Chapter 30: Causes and Consequences

Military Technology Building – Conference Room

"Is this the person?" Sis Weis asked, eyeing the photo restored by his technicians on the screen. He turned to Dakota to confirm.

"It's her. Have you found her?" Dakota's voice came through the call, steady but with a tinge of curiosity.

"Arasaka people aren't easy to track," Hess replied with a chuckle.

"Arasaka?" Dakota's tone shifted slightly, surprise breaking through her calm. Why would Arasaka care about Sueshihua? And if it caught Sis Weis's attention too, that meant this item they were after was no ordinary asset.

"Her name is Lily Cross, from Arasaka Security's Seventeenth Squad. That's all you need to know," Hess said flatly before hanging up.

He sighed and raked his fingers through his messy hair. Something about this situation felt wrong, but the damage done to his brain from years of heavy biochemical modifications made deep thinking frustrating. The mods granted him overwhelming combat power—but at the cost of mental stability. Overthinking often led to irritation and rage.

"Forget it. I don't need to understand the reason. I just need to find her," he muttered. "Might as well use this as an excuse to test Arasaka's response time."

As deputy head of the Operations Department, and with Biotech's full tracking systems at his disposal, he was confident he could locate Lily Cross within two days. But even as he geared up, a strange, nagging thought tugged at the edge of his mind.

---

Kabuki District – Phoenix Club

"V, here's the information I pulled on Seihou Jou Tarou," Judy messaged.

The Phoenix Club—Seihou Jou Tarou's main hangout—was a notorious Braindance recording base run by the Tiger Claw Gang. V stared at the holographic structural map of the building.

"Damn... not gonna be easy," V muttered. The windows were reinforced, the entrances heavily guarded. Stealth wasn't going to cut it here.

"The place runs on a strict membership system," Judy explained as she typed rapidly. "You need a referral just to enter. Only three people can get you in—Lenny Nero, Li Zai-hyun, and... Woodman."

"What about Cloudtop membership? Any crossover?"

"Maybe. Try it and see. If not, we'll think of something else."

"Easy for you to say," V grumbled as he made a call. She took a breath, then approached the glowing sign of the Phoenix Club.

"Hold up. No unauthorized entry." The burly bodyguard moved to block her path, hand hovering near his waist.

"Whoa, relax, choom. Just here for some fun," V said smoothly. "Heard there's some... premium Braindance content here."

"Got a membership?" the guard asked, not lowering his guard.

"I've got a Cloudtop membership. Forrest himself gave it to me."

The second guard stepped forward with a scanner in hand. "Tiger Claw memberships are linked. Let me run your info."

V plugged in her data cable without hesitation.

"Huh. V... alright, you're good. Don't cause trouble."

"Wouldn't dream of it."

Inside, the Phoenix Club felt more like a hybrid between an upscale arcade and a sleazy underground den. Bars, slot machines, pool tables, and private rooms dedicated to Braindance lined the space.

A bartender approached. "What'll it be?"

"Beer's fine," V replied, eyes scanning the club.

Moments later, the bartender handed over the drink. "You lookin' for something special?" he asked quietly.

V lowered her voice. "Heard you've got exclusive Braindance packages."

The bartender exchanged a glance with a nearby gang member. The man gave a small nod, then gestured for V to follow.

"In there. Self-service," the bartender said, pointing to a private booth.

V finished her beer and followed. The small room was quiet, with a screen and input panel for Braindance selection. As she browsed, Judy's voice came through her earpiece.

"So many disgusting titles. The Tiger Claws never fail to hit a new low," she said with venom in her tone.

If the Vortex Gang were the rot of Night City, the Tiger Claws were its cancer—organized, profitable, and infinitely more sinister.

They didn't implant themselves with flashy cyberware like other gangs. In street clothes, riding motorcycles, covered in glowing tattoos, they blended in easily.

But they trafficked people, created sex dolls through forced "training programs," and even exported their methods to other gangs. Their deep ties with Arasaka and their bribery of local officials, police, and customs officers allowed them to thrive.

Then Judy paused. "Wait—stop scrolling. Look at that!"

V halted. Evelyn's image popped up on the screen.

"That's Evelyn's final recording from Cloudtop!" Judy gasped.

V selected the file. A hidden projector activated, displaying a grim Braindance video.

Evelyn was in the room. A client was licking her feet.

Then everything fell apart.

Evelyn suddenly clutched her head, screaming and collapsing.

"Her neural system—someone's hacking her!" Judy shouted. "This is invasive neural assault!"

"Voodoo Boys, maybe?" V muttered, horrified. "Maybe they found out she betrayed them."

"This isn't a punishment. This is execution!" Judy replied.

Evelyn writhed, screaming before her body went limp.

V watched grimly. Evelyn had betrayed the Voodoo Boys after learning the value of the Braindance chip. She'd tried to sell it herself—contacting a NetWatch agent, hiring Dexter to recruit a merc, and drawing V into the job.

But everything went sideways.

During the heist, Arasaka Saburo unexpectedly arrived. His son, Yorinobu, killed him in front of their eyes. Security escalated. T-Bug was taken offline. V and Jack barely escaped with their lives.

Evelyn, panicked and desperate, returned to Cloudtop, hoping Tiger Claw protection would save her.

It didn't.

The Voodoo Boys got to her anyway. No direct confrontation—just a remote hack.

Judy began to cry softly through the comm. "She never contacted me again. Not because she forgot... but because she was protecting me."

Judy now understood the depth of Evelyn's sacrifice. She hadn't reached out because she knew that anyone who helped her—especially Judy—would be hunted too.

"Don't lose hope," V said gently. "Remember that warehouse? Someone saved her. She might still be alive."

Judy sniffled. "You're right. I can't give up yet. Evelyn might be waiting. I need to find her."

V nodded. "We'll take care of Seihou Jou Tarou, get what we need to enter Pacifica, and if Evelyn's alive, we save her. If she's gone—we avenge her."

"Yeah. We'll make those witch doctors pay," Judy said with new fire in her voice.

Suddenly—gunfire erupted outside. Screams followed.

"They're here," V said grimly.

She grabbed her pistol End of Night, and the stolen Kongou from Konpeki Plaza, and sprinted into the chaos.

As she entered the main hall, a blur dashed across the room. A Tiger Claw member's head hit the ground moments later.

"That your guy?" V asked, spotting a familiar face.

Takemura Goro turned to her. "Impressed?"

"Yeah. You're wanted across Night City, a million bounty on your head, and still cutting down gangsters."

A man in a suit stormed down the stairs above. "You bastards! Die!"

He opened fire with a massive Gatling gun.

"That's Seihou Jou Tarou!" V shouted, dodging bullets.

Takemura ducked behind the bar and tossed a grenade.

Boom!

The Gatling fell silent.

V peeked out to see Takemura now dueling Seihou Jou Tarou. Sparks flew as their blades clashed.

"You traitor! Let's settle this like samurai!" Jou Tarou shouted.

Takemura didn't reply. He swung his blade—Jinzong Maru—with precision. Jou Tarou blocked, but the quality gap was clear.

Clang.

His blade shattered. A spray of blood followed as the sword carved through his neck.

Gasping, Jou Tarou tried to raise a hand, as if to question Takemura. But death gave him no time.

Thud.

The Tiger Claw boss—who'd ruled for years—fell. Just another corpse in the ever-shifting sands of Night City.

Øóffer going on for diamond tier

pàtreøn (Gk31)