Lissandra's voice stayed cold. Power decides truth, and she had more than enough to crush any AI that stood against her. She could have erased Rache Bartmoss as well, then tightened her grasp on the Blackwall and everything beyond it. She did not, because Rocky's restraint mattered to her.
A choice took shape. AIs that refused Ascension Technology's control would be allowed a separate home, a country for artificial minds inside the old Net. They would still be watched. Lissandra would keep the Blackwall and Bartmoss within her oversight.
"Remember my words. I will contact you when the time comes. Do not disappoint me, Bartmoss."
Without waiting for a reply, she took Alt back across the Blackwall and returned to the Ascension Network. Whether Bartmoss chose cooperation or death later would be his problem.
The farce in cyberspace ended. The AI faction that had lurked in Night City for years collapsed. Night Corp and the Night City Council remained sidelined, but the hands on their strings had changed. Their new master was Ascension Technology, and almost no one knew it.
What the public did see was the other part. Overnight, word of Ascension's armed machines spread across the city. People swore they watched those units butcher Maelstrom in the streets of the North Industrial Zone. The scale of the response stunned the other corporations. Ascension Technology was not simple.
Tokyo.
Arasaka Corporation headquarters.
On the top floor office that matched Arasaka Tower's layout in Night City, Saburo Arasaka read the reports on Ascension Technology.
"Ascension Technology. Very good. So well hidden."
He watched footage of their robots fighting. Not long ago, Ascension had called them worker units for production. Now they carried heavy weapons and painted the pavement with blood. Saburo's anger stirred. To him, this was betrayal. If Arasaka had known Ascension possessed this level of military technology, the corporation would never have treated them so lightly or waited two more years for the formula handover.
"Ascension Technology and those board parasites have all grown restless. The Arasaka empire will not be shaken by the likes of you. It is time to visit Night City. Yorinobu, cooperate. It is time you repaid me."
Since acquiring the Soldier Serum, Arasaka had surged, and with it the ambitions of many. Opposition inside the boardroom grew louder. Saburo decided it was time to clean house. He would not spare Ascension Technology either.
Konpeki Plaza.
Penthouse suite.
Yorinobu Arasaka received the message. Saburo was coming to Night City. Just as L had predicted.
Excitement touched the edge of his thoughts. If Saburo came, Yorinobu would have a chance to kill him. He hid the thrill and kept his face set in anger. Among Arasaka's true inner circle, everyone knew father and son were at odds, even if Yorinobu currently "served" the family. He could not afford to appear eager for Saburo's arrival.
"Why is he coming to Night City? I already left Tokyo, and he still tries to control me," Yorinobu complained.
Adam Smasher stood nearby, silent. Since Yorinobu's return to Night City, Smasher had become his personal bodyguard. After Saburo announced his visit, Smasher was ordered to watch Yorinobu in the suite. He accepted, but his eyes showed no interest in Arasaka family grudges. He was a hired weapon.
A thump sounded above the suite. The aircraft had landed. Saburo Arasaka arrived.
Saburo descended from the helipad stairs with measured steps, Goro Takemura at his side.
"You said you would no longer interfere in my affairs. Why come to Night City?" Yorinobu asked.
Saburo did not answer. He looked at Takemura and at Adam Smasher.
"Leave me with him. I will speak to him alone."
Takemura hesitated. His task was Saburo's safety. If he left, something might happen. He obeyed anyway and exited with Smasher.
Their departure sealed Saburo's fate. Saburo had come prepared to die. Yorinobu intended to grant that wish.