V looked at the contents of the datashard.
It listed in detail the recent commercial itinerary for a company called Mali Pharmaceuticals.
What shocked V was that the company’s most recent event was a business collaboration meeting with Arasaka.
The shard contained detailed intel on their schedule for the meeting, security configurations, attendee information, and other critical data.
V was no fool.
By this point, Jenkins’s intentions were painfully obvious.
V didn’t say anything, waiting for Jenkins to explain.
“The records on this shard detail this company’s planned deal with Arasaka.
What I want you to do is use this information to take them out before the deal goes through—using your own methods.”
At Jenkins’s explicit confirmation, V’s heart rate quickened slightly.
V was no stranger to these kinds of assignments.
As an elite field agent with a natural talent for espionage, he had carried out plenty of assassinations against rival megacorps.
According to the shard, Mali Pharmaceuticals was just a relatively small, US-based company.
Ordinarily, taking out a few employees or high-level executives from an outfit like that was child’s play for V.
But this time, it wasn’t just about taking out a few execs.
This time, he was sabotaging one of Arasaka’s own business deals.
If he were sent to disrupt a Militech deal, he wouldn’t hesitate—he’d have Arasaka backing him.
But if he was acting against Arasaka’s interests, who was backing him?
Nobody.
Jenkins?
If things blew up, Jenkins wouldn’t necessarily step in to save his skin.
If he got caught, he was essentially finished—unless Jenkins was willing to shield him.
After a moment of silence, V spoke up.
“You said this assignment comes from you personally.
Can I refuse?”
Hearing V’s question, Jenkins smiled slightly, seemingly unconcerned that V would actually turn him down.
“Of course.
I can’t force you to do it, but have you really thought it through?”
Jenkins lightly tapped his fingers on the desk and continued.
“You know, V, ever since you arrived at the Arasaka Counter-Intelligence Department in Night City, I’ve had high hopes for you.
I sent you on operations, and you performed exceptionally well.
Everyone in the department knows I’m grooming you for promotion.
You’re talented, yes, but for me, that’s not enough.
If you want to climb higher, you have to prove greater worth—and show sincere commitment.”
A stream of data flashed across Jenkins’s eyes.
He brought up the holographic display on his desk and showed V a file.
“Remember when I mentioned transferring you?
Approval from above came down long ago, but I haven’t told you yet.
Right now, the final decision rests in my hands.
Think about it.
Accept this task, execute it flawlessly, and your transfer goes through as a matter of course.
You’ll rise through the ranks, become my right hand, enjoy every corporate benefit, and gain real power.”
Pausing, Jenkins turned off the display and pointed toward the office door.
“But if you refuse today and walk out that door, you’ll have nothing.
Have you thought it through?”
As hard as it was to admit, Jenkins spoke the truth.
V was no green rookie; climbing to his current rank in the corp meant he understood the ins and outs of corporate politics all too well.
The task before him was clearly an opportunity from Jenkins.
Accepting it meant boarding Jenkins’s ship, and leveraging that connection would eventually bring him to the very top of the Arasaka Counter-Intelligence Department.
In turn, Jenkins could test V’s loyalty and reliability, ensuring V was worth grooming into a trusted confidant.
If he refused, V could forget about advancing any further in Counter-Intelligence.
As for reporting Jenkins with this secret?
That was a straight-up death sentence.
“Fine.
I accept.
But I want to hear the reason.”
After a moment’s thought, V compromised and put away the shard Jenkins had given him.
Faced with such massive potential gains, the risk was well worth taking.
Besides, the assignment didn’t require him to assassinate Arasaka personnel directly—just eliminate a few execs from a minor company.
Even if Arasaka’s deal fell through, it wouldn’t spiral completely out of control.
“A wise decision,” Jenkins said, a smile appearing on his face as V pocketed the shard.
He continued:
“Mali Pharmaceuticals, a US-based pharma firm.
Nobody special at first, but recently they developed a potent immunosuppressant several tiers above the military-grade stuff on the market.
It’s crucial for various corporate experiments.
Originally, Arasaka wasn’t involved; Militech got to them first and was ready to close a deal.
But that bitch in Special Operations used god-knows-what tactics to pull them over to Arasaka, giving birth to this meeting.
If she seals this deal, it becomes another powerful trump card in her hands, making her position even more secure.
I don’t want to see that happen.
Got it?”
Now that V had accepted the mission, Jenkins considered him one of his own, speaking with considerable patience.
“Special Operations?”
“Yeah.
Director of Special Operations, Abernathy.
It’s a personal vendetta between her and me.” Jenkins nodded.
“Alright, I understand.
I’ll handle it.”
With Jenkins’s explanation, V breathed a slight sigh of relief.
At least Jenkins wasn’t trying to go to war with Arasaka itself.
Personal rivalries among executives were common.
As long as he wasn’t directly assassinating Abernathy, even if exposed, Jenkins wouldn’t take a hit severe enough to drag V down into total ruin with him.
“Relax.
The deal is important, but it isn’t finalized yet, is it?
In Night City, accidents happen all the time.
Once the meeting is ruined, this little firm will lose Arasaka’s protection while having already crossed Militech.
They won’t last long, let alone have time to trouble you.
As for Arasaka, I’ll handle the fallout from the incident.
And once I finalize your transfer approval, I’ll grant you higher clearance, making it easier for you to maneuver.
With a bit of spin, pin it on Militech—I doubt anyone will bat an eye.”
V nodded in agreement with Jenkins’s analysis.
In terms of both execution difficulty and risk, the mission wasn’t excessively high.
It was simply an opportunity presented by Jenkins to test whether V was willing to join his camp and tie himself to his fate.
There was no reason to turn down free cake.
V gradually accepted the outcome.