Cyberpunk: 2075.

Chapter 761, page 175. Li De
I want to save her.

Li De's words caused V to fall into a brief silence. He stroked the wine glass in his hand and finally spoke: "To be honest, Li De, I don't want to comment on your thoughts. If I could really take people away, I wouldn't necessarily have to get rid of Nightingale. After all, she is the client, and I don't have the habit of killing clients."

Even so, V still harbored some hesitation.

This hesitation stemmed from the knowledge of the lark's threat—anyone would be wary of a humanoid nuclear bomb, let alone now that there was an opportunity to eliminate the threat ahead of time.

V wasn't concerned about the idea that 'a lark's life is also a life,' although he was unwilling to harm his client. What troubled him at the moment was another issue: a problem a mercenary shouldn't even be considering.

What would happen if the new America regained control of the Lark? But then again, even without the Lark, wouldn't the new America create a second or third one?
“I just think, Li De, there are some things we need to think through,” V said in a deep voice.

“I know.” Li De saw through V’s thoughts and shook his head. “I was shocked too. If possible, I will try to dissuade President Miles when I get back. Once this is exposed, it will be enough to destroy the new America, let alone continue the research. But judging from the president’s attitude at the time,” he smiled bitterly, “I can only hope that they really only created one Song.”

"One such risky thing is already outrageous enough."

V shook his head, choosing to put the matter aside for the time being. After all, negotiations with Hansen were still far from being finalized, so it was better to focus on more important matters.

He asked Li De, who had already started examining the letters sent by the Lark, "What did the Lark say? That string of things looks like some kind of code, probably some kind of code from your Joint Intelligence Bureau."

"Not from the FBI."

Li De, looking somewhat tired, reached out and pressed his hands against the sides of his nose, rubbing them gently.
"This is the password I passed on to Xiao Song. I was the one who brought Xiao Song into the Joint Intelligence Bureau, and I taught her this back then. It seems she learned it very well. She hasn't forgotten this little introductory tool. I sent it to her specifically so she knows I will save her."

"Are you talking about the lark or your apprentice?" V raised an eyebrow. "No wonder you're so concerned. But judging from this, you two aren't that close usually. You only think of contacting me at a time like this."

“I’ve been living in Night City all these years,” Li De’s voice deepened. “In the FBI’s files, I’m already a dead man.”

He paused, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly: "And it was Xiao Song who personally sent out my intelligence, sending me to my death."

"What?!" V looked up abruptly, his pupils contracting sharply. "You mean Song Zhaomei, the lark, betrayed you back then, and now you're still thinking of saving her?"

“That wasn’t her intention, and I know she had no choice.” Li De’s fingers unconsciously rubbed the wine glass in his hand. “It was an order from above, to cover the hiding of other agents. In the eyes of my colleagues who stayed in Night City, I am the traitor.”

"Damn it," V rubbed his temples. "I'm totally confused, but I think I understand: the higher-ups had Lark betray you, and you took the blame. Now that things have gotten complicated, Miles and the FIA ​​just say one word, and you're back to work for them?"

V's expression turned strange. "You..."

“I didn’t die.” Li De’s tone was eerily calm. “The higher-ups arranged a safe place for me to receive treatment. I was treated after I was injured. It was all part of the plan, so there’s nothing to complain about.”

"And you're saying there's nothing to complain about?" V's voice almost rose several octaves if it weren't for the guests around. "You're injured and need treatment. You need treatment all over your body; you probably almost died back then, right? And you're still willing to risk your life for New America?"

V shook his head: "Maybe it's because I grew up in Badlands, anyway, I just can't understand it." "These are the conditions of the ceasefire agreement." Li De's gaze turned to the distance, "Miles had to give Arasaka enough sincerity. Everyone else was safely evacuated, and I survived. This is just part of the job, V. I know you can't understand, but this is the fate of an agent."

“I just think you’re not worth it, Li De.”

V stared at the middle-aged agent.

Compared to Rosalind Miles, who always seemed a bit off to him, Reed possessed a rare honesty beneath his agent-like coldness and hardness. This honesty was the kind of sincerity V could sense, which was completely different from Rosalind's ability to draw a clear line at crucial moments, even though she did a great job.

Only those who have interacted with Li De can understand why Karl, when recalling his experience working with Li De, said that he was a guy who was 'not annoying, and even admirable'.

It was through his interactions with Li De that V was able to understand Li De's personality.

It's hard to dislike someone who is loyal to their country and also values ​​relationships.

But the country he served, or rather, the people in power in that country, were simply too... V sighed inwardly.

Those decisions made in the presidential office, those high-sounding 'national interests,' are like a wound-up machine, ruthlessly crushing everyone like Li De.

Perhaps for decision-makers at the highest levels of the country, an agent like Li De, even a top-notch one, is just a sacrifice to be made.

V finds it difficult to make judgments on matters at the national level, after all, he is not in that position, but he truly feels that Li De, whom he had come into contact with, was not worth it.

It's a feeling of knowing full well that he's doing it willingly, that he's voluntarily being foolish, but still feeling sorry for him because he's such a good person.

Li De could sense V's regret. To be honest, he admired V greatly, just as he admired V's companion, Karl. Both V and Karl exuded genuine sincerity and genuine affection, a rare quality in Night City, and perhaps even the world. He could understand why V felt he hadn't been treated well, but...
He was a secret agent, a patriot, and he truly wanted to be.

“You know what,” V suddenly said, his voice tinged with self-deprecation, “sometimes I really wish you could be a bit of a bastard like the other agents, at least then I wouldn’t have to watch a good guy jump into a fire.”

"Maybe things will be easier after I retire. Right now, it's not like I've fallen into a pit yet."

Li De has already cracked the alphabetic code.

The message from the lark had only this one meaning.

"I'm going to die. Save me. The way to save me is under the empty sofa next to the Tiger Claw Gang's seats."

(End of this chapter)