"Boss, the target has already headed to Arasaka Tower."
"Got it."
Rogue let out a long sigh in her office, feeling like a complete idiot—this whole plan was nothing but self-inflicted misery.
Well… it was done. No point regretting it. She had known for fifty years just how much Johnny loved Alt—more than Johnny himself ever realized.
"How's Biotechnica?"
"We paid a heavy price, but we completed the mission, boss."
"Good. The specifics of the agreement—let President V handle that. Pass the intel to Arasaka. We're pulling out."
"On it."
Some time later, Biotechnica suddenly published an official statement:
Biotechnica supports the legitimate authority of Arasaka Night City and strongly condemns the Tokyo branch for abusing power and violating corporate law.
Any armed action constitutes a challenge to international regulations and human rights conventions.
To protect its lawful assets and business interests in Night City, Biotechnica reserves the right to retaliate.
Any individual or group disrupting Night City's commercial order will be added to Biotechnica's 'Unfriendly List,' and Biotechnica will take lawful punitive measures.
The entire world froze.
Like—seriously?
You were the first to jump out and launch an armed operation.
Now that you lost, you suddenly say armed action violates international law and nobody should do it?
The audacity was insane.
But that was how corps operated—shameless in a way that defied physics.
Just like Rogue had said: Biotechnica got played by the New United States and had completely lost its chance to compete for Night City.
Since they couldn't have it, the best option was making sure no one else could have it either.
And so—yesterday's enemy became today's ally.
Biotechnica's mysterious Night City president spoke with V for twenty minutes.
Then the statement appeared.
V immediately ordered Xu Ling to lift the lockdown on the BioTowers.
The "gravely ill" Biotechnica president suddenly recovered and returned to work.
Miles was still sipping champagne, savoring her "brilliant plan," when she received the disastrous news.
The CEO of Militech called her personally—no yelling, but the tone was sharp enough to peel paint.
He was one sentence away from outright saying: "Are you fucking stupid?"
"How dare Biotechnica pull this stunt!" Miles shouted. "We must retaliate!"
"Oh? And how do you plan to do that?" Militech's CEO sneered.
"We'll raise taxes too!" Miles pounded the table. "They raised by 45%. We'll raise by 85%!"
"Are you fucking braindead?"
The CEO finally snapped.
"Biotechnica controls energy. They sell CH₂ fuel. If they stop selling to you, where will you buy it?
What do YOU have? What does the New United States have?
Even if they don't buy from you, they can buy from other nations!
Do you think China's billion-plus people do nothing all day but practice kung fu?
If you raise taxes today, they'll cut prices tomorrow and take over the market!
Miles, this is a global high-stakes game.
Only those with real funds get a seat.
If you don't have the chips—get the hell off the table.
Sit down. Stop using your little tricks. You're making a mess of everything."
Miles trembled with rage.
"The New United States doesn't have real chips—does Night City have them?! It's just a tiny speck on the map!"
"V IS Night City's chips!
Be grateful she wants to protect Night City.
If Night City didn't exist, she alone could storm your White House.
Tell me—do you think YOU would be the next person she knocks on the door for?"
The call ended.
Miles' face twisted into every color imaginable.
She had once been Militech's CEO—she knew the man was right.
But now she was the President of the NUSA; her position dictated her thinking.
Even knowing she was wrong, she would never admit it.
Just wait.
She would unify America.
She would make America great again.
Then—someone knocked.
Miles jumped like she'd been tasered.
"Who!?"
Her hand gripped the gun in her desk drawer.
"It's me, Madam President. The afternoon meeting is about to begin."
"…Understood. I'll be right there."
She exhaled in relief, then realized her back was soaked with sweat.
V alone could storm your White House.
The phrase replayed in her mind.
It wasn't hyperbole.
It was fact.
Powerful people understood the terror of an apex solo.
V—the world's undisputed No.1 Solo—couldn't cut down an army head-on, sure…
But world leaders couldn't surround themselves with armies 24/7.
That's why global corps tolerated Night City—why they always restrained themselves.
Partly because no one can guard against a top-tier killer forever,
and partly because Night City acted as the container keeping V in place.
Some smaller corps had even given up resisting V.
She was just one person.
Even if she were a demon, humans die.
Corps were eternal.
Do nothing—wait 70, 80 years—and the world returns to normal.
"V… damn that V…"
Miles gritted her teeth.
She didn't have 70–80 years.
She wanted the NUSA unified in her lifetime.
And Night City—was a wall she had to break.
"Report."
Pink-Cat, V's netrunner aide, spoke nervously.
"Arasaka Yorinobu is online."
V's lips curved.
"I was just about to call him. Patch him in."
With a flicker, Yorinobu Arasaka's holo-image appeared in the conference room.
He swept his gaze across everyone and spoke slowly.
"Traitors of the NUSA. Xu Siming's granddaughter. A counterintel minister born a commoner. A secretary who used to run the streets. And a washed-up rockerboy. Hard to believe such a pathetic troupe managed to push me into a corner."
He looked at V.
"V—this is all because of you.
What do you street people say?
Right—you're really something, V."
"Thanks for the compliment." V accepted it calmly. "Judging by your composure, I suppose I should call you—Arasaka Saburo."
"Correct. I seized Yorinobu's body. The most useless child in my family finally has a purpose."
Xu Ling snorted.
"Father killing son, son killing father—what a fucking freakshow."
Saburo smirked.
"Xu Siming's granddaughter… your grandfather raised you all as tools, forced you to fight like insects in a jar, ignoring blood and kinship.
You and I aren't so different.
I assumed you'd be used to it."
"You—!" Xu Ling flared, but V held her back.
"You didn't come here to argue with a teenager. Get to the point."
"Of course." Saburo's gaze sharpened.
"Surrender, V.
I admire you.
Submit to me, and I will grant you the Arasaka name.
You will inherit my throne.
Arasaka—all of it—will be yours."
Gasps filled the room.
This offer was unprecedented.
V's expression didn't change.
"And if I refuse?"
"Then I will annihilate you."
Saburo's voice turned icy.
"Your friends. Your subordinates. The city you protect.
Every life within it.
Everything you cherish will be ground into dust because of you.
You will die drowning in despair."
V sneered.
"Hear that? So-called 'great men' are all the same—they're no different from street punks.
Their rule comes from threats, intimidation, using other people's lives as leverage.
Since you want to solve things the street way—fine.
We'll solve it the street way."
She stood and spoke loud and clear:
"You drew the circle.
I'm stepping into it.
Come destroy me with everything you've got.
Because if you can't—
I'll destroy YOU.
I keep my word."
Saburo cut the connection with a cold grunt.
Immediately, Carter's voice rang out:
"President V—Arasaka's Second Carrier Strike Group detected twenty nautical miles off Del Coronado Bay!"
"Sound the alarm."
V's expression was resolute.
"The battle begins."