2077: V really knows how awesome he is

Their reputation is already bad enough, so they're not afraid of it getting worse. Even if someone takes the opportunity to cause trouble, the Voodoo Gang can't withstand 27 air-to-ground missiles, and neither can anyone else.

Trying to shake Arasaka's reputation through such means is nothing short of wishful thinking. Jiang Ping's real goal is to seize control of the working class's lifeline.

She knew V didn't care about Arasaka's reputation, but in order to get promoted and earn a raise, and to keep climbing the ladder, as a working person, you have to complete the tasks assigned to you.

As it turned out, V didn't need to. Because things were already in complete chaos, and no one cared who the murderer was.

However, letting Bridget stay out there was ultimately a problem, so V decided to give Jiang Ping some face.

“Hand him over, and I’ll owe you a favor,” V said.

Everyone looked at Jiang Ping, who shook her head: "I only want the sea view area."

"That's territory that the alliance conquered, and I personally have no right to decide its ownership."

Jiang Ping shouted, "You're the league's host!"

V said coldly, "That's precisely why I must be fair."

"Justice? Talk about justice in Night City, fucking Night City?! V, do you think you're a saint?"

"Of course not. I only know that if I am not fair, this newly formed alliance will fall apart, my position will decline, and my interests will be harmed."

Everyone nodded in agreement. V's words were blunt, but they made sense. Everyone present was shrewd; talking to them about feelings was like casting pearls before swine, but if you talked to them about interests, they would believe you without question.

“Minister Jiang, you’ve gone a bit too far,” the representative from Zeta Technology said. “We’re all just doing things for others, and we’re all in this together now, so why make things difficult for each other? If you have any people that Vice Minister V wants, just hand them over. Vice Minister V will naturally remember your kindness. Kang Tao didn’t get the seaside area this time, but he can get other places next time. Vice Minister V may be young, but he’s a righteous person and will definitely not treat you unfairly.”

This is Abernathy's husband, and Jiang Ping is Abernathy's lover. It would be a lie to say that the two have no grudges. He spoke with a smile, but he was digging traps for Jiang Ping from all sides, saying things like "going too far" and "making things difficult," clearly kicking her when she was down.

Jiang Ping naturally disliked him as well, but she knew he was right. The problem was that Kang Tao could wait, but she couldn't.

Friends had already tipped off her that the higher-ups were investigating her, and lately she felt an invisible hand closing in on her. Her inquiries to Shenyang all went unanswered; her former superiors were no longer reachable. Jiang Ping knew that the higher-ups were about to take action against her; she had to protect herself, she had to show them she still had value.

She cannot lose; she cannot lose power! She must win, she absolutely must win!

"V." Jiang Ping, who was so arrogant before, now bowed her head to V in order to keep her position: "I really need the sea view area, please."

V calmly replied, "I have no objection, and neither does anyone else. Now we'll see what Stock thinks."

Jiang Ping quickly looked at Meredith Stock, who was the only person competing with her.

The blonde, slicked-back-hair woman laughed heartily, instantly showcasing the domineering nature of military technology to its fullest extent.

"You want me to back down? Fuck you, you stupid idiot!"

"You!" Jiang Ping was furious, but she was already facing internal troubles and really didn't want to cause any more external problems, so she looked at V with a pleading expression.

She knew that Meredith Stock would listen as long as V spoke.

V did speak up, saying to the blonde, slicked-back-haired woman, "Stock, we're in a meeting, watch your tone."

And then, that was it.

The reprimand is over.

Jiang Ping knew she was finished.

She might win through constant wrangling, but that won't solve the immediate problem.

The old woman swept everything off the table, pointing hysterically at V and yelling, "If you won't let me have a good life, neither will you! Tomorrow, the entire Night City will know that Arasaka Yorinobu killed Arasaka Saburo!!!"

V's expression changed drastically. Everyone thought that Jiang Ping had caught her out, but in reality, she was trying so hard to suppress her laughter that her face was cramping.

Damn, this old lady is such a great help! V is just hoping she'll go and spread the "truth." She's so heartwarming that V is so touched he wants to break his principles and give her the entire seaside area.

Even if you feel great inside, you still have to put on a show.

So V shouted sternly, "Jiang Ping, stop spouting nonsense!"

"You forced me to this! V, just wait to die with me, hahaha!"

V frowned, just about to help Jiang Ping fix her bad breath, her eyes even lighting up, but then she stopped.

Because the conference room door was pushed open.

The person who came in was none other than Xu Zhong.

V knew he didn't need to do it himself.

All eyes were on the section chief, including Jiang Ping's. She snapped impatiently, "Get out! This isn't a place for a section chief like you. We can talk about it later!"

But Xu Zhong remained unmoved. He stood tall, his eyes resolute, and with a flash of blue light, he sent a document to Jiang Ping.

"Jiang Ping, your misdeeds have come to light, and the organization is very disappointed in you. Effective immediately, you are relieved of all your duties at the Kangtao Night City branch and are to return to Shenyang for further investigation!"

"What? Impossible!" Jiang Ping exclaimed in surprise, looking at V and saying, "Isn't he one of yours? Isn't she your spy planted in Kangtao?"

V did not answer, but that was enough to leave much to the imagination.

Xu Zhong snorted coldly: "Jiang Ping, stop talking nonsense and let's get going. The hovercar is already waiting outside."

Jiang Ping took a step back and suddenly raised her hand to draw her gun.

But the two men following behind Xu Zhong suddenly stepped forward, arriving first despite being behind. They sprang out "black sticks" from their legs, revealing blades. With a swift turn of the blades, they cleanly severed Jiang Ping's two arms.

"what!!!"

The elderly woman screamed and fell to the ground. In fact, only her prosthetic arm was severed, so it wouldn't have hurt too much. The reason she screamed so badly was probably psychological.

"Minister Jiang, the Disciplinary Correction Committee can get anyone it wants, so don't waste your time."

The two men lifted Jiang Ping up, saluted Xu Zhong, and said, "Reporting, sir, mission accomplished, requesting withdrawal!"

"Evacuation permitted."

"Yes!"

Jiang Ping was taken away. When she heard the words "Disciplinary Correction Committee," she felt like a fish whose bones had been removed, and all her energy vanished in an instant.

V had heard of the name before; it was a secret armed force under Kanto, quite similar to Troy in Arasaka, except that Troy did murder to cover up crimes, while the Disciplinary Committee only dealt with internal matters, specifically purging rebels and corrupt elements within Kanto.

After Jiang Ping left, the meeting room fell silent.

Everyone looked at Xu Zhong, then at V, speculating about the relationship between the two.

The section chief spoke first: "Thanks to the great assistance of Deputy Minister V, Jiang Ping, this black sheep, was able to be caught so quickly. Colonel Xu from Shenyang asked me to convey his gratitude to you."

Colonel Xu? Xu Shiming? The CEO of Kangtao?!

Everyone was shocked, never expecting V to have this connection.

V himself didn't expect this.

Moreover, the junior section chief is too young. He said that Xu Shiming specifically praised him. Those who know him understand that he was just trying to save face for himself, but those who don't might think that he was using a counter-espionage scheme.

As a vice minister in Arasaka, I'm exchanging glances with the CEO of Kangtao. That's bound to arouse a lot of suspicion.

It's only because Michiko Arakawa went to Tokyo and there was no one on V that she ended up like Jiang Ping.

This junior section chief still needs more practice.

V smiled and said, "Colonel Xu, you're too kind. Please also convey my greetings to him. I wonder what Section Chief Xu's plans are next?"

"Yes, I will definitely convey your words completely. As for myself, thanks to the trust of my superiors, I have been appointed as the acting president of Kangtao's Night City branch. Before a new president is selected, I will be responsible for all of Kangtao's affairs in Night City. I hope that Vice President V and all the seniors will give me more guidance in the future."

Everyone was surprised. A 19-year-old president, even if he was just the president of a branch company, had a very promising future.

Joanne Koch was one thing, but Meredith Stock was incredibly jealous, and he vented his frustration on the secret channel: "Holy crap, that's some fucking fast promotion! Little Section Chief, are you Xu Shiming's illegitimate son or something?!"

Xu Zhong replied, "No, Xu Shiming is just my grandfather."

Holy crap! I thought they were some fallen nobles who couldn't stand the light of day, but it turns out they're royalty with impeccable credentials.

Even Joanne Koch is getting jealous now.

"Kangtao's grandson of the emperor! If I had that status, I'd be holed up in the lab every day. Let whoever wants this lousy job take it!"

V was also a little surprised. She had thought Xu Zhong was just an imperial envoy, but she hadn't expected his status to be not much lower than that of Arasaka Yorinobu. Kang Tao's 19-year-old grandson personally went undercover to investigate the accounts, while Arasaka's crown prince, over 80 years old, was still partying every night. It's not that we're afraid of comparing goods, it's that we're afraid of comparing people. Arasaka's decline was truly not a loss at all.

Xu Zhong, this junior section chief, was practically "raised" by V. The two got along well, so V naturally wouldn't make things difficult for him.

Knowing that Xu Zhong was young, V simply helped him out personally.

She addressed the group of company representatives, saying, "Kangtao has caught the bad apples and welcomed a new president – ​​this is a double celebration. Our company alliance has always been united, so I'll take the liberty of sending out an invitation to everyone. Let's get together at the Ganbi Building tonight, firstly to strengthen our bonds, and secondly to let President Xu introduce himself to everyone."

Everyone here is a seasoned veteran. Regardless of what they think in their hearts, they will definitely give each other face on the surface. Moreover, since V is the one who helped them stand up, they should support them even more.

Xu Zhong looked grateful and repeatedly expressed his thanks in the secret channel.

The meeting room was filled with laughter and a harmonious atmosphere. As for Jiang Ping, who was she?

Losing status means losing everything, which is why people keep striving to climb higher.

Okay, actually, some people still remember Jiang Ping, who is Abernathy's husband and the representative of Zeta Technology.

Xu Zhong had gotten revenge on Jiang Ping, and he treated this young man better than his own son. Seeing that Jiang Ping had made a mess of Kang Tao's seating area, he immediately shouted, "Someone come here! Get a table! Get President Xu a new table, a good table!"

That evening, the Glamour Tower was filled with the clinking of glasses and the gathering of celebrities.

This is the first large-scale event held at the Konpaku Building since the Saburo Arasaka murder case.

Everyone thought this was a sign that Arasaka was emerging from the shadows, but V just wanted to experience what it felt like to dance on a grave.

Most importantly, the Konpaku Building is a subsidiary of Arasaka, so holding a party here means the money can be used for official expenses.

V, as the host, started things off, and then everyone was free to do their own thing.

She went out onto the balcony to enjoy the night breeze and took a break from her busy schedule. She saw Xu Zhong talking confidently and skillfully among a group of bigwigs, and V once again marveled at the potential of the junior section chief.

Just then, Joanne Koch walked over, handed V a glass of tequila, and leaned against the railing with V, asking, "What are you looking at?"

“Look at our little section chief. Oh, now he should be called the little CEO.” V took a sip of his drink.

Joanne Koch also remarked with emotion: "Xu Zhong is really amazing. He's not just excellent, he also has a lot of drive. Seeing him makes me realize that I'm getting old. Back then, I wanted to make something of myself, just like him, but in the end, I succumbed to reality and started to disregard human life for money and status. At first, I would have nightmares, but after six months, that stopped. After a year, I even got used to it and felt that I was the one who was right."

V countered, "So now, do you still think you're right?"

Joanne Koch laughed heartily: "Of course you're right, otherwise I would have starved to death on the street long ago, and I wouldn't be standing here talking to you about this sentimental nonsense!"

"You have no choice."

“Yes, I didn’t have a choice. Now that I have you, I’m starting to have a choice.” Joanne Koch gestured with her chin toward Xu Zhong. “That kid is even luckier. He’s had a choice since he was born.”

V took another sip of wine: "This world belongs to someone else. We are just insects parasitizing their homes. When the master is happy, he can leave some breadcrumbs, and when the master is unhappy, he can stomp us to death."

“You’re right, but the master’s child suddenly appeared beside the insect.”

V looked at Joanne Koch in surprise, who said calmly yet frantically, "This is our only chance to change the world."

Only a company can defeat a company, only a system can change a system, only a god can defeat a god, and only the one who owns the world can change the world.

Others are neither qualified nor possible.

“Xu Shiming won’t let anyone control his grandson.” V refused decisively: “I won’t do anything. I’m not a saint.”

Joanne Koch laughed: "Yes, you don't have to do anything. You just need to be yourself."

V: ?

She wanted to ask more, but Joanne Koch downed her drink in one gulp and walked away.

"Since you have guests, I won't bother you any longer. The new drug will be ready soon; I'll contact you in a couple of days."

A burly, bald man first smiled and nodded to Joanne Koch before walking towards V and extending his hand.

"Nice to meet you, Vice Minister V. Your name is renowned even in Dogtown. I am Kurt Hansen. I apologize for being uninvited."

V raised an eyebrow and extended his hand.

"I am honored that the Dogtown boss has graced us with his presence. However, it is too risky for you to leave Dogtown so rashly. I have quite a few military personnel here."

Hansen laughed and said, "I bet no one dares to cause trouble on your turf."

"Where's the bet?"

"My head."

V laughed then: "What audacity."

"There's no other way. A bunch of my men are starving. Since they've followed me, I have to give them an explanation."

"Loyal and devoted," V complimented, then asked, "What do you need me for?"

Hansen adopted a humble attitude: "I'd like to discuss a business deal with you."

"tell me the story."

“Bridget is in my hands.”