After hearing the full story, Mrs. Welles slowly turned her gaze toward Xiao.
Her expression was strained, her eyes filled with exhaustion and desperation.
"Xiao… we need your help," she said, her voice trembling. "Only you can save Jackie now. I—I can offer one million euro. I know it's nothing to you, but it's everything I can gather…"
There was no pride left in her tone.
Only a mother begging.
Xiao, who had been quietly observing from the side, set down his glass and nodded without hesitation.
"Alright," he said simply. "I'll help."
Jackie, who had finally regained clarity after his resurrection, suddenly froze.
"Wait… where's V?" he asked, his voice tightening. "Didn't she come back with me?"
Mrs. Welles hesitated for a moment, then shook her head.
"I didn't see her. Delamain only brought you back… maybe…"
She didn't finish the sentence.
She didn't need to.
The state of the vehicle alone told enough of the story.
Jackie's expression darkened instantly.
"That's impossible," he snapped. "I died before her. I gave her the chip. If I made it back, then she should too!"
Mrs. Welles sighed, her tone firm now.
"I'm not lying to you. If you don't believe me, call her."
Jackie didn't waste another second.
He pulled up his contacts and dialed.
"…The number you have dialed is temporarily unavailable…"
The automated voice repeated coldly.
Jackie's fist slammed onto the table.
"Damn it!"
Without hesitation, he dialed another number.
Dexter DeShawn.
If V wasn't with him, then Dex had to know something.
The call connected after a brief pause.
On the other end, Dex's voice came through—low, tense.
"Jackie… you've caused me a lot of trouble this time. Where are you?"
Jackie's anger exploded immediately.
"You bastard! What kind of job did you set us up for? Why the hell was Saburo Arasaka there?!"
Dex didn't answer directly.
"Calm down, Mr. Welles," he said, forcing steadiness into his voice. "Where are you right now?"
That was all it took.
Jackie's instincts kicked in.
"…What did you do to V?" he demanded.
There was a brief silence.
On the other side of the line, Dex glanced back.
In the rear seat—
V's body lay slumped, a bullet hole in her head.
His grip tightened on the steering wheel.
The engine roared as the car sped toward the outskirts of the city.
"I don't know," he said finally. "Arasaka got to her. I'm running too. You should find somewhere safe and lie low."
Then he hung up.
"Damn you… Dex… Arasaka…"
Jackie's voice was low, trembling with suppressed rage.
"You better pray I don't find out the truth."
He didn't hesitate.
He turned and headed straight for the door.
"Where do you think you're going?" Mrs. Welles stepped in front of him, blocking his path. "The whole NCPD is looking for you right now!"
"I'm going to find V," Jackie said firmly. "She's out there alone."
There was no hesitation in his voice.
No fear.
Only certainty.
Mrs. Welles opened her mouth to argue—
Then stopped.
She saw it in his eyes.
The same stubbornness he had always carried.
The same determination that had brought him this far… and nearly gotten him killed.
After a long moment, she stepped aside.
"…Go," she said softly. "But bring her back. Please."
Jackie pulled her into a tight embrace.
"I will."
Then he was gone.
Vanishing into the night without looking back.
Silence fell over the bar.
Mrs. Welles stood there for a moment… then slowly collapsed into a chair, as if all the strength had been drained from her body.
Xiao stepped forward and took her hand gently.
"Don't worry," he said. "I said I'd protect him. I'll send someone to help."
Her eyes were red, her face pale.
"I… I don't know what to do anymore…" she whispered.
Xiao said nothing.
Instead, he quietly activated his Mind's Eye.
A gentle wave of mental energy flowed into her consciousness, soothing her frayed nerves, easing the overwhelming pressure.
Her breathing gradually steadied.
Her body relaxed.
And soon—
She fell into a deep, exhausted sleep.
After carrying her back to her room, Xiao stepped out and pulled up his contacts.
A cat-shaped icon blinked on the screen.
He tapped it.
"Sasha," he said, "are you free? I've got a job. One hundred thousand euro."
The response came instantly—bright, energetic.
"Leave it to me! I'll get it done! (>^ω^<) Meow!"
She didn't even ask for details.
Xiao smiled faintly.
"Good. I like the enthusiasm."
Then, in a calm, almost casual tone, he added:
"Go kill Saburo Arasaka for me."
There was a pause.
A very long pause.
"…Huh?"
From the other side came a stunned, broken sound.
Then, faintly—
"Are you serious?!"
Before Xiao could respond, another voice cut in—sharp, annoyed.
"If he pays one billion, I'll take it!"
It was a green-haired girl, clearly standing nearby.
Xiao chuckled softly.
"Relax," he said. "I'm joking."
Then his tone shifted slightly, becoming more precise.
"Find V. Bring her back alive."
This time—
There was no hesitation.
"Got it," Sasha replied, her voice turning serious.
And just like that—
The real operation began.
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