Chapter 15: Steady Wages

Page (1/3)

“The stuff from Arasaka got stolen and sold in Dog Town. The military tech wants to catch us slipping, and Hansen is pinning the blame on our two families, saying the company’s business practices are shady.”

“We have someone playing both sides—sold out Arasaka and Hansen, just like that…”

“Talk about your Dreamer—once you’re done, you can damn well leave.”

V, who had been considering using some leverage, thought this demand wasn’t too much and gave the man before her, named Lin Yue, a rough rundown of the situation.

But she was careful not to reveal the internal conflicts within Arasaka, knowing well what should and shouldn’t be said.

Lin Yue nodded.

What she said matched his suspicions closely. The company was deeply involved, and Hansen intended to eliminate everyone who knew about the matter to negotiate better terms with the company.

He and that cyberpunk squad were just pawns for the company and Dog Town. Hansen was baiting while also sending a warning to the company.

Lin Yue felt he could no longer withhold information and shared what he had seen inside Dreamer with V.

After all, the company was hot on their trail, and whether he spoke or not made little difference. Since this woman in front of him could appear in Dog Town, she naturally had ways to get to him.

Sure enough, the company’s power was immense.

He remembered how V looked after being fired from Arasaka in the story line; at first, getting into Dog Town was a huge challenge for her.

“Turbo-R... Golden Tiger ornament, speaks Japanese… hmm.”

Listening to Lin Yue, V pocketed the chip containing their conversation record.

Seeing V stand up abruptly without sharing more, Lin Yue instinctively added something but immediately regretted it.

“Are you sure the Dreamer info from Hans, the intermediary in Pacifica, isn’t fake? You need to consider the consequences.”

V’s face beneath her black hair grew cold. “If it’s false, then lie down and wait to die. We’ll find you, including that intermediary.”

Company dogs, huh? So tough!

Lin Yue clicked his tongue quietly.

“V’s temper lives up to her reputation. Maybe she’s still caught between the company’s upper echelons, a bona fide company dog.

Soon enough, she’ll be that cybernetic warrior who never goes mad no matter how many augmentations she gets.

The Soul Killer Relic chip will implant the consciousness of a madman into her brain. This legend will become the city’s true short-lived king.”

Lin Yue shook his head. Only mercenaries and the company’s low ranks took these intermediaries seriously.

Page (2/3)

Judging by the timeline, V’s career might be booming now—a skilled agent in Arasaka’s counterintelligence, possibly Jenkins’ trusted subordinate, a Platinum member of the Trauma Team. Quite impressive.

“But hey, there’s still Dexter DeShawn in Pacifica, right? Heard that guy’s pretty badass.”

V crossed her arms, probing Lin Yue for news, habitually gathering intel—long ingrained from Arasaka’s counterintelligence training.

For some reason, Lin Yue recalled the classic line from Royce of the Whirlwind Gang: “Punching the Animals Gang, kicking the fat old pig of Pacifica? Is he even alive?”

Lin Yue didn’t intend to laugh, but the slight curl of his lips was obvious to V.

“You got kicked by the Hellhound, can’t even handle mercenary work, and you’re still laughing?”

“The Hellhound brainwashed you idiots.”

Lin Yue shook his head. “Dog Town has its own ways. All I know is Hans. He sold me out, but I’m planning to deal with him.”

V already thought she was abnormal, but this guy was even stranger.

“Dog Town? You want to go back?”

Lin Yue shrugged. “You’re eager for me to go back. Arasaka still wants info from Dog Town, right? Otherwise, why would you still be standing here?”

V liked smart people, just like Jenkins.

“Alright, tell me. How do you plan to deal with it?”

V sat back down, her hopes for promotion growing clearer.

“I’ve got my own ways. But the Arasaka dog who sold you guys—”

“No, I mean that company dog who sold you out. If he really plays both sides like you said, Hansen will surely meet him. You can just tail them and gather data, right?”

V shook her head. “Country bumpkin, that guy’s position is high. He probably won’t get his hands dirty.”

Lin Yue said nothing.

V’s clear eyes brightened. She finally realized this guy was just waiting for her to slip up, to watch her make a fool of herself.

Damn you!

“So you want me to spy in Dog Town? Easy enough, but the price is separate.”

Lin Yue found teasing a beauty fun but didn’t want to overdo it; he was just looking to make a little extra cash.

Being friendly with a company dog had its pros and cons, but right now Arasaka was willing to invest to get back at Hansen.

Lin Yue knew the cybernetic upgrades weren’t free, but he was happy to get some perks; after all, no one ever complains about having too much money.

As for Hans’ blackmail, Lin Yue didn’t plan to press it soon. When a rabbit’s cornered, it bites. Right now, Hans was restless in Dog Town, and Lin Yue aimed to make some moves there.

What kind?

Just become one of Hans’ business partners.

Page (3/3)

“Speak. What’s your price?” V thought this Lin Yue fellow was incredibly bold.

Wherever Arasaka people went, almost no one dared to deal with these venomous snakes.

Yet this guy dared, and he was kicked out of Dog Town, betrayed by an intermediary—a ‘man with nowhere to turn.’

“Get Dr. Victor to give me a discount on my cybernetic upgrades and repairs. You pay me the intermediary’s fee upfront, sounds fair, right?”

V tapped her fingers on her arm, considering.

Lin Yue gave her time. The future was uncertain; better to save what money they could now.

“What if I want you to go to Arasaka?”

“Go to Arasaka for what?” Lin Yue blinked, looking puzzled.

“Counterintelligence, field operations, steady pay, bonuses for big jobs, no clock-in required, Trauma Team Silver member benefits—and some private perks. That’s it.”

A Silver member of the Trauma Team? Useful within Night City, but Dog Town’s flying cars can’t get in.

Lin Yue knew V’s plan: earn some credit with Jenkins, get promoted and a raise.

He was a ready-made Dog Town asset. Arasaka agents in Dog Town were always at risk of being wiped out, and someone who knew Dog Town inside out like him was the best choice.

“Does the company do background checks?”

Lin Yue had his worries: former Hellhound, opposing Pacifica intermediaries, and Arasaka knew exactly who he was, which didn’t inspire much confidence.

“They do background checks, but I can have someone clean up your records. Arasaka has many off-the-books field agents. As for the rest, you have to figure it out yourself—like how to create an identity hard to detect and scan.”

“Think up a new name, a codename even.”

“But I have one condition: I’ll track you. It’ll be my personal terminal locator.”

Lin Yue wasn’t a fool. He knew company money was hard to get but stable. With the company backing him, he could use them for now—and so could V.

As for other potential problems, Lin Yue would find a way to cut ties when the time was right.

“Fine.”

“Let’s call you Rin—L, I, N. Short and easy to remember.”

V shrugged. “Alright then.”