"Good evening. This is N54 News. I'm Julian Jordan."
"No one has forgotten the recent terrorist attack. President Myers tragically lost her life. Yet the New United States didn't even spare a second mourning the former president—because a new one immediately moved into the White House. In early June 2077, President Myers was assassinated. By late June, Meredith Stout was officially sworn in as the new President of the NUSA in Washington."
"Such efficiency should really serve as a model for governments worldwide—though it does make presidents feel a bit like cabbages on a market stall. But everyone knows how valuable fresh cabbages are these days. I mean no disrespect to the new president."
"So what actions has President Stout taken since assuming office? First, she held a closed-door meeting with our own CEO V, lasting two full hours. Shortly afterward, the two parties released a joint statement."
"The statement declared that the New United States and Night City share common historical roots and cultural origins, and should therefore be the closest of partners rather than enemies. Both sides plan to expand comprehensive cooperation in the coming months."
"The first step will be the signing of a formal agreement in July, eliminating tariffs between the two sides and enabling free trade. This will be followed by gradual implementation of policy alignment, document mutual recognition, shared employment and education credentials, and reciprocal rights and obligations."
"To put it bluntly, aside from retaining administrative autonomy and military defense rights, Night City has already fully synchronized with the New United States. Across the NUSA, people are celebrating Night City's so-called 'return,' and President Stout's approval ratings are soaring."
"But has Night City really returned? Will it cease to be a Free City and become just another NUSA state? Let's hear from the New United States Ambassador to Night City, Mr. Kurt Hansen."
[The camera cuts to Dogtown's boss]
"Hello everyone. I'm Kurt Hansen. You all know me—or at least you've heard my name. That's right, I'm the so-called Dogtown boss who ruled Pacifica like a warlord for seven years."
"I'm a soldier. I don't do doublespeak, so I'll be direct. There's no need for anyone to worry about these policy changes. Night City has not returned to the NUSA. It remains a Free City. This alignment is purely emotional and economic—there is no political annexation involved."
"The new president's move is meant to de-escalate tensions and prevent future armed conflict. There will be no 'Second Unification War.' In return, Night City gains access to NUSA goods, jobs, and education resources, while the NUSA can move away from constant militarization and rebuild the 'Federation' through peaceful means."
"A win-win."
"Now, I know some people will jump up the moment they hear the word 'Federation' and shout, 'See? The NUSA still wants to swallow Night City!' To those people, I say this—what the hell does it have to do with you?"
"V didn't object. So who the hell are you to object? You think you're smarter than V? More far-sighted? Get over yourself. You're a nobody. I'm a nobody too. Nobodies only need to care about one thing—can the boss give us a good life?"
"If yes, we support them with everything we've got. If not, we pick up a gun and flip the table."
"Big shots use treaties and declarations as weapons. We little people don't get to use the law—so we use guns. Don't like it? Fight. Not satisfied? Fight. Good lives aren't given—they're taken—"
Before he could finish, the production team panicked and cut to commercials.
"Blue Moon! Red Menace! Violet Force! This is the band Refused Steel—taking Tokyo, Sydney, Paris by storm, now coming to Night City!"
"Pure hype! Pure hype! Pure hype! NutriBoost™—all pleasure, all organic!"
"Big Iron Cannon™—all night, every night!"
After three full commercials, the broadcast finally returned.
Julian Jordan wiped sweat from his brow and forced a smile.
"Mr. Kurt Hansen has been rushed to emergency medical care due to sudden illness. Moving on to public welfare news."
"For the first time in nearly fifty years, Real Water prices have dropped—from 99 eurodollars per gallon to 98.8 eurodollars, a reduction of 2.020‰. Perhaps one day, everyone will be able to afford real water."
"Oh—sorry. Forgot this is a news studio, not the wishing fountain behind my house."
"Tickets for Refused Steel concerts remain sold out."
"Formerly retired Arasaka Saburo has recently formed a band called Bushido, joined by legendary rocker Kerry Eurodyne. Unfortunately, the name 'Bushido' is already trademarked. The record label has filed suit, demanding they cease infringement and pay up to 200 million eurodollars in damages."
Johnny Silverhand practically exploded in front of the holo-TV.
"Bushido was my idea! And now I'm the one infringing? I can't even use it?! Screw this! I don't have 200 million eddies—but I've got 200 million sperm! Tell that corpo bitch to come over, I'll plaster her with it!"
V burst out laughing, then coughed and put on a serious face.
"So… you came to see me over this?"
"This is NOT a small matter! This is art! The biggest art there is!" Johnny snapped.
"I'm doing this for you! You said you wanted Night City to be a tourism hub. You have no idea how much traffic a good band can bring!"
"I do," V replied calmly. "That's why I bought Refused Steel outright. They're Night City's brand now."
Mostly thanks to Michiko Arasaka.
Johnny nearly jumped through the ceiling.
"Those three girls don't know shit about rock! Their music is garbage! V, you should kick them out, give us their stages, and let the whole world clean their ears!"
"So what do you want me to do?" V asked.
"Put on a full-body exoshell and flatline that record label bitch."
"Nope." V crossed her arms. "Best I can do is lend you Arasaka 2077's legal team."
"…That'll do."
Johnny failed to hide his grin, and the moment he left, he shouted, "THIS IS FUCKIN' AWESOME!"
V smiled. Sasha covered her mouth, laughing softly.
"Mr. Silverhand is certainly… colorful."
"Colorful my ass. He's just an asshole." V waved it off.
"Whatever—an old man at home is still a treasure. Let him have his fun. As for Refused Steel…"
"Reduce their shows?" Sasha asked.
"Opposite. Increase them."
"Huh?"
V chuckled.
"Sasha, here's a rule: Johnny's great at judging people—if he says someone's off, they're off. But when it comes to decisions? If he says go east, you go west."
Sasha—Pink Cat—couldn't help but laugh.
She always felt V and Johnny shared a long, complicated history, like they'd been through countless storms together.
And yet… they'd known each other less than half a year.
"Who's next?" V asked.
Sasha checked the schedule.
"Real Water Corporation."
V's eyes turned cold.
"Good. Let them in. I hope they grab their last chance."
So-called Real Water refers to naturally occurring freshwater that has never been contaminated.
By 2077, the planet's environment had deteriorated beyond recognition. Localized thermonuclear exchanges played a role, but the true culprit was unchecked industrialization. Corporations didn't just exploit their workers—they drained the Earth itself. Acid rain blotted out the sky, dust storms swallowed cities, and 92.7% of the world's freshwater sources became polluted. The remaining 7.3%, still untouched, became the sole source of what people now called Real Water.
These sources were mostly located in places few humans could reach—high mountain ranges, deep wastelands, and polar regions. As a result, Nomads became the primary force behind locating and trading Real Water. Any large Nomad clan typically controlled one or two water sources, smuggling Real Water to survive—sometimes even using it as a currency equivalent to trade with corporations for supplies and cyberware.
And the corporation at the center of all this
was Real Water Corporation.
Real Water Corp bought water from Nomads at prices as low as 5 to 10 eurodollars per gallon, sometimes even less, then resold it to consumers for 99 eurodollars per gallon, raking in obscene profits.
Of course, their customers were already wealthy—so no one really cared whether it was 99 or 199 eddies.
As for the occasional poor bastard who spent half a month's wages just to taste a cup of Real Water—that was simply a textbook case of a standard idiot making a standard consumer decision. One willing buyer, one willing seller. No need to moralize.
Scientific studies had long proven that Real Water offered no nutritional advantage whatsoever over properly filtered water. In fact, Real Water often contained dangerously excessive bacteria and mineral concentrations, making it less safe than filtered alternatives.
But the idea that drinking Real Water makes you superior had already taken root deep in society. It was precisely this added symbolic value that allowed Real Water Corp to rise rapidly and become one of the giants of the beverage industry.
V had previously met with the CEO of Real Water Corp, proposing deeper cooperation with Arasaka 2077.
The answer was a polite rejection.
In their view, eating alone was far better than sharing the table. Only a lunatic would voluntarily split profits with a partner.
Still, they feared offending V. That fear was precisely why Real Water prices saw their first drop in nearly fifty years—from 99 to 98.8 eurodollars per gallon.
A trivial reduction, but two tenths of an eddie was still money.
Public opinion exploded with praise for V—calling her a leader who never forgot the people, who truly cared about civilian livelihoods.
In truth, she didn't.
V wasn't interested in Real Water Corp's profits, nor did she intend to force her way into their business. What she truly valued was something else entirely—
the massive water pipeline network Real Water Corp had built over decades, especially the portion servicing Night City.
During their second meeting, V went straight to the point. She offered an enormous sum to purchase or lease the pipeline infrastructure, specifying that she only wanted the Night City section.
After much hesitation, the CEO once again refused.
"President V, it's not about disrespect," he said carefully.
"But what you're asking for is unacceptable. Our pipeline network is our lifeline. It'd be like asking a merc to hand over their gun. No one gives up the tool they eat with."
"Honestly, I don't even understand what Arasaka 2077 wants pipelines for. As far as I know, you don't have any related projects."
"Well," V replied casually,
"I recently acquired a new water source. To supply Night City more effectively, I need your pipelines."
"Oh! If that's all, you should've said so earlier," the CEO laughed.
"No need to talk leasing—I'll personally approve letting you use Night City's pipelines for free!"
"That's very kind," V smiled.
"But the volume is… substantial. I may need them for a long time."
The CEO smiled back—confidently.
V had connections. If she'd gotten her hands on some Real Water, that wasn't surprising. But all the major Nomad clans already had exclusive contracts with Real Water Corp. Even if V sourced from smaller clans, how much water could that possibly be?
With faint disdain, he asked,
"How long is 'a long time'?"
V thought for a moment.
"Forever."
Clang.
The CEO flipped backward out of his chair.
Before V could help him up, he scrambled to his feet himself.
"Forever? Did Arasaka 2077 discover a brand-new, untouched water source?"
"No."
"Then what kind of volume justifies lifetime usage?"
"Night City has been investing in environmental research for years," V said calmly.
"We've recently achieved a modest breakthrough—effective water purification. I want to improve Night City's water quality. After all, we're a tourism city. Better water improves visitor experience and boosts food, hospitality, and bathing industries."
The CEO's expression tightened.
"Water purifiers already exist. What's your efficiency?"
"One hundred percent."
His eyes widened.
"And the cost?"
"One percent of conventional purifiers. And the longer they run, the cheaper they get."
"That's impossible!" He nearly jumped.
"There's no such thing as 100% purification! If that technology existed, you'd reverse global water pollution!"
V waved her hand.
"Of course not."
He exhaled in relief.
Then V continued.
"Arasaka 2077 doesn't yet have the production capacity. So we're only implementing water restoration in Night City—for now. No plans to fix the entire planet."
The room fell silent.
Cold sweat soaked the CEO's back.
Not yet didn't mean never.
It only meant capacity hadn't caught up.
Once it did…
Real Water Corp would become worthless overnight.
The CEO shuddered.
V spoke earnestly.
"Night City won't abandon sunset industries—that's why I came to you. Sell me the pipeline network now, and I'll pay top price. You can answer to your employees. I can answer to my board."
"When Night City's water is restored, Real Water won't be worth a single eddie. And by then, your pipelines won't fetch this price."
The CEO remained silent for a full hour.
He drank two full bottles of V's tequila.
And still—he refused.
He knew V never exaggerated.
But he chose to gamble.
Not just out of greed—but because he couldn't hand over decades of accumulated power based on a few calm sentences.
"Pity," V sighed as she watched him leave.
"People never believe until the coffin's in front of them."
She turned to Sasha.
"Notify Nakamura Kayo. Initiate the Water Restoration Project."
"Yes."
The next day, Arasaka 2077 held a press conference.
Chief Designer Nakamura Kayo took the stage.
On the massive holo-screen behind her was a test tube filled with pale blue liquid.
"To further improve civilian quality of life and enhance the Night City tourism experience, under President V's leadership and through relentless research efforts, a new generation of nanobots has been successfully developed."
"Unlike traditional fully mechanical nanobots, this generation is built from organic materials, containing micro-mechanical logic units only at the core."
"The outer shell is composed of restructured proteins, similar to viral capsids, coated with pollutant-recognition receptors—metal-ion binding proteins, hydrocarbon-degrading enzymes, and more."
"At the core are 5-nanometer silicon-carbide quantum dots, combining semiconductor properties with biocompatibility, serving as logic control and energy-conversion units."
"These nanobots capture pollutants—heavy metal ions, microplastics, organic toxins—then enzymatically decompose them into small molecules such as amino acids, monosaccharides, and elemental metals."
"They draw power by absorbing ultraviolet and infrared radiation via quantum dots. Only 300–400nm UV is utilized, most of which is already filtered by the ozone layer—preventing excessive natural energy input."
"They self-replicate by reconstructing protein shells from decomposition products. Quantum dots guide new core formation via self-assembly templates. Replication is limited to 20 generations, each requiring iridium-isotope markers stored in the quantum dots."
"They also feature an energy-saving mode. When pollutant concentrations drop below threshold levels, replication slows and the nanobots enter dormancy—preventing uncontrolled proliferation."
"This generation is designed primarily for water pollution treatment. Once released, they absorb lead and mercury ions, converting them into insoluble precipitates, self-replicating until concentrations fall below 0.1 ppm."
"Unfortunately, nanobots for soil restoration and air purification are still under development—but while I have your attention, I'd like to recruit talent. Night City offers the most competitive salaries and benefits, eliminating all worries so researchers can devote themselves fully to science."
"I firmly believe that through collective human effort and wisdom, we will reclaim our home. One day, clear waters will flow again, birds will sing, and our descendants will drink sweet spring water—witnessing fields of grain and herds across the land."
Thunderous applause erupted—loud enough to tear the sky apart.
While other megacorps were busy manufacturing new ways to kill people, only Arasaka 2077 was working for humanity's survival.
Why?
Because this was V's company.
Because this was V's will.
May President V live a hundred years, in health and strength.
Before every television screen, people offered their silent blessings.
Of course, dissent existed.
A reporter asked coldly,
"You expect us to believe this?"
"That's fine," Nakamura replied, holding up the test tube.
"Facts will change your mind."
"Today at 3 PM, at Badlands Dam, we will release the first batch of nanobots into Laguna Bend Reservoir. N54 and WNS will broadcast live."
"Please—watch closely."