Jackie said "OK" and slipped out of the VIP room. For an old hand in Night City, knowing how to ghost through a back exit and dodge curious eyes was basic survival.
"Hey, hey — V, Jackie, you hearing me?"
Vash's earpiece crackled with T-Bug's voice. It was the same kit they'd gotten back when they pulled Sandra Dorsett, and he'd strapped it on again for this run.
"Loud and clear. Jackie went to the bathroom." Vash said.
T-Bug: "OK. I'm still lining up the gear. Once you're done and in the car, I'll walk you through the approach again."
Vash: "Alright. I'm hitting the bathroom too. We'll talk after."
With that, he stepped out as well.
Unlike Jackie, Vash took the front entrance. He crossed the bar and the dance floor — and caught at least three or four sets of eyes tracking him. The moment he moved, they started tailing him.
Dexter hadn't stayed alive in Night City this long by being sloppy. Even after "leaving", he'd still left a few watchers behind.
By the time Vash reached the entrance again, Oleg was gone too.
He clicked his tongue, almost disappointed. In the original line, once Arasaka started hunting them, Dexter would "use the mule and kill it" — and that guy would be the first one to jump them.
Outside Afterlife, the Delamain was already waiting curbside. Vash walked right past it and cut into a dark side alley instead.
A few of Dexter's lookouts followed immediately. Their orders were simple: watch the two mercs get into the car.
The alley was pitch-black. They didn't find Vash — only each caught a baseball bat to the skull!
After dropping them, Vash dragged the bodies behind a mound of trash. Clean and quiet.
By then, Jackie had already climbed into a freshly summoned Delamain and pinged the location over.
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"V… what'd you do, choom?"
When the door slid open and Vash got in, Jackie asked.
"Took the front and swatted a few flies."
Vash scanned the interior. As expected of Night City's best cab company, everything screamed high-end. And since they'd booked Excelsior, Delamain had sent its best ride.
「Welcome to Delamain. Choose Delamain, and travel with peace of mind.」
Delamain's bald AI avatar appeared on the display.
「Your selected service is the highest-tier Excelsior Package. With the Excelsior Package, Delamain provides perfect service. Excelsior privileges include: freely changing routes; free use of the Delamain vehicle weapons and defense system; and if the client faces a severe threat, Delamain will automatically take all hostile countermeasures.」
Jackie asked, curious, "If the enemy's Arasaka… Delamain still gonna cover us, or what?"
「Delamain operates under specific laws and regulations. Any act that harms a client is deemed unacceptable.」
Delamain answered flatly.
"Damn — Delamain even dares to square up with Arasaka." Jackie said, grinning, "Preem."
"You expecting him to storm Arasaka Tower?" Vash rolled his eyes, "Jack, stay sharp. This job's our ticket to the major leagues."
"Absolutely, V. Loud and clear."
After Vash validated his identity with a palm scan, he said, "Delamain — Konpeki Plaza."
「Current destination: Konpeki Plaza. Level 3 Defense enabled by default.」
The car eased forward. A defensive layer slid over the windows and roof — clean, professional.
Leaning back in the rear seat, Vash reconnected to T-Bug, "Bug, we're rolling."
"Quick summary: once you're inside Konpeki Plaza, head to your reserved room. From there, release the Flathead. It'll crawl through the vents and reach Konpeki's net security. Once it's in, I can make the hotel go blind. Then you go to Yorinobu Arasaka's suite and grab the Relic."
"Understood."
Same as the original run: use the Flathead to crack the shell.
But what T-Bug didn't know was that Yorinobu and Saburo's relationship had already gone past salvage. "The Emperor" had come to Night City.
With Arasaka's founder in town, Konpeki's net security would've been upgraded to the absolute top tier. That was why, in the original line, once everything went loud, T-Bug got found and fried so fast.
Because from the start, Dexter didn't understand what they were really walking into…
Vash quietly pulled off the Bluetooth earpiece, then had Friday slip into the channel T-Bug had opened. As long as he severed the link before they entered Konpeki Plaza, Arasaka's netrunners wouldn't be able to trace the intrusion back to T-Bug — so the netrunner girl could live.
Hearing the static, Jackie frowned, "V… this part of the plan? Bug's our runner."
"Jack, this is saving her life." Vash said, "When it's done, I'll tell you everything."
"Alright. I trust you." Jackie didn't press it, "Can't wait to cut loose!"
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The Delamain soon pulled up to Konpeki Plaza's entrance.
Vash and Jackie got out with the Flathead case in hand. By now, they'd changed into suits — slick, high-society. The moment they stepped inside, Konpeki's obscene luxury hit them head-on: exactly what you'd expect from Night City's finest hotel.
A little further in, a scanning gate blocked the way.
Vash — carrying the Flathead — got flagged immediately.
"Sir, Konpeki Plaza's policy prohibits weapons. May I ask why you are carrying a small combat robot?" The guard asked, polite as a smile on a gun.
"I don't need to explain anything to you." Vash said, flat.
"Please cooperate. Konpeki Plaza does not allow weapons or munitions."
Jackie — already through the gate — leaned into the act, voice low and heavy, "Arasaka's really that scared, huh? Who the hell walks into Konpeki Plaza packing iron just to start shit? We're here to talk weapons business. If we don't bring a sample, what — bring your mother instead? Call Taki. Now."
Hajime Taki was the representative for the Defense Solutions department of Arasaka, so the name landed like a stamp.
The attendant stiffened, "So you are the arms dealers meeting with Taki-sama. Our apologies — this was our oversight."
The attendant bowed at a full ninety degrees, deferential to the bone.
Once they passed without trouble, the nearby staff offered small, respectful bows too. After all, it was an Arasaka-owned hotel — everything here carried that polished, Japanese corporate atmosphere.
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T/N: Comment, give me Power Stones, like and favorite, it all supports me and makes me go foward with this. Appreciate my other stories as well, I guarantee the good work!
If you want 20 chapters ahead, smut chapters or spicy images of this novel for just $5, or enjoy a large catalog of good novels with excellent translations (free or starting at $1.5): MrBlackWing (you know where to search)
Take a look at the new book I'm translating on my profile, Umamusume Pretty Derb: I'm Just a Trainer! Its also on my website for $5 too!
That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)