Chapter 125: Silence Is the Cambridge of Tonight
“Boss, I have something I want to ask you—right…”
After reviewing the intelligence from Kuroda’s side and roughly deducing that they intended to suppress land prices in that area while showing off their military strength, Roland suddenly received a message from Kiwi.
Roland stroked his chin and called Kiwi back. The result was obvious—no answer.
“Hmm… what is Kiwi up to?”
He scratched his scalp and shot a look at Lissandra beside him.
Lissandra immediately understood. With a small wave of her hand, a screen appeared in front of Roland. Kiwi was leaning against a wall by the street, her ponytail undone and hanging loose. As if sensing something, she glanced toward the camera.
Then she gave a small nod.
At the same time, Roland realized the scene looked strangely familiar, as though he had been there before.
“Lissandra, have I been here before?”
“Yes. This is where you and Miss Kiwi parked during your first mission together.”
Lissandra checked briefly and gave her answer. Everything was recorded in her database.
Hearing that, Roland’s mouth twitched, and he rubbed his face with a headache.
This was awkward. Since she had chosen that location, it meant she had basically confirmed his identity. There was no point in hiding anymore.
That said, it wasn’t something that truly needed to be hidden in the first place—it was just embarrassing now that it had been exposed.
“Sigh… I’ll go see her, then. Let’s find out what she wants.”
Roland adjusted his clothes and prepared to head out. But just before leaving, he turned back.
Suddenly, he felt that meeting her under a different identity might be better.
...
Kiwi slowly withdrew her gaze from the camera and turned to look at the abandoned factory nearby—the place where she and that person had carried out their first mission together.
To be honest, she didn’t know why he had left such a deep impression on her. They hadn’t even met that many times.
And yet, she remembered him clearly.
What truly annoyed her was his real identity.
“Long time no see, Kiwi.”
Hearing the familiar voice beside her, Kiwi froze for a moment. She let out a slow breath and turned her head toward the newcomer—the familiar exoskeleton helmet, and the single strand of white hair drifting behind him.
“Yi… no, Boss.”
“Mhm.”
Roland nodded and removed the helmet from his head.
“Sorry about telling you a small lie before. At the time, I really didn’t have anyone else I could use, so I had to handle it myself.”
He smiled at Kiwi and sat down cross-legged on the hood of the car, looking slightly helpless.
Kiwi stared silently at his face.
“I remember you even threatened me back then. I really thought it was something important that absolutely couldn’t be revealed.”
Roland gave an awkward smile. After clearing his throat, he said,
“What’s done is done. At least now you know some of my situation.”
“Then were the things you said before actually true?”
“Uh… which ones?”
Roland paused, blinking in confusion.
“About the corporation modifying you and saving your life.”
Kiwi narrowed her eyes slightly as she reminded him.
“Well… in a sense, that part is true.”
Roland thought for a moment before answering. After all, the System really had saved his life—and modified him too. That wasn’t a lie, right?
“Then what exactly is this corporation…?”
Kiwi frowned and couldn’t help asking.
“If there’s a chance in the future, I’ll give you an explanation. But not now. This time, I’m serious.”
Roland looked straight into Kiwi’s eyes.
Seeing his expression, Kiwi understood what he meant and nodded.
“Alright. I get it. I won’t ask anymore. But I want compensation—for lying to me.”
Roland couldn’t help laughing.
“What, now that my identity’s changed, I don’t feel as oppressive as a boss anymore?”
“You’re still my boss. You don’t really have a choice.”
Kiwi rolled her eyes.
“Haha, go ahead. As long as it’s nothing too outrageous, I’ll agree.”
“Such a textbook answer.”
Kiwi smiled, tilted her head, and looked at Roland.
“Then, dear boss, I want a raise, more vacation days—and a bit more time to see you.”
“…”
Roland fell silent for a moment, then nodded.
“Alright. I agree to your compensation.”
Roland’s feelings toward Kiwi were actually quite complicated. If one only looked at her actions among the Edgerunners, it was easy to think she had betrayed the team and dislike her for it.
But if you truly understood her, you’d realize she was just another pitiful soul—someone struggling to survive at the bottom of Night City.
He was also somewhat glad that he had met her before she was sold off as a sex doll. Otherwise…
“Alright. Now that you’ve confirmed my identity, can we head back?”
Roland leaned against the car door and tilted his head toward the vehicle.
Kiwi raised an eyebrow and nodded, showing she had no objections. She had already made her move directly, so Roland’s reaction didn’t surprise her—though she did feel a faint sense of disappointment.
She got into the car.
Roland followed shortly after. On the way back, he glanced at Kiwi beside him.
“I know how you feel. I’ll give you a formal answer in a couple of days. I don’t dislike you, Kiwi.”
“…You mean that?”
“Mhm. After all, you’re someone I brought in myself, aren’t you?”
“You’ve brought in quite a few girls.”
Kiwi shot him a sideways glance.
“Ahem… that’s different.”
“But… I understand. Thank you, Roland. Without you, I don’t even know what kind of life I’d be living in Night City right now.”
Kiwi smiled at him, a faint blush quietly spreading across her face.
Seeing this, what crossed Roland’s mind wasn’t how pretty she looked, but—
So even this kind of reaction can be imitated?
And speaking of which… what’s Kiwi’s current condition now? Hmm… still blueberry? (not really)
“Hey, watch the road!”
“Oh—oh, oh! Relax, relax! Trust my driving!”
“We’re about to crash!”
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