A heavy silence hung over the bare room.
Arthur glanced sideways at V, his brow twitching faintly. Catching the movement, V's own brow moved in response. Bound by their unspoken understanding, both slowed their steps at the same time, inwardly resolved not to get involved.
An internal betrayal like this... best left for them to handle.
But Melanie clearly thought otherwise. She grabbed their arms, stopping them from leaving.
Feeling their puzzled stares on her, she offered no explanation, but her grip didn't loosen.
They didn't resist much. Was there danger? Either way, this woman was the key to their mission. For now, it seemed wiser to follow her lead.
Light cast pale patches across the rough concrete walls. It was late into the night now—dawn wouldn't be far. The thought of sunlight only made the fatigue heavier.
The scene hadn't changed. Nord still wore his tactical vest, gear neatly arranged, as if he were ready for any emergency.
"How are you... no injuries, I hope?"
He smiled sincerely, without a trace of pretense.
"Thank God... You know, without you, we'd lose our core."
His words met only silence.
Melanie crouched down, slowly rummaging through the messy crates on the floor, as if picking through trash.
It was hard to believe that what should have been precious research data was tossed here like junk, used as makeshift seats.
"Heh... compared to our lives, they weren't that important."
She spoke without looking at her old friend, more to herself than to him.
When the crates opened, chips of all shapes and sizes spilled out in a messy heap, clattering across the floor.
"Good thing I didn't actually lose my life, otherwise..."
The chips crunched underfoot, like plastic rustling in Dogtown's dry winds.
"If no one understands these, then our bright future is nothing but garbage."
Melanie was petite. A woman like V, but standing beside her, she looked more like a little girl.
...
"Our real wealth... isn't it you?"
Nord still smiled faintly, as if oblivious to the tension closing in around them.
"Think about it... In every corporation, core researchers like you are guarded carefully.
Not like us—a pack of caged dogs. Black fur, yellow fur... what we look like... none of it matters as much as the bars of the cage.
Replace a few dogs, no big deal... as long as the cage holds."
Their words carried a twisted, oppressive weight, pressing down on the room.
"Yes... Night City.
Even a cage can be called a home."
Melanie murmured, almost to herself, her eyes distant.
To betray a comrade who once saved your life—all for the sake of a place in an "iron cage"...
"Your... wife... children..."
Her voice drifted like casual small talk, the kind exchanged by old friends.
"Oh... they're outside.
They're fine—thanks to you.
Remember? You fought so hard with ZetaTech to give them real knowledge, not just the skills to fight like dogs.
I know... all the little ones... they've been tamed, but they're still trapped in cages."
Nord's brows knitted tight, his tone rising with emotion.
But facing his agitation, Melanie only nodded blankly, then shook her head.
She didn't answer his question. Instead, she bent down, picked up three chips, and arranged them carefully before handing them to V.
"Just remember this order. Even if you forget, it's fine—you'll just end up with five times the workload. The Fixer might dock your pay."
The white light mixed with dust along the rough walls.
After her instructions to V, Melanie turned back to Nord, who had grown calm again.
"When are you leaving?"
She showed no intention of dealing with the traitor. Was it loyalty—or just foolishness?
Arthur watched coldly, his mind drifting back to the past...
Fine. Just a traitor, nothing more.
"My daughter... it's better if she stays here."
Nord exhaled long and hard, as if releasing every ounce of pent-up frustration. The gloom that had weighed down the room seemed to lift with his breath.
"I'll go now."
Melanie said nothing. She only shook her head slightly and walked out of the cramped, rough room first.
"The payment... there's also a set of Cyberware."
As if nothing had happened, she slipped back into her harmless demeanor, looking like a meek little sheep in glasses.
"Looks like this deal's turning out well..."
V's voice was light, almost cheerful. She clearly anticipated the Cyberware—the very one everyone had been fighting over.
"Seems you'll be the one using it..."
Melanie paused, glancing back at V.
"The conditions here can't support an installation. We'll need a clinic.
First, let's pack up."
But just as she turned, the door creaked open behind them.
Nord's tall frame filled the doorway. He nodded toward them, then walked off toward the elevator.
Arthur frowned, baffled.
A traitor—fine if you don't kill him. But to just let him walk around freely?
Yet the two women didn't seem to care, turning away indifferently, as if they'd merely seen a bird fly across the sky.
A poor metaphor—there were no birds left in Night City's skies. Arthur still wasn't used to certain details.
"Just let him walk away?"
Arthur's gravelly voice was thick with restrained anger; he despised traitors.
"That was goodbye."
Melanie's reply was flat as she headed down the corridor toward another room.
...
(70 Chapters Ahead)
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