After waking up, V first headed to the bathroom to freshen up before slowly making her way downstairs.
She stopped by the vending machine, skillfully tapped a few buttons, and pulled out two packs of luncheon meat made with eighty percent real meat.
As she walked downstairs, she tore one open and began eating heartily.
Pay?
Why should she pay?
She got the food with her own hands.
Why should she hand over money to those corporate bloodsuckers for nothing?
"Hmph."
Even while chewing, she muttered inwardly with annoyance.
"Even if I had a million right now, I still wouldn't give a single eurodollar to those corporate bastards."
By the time she reached Rogue's booth, one pack was already gone.
"Hey, Rogue."
V sat down beside her, sounding slightly excited.
"How's the investigation going?"
"It's basically confirmed."
Rogue slid a data chip across the table.
The moment V inserted it into her neural interface, a flood of information instantly poured into her mind.
Rogue began explaining as she scrolled through the data.
"There's no mention of Hellman in the official documents."
"But his name did show up in Militech's classified files."
Her tone was calm and professional.
"Kang Tao has been using this method to handle sensitive business for the past few years."
V's eyes narrowed.
"So, Kang Tao is after Hellman too."
She couldn't help sounding surprised.
It seemed Huanyu Group wasn't the only one targeting him.
Kang Tao had its sights on him as well.
That meant the immortality technology developed by Arasaka had truly driven every corporation mad.
Rogue gave a knowing smile.
"Corporations all over the world want the secrets inside Hellman's head."
Then her expression turned meaningful.
"That technology is even more tempting than nanotech."
As someone who had personally benefited from nanotechnology, Rogue understood better than anyone what it meant to possess a healthy body and an extended lifespan.
Even at her level, however, the limit was only around five to six hundred years.
But Arasaka's technology—
that represented true immortality.
Who wouldn't be tempted?
Rogue continued pulling up more data.
"Next."
"Look at Kang Tao's AV transport route."
Her finger tapped the projected route map.
"This is a single AV."
"No ground support."
"No cargo manifest."
Her gaze sharpened.
"According to the transport data, the system approved the route."
"But the weight reading is far too light."
"It's clearly not carrying cargo."
Then she highlighted the personnel list.
"Besides Kang Tao's security staff…"
"There's only one VIP transfer from Militech."
V's eyes lit up.
"That VIP is Hellman."
Her tone was certain.
"Exactly."
Rogue nodded approvingly.
"You're pretty sharp."
The two of them immediately began discussing possible ambush points in greater detail.
After studying the route for a while, V pointed decisively at a specific stretch of airspace.
"This area belongs to the Mechanicus's airspace."
Her brows furrowed.
"Rogue, do you have a way to get them to help?"
Rogue stared at her in disbelief.
Then she frowned.
"Do you want to start the Fifth Corporate War?"
Her tone was almost exasperated.
"The entire reason fixers and mercenaries exist is to prevent direct conflict between megacorps."
"If the corporations start openly fighting…"
Her voice dropped heavily.
"The consequences will be unimaginable."
V waved it off dismissively.
"I know that."
"But didn't Huanyu Group publicly admit they successfully eliminated Saburo Arasaka?"
In V's eyes, the Mechanicus was nothing more than a group of fanatical zealots.
A bunch of lunatics who worshipped the God of All Machines.
They charged into battle screaming prayers, wielding power weapons, and chopping enemies in half without hesitation.
To her, asking them to take down an AV carrying Hellman sounded completely reasonable.
After all, she had often relied on them for dirty work in the past.
Rogue sighed.
"That was different."
"Everyone at the top knows Huanyu Group was actually helping Yorinobu Arasaka take the blame."
"Even so…"
"Huanyu still lost hundreds of millions on paper."
Her eyes narrowed.
"And during all of that, they never showed the slightest intention of retaliating."
"The moment they do…"
"Both sides enter full military alert."
Then she tapped the data chip again.
"More importantly, the target this time carries Arasaka's core technology."
"That means every megacorp is currently restraining itself and competing in secret."
Her gaze locked onto V.
"But the moment one of them openly makes a move for that technology…"
"The Fifth Corporate War begins."
"Do you understand now?"
This time, her warning was severe.
V finally gave in with a helpless sigh.
"Fine."
"Then I'll have to rely on myself."
After a brief pause, she asked:
"Do you know any mercenaries from the Mechanicus?"
Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"I remember most of them used to be native nomads from the Badlands."
"There should be plenty of mercs, right?"
Rogue thought for a moment before answering.
"I know one."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Panam Palmer."
V immediately recognized the name.
"The one who was always cursing at you?"
"What happened between you two?"
Rogue let out a helpless sigh.
"She used to handle transport jobs for me."
"But last time…"
She gave a bitter laugh.
"Her luck was terrible."
"Not only did the job fail…"
"Her vehicle and cargo were both swallowed up by the Scavengers."
Whenever Panam's fiery and stubborn personality came to mind, Rogue could only sigh.
V frowned.
"The Scavengers are robbing people on the highways now?"
"When did they get that bold?"
Her tone was filled with disdain toward Night City's government and NCPD.
Rogue's expression turned colder.
"There's no helping it."
"After the Mechanicus turned the Badlands into their holy land, order and justice were restored there."
"Those who couldn't endure that kind of order naturally chose to run."
"Most of the Wraiths who escaped the cult's purge fled into Night City."
"And once they merged with the local Scavengers…"
She gave a grim smile.
"They became too large to control."
Now the Scavengers were practically like sewer rats.
Everywhere.
Impossible to completely eradicate.
Most of the time, they blended in as ordinary citizens.
The moment they found a suitable target—
they put on masks and went to work.
As long as they didn't provoke the wealthy elite…
no one cared what they did.
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