V kept her gun raised, on full alert, while Veena rummaged through the room in search of the separation chip Yogan had mentioned.
Pointing her weapon at everyone in the room, V demanded coldly, "Where's the chip?"
The intelligence station's supervisor tried to play dumb. "I'm sorry, what chip are you talking about?"
A bullet from V's gun slammed into the floor inches from his foot. "Do I look like someone who jokes around?"
She shifted the muzzle toward the bomb squad captain, who was still clutching his wounded side. "You. Talk."
The captain clenched his jaw. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Oh, I see. Tough guys, all of you."
The gunfire downstairs gradually died down. It seemed Arasaka's forces had successfully cleaned out the remnants of the Militech operatives hiding below.
Standing beside the captain was his younger deputy, who clearly couldn't take the pressure. His eyes unconsciously darted toward the dead, burly Black man slumped in the corner.
V caught the movement. She didn't miss anything.
She spoke without turning her head. "Veena, check that guy. The chip might be on him."
A few moments later, Veena found the separation chip tucked inside the man's interface pod.
As she picked up the chip, the door to the room suddenly burst open. Several Arasaka agents stormed in, guns drawn.
The lead agent immediately pointed his weapon at Veena. "That's not something you should be touching. Put it down."
Veena hesitated but then calmly slipped the chip into her pocket anyway.
The Arasaka agent narrowed his eyes, clearly ready to fire—until V pulled out something that made him stop mid-motion.
She raised the badge Yogan had given her. The Arasaka insignia shimmered under the light.
"Recognize this?"
The agent's cybernetic eye began scanning the object. These badges weren't just decorative; each contained an embedded chip, allowing for internal verification. The method of manufacture was so secure and intricate that counterfeiting them was nearly impossible.
After a moment, the agent's scanner confirmed its authenticity.
"You're... with the Ninjas?"
Both V and Veena were visibly startled. Neither of them had expected the badge to carry such weight.
The Arasaka Ninjas were a special unit, operating independently from all other corporate departments. They had authority that could override almost anyone within the organization. They only answered to direct members of the Arasaka family and took no orders from department heads or executives.
Known for their ruthless efficiency, these Ninjas wouldn't hesitate or get distracted—not like the man in front of them just had.
Realizing this, V pressed him. "If you recognized the badge, then why ask the question in the first place?"
But their brief moment of surprise had already aroused the agent's suspicion. In his experience, the Ninjas had always treated people like him—mere counter-intelligence staff—with cold disregard. Now these two were being uncharacteristically polite and diplomatic.
Something didn't add up.
He made up his mind to detain V and Veena, but just then, a call came through his comms. It was Jenkins.
The screen flickered to life, showing the stern face of Minister Jenkins.
"Are there two Ninjas on-site?" Jenkins asked coldly.
"Yes, Minister."
"Let them go."
"But—"
"No 'but'. I said—let. them. go."
"Yes, sir."
The Arasaka agent ended the call. Though clearly frustrated, he bowed slightly to V and Veena. "Our sincerest apologies, honored operatives. We made a mistake. Please forgive us for the inconvenience."
Veena opened her mouth, possibly to say something, but V gave her a discreet tug on the sleeve.
Both of them kept their faces expressionless as they walked out of the apartment building.
---
A short time earlier, inside Arasaka Tower.
Arasaka Raisen was livid, tearing into the Counter-Intelligence Department with visible fury.
"Mr. Jenkins," Raisen thundered, "do you have some kind of personal vendetta against me? First, you accuse my Intelligence Minister of being a Militech spy. Now you're using company resources to publicly hunt down my Ninjas in the streets. Jenkins, your arrogance knows no bounds! Should I get down on my knees next and beg for your forgiveness?"
Jenkins stood hunched in front of Raisen, bowing deeply, not daring to even raise his eyes.
"I sincerely apologize, Lord Raisen. It was a misunderstanding. Your Ninjas arrived at such a coincidental time. As a precaution, we—"
"It's because you're all useless!" Raisen barked. "If your department had made even a shred of progress, I wouldn't have had to send my Ninjas to clean up your mess!"
Jenkins bowed even lower. "This was a clear failure on our part. I'm very sorry, Lord Raisen."
"Of course it was your failure!" Raisen spat. "If not for my Ninjas, you wouldn't have discovered that Militech has already planted deep cover operatives throughout the Valley District! What you took down today was just one intel outpost. Who knows how many more are still hidden there? Have none of you even questioned the unusual fluctuations in the local real estate market?"
Jenkins wisely remained silent.
Raisen wasn't done. "The autopsy reports on the Militech bodies came from my people. The location of the intel post—my people. The leaked information? Found by my operatives. Tell me, Jenkins, why are we paying a fortune to maintain your entire useless department when you're doing nothing?"
Jenkins trembled slightly. "I truly regret our incompetence, Lord Raisen. If there's anything I can do to make it right, I'll give it my all."
"Then stop standing there like an idiot. Or do you plan to keep the wanted posters for my family's Ninjas up all over the company database?"
Raisen turned on his heel and headed toward the elevator. The nearby counter-intelligence employees scrambled to open the doors for him.
As soon as the doors slid shut, Raisen's expression changed back to calm and composed. He messaged Yogan.
"The task you requested—I've completed it."
"Thank you very much, Lord Raisen."
"I told you, there's no need to be so formal with me. But I must ask—what made you change your mind and decide to protect that mercenary?"
"Her past is very similar to mine."
"So you think she can be an asset to us?"
"Or perhaps even more than that."
Raisen stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"V-san... I trust your judgment."
"Thank you for your trust, Raisen-kun."
"Are the preparations complete for what comes next?"
"Yes. A Militech assault team is already en route to the location."
"Then I leave it in your hands. Please make sure they rescue those hostages."
"Understood."
---
Back on the streets, V and Veena walked away from the building and approached the curb.
Veena turned to V, eyes sparkling with excitement. "Did you hear that, V? Arasaka Ninjas! That's the kind of stuff you only read about in legends!"
"Calm down," V replied dryly. "What's got you so hyped?"
"I'm not overreacting, V! Think about it—if they gave us such a high-level identity, they must expect us to do something major."
Just then, a sleek sports car pulled up in front of them. The door swung open, and in the driver's seat sat none other than Yogan.
"Get in," she said simply.
V and Veena obediently climbed into the vehicle.
As the car began to glide down the street, V suddenly remembered something. "Wait—my car is still parked back there."
Yogan glanced sideways at her, expression unreadable.
V paused for a beat, then caught on. She quickly corrected herself. "Apologies, Lady V. My vehicle is still back there."
Yogan looked forward again and said, "Forget about your car. The company will provide you with a better one."
"But—"
"No 'but'. Here's your second lesson: Never, ever, question the decisions of your superior."