The AV slowly descended onto the helipad atop Arasaka Tower in Tokyo.
As the doors lifted with a hiss of compressed air, Valerie tossed aside the towel she had been using to dry her hair and stepped out with a satisfied smile.
"Thanks, Boss. It's been a long time since I've had a bath that comfortable."
"Yeah, comfortable enough to keep you in there for three hours."
Axel flicked away some cigarette ash and looked at her suspiciously.
"Be honest. Were you entertaining yourself in there? You didn't clog the drain, did you?"
"How could that happen?!"
Valerie puffed out her cheeks in annoyance and slapped a hand against her chest.
"Fine, I admit I get bored sometimes. Maybe I'll find a quiet place, watch something interesting, and have some fun.
But that's for me, not for you!
There were people all over this AV. How was I supposed to do anything ridiculous?
Damn it, doesn't a luxury vehicle like this have cameras? Someone should clear my name!"
She glared at Axel indignantly.
After a brief silence, Axel nodded.
"There are cameras in the bathroom. I checked."
Valerie froze.
"Wait, there really are cameras?"
"There are. Want to watch the footage?"
Valerie immediately straightened up and jumped elegantly from the vehicle.
"So what if there are?
This is a Rayfield Excalibur. One of these could buy a huge chunk of Watson.
It's my first time riding in something this expensive. Didn't any of you ever imagine enjoying yourselves in a place like this?
Fine, maybe I enjoyed it a little too much and stayed a little too long.
But nobody told me what I could or couldn't do in the bathroom, and nobody gave me a time limit either.
Why can't I enjoy myself?"
After speaking, she carefully avoided everyone's eyes and turned her attention to the waiting Yorinobu Arasaka.
Behind her, Axel stepped out of the AV and smirked.
"Are you sure you were only enjoying yourself?"
"Uh..."
Valerie instinctively tensed.
The massage functions built into the tub had been absurdly good.
Even the showerhead had dozens of settings.
She had grown up poor and had never experienced anything remotely this luxurious.
Naturally, she had gotten a little carried away.
Still, putting cameras in a bathroom was insane.
That was supposed to be private.
Shaking off her embarrassment, Valerie walked over to Yorinobu.
Then she raised her voice toward Axel.
"Boss, stop worrying about what I was doing in the bath and focus on business.
I'll show you what I can do soon enough.
If you like my skills, you'd better reward me properly.
Actually, how about taking some time and showing me what you can do?"
She turned around with a provocative grin, her eyes lingering below Axel's waist.
"You're confident enough to watch bathroom footage. Hopefully that's not the only thing you're confident about."
Axel chuckled.
"If you want proof, I've got plenty of time.
But today is my show.
You're all here to watch and enjoy the atmosphere.
I don't need anyone killing people for me. Consider that my kindness."
He walked over to the kneeling Yorinobu and crouched before him.
Rebecca emerged from the AV carrying her shotgun and snorted.
"Kindness? Sounds more like you're worried we'll steal your prey."
Then her eyes lit up as she looked around.
"This is really Arasaka Headquarters! That's awesome!"
"This is a rooftop, not another planet. Stop acting like a tourist."
Axel rolled his eyes before grabbing Yorinobu and pulling him to his feet.
Then he rested a hand on the man's shoulder.
"I heard everything you said.
So what are you waiting for?
Kneel and acknowledge me as your boss.
I might not make you rich, but I can definitely help you accomplish your dreams.
Like pissing on your father's head."
Yorinobu's body trembled.
Without hesitation, he dropped into a formal kneeling bow.
"Boss!"
His voice echoed with absolute sincerity.
Axel nodded slightly.
Among the monsters and fanatics surrounding him, Yorinobu could almost be considered normal.
Regardless of his flaws, his desire to destroy the corporate system had always been genuine.
Even his personal habits were relatively ordinary by the standards of Night City's elite.
Compared to most corporate executives, he was practically decent.
Axel had never intended to wipe out every member of Arasaka.
Seeing Yorinobu submit so willingly, he waved a hand.
"Alright. Get up."
"Thank you, Boss."
Yorinobu immediately stood.
Then he pointed toward the sky.
"Boss, Saburo Arasaka escaped to the lunar colony. Hanako, Michiko, and several board members went with him."
"I know."
Axel casually patted his shoulder.
"Don't worry.
Let them enjoy a little hope.
When I drag them back, the despair will be even sweeter.
For now, take me to Japan's Emperor."
Yorinobu hesitated.
"Boss... the Emperor is one of the Arasaka board members.
He's on the lunar colony too.
If you need a spacecraft, I can arrange one immediately.
But the station's defenses are extremely strong. Breaking through them won't be easy.
Honestly, anyone besides you who boards a ship for that trip is probably going to die."
He glanced toward Valerie and the others.
Valerie immediately snorted.
"There are plenty of things I'm afraid of.
Death isn't one of them.
I've already had enough fun to make life worthwhile."
She tossed a piece of gum into her mouth and started chewing.
If she was really about to follow a god into space, she intended to enjoy every second of it.
Axel shook his head.
"So even the Emperor ran to the moon.
Saburo really is desperate.
No need for a spacecraft, though.
Unless it can travel between stars, I'm not interested."
The moment he finished speaking, Yorinobu suddenly stared past him.
His jaw dropped.
Slowly, he removed his glasses and wiped them.
Then he put them back on.
The enormous Arasaka plaza below had disappeared beneath a colossal structure.
A space station.
A lunar space station.
It now rested directly on Earth.
Behind him, Rogue followed his gaze.
"Holy shit."
Her reaction immediately drew everyone's attention.
One after another, heads turned.
Expressions froze.
Valerie rushed to the edge of the rooftop and gripped the railing.
Her eyes widened.
"That thing...
Holy shit!"
She spun around and stared at Axel.
"I thought you were some insanely powerful netrunner.
I figured all your abilities could be explained with hidden technology.
But how the hell did you move a lunar space station here instantly?
You're actually a god, aren't you?
Does that mean I really have a chance with a god?"
Smack!
Axel appeared beside her and slapped her rear.
"You definitely have a chance.
Maybe tonight.
Relax, V. I'll make sure you enjoy yourself."
Before Valerie could respond, Axel had already scooped her into his arms.
The next moment, he jumped from the rooftop.
Behind them, everyone exchanged stunned looks.
Then Yorinobu shouted urgently.
"You're all the god's people, right?
Come with me!
The VIP elevator is this way!"
He immediately sprinted toward the elevator.
There was no way he would miss the moment Saburo's world collapsed.
Everyone hurried after him.
Fortunately, Arasaka's private elevator was large enough to hold them all.
Meanwhile, Axel had already reached one of the station's observation windows with Valerie in his arms.
The station's sudden arrival had crushed countless structures and personnel below.
Chaos erupted throughout Arasaka Headquarters.
Employees poured from nearby buildings as alarms echoed across the area.
Inside the station, Saburo Arasaka sat motionless in his wheelchair.
Despair filled his eyes.
Moments earlier, the display before him had shown Earth from orbit.
Now it showed Axel's face pressed against the exterior window.
And beside him stood Valerie, whose seemingly casual expression couldn't fully hide her excitement and nervousness.
Axel grinned and waved through the glass.
Behind Saburo, Takemura clenched his jaw.
"Lord Saburo, I'll escort you to an escape pod immediately.
You can hide there while I deal with that..."
Bang!
A shower of sparks erupted from Takemura's shoulder.
His body seized uncontrollably before collapsing to the floor.
At the same moment, Michiko Arasaka stepped forward.
Streams of data flashed through her eyes.
She placed her hands on Saburo's wheelchair and smiled softly at Axel through the window.
Then she lowered her head.
"Grandfather, the family must survive, mustn't it?"
Saburo's expression remained unchanged.
"I hope your calculations succeed, Michiko.
But you will never have my blessing."
Without another word, Michiko pushed his chair toward the transfer airlock.
Moments later, the chamber opened.
She emerged through the decontamination mist and pushed Saburo directly to Axel.
Then she knelt.
"Lord Axel.
I know I am part of Arasaka, and I know forgiveness is unlikely.
But I have done everything possible to assist you.
Hanako Arasaka is under my control.
Saburo Arasaka is here.
Takemura can no longer interfere.
Everything now awaits your judgment.
I..."
Slash!
Her words ended abruptly.
Her severed head landed in Axel's hand.
Valerie's pupils contracted.
Saburo merely sighed.
Looking at Axel, he began to speak.
"Mr. Axel, you..."
Slash!
His head joined Michiko's.
Then, unexpectedly, Michiko's severed head spoke again.
"Lord Axel, Saburo's body contains relatively few mechanical modifications.
If you wish to preserve his head alive, it must be done quickly.
Also, he uploaded his consciousness through Soulkiller.
A backup of his engram is stored elsewhere.
Even if his body dies, he can return through a new one unless the backup is destroyed."
"Oh?"
Axel finally looked interested.
Holding her head, he asked,
"If I heard correctly, your grandfather specifically ordered you to help protect him.
He didn't tell you to reveal all of his contingency plans."
Michiko's expression remained steady.
"I understand my father better than anyone.
Even if my betrayal was part of his strategy, he would still remember it.
To him, betrayal is betrayal.
That is the kind of ruler he is.
I have no desire to see him return."
Before she could continue, a sphere of blue-white energy suddenly appeared nearly two hundred meters away.
Lightning crackled around it.
The energy intensified.
Then a white-haired woman wearing a medieval-style hunting outfit tumbled out of the portal.
She rolled across the ground and immediately drew her sword.
"Where am I this time?"
Modern skyscrapers, drones, and futuristic technology surrounded her.
For a brief moment, confusion crossed her face.
Then her gaze landed on Axel.
More specifically, on the two headless corpses lying nearby.
Her expression stiffened.
Without hesitation, she took a step backward.
Behind her, the portal began forming again.
Just as she prepared to jump back through it, Axel stared at her in disbelief.
"Ciri?"
"What?!"
Ciri froze.
Then she looked at Axel again.