Chapter 101: This 'V' Legend... You Have to Respect It
"Well, well. I thought you might not make it back, Rhys."
Rhys had just walked into Rogue's booth when her voice greeted him, laced with a hint of amusement. She leaned forward, elbows on her knees, chin in her hand, smiling at him.
"Why would you say that?" Rhys asked, confused, as everyone settled in.
"She didn't try to keep you? Impossible. Knowing her, if something is rare and has potential, she wants it. And a gem like you? There's no way she'd let go," Rogue said, tilting her head curiously.
"She tried, but Rhys turned her down!" Rebecca immediately piped up, raising her hand.
Rogue glanced at Rebecca and froze. "What... the hell is all that?"
Rebecca blinked, then grinned, proudly displaying her new chrome. Her small body seemed to unfold, revealing layers of high-end, military-grade implants. She lifted her chin, radiating pride.
Unlike the others, Rogue was Rebecca's idol. Being treated like a kid by Rogue didn't bother her at all. To Rogue, she was a kid. Her dad grew up on Rogue's stories, after all.
"Impressive. Your body can handle all that?" Rogue smiled, her gaze softening with appreciation.
With that much high-end hardware, if the kid got some real combat experience, she'd be on par with Wayland.
But experience took time. Street smarts couldn't be downloaded from a shard.
So, Rogue was surprised, but not shocked. She'd seen everything over the years. She'd faced down Adam Smasher himself (and almost fell out of a helicopter doing it).
"So you refused her?" Rogue turned back to Rhys, intrigued. "Let me tell you, that woman isn't someone who gives up just because she hears 'no.' She's greedy, ruthless, and cunning. Don't let that cute face fool you."
"In my opinion, there's no one more dangerous than her. Corporations eat you alive and spit out the bones. She eats you whole, bones and all, and somehow makes you want to be eaten. Makes you willingly hand over your life."
Rogue grimaced, clearly annoyed. "That kind of person is the worst."
Rhys nodded, agreeing completely.
Michiko Arasaka was... dangerously charismatic. Beautiful, cute, sweet voice, but her actions were a terrifying contrast. She was one of the most powerful people in the world, yet she didn't treat Rhys like a subordinate.
You could say it was an act, but... it worked. It made you feel comfortable. Like an emperor stopping to chat with a peasant. Even if you knew it was a performance, how could you not be grateful?
And what kind of person was Michiko?
She was basically God's perfect creation. Cute appearance, high IQ, high EQ, and a will of steel.
She'd turned a losing hand into a win when she was just fifteen or sixteen, facing down Arasaka and the NUSA. Who else could do that?
What was Rhys doing at fifteen? Reading manga and playing video games. Even in this world, at fifteen, he was just sweeping floors at Lizzie's.
Michiko was arm-wrestling world leaders at that age.
And her intelligence... she breezed through a PhD in Criminal Psychology like it was nothing. Smart people were annoying. Rhys had to read the manual for half a day just to figure out a new BD wreath, and his Intelligence was above average!
"I made a deal with her," Rhys told Rogue.
"A deal?" Rogue frowned. "She stopped Arasaka from hunting you, spun the media narrative, solved your biggest problem. She could have forcibly recruited you right there. Why would she make a deal?"
Rogue couldn't understand. She'd tried refusing Michiko back in the day, too. No matter how she justified it, Rogue was a traitor. She'd betrayed her allies.
But back then, lying in a hospital bed after the crash, she hadn't agreed to join Michiko immediately. She'd refused, argued... but Michiko countered every point, wore her down until she agreed.
So, a deal...
People with that much power didn't need to make deals. They just took what they wanted.
"Yes, a deal," Rhys nodded. "That's why I came to see you."
"Let's hear it."
Rhys took a deep breath. "The deal is... I have to become the King of Mercenaries in Night City within two years."
Rogue narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms defensively. She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "You become the King of Mercs... then where the hell does that leave me?"
"You're a fixer..." Rhys coughed awkwardly, scratching his head.
That was why he was here. To become the King of Night City, he needed Rogue. She was the current ruler of the underworld.
Rhys wanted to control both the legit and illegitimate sides of the city, to become a force the corps couldn't ignore.
But if he was King... what happened to Rogue?
"Fucker. Trying to usurp me, huh?" Rogue laughed, waving a hand. "Whatever. Continue."
"If I do it in two years, she drops the recruitment. And I do one favor for her."
"That's it?" Rogue looked confused.
"That's it."
"I don't get it." Rogue shook her head, serious now. "You're talented, Rhys. In all my years, I've never seen anyone like you. Not even Morgan Blackhand."
Blackhand was strong, but different. He had some chrome, Militech gear, and decades of battlefield experience. He was the King of Solos because of his brain and his tactical genius.
But Rhys? He was running on old tech and a glitched eye. He was dominating Night City on pure meat. His physical potential was clearly superior to Blackhand's.
But... that didn't justify Michiko backing down.
She'd done so much, spent so much political capital, just for a chance at a deal? And even if he succeeded, she only got one favor?
That wasn't like Michiko. When did she become a charity?
"Um... I think it's like this," Sasha spoke up suddenly.
Rogue looked at her.
Sasha cleared her throat. "Michiko agreed because of the condition: Rhys can't install any high-end combat chrome. No Sandevistan, no Kerenzikov, no subdermal armor, no second heart... nothing that directly boosts combat power."
"So, maybe Michiko wants Rhys to achieve this with a nearly organic body... so he can do something for her later?"
Rogue's eyes sharpened. She understood instantly.
Sasha continued, "If you have too much chrome, you can't get close to the big shots. Security scanners pick you up. Even if you ambush them, a jammer field or a localized EMP can shut you down. But a person with no chrome... but top-tier combat ability?"
Rogue finished the thought. "He could infiltrate anywhere. Walk right past security. Or wait in ambush for weeks..."
Damn. That's it.
I knew she wouldn't be that generous.
Rogue looked at Rhys with a mix of pity and understanding.
She could imagine exactly what kind of "favor" Michiko would ask.
An unchromed, elite killer... assassination would be too easy.
"So how do you plan to do it? With just this crew?" Rogue asked, relaxing.
She thought she'd lost out, but it turned out Rhys was the one getting played. Michiko never made a bad deal. Free is always the most expensive price.
She changed the subject, not wanting to push Rhys too hard. If he ran to Michiko now and accepted the recruitment, Michiko would absolutely back him. In North America, Michiko had more pull than the board in Tokyo. She had connections with Militech and the NUSA President.
Rhys understood Rogue's meaning, but he didn't voice his inner thoughts.
Rogue wouldn't believe him anyway.
Just wait a few months. When V shows up, I'll recruit her. Then the future is secure.
V will protect us!
He didn't know V's personality perfectly, but the game showed she valued loyalty. Jackie's storyline proved it.
V started as a street rat with nothing. If Rhys helped her then, she'd remember it.
Rhys knew V's background in this timeline. Nomad. Not Corpo, not Street Kid. He'd lived in Night City for five years and never heard of her. Jackie didn't know her either. So she had to be an outsider.
And in the game, V conquered Night City in months. She made Militech and Arasaka fear her. Even in this rotten world, true power transcended the rules.
Endgame V? She could solo Arasaka Tower. Don't fuck with the legend.
"I plan to start by taking out the Tyger Claws. Secure the underworld first, then maybe start a business," Rhys said.
"You don't have the manpower. You have the combat strength, but to control a district? You don't have enough people. Even with the Mox," Rogue shook her head.
"That's why I came to you. We can partner up. You provide the people and money, I provide the muscle. Split the territory 50/50."
"I don't need territory," Rogue shook her head again. "I don't need turf to prove my power. The Afterlife is enough."
Rhys paused.
"But... I can give you an idea."
"Oh?"
"Recruit mercs. Build your own force."
Rogue looked at him. "Like Johnny did. You don't have his charisma, but you have his shadow. People in the merc world are already calling you 'Little Silverhand.' You have fans in the Afterlife."
"These people hate the corps. If you speak up, they'll work for you. Maybe even for free. Johnny did it. And you're a better fighter than Johnny ever was."
Rhys was intrigued. And Maine was practically vibrating.
He'd said years ago that if the merc life failed, he'd join a gang with Rhys. Now... Rogue was suggesting Rhys build his own gang? Maine was all in. Being a founding member? Hell yeah.
Besides, with the crew getting stronger, being just "mercs" felt small.
Look at the top solos. How many were truly independent? Most had corpo backing. Only Spider Murphy maybe?
This guy had been mentioned a lot. Rhys hadn't known much about him, but Rogue had filled him in. She, Johnny, Spider, Blackhand, Murphy... they were the crew that nuked the Tower.
Wait. In the game, players saw Johnny duel Smasher. But that was Johnny's ego rewriting his memories. In reality, Smasher one-shotted Johnny. Spider Murphy held off the Arasaka elite, and Blackhand dueled Smasher so the others could escape.
"Build my own... force?" Rhys blinked.
"Yes. It doesn't conflict with our business. You don't want to be a fixer, right?" Rogue smiled.
Rhys nodded. "I'll try."
"I'll have a list prepared. Send Maine or Jackie to contact them. They'll be happy to join. Even if they don't join, they'll help you hit the Tyger Claws."
"Really? No eddies required?" Rhys asked. He was broke. Hiring mercs for a war cost thousands.
Rogue laughed. "No. Trust me."
"Fans are fanatics. Just like when Johnny raised his fist and a crowd followed him to their deaths against the corps."
"Rhys, try managing your image. In this era, if you don't make noise, you don't go far. Michiko is an expert at this. Learn from her. Learn... to build a persona."
"Alright, enough business. Let's drink."
Rogue knocked on the table. Claire brought in a tray of bottles.
Rogue poured drinks for everyone. smiling. "Welcome back to Night City."
"Thanks."
Everyone raised their glasses.
Jackie was ecstatic. Kiwi was flushed.
They were drinking with Rogue. A few months ago, this would have been a fantasy.
Rhys raised his glass, but his mind was on Rogue's words.
My own force...
He couldn't be a merc forever. As he got stronger, he needed a power base.
Especially for business. Eddies were king. If he recruited V, she'd need top-tier chrome. And V didn't care about cyberpsychosis—she just slotted everything. That cost money.
Beg Michiko? If she found out about V... she'd snatch her up. V wasn't Yorinobu or Hanako; Michiko wouldn't underestimate her.
So, business...
What business?
Wait. Gloria.
Rhys's eyes lit up.
Gloria was a genius at this. She managed to send David to Arasaka Academy on a scavenger's income. If he gave her power, resources... what could she build?
"Drink up, Rhys!" Maine shouted, seeing him space out.
"Coming, coming."
Rhys shook off his thoughts and downed his drink.