At the Watson District NCPD Headquarters, V met David.
The boy who once reached the top of Arasaka Tower had returned to school. With a scholarship, he could continue his studies and even save some money to help his family. Gloria no longer needed to juggle three jobs or strip cyberware from the deceased—she could finally rest properly every night. As for David being expelled from Arasaka Academy, that was easily resolved with a single word from V.
Everything seemed to be going in the right direction.
Except for Lucy.
The pale-blue-haired girl was still drifting through the streets, surviving by stealing credit chips from passengers in the subway. V had learned from an animation that Lucy was Arasaka's "mining girl" for extracting lost tech behind the Blackwall, and indeed, V had found related records in the company's secret archives. V was willing to help Lucy start over, granting her official Arasaka employment—but Lucy didn't appreciate it.
Lucy didn't trust her—or rather, she didn't trust anyone from Arasaka.
V gained authority, but at the cost of some friendships forever.
Everything has a price, and V had long understood that.
David looked a little embarrassed. "V, sorry to trouble you again."
"No problem." V sat on the sofa in the Chief's office, flicking her chin toward the NCPD Chief standing nearby. He bobbed and bowed repeatedly, saying, "Yes, ma'am," and personally escorted Lucy out of the temporary holding cell.
"Lucy!" David rushed forward.
The pale-blue-haired girl, however, was full of frustration. "If it weren't for those damn drones, I wouldn't have messed up!"
Thanks to the 2,000 police drones donated by Zetatech to the NCPD, Night City's crime rate had noticeably dropped, especially for petty crimes like extortion and theft. Naturally, a thief like Lucy had felt the impact, ending up in police custody six times in a month.
Seeing Lucy still talking back at the station, V shot her a glare.
Lucy immediately stiffened like a rabbit caught in the eagle's gaze.
She knew V's power—she might distrust her, but she definitely wouldn't dare push it.
V turned to the NCPD Chief. "The bail has been transferred. I added a little extra. I won't bother filling out the paperwork myself."
"Yes, everything is in our hands. V, with your position and responsibilities, there's no need to trouble yourself with these details. Next time, just have someone relay a message; there's no need for you to come in person."
"Rules are rules."
"You're too kind."
V left with David and Lucy. Since it was a personal matter, she didn't take the flying car, opting for a low-profile ride in a Lefeld Lake Lady Sword.
David looked around the vehicle, marveling at the luxury interior. The price of a Lake Lady Sword even surpassed the GDP of some island nations. He almost wanted to start shooting a hundred photos with his camera right there.
In contrast, Lucy looked like a sulky little bride.
"Rules?" she said sarcastically. "It's just a disguised bribe, what kind of rule is that?"
V didn't deny it. "Not a good rule, but better than no rule. And no cursing."
"Shit, f—"
Before the word "shit" could escape, V glared again. Lucy shivered, swallowing the last part back down.
Annoyed, she reached for a cigarette. But as soon as she pulled it out, V coldly said, "No more smoking. Quit."
Lucy clenched her teeth in anger. She looked at David, hoping he would intervene, but V spoke first: "David, you're responsible for supervising her."
"Got it."
"You!" Lucy nearly fainted from indignation. "I'm your girlfriend, you're supposed to listen to me!"
David smiled apologetically. "V's doing it for your own good."
"She's your sister, not mine!"
"Once we're married, she's your sister too."
"Go away, who wants to marry a broke student!"
Despite her words, the two became clingy.
V watched them, feeling a warmth in her stomach.
Seeing David and Lucy about to get too close, they suddenly remembered V was there and awkwardly separated.
V clicked her tongue. "Don't stop—pretend I'm not here, continue."
Of course, they didn't continue.
David thought V was being sarcastic and quickly reassured, "V, I'll focus on my studies, don't worry."
V wasn't being sarcastic, nor did she explain further. She nodded. "Good. When you graduate, come help me."
"No problem." David nodded without hesitation.
V turned to Lucy. "Stop wandering aimlessly. Night City's public safety will only get better. You can't survive your whole life by petty theft."
Lucy knew it was true but still protested, "Who's wandering? Just the other day, the Voodoo Boys sent someone to talk business with me."
"Voodoo Boys? What business could you have with them?" V frowned.
"The stuff in my head," Lucy snorted. "Those guys are insane, drilling through the Blackwall every day. The info in my brain is priceless to them!"
The Voodoo Boys, a Haitian gang with top-tier hacking skills, were obsessed with breaking through the Blackwall to reach the other side. V had no liking for these "netrats."
But Lucy's words reminded V that last time, she and Jack took the fall, diverting Arasaka's attention. If she wanted to repeat it, she'd need another scapegoat.
V considered the Voodoo Boys suitable—they couldn't keep targeting just the Maelstrom gang.
With her thoughts expanding, V's mind slowly formed a blueprint, like completing a piece of the puzzle—another step closer to ultimate success.
"Hey, what are you daydreaming about?" Lucy waved her hand in front of V.
"Nothing." V came back to reality. "Deal with the Voodoo Boys, and you'll just be a 'footnote.' Work with me—this is private, unrelated to Arasaka."
"I already said I…"
"Monthly salary: 800."
"When do I start?" Lucy instantly transformed into a delighted and charming girl.
Even the finest spirits at Konpeki Tower's top floors were barely above a thousand. Lucy didn't trust V, but she trusted Euros.
"No rush, next week. Before that, I'll give you a small task: meet the Voodoo Boys, sell them a piece of information. How much you earn is up to you—consider it pocket money from me."
Lucy, nearly unable to pay rent, eyes shining: "What information?"
V's eyes glowed blue.
Lucy was shocked: "Relic chip?!"
"Shh." V pressed a finger to Lucy's lips. "This stays between us."
Timid David asked weakly, "Is it dangerous? What if Lucy really becomes a footnote…"
"So you go too," V said. "Remember Carter? Also graduated from Arasaka Academy, your senior. Go find him, he'll help you prep cyberware."
David was stunned, then nodded repeatedly, eyes full of excitement.
Later, V took them to Tom's Restaurant, mainly for Lucy. She had been living off protein bars for days—not because the NCPD was strict, but that was all the place served.
Lucy devoured a synthetic meat burger while V and David, less hungry, ordered coffee and discussed Mann and Dorio.
Mann and Dorio had downgraded their cyberware at Old Vic's. After this incident, they quit mercenary work, opening a gun shop in Kabuki. Business seemed decent. Rebecca hadn't retired; she teamed up with her brother Pira and a hacker named Qiwei, taking jobs from Okada Wakako in Japan Street—gaining some recognition.
Not perfect, but enough for an epilogue.
"If they need help, they can call me anytime."
David sincerely said, "Thanks, V. Meeting you is the luckiest thing in our lives."
"Save the mushy words for your girlfriend, let's go."
V called a flying car, lifting off amid everyone's gaze. The Lefeld Lake Lady Sword returned to the garage via autopilot.
"Finally, that annoying person is gone," Lucy muttered, biting her straw.
"Don't say that. V really cares about you," David said, smiling. "She rescued you, took you out to eat—like a mom."
"Pfft, we're almost the same age. She's just my sister!"
"See, you think she cares about you too."
"Bullshit!"
Tsundere tendencies may fade with the environment, but never completely. Lucy's Japanese heritage began to show.
The next two days passed uneventfully. V continued refining her plan. On the third day, Xu Zhong delivered the blueprints for the Kang Tao L-69 Smart Shotgun.
Smart firearms were pioneered by Arasaka, but Kang Tao surpassed them. Whether pistols or SMGs, Kang Tao used Arasaka weapons as models—first imitation, then innovation—often criticized for "copyright" issues.
In 2069, Kang Tao released the world's first smart shotgun, the L-69. It solved the centuries-old issue of shotguns being inaccurate at range, breaking the limitation that smart weapons could only be small-caliber pistols or SMGs, finally making a powerful smart shotgun viable.
Arasaka had no presence in smart shotguns. Kang Tao's innovation freed them from the label of "copycats," achieving true independence.
For a time, Arasaka viewed Kang Tao as a serious threat, more so than veteran rival Militech. Even Saburo Arasaka acknowledged the "Kang Tao Threat," repeatedly changing strategies to counter their rise, showcasing Kang Tao's peak years.
Now, an unknown Xu Zhong had somehow obtained the L-69 smart shotgun data. Apart from Joanne Koch, who wasn't sensitive to military tech, V and Mercedes Stokes were stunned.
"Is this real?" Mercedes held the chip, flipping it around.
She knew Xu Zhong had ulterior motives, but using national secrets to earn trust seemed overly confident.
V glanced at him. "Kang Tao's 'Three-One' strategy."
"Three-One?"
"Release one generation, hide one, develop one." V looked at Xu Zhong. "I suppose Kang Tao already has a smarter shotgun than the L-69, right?"
Xu Zhong's heartbeat quickened.
Mercedes realized: "Eight-Star? Isn't that by reservation only?"
"They could throw the L-69 out as bait. What do you think?"
"Damn!" Mercedes gritted her teeth. Military Tech had been using the L-69 to gauge Kang Tao's tech. Now all prior research was worthless. But Kang Tao's secrecy was solid; she had no excuse. She could only mutter: "Chinese, you're evil!"
V ignored the emo blonde, turning to Xu Zhong: "I understand your sincerity. Now, tell me your demands."
Xu Zhong awkwardly said: "What 'you'? It's just me. All my personal action, unrelated to anyone else."
V stared. Xu Zhong stared back, unwavering.
His gaze was determined; V's glowed blue.
Xu Zhong: ???
Xu Zhong: !!!
Heat surged in his head. Hair literally caught fire.
[Cyberware Overheat]
Even synthetic hair is cyberware, adjustable in length and color.
"Hot, hot, hot, I can't say it! We have rules!"
Fine. Not saying it counts as saying it.
V stopped the puppet.
Xu Zhong, with a half-shaven head, looked utterly despondent.
"Speak—what do you want?"
"It's not 'we,' it's 'I!'" Xu Zhong insisted.
"Fine, you. What do you want?"
"I want to join, work with you."
"Joining doesn't require the L-69 at such cost. Anything else?"
"Jiang Ping—I want to take her down!"
"You said you weren't aligned with Jiang Ping before. Is it you or someone behind you?"
Xu Zhong didn't answer—silence was answer enough.
V didn't press: "Fine. Joining is okay, taking down Jiang Ping aligns with my interest. Where do you start?"
"Outside the city, Kang Tao Power Plant," Xu Zhong said. "I received info she's embezzling there. I need evidence."
V frowned. Embezzling? That sounded more like an audit task than faction rivalry. Too sensitive; better not provoke Kang Tao. But outside the city power plant could fit her plan.
She said: "Arasaka's Chief Bioengineer Anders Hellman—you know him?"
Xu Zhong looked confused.
"No need. Just know he'll soon join Kang Tao. What you want, what I want—it's all on him."
Another piece of the puzzle found.
Time continued relentlessly, like a dreamer lost in their own world.
Meanwhile, another dreamer began to act.
On the ninth day after arriving in Night City, Arasaka Raisen visited Arasaka Michiko. Their meeting did not go well.
Initially, they maintained appearances, but eventually argued loudly and parted on bad terms.
Simple reason:
Arasaka Raisen wanted Michiko's help, but Michiko refused.
In the original story, the reason was unknown to V, but now Raisen came upon hearing of V's deeds. He didn't believe anyone could solo the Arasaka Tower. V succeeded thanks to Michiko's tacit approval. Michiko did so because she hated the company and wanted it to collapse.
So Raisen came, thinking Michiko was an ally.
Unfortunately, he guessed the beginning but not the end—his starting assumptions weren't fully correct.
Michiko did not hate the company. She admitted there were problems but never wished its collapse.
"Uncle, the company collapsing won't benefit us," Michiko said flatly. "Directly, your finances will drop, and no longer will you party all night with double-digit top dolls."
Raisen's corner of the mouth twitched. "I have dual degrees in International Finance and Biotechnology. I can create wealth with my own hands!"
"I have hundreds with dual degrees under me; one word from me and they lose everything."
Raisen's mouth twitched again. "Michiko, I'm different! We are different!"
"True—but only if the company exists." Michiko looked at him like a fool. "And now you want to destroy your own support."
Raisen, unable to argue, resorted to seniority: "Michiko, show respect! I'm your uncle!"
Michiko expressionless: "Private Marseille."
Raisen: …
"V, you talk."
Me? V thought, holding a teapot as a server. She glanced at Raisen's bodyguard Adam Heavyhammer—expressionless—and Michiko's guard Ken'ichiro, looking smug.
Damn, all workers—me only, the laboring soul!
Boss spoke, so V obeyed.
"Raisen-san, how will you provoke the companies into conflict?"
Raisen sat upright, arms crossed: "That's confidential!"
"Okay, then how will you ensure the companies maintain balance and destroy each other perfectly?"
"Confidential!"
"And after the corporate war, how will order be restored?"
Raisen paused, hadn't considered that, but loudly: "Confidential!"
V was getting a headache.
Through these encounters, V gradually understood Raisen:
Saw company corruption, chose to defect from the Arasaka family.
Perhaps influenced by Steel Dragon's failure, or witnessing Arasaka Tower standing after the nuclear blast.
Realized external violence cannot topple a company, opted for internal sabotage.
Strong action, weak capability.
Recognizes reality but overly idealistic.
Born wealthy, seeks to destroy his own family.
A warrior challenging corporate tyranny, yet trapped by family ethics.
Contradictions defined Raisen, dooming him to failure.
Yet, futile rebellion is better than numb complacency.
V felt Raisen was stronger in this—at least he aimed to change the system. Her fights were always personal: to survive, to heal. If Raisen is contradiction, she is selfishness.
No matter what, his three "confidential" replies killed the conversation—explaining the quarrel.
After seeing Raisen off, V returned to her office.
Lucy sent a message: The Blackfish is in the fridge.
V smirked. The last puzzle piece was in place.
Blue light glowed in her eyes. Mercedes Stokes of Militech, Joanne Koch of BioTech, and Xu Zhong of Kang Tao all received the same message:
"Whale Hunt begins!"