The following days could be described as calm and uneventful—both in Night City and on the international stage.
V's daily routine consisted of nothing more than shuttling between Arasaka Tower and the boxing club. With everyone's help, Aaron Waynes was improving rapidly. At first, most of them hadn't really come to help him out of goodwill—but the kid's diligence and seriousness eventually won everyone over.
Kurt Hansen began teaching him everything he had, without holding anything back.
Jackie willingly became a sparring sandbag.
Old Viktor even temporarily closed his ripperdoc clinic, moved straight into the boxing club, and focused entirely on studying Aaron's fighting style and tactics.
The one who sacrificed the most was Xu Ling. The girl went so far as to pass on genuine "Chinese kung fu" to Aaron Waynes. She even made him kneel and present her with a cup of tea, calling it a formal apprenticeship ceremony.
It was the first time V learned that hiring a fitness coach apparently also required offering beverages.
"Sigh…" Xu Ling said with a long breath.
"Aaron's already too old. His meridians are basically fixed. At best, he can build some endurance. On the martial arts path, he's destined to never reach real mastery."
V asked, "Is that why you've been sulking these past few days?"
"No," Xu Ling shook her head.
"It's mainly because if the old man finds out I took a Black apprentice, he'd probably die of rage on the spot."
V asked again, "You're worried Chairman Xu will punish you?"
"No," Xu Ling shook her head again.
"I'm worried he won't die."
V: "...You don't seem to like your grandfather very much."
"No one in the Xu family likes him," Xu Ling snorted.
"He's a textbook feudal patriarch. To him, children are just tools. We're not allowed our own ambitions, not allowed our own interests—everything has to follow his arrangements. I study military science, Xu Zhong studies martial arts, our twelfth cousin studies diplomacy."
She looked at V.
"Sister V, can you imagine living like that? We're like robots, only allowed to run on programs he's pre-written. Any independent thought gets crushed outright. All we can do is watch our bodies carry out things we hate!"
V thought for a moment.
"Like being brainwashed by 'Life Is Short'?"
"It's even worse," Xu Ling said bitterly.
"At least with 'Life Is Short', you think you're acting of your own will. With us, we know damn well we don't want to do it—and still have to."
She clenched her teeth.
"My biggest wish is to raise my own army and wipe out that old bastard. Sister V, when that day comes, you have to help me!"
"Mm. Of course I will," V replied.
Xu Ling smiled foolishly—but the smile never reached her eyes.
Her military talent was built on absolute rationality. That alone guaranteed she would never be able to raise an army that truly belonged to her. Even if she somehow succeeded, she'd lose her greatest advantage and become fatally vulnerable.
V knew this. Xu Ling knew it too.
Xu Shiming had carved out Kang Tao's empire for a reason—real ability. He controlled everything tightly, including his own descendants.
A life you can't control?
That's truly terrifying.
The only thing V could do was ensure that while Xu Ling stayed in Night City, she could at least enjoy something precious—freedom.
On the ring, fists slammed with dull thuds as Aaron Waynes launched a fierce assault on Jackie.
V looked over, once again struck by how different people could be.
Children raised by the same family—Xu Zhong grew into one kind of person, Xu Ling into another.
People with the same skin color—there were trash like the Voodoo Boys and New Africa, and then there were young men like Aaron Waynes, earnest and hardworking, willing to burn everything for their dreams.
Humans really were a complicated species.
Or perhaps it was free will itself that was complicated—giving rise to countless unique personalities and lives.
V pondered until night fell, without reaching any conclusion.
Fine. Guess I'm not cut out for research.
She waved at everyone.
"Get your asses to the showers and change. You've got fifteen minutes. Anyone late can run to Afterlife on foot!"
"Ohhhh!!!"
Night City's night was the night of nightlife.
Here, sunrise wasn't the start of the day—sunset was.
V and the others headed to Afterlife, drinking to their hearts' content. Rogue had already prepared everything.
These days followed the same pattern. People weren't machines—intense training required equally intense relaxation. Brutal training by day, top-tier venues by night. That was the unpretentious leisure of big shots.
Of course, Aaron Waynes couldn't drink, nor could he hire escorts—but sweet fruit was unlimited, and real meat steaks were piled high. For a former street punk, this already felt like paradise. Add uninhibited banter with drinking buddies, and it became the pinnacle of masculine enjoyment.
"Aaron, go for it!"
"Aaron, once the competition's over, you have to get wasted with us!"
"Aaron, we've got your back!"
"Aaron—when are you gonna become Olympic champion?!"
Not just materially, but spiritually, Aaron Waynes gained immensely. Knowing he was Night City's Olympic representative, people offered blessings and respect without hesitation. It was pressure—but also motivation.
For the first time, Aaron realized he could be expected of, that his life could have meaning.
And all of it was thanks to V.
"President V, I toast you," Aaron couldn't help raising his glass.
V scoffed.
"Fuck off. You addicted to toasting people with water now? Get outta here."
Despite being cursed at, Aaron didn't mind—in fact, he felt a little happy.
Not many people got scolded by President V.
If she cursed me out, that means she sees me as one of her own.
He made a silent vow:
I will win Olympic gold—and hand it to President V myself. Then I'll toast her again.
Life passed quickly. A week flew by. The Olympics drew closer. Arasaka 2077 had already arranged Aaron Waynes's flight in advance. Everything went smoothly. The world remained calm.
If there was any major news at all, it was this:
The hero of the Lunar Cloud Sea Base battle, First Seat of the High Knights' Round Table—Sir Lancelot—would be traveling to Earth at Orbital Air's invitation for a global speaking tour.
Orbital Air represented New Africa. Inviting Lancelot was essentially New Africa inviting him.
It had to be said—those bastards spared no effort to show loyalty to ESA. They poured money into propaganda, hyping Lancelot up as if he alone had resolved the AI riot at Cloud Sea Base, while the other High Knights and combat personnel were just cheerleaders.
And the public ate it up.
Lancelot's popularity was skyrocketing, his fanbase massive—at least outside Night City.
Inside Night City, though?
Citizens said: Are you fucking kidding me? Lancelot's tough, sure—but tougher than President V? President V can split the heavens with her bare hands. Can he? President V picks up random chips and shoves them straight into her brain—would he dare? Lancelot, Green-slot, whatever—he's not worth a single strand of President V's hair!
V felt deeply offended.
She hadn't shoved random chips into her head in a long time, alright?
Still, the news surprised her. ESA still hadn't made a move—either they had no intention to act, or they were preparing something big.
V leaned toward the latter.
Sasha asked, "Lancelot's first stop is New Africa. His second is Night City. Should we reject his visit request?"
"Why reject it?" V thought for a moment.
"He's got a lot of fans now, right? Then they'll follow him here. Notify everyone—when Lancelot arrives, raise all food and lodging prices in Night City by thirty percent. Squeeze those trend-chasing idiots dry."
Sasha wasn't surprised at all. After sharing a bed for so long, she could read V's intentions from a single glance.
After handling company affairs, V went to the boxing club as usual, beat Aaron Waynes up twice, helped with training—and then it was nightlife time.
This time, though, V didn't go. She said she wouldn't come to the club the next day either.
Not just her—Xu Ling as well.
Aaron Waynes found it odd and asked about it.
"President V, Master—something going on?"
"There is," V replied, "but it's nothing major. Delamain Taxi Company is merging into Arasaka 2077 and partnering with Kang Tao to fully roll out autonomous vehicle technology across Night City. Xu Ling and I will probably be busy for two or three days."
Aaron already knew about Delamain's merger, but he didn't understand why autonomous driving required Kang Tao's involvement.
Sensing his confusion, Xu Ling snapped her fingers, activating the club's holographic TV. On the screen, Channel 54's gold-standard anchor Gillean Jordan delivered the evening news.
"Elsewhere, China has officially become the world's first country to transition from manual driving to fully autonomous motor vehicles."
"From today onward, Chinese citizens may legally use autonomous vehicles once approved by government regulators."
"Approved autonomous vehicles may only operate on pre-authorized routes, such as the applicant's commute."
"China urges all citizens to report manually driven vehicles still in use and—assisted by major automotive manufacturers—will provide free upgrades to autonomous driving technology."
"Night City has recently passed similar legislation. Arasaka 2077 has formally partnered with Kang Tao. In the near future, we will all benefit from this technology—no more traffic jams, no more accidents or violations, no more harsh license exams. Night City will become the world's second region to fully implement autonomous vehicles. Our lives are improving. Our Night City is improving."
Snap.
Xu Ling snapped her fingers again, shutting off the broadcast.
"Idiot disciple," she said. "You should pay more attention to the news."
"Hehe," Aaron scratched his head.
"I've just been busy training. Then I'll wish President V and Master smooth work."
"Relax," Xu Ling said. "Everything's already settled. We're just going to stamp the papers. Train hard these days—no slacking!"
"Yes, Master!"
V wasn't as strict. She smiled.
"I've already told Afterlife. You can go alone—put everything on Arasaka 2077's tab."
Aaron beamed. Xu Ling scolded him again:
"You can have fun—but behave. No trouble. Got it?"
"Don't worry, Master. The competition's coming up. I know my limits."
Given Aaron's track record, both V and Xu Ling felt reassured.
For the next few days, V stayed busy with this matter.
Delamain's merger into Arasaka 2077 had been his own initiative. The rogue AI had always lacked ambition. Even after absorbing CN-07, it still lacked ambition—fully committed to becoming the king of the taxi industry.
To fulfill her digital friend's wish—and improve Night City—V contacted Kang Tao, planning to invest in importing China's autonomous driving technology.
When Xu Shiming received the news, he was baffled. The technology had existed for years, but no one had ever truly applied it to ordinary people.
China's move was obviously about clearing inventory and boosting domestic demand. All manual vehicles now had to convert to autonomous ones. Sure, companies would "help" with upgrades—but once you brought your car in, they'd tell you the model was too old to upgrade and could only be scrapped.
What? You don't want to replace it?
Then you're breaking the law.
If you do replace it, the state would offer subsidies—say, a 50-yuan voucher usable only at designated malls to buy designated vehicles.
Consumption skyrockets. A few years later, roll out a new standard, scrap another batch, and profit again.
Kang Tao only made the dumplings because they wanted the vinegar.
But Night City? Why do this?
V had made tourism famous worldwide. Night City didn't even have its own car manufacturers. No inventory to clear. Why push autonomous driving?
Could it really be for the people's benefit?
Xu Shiming couldn't figure it out. He lost sleep for three days and nights—until enlightenment struck.
Why the fuck am I thinking so hard?
As long as we don't provoke Night City, V is harmless. If she shows up with money, I'll damn well take it!
So Chairman Xu issued a single order, and Kang Tao formally partnered with Arasaka 2077.
The task wasn't exactly hard—but not simple either. The technical side was secondary; the real headache was software audits. V trusted Xu Ling not to sabotage anything—but Xu Shiming? That was another story. Every possible test had to be run, and it took time.
V sat in her office for three straight days, growing restless.
At the same time, Lancelot and his entourage arrived in Night City—and formally requested a meeting.
Under normal circumstances, V wouldn't mind showing her face to stimulate consumption. But right now, she genuinely had her hands full. A mere High Knight's enforcer wasn't worth her time.
She declined the request due to "heavy affairs" and sent Jenkins to make an appearance instead—more than generous enough.
She thought that would be the end of it.
That very night, another piece of terrible news arrived:
Aaron Waynes was severely injured and hospitalized.
Lancelot did it.