Arasaka Security Division. Echelon supervisor's office.
Sato was listening to his subordinate's report. Based on a cross-reference of recent attack incidents, they had confird that the nail — as he was thinking of it — had been driven into a Tyger Claws underground BD recording facility.
"The trap was set. And this killer you've been calling Cube Head hasn't shown his face in three days?"
"Correct. Additionally, the counter-intelligence division is accusing us of failing to share information, and attributing responsibility for all our operatives' deaths to this departnt."
Sato smiled.
"These damn doves. Shouting accusations all day as if the enemy will disappear on their own. What about those two rcs? They appeared at the scene. Could they be Cube Head?"
The subordinate continued.
"They may have a connection to Cube Head, but neither of them is the man himself. Our investigation shows their cyberware installations are all low-grade. A significant gap from Cube Head's military-level hardware where standard rounds don't penetrate. Our hackers also analyzed Shoji's BD footage. Cube Head's movent speed is comparable to special forces operators. We can't rule out that he's operating under a rival corporation's flag."
Sato stood from his chair and straightened his tie. He wiped dust off his tie pin that wasn't there.
"Leave those two rcs alone for now. Keep eyes on them. Cube Head has consistently targeted operations connected to us — it's possible the doves are stirring things up from behind. Continue setting traps. Deploy a few security squads."
The subordinate tucked the datapad away and nodded.
Sato's expression shifted.
"The one causing trouble from the counter-intelligence side. Who is it?"
"Annie Cornwall. She works for Jenkins."
The corner of Sato's mouth moved.
"Cornwall. Another Anglo. Jenkins has already backed himself into a corner. Go approach Abernathy. Tell her there's an opportunity waiting."
"Yes, sir."
Vito knew nothing about any of that. Our man had just won his first match and was walking through the cheering crowd toward the VIP section to watch the rest of the fights.
Vito took in the octagon the Animals had built. This kind of retro eight-sided cage was getting rare in Night City.
Putting two people in a large cage and letting them work it out was a sharp piece of event design. It added a kind of rawness to the spectacle, and blurred the line between human and animal in ways the audience could feel without quite naming.
"Hell yes, Vito! I am absolutely cleaned up tonight!"
Valentinos were cheering all around him. Vito was still a newcor to the fighting scene, so the odds against him hadn't been favorable. His win had handed those broke Valentinos the equivalent of three months' rent.
"The next match! Dorio of Maine's squad versus street fighter Caesar!"
The announcer's voice brought the crowd up again.
"Co on, baby! I know you've got this!"
A girl sowhere in the crowd was calling out for Caesar at full volu.
"Dorio! Let's go!"
Maine's squad mbers had made it out too, calling from sowhere further back.
Their seats were toward the rear. Vito asked a few Valentinos to shift over and waved Maine's crew into better positions.
"Long ti no see, Maine."
Vito shook his hand.
"Good to see you, Vito."
Maine was only half there. His attention was all in the octagon.
"Vito~!"
Rebecca ca forward warm as ever.
"Good to see you, Rebecca. Maximum thirty percent off."
Rebecca's head turned away.
"Hmph. Thirty percent is thirty percent."
Kiwi was where she usually was. Silent. Smoking. Watching the fight.
Lucy was watching the ring too. David next to her was stealing glances at her every few seconds.
Vito went over and put his arm around David's shoulders and said quietly:
"You know you're giving off serious creep energy right now. Heh heh."
David went red and said back, just as quietly:
"Vito. That is an incredibly sinister laugh."
David had been slowly getting to know Lucy through their training. What she'd said that day was true. Her dream really was to go to the moon.
Jackie was completely absorbed in the fight in front of him.
"Damn, Dorio is sothing. Those punches of hers are getting close to championship level."
Pilar explained from beside him.
"Of course. Dorio cos from a family of athletes. Both her parents are serious fighters from the Nordic countries."
Dorio and Caesar's fight ran nine full rounds. Then Dorio found her opening, landed a rear-hand power punch, and Caesar went down.
"The winner of this match is Dorio! Let's congratulate this fighter on advancing to the next round!"
"Wuhu!"
Maine's squad cheered. Then Vito noticed sothing across the ring: a line of people on the far side, cheering just as hard.
He asked Jackie:
"Did the organizers bring in cheerleaders?"
Jackie looked carefully and grinned.
"Those are the Mox. The girls look great, but choom, they will bleed you dry."
Vito already knew. The Mox, headquartered at Lizzie's Bar, mostly female, one of Night City's more humane gangs. Most of their mbers were dolls and people the city had placed at the bottom. The gang ran on mutual aid.
"Honestly though. You see that girl in the middle? My heart is about ready to float over there."
Jackie looked where he was pointing and agreed.
"Good taste. Want to go say hello when it wraps up? Maybe ask if she wants late night food?"
"Forget it, Jackie. You know . Terrible with strangers. Serious social anxiety."
"Hahaha! Get out of here, Vito!"
After tonight's fights finished, Vito said goodbye to Maine's crew.
He and Jackie headed to the Wild Wolf. Mrs. Welles had heard Vito had a fight tonight and insisted on laying out a full table of food for when the two of them got back.
At the bar, Mrs. Welles already had the table set and was waiting for them.
"Let guess. Tonight went well. The smiles on these two faces don't lie. Co on, let get the food out."
Vito and Jackie didn't just sit there. Vito helped Mrs. Welles carry out the spicy soup. Jackie handled the wraps.
Once everything was on the table, a warm, good-humored family dinner began.
...
"They took out Kanter? Any operational details?"
Rogue was in a private room at the Afterlife with a drink, listening to recent events.
"Two people. Cornered Kanter right at the AllFoods factory entrance and flatlined him."
Rogue took a sip.
"Kanter was a complete idiot from the start. What's Maelstrom saying?"
"Royce has taken over. He and Kanter were at odds the whole ti. He's probably in the factory laughing right now."
"These two rcs are interesting. Tassi, tomorrow get their contact. Tell them the Afterlife has a job for them. What's this squad called?"
"dical Dispute Resolution Team. The leader is Vito."
Hearing that na, Rogue laughed.
"Let's hope this Vito isn't just so clown playing at it. But it doesn't matter. Everyone has their value. Notify Romano. I've found the people he needs."
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