Chapter 161: The Whole Story
"V, the quality of your information is decent, and its reliability is high. I believe you didn't lie to me."
At this moment, Bryce was grinning from ear to ear. "To repay your honesty, I'll throw in another piece of intel about the Federal Intelligence Agency for free!"
"This intel has plenty of buyers willing to pay for it. It won't make you wealthy enough to retire, but it could earn you a decent windfall."
Hearing it was about the Federal Intelligence Agency, V immediately perked up and asked eagerly,
"I don't have time to verify its authenticity right now. Can you guarantee this intel is real?"
Facing V's doubt, Bryce confidently patted his chest and replied, "V, rest assured, it's absolutely legit!"
"Do you think someone in my line of work would sell you fake intel?"
Bryce smiled, then habitually lowered his voice, speaking with a mysterious and cautious tone:
"Solomon Reed, the Federal Intelligence Agency agent who supposedly died in the Cyan Peak Tower incident, is actually still alive. He's back working for Miles now!"
After saying this, Bryce looked at V with a determined expression, nodding solemnly to underscore the credibility of his intel.
"This guy's a real piece of work—arguably the best agent the Federal Intelligence Agency has had in years. Right now, he's undercover in Dogtown."
"This is firsthand information straight from inside the agency, and it's unquestionably reliable. Many companies are eager to buy intel on the Federal Intelligence Agency. You could resell this and make a fortune!"
After listening to Bryce's intel, V didn't show much excitement. He had heard of the name "Reed" before and vaguely recalled the Arasaka Tower incident involving Federal Intelligence Agency operatives, but he wasn't sure if they all truly died.
If someone like Reed really survived, it would imply that LA Corp, which had sealed the scene immediately, had privately reached some kind of deal with him.
Although V wasn't clear on what sort of deal might have been struck, he guessed it was likely related to intelligence gathering.
After all, Reed was a professional agent skilled in intelligence and infiltration, and LA Corp would undoubtedly value someone with his abilities.
However, if Reed continued to maintain contact with his former employer while working for LA Corp, it would make him a classic double agent—essentially working two jobs and becoming a model worker in the espionage world.
"Alright, this intel might be of some use to me."
V couldn't help but scrutinize Bryce, admitting to himself that this guy was indeed a talent when it came to intelligence work—able to dig up even such classified information.
It was a good thing LA Corp had decent internal security. Otherwise, V reckoned he would've been outed as the lone wolf infiltrator long ago.
"Alright, V, since our deal is done and we've exchanged intel, isn't it time to let me go? Time is money, and I've got a ton of stuff to do."
Bryce pleaded with a pained expression. He had only intended to scrape some info from the Voodoo Boys' subnet and leave, but he was still stuck here.
If his day had gone as planned, he could've been enjoying a classic Western movie at a private cinema or unwinding at a Braindance club by now. Instead, he was stuck in this room, unsure of what he was waiting for.
"No way. You're staying here with me. Until my boss calls, neither of us is leaving this room!"
V's tone suddenly became stern. He wouldn't let Bryce leave and risk spreading information before the job was complete, potentially ruining Li Ang 's plan.
Seeing that he couldn't leave, Bryce resigned himself to lying on the bed in a daze. He figured he'd wait it out—see who had more patience. No way was he letting V outlast him.
Fortunately, V soon received a call from LA Corp. Stepping outside the room to answer, Bryce stealthily followed, hoping to overhear some usable intel.
However, V's replies were frustratingly brief, consisting mostly of "Mm, okay, got it," giving Bryce nothing of value.
"The mission is complete. You're free to go about your business. Here's your bonus from Mr. Li Ang . Stay safe."
The caller was V's superior, Alt Cunningham. After giving instructions, Alt transferred 100,000 eurodollars to V's account as a reward.
Ding!
The notification sound of a successful transfer echoed.
The moment the money hit his account, V was floored by LA Corp's generosity. This was the largest reward he had ever earned from a mission!
If he had known infiltrating the Voodoo Boys' Neptune subnet and installing a chip would pay this much, who would bother with low-paying, high-effort jobs from fixers?
V couldn't help but lament his past efforts, working tirelessly for those middlemen, only to earn a fraction of what LA Corp had just paid him.
What a waste!
"By the way, I've come across some additional intel during this mission. I need to report directly to the boss."
V didn't plan to withhold what he'd discovered. The intel was too scattered and vague for him and Johnny to piece together the full truth.
Instead of wasting time investigating, it was more efficient to ask Li Ang directly.
"Understood. I'll patch you through to Mr. Li Ang . Before reporting, make sure there are no suspicious individuals nearby."
Ever-cautious, Alt reminded V before transferring the call to Li Ang .
"Got it."
After speaking, V activated a Tier 6 Network Access Pod and used an ICE hacking protocol to short-circuit Bryce's brain, knocking him out instantly.
Although this type of cyberattack wasn't fatal, it was enough to keep Bryce unconscious for half a day.
V then connected with Li Ang , reporting everything he had gathered in meticulous detail.
Upon learning about the eccentric intelligence dealer Bryce, Li Ang couldn't help but chuckle. He had no intention of recruiting Bryce but found the situation amusing.
For LA Corp, Bryce lacked the unique value required to justify investment. The company's intelligence division had long relied on the AI Red and White Queens for comprehensive data gathering, covering everything from Night City to the world at large.
Compared to field agents, AI intelligence gathering was far superior in speed and efficiency.
"V, you did an excellent job on this mission. Keep up the good work, and report any new findings."
Li Ang praised V and personally added an extra 100,000 eurodollars as a reward for his detailed reporting—a sign of appreciation for V's professionalism.
Although Li Ang was already aware of Reed's dealings with Miles, it didn't bother him. As long as Reed fulfilled his tasks, his loyalty or double-agent status was irrelevant. To LA Corp, Reed was a tool—useful until he wasn't.
What pleased Li Ang most was V's initiative in reporting everything promptly, demonstrating his reliability and potential for further cultivation as a trusted subordinate.
"This is my duty. By the way, Mr. Li Ang , I have some questions regarding the Russian network blackout and Reed."
Seizing the opportunity, V voiced his lingering doubts, seeking clarity. The unresolved mysteries had been bothering him for a long time.
Li Ang candidly explained the background of the Transcendent AI and Reed's role, even sharing Reed's current location.
With all the pieces finally falling into place, V felt a surge of enlightenment, as if a blocked pipeline had suddenly cleared.
After hanging up, V finally relaxed. Glancing at the unconscious Bryce, he transferred 800 eurodollars for medical expenses and quietly left.
Bryce didn't regain consciousness until midday the next day, waking up with a splitting headache.
"Damn it... That bastard's a hacker!"
Realizing he'd been outplayed, Bryce cursed under his breath. After ensuring he hadn't lost anything valuable, he noticed an 800-eurodollar transfer in his account.
Instinctively, he checked himself for injuries, and upon confirming everything was intact, he breathed a sigh of relief.
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