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Following Kael's cold instructions, Jimmy Kurosaki led the way into his high-fidelity braindance studio. He didn't dare make a move; the reputation of the man behind him was a death sentence for anyone who tried to play hero. Maine and the rest of the crew shadowed them, their armored vehicles pulling up right behind.
"Mr. BT... how can I be of service?" Jimmy asked, his tone submissive. He was a survivor; he knew when the odds were stacked too high.
"It's the famous Mr. BT," Kael corrected, giving Jimmy a sharp pat on the shoulder that made the slender editor stumble. "We're going to need your 'professionalism' to set up a meeting with Director Tanaka."
"Simple. I'll cooperate fully," Jimmy said, skipping the threats entirely.
Maine looked almost disappointed he didn't get to use his new Gorilla Arms for persuasion. "Help us out, and we'll leave you in one piece."
Jimmy turned his golden cyber-optics back to Kael, sensing the true center of gravity in the room. "And you, Mr. BT? Is that the deal?"
"As long as you're on the boat, Jimmy. Just make sure the boat doesn't capsize," Kael said, tapping Jimmy's head lightly. "I want what's inside Tanaka's skull."
The trap was set. Director Tanaka, a man whose addiction to the extreme sensory impacts of black BDs was his only true hobby, accepted Jimmy's invitation instantly. While the executive was en route in a Delamain Taxi, Jackie kept a close watch on Jimmy.
"He's here," Sasha's voice chimed in their ears.
Kael nudged Jimmy. "Time to perform. Don't miss a beat."
Jimmy went downstairs, masking his nerves with a practiced, oily charm. "Mr. Tanaka! Please, come in. I've got something special—raw material, fresh from the street."
Tanaka didn't suspect a thing. He'd worked with Jimmy for years. He followed the editor upstairs and settled into the specialized BD chair. As his consciousness began to upload into the digital space, a micro-needle Kael had planted in the headrest pricked his neck.
The executive slumped instantly.
"Well done, Jimmy. You're officially an accomplice," Kael praised.
Maine's crew emerged from the shadows, moving Tanaka to a lead-lined room. Kiwi stepped forward. Breaking through a Director's personal ICE was a grueling task, but over the next hour, she slowly ground down his neural defenses.
When she finally emerged from the room, she looked pale and drained, but she held the data-shard. The intelligence Faraday wanted—and a secret copy for Kael—was secured.
"Tanaka is all yours now," Kael told Jimmy.
Killing a Director was messy and would trigger an Arasaka investigation that Faraday wouldn't help them hide from. Jimmy, ever the expert in mental trauma, proposed a more "Night City" solution.
"If he experiences a raw, unedited cyberpsychosis loop three times in a row, his brain will liquefy," Jimmy explained. "To the company, he'll just be another executive who redlined on illegal BDs. It happens every day."
Kael watched as Jimmy dragged Tanaka's consciousness through the abyss of digital madness. By the time it was over, Tanaka was a twitching, incoherent mess.
"Abba... abba..." the Director muttered, his eyes rolling in different directions.
"Old D, send a taxi to these coordinates," Kael commanded into his link.
A Delamain Taxi arrived shortly. Maine loaded the broken executive inside. "Delete the transit logs, Del."
"Understood, sir," the AI responded.
By the time Tanaka was dumped in Corpo Plaza, he was a raving lunatic. He had combat-chips installed, and when the NCPD approached, he went berserk. The ensuing news report showed a blurry feed of the executive being turned into Swiss cheese by police fire.
(That was your work, wasn't it?) V messaged Kael a few minutes later.
(Isn't it obvious?)
(Brilliant. Truly a waste you don't work for Arasaka. My department just got a huge budget boost to 'investigate' the Special Operations failure. I'm drowning in overtime.)
Kael smirked. He had double-dipped—collecting the fee from Faraday while giving V the leverage to attack his internal rivals.
However, the fallout was already spreading. In the upper tiers of the Arasaka tower, Susan, the head of Special Operations, was in a murderous rage.
"That damned Tanaka! Why did he have to redline now?!"
The "Adamant" project (known to the street as the Gorilla Arms prototype) was nearing the human trial phase. Tanaka's "accident" had left the project vulnerable to a takeover by other departments.
"Hayden! Take over the project immediately," Susan commanded her subordinate. "Move the prototypes into the city tonight. Secure them under our direct tactical control before the Counter-Intelligence vultures can swoop in."
Hayden knew the risk—he was being set up as a scapegoat—but he had no choice. He moved the experimental chrome that very night.
What Hayden didn't know was that his haste had left a trail. Two factions were already watching the transport: Militech, and V's Counter-Intelligence Department. Neither could act openly—no one wanted a Fifth Corporate War over a mid-tier project—but the Edgerunner community was the perfect proxy.
Militech immediately issued a high-priority snatch-contract to Faraday. They didn't expect to win, but causing a bloody mess for Arasaka was always a good investment.
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