Miles blew the dog whistle.
An agent carrying a "Presidential Commemorative Coin" was dispatched to Night City and quickly made contact with Solomon Reed.
They agreed to meet at Tom's Diner, but the moment the New American agent arrived, he realized the place was packed with NCPD officers—so many that even members of the infamous MaxTac unit could only squat at the entrance, chewing burgers.
He hesitated, unsure whether to go in, when a deep voice sounded beside his ear.
"Relax. This is just a routine NCPD team-building event. Go on in—I've already reserved a table."
The agent turned and saw a stern-faced Black man.
It was Solomon Reed.
They sat down. Reed ordered a NiCola and a full-meat burger. The agent, stiff and formal, instinctively ordered a cup of hand-brewed coffee.
"If you want coffee, please go to City Center," the waitress said with a smile even sweeter than Dumb-Dumb Monkey.
"Watson's budget diners focus on accessibility, not premium beverages. But may I recommend our Dumb-Dumb Monkey instead? This is a V Corporation co-branded exclusive, available only in Night City. Not only delicious, but also highly collectible."
Her tone was syrupy-sweet. She used to be the eat it or get lost type, but ever since V ordered a massive push to reform the service industry—and raised the minimum wage—she'd completely changed. Now she could smile even at a beggar.
The agent had no choice but to order a can of Dumb-Dumb Monkey.
Watching his awkward movements, Reed asked,
"First day on the job?"
"No," the agent replied defensively. "I've been with the FIA for five years."
Then he admitted, a bit embarrassed, "But this is my first field operation."
A disposable pawn.
Reed reached the conclusion instantly—once again reminded that Miles had never changed.
The agent took a sip of Dumb-Dumb Monkey to steady himself, then pulled a commemorative coin from his coat and placed it on the table, his expression solemn.
"Mr. Solomon Reed, New America needs you."
Ah yes.
That familiar taste.
"I've been undercover in Night City for eight years—for this very day," Reed said calmly as he pocketed the coin.
"What does the President want me to do?"
The agent stated the request.
"The alert level in Pacifica, and the sealed location of the Little Polaris Project? No problem." Reed agreed immediately, then rubbed his fingers together.
"But I'll need funds to grease some palms."
"How much?"
"123,700 eddies."
The agent frowned.
"Why such a specific number?"
Reed looked unfathomable.
"Because it's the result of precise calculation."
Calculation? Precise how? Was this part of agent training?
It sure as hell wasn't in the handbook.
The agent felt a flicker of panic but kept his composure.
"That amount is too high. I'll need to report it."
"Understood. Here's my number and account. Once the money arrives, I'll move immediately. You can contact me online—offline meetings are too risky."
The agent nodded emphatically.
They spoke no more. The agent finished his drink and left.
Reed ate his burger at a leisurely pace—until someone suddenly sat down across from him.
It was River Ward.
"Will he believe it?"
"Relax. First-time field rookie—he'll swallow it whole."
Reed stuffed half his burger into River's hand and said shyly,
"I can't finish it."
River took the burger, opened his mouth a few times, but couldn't bring himself to bite.
Reed frowned.
"What? Think I'm dirty?"
"Of course not," River smiled bitterly.
"I've eaten your saliva plenty of times. It's just… with this face right now, I really can't."
Reed burst into laughter and dropped the disguise.
Diamond-shaped light patterns flickered across his face—and in an instant, Solomon Reed became Alex.
"Behavioral sync panel," River praised.
"No matter how many times I see it, it's incredible."
Alex blinked.
"At night, I can even turn into that old classmate you secretly crushed on…"
"Cough—cough—!" River interrupted quickly.
"Business, business! You asked for that much money—will Miles agree?"
"Normally, no. But right now, I've got her by the balls." Alex grinned confidently.
"For the Little Polaris Project, that old witch would sell her ass—let alone a hundred thousand eddies."
"I see. But what's the deal with the money? Wouldn't it be easier to just agree immediately?"
"If I agree too easily, it looks fake. People trust results more when they come with obstacles."
"And most importantly—President V personally told me to reclaim my pension. I can't disappoint her."
That's right.
This money was Alex's pension.
She'd served in the FIA for 12 years, 3 months, and 7 days—hence 123,700 eddies.
V said: quitting is quitting, but what you're owed is non-negotiable.
Alex had nearly burst into tears when she heard that. As Xu Ling put it—she was one line away from saying "Drifting half a lifetime, I wish to call you Mother."
"President V is such a good person," Alex sighed happily.
"Now that I've got my pension, our kid can get the best education—become a doctor, a lawyer!"
River smiled too, sitting beside her and wrapping an arm around her waist.
"Being a cop isn't bad either. Or an agent, like you. As long as we serve President V, serve Night City—we can't go wrong."
They leaned shoulder to shoulder, dreaming of the future—until MaxTac Mantis Officer Melissa Rory, visibly annoyed, knocked on the table.
"Deputy Chief, can you two take your PDA elsewhere? We seriously can't eat anymore. Burgers or dog food, neither."
River flushed and hurriedly called the team to wrap up.
Why was NCPD doing team-building at Tom's Diner?
To protect River's girlfriend, of course.
V also demanded maximum security for this meeting—no room for error—so it wasn't abuse of authority.
The officers left, reminding Alex to stay safe.
Not just because she was the Deputy Chief's girlfriend—but because she was fighting for Night City.
Strangers united by a shared belief.
This was V's power.
Just as Alex predicted, Miles transferred the money shortly afterward.
Alex delivered everything V had given her.
The intel was completely real—detailed Pacifica alert statuses, the sealed location of the Little Polaris Project—everything.
Miles grew more determined than ever.
She was about to issue new orders when the agent was suddenly arrested.
No surprise. A rookie mistake.
Normally, Miles would send someone else—but she was desperate. She bypassed protocol and contacted Solomon Reed directly.
This violated agent conduct rules. For anyone else, it'd be treason.
But Miles was different.
She wrote the rules.
And rule-makers never punish themselves.
She ordered Reed—alone—to neutralize all Pacifica defenses, excavate the Little Polaris Project buried over 200 meters underground, and carry a three-ton research core back to New America.
Whether Alex went numb or not was unclear—River, listening in, certainly did.
This was Miles' way: success meant her brilliance; failure meant subordinates' incompetence.
But this time, Alex didn't indulge her.
Because the one in a hurry… was Miles.
"Impossible, Madam President. I can't do all that alone."
"Useless! The nation trained you—and you've failed it!"
"I'm simply making a rational assessment."
"The nation doesn't need your judgment. It needs results!"
"Reed—New America must obtain Little Polaris. The neural matrix inside is essential to making New America great again. It's worth any sacrifice!"
She's asking Reed to die.
Alex rolled her eyes internally but continued as Reed:
"Then the plan cannot afford failure. I suggest you give me the activation code. I'll infiltrate, extract only the neural matrix, and return. Success probability will be higher."
"Impossible!" Miles snapped.
But taking a neural matrix was far easier than hauling a three-ton core.
After weighing her options, she made her choice.
"Reed. I'll go to Night City myself. Arrange it."
The fish bites.
Alex smiled inwardly, but her voice trembled with concern.
"No! V is extremely hostile toward you. I strongly oppose such risk!"
"Thank you for your concern," Miles said righteously.
"This is all for New America."
"Reed, you're my best agent. Find a way to restrain V—just a few days. That's all I need."
Reed fell silent.
"Reed. That's an order."
Forced to speak:
"V values emotional bonds. The plane crash incident proves it. We can exploit that again. The families of Cerberus Squad are already in Night City—but their relatives remain in New America. Control them. Threaten their lives. V won't dare act."
Miles' eyes lit up.
"Brilliant! Reed, you truly are our finest agent!"
"When this is over, I'll bring you back. The FIA Director position is yours!"
I don't believe a word.
You'd most likely kill Reed on his way back.
Alex kept the thought to herself.
Out loud, she pledged service without reward—and even added:
"For your safety, it may be wise to execute a few hostages first—to reinforce deterrence."
"I'll consider it."
Miles ended the call.
River immediately asked, worried,
"She won't really kill them, right?"
Alex smiled calmly.
"Relax. Miles is arrogant and obsessive. If I hadn't suggested it, she might have. But because I did—she won't."
Politics aside, Miles couldn't hold a candle to Alex in psychology.
People aren't perfect. Everyone has their specialty.
That's why humanity must unite—yet some believe themselves born superior, fit to enslave others.
And so, those unwilling to be slaves stood up.
Alex's psychological read was flawless.
Miles detained the hostages' relatives—but harmed no one. Fed them well. Treated them politely. Issued threats to V with elegance.
Partly to appear decisive and independent.
Partly because she truly feared provoking V further.
She assumed V's mercy was just a performance—image management.
In her mind, V was just another god in the clouds—cold, ruthless.
So she dared not go too far.
After being slapped in the face countless times, Miles finally learned.
Too bad—it was too late.
When V received the threat, she laughed.
Then everyone in the room laughed with her.
"Everything's proceeding as planned," V said.
"Miles will board Orbital One for Dogtown in three days."
"Colonel Hansen, the Maelstrom psycho is yours. I've uploaded a Cyberpsychosis doll to him. Enter the activation code when the time comes."
"Cyberpsycho shoots down the plane. You kill the cyberpsycho. Clear?"
"I've waited eight years for this," Kurt Hansen snarled.
"Lucy—cut Dogtown off from the Net. Make it a sealed space."
"No problem."
"Xu Ling—fortify the trans-ocean bridge. Not even a fly leaves Pacifica."
"Roger."
"Stock—return to Washington. Personally lead the hostage rescue. Song So Mi sent the addresses."
"Aw, I wanted to stay and watch."
"You'll watch the recording. Go."
"Fine, fine. Boss wins."
Meredith Stout complied, unaware this was all for her benefit.
Rescuing hostages—what perfect campaign material.
Finally—
"Show Reed the footage of Miles threatening me," V smirked.
"In the name of preserving New America's image—and avoiding international isolation—issue an order under the new president's authority…"
"…to assassinate the former president."