The next forty-eight hours became an inescapable nightmare for Arasaka's counterintelligence division.
Morell's figure moved through Night City's back alleys and high-rises like a reaper's ghost.
She first infiltrated an Arasaka safe house in Charter Hill. Leveraging the Sandevistan's incredible speed, she breached layer after layer of defenses before alarm systems could react.
Sonic blades carved lethal arcs through darkness—guards dropping before they could raise weapons.
After the entire facility fell silent, she methodically destroyed all data storage equipment, finally using her sonic blade to carve a clear cogwheel emblem into the control room's metal wall.
Next, her target shifted to Arasaka's secret liaison station near City Center.
Same scene played out again—precise, efficient elimination. All personnel dead before realizing danger. Critical materials completely destroyed.
These two surgical strikes plunged Arasaka counterintelligence into unprecedented panic.
Director Jenkins—facing massive pressure from corporate leadership—finally understood he'd provoked an enemy far beyond conventional comprehension.
Continued resistance would only bring total disaster to the entire division.
After an emergency executive meeting, Jenkins made the pragmatic call: throw someone under the bus.
He needed calming the opponent's fury while preserving Arasaka's face as much as possible.
He dispatched Deputy Director Valerie—a negotiation expert known for flexible tactics—attempting to establish contact with the other party.
Valerie knew perfectly well conventional channels had failed.
She mobilized her street-level network built over years. Through intermediary connections, she finally contacted Maine.
When Maine heard "Arasaka Counterintelligence Deputy Director" through encrypted comms, his first instinct was terminating the call.
But Valerie's message was crystal clear—this wasn't new provocation but a peace signal.
Maine cautiously brought this situation back to the wasteland stronghold.
After team discussion, they unanimously agreed reporting upward was necessary.
Maine relayed Arasaka's contact request to Cairo through external workshop communications equipment.
Cairo listened to the report, crimson optical lenses flickering slightly.
He hated pointless time-wasting but detested persistent trouble even more.
After brief deliberation, he agreed to this contact.
"Fine." Cairo's voice came through the communicator. "Let Morell handle it."
With permission granted, Maine replied through original channels to the intermediary.
Soon, a one-time encrypted comms channel was established.
Morell connected at the designated time, waiting silently for the other party's statement.
Once comms connected, Valerie's voice came through the encrypted channel, maintaining cautious, professional tones: "Ms. Morell, on behalf of Arasaka Corporation—particularly Counterintelligence Director Jenkins—I offer sincere apologies to you and your 'Master' regarding the recent conflict incident."
She deliberately paused, seemingly weighing her words: "Following internal investigation, we've confirmed this attack was entirely approved unilaterally by Executive Director Abernathy. She gravely violated company decision-making protocols.
This operation was completely her personal reckless decision—absolutely does not represent Arasaka Corporation's position."
Valerie's tone became more earnest: "To demonstrate our sincerity, Arasaka is willing to provide reasonable compensation for losses caused by this incident.
We hope establishing smoother communication channels with you and your Master, ensuring similar misunderstandings never recur."
The subtext was abundantly clear: Arasaka chose compromise, willing to hand over Abernathy as scapegoat in exchange for ceasefire.
Morell listened quietly, reporting the communication contents and Arasaka's proposal completely to Cairo.
Cairo was entirely unsurprised.
Corporations' nature was seeking profit, avoiding harm.
He had zero interest in Arasaka's internal power struggles. Abernathy's personal fate meant nothing to him.
He only needed ensuring similar interference never recurred.
Cairo listened to Morell's report, optical lenses calmly sweeping across data interfaces.
He wasn't surprised—corporate compromise was completely within expectations.
"Accept their terms." Cairo's voice steady as always. "But demand they immediately pay corresponding compensation. I'll give you the list shortly."
He paused briefly, supplementing: "As for Abernathy... since they chose offering her as settlement, let her become concrete embodiment of this lesson.
Ensure she understands the cost of continued provocation."
His tone maintained transactional calm throughout, as if arranging the most ordinary work.
To him, Abernathy's personal fate mattered far less than ensuring compensation arrived.
This response was more like completing necessary procedures—objective being eliminating future troubles, not venting emotions.
Morell acknowledged the order.
She relayed Cairo's ceasefire conditions to Valerie but said nothing about Abernathy's subsequent handling.
After comms ended, Valerie breathed deeply, thinking the crisis was resolved.
However, Morell's actions weren't finished.
Following Cairo's instructions, she locked onto Abernathy herself.
The former executive director—upon learning two facilities were destroyed and Valerie had mediated—felt somewhat reassured yet remained vigilant, hiding in a rarely-used safe house in North Oak.
Morell tracked Abernathy's encrypted communication lines, precisely pinpointing the safe house.
During the darkest moment before dawn, she appeared ghost-like in Abernathy's bedroom.
When Abernathy was startled awake by cold sensation and low-frequency humming at her neck, she saw Morell's faintly-glowing eyes in darkness.
Sonic blade tips hovered near her throat. Invisible vibrations made her hair stand on end.
"Arasaka's greed must pay its price." Morell's voice was bone-chillingly cold. "This is response to the ambush, also your lesson."
Before words finished, sonic blade flashed.
Abernathy didn't even feel pain—only seeing her right hand severed cleanly at the wrist before blood finally gushed forth.
Under her horrified gaze, Morell pinned the severed hand to the headboard, then silently departed—leaving Abernathy collapsed on the bed, entire body soaked in cold sweat and blood.
Though she'd kept her life, losing her right hand sent Abernathy's status within Arasaka plummeting.
She was transferred from counterintelligence's important positions, placed in an insignificant sinecure.
This outcome was both personal punishment and warning to other potential Arasaka provocateurs.
This conflict—initiated by Arasaka—ultimately ended with their heavy losses, sacrificing scapegoats, accepting harsh warnings.
Through this incident, Militech gained clearer understanding of Cairo's terrifying power.
They both felt fortunate choosing trade over confrontation while desires for obtaining these technologies became more urgent and cautious.
Night City's factional balance—through this transaction and reckoning—was undergoing subtle yet profound changes.