Lucy Kushinada leaned out the window to watch the Arasaka trucks haul away another batch of X-27. She suppressed a grimace of disgust as she turned her attention back to the salad on the table in front of her.
It tasted good—better than anything she had eaten across Europe or… at home.
If she could even still call that place home.
The Night City Druid wasn't what she had expected—but… in a good way?
When Sasha had tried to stop the call, she ended up hanging from the ceiling, several vines wrapped around her ankles while she struggled to free herself upside down.
Only after several minutes of struggling—her face flushed red and covered in sweat—did Sasha realize that Faelan (apparently that was the druid's name) hadn't even dialed the last number the entire time she'd been panicking.
Instead, he had recorded her entire "resistance" and sent it to someone named Kiwi.
Once he was done dealing with Sasha, Faelan turned to Lucy, lowered his glasses slightly, and…
Lucy didn't remember much after that—just a beautiful shade of green, and how the anxiety she had been constantly carrying for the past three years finally faded away, as she fell into a deep sleep.
When she woke up, dazed, in the most comfortable bed she had ever slept in, there were clean clothes beside her, a tray of fresh, fully organic food next to a window overlooking a massive garden…
No shackles. No locked doors. No suppression chips.
She looked out the window again.
The greenest thing she had ever seen before were her family's zen gardens—and even those were mostly made up of smooth white stones covering the ground. This vast orchard, surrounded by vegetation, felt… disconnected from the world.
She ate in silence—or tried to.
Someone had left a TV on in front of the table, playing some old cartoons called "Tom & Jerry." She couldn't find the remote to turn it off, so she watched with quiet resignation.
To her surprise, she found herself enjoying them as she absentmindedly ate.
It wasn't an educational program. It wasn't an online class with sudden questions she had to answer to prove she was paying attention and learning.
It was just nonsense. Childish fun she had never experienced before.
…
Japan, Arasaka's central headquarters.
Saburo Arasaka's optics flickered as he replayed the footage of what had happened in the Badlands near Night City.
He had watched dozens of times as the barren land transformed into a lush expanse—only for the people of Night City to arrive and strip it bare within days, even taking the weeds.
The only evidence of the change was the visibly improved soil that remained—but even that had later been dug up, likely taken to some laboratory.
To one side, Faelan's data—ranging from confirmed information like his deal with Hanako, to what seemed like unfounded rumors.
At the center, a photo clearly showing Faelan with his glasses lowered and his antlers exposed.
Saburo had reached his own conclusions.
An inexperienced young man who didn't know how to be discreet.
Capable of what his best scientists and engineers could not achieve.
A possible path to immortality—far removed from a piece of metal.
But above all…
Weak. Malleable. Controllable.
Behind Saburo, one of his most effective hounds awaited his orders:
Adam Smasher.
He usually kept him by Yorinobu's side, protecting his next backup body.
But after witnessing such a display, Saburo did not wish for complications—and a faint sense of anticipation stirred within him.
A single order.
"Bring him to me."
Adam Smasher turned and walked away.
He had read the files. He wasn't afraid.
An expert in bioengineering and botany pretending to be some kind of mage?
And people actually believed it?
They even dared to compare him to him?
"Idiots. All of them," he thought with boredom.
The only reason he accepted Saburo's order was because completing the mission would earn him enough merit to undergo a major upgrade afterward.
Less flesh. More chrome.
Maybe he could even have his engram included in Saburo's project…
…
"Hanako? I think we might have a problem."
"Cynta?" Hanako frowned. "You know I don't like being contacted while I'm showering."
"I know, alright?" Cynta's tone lacked its usual playfulness. "But I think you'll want to hear this as soon as possible."
Hanako turned off the water and leaned back against the marble wall of the shower, arms crossed beneath her chest.
"I'm listening."
This had better be worth it—her mood had improved ever since the reserve had successfully opened.
"Saburo sent Smasher after Mokoto's son."
Hanako blinked twice.
"...That was sooner than I expected."
"Well, how were we supposed to know he'd cause that much of a stir in the Badlands?" Cynta sounded like she wanted to slam her forehead against a table. "We're lucky the transport pilot owed me a favor. I don't suppose they told you, right?"
No. They hadn't.
It seemed her esteemed father hadn't considered it necessary—or appropriate—to inform her.
"Did you send them a warning?"
"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that question. The real issue is—do we intervene?" Cynta asked, frowning. "Look, Faelan seems very capable, but we're talking about Adam Smasher!"
The man had a reputation for a reason—or a mountain of them.
Usually colored red.
She wasn't sure Kiwi's boyfriend could measure up…
"I'm thinking they might need some assistance," she added cautiously. "Maybe… a discreet relocation?"
"I don't think any hiding place would last long if my father wants to find him."
She had expected this situation to be delayed by at least two or three years—long enough for Faelan to grow in influence, enough to present some kind of argument to Saburo.
She had even considered absorbing Faelan into one of her private companies, outside of Arasaka—perhaps creating a Tasogare II…
"Let's wait for his response," Hanako decided.
If Mokoto's son was half as capable as his mother, escaping Adam Smasher would be child's play.
If there were problems… Galina was still there.
Though she should probably send her some high-quality chrome to re-equip…
No—her father could interfere with the shipment.
"Anything else?" Hanako stepped out of the shower. She wasn't going to be able to relax until this was handled.
"Actually, there's one more thing."
"Don't tell me Yorinobu is going to cause me problems too."
Her father was already more than enough of a headache!
"I don't know if it's related to your 'dear' brother, but we found traces of Kawatatsu on the Net."
Good. Maybe they could use that to draw Faelan away from Night City and avoid Smasher.
Though she very much wanted to settle accounts with that scum, she knew it was Mokoto's son who deserved that right.
"Where?" Hanako looked at her reflection in the mirror.
"Night City."
Hanako couldn't hold back anymore.
"Shit!"