With Li Pan's approval, the Paradise Corporation negotiations were left to Kotarō.
And, surprisingly, the kid wasn't half bad when he wasn't sneaking around on half-baked infiltration missions. Paradise had sent a professional lawyer, smooth and polished, but Kotarō held his own, clause for clause. Beyond confirming the NDA provisions and the consulting contract between Panlong Construction and Paradise, ensuring neither side would act in hostility, Kotarō even managed to secure an unexpected bonus:
a three-month VIP membership package.
Paradise's core business on 0791 was luxury: five-star hotels, fine dining, resorts, boutiques, every bespoke service imaginable. For the next three months, anywhere under Paradise's umbrella, Li Pan would enjoy full VIP privileges. Snap his fingers, and a swarm of android attendants would appear—serving tea, massaging his legs, even throwing themselves in front of bullets if needed.
Why three months? Because that was how long it would take them to rebuild their firewall. In other words, should any of Paradise's rivals come hunting for the "key," Li Pan could simply hide in Paradise territory and enjoy complimentary bodyguards.
"Mm, Kotarō. Well done!"
"All thanks to your wise guidance, boss. I still have much to learn from you."
Now that was the kind of subordinate who knew how to talk.
Only one visitor remained to be dealt with.
A Meeting with Kōga
Li Pan rapped lightly on the business department door, stepped inside, and glanced around.
The atmosphere here was the opposite extreme.
Kōga Asahime, headmaster of Gojū Academy, sat across from the newly recruited Ashiya Shigeyoshi. Neither had touched their coffee. They simply glared, eyes locked, silent as statues.
When Li Pan entered, Ashiya was the first to break eye contact. He rose with a smile.
"Manager, since you've arrived, I'll take my leave."
"Mm. Oh—before you go, tidy up the office."
"Yes, sir."
Still smiling, Ashiya shut the door behind him.
Li Pan turned to the headmaster.
"Well well, Principal-sensei, what wind blows you here this time?"
Kōga shot him a glance—then coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"Hey! I just bought this suit!"
Wiping her lips, she staggered forward, lost balance, and collapsed into his arms.
"Hey, don't pin this on me! I haven't even done anything yet!"
She looked up, eyes weeping blood, glaring at him like a betrayed widow.
"Are you insane? Why would you help him break his seal?"
Li Pan blinked.
"You mean Ashiya? What's the problem—he's a temp, twenty-five hundred a month. What's there to fuss about? Wait—you fought him? And lost?"
What the hell was wrong with these ninjas…
To be fair, the Ashiya clan had centuries of history tangled with the Onmyō Bureau. They knew every trick of the sealing arts. Even the secret jutsu practiced by elite jōnin, like the Yin-Yang Harmonization Technique, had originally leaked from his family. Of course they'd keep a trump card.
Not to mention that the "unsealed" Ashiya Shigeyoshi was essentially Ashiya Rokudō reborn—one of the supreme onmyōji.
Though, truth be told, Li Pan hadn't sensed anything unusual about his "qi" earlier. Maybe he had ways to mask it. A smiling, harmless office worker concealing immense power—that was the real hidden boss type.
Yes… Li Pan really needed a chance to see the man's true ability.
"Hey! What are you doing? Don't ambush me!"
He nearly hurled the headmaster away, but she clung to his shirt, barely standing.
"I… I've been hexed. My yin-energy is in disarray… lend me your yang."
"…What? My yang? The hell—you think that's something you can just borrow? How do you even know I have it? Did Kuriko tell you?"
She flushed, desperate, lips trembling.
"Enough talk! Hold me!"
"I refuse. I'm not that kind of man."
He stood firm, arms crossed.
"Mixing energy like that drains me. I save your lives again and again and get nothing for it. Not worth my time."
"You—!"
She bit her lip, then transferred 100,000 credits to his account.
"That enough?"
Li Pan scowled.
"You think you can buy my body for a measly hundred grand? Add more."
Her face crumpled.
In the end, she caved—one million credits, just to steady her own inner energy. Afterward, a little stronger but still seething, she stormed out without another word.
Li Pan blinked.
"So she came all this way… just to borrow a million-credit infusion of yang? What the hell."
Ashiya tapped on the door, smiling as he peeked in.
"Manager, shall I clean up?"
Li Pan glared.
"This is how you welcome clients? Leaving your boss to mop up after you?"
Ashiya sighed.
"You wrong me. I act only in self-defense. It wasn't I who came hunting down the Onmyō Bureau's ninjas. Defeat one, and another shows up seeking revenge. I'm troubled by it too."
Li Pan could only agree. These ninjas never quit.
"Originally, I intended to cut her down and end it. But since she seems to matter to you…"
He drew a talisman, a paper effigy glowing with red aura.
"I leave her fate to your discretion."
Li Pan frowned, then nodded.
"Adults take responsibility for their actions. If she comes after you again, don't hold back on my account."
"Understood. I'll write my report, then."
Ashiya bowed, composed and smiling, clearly unaffected by any yin-energy imbalance.
"Oh, by the way—this talisman is still active. Within three days, ten paces will trigger it. Just feed it a bit of qi, and her yin will fall into chaos again."
Li Pan narrowed his eyes.
So he could sense the qi in him too…
Yes. The Ashiya arts definitely had depth. Worth studying later.
Breaking News
Before he could nap in the manager's office, A-Qi burst in with coffee.
"Boss! Look—NCHK! Takamagahara has declared a truce!"
The Hashiba and Tokugawa clans had signed peace. Tokugawa acknowledged Hashiba as president of Takamagahara. A political marriage sealed it: Hashiba's heir would wed a Tokugawa princess, their dowries exchanged as shares, a corporate merger in all but name.
Hashiba was now Takamagahara's legitimate ruler. Its assets near Night City were transferred to Tokugawa Medical—a fiefdom in all but name.
Kotarō and Ashiya exchanged knowing glances.
"So soon, huh?"
"They're no Oda. Without decisive victory, their subordinates—colleagues, not vassals—wouldn't bleed themselves dry for a stalemate. Too much risk to stability."
"And the Night Clan? No reaction?"
"Too busy hunting Akatenku terrorists. With Takamagahara intact, they can't risk a fight anyway."
"So the Tokugawa become the buffer between Takamagahara and the Night Clan. The Night Clan missed their chance to break them apart."
Li Pan cut in suddenly.
"A marriage, huh? Then Princess Tokugawa Senhime will be moving to Banshū?"
Kotarō blinked.
"Yes. She should be the bride. Though note: the fiancé changed. It was Hashiba Nobuyoshi before—now it's the young heir, Shimaru."
Ashiya added:
"To secure board votes earlier, Nobuyoshi was married to the Ikeda family, old Oda retainers. The Ikeda gave everything, even leading the vanguard in the last war. Their general died in battle. Hashiba can't annul that marriage now without alienating loyalists.
So they substitute the boy heir for Senhime instead."
Li Pan thought.
"Can you find her travel route to Kansai? Or details on the wedding?"
The two looked at each other.
"We can try, boss. But what are you planning?"
"Just check. I'll be having lunch with a client. Send me word if you learn anything."
"A-Qi, book me with President Tōdō. Paradise Hotel will do—time to test our new card."
Lunch with Tōdō
At the Paradise Hotel, Li Pan met Tōdō Uemon, president of Tōdō Construction Industries.
They had exchanged cards back in Kiyosu. Tōdō was now effectively Hashiba's liaison to Monster Corp, and he had rushed to occupied Night City the moment peace was declared. Naturally, Li Pan returned the courtesy.
A good excuse for a free meal on the company dime.
Hashiba Finance, Li Pan knew, specialized in banking, trade, and foreign partnerships—especially with the Skyborn Conglomerates. That was how they secured the board's support after Oda's collapse. Smooth operators, skilled in diplomacy and compromise.
But succession loomed as an issue. The old heir, Nobuyoshi, had his own faction, with ties across the star fleets and allied companies. But now a young son, Shimaru, had been declared heir and engaged to Senhime. A classic case of family politics threatening unity.
Still, in this world of boardrooms and trust funds, heirs remained indispensable. Without one, even megacorporations collapsed.
"President Li! An honor to see you again. A small gift."
"Oh, far too kind. I should be the one treating you!"
"Not at all. My master insisted this reach you."
Inside the box: the demon blade Onimaru Kunitsuna. Even sheathed, it radiated murderous intent.
Hashiba's generosity was staggering. Kotarō had stolen an onmyōji, and they responded by sending a cursed sword. Truly, they knew how to play the game.
"Well then, on behalf of Monster Corp, I accept. We've always supported the Hashiba faction."
"Good to hear!"
They dined. No frivolities afterward—Tōdō had a full schedule of visits. Li Pan, slightly disappointed, still finished every dish.
When he paid, the hotel's android manager presented a lineup of luxury hovercars.
"As a VIP, please select your transport. Safety and discretion guaranteed."
The office was only two streets away, but stuffed and lazy, Li Pan picked his teeth and shrugged.
"Which is the most expensive? That one. Take me to… TSC Tenhan Tech Tower."
"At once, honored guest."
.
.
.
⚠️ 30 CHAPTERS AHEAD — I'm Not a Cyberpsycho ⚠️
The system says: Kill.Mercs obey. Corporates obey. Monsters obey.One man didn't.
🧠💀 "I'm not a cyberpsycho. I just think... differently."
💥 High-voltage cyberpunk. Urban warfare. AI paranoia.Read 30 chapters ahead, only on Patreon.
🔗 patreon.com/DrManhattanEN