35: Friends' identity

Fang Yun's mind stirred, and he secretly thought:

"It seems they're planning to investigate my specific origins."

The thought flashed through his mind, and then Fang Yun spoke, answering Karl's question:

"You're right."

Karl nodded slightly and continued to ask:

"Can you tell me where you came from before arriving in Night City?"

Hearing Karl's question, Fang Yun thought to himself, 'Just as I expected.'

Then, Fang Yun lowered his head, pretending to be in deep thought on the surface, but inwardly he was complaining:

"I crossed over from another world. In the past year, I've been digging rocks every day."

"By digging rocks, I acquired a set of top-tier cyberware and equipment."

"When I got tired of digging rocks, I thought about going out to have some fun. As a result, I just happened to run into Toke and Valentine, and then I helped them out."

"Although this is the truth, I can't just tell Karl that."

"If I really said that, Karl, Toke, and Valentine would definitely think I was talking nonsense, or that I was a cyberpsycho."

"Hmm... how should I answer?"

After thinking for a while, Fang Yun made a decision. He looked up and said to Karl:

"I used to be a mercenary in Linyang City, China, just trying to make a living."

"I had long heard that Night City was the city of dreams, but because I never had a suitable opportunity, I didn't come here."

"Not long ago, due to some personal reasons, I found a suitable opportunity, and then I came to Night City, ready to make a name for myself."

"You should know what happened after that."

"While I was lost and circling in the Badlands, I met Toke and Valentine, and then helped them resolve their trouble."

"Personally, I believe that meeting is destiny. Therefore, I consider myself to have formed a friendship with Toke and Valentine."

"Regarding the attack on Toke and Valentine by the Nightwalker, I have a premonition that there must be some conspiracy behind it."

"So, to help my friends, Toke and Valentine, I decided to follow them back to the Buckle Family Camp to see if there's anything I can help with."

"This is the whole process of the matter."

Karl sat on his bunk, quietly listening as Fang Yun completely recounted the "truth" and "full picture" of how he helped Toke and Valentine.

Toke and Valentine, who were standing inside the tent, also heard what Fang Yun said.

When they heard Fang Yun calling them friends, they exchanged glances and couldn't help but smile.

When they heard Fang Yun say, "There must be a conspiracy behind this matter," they both stopped smiling and showed a thoughtful, frowning expression.

Karl, on the other hand, remained silent throughout, his expression consistently calm and unchanged.

After hearing Fang Yun finish speaking, Karl remained silent for a few more seconds, then slowly spoke:

"China, Linyang City, personal reasons..."

"Although I haven't heard of Linyang City, with so many cities in China, it's impossible for me to know all their names."

"As for the reason you came to Night City... since it's personal, I assume it's not convenient for you to say, and I won't ask any further."

"How much of what you said is true and how much is false, I cannot judge right now."

"However, I can tell that you indeed have no ill intentions towards the Buckle Family."

[I have met countless people, and I can confirm that this Fang Yun has no ill intentions. My feeling won't be wrong.] (Karl)

Speaking up to this point, Karl paused slightly, looked up at Toke and Valentine, then turned his head and continued speaking to Fang Yun:

"Furthermore, I believe that Toke and Valentine wouldn't misjudge someone, and they wouldn't do anything detrimental to the family."

"As for your origins, I won't delve into them further."

"Next, I want to ask you another question. According to Toke and Valentine, your strength should be very great. I want to ask, are you from a corporation, or...?"

Hearing Karl's answer and his question again, Fang Yun first breathed a sigh of relief, then became tense again.

After a brief thought, Fang Yun gave his answer:

"I'm not a corporate dog. My cyberware and equipment are also unrelated to corporations."

"However, I do belong to a certain organization. My cyberware and equipment were all given to me by that organization."

While speaking, Fang Yun thought to himself:

"I myself am an organization, is that okay? Nobody says an organization has to be made up of many people. So, I am an organization."

"Moreover, I might, no, I should say I definitely will, go against corporations in the future."

"At that time, when engaging in armed conflict with corporations, there must be a source for various military forces."

"Inventing an organization will be useful later, whether as an excuse or for 'recruiting' David and others."

Just as Fang Yun was talking to himself inwardly, Karl, after hearing Fang Yun's answer, remained silent on the surface and also fell into thought inwardly:

[An organization that isn't corporate? It's hard to imagine an organization existing in this world that has absolutely no ties to corporations.]

[But he said "corporate dog." People from corporations generally wouldn't refer to themselves like that.]

[Furthermore, his demeanor is indeed not like that of corporate people, who are arrogant and nauseating.]

Just as both Fang Yun and Karl were deep in thought, Toke's voice suddenly rang out in the tent:

"Karl, I believe what Fang Yun said. You should also be able to feel that Fang Yun has no ill intentions towards the Buckle Family and doesn't seem like someone from a corporation."

Toke silently added inwardly: [Of course, Fang Yun doesn't have a killing aura and doesn't quite seem like a mercenary. Yet, his actions are extremely ruthless...]

Then, Toke continued:

"I believe that Fang Yun is my and Valentine's friend, and also a friend of the Buckle Family."

After speaking, Toke looked at Valentine, seeking her opinion.

"Valentine, you agree, right?"

Valentine was silent for a few seconds, then spoke to express her agreement with Toke's view.

"I think Toke is right."

Valentine looked at Fang Yun and said to Karl:

"Furthermore, to put it bluntly, with Fang Yun's strength, if he were truly an enemy, the entire Buckle Family Camp might have already been completely massacred by now."

Karl's thoughts were interrupted by Toke and Valentine's words.

After hearing Valentine's last sentence, Karl's pupils contracted, and then he took a deep look at Fang Yun.

Then, Karl spoke:

..."Since Toke and Valentine have both said so, then I have no other questions."

"In fact, I talked to the family members who were injured yesterday. From their descriptions, I indeed smelled the scent of a conspiracy."

"Although I still don't know exactly where the part that makes me feel uneasy is, one thing is certain."

"All the attacks suffered by the injured family members yesterday, including the attack on Toke and Valentine, were the work of the 'Nightwalker Settlement: Black Hand'."

"I plan to seek revenge against the 'Black Hand'. I wonder if Fang Yun, you would like to participate?"

Karl asked Fang Yun the question. While staring into Fang Yun's eyes, he thought to himself:

[This is my final test. If Fang Yun chooses to participate in this revenge, then even if Fang Yun has something planned against the Buckle Family, it won't be anytime soon.]

Fang Yun noticed Karl's gaze and looked back at Karl.

After seeing Karl's sharp gaze, Fang Yun also understood that this was Karl's final test.

Fang Yun smiled slightly and said in a definite tone:

"Of course. I also want to participate in the revenge against the 'Black Hand'."

"Even if it weren't to help Toke and Valentine, the 'Black Hand' also attacked me on the way to the Buckle Family Camp. How can I not seek revenge for this?"