After a few drinks, Levi and Jackie felt the familiar, buzzy warmth of alcohol.
They initiated a group video call with V, bypassing the need to interface directly via a neural link—Levi had only just learned that the port behind his ear was called a “neural interface.” It took a few tries before V picked up.
“V?
You lose connection?” Jackie frowned.
“I’m…
I’m here.” V’s voice was strained, breathless, as if she’d just fought her way out of a war zone.
“You okay?” Jackie asked.
“Fine.
Just finished a skirmish with Biotechnica.
Dammit, those idiots actually thought they could use solo assassins and netrunners to stir up trouble at the EC tender conference.” V gave a weak, cold laugh.
“Their luck was bad—they didn’t know I’m a netrunner, too.
I fried their brains.” “Esa chamba te va a matar,” Jackie sighed.
(This job is going to kill you.) “Maybe.
Maybe I should find a safe gig, like you—be a merc.” V injected herself with a bounce-back stim, her voice steadying and taking on that characteristic sardonic edge.
“Hey, at least Jackie knows who’s shooting at him, and usually why,” Levi interjected, stepping in for his friend.
“Sure, sure.
When the suits shoot at you, you definitely won’t know who or why.” V took a moment to settle, then shifted gears.
“So, why the call?” Jackie nodded to Levi.
“I need a favor,” Levi started.
When he saw V’s expression sour, he cut to the chase: “Don’t say no yet, V.
This actually concerns your employer—Arasaka.” V narrowed her eyes.
“Go on.” “You know Ichikawa Naoji?” Levi asked.
“Ichikawa?
The number two in Security?
That ancient geezer who’s pushing 100 and still haunts the Cloud?” V knew exactly who he was talking about.
“That’s him.
I’m going to take him down,” Levi said.
V nearly lost her composure.
“You’re joking, right?
You, a gutter-merc fresh off the bus, want to ice the number two of Arasaka Security?
Sorry, I can’t help you.” “You can, V.” Levi leaned forward.
“I just need to know who wants his seat.” V paused, staring at him.
She fell silent for a long moment, studying him.
When she looked up again, her gaze was sharp, serious.
“You’re impressive.
You know how to leverage power when you’re small.
Explain your plan.
If it’s actually feasible, I’ll help.
Not for Jackie, but because you’re worth the investment.” Levi smirked.
“V, if Arasaka faced a major public relations disaster, how would you handle it?” “Incident intervention.
That’s what we do in Counter-Intelligence,” she answered.
“What if that disaster was organ trafficking and collusion with Scavengers?” V’s pupils contracted; her breathing hitched.
“You have evidence of Ichikawa directly participating in trafficking?” “I do.
His secretary tried to harvest my organs.
His luck was worse than yours—I blew his head off on the spot,” Levi replied, his tone icy.
A slow smile crept across V’s face, making her sharp features look almost predatory.
“I’ll help you.
Send me an anonymous report chip.
Your plan is sound; I’ll handle the back-end—pushing the media to spike the heat until Ichikawa is forced to bow out during a press conference.
But he’s a high-level executive; he has loyalists.
He might try to crawl back after the storm passes.” “Also, his seat…
well, a lot of people want it, but most are idiots.
I’ll make sure my person takes it.
But even then, my person might not survive if Ichikawa makes a comeback.
You’ll have to kill him while he’s disgraced and out of office.” “He’ll investigate the source of the scandal.
He won’t find me—he wouldn’t dare—but he’ll find you.
If you don’t kill him, he’ll kill you.
Understand?” Levi laughed softly, pouring another drink.
“Typical Corp—everything planned out to the last detail.
I get it.
Once he resigns, I’ll finish him.
I doubt his head is harder than my bullets.” He raised his glass toward the hologram.
“To your career and to a brighter future for Jackie and me.
Cheers.” Jackie raised his glass, grinning.
On the other end, V scrambled to find a bottle, finally surfacing with champagne.
She raised it toward the screen.
“To this.” “The hell kind of toast is that?” Jackie grumbled, laughing.
“You toast to your mother, your sisters, a pretty cat you saw in the bar—not ‘this’.” “To this,” V repeated, clearly amused.
“Fine.
To this,” Levi echoed.
They downed their drinks.
Afterward, V’s cheeks flushed a soft pink.
She looked at Levi, her eyes intense.
“Levi, tell me the truth.
Are you sure you’re not corporate?” “Nah.
I’m just a bottom-feeder with bad luck who happened to land in Night City.” V sighed.
“Then you’re terrifying.
Wanna join Arasaka?
I can be your referral for Counter-Intelligence.” Jackie blinked—he’d never seen V try to bring someone into the fold before.
“Pass.
I don’t mesh with suits.
A company with only three days of vacation a year?
I prefer my freedom.” “What a waste, Levi.
I’m out.
Keep in touch—if you change your mind, find me.
You’re a talent; you could go further than I ever will.” “Good luck,” Levi and Jackie said in unison as the feed cut.
“Man, Mano, you’re the first person I’ve ever seen V extend an olive branch to,” Jackie said, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.
“She’s just being polite, Jackie.
Anyway, I’ve got to write that report for V.
Tomorrow, I’m seeing Vic for those implants.
Drink up, brother—I’m heading out.” “Buena suerte, Mano.” — Don’t forget to send Spirit Stones for more chapters.
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