involves robbing a high-ranking Arasaka exec named Tanaka, that's your red flag. I recommend pulling out right away."
Peter knew he could protect himself, but Mann's team were just mercenaries. Disposable in the eyes of corporate warfare.
Sasha nodded, her expression turning serious.
---