At V's command, Arasaka 2077 moved immediately.
Back in the day, Arasaka's core business had been security. Arasaka 2077 naturally inherited that strength—its quasi-military forces were unquestionably the best in the world.
With David Martinez leading the team and Lucy Martinez providing net support, security units emblazoned with the Arasaka 2077 insignia launched an openly armed takeover of Night Corp.
Yes, this violated procedure.
Yes, it broke regulations.
So what?
In Night City, if V says you die at the third watch, you don't live to see the fifth.
Armored vehicles roared through the streets. Fully armed security squads advanced in tight formation.
Scenes like this should have caused panic.
Instead, the streets were packed with cheering civilians.
Why didn't they run?
Because they weren't afraid.
These soldiers had protected Night City time and again, proving their worth with real actions. Since they were their own people, family even, why should the citizens fear them? Why hide?
Not only did they not hide—they actively cleared the way, shouted encouragement, reminded the soldiers to stay safe, and honked their horns in unison to boost morale.
The people might not be highly educated. They couldn't analyze complex international politics.
But they weren't stupid.
They knew who treated them right.
Their current good lives were something V had fought for. So V's enemies were their enemies. If Night Corp was scheming, then Night Corp had to be wiped out.
"So Night Corp was that 'hidden danger' all along," Jack said with a grin as he stepped out of frame and returned to Misty. "Now that President V has found the threat and is dealing with it, you can relax, right?"
Misty still felt something was off, but couldn't quite put her finger on it. "I hope so."
Seeing his wife still worried, Jack comforted her. "Don't sweat it. Night Corp is no match for Arasaka 2077. David's leading personally—this'll go smoother than sandpaper on a bald ass."
Just as Jack said, the operation went extremely smoothly.
Night Corp had its own security, but that was all it was—security. Arasaka 2077's forces could go toe-to-toe with regular armies. Dealing with these amateurs was child's play.
In fact, before fighting even began, Night Corp's security defected first.
They had watched the livestream too. Terrified they might also have been subjected to the Life Is Short program, there was no way they'd fight for Night Corp.
When they saw the Arasaka 2077 main force, it was like seeing their real father—no shots fired, auto-turrets shut down voluntarily, and endless "sir, this way," welcoming them with food and drink like loyal subjects greeting the king's army.
Once inside the Night Corp building, ordinary employees did the same—no questions asked, instantly turning into guides.
Viewers were surprised, but not shocked.
Humanity prides itself on free will. Night Corp playing brain modification and mind control wasn't just disgusting—it was outright anti-human.
Yes, V did not cut the livestream.
She was sick of petty ambitionists stirring shit again and again. This time, she was determined to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys.
V was never a saint. She never wanted to overthrow the system. In fact, she was still using the corporate system itself—that was why corporations tolerated her.
The only difference was that she ate messily.
When she ate bread, crumbs always fell.
Those crumbs saved Night City, turning eight million ants back into people.
But some people insisted on becoming insects.
And insects—V crushed without hesitation.
Night Corp was that insect.
As Night Corp employees defected, Arasaka 2077's security units rapidly seized offices, arrested executives and shareholders, while netrunners took over server rooms, cracked ICE, and obtained top-level network authority.
Night Corp—the very company that once founded Night City—had completely fallen.
With a single order from V, it could vanish from both the physical world and the Net.
Watching the livestream from Kerry's place, Johnny looked emotional.
"What's with that face?" Kerry asked. "You look like someone blew out your asshole and forgot the lube."
"Fuck you, I'm not into that!" Johnny snapped, then sighed. "V once told me—only corporations can defeat corporations."
"Isn't that obvious? You didn't believe it?"
"I didn't. But after watching her destroy Night Corp in twenty minutes flat, I don't have a choice."
Johnny chugged his drink. "When I woke up in Saburo Arasaka's body and saw Arasaka Tower still standing like a fucking cock, you know what I thought?"
"What?"
"I thought my nuking Arasaka Tower fifty years ago made me look like a complete fucking idiot."
Kerry patted his shoulder. "Be confident—drop the 'like.' You are a fucking idiot."
Johnny slapped his hand away, wanted to curse back, but lost the energy.
"Do you think… the people who died in that blast hate me?"
"No," Kerry replied instantly.
Johnny's eyes lit up. "Really? Because they knew I was fighting corporations, fighting the system?"
"No," Kerry said calmly. "I mean they're dead. Ash can't hate you. Only the people who survived can."
Then he added, "Thank Saburo Arasaka's face. If Johnny Silverhand really came back, you'd've been torn to pieces already."
Johnny froze.
Just as he was about to explode, the livestream suddenly cut to a man in a suit with glowing blue eyes.
"Channel switch? What kind of garbage TV do you have?"
"Not a switch," Kerry said, tossing Johnny a tablet. "Signal got hijacked. Every channel's showing this corporate lapdog."
Johnny was surprised. He knew how strong Arasaka's net security was—anyone who could hijack this had real skill.
At that moment, the man on screen spoke.
"My true name is inconvenient to disclose. You may call me Mr. Blue Eyes. I have controlled Night Corp from the shadows for many years, with the goal of reclaiming control of Night City."
"V, you won a small victory. You destroyed Night Corp. I acknowledge your excellence—but that's all."
"Because I am not alone. I represent a collective, a will. There are countless others like me. Night Corp was merely a decoy we placed in the open."
"V, congratulations on destroying Night Corp. Now that we've returned to the shadows—how will you find us?"
"Orbital strike?"
"Ground assault?"
"And even if you find us—how will you silence us?"
"You cannot stop us. You cannot find us. We will expose your true face to the world."
"You are not human. You are a traitor hidden among humans—a lapdog of rogue AIs, a ticking Trojan horse!"
"You may act however you like. Nothing will change."
"You will never—never—stop us. Catch me—"
Before he could finish, a violent crash echoed off-screen.
Mr. Blue Eyes turned in shock as a fully armed Hellhound squad burst into frame. Kurt Hansen didn't hesitate—one rifle-butt smashed straight into Mr. Blue Eyes' face.
"AHHH!"
Moments ago, he'd looked untouchable. Now he screamed like a little girl.
The Hellhounds—iron men and iron women alike—had zero mercy. They swarmed him, fists and boots flying.
Fifteen minutes later, they dragged a half-dead Mr. Blue Eyes out of frame, leaving behind a thick blood smear.
Silence.
Viewers were speechless.
Hijacked the global broadcast. Grand entrance. And this was it?
Johnny snapped out of it. "The fuck was that idiot?"
"Exactly!" Kerry agreed. "Even dumber than you nuking Arasaka Tower!"
They glared at each other—and promptly started fighting like an old married couple.
"Ahem. Minor technical issue. Resolved."
V reappeared on screen. Minutes later, Mr. Blue Eyes was dragged before her.
"V—I won't say anything!"
"That's fine. Whether you talk or not doesn't matter. I'll take what I want myself."
Her eyes lit up blue as she instantly breached his personal ICE, violently dismantled his core OS, and extracted all data directly from his brain.
It would almost certainly destroy his mind, turning him into a drooling idiot.
No one cared.
V's mercy was for good people. For enemies—only total extermination.
Mr. Blue Eyes didn't disappoint. His mind contained extensive intel: proof of controlling Night Corp, details of the Life Is Short project, lists of brainwashed personnel, and his superior—
The AI CN-07.
Yes. CN-07 was it—the same "friend" who had shared life and death with Delamain.
The core technology of Life Is Short had been provided by CN-07. Night Corp thought they had created the AI—never realizing the AI had deliberately allowed itself to be created.
"Release these findings to the public," V said, handing Jenkins a file.
"Detain everyone on this list," she said, handing Sasha another.
"This is the full technical archive of Life Is Short. See if you can reverse it," she told Joanne Koch.
As Joanne studied the data, Jefferson Peralez suddenly shouted, "Give me a copy! I want to see it myself!"
V complied.
Though Jefferson couldn't understand all the technical jargon, his intellect allowed him to grasp the principles.
V hadn't lied.
"I really was brainwashed?"
For the first time, the always-confident man looked panicked. He clutched his head, growling low.
"Damn it! Which memories are real? Who can I trust? Do I really have a brother?"
The room fell silent with sympathy.
Everyone could see—Jefferson was a good man. He genuinely wanted to help people. His kindness had been exploited, turned into a blade aimed at V.
V sent him his household registry.
"You do have an older brother. He worked as a mercenary to fund your education."
Jefferson burst into tears.
Yet he didn't feel sad.
The tears flowed on their own.
Not uncontrolled—but controlled by his past self, mourning.
V sighed. "Seems your memories of your brother matter a great deal to you."
"And yet I forgot him completely," Jefferson sobbed calmly, terrifyingly so. "I still can't remember him."
"I'm split in half," he whispered. "I don't know what's real anymore."
"Can I recover?" he asked.
V looked at Joanne. She sighed. "It'll be a long process. Extremely long. Possibly your entire remaining life."
Jefferson dimmed—then steadied himself.
"Manipulating human minds is unforgivable. This technology must be destroyed."
"Agreed," V said, glancing at Mr. Blue Eyes. "Everything I've done was to find the real culprit."
"Good." Jefferson smiled weakly. "V, I still resent you—but I'm willing to trust you."
"Thank you—for everything you've done for Night City."
"Now… please kill me."
Everyone was stunned.
"It's not that bad yet," V said.
"Not yet," Jefferson replied. "But the future is uncertain. I don't understand tech—but I understand strategy."
"If I was used as a blade against you, then I'm still under their control."
"Is my surrender real—or is it controlled?"
"I don't trust myself. Kill me. That's the safest choice."
Everyone knew he was right.
Misty whispered, "Lightning splits the crown of the tower. Two fall from the burning spire—'the cognitive self' and 'the social self' collapse together. The upright Tower… fulfilled here?"
Those who understood Tarot went pale.
Jefferson's free will was gone. His place in society, too.
Jackie spoke.
He drew his Golden Chopper. "I'll do it."
V was Night City's emperor. Jackie was just a street punk.
So what V couldn't do—he would.
But V stopped him.
"Let me."
She faced Jefferson.
"Any last words?"
"Build a Night City where everyone is equal."
"I'm sorry. I already promised someone else."
"What kind of Night City did they want?"
"A better one. Even if it isn't equal."
Jefferson smiled. "That's fine too."
"Then let me inherit your hatred," V said solemnly. "I'll tear the real mastermind apart. I promise."
"That's the most beautiful vow I've ever heard."
He closed his eyes.
Bang.
One life ended. One vendetta closed. Nothing remained—except hatred.
V returned the gun to Jackie.
"Take Mr. Blue Eyes to the lab. Trace his link to CN-07 at maximum speed. Use any means necessary."
"If he chose to be an AI's dog—then stop treating him like a human."
"Disassemble him alive."