V dropped Xu Ling off in front of Kang-Tao Tower, then returned to Arasaka Tower with Johnny.
Inside the conference room, her subordinates were already waiting.
"Carter. Situation report."
V pulled out a chair and sat down.
"Yes, ma'am."
The young man who previously didn't even have an office was now Head of Counterintelligence—
youthful confidence mixed with the steadiness forged through fire.
He gestured, and a web of holo-screens lit up around the room.
"Forty-seven minutes ago, Yorinobu Arasaka held a press conference.
Thirty-two minutes ago, he issued the order to dismiss President V and seize control of the Night City branch.
Twenty-seven minutes ago, we received the official documents.
According to our insider at Arasaka Tokyo HQ, Yorinobu disappeared for twelve days, then suddenly reappeared and immediately held the conference."
"This hardline move fits Arasaka's style.
It strongly boosted market confidence—Arasaka stock has already rebounded across the board.
The old guard and loyalists are encouraged, and the militarist faction now holds the dominant voice."
V nodded and called another name.
"Jenkins. International reactions?"
"Yes."
The man who was once her superior was now her absolute supporter—
his current status was V's doing, and his loyalty to her was unshakable.
"Internationally, no one has taken a clear stance yet.
Major corps are still observing.
But observation itself is a stance.
We made too many reforms in Night City—this displeased many. They only stayed quiet because of your power.
Yorinobu's sudden move gives them exactly what they wanted.
Based on AI projections and my own assessment—most corporations will choose neutrality.
Whoever wins, they profit."
He continued:
"One more thing: President Myers of the NUSA made her statement less than five minutes after Yorinobu's broadcast.
Such speed is no coincidence.
We have reason to believe NUSA is siding with Yorinobu Arasaka.
Whether Militech ordered this is still unclear."
V connected the encrypted comm line—
Meredith Stout and Joanne Koch appeared in holographic form.
"Stout. Give us some good news."
The blonde with slicked-back hair bit down on a cigarette.
"Good news is Militech didn't tell Myers to start shit.
Bad news is—since Myers already stirred the pot, Militech's board decided to follow her plan anyway.
Her plan is simple:
Yorinobu takes back the Arasaka branch.
The NUSA takes back Night City.
Militech is prepared for armed intervention.
And I just received orders to return to the D.C. HQ for a promotion ceremony.
V… sorry.
Militech and the NUSA are two bugs tied to the same string.
If one goes east, the other can't go west."
"I understand. It's not your fault.
But since we're close—be careful when you get back to D.C."
"Relax. I'm not made of mud."
V nodded and turned to Joanne Koch.
"You're getting promoted too, I assume."
"Sharp as ever."
Joanne sighed.
"I just received transfer orders to the Rome HQ—Chief Researcher. Signed directly by the President of Biotechnica."
"Well then, congratulations."
"Congrats my ass. I don't want to study corpse revival tech.
I want to help living people with real diseases!"
She vented, then calmed.
"V, be careful. Biotechnica may not be a military giant, but they're still a major force."
"I know. Take care of yourself too."
V then called another name.
"Sasha. Internal situation?"
The pink-furred catgirl shook her head.
"Not great.
The old employees are calm, but the new ones transferred from HQ are panicking.
They're terrified of HQ's purge.
Some are already contacting HQ in secret, trying to sell intel, hoping Yorinobu will accept their 'repentance.'
Do you want them detained?"
"No need," V said.
"They have no access to our core secrets.
As for general information—HQ probably knows our resources better than we do."
Johnny threw his boots up on the conference table.
"Hah! Corpo dogs will always be corpo dogs.
You treat them nice, and they stab you the second shit goes down.
This is when you drop another nuke on Arasaka Tower.
If you can't have it, no one can."
Everyone's face darkened—
but V laughed.
Johnny Silverhand was great at reading people.
If he said someone was shady, they usually were.
But if it came to strategy?
Whatever direction Johnny pointed—
going the opposite way was guaranteed to be right.
"I don't have a nuke.
And even if I did, I wouldn't nuke Arasaka Tower again."
V's voice was firm.
"Night City isn't just my home. It's home to over seven million people.
I have no right to destroy it.
I will protect it."
Everyone nodded—
but Johnny immediately dumped cold water on them:
"And how the fuck are you gonna do that?
You aren't even a hair compared to them!"
"That's not how the numbers are calculated."
V stood firm.
"If Kurt Hansen can hold all of Dogtown—
why can't I hold Night City?"
"Pft. Anyone can talk big."
V didn't argue.
Carter couldn't hold back:
"If Mr. Silverhand is willing to appear publicly, we can stop Yorinobu from deploying troops."
"Me? Appear? For what—"
Johnny suddenly froze.
"You want me to impersonate Saburo Arasaka?!
Fuck no!
I hate that old corpse more than anything!
I'd rather DIE again than act as him!"
"We revived you—"
"Fuck you! I didn't ask to be revived!"
Johnny flipped Carter off.
Carter was furious.
In fact, everyone was grim-faced.
When it came to being infuriating and unreasonable, Johnny Silverhand was undefeated.
"You said corpo dogs are ungrateful—
looks like you're no different," Jenkins snapped.
"Motherfucker, when I was out there rocking the world, you were still a swimming sperm. Don't act tough with ME!"
Jenkins was about to fire back—
but V stopped him.
"Enough. I called you here to work, not fight."
She turned to Jenkins.
"Johnny is my friend.
He has his own will.
If he doesn't want to do something, don't force him."
Jenkins nodded.
Johnny blinked in confusion.
Friend?
He didn't remember having a friend named V…
Before he could think further, V spoke again:
"Johnny, you have your ideals, and we have our plan.
You were never part of this operation from the beginning.
If you don't want to help, then you can't stay for the rest of this meeting.
Please leave.
We'll arrange housing and anything else you need.
You can borrow the Porsche 911 for now—
drive around Night City a bit.
Just keep the mask on, since you don't want people thinking you're Saburo Arasaka."
"Fine! I don't want to stay in this corpo shithole anyway!
And because you gave me the car—
if you die, I'll help collect your corpse!"
"Thanks," V said sincerely.
Johnny froze.
He yanked his feet off the table, shoved his hands in his pockets, kicked the door open, and stormed out.
What do you mean the plan never included me?!
Like I'm irrelevant?!
I would've agreed if she begged just a LITTLE…
Fuck it! She kicked me out—
even if she kneels now I won't help!
Johnny gone, the meeting continued.
V looked at the room.
"Yorinobu's cornered in business—
so he's flexing military force to intimidate everyone.
Night City is too unruly—too many enemies wanted an excuse to crush it.
A war was inevitable.
So far, everything matches our projections."
She stood.
"I know we're at a disadvantage.
I know this fight will be brutal.
But it must be fought.
Economic power and technological power both rest on military power.
Only by wielding force—deterring demons and monsters—
can we carve a path forward for Night City."
"If we win—our future shines bright.
If we lose—
then let my broken body burn bright enough
to light the path for those who come after."
"YES, MA'AM!"
Half an hour later, Arasaka Night City Branch held its own press conference.
Jenkins, now Head of Public Relations, delivered the official response:
Night City Branch would not accept Tokyo HQ's takeover.
President V's promotion was legitimate—authorized directly by Arasaka Michiko—and aligned with the will of the people.
Tokyo HQ's demands were unreasonable.
Yorinobu's intent to "militarily seize control" was reckless and laughable.
Night City Branch would defend its legal rights by all necessary means
and reserved all rights to seek damages from Tokyo HQ.
Effective immediately—
Del Coronado Bay would be under full military control of Arasaka Night City Branch.
Any unauthorized armed force entering the area would be treated as a legal target.
"If HQ wants to negotiate, we'll talk.
If HQ wants to fight,
we'll fight."
The world was stunned.
Everyone expected V to seek alliances—
to negotiate, bargain, compromise.
But instead—
she went HARDER than Yorinobu.
Claiming legal rights was one thing.
Reserving the right to sue the parent company was insane.
But implementing MILITARY CONTROL over Del Coronado Bay…?
What gave her the right?
Then the answer appeared.
The Kujiira-class supercarrier began a fully armed patrol—
blaring deafening electronic horns.
Twin hulls.
Multiple angled full-deck platforms.
22 elevators.
6 catapults.
Eighty-two seventh-generation fighter aircraft.
270,000-ton displacement.
Ah.
So THAT'S what gave her the right.
But she wasn't done.
The "White Whale" dominated the sea.
Along the coast—
the "Phantom Dogs" deployed.
Colonel Kurt Hansen, Dogtown's boss, had conveniently "found" a mountain of unclaimed military-grade gear.
From rifles to armored vehicles.
He expanded his forces into a 2,500-strong mechanized brigade, taking over coastline defense.
He wasn't afraid of the NUSA or Militech making a move—
he was afraid they WOULDN'T.
During the Unification War, Hansen fought and bled on the front lines for the NUSA—
only for Myers to sign peace with Night City behind his back, abandoning him completely.
Betrayed, he became Dogtown's warlord.
He never thought he'd get a chance for revenge—
but Myers delivered herself to his doorstep.
Hansen always left enemies three points of face, three points of retreat.
But toward Myers?
He feared only that he wouldn't hit hard enough.
So on Day One of martial law, the Phantom Dogs "confiscated" six cargo ships for "safety inspections"—
three Militech, three NUSA.
Perfectly balanced.
Militech didn't fall for it.
They sent a standard diplomatic note and stayed quiet.
Myers, however—
being a traditional American president—
insisted on her sacred right to double standards.
She called V, demanding the ships be released.
V calmly replied:
"Not my department."
Then transferred the call to Hansen.
Hansen politely insulted her for half an hour.
Myers hung up first.
"Feel better?" V asked.
"HAHA—MUCH better!"
Hansen refilled their glasses.
They had been drinking for a while already.
He set down his drink and topped up V's.
"V. I'll speak honestly. As your big bro—
I cursed Myers real nice just now, but I'm still uneasy.
Tell me straight:
Can we win this war?"
V smiled.
"If I say no, will you take the money and run?"
"Haha! I want to.
But this time, I put EVERYTHING in.
My old brothers, new brothers—everyone's in.
If they die, no amount of money can make me smile again.
So I decided—if Night City goes down,
your big bro goes down with it.
When that happens, stay far from Pacifica.
I'll make a crater so big people in a hundred years will remember Kurt Hansen!"
"Respect.
But you don't have a nuke, do you?"
"Don't ask what I have.
Just answer—can we win?"
V grinned.
"Watch the morning news."
Next morning.
Kang-Tao President Xu Shiming made a major statement regarding the Arasaka conflict.
He urged restraint, caution, dialogue.
He recalled the horrors of past Corporate Wars—calling them a tragedy for all mankind.
He declared Kang-Tao committed to peace, and hoped all other megacorps would uphold the lessons of history and prevent a Fifth Corporate War.
And then—
Kang-Tao immediately launched a massive military product expo in the southeastern seas.
Warships of all sizes filled the water.
Three tactical nuclear submarines—armed with nukes—aimed directly at the Sea of Japan.
Hansen burst out laughing.
He pointed at the broadcast, beaming with admiration.
"V, you absolute BADASS!"
"Nothing much," V said lightly.
"Come on—we're drinking somewhere else today."
Hansen blinked.
"A bar in Pacifica better than my Sapphire Blue?"
"You'll see.
It's close."
V led him to the Moth Bar at the Longshore Stacks.
"This place? What good booze could be here?"
"Oh, plenty.
If the owner's willing to take it out."
Hansen looked at the owner—
a white woman with decent looks but nothing special.
She forced a smile.
"President V must be joking. This small shop has no fine liquor…"
V said nothing.
Her eyes glowed neon blue.
Bzzzt.
Sparks crackled across the woman's face—
her skin rippled like water—
and the plump white woman suddenly morphed into a slender black woman.
"What the FUCK!"
Hansen and the owner shouted in unison—
Hansen reacting half a beat slower.
The owner already had a gun in her hand while Hansen was still reaching for his holster.
Before she could fire, more sparks exploded from her arm—
her pistol clattered onto the counter.
She saw V's glowing blue eyes—
realized she was absolutely outmatched—
and triggered her Sandevistan to flee.
But the moment she moved—
her legs froze.
Her cyberware went offline.
Movement Inhibitor.
Sandevistan's father.
V turned to Hansen.
"Losing your touch, Colonel.
If I weren't here, she would've carved you up."
Hansen's face went pitch black.
He knew V wasn't exaggerating—
if he'd come alone, he'd be dead.
"I didn't know Dogtown had someone this strong.
Who is she?"
"Alex.
Real name: Alina Zhenax.
NUSA Intelligence Bureau.
Undercover in Dogtown for seven years."
"WHAT THE FUCK—?"
Hansen and Alex yelled together again.
Hansen was stunned by NUSA's infiltration.
Alex was stunned by V's knowledge.
"How do you even know my real name—?!"
"Reed told me," V replied calmly.
"FUCK THAT BASTARD!
I'm killing him.
This time I'm REALLY killing him!"
Alex screamed.
Hansen ordered two Phantom Dog soldiers to restrain her and load her into a vehicle.
Then he turned to V.
"That Reed guy is also NUSA Intell?"
"Correct."
"Where is he?"
"At a small bar downtown, working as security."
Hansen: "...???"
V chuckled.
"Come on.
I'll take you to him."