2077: V really knows how awesome he is

Email ended.

"Hmm." V rubbed his chin.

Having come this far, she had basically figured out the whole story.

Abernathy's relationship with Anthony was similar to his own with Joanne Koch—both were partners in betraying the company. However, while he and Joanne Koch betrayed the company purely for personal gain, Abernathy and Anthony betrayed the company to climb the corporate ladder.

The two of them leaked information about each other and shared credit. Arasaka and Gunko were old rivals, and they had plenty of ways to target each other. By exchanging information in advance, they took the opportunity to gain credit, which explains why Abernathy rose through the ranks so quickly.

This email was probably sent when Arasaka and Comtau formed their alliance, and Zeta Technologies and Comtau had just joined. Because he wanted to "help" Anthony gain merit and get Military Science to join the alliance, Abernathy urgently needed the position of alliance host, which is why he sent Lieutenant James to assassinate him.

Okay, I'll stop lying to myself.

V believes that even without Anthony's affair, that old bitch Abernathy would still have carried out the assassination plan. They're the same kind of people—ruthless and willing to do anything to achieve their goals. It's precisely because they're so similar that they're irreconcilable enemies.

It has to be said that Abernathy is a tough one. Even Jenkins in 2077 couldn't find out her connection to military technology. She's definitely a formidable rival.

But that's fine too; V prefers challenging the strong to bullying the weak.

"Then out of respect, I'll give it my all."

V flexed his fingers, preparing to launch his counterattack.

She had only intended to find some dirt on Abernathy to bring her down, but since she had discovered this email between Abernathy and Anthony, she decided to take care of the military technology deal as well.

V first copied the data from Anthony's computer, including but not limited to various documents and evidence of his selling military technology secrets. Then he hacked into Anthony's brain chip and obtained Meredith Stock's call number.

This name is a bit unfamiliar; V usually refers to the other person as Venus.

You ask why they called each other that? Because the two of them were in bed at the time.

In short, it was all due to youthful recklessness. V had a few casual encounters with Meredith Stock, but she assured that they were just casual sex partners and had no feelings for each other whatsoever.

V hadn't figured out how to face this person before, but now that the matter was of great importance, she had no choice but to handle it professionally.

After dialing the number and waiting for the busy signal to connect, a cold female voice came through a moment later.

"Tell me how you got this number."

"I heard that whoever gets Military Science into the company alliance will get promoted. Meredith Stock, do you want a promotion?"

"Damn it, who the hell are you?!"

"Keep it a secret, Motel, room 303, I'm waiting for you."

"What a joke! Why should I listen to you?"

"Because I can help you."

"Do you believe me?"

"Fujizu fake weapon, XXL type, high-frequency vibration electric shock version, your favorite gadget, do you want me to continue?"

"Damn it, you..."

"You've been under my surveillance the whole time. If I wanted to, you would have died in your sleep long ago without me even realizing it. Remember, keep your mouth shut. Motel, room 303, come alone."

V hung up the phone.

She knew Meredith Stock would definitely come; that woman's paranoia had reached the point where she wouldn't believe anything without a lie detector. Now that she'd revealed her little secret, if she couldn't figure it out, she'd never experience any orgasms again.

V gave each of the unconscious bodyguards a [Memory Eraser] to erase all traces of his presence, then returned to the Silent Motel.

Meredith Stock was extremely restless. She felt the man was bluffing her, yet she also suspected that his ability to reveal her secret meant he had been monitoring her for a long time. Was he a high-ranking company executive testing her? Or perhaps a spy from another company? Could he be a detective who had accidentally obtained information about her and was now trying to blackmail her?

The blonde, slicked-back-hair woman felt that anything was possible, yet nothing was possible. She scanned her room again and again, but still couldn't find any hidden recording devices. Finally, in a fit of anger, she took out the "Fujizu fake device" to destroy it, but hesitated for a long time and couldn't bring herself to do it.

"Forget it," Meredith Stock told himself. "If the other side can get one piece of dirt on me, they can get countless more. Destroying the fake Fujitsu weapon is pointless."

After putting his toy, which he had used for several years, back in its place, Meredith Stock took out an M-76E Omaha rifle, clipped it to his lower back, put on his jacket, and went out.

A military-tech armored dog vehicle stopped at the back door of the Secretive Motel, and Meredith Stock got out.

The wall camera clicked and spun, pointing at her face.

Fuck!

He cursed inwardly, but Meredith Stock's expression remained unchanged as he entered the building, showing neither joy nor sorrow.

V had long since taken control of the hotel's surveillance network; she saw everything and waited for her friend to arrive.

A knock sounded, and V, sitting on the sofa, remotely opened the door.

She watched Meredith Stock approach step by step, poured him a glass of wine, and handed it to him in a friendly gesture: "I mean no harm, have a drink."

The result was that Meredith Stock quickly drew his gun with textbook-perfect tactical maneuvers, stood at attention, and aimed his M-76E Omaha at V's head.

"Tell me, who the hell are you?!"

The M-76E Omaha, manufactured using military technology, conceals a powerful electromagnetic rail system. It fires solid-metal projectiles instead of ordinary pistol bullets; each trigger pull fires three projectiles. Its compact size allows it to fit in a briefcase or be concealed under a suit jacket. The most common location for the Omaha is on the waist of top-level corporate executives. In the hands of a true expert, the Omaha's lethality is comparable to that of a heavy machine gun.

Meredith Stock was confident he could blow V's head off in a second.

V was not surprised at all.

Meredith Stock possesses a strong personality inherited from military technology. She prefers to act before talking, doing things first and then discussing them. Even in bed, she always prefers to be on top... Okay, I digress. Let's get back to business.

V put down his glass, but then suddenly flicked his wrist, splashing the wine all over Meredith Stock.

Meredith Stock reacted quickly and was about to pull the trigger.

She could blow V's head off in a second, but V could break through her ICE in less than a second.

[Prosthetic body malfunction]!

With a hiss, Meredith Stock's right hand holding the gun twitched, and the M-76E fell helplessly from his grasp. V, who had anticipated this, caught it, skillfully ejected the magazine, pulled the bolt, and let the loaded bullet fly out of the barrel.

"Don't get excited, let's talk it over."

V placed the M-76E and magazine on the table and gently pushed them towards Meredith Stock, as steady as a rock.

"Fuck you, you son of a bitch..."

Meredith Stock swore she would fire the idiot who wrote the anti-intrusion unit for her when she got back, but after this experience, she also realized V's power and obediently sat on the sofa.

Even in a different world, Venus remains the same Venus. Meredith Stock is a quintessential fighter; she believes in and reveres strength, and she will submit to anyone who demonstrates greater power than her.

Just like in bed, when V rolls over and pins Meredith Stock down, regaining control, this slick-haired mature woman also enjoys it.

"Speak, what do you want from me?" Sure enough, Meredith Stock was now able to speak.

"Take a look at this." V pushed a chip towards him.

Meredith Stock hesitated for a moment, but ultimately picked up the chip and inserted it into his neural slot.

She had experienced V's hacking skills firsthand; someone could hack her without going through all that trouble.

As the chip's contents were read, Meredith Stock's face grew increasingly grim. Finally, she slammed her hand on the table and roared in fury, "Damn it! No wonder all these operations have inexplicably failed over the years. It's all because of that bastard Anthony!"

After saying that, she looked at V and said, "I'll buy this chip. Name your price."

V countered with, "What are you planning to do?"

"Of course we should go back and report to our superiors, and kill that bastard Anthony!"

Do you think the top brass of military technology would believe that?

"The evidence is conclusive, why don't they believe it?"

V chuckled: "You're from Night City too. Don't you know whether this crappy place values ​​evidence or not? You're a senior executive at Military Science, and so is Anthony. In the eyes of the higher-ups, you're both just dogs the company keeps. Who they use and who they don't, who they trust and who they don't, isn't it all up to them?"

Meredith Stock frowned: "I've had my own connections in military science for so many years, Anthony can't escape!"

“Anthony has his own connections too.” V shrugged. “Maybe he really can’t escape, but that’s all he can do. He’ll be dealt with by the company—demoted, imprisoned, fired—anything is possible. What do you think the chances are that the company will kill him? If he doesn’t die, will he make a comeback? Will he retaliate against you? There’s a saying in Kangtao: ‘You can be a thief for a thousand days, but you can’t guard against thieves for a thousand days.’ You’ve made such a grudge against Anthony; if he doesn’t die, can you sleep at night?”

Meredith Stock's expression was uncertain; V's words accurately captured her suspicious nature, forcing her to make a choice.

“Then tell me,” Meredith Stock said, sitting back down. “What should I do?”

“It’s very simple,” V replied with four words: “Act first, then report.”

Meredith Stock shook his head: "This is not in accordance with procedure."

V also shook his head: "The procedures are all determined by people."

"People working in military technology don't kill each other."

"Really? How do you think Anthony will treat you after he takes over? Will he forgive and forget about it, or will he fill your feet with cement and sink you to the bottom of the river?"

Meredith Stock immediately looked like he had eaten shit.

She could forgive and forget with a smile. If that petty, narrow-minded bastard Anthony were that magnanimous, she would switch to men from now on.

After a few seconds of silence, Meredith Stock asked, "What do you want from this?"

Great, being able to ask the price means they have a desire to buy.

This Venus has been persuaded by herself.

V didn't mince words and said directly, "I'm going to kill someone too."

"Who?"

"Arisaka Special Operations Director, Abernathy."

"Do you have a grudge against her?"

V removes his demon mask: "Nice to meet you. My name is V, just one V."

“V? The deputy head of the Arasaka Counterintelligence Department, the host of the Corporate Alliance?!” Meredith Stock exclaimed in surprise, “Weren’t you killed by the Cyber ​​Madman?”

"You know how credible the news from Night City is. I didn't actually die from the cyber madman, but from an assassination."

Assassinations in Night City are not surprising at all. Meredith Stock raised an eyebrow: "Was it orchestrated by Abernathy?"

"Yes."

"No wonder you wanted to kill her."

As the conversation progressed, Meredith Stock felt relieved. If V had truly been without desires, she would have been worried about some hidden trap, but now that she knew V's identity and motives, she dispelled her last doubts.

If you get beaten up, of course you have to get back at me; that's how we Night City people have always been.

V probably lacks sufficient resources, which is why he wants to join forces with me. This deal is worthwhile.

Meredith Stock was fully engaged in negotiations, arms crossed, and said, "Tell me your plan."

"Isn't Abernathy secretly colluding with Anthony? Let's just turn the tables and play the game of 'the oriole unaware of the mantis behind'."

“Hmm, okay, let’s use the cybernetic body as bait.” Meredith Stock thought for a moment and said, “I will submit a report to the higher-ups, explaining the various advantages of the cybernetic body. Military Technology will definitely send people to seize it, and Anthony will not let go of this opportunity to gain merit.”

V continued, "He would buy intelligence from Abernathy, and to maximize his profits, he would even lead the team himself, since it was a 'sure thing' battle. But he certainly didn't expect you to suddenly appear with your team, so it made perfect sense that he would gloriously sacrifice himself in the fierce battle with Arasaka."

“That’s right, let’s do it!” Meredith said. “But how do you plan to deal with Abernathy?”

V countered, "Do you know whose project the prosthetic body is?"

"Who?"

V curled the corners of his mouth: "Abernathy."

Meredith Stock was taken aback: "She's even willing to sell her own project?"

“The money was invested by the company, the personnel were provided by the company, Abernathy didn’t pay any price, so why wouldn’t she be willing to give it up?” V shrugged: “But she still has to give the company an explanation, so she can let the cybernetic body be stolen, but all kinds of data will definitely be retained. If I were her, I would use this battle between Arasaka and the military technology to conduct actual combat tests, so that even if Anthony steals the cybernetic body, it will only be the ‘old version’, and Arasaka can use the latest test data to build the second-generation cybernetic body, still giving them an edge over military technology.”

"Damn it!" Meredith Stock couldn't help but curse, "You guys who hang out with the Japanese have dirty hearts!"

"Thank you for the compliment." V smiled and asked, "How many seconds do you think it would take me, with my hacking skills, to retrieve the test data?"

Meredith Stock did not answer, because there was no need to.

"Remember, this is the only time!" Venus departed.

V did not try to keep him, because there was no need to try.

She said it was only once when they slept together, so who called her after that?

Some things, once you've tasted their flavor, you can't let them go—like power.

V walked to the window, opened the curtains, and savored the wine in the morning sunlight.

The first day of the three-day event concluded successfully.

Chapter 18 A Fateful Encounter