A change had come into the City of Dreams.

For one, the Tyger Claws are gone. Or rather, mostly gone. The remaining Tyger Claws had united under Wakako Okada, Tyger Claws' premier fixer-turned-leader, as those who remained in Watson were decimated by Night City's newest gang. Of course, the gangoons of NC decided to take action in response to Tyger Claws' massive reduction: with Sixth Street attempting to move into Westbrook to no avail. As for Night City's newly-formed group, the Builders had consolidated their hold in Watson. The Builders ruthlessly removed numerous illegal activities like drug smuggling, human trafficking, and other nefarious businesses. Suffice it to say, Watson had become one of Night City's safest districts. Still poor, yes, but Sebastian has an intense feeling in his gut that sooner or later, that might change.

Especially when the Builders Incorporated - Padre could've scoffed at the braindead way Tom had named his corporation to his gang, but if he were to guess, the name is to represent their connection with the people that they're supposed to serve - had announced on the radio that after much discussion with the Night City council, the sub-districts of Little China and Kabuki are about to experience a massive renovation.

Though, if what he'd heard on the streets was true, it seems Tom had gained an enemy in the form of Arasaka. While he doesn't know what Tom had done to gain the attention of Arasaka, he could take a guess. Already, his contracts were reporting to him that Megabuilding H10, the center of the Builder's power in Watson, had been the battleground of 'Saka ninjas attempting to kill the man. Unfortunately for the 'Sakas, it seemed they missed the memo that by angering the Solo-turned-leader and CEO of Builders Incorporated, they've also painted a target on their back.

While Tom hadn't done something as insane as targeting the Arasaka Waterfront, it seemed Tom had taken another path to hurt Arasaka where it hurts: their wallets.

Despite Arasaka allowing Night City to recover in the aftermath of the Unification War, it doesn't mean that everyone benefitted from it. Many within NC are still angry at Arasaka for returning: with many within blaming Arasaka for Night City's collapse during the Fourth Corporate War.

And Tom had utilized that anger into something fierce.

For one, a month since Tyger Claws' decimation, a lull of silence permeated the Watson district. Then, one day, the titanic wall Arasaka built on the waterfront to protect Arasaka's interests from gangs, scavengers, nosy reporters, and the ordinary residents of Watson? It blew up. More specifically, the checkpoints guarding Arasaka Waterfront blew up.

While the government officials of the city condemned the 'heinous acts perpetuated to Night City's most important partner,' with Arasaka themselves putting a large amount of credit for the capture of the perpetrator, Builder Incorporated took advantage of the situation: with Builder's Incorporated officially buying Megabuilding H11 and 12 from Night City's control. While Arasaka would've done its hardest to ensure that no corporation would be able to make a foothold within Watson, they're busy with the fact that the recent attack had given Arasaka the spooks. It seems the recent attack had rattled those within their board of directors.

Sebastian doubts that many within Arasaka would ever forget the last time someone attacked them in their seat of power.

And as much as Sebastian wanted to ask Tom where he got the credits required to buy both Megabuilding H11 and 12, he felt it was a matter left unanswered. Most especially when the Valentions benefitted from Builder Incorporated rise to power. Already, many had their credits invested into Builder's Incorporated.

In any case, with the three Megabuildings under the Builder's control, Watson was experiencing a revival. Already, the foods produced within the factories of Builders Incorporated were dominating Watson's market: with fresh foods such as rice, bread, sugar, and even meat, selling for as low as five eddies.

Five eddies! The number still boggles Padre's mind. He could barely remember the time when he'd managed to eat foods that weren't synthetic.

With an abundance of fresh food crops overflowing the streets of Watson, many from Night City had traveled to see whether or not the food was fresh. When the people of Arroyo, Heywood, and Pacifica learned that the food flowing from Watson was fresh, Watson's economic output doubled. The streets are safer thanks to Tom's thorough extermination of crime within the district and Tom's gang followers enforcing the peace in the district, despite NCPD's insistence that they were responsible for lowering the crime rate in Watson. Sub-districts like Little China and Kabuki roared to life: with Little China becoming a market hub for cheap, fresh goods while Kabuki turned into a mini-Las Vegas. As for the Northern Industrial District, the NID became the home of Builder Incorporated, with Megabuilding H11 serving as Builder Incorporated's symbol of power.

Thankfully for the people of Watson, Builder's Incorporated serves the people: much like how its founder had served as a Solo for the numerous fixers of NC.

So when Tom entered his home, this time wearing a suit in the same vein as corpos wear, that meant he was here for business.

Subtly shifting his posture, Padre gave him a nod before gesturing for him to the seat.

Seeing Tom nod and take a seat, he took out a cigar, one that he'd stop doing, but for this occasion, Padre might need to take a long drag from the discussion about to occur, and lit it before speaking up, "What can I do for you, Tom?"

"You know how much the Valentinos have invested in the company, right?" Nodding at his question, Tom continued, "Well, I have a proposal for you, Padre. One that might benefit us both."

Raising an eyebrow, he waved for him to continue, "See, with business booming in Watson and with the recent stint that happened on the waterfront, I have a feeling that sooner or later, Arasaka might decide to pull something that'll affect my work in Watson. And I don't want that to happen at all."

Shaking the briefcase that Padre only noticed, he continued, "And so, I have here are files, written in paper files, that I'll buy for you in exchange for an alliance between my group and the Valentinos."

Padre hummed at his words, while he knew that by having those files, the Valentinos would expand further in scope: especially as the Valentinos became Night City's most powerful gang, perhaps rivaled by those in Sixth Street, Padre knew that there was a caveat.

"And what's the caveat of this proposal of yours?" Here, Tom grinned.

"Why, simple. Be my ally."

Padre's eyes narrowed at the vague way he said his response. While the Solo-turned-CEO is honest to a fault, the man is also capable of slyly lying. And while he knew that there was more to his words than what he wanted to say, the benefits outweighed the positives.

And so, despite feeling that he might've done a deal with diablo, he clasped the hand of Tom, even though the hairs on his back were rising something fierce.