"Mr. Yorinobu Arasaka. Your reputation precedes you."
Rocky's voice came through the line.
"You are L from Ascension Technology?"
"Yes."
"Then you had better explain how you got my contact and why you called. I do not believe I have any business that requires Ascension."
Yorinobu's tone held little patience.
Rocky did not mind. That reaction was expected. If Yorinobu greeted Ascension warmly, that would be stranger. Given his hatred of Arasaka, enthusiasm for a company seen as aiding Arasaka would be abnormal.
"I can obtain a person's contact in many ways, even an Arasaka executive's," Rocky said, still calm. "But the method is not important. What matters is why I reached out."
"Hm?" Yorinobu prompted him to continue.
"Ascension wants to discuss cooperation."
"Ascension and Arasaka cooperating? Are you suggesting Arasaka and Ascension are not already partners? And even if there were more to discuss, you should not contact me directly. You crossed a line."
"You misunderstand," Rocky said. "I mean cooperation with you, Yorinobu Arasaka. Not with Arasaka the corporation."
That phrasing made Yorinobu focus. To outsiders, Yorinobu and Arasaka were always treated as the same. He was the group's crown prince, Saburo Arasaka's heir. No one questioned whether he could speak for the corporation. Yet this man had drawn a line between Yorinobu and Arasaka and asked to work only with him. That was not normal.
"What kind of cooperation?" Yorinobu asked.
"Bring down Arasaka."
Four simple words detonated in Yorinobu's mind. It upended his assumptions. He had always wanted that outcome, but he never expected to hear it from Ascension.
For a beat, his thoughts surged, then settled. He spoke coldly.
"Do you know who you are speaking to? Do you understand what you are saying? I do not find this amusing. Drop the test."
He would not believe a claim on one man's word, and on the surface, he remained Arasaka's qualified heir. Outsiders already assumed he had abandoned "childish" ideas about destroying the company. For Ascension to bring it up now could be a trap. Saburo might also be monitoring him. He could not expose himself.
Rocky heard the hesitation and adjusted.
"I know exactly what I am saying," he replied. "Relax. If I can reach you, it means this channel is secure. Arasaka's tools are not intercepting us. To their systems, you are discussing private business with a ubiquitous doll right now. Say what you actually think.
"I know what you want. Playing the dutiful heir is exhausting. Every day, you stand beside people you consider monsters. Every day you want to end all of it, and every day you have to wear a mask and wait for a narrow window."
The words hit. Yorinobu hated that feeling. He endured it because he aimed to realize his goal, even if that meant becoming, temporarily, what he despised most to seize control inside Arasaka and break the company from within.
Silence held for a long moment.
"How do I trust you? And why should I believe you can help me?" he asked.
"Fair questions," Rocky said, hearing the shift in Yorinobu's voice. "Then start with a small joint action. We each put down a token of good faith. After that, we talk about broader cooperation. Action is always more convincing than talk."
"Fine," Yorinobu said.
"My proposal," Rocky continued. "Select several Arasaka industrial parks and warehouses. Tomorrow I will send people to hit those sites. That shows Ascension's capability and intent. In return, help me with one problem. Use Arasaka's pull in the Night City Council to block the motion targeting the Ascension Network."
Yorinobu considered. Mobilizing Arasaka's influence in the council was not difficult. The councillors did not report directly to him, but as Saburo's son, he could direct them. Helping a corporate partner with paper was also a normal act. It might raise some suspicion, but still within an acceptable risk.
Most importantly, the timing gave him initiative. The vote would occur in three days; Ascension's strikes would happen tomorrow. He could watch Ascension's performance, then decide how fully to commit.
"Agreed," Yorinobu said at last, and he supplied several targets.
"Then here is to a smooth cooperation," Rocky said.
"I hope so," Yorinobu replied.
Rocky was satisfied with the result. Yorinobu, however, still felt a knot of worry he did not voice.