"Take it. This is the money I am giving you for the job. Use cash. Find people you trust. Do not let someone sell you out and drag me into it."
Jenkins pulls out a thick stack of cash and hands it to V. Dirty work without company support means hiring professional mercenaries. He never intended V to pay out of pocket.
"Don't worry. I know how to move."
V leaves Jenkins's office with the money. A woman waits outside, the same one the team talked about earlier. Her red optical implants make it hard to tell exactly where she is looking.
If Rocky saw her, he would be surprised. She will later be a senior manager in Arasaka Counterintelligence during the David incident. She tracks Lucy's case and authorizes contact with Faraday to push for the outcome.
"I know you. Your name is V. Jenkins told me there was something important and asked me to wait. I did not expect you to be the one inside. Looks like the rumor is true. He intends to promote you. Do a good job, kid."
She did not expect Jenkins's "important matter" to involve V. It makes him look like a minor threat to her, but she cannot control Jenkins's judgment. For now, they work in different lanes and could still get along.
She does not wait for a reply. She walks into Jenkins's office on her own. V obviously does not like her much. The work Jenkins gave him is enough; he does not care to respond.
After leaving the office, V calls Jackiey.
Jackie is the best choice for finding someone he trusts for this task. Jackie is V's good brother. One became a free mercenary in Night City, the other a company man, but they still keep in touch, and their friendship has not changed.
As a Night City merc, Jackie has handled plenty of dirty work for V. When an incident cannot be dealt with, Arasaka's resources, V looks for Jackie. In V's experience, if Jackie agrees to help, the job is already ninety percent done.
"V, didn't we talk this morning? Why are you free to call me again? Sounds like you do not need to work overtime today." Jackie answers quickly, the bar's noise behind his voice.
"On the contrary, I am calling because I have to work overtime. Jackie, I need your help. We should talk in person."
"Alright. Sounds like trouble. I am in Watson. Come to Lizzie's Bar. See you there."
They set the location. V leaves Arasaka Tower and heads to Lizzie's.
…
Lizzie's Bar. Private room.
"I get it. You want us to deal with the executives of these small companies?"
Rocky studies the data chip and reads the commission.
Not long ago, Rocky was still producing soldier serum at the clinic. Jackie called and asked him to come to Lizzie's. He said a commission needed his help and wanted Rocky's opinion. From Jackie's tone, Rocky knew it was not one of the small errands of the last few days.
When a brother needs help, Rocky does not refuse. Jackie knows he is busy in the clinic. If it were not serious, Jackie would not drag him out. Rocky came immediately.
"That's right," V says. "We have to act by the day after tomorrow at the latest. The goal is to disrupt their cooperation with Arasaka. The meeting is the day after tomorrow."
"That is not simple. According to the chip, they are staying at Konpeki Plaza. Until the deal is finalized, I do not think they will step outside."
Rocky continues. "That is Arasaka turf. Safety and reliability are their brand. If they find out a few petty thieves killed their guests under their noses, you know better than I do what Arasaka will do."
Jackie nods. He obviously told V something similar already. As the most upscale hotel in Night City, Konpeki Plaza serves elites. Security there is stringent. Arasaka values the place. Killing people there carries real risk.
"Do not worry," V says. "I will handle the aftermath. I will pin it on Militech and shift Arasaka's attention from finding the murderer to pressuring Militech. You only need to think about how to remove the targets. I cannot help with the action itself, or it leaves traces. By the way, I do not know if Jackie told you. I work in Arasaka Counterintelligence."
To persuade Rocky, V does not hesitate to introduce himself. When V and Jackie spoke earlier, Jackie clarified that the decision to accept would be Rocky's.
On the one hand, Jackie does not want to get involved in corporate business or act as an executioner for a company. Conversely, he does not want to give up a hefty commission. And V is his brother. Within his ability, Jackie still wants to help.
So Jackie left the choice to Rocky. If Rocky takes it, they take it. That is why Rocky came and why this scene plays out now.
Rocky looks at V and nods. This is his first face-to-face with the famous V. Jackie, who had mentioned a company man's brother before. Rocky suspected it was V, but they had no contact in the past two years. Company men are not popular with edgerunners. Only a brother like Jackie keeps close.
Jackie does not know whether Rocky and V will get along. To avoid trouble, he never arranged a meeting. This time, he had no choice.
"Alright. In that case, I will take this commission. Jackie, what do you think?"
"I said it is your call."
After thinking it through, Rocky decides to accept. There is risk, but not a fatal one. He is confident he can complete it.
The commission fee is not low. Even split three ways, 60,000 euros becomes 20,000 euros each. It is not as much as Rocky's potion sales, but in the edgerunner circle, it is a large job. More importantly, Rocky wants to build a line to V. He knows he will deal with megacorps in the future. A good brother inside Arasaka Counterintelligence is very valuable.