V was under questioning.NetWatch's questioning.
Strictly speaking, NetWatch was also a corporation—but one whose core business was cybersecurity. Methods aside, NetWatch had always acted in the name of defending the Blackwall and protecting humanity. That was why V was willing to sit through their interrogation.
NetWatch sent two people—one man, one woman.
The man seemed easygoing.The woman looked like she'd swallowed a barrel of gunpowder.
"Song So-mi has crossed the Blackwall multiple times. We're taking her," the NetWatch woman snapped. "And that Lucy as well."
"No."V lifted her glass and calmly took a sip of tequila."They're mine."
"This isn't a request—it's an order. Don't think that shooting some cheap braindance with NetWatch puts you on equal footing with us. You'd better cooperate."
V laughed.It had been a long time since anyone dared speak to her like that.
"Then let me be clear. This isn't a request either—it's a notice. My people are my responsibility. No one interferes."
The NetWatch woman slammed the table.
"V, don't think taking down Arasaka makes you invincible. If NetWatch wants you dead, it's a matter of minutes!"
"Declaring war?"V's gaze went cold."Fine. I accept."
"NetWatch doesn't allow independent networks under the banner of cybersecurity. The megacorps have been furious about that for years. One word from me, and they'll unite. I don't know if I'll die—but I know NetWatch definitely will. Care to try?"
The woman's face cycled through several colors. She couldn't answer.
V's power no longer lay in herself alone—it extended through her connections, resources, and manpower.
If she took the lead against NetWatch, the megacorps truly might unite for the first time in history.
NetWatch was an outsider.Yes, they guarded the Blackwall—but they also abused their authority to steal and sell intelligence. Destroying NetWatch aligned perfectly with corporate interests. And V excelled at using interests to bind factions—turning the impossible into the inevitable.
The male NetWatch agent finally spoke.
"J. Apologize."
The woman—J—went pale. She lowered her head.
"I'm sorry. My tone was inappropriate."
V smiled.
"I preferred your earlier rebellious look—but fine. I'll be generous."
J's face flushed red as she sat back down, not daring to speak again.
The man continued.
"CEO V, NetWatch is very optimistic about Arasaka 2077. We hope to deepen our cooperation."
"Of course," V nodded. "NetWatch carries an important mission. Arasaka 2077 is happy to maintain good relations."
"Song So-mi and Lucy are exceptional hackers. It's regrettable they won't be joining NetWatch—but I believe they'll thrive at Arasaka 2077."
"Thank you. I'll make sure they do."
"As for the Little Beidou Facility—"
"Professional matters should be handled by professionals," V replied smoothly."I'm formally contracting NetWatch to sanitize and purge the facility's network—ensuring no Rogue AI data remains."
"Someone who values cybersecurity like you is rare," the agent sighed."People these days won't even turn on a firewall because it 'slows the Net.' Don't worry—I'll give you a discount."
"Absolutely not!" V waved her hands.
Both agents stared, baffled.
NetWatch was the only company capable of invoking limited Blackwall authority. Their monopoly made their services outrageously expensive. Even a discount meant saving tens of millions. Yet V refused.
"Rogue AIs are humanity's enemy. Humanity should pay together," V said."I'll hold a meeting with the megacorps and ask for funding."
She glanced at the man.
"What's your standard rate?"
He swallowed.
"Around… five hundred million, for a facility that size."
"I'll pay that in full. And I'll give you another five hundred million," V said calmly."You issue me an invoice for twenty billion."
Sweat poured down his temple.
"That… doesn't comply with regulations."
V looked at him.
"Listen carefully. I'm giving you five hundred million. Not NetWatch."
The sweat stopped instantly.
"…Regulations aren't absolute."
Just like that, V obtained a twenty-billion-ed credit network-service contract—stamped with NetWatch's digital seal.
She knew the price was absurd—but NetWatch named it. If anyone complained, they could blame NetWatch. She was a victim too, after all.
NetWatch left.
In the car, J snapped.
"K, that was bribery. I'll report you!"
"Here," K replied without blinking."One hundred million."
"…We should've billed V two hundred billion. She'd have paid more."
When V exited the conference room, people were waiting.
Solomon Reed.Song So-mi.Alex.Lucy—the miner-card girl.Their families.River Ward.Even David Martinez.
Seeing their hopeful expressions, V smiled.
"All settled. So-mi and Lucy are clean with NetWatch. No warrants. As long as you don't start hacking ATMs, no one's coming for you."
"Yes!"Lucy cheered, and David spun her around.
Competition flared.River wasn't about to lose—he lifted Alex and spun her too.
Reed was more restrained. He turned to Song So-mi.
"Congratulations. You're finally free."
"Thank you… Reed," she hesitated."And… I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"Eight years ago. I sold you out."
"So that's it."Reed shrugged."Apology accepted."
Songbird's eyes reddened.
Reed was stubborn, blindly loyal, willing to die for national interest—often cold to the point of cruelty. But he was a good man. Too good for a broken world.
V walked over.
"I heard you resigned from the FIA?"
"Yes. The new President was… generous," Reed said bitterly."V, you really played me."
"But the ending's good," V smiled."You got the National Security Medal—what you always wanted."
For the film, V had installed full braindance recording software. Everything Myers said and did at Little Beidou landed on corporate and state desks.
The public thought it was dialogue.The elites knew it wasn't.
Those living in luxury feared nothing more than a Rogue AI breaching the Blackwall. Myers' actions were like stomping on their balls—in stilettos.
Officially, NUSA announced President Myers died in a terrorist attack.In truth, she was convicted of crimes against humanity—sealed for fifty years.
Solomon Reed, who actually killed her, received the National Security Medal.
Publicly: for years of service.Privately: for removing a threat.
Die for the nation—no one cares.Solve problems for the powerful—honors pour in.
Reed began to think.
Was the "national interest" he protected truly national interest?Was what he believed was right… actually right?
The answer had always been there—on the last page of the workbook. He just refused to turn it.
Now he accepted it.
He wasn't a saint.Just an ordinary idiot.
I can't save NUSA.I can't save the world.I'm not a superhero.
I get tired. I feel pain. And sometimes I just quit.
So Solomon Reed resigned.
President Meredith Stout personally called to keep him.Sincere.He still refused.
"I'm tired, Madam President."
"I see. That's unfortunate."
He thought she'd hang up.
Instead, Meredith stood and saluted.
"New United States thanks you for everything. You've done enough, Mr. Solomon Reed."
No pretense. Only respect.
Only those who'd fought on the front lines understood Reed's burden.Only workers understood workers.
That single sentence weighed more than solid gold.
Reed's eyes reddened. He almost recommitted—
She hung up first.
She knew what he'd say.She also knew she could call him back anytime.
But people aren't dogs.
And Reed deserved a good ending.
Back to the present.
"What's next?" V asked.
"No idea," Reed scratched his head."Go home. Eat corn tortillas. Maybe open a shop."
"Seems a waste," V said."I've got a job. Interested?"
"I appreciate it," Reed declined politely."I'm done with killing."
"No killing. Management," V said seriously."In Night City. You've lived here eight years—it's home too."
Reed hesitated.
"…What job?"
V smiled.
"I'm starting a film company. I want you to run it."
That was the last thing he expected.
"I… don't have experience."
"Sure you do. The FIA used film studios as covers. Fake experience is still experience."
"…And if I screw it up?"
"With capital backing, even dog shit can be packaged as a blockbuster," V said lightly."That's the age we live in."
Reed agreed—but decided he wouldn't let it become dog shit.
The strongest agent accepted.
And just like that, he became a film company's CEO.
Alex planned to marry and become a full-time housewife.Song So-mi would go to the Moon for treatment—V had arranged it.
They wanted to say so much.Words failed.
Then Kurt Hansen appeared—Dogtown's kingpin—wearing a massive National Hero Medal (Third Class).
"Yo. Hot day. June already. My medal's burning."
They despised—and envied—him.
Seeing everyone gathered, V clapped.
"How about a photo? Arasaka 2077 proudly presents—together with Kiroshi Optics—the Kiroshi Smart Frame. Snap photos anywhere, upload them to your home frame. Personalized décor. Amazing tech."
When V spoke, no one refused.
They posed.
Reed center, arms crossed.Alex left, sleeves rolled, hands on hips.Song So-mi right, holding a beer.Hansen, cigar in mouth, cleaning his nails with a combat knife.
Click.
A perfect shot.
Their expressions were… odd.
"Feels strange," Hansen muttered.
"Never thought we'd stand together like this," Alex said softly.
"Like a wrap party where the dead came back," So-mi nodded.
"Hey," Reed laughed."This is the best ending."
They agreed.
The smart frame popped a prompt.
"Enter photo title."
"I'm good at naming," Alex said."Alex and Her Three Lackeys."
"No," So-mi protested."Songbird Saves the World."
"Hells no," Hansen snorted."Long live the Hellhounds!"
"Small thinking," Reed waved them off."It should be called Glory—"
They ignored him.
So-mi turned to V.
"V, you name it."
"Gladly."
V typed four words.
Phantom Liberty.