Dim light seeped into the darkness, catching the dust particles that floated in the air.
In that faint glow, crystalline white threads dangled from above, stretching down from every direction, their ends converging neatly into David's back.
Though slender, the threads radiated an unyielding strength.
David hung suspended, his spine arched like a shrimp strung up for market, twitching occasionally in agony.
"But none of this concerns me. Whether they come or not, I'll still get what I want...
If everything goes as planned, I'll personally witness your experiment.
Braindance may feel real, but in the end, it's still fake. Nothing compares to the thrill of the genuine article."
Convinced of victory, Tanaka's already ugly face twisted with venomous delight.
He knew David could hear him. The data cables hadn't pierced David directly, but instead fed into the Sandevistan mounted on his back.
And because the cyberware still transmitted neural signals, David was subjected to constant torment, unable to rest or sleep.
"With your behavioral model, we can trace every footprint you've left in the Net...
Like that girlfriend you've been seeing lately. Tsk, tsk—you lucky bastard.
Don't worry, once this is all wrapped up, I'll have a long chat with that beauty...
I know a top-tier Braindance editor who'll love such exquisite material.
When the time comes, I'll be personally involved in the production... Now that will be an experience worth savoring.
Something to hold onto forever."
In the vast, silent building, Tanaka's voice echoed through the dark.
Amidst his sickening words, another faint sound broke through—barely audible.
Creak... creak... metal groaning in the dark.
"Hahahaha..."
Tanaka caught it instantly and burst into laughter.
He looked at David—his face twisted in pain, sparks bursting from the connection points on his back—and felt a satisfaction he had never known before.
That was the point of coming here—to provoke him, to savor this look of despair before the slaughter.
In Night City, Tanaka's standing might not have been high, but he controlled a place with enormous influence in the eyes of the underclass.
Arasaka Academy was a direct affiliate of the megacorporation. In Arasaka's promotional rhetoric, it was "a cradle for the company's elites."
To the underclass, such a school represented a chance to change their fate—something they clung to.
And Tanaka, as principal, held it in his grip.
But now, power within the academy no longer satisfied him. He wanted more lives under his control, more exceptional people to consume as expendable fuel for his ever-expanding greed.
Savoring David's pain, Tanaka smiled and walked away.
...
"In that case, we'll use the fissure—slip in from below and infiltrate the factory."
Meanwhile, in Watson District, inside Vik's underground clinic, Arthur straightened his back and addressed the others.
"Now, we move...
and bring that kid home."
He picked up the gambler's hat resting on the table, turned, and headed straight for the door.
Only the four chosen members followed. Jackie came right behind Arthur, hauling two heavy metal cases.
Preparations were nearly finished. Ammunition was crammed into the trunk, the engine roared to life, and the vehicle sped away.
"We're heading out now. We're not too late, are we?"
Jackie asked nervously from the driver's seat.
The Badlands of Night City stretched mostly across the southern reaches, forever smothered in yellow sand.
Though companies like Biotechnica had spent years trying to restore the environment, their efforts had been almost entirely in vain.
It was still early morning, but the factory lay deep within the Badlands. By the time they arrived, it would be nearly noon.
"Once we hit the Badlands, we can push harder."
Arthur's gaze was locked ahead, his voice edged with menace.
According to Mr. Hands intel, the factory covered a vast area with several possible infiltration points.
But the underground natural fissure was the best option.
First, their small team could slip through it with ease.
Second, when they broke the surface, they'd come out directly beneath the factory's data hub.
From there, V could jack into the internal network and track David.
"Strange, though. This factory's been shut down for nearly a decade. Why would Arasaka suddenly use it for experiments?"
Jackie voiced his doubts, but no answer came.
He had asked the wrong man.
"But how did David end up on Arasaka's radar?"
Jackie pressed on, perhaps trying to ease his own tension.
"He used to attend Arasaka Academy..."
Unexpectedly, Lucy broke her silence to answer.
Her tone was as cold as ever, but at least all four passengers could hear her.
"I've thought about it for a long time... why Arasaka could bypass my network connections without leaving a trace."
She paused, her voice sharp with frustration.
"It must've been the behavioral model David left behind at Arasaka Academy.
With that, they can capture all low-level encrypted data he leaves on the Net, and even slip a Daemon into his Neural Link—bypassing every defensive protocol.
Damn it... why didn't I see it?
If I'd dealt with that vulnerability sooner, none of this would've happened."
"If David had just stayed home, maybe none of this would've happened either."
Jackie gripped the wheel, his deep voice trying to comfort her.
"Listen, girl—we've gotta look forward now. Your little boyfriend's gonna be fine, yeah?
Right now, the most important thing is making sure your gun's ready."
No sooner had he finished than a metallic clang rang out from the back seat.
Clang!
The Iron Guts shotgun stood upright between Rebecca's legs, clutched in her arms.
She yanked back the cover, exposing the round nestled in the chamber.
A cartridge as thick as her forearm gleamed golden yellow.
It was a reckless move—if she let go, the round would slam into the firing position.
Arthur, catching it in the rearview mirror, turned back with an exasperated sigh at the reckless girl toying with her weapon.