Takemura set his chopsticks down with care, "Thank you… for your help these past days."
His table manners were immaculate — every movement measured. Across from him, Vash and Jackie ate and drank like they owned the place, casual as street kids.
"No need for formalities." Jackie said with a booming laugh, "If we can sit in Heywood, share a drink, and nobody's trying to flatline us? We're chooms, cabrón."
Takemura's smile was polite, a little stiff. After only a few exchanges, he could already tell who ran the show between the two — Vash.
"Takemura." Vash said, "What's your play now?"
"I will gather everything that can be used against Yorinobu… quietly." Takemura replied. The steel in his voice didn't change, "I will make him pay."
Vash watched him for a moment, "Takemura… is Saburo Arasaka really that important to you?"
Takemura looked out the window, eyes distant, "Many say Saburo-sama was a devil. That he had too much blood on his hands. That judgment is not mine to make."
He spoke like reciting scripture.
"I was raised within Arasaka's shadow. When I became a proper samurai, I served as Saburo-sama's guard."
That damned bushidō.
Vash gave a faint, knowing smile. You didn't rewrite a lifetime of conditioning in one dinner. It would take time — and pressure.
Jackie jumped in, unable to hold back, "So you're gonna hit Arasaka solo? Choom, that's like trying to flatline Adam Smasher with an AR 9000."
{T/N: Its a inside joke with the AR Raygun Supreme 9000, a literal toy gun.}
Takemura lowered his gaze to the tea cup in his hands, "I am already branded a traitor. I have nothing left to lose."
"Bullshit." Jackie snapped, "You owe us. You gonna pay that back by getting yourself killed?" He jabbed a finger at Takemura, "I'm saying don't throw your life away. If I knew you were gonna do this, I wouldn't have dragged your ass outta that mess."
Even Takemura couldn't hold back a small smile at Jackie's bluntness.
"I will remember your kindness." Takemura said, voice softer, "And I will not move openly."
His eyes sharpened.
"But in the shadows… Night City does not yet understand my methods. When my revenge is complete, I will come personally to thank you."
"Enough." Vash said, lifting his glass, "Finish this drink. Then we get back to work."
After the meal, Takemura left first.
True to his nature, he would make Arasaka — and Yorinobu — bleed from the dark.
Vash wasn't in a rush. Letting Takemura move freely would show exactly what the man was capable of. When the time came to truly pull him in, Vash was confident he could make it happen.
"Jack — before we bounce, you need anything?" Vash asked as they stepped out.
"We can delta anytime." Jackie said, easy as ever, "I'm good."
❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖
On the highway, the Caliburn cut through the night like a blade. With that kind of performance, Watson wasn't far — no matter what part of the city you started from.
"Man…" Jackie leaned back in the passenger seat, "It's only been a little over a week since I was last here. Why's everything feel different, huh?"
"Because you're different." Vash said.
"Sure, sure." Jackie shrugged, "Anyway — gonna let Misty know I'm breathing. You gonna see Vik, or what?"
"I've got a stop to make." Vash said.
"Alright. We split." Jackie grinned.
Vash dropped him at the Esoterica, then swung the Caliburn toward Lizzie's Bar.
❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖
Lizzie's — same neon, same bass in the walls, same sense that the city's heartbeat lived here.
Rita Wheeler was still on the door.
The moment she saw Vash step out of the Caliburn, she froze like she'd glitched. Then her face lit up.
"V? Holy shit — it's V!"
"No way you're still alive!"
"Do you know Night City's been choking on your name all week? You and Jack!"
"Konpeki Plaza was preem as hell!"
The reactions were always the same.
No explanation needed: V and Jackie were fresh legends. Most legends ended up in the graveyard. The living ones usually built their empires and vanished into the shadows.
But these two? They were still on the street.
"I'm here for Judy." Vash said simply.
Rita's expression shifted — still friendly, but sharper, "Yeah, figured. You only come to Lizzie's for Judy." She jerked her chin toward the stairs, "Friendly warning: things downstairs aren't calm. Watch yourself."
Vash nodded and stepped inside.
Neon flickered. Music thumped. Nobody rushed him for favors — no need. Word was already out.
He moved through the backstage and toward the stairs leading down to the workshop. Before he even reached the door, he heard raised voices.
Susie: "Why do you keep stuffing street girls — randoms — into my place? This bar isn't a damn shelter, Judy. I can't feed that many."
Judy: "Susie, you're twisting it. The Mox have a rep. Girls come here because they need help."
Susie: "My place isn't a charity. It's a bar."
Judy: "Give them a chance. They'll be useful — trust me. They're just in trouble right now. Once they get past this rough patch, it'll be fine."
Susie laughed coldly, "Judy… you should worry about yourself."
Vash reached the door just as Susie "Q" — owner of Lizzie's and the Mox boss — stormed out of the workshop.
Judy's eyes landed on him, and her voice dropped.
"V… you heard all that, didn't you."
Vash nodded, "Trouble?"
"Yeah." Judy said, letting out a humorless laugh, "Something like that. I can't just watch the girls get chewed up out there. I want to help. But… I'm not enough."
Vash sat down, "Aren't the Mox supposed to be the tightest crew in the city?"
"Tight my ass." Judy said, "In this city, everybody lives inside their own little BD dream bubble. Me too. When it pops… you can't pretend it doesn't hurt."
Vash glanced at the workbench. The ashtray was packed with cigarette butts.
Last time he'd been here, it hadn't looked like that.
So this wasn't only about sheltering girls.
"Any word on Evelyn?" Vash asked.
Judy's throat worked, "After the job started, she barely came to Lizzie's. And after Konpeki Plaza…" Her voice cracked, "Nothing. Total silence."
Tears spilled, and she wiped at her face angrily like she was mad at herself for it.
Vash pulled a tissue and held it out.
Judy took it, wiped her eyes, and forced a breath, "Thanks, V. I've been holding it in for days. I can only let it out when you're here."
That wasn't something she said to just anyone.
Vash understood what it meant — and it made something warm settle in his chest.
"Judy." He said quietly, "You need to be ready."
Judy nodded, "If she's been gone this long… then something happened. But no matter what it is, I want to find her. At least… know where she is."
"I'll handle it." Vash said.
{T/N: Canon note — after the Konpeki heist, Evelyn's situation in the game escalates into severe abuse and exploitation tied to Clouds, Fingers, Wakako, Scavs, and the Voodoo Boys.}
❖❖❖❖❖
T/N: Comment, give me Power Stones, like and favorite, it all supports me and makes me go foward with this. Appreciate my other stories as well, I guarantee the good work!
If you want 20 chapters ahead, smut chapters or spicy images of this novel for just $5, or enjoy a large catalog of good novels with excellent translations (free or starting at $1.5): MrBlackWing (you know where to search)
Take a look at the new book I'm translating on my profile, Umamusume Pretty Derb: I'm Just a Trainer! Its also on my website for $5 too!
That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)