From Gotham to Night City, my infamy is known to all.

"but--"

The sudden turn of events lifted everyone's spirits, as if they had seen the light at the end of the tunnel.

“The board members, including my father and I, all admire this brilliant strategist. To be able to successfully deceive the entire Night City branch and leave no trace afterward, such talent should not be so brutally erased.”

Her gaze swept across the faces of the crowd, but she couldn't find the "strategist."

"After discussion, we have decided to give this planner a chance. Please step forward. Arasaka will not punish you for this. On the contrary, we invite you to work at headquarters and promote you to the next rank."

This is not a conspiracy, nor a joke; it is a joint decision of the board of directors and the Arasaka family. I swear in the name of Arasaka, these words are true.

The attendees were stunned.

The person who caused the trouble actually got promoted?

Conflict is the best interview without offending anyone too much—I never thought this would apply at this level.

Even if there are hidden clauses, such as requiring a tracking device for life or restricting personal freedom, it is still a promotion!

Moreover, it caught the eye of the board of directors and the Arasaka family!

If it weren't for the fact that they weren't the ones who did it, someone might have been willing to take the risk and go to the Arasaka headquarters to atone for their crime.

Hanako Arakawa maintained an encouraging expression and waited for a long time, but no one responded.

"Is that so... You're still unwilling to step forward?" A hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes, mixed with a chilling disappointment. "Then things will be difficult. We can only start the investigation on the premise that the planner is hostile to Arasaka. The consequences are self-evident."

Still, no one has taken the initiative to admit it.

Hanako Arakawa shook her head and looked at Jenkins again: "Then let's go back to our previous topic, Director Jenkins."

"Yes, okay, Miss Hua!"

Jenkins flashed the perfect smile he had practiced countless times.

After this period of buffer time, he has adjusted his mindset and regained his composure.

“Director Jenkins, we have never doubted your loyalty. But the counterintelligence department is a very important department, just like this time, where even the slightest mistake can lead to serious consequences.”

Therefore, to be a good director of this department, you need more than just loyalty; you also need ability!

Jenkins felt a chill run down his spine, as if he had just been on a rollercoaster.

"Give me a definite answer in fifteen days. If you can do it, it will be a significant achievement in your resume, perhaps the most important one for your promotion to senior director. If you can't, then commit seppuku and apologize to Arasaka Corporation for your dereliction of duty."

I know your department is short-staffed. From now on, all available agents in the Night City branch will be under your command. Director Abernathy and the Special Operations Department have other important missions and are temporarily unable to assist you.

What is your answer?

There's no point in saying anything more now that things have come to this.

Jenkins steeled his resolve and bowed respectfully to Hanako Arasaka: "I understand, I will certainly not let you down!"

“Very good, I’m looking forward to it.” After replying, Hanako Arasaka looked at the others and said, “Everyone, given what has happened, the company’s internal management will be very strict for the time being. Please bear with us. That’s all I wanted to say. Let’s adjourn the meeting.”

"Yes!"

The big screen went dark, and Hanako Arasaka's image disappeared.

knock --

Someone tapped the table twice with their knuckles, attracting everyone's attention.

This person is, of course, Abernathy.

She surveyed the room and said coldly, "Miss Hua gave you a chance to confess and receive leniency, but you didn't cherish it. Well, just wait and see. Meeting adjourned!"

Meeting adjourned…

Meeting adjourned...

"Ding-dong, a visitor has arrived. Please prepare for the meeting."

Jenkins blinked, looked around blankly, and then realized that he had been back in his office for a while.

The voice of that filthy bitch Abernathy still echoed in his mind, like a death knell, making him lose his composure.

He got up, took a bottle of newly arrived fine wine from the wine cabinet, and when he turned around, his female subordinate was already standing silently across from his desk.

"Come on, sit down."

He waved his hand weakly and placed the bottle on the table.

Opposite him stood a woman in an Arasaka employee uniform, exuding a dangerous charm, who scrutinized him with deep eyes.

"You don't look well, want a drink?"

She casually laid out two glasses and was about to reach for the wine bottle when Jenkins raised his hand to stop her.

"I do need a drink, let me have one."

Jenkins found the tools, opened the cork of the wine bottle, and poured the crimson wine into their glasses.

"Saint-Noth dry red wine, a high-end wine that has recently appeared in Night City and the surrounding cities. It is made from 100% grape juice and has no additives. Someone gave me a few cases, and the taste is quite good."

The female subordinate raised an eyebrow: "You never used to say these meaningless things, what's wrong with you?"

Jenkins pushed one of the glasses to her, picked up a glass for himself, and drank it all in one gulp.

The dry red wine wasn't particularly strong, but drinking it still made him choke a little.

"Cough cough... Maybe it's because people are about to die that they become so talkative."

He casually wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, a rude gesture he would never have made before.

"By the way, you're going to die soon too, Valerie. Not just you, anyone who's close to me or who's been promoted by me in the counterintelligence department is going to die."

Valerie picked up her glass, took a small sip, and quietly watched him.

Jenkins looked up at her, then suddenly smiled: "You're quite good, calm and collected, better than me... Of course, it could also be because you don't yet realize the seriousness of the situation."

He reached behind his ear, took a data chip from his slot, and casually tossed it to her.

"Here you go, the intelligence is here. Remember to delete it after you read it. Then... use your unparalleled wisdom to think of a way to survive..."

Chapter 314 Valerie, Go!

Valerie remained unfazed by his words and focused calmly on reading the intelligence report.

"This is quite a big deal."

After watching it, she gave this evaluation.

The bombing of Kangtao's power plant and the hijacking of a joint convoy of military and biotechnology equipment were things she already knew, but the subsequent investigation results and conclusions were somewhat unexpected.

Five top companies, including Arasaka, searched the eastern suburbs thoroughly but found not a single clue, not even a single bullet casing.

Are you kidding me...?

Jenkins poured himself another glass of wine and drank it in large gulps, as if he couldn't suppress his fear otherwise. "It's more than just big; this has caused a huge uproar and attracted the attention of the Arasaka board of directors."

He licked his lips hard, his mind a mess: "Now I'm being forced to sign a pledge. If I can't find out the truth within fifteen days, I'll die. I don't even have enough heads to go around; I need a dozen more."

Valerie frowned. She was the operations manager, a position that just barely made her into the top ten in the department. Moreover, she was someone Jenkins had promoted from Europe; she was one of his trusted protégés.

“Looks like you’ve figured it out. Congratulations, you’re on the liquidation list too!” Jenkins chuckled nervously and raised his glass to her.

Valerie ignored him.

The old boss was clearly overly nervous and started to lose his composure.

Jenkins went berserk for a moment, then quickly slapped himself, forcibly regaining his composure.

"Ah... well, that's how it is. Valerie, I brought you back from Europe because you're incredibly intelligent. Without exaggeration, you're the smartest person I know, much smarter than that bitch Abernathy, and even myself. Now we're in this together, so if you don't want to die, you'd better show us what you're made of."

"Ha, I think you're just grasping at straws in your desperation. I've always given it my all and used my true skills."

“Then give it your all and surpass yourself.” Jenkins leaned back in his chair. “There’s something fishy about this; everyone can see that. But the question is, what’s fishy…”

Valerie looked at the intelligence department's summary, her superhuman intuition kicking in: "Is it possible that Arasaka didn't do this?!"

Jenkins looked at her, his expression unchanged. "Of course there is, but that's even worse. What we can confirm right now is that the convoy has been taken out of Night City. Theoretically, only Arasaka and the Military Science Institute could do that so silently. If that's the truth, it's terrifying..."

Valerie immediately understood his subtext.

Indeed, if this extremely low-probability event were to come true, the consequences would be far more terrifying than a traitor emerging from the upper echelons of Arasaka.

If this is a conspiracy by the Military Science Institute, their meticulous planning suggests they have much more to gain. Their efforts to ally with biotechnology and Kangtao against Arasaka—are they planning another war?

Only seven years have passed since the end of the unification war. If they really have such intentions, then the fifth corporate war is not far away.

If it wasn't the Military Science Institute or Arasaka who did it, the situation would only be worse—it would mean that Arasaka's control over Night City was in trouble, or that Night City had gained another powerful rival who could go toe-to-toe with Arasaka.

All three possibilities are extremely unlucky.

Very bad luck...

After a brief silence, Valerie suddenly smiled: "Everything leaves a trace. Since this has already happened, there must be clues, they just haven't been discovered yet. Risk and opportunity go hand in hand. If this is done well, the days of everyone dying together will turn into everyone getting promoted and getting a raise."

Jenkins stared at her intently, his grin widening.

"You're great, you're really great! This fighting spirit and enthusiasm is just like mine when I was young. I wish I had a daughter like you. If I poured all the resources into you, you could lead the family to glory."

"Stop trying to take advantage of me. If you ask me, you should just give up on Arasaka Hanako. It's impossible between you two."

"You don't understand, she's my ideal woman..."

"Just admit you're after the power of the Arasaka family. There are plenty of people with that kind of thinking, you're not an exception. And you call yourself the 'white moonlight'? I think you're a toad in a well trying to eat swan meat."

"Hahaha!" Jenkins laughed at her scolding. "Only you dare to talk to me like that, which is one of the reasons I admire you. If one day I become the vice president of the Night City branch, I will appoint you as the director of special operations. With the two of us working together, we will definitely be able to keep the branch firmly in our grasp!"

Valerie was uncooperative and didn't smile: "Let's get through this difficult time first. What's your plan in calling me here?"

Jenkins stopped laughing, quickly opened the drawer, and took out a thick stack of large bills.

"This is all the cash I have on hand, about 45,000 yuan. You can use it as operating expenses."

Valerie grabbed the cash without hesitation and counted out the amount with a quick flick of her wrist—forty-five thousand eight, not a small amount, but not an excessive one either.

"Cash can't be tracked, it's gone once it's spent, what are you trying to do with this?"

Jenkins finished the rest of his drink and sat up straight.

"I've thought it through. The best way to break this deadlock right now is to find the convoy. A large convoy of five hovercars, which has also been hit by a super-powerful directional EMP, can't have gone far even if it's crossed the border, and it will definitely be very conspicuous. I'll personally lead a team to track the convoy from three directions to find its whereabouts."

You've only recently been transferred from the European branch; you're still a new face. You could definitely try a grassroots approach.

“The lower levels…” Valerie muttered, then suddenly understood, “Go to places like the Rebirth Bar and try to get clues from the mercenaries?”

“Yes! In this operation, the EMP amplifier installed in the power plant has been confirmed to have come from the Dogtown black market. This matter may also involve top mercenaries, the Ghost Hounds, and Colonel Hansen. You are a newcomer, so go and investigate privately. You might be able to discover the truth from another perspective.”

“Okay, I understand.” Valerie put away the cash.

"That's all. Valerie, do everything in your power to find a way out for yourself, for me, and for everyone in the Counterintelligence Department. You've never failed a mission before, and hopefully this time you can pull off a miracle."

Jenkins put down his glass and buried his forehead in his interlaced hands.

Valerie's eyes flickered, and she smiled, saying, "This isn't a miracle, it's just keeping records. Maybe the reason we couldn't find any clues before was because the people we sent out earlier were all useless. I'm off now, take care."

After saying that, she turned and strode away.

……

"Ding-dong, the visitor has left. No next event has been found in your itinerary."

The AI ​​faithfully fulfilled its reminder duty and successfully woke Jenkins up.

Without looking up, he opened the drawer again and inserted a data chip behind his ear.

A letter of formal complaint appeared first on the center of my retina.

Turn the page, and you'll find many hand-drawn sketches.

The middleman, L, and the members of the Immortal Squad had their images memorized by the mercenaries who used sketches to bypass the external camera jammers.

In fact, ever since L suddenly went to the eastern suburbs to cause trouble, his intelligence has been continuously collected by the agents and sent back to headquarters.

Previously, the agents focused mainly on his ambiguous relationship with Kang Tao and his very mysterious background, ignoring the insignificant people around him.

It wasn't until this whistleblower appeared that the relatively unknown members of the Immortal Squad were noticed by a big shot like Jenkins.

Upon closer inspection, a problem was discovered—

With her red and black outfit, half-shaved hairstyle, codename V, real name Vivian, a native of Night City, one of the original members of the Immortal Squad, and bearing a face resembling Valerie…

With dazzling long golden hair, codename not yet available, real name Vera, from the disbanded Wanderers family, a driver who recently joined the Immortal Team, and sporting a face resembling Valerie…

No wonder that person dared to file a formal complaint based solely on these unsubstantiated "evidence" facts.