"Uh…"
Hearing Valerie's familiar line, Axel narrowed his eyes and let out a quiet chuckle.
"An AV isn't a private jet, but you're in luck. This Excalibur is luxurious. It's fully self-driving too, so most of the cockpit has been converted into living space, including a small bathtub."
Then his gaze drifted toward the blood smeared across Valerie's abdomen.
"But you're awfully comfortable around me, aren't you?"
"Haha!"
Valerie laughed loudly and slapped Axel on the shoulder without hesitation.
"When a big shot like you suddenly comes looking for me, whatever you want, I don't exactly have the option of saying no.
Hell, if you wanted to chop off my arms and legs and sell them on the black market, I'd probably help take them apart myself.
So do whatever you want. I'm yours to deal with.
But if I'm going to die, I should at least get a bath first, right?
Damn it, water bills in New Orleans are insane."
As she spoke, she casually rubbed her stomach, spreading the bloodstains even further.
Then she looked around before raising her head toward the AV overhead.
"Anything else? If not, I'm taking that bath and checking out this damn Excalibur.
Where'd you even get one of these? Stole it?
I remember there aren't many of them in Night City."
"Rayfield practically begged to deliver it to me."
"Figures. You're a freak, nobody wants trouble with you.
So what's next? We're heading to Japan to deal with Arasaka, right?
I've never even left America before."
Smacking her lips, Valerie floated upward alongside Axel and entered the AV.
The moment she landed inside, she looked around at everyone present and burst into laughter.
"Haha! There are actually men here. I thought your ride would be packed with gorgeous women.
Though there are still plenty of women around. What's wrong with your taste?
That white-haired one looks pretty good, but what's with the pink shorty and that old lady over there?
What, are you collecting every age group or something?"
"Who are you calling short? Are you talking about me?!"
Rebecca exploded instantly.
"You really called me short, you bitch..."
"Rebecca."
Before Rebecca could pull out her weapon, Lucy quickly stopped her and whispered into her ear.
"Don't bother. She doesn't even recognize Rogue. Clearly she has terrible taste."
"Rogue?"
Valerie blinked and turned toward the older woman.
"You're Rogue? The queen of Afterlife?"
Her eyes widened.
"No way, it's really you!
Back when I still lived in Night City, I actually thought about trying to work for you.
Of course, someone as important as you would've never noticed me.
Still, maybe I should've stayed. At least I would've seen everything that happened recently with my own eyes."
As she spoke, Valerie casually wrapped an arm around Rogue's shoulders.
Ordinarily she wasn't this familiar with strangers.
But after seeing Axel, she had already accepted every possible outcome.
Either she was going to die, or her life was about to improve dramatically.
So why worry?
Rogue glanced at the arm around her shoulder and sneered.
"Weren't you going to take a bath? Go. Stop hanging on me. We aren't friends."
"Strangers once, friends later, Big Sister Rogue."
Valerie grinned.
"Looks like we'll be working together eventually.
Still, I'm curious. Why did you even find me?
I'm just a street punk."
Her eyes turned toward Axel.
Meeting her gaze, Axel settled into his seat, lit a cigarette, and smiled.
"Because I felt like it."
He flicked away the ash.
"Even a pile of garbage can be useful if it's placed correctly. Compared to that, all of you have plenty of value."
"Tsk."
Valerie waved dismissively.
"Whatever you say."
Then she ran into the cockpit, sealed the door, and happily prepared for her bath.
Meanwhile, at Arasaka Headquarters.
A shuttle bound for the lunar colony stood ready for departure.
The Arasaka family was in the middle of a bitter argument.
Yorinobu Arasaka stared at the wheelchair-bound Saburo Arasaka, who was being pushed by Takemura.
With open contempt, he flicked his cigarette beside Saburo's chair.
As sparks scattered across the floor, Yorinobu laughed.
"You always called yourself a warrior, Saburo.
And yet the moment Axel appeared, you decided to run.
I knew it. You're a coward.
Even when death is staring you in the face, you still refuse to accept it.
But do you really think hiding on the moon will save you?
Axel isn't someone you can escape.
Trust me, he'll drag you back personally.
Then he'll do exactly what he promised and mount your head in a toilet as decoration.
Too bad I carry the Arasaka name too.
I'll probably die by his hand as well.
Otherwise I'd love to visit you afterward, you stubborn old bastard."
"Lord Yorinobu!"
Takemura finally snapped.
He glared at Yorinobu in fury, only to find himself confronted by Naoto, Yorinobu's bodyguard.
Nearby, Oda quietly placed a hand on Takemura's arm.
At that moment, Saburo slowly shook his head.
"Enough."
His aged eyes remained composed.
"Take me to the shuttle, Takemura.
A wise man finds opportunity even amid disaster.
The Arasaka name will not end today.
From the lunar colony, I will rebuild and lead Arasaka into a new future.
As for Yorinobu, if he wishes to remain here and challenge the dragon, then let him.
Yorinobu, when the dragon's flames consume you, do not pray to me.
From this day forward, I no longer acknowledge you as my son."
The hover-chair moved forward automatically.
Takemura tightened his grip on the handles.
For him, Saburo Arasaka was everything.
His patron.
His honor.
The man for whom he would gladly die.
As a child, Takemura had lived in crushing poverty.
His mother worked tirelessly yet barely earned enough to keep them alive.
When she was beaten to death by a client, his world shattered.
That day, he swore that if anyone ever gave him hope, he would devote his life to them.
Eventually he entered an orphanage.
Soon afterward, Arasaka Corporation acquired it.
At the time, Arasaka had already become Japan's dominant corporate power.
Its influence spread across nearly a third of the country.
Takemura entered the corporation at eight years old.
At first, he was nothing more than a disposable trainee assassin.
Yet even that life was better than the uncertainty he had known before.
From that day onward, he viewed Arasaka as his savior.
Years passed.
Through talent and relentless effort, Takemura climbed the ranks.
Even without cybernetic enhancements, he became one of Arasaka's most elite warriors.
Like the legendary ninjas of old, he could eliminate dozens of heavily augmented enemies alone.
At his peak, his combat ability ranked among the strongest operatives in Arasaka's entire ninja division.
Then came the selection for Saburo Arasaka's personal guard.
One hundred of the corporation's finest warriors stood before Saburo.
Most came from powerful families.
Takemura expected nothing.
Even if he wasn't chosen, he would still dedicate his life to Arasaka.
Yet among a hundred exceptional candidates, Saburo selected him.
From that day forward, Takemura became Saburo's chief bodyguard.
Arasaka equipped him with its most advanced cybernetics and weapon systems.
He became a living weapon.
Aside from Adam Smasher and a handful of others, few within Arasaka could rival him.
The position also elevated his status beyond almost everyone in the corporation.
From Takemura's perspective, Saburo had given him everything.
So now, as he escorted his lord toward the shuttle, he fought to suppress his hatred for Yorinobu.
Perhaps sensing those emotions, Saburo gently placed a hand over Takemura's.
"Lord Saburo..."
Takemura's heart warmed instantly.
"We will rise again from the lunar colony.
Arasaka's honor will never be destroyed by some inexplicable god."
"Yes."
Saburo nodded.
"I believe that completely.
The hope of Arasaka lies in loyal men like you, Takemura.
My safety is now in your hands."
"It is my greatest honor, Lord Saburo."
Takemura bowed his head deeply before guiding him aboard.
Nearby, Hanako Arasaka watched her father's departure and took a slow breath.
She turned toward Oda.
Meeting her gaze, Oda lowered his head.
"Miss Hanako, rest assured.
While you are away, I will do everything in my power to protect Arasaka's interests according to your wishes and Lord Saburo's commands."
As he finished speaking, he shot a hostile look toward Yorinobu.
Hanako sighed quietly.
Saburo believed Takemura alone was enough protection for the lunar colony.
As a result, neither she nor Michiko could bring personal bodyguards.
Weapons were forbidden.
Even dangerous cybernetics had been disabled before boarding.
In some respects, Saburo remained as conservative as an ancient emperor.
But what alternative did she have?
Stay behind like Yorinobu?
That was suicide.
Intelligence reports already confirmed that Axel was on his way to Japan.
Suppressing her unease, Hanako said her farewells.
Michiko did the same.
One after another, the corporation's most important figures boarded the shuttle.
Under the gaze of executives and security personnel, the vessel ascended into the sky and disappeared among the clouds.
Holding a bottle of liquor, Yorinobu watched it vanish.
Then he sneered.
"The old man ran away and left behind a mountain of dead weight.
If these fools weren't still here, I'd blow Arasaka apart before Axel even arrived.
As for the rest of you, Saburo's loyal dogs, do whatever you want.
Undermine my authority.
Kill my people.
I don't care anymore.
I'll wait right here for the god of judgment.
I'll wait for the end of the corporate age.
The world has wanted corporations destroyed for decades.
Johnny Silverhand's generation screamed about it fifty years ago, and nothing changed.
I thought I would be the one to change it.
But Saburo never allowed it.
So let someone stronger do it.
Get out.
All of you.
I'm going to the roof.
I want to be the first person to see that god arrive.
I want to be the first to beg him for one favor, let me die a little later.
I want to witness Arasaka's destruction with my own eyes.
I want to watch him drag Saburo back from the moon.
I want to see his despair.
I want to watch him break.
Hahahaha!"
Laughing wildly, Yorinobu staggered toward the rooftop with his bottle in hand.
After he left, Oda and many others exchanged hostile stares with Yorinobu's loyal security personnel.
Years earlier, Yorinobu had abandoned Arasaka, disabled his cybernetics, and disappeared into the streets.
He had even risen to become a senior leader within a gang.
Many of the men around him today were followers from those days.
Whatever his flaws, Yorinobu possessed undeniable charisma.
Many people were willing to die for him.
Yet no conflict erupted.
With judgment approaching, internal power struggles had become meaningless.
Three hours later, Yorinobu lay drunk on the rooftop.
Then he saw it.
The Excalibur AV hovered high above the city.
A radiant smile spread across his face.
His god had arrived.
===
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