Cyberpunk: I didn't cheat.

Arakasaka secretly built a mass accelerator at the "Cloud Sea Base" on the moon, which was discovered by military technology. Their operation to supply weapons to some armed groups was also exposed. At a critical time when the contract renewal with the European Space Agency (ESA) was underway, the leak of secrets would affect the renewal.

At the continental conference, a large number of people were blatantly murdered in a crude manner, as if Arasaka, a middle-level official, was eager to distance himself from the situation. Jenkins alone could not take the blame for this, and Valerie's right-hand woman, Anne Cornwall, was sent to the continent, so Valerie naturally also shared in the blame.

Anne is urgently recalled to Night City, and Abernathy, with the support of the Security Department and several high-ranking Arasaka officials, is preparing to launch a full-scale attack on the Counterintelligence Department.

With the alliance between the doves and hawks, the doves are in for a tough time.

Jenkins is now as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

While internal strife is a major characteristic of Arasaka, these people from the Tokyo headquarters really don't take their Night City branch seriously at all.

His subordinate Valerie provided an early warning during the V1 raid, and even Yoriyuki Arasaka praised Valerie. Such an employee, while not necessarily rising rapidly in rank, would not be subject to a comprehensive accountability process involving everyone above and below after a period of time.

Unfortunately, that's how companies are. Unless you can make Lord Saburo live forever, you have no right to rest on your laurels.

Jenkins handed Valerie a chip. Abernathy had already stepped in. If he didn't make a move soon, he wouldn't even have time to look at the materials, let alone retaliate.

Having learned from the previous lesson, Abernathy launched a blitzkrieg this time, and Jenkins is now in a similar position to Denmark.

“Annie and our communications have been cut off. Things in Frankfurt are complicated. Why is it all our fault for the leak?”

Valerie was very dissatisfied with Arasaka's ruthless and exploitative behavior; this internal strife in the company was truly unreasonable.

Jenkins gave Valerie a sum of cash.

“We are in a very serious situation right now. You need to find someone to take care of Abernathy first. You need to find a suitable candidate who won’t make any mistakes and who has no connection with the company.”

As for the crucial part, you should find your trusted confidants to handle it, but don't wait for Anne; we don't have that much time.

"OK, I understand."

“My hovercar is right outside; you can take it and use it.”

Valerie didn't say anything more this time. She picked up the chip and walked out of Jenkins' office.

These are pieces of evidence that Jenkins has re-collected since the last confrontation, and they are very helpful for the operation.

At the doorway, her new deputy, Carter, was preparing to give her the report she wanted.

"You should have handed it in yesterday!"

Valerie was feeling somewhat agitated.

Carter was somewhat at a loss.

"I...I know, but I'm done now."

Valerie had to attend to Jenkins's business first, so she casually agreed.

Send me your email address first. I'll talk to you when I have time.

Carter left, a hint of struggle flashing in his eyes.

Valerie called Jack, who, along with Vincent, was now one of the top mercenaries in Night City, with Jack also acting as a middleman for the Wolves.

"Hey V, you're not dead? How was your time in the snake pit?"

"I need your help, Jack, there's something I need to do."

"Uh, why are you talking about business right away, girl? I thought you wanted to ask me out for drinks. You've gotten yourself into trouble?"

"Pretty much, now I want people I can trust."

“Alright, let’s meet at Wild Wolf. V and I, uh, Vincent, are here.”

"Okay, I'll be there as soon as possible."

Just after the phone call ended, Valerie's subordinate Harry reported that several of Arasaka's corporate spies might be exposed. They had suddenly been granted higher privileges, but when they entered the database, they couldn't find a single thing.

Valerie immediately understood what had happened. Abernathy was heavily involved with other companies, and the old woman had taken down Valerie's men.

She had no choice but to give the order.

"Let them withdraw, but try not to alert them. We're preparing for the worst regarding the few inter-company espionage internet cafes we previously marked."

Harry lowered his voice and tried to dissuade him.

“A hostage exchange? The company will never agree to that; Jenkins will definitely explode.”

Valerie growled.

"Let's save them first, and we'll talk about these things later."

Harry could only nod.

However, he was not optimistic about Valerie's orders. Arasaka would not waste resources on people who were no longer useful; most of these counterintelligence spies were probably not going to survive.

Chapter 148 Breathing Decision

Valerie arrived at the Wolf Bar in a hovercar. This time, there were no thugs on the ground who had almost been hit by her coming to cause her trouble.

She went into the Wolf Pack, and Peppy gestured for Jack and the others to be in the private room on the second floor.

Before she even entered the private room, she heard Vincent complaining.

"How was I supposed to know I had a priceless lizard in my trunk? I was about to be beaten to a pulp by the interceptors when I had to protect that little darling."

The bullets were going off outside, banging and clanging, and that little thing was sticking out its tongue and licking me; it felt incredibly weird.

Jack laughed heartily.

"Maybe that lizard just likes you. Didn't you take any pictures?"

"No, my car was almost stolen, so I didn't have time to take pictures. But honestly, these animals are really beautiful."

Valerie walked into the private room and greeted the two men.

"Hi, Jack, hi, Vincent."

To distinguish themselves, Valerie and Vincent agreed to call each other by their real names, otherwise they would sometimes get confused while talking.

Jack poured Valerie a glass of 400 Rabbit Tequila.

"Tell me, girl, what happened?"

Valerie lowered her voice.

"Let's make this clear first, Jack, Vincent, this is something only we can know about."

"Of course, don't you trust us?"

Valerie is very serious.

"I'm serious, this could ruin me!"

Jack and Vincent, seeing that things were getting serious, also looked solemn.

"Okay, we'll keep it a secret."

Valerie handed the data chip to the two of them.

"Here is the data, take a look."

Vincent took the data chip and inserted it directly into the computer.

A few seconds later, he ejected the chip and handed it to Jack, who then inserted the chip and exclaimed in surprise.

"This job is no easy task. The pay has to be high, and they don't accept bank transfers; they only accept cash."

Valerie nodded.

"I have the money."

Jack continued.

“This kind of job requires a full team. We already have a racer who dares to speed in hell and a gunman who can get things done, but we’re missing a hacker with a supercomputer. Bug has retired, and none of the hackers we’ve found recently have that capability.”

Valerie paused for a moment before speaking.

“I can do hacking.”

Jack raised his glass and clinked it against his.

“To be honest, Valerie, I’m not really into killing a lady, and I don’t think you’d be too keen on doing it either, right?”

Vincent also fell silent; the team still had some bottom lines when it came to their work.

“No, Jack, you don’t understand Arasaka at all, you don’t understand the company. I don’t want to do it, but I can’t refuse.”

Vincent was a wanderer and didn't understand the intricacies of the company, but he knew he was walking with the devil.

“Valerie, you can’t keep lowering your standards for things like this. If Arasaka can let you do this, he’ll let others do it to you in the future.”

Jack agreed.

"Yeah, you can't sell your soul to those idiots like Arakasaka."

Valerie retorted.

"That's how the rules are. In Arasaka, if you want to climb to the top, you have to do something against your conscience."

Jack refilled his glass.

"But you can't climb to the top. That's where Saburo Arasaka is. He got to where he is today entirely because of all the idiots like you who fawn over him."

Valerie was a little annoyed, so she raised her glass and clinked it against the two of them.

“If Vito were here, he would definitely help me.”

After saying that, Valerie angrily downed her tequila in one gulp.

Jack and Vincent also downed their drinks in one gulp.

Jack said softly.

"Don't fool yourself, girl. If Vito were here, he would definitely not only kill this lady, he would send half the people in the tower to hell for a meeting."

We'd love to help you, but listen to me, quit this damn job, work for yourself, live for yourself.

Valerie picked up the bottle and poured the wine.

“Sorry, Jack, Vincent, I didn’t mean to say that. I was just in a hurry.”

Maybe one day I will, but for now, I can't shake them off.

Jack put a slice of lemon on Valerie's plate.

"Sigh, you shouldn't be doing unrealistic things. You... Hey, who are you looking for? Or are you here to cause trouble?"

As Jack was speaking, several Arasaka agents in suits burst into the private room.

Agent Arasaka glanced at Jack and Vincent, noticing they weren't wearing heavy cybernetic implants, and ignored them, turning their attention directly to Valerie.

"Hey, are you... V?"

Valerie could tell these people were from Arasaka headquarters; their Arasaka ninja aura practically overflowed from their suits.

"You've come about Frankfurt?"

Three Arasaka agents stood in front, their expressions arrogant.

“We’re here to see you. Jenkins assigned you some work, right? Tell us the details.”

Valerie stood up.

What if I say no?

Agent Arasaka's eyes turned red, and Valerie's prosthetic body was completely shut down, including the hacker control system.

They were prepared, knowing Valerie was a top hacker, and were wary of her tricks.

In an instant, Valerie felt dizzy and fell onto the sofa.

"How are you feeling? Dizzy and lightheaded? All your privileges have been revoked by the company. Hand over Jenkins' information to us, and your dismissal process will be complete. Don't cause trouble. We're only doing this because you've done things for the company."

"Fuck your mother!"

Valerie handed the chip on the table to the agent.

"How the hell did you find out?"

The agents read the data.