Arthur had dozed off again... Meredith's wine was smooth, and he hadn't been the least bit shy about drinking it.
When he was finally stirred awake, the sun had set completely, and City Center was only just beginning to come alive.
"You're not being polite at all... huh? You really think this place is your home?" Meredith sat across from Arthur, still in her executive uniform, her shoes tossed carelessly aside.
Arthur went straight to the point. "Alright, tell me. What's this about?"
He ignored her grating tone. Set that aside, and she was actually easy enough to deal with.
"..." Meredith hesitated, resting her hand on her forehead before sinking deep into the sofa. "I'm getting a promotion... but it's just for show. They want to stick me in Government Relations—shuffling papers and putting on a clown act for the cameras."
She lay sprawled out, completely relaxed. Dim light fell across her as she closed her eyes. "It's complicated... tied to Night City's politics.
This city is independent, its autonomy propped up by the tycoons gathered here in the plaza... Things inside are delicate. The setup means every corporate branch in Night City has carved out its own sphere of influence, separate from headquarters."
Meredith opened her eyes, glanced at Arthur's distracted face, then rolled her eyes shut again.
She kept going anyway. "Like I said... it's not just Militech. Take Arasaka. Trouble starts in Japan, Yorinobu Arasaka runs off to Night City... and Saburo himself shows up, only to end up dead.
Point is, Saburo's word might not have carried as much weight in Night City as people thought."
She grabbed a jacket from the couch and tossed it at Arthur. If she didn't keep him engaged, he was liable to nod off again.
"I'm listening," Arthur muttered, spreading his hands in resignation.
"The company's nowhere near as stable as it looks. Struggles are everywhere—and not just petty squabbles between low-level suits."
Her brow tightened as she went on. "Militech's two most valuable arms are its security forces... and its research division.
As head of Operations, I should've slid right into the Director's chair and a spot on the High Executive Council. The old man above me is due for retirement anyway.
But now... headquarters is sticking its nose in. They want to take Operations for themselves, to tighten control over the Night City branch.
I'll admit it... our new president is ambitious. And me? Looks like I'll just have to swallow it."
"If you called me just to complain..." Arthur shrugged, trailing off. "But if you want me to do something crazy, I can't help you there."
He spread his hands. "Sorry, but we tangled with Arasaka a few days back and barely made it out. For now, I'd rather steer clear of giants like you."
"Relax, Arthur... I don't push my luck." Meredith showed no offense at his blunt refusal—if anything, his honesty put her at ease.
She sat up slightly, finally laying her cards on the table. "Originally, I was going to just take the appointment. Sure, it would mean leaving Operations... but Government Relations isn't the worst place to ride things out.
The promotion came because of my track record, and word had already spread internally.
Bad timing. I got unlucky and ran headfirst into headquarters' agenda.
So, the other option... I could just stay put. Decline the promotion. They'd get the message. In fact, they'd probably be glad to have me here, a counterweight to whatever puppet they parachute in."
"Alright, I get it," Arthur grumbled. "So what do you actually want from me? Spell it out—I ain't good at riddles."
"Fine... you really are a dumbass." She cursed under her breath, then finally said: "All I need is to make a 'mistake.' The higher-ups will see it for what it is and tell me to reflect.
Think about it—if I take a hit, someone else gets the gain. Doesn't matter who—hell, it could be some bum off the street.
At first, I wasn't going to do it. I'm not in the habit of handing out freebies to strangers. But now... don't you see?"
"This is dangerous..." Arthur warned, giving her a measured look.
"Yeah... it ain't safe. Could be a setup." She stared down at the glass on the table, not denying it.
The silence didn't last long before she toyed with the glass in her hand.. "But I won't just roll over. I've been breaking my back since I was seventeen, worn down to nothing. At thirty, I look like I'm pushing fifty.
And after all that, they want to stick me in some clown job on TV to shut me up?
No. That's decided. I'll 'lose' a shipment—and you'll pick it up."
"I'll just be keeping it safe for you... And keep this quiet. I don't need a pack of mercs breathing down my neck." Arthur stressed again.
But now, with things at this point, Arthur felt conflicted. If she'd asked him for help, he could've bargained—maybe asked about V's condition, even pushed her to involve Militech's research division.
Instead, she was just giving him something. He didn't know what, but if it came from Militech, it had to be worth plenty.
"Come on..." Seeing him hesitate, Meredith's mood lightened a little. She pressed him: "Didn't you say you needed my help? Something about someone needing treatment?"
"You know what I mean. Relic—your competitor's latest product," Arthur said firmly. V's life was on the line; pride could wait.
"Relic... protect your soul." Meredith stroked her chin in thought. "That thing... Arasaka's got it locked down tight.
As for Militech? Our lab coats are too busy figuring out how to make the flames of an explosion burn higher."
...