Chapter 41: The Tamed Dog [Please Continue Reading]

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Just as Lin Yue, feeling full, was thinking about how to find Slider, he unexpectedly received a call from the company's so-called "Great Demon King." With a major commission about to commence, he really did not want to answer V’s call—if he had a choice.

“How’s life treating you in Dogtown? Pretty comfortable, huh?” V’s voice sounded somewhat weary.

Lin Yue raised an eyebrow and glanced at Rebecca beside him. “Hmm, how do you know that?”

“Augmented bodies, loads of cash, and… beautiful ladies dining with you. If you’re not living well, I wouldn’t believe it.”

There was a chill in V’s tone that made Lin Yue’s back shiver and his temples throb. An unsettling sense of insecurity crept over him so strongly that he abruptly turned around, wanting to see who might be watching him. His heart sank to the depths.

For the first time, Lin Yue felt uneasy, even a bit angry.

Though he had aligned himself with the company and was prepared, he never imagined he was just a lab rat under constant surveillance—every move monitored by someone else.

Could the company’s methods really be this sophisticated?

V closed the email on the computer in front of her, spun her chair around to face the gloomy sky over the company plaza, and smiled: “Don’t be so tense… it’s not that serious. You have my tracking program, plus Arisaka’s augmentations and database. I can see everything from here.”

“As for the ladies, I was just guessing. Don’t take it personally.”

Was that a kind of tacit admission?

When someone smiles and tells you, “I know everything about you,” and then says, “But I mean no harm”—no one believes it.

“...” Lin Yue took a deep breath and chuckled lightly. “You didn’t call just for a heart-to-heart, right?”

V had no intention of continuing that topic. It was the company’s usual tactic: ring the bell to tighten the reins on subordinates, arrange matters, and of course, bring the money along.

“I’m sending you the operating funds and your salary first. I’ve also registered you with the trauma team in the field unit—even though it’s useless in Dogtown, consider it an insurance policy for your time in Pacifica.”

“Trust me, you’ll need it.”

Thirty thousand euros were transferred into Lin Yue’s account.

“The equipment you bought in Dogtown, personnel, and your informants… the boss wants to know what’s going on there, so you’ll have to keep him informed. No problem, right?”

“Hmm.” Lin Yue nodded.

Rebecca, though eating, kept her ears perked attentively.

Lin Yue noticed Rebecca was listening, so he switched the call to silent mode.

“Also... we found something here. I sent the details as an attachment. Take a look and think about how to make this big hacker spill the beans. I can find a way to get operatives into Dogtown for you. How many come out... you don’t have to worry about that. Use them freely.”

After saying this, V hung up.

Was she really planning to send Arisaka’s agents into Dogtown?

Lin Yue bitterly smiled.

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Completely disregarding the casualties among agents in the mission—that was something only Miss V could do.

Just like his superior Jenkins, she cared nothing about consequences or losses, focusing solely on efficiency.

No wonder Jenkins promoted V—their approaches were fundamentally alike.

The company’s pawns would reveal themselves at the right moment, leaving you no choice but to surrender.

That day would come, though Lin Yue never expected it to come so soon.

Shortly after, V sent something to his inbox.

Which hacker in Dogtown could it be?

Although Lin Yue was reluctant to have conflicts with hackers, this was a company matter, and he couldn’t refuse.

As he examined the details, his expression darkened.

Who was this?

Wilkie Ragel...

Damn it! It was Slider?!

Lin Yue’s heart sank.

Just that day, Kostin had told him about the behavioral facial recognition system; Slider was the seller of that system, but Lin Yue never imagined that Arisaka’s messy affairs with Dogtown involved Slider.

What now?

When frustrated, Lin Yue had the habit of drumming his fingers on the table.

Arisaka had discovered that on the day Lin Yue was chased by the Phantom Hound, this hacker took advantage of the conflict between Arisaka and military tech to go online and protect Dogtown’s hackers. That same day, this guy had tampered with the web traffic.

According to V’s attachment, Lin Yue was to bring Arisaka’s personnel into Dogtown to find Slider’s hideout, forcibly take control of him, and make him reveal what Hansen erased online.

But this was too coincidental.

Lin Yue was certain V didn’t know he personally knew Slider.

Yet, on second thought, it made sense: this former member of the Voodoo Gang had established a black magic doll workshop in Dogtown, but Hansen turned a blind eye.

That meant he was cooperating with Hansen and also possessed considerable hacking skills. Otherwise, Lee De wouldn’t have followed V to pressure this hacker into investigating Song Zhaomei’s whereabouts.

Rebecca saw Lin Yue’s grim expression and quietly waited beside him.

Meanwhile, Lin Yue was desperately pondering his strategy:

On one hand, he was relying on the behavioral facial recognition system to secure his days in Dogtown and to sneak into Phantom Hound, making it something he must obtain—so he couldn’t afford to alienate Slider.

On the other hand, the company sending agents into Dogtown was, in a way, helping him but also monitoring his work. These agents wanted him and Slider to fight to the death, digging out information.

Caught between these contradictions, Lin Yue didn’t know how to proceed.

His life, the agents’ lives, and the risk of exposure in Dogtown—none of these were mentioned even once in the files.

The mission assessment was simply blank.

All trouble.

Lin Yue’s eyes flicked to the call info; V answered quickly.

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“This hacker is cooperating with Hansen. Is it wise to target him?” Lin Yue asked calmly.

V nodded. “Most likely yes. So you have to find his people and pry him open.”

“But if Hansen comes to protect him, do you think we’ll have a chance to withdraw? Besides, if we don’t find your company’s guy, it might be more trouble than it’s worth.”

Lin Yue wasn’t questioning; he just wanted to know V’s thoughts.

V was silent for a moment. “So you’re negotiating terms with me?”

She kicked off her heels, placed her feet on the desk, and leaned back in her chair with a playful expression. “You’re from Arisaka, right? Didn’t you read the employee handbook I sent you?”

Lin Yue exhaled deeply. “The manual on how to serve your centuries-old boss? No, I haven’t.”

“We’re at odds with the biotech sector. We took you from Hansen and spent a fortune to cover up your records.”

“Besides, I’m accommodating your Dogtown business—aren’t you supposed to do something too?”

“The higher-ups won’t wait. I need to give them results. As a fair trade, you should provide some feedback.”

Lin Yue understood V’s meaning. She was losing patience after the delays and could only force these pawns to produce something for the superiors.

V continued, “As for how you stay embedded in Dogtown, that depends on your cleverness. The company doesn’t keep useless people… don’t you get that?”

Lin Yue’s lips twitched. V meant that no matter how dangerous the place was, after lying low, he’d have to risk his life to return.

Still, Lin Yue felt the situation was negotiable.

“What if Slider dies?”

Lin Yue needed to prepare for everything that might follow.

He wasn’t going to ask Arisaka’s stance anymore—it was pointless. To Arisaka, he was just a field agent.

V was satisfied with Lin Yue’s attitude—at least he wasn’t noisy, and she disliked those company dogs who couldn’t see the big picture.

“So it’s up to you. If he dies and you don’t get the info, the company will deal with you... You have to prove your worth.”

“Also… good luck.”

After hanging up, V’s expression shifted.

She had considered whether the risk of exposing the informant planted in Dogtown was worth the cost, but she couldn’t wait any longer—Lin Yue couldn’t find the information; only Arisaka’s hackers could.

The people and clues uncovered—V had to pursue them. For her, failure meant Jenkins wouldn’t spare her; for the company, as long as the ghosts in Night City headquarters weren’t eliminated, no one would rest easy.

Taking this risk was worth it, even if it meant sacrificing a promising pawn.

Hopefully, there would be gains.

V sighed softly.