Chapter Summaries

Carl reviewed messages from his team and friends before receiving an unexpected inquiry from a Netrunner Oversight agent about his team’s availability. He replied by asking why the agent needed help when the Animals Gang had been guarding him under a long-term contract.

• Carl posted jobs from Father, Old Captain, and other fixers in the team channel for his teammates to choose from.
• Carl read Brown’s photo from Morocco and learned from Blanca’s message that she and Meredith had been promoted at Militech.
• Carl reflected on Arasaka’s promotion system and Adam Smasher’s authority as head of Arasaka Tower security.
• Carl read Haruko’s update about another confrontation between Arakawa Sesen and Arasaka Saburo, then noted that Night City had been unusually peaceful.
• A Netrunner Oversight agent contacted Carl to ask whether his team was available, and Carl asked why the agent needed help despite having Animals Gang guards on contract.

Carl told Jack that Netrunner Oversight had hired their crew to prepare for a covert strike against the Voodoo Boys, with a valuable Access Port offered as payment. She then left for the Badlands to collect an ACPA, which she planned to store at home, while Jack wondered whether V could repair it.

• Carl explained that Netrunner Oversight wanted the crew ready to assist with a covert operation against the Voodoo Boys’ leadership.
• Carl said the job paid a 300,000-eddy deposit and a Netrunner Oversight Net-Drive Mk.I Access Port after completion, and she intended to take it.
• Jack and Carl discussed inspecting the Access Port for a possible backdoor and joked about custom-made weapons.
• Carl told Jack that an ACPA had arrived and that she was going to the Badlands to arrange its transport home.
• Carl said V had studied the ACPA’s repair materials, leaving Jack unsure whether V could handle the machine.

Carl visited the Aldecaldos camp, where its members had grown closer to the NCPD and Sixth Street Gang through their shared transport route. Saul eagerly admired Carl’s heavily armored ACPA, but she said it was for her group’s own use.

• Carl greeted Mitch and learned Saul was in the armored tent, while an NCPD officer drank at the camp bar.
• Carl reflected on the transport route’s success, Mr. Johnson’s growing influence in the NCPD, and her discomfort at officers calling her “ma’am.”
• Aldecaldos members greeted Carl near the armored tent and discussed her equipment, with Carl offering to look into getting them drones.
• Saul jumped down from a towering ACPA and asked Carl to leave it with the Aldecaldos, but she refused.
• Carl admired the ACPA’s heavy armor and told Saul it was for her group’s own use.

Carl transported an ACPA into Night City with the Aldecaldos and planned to study it so he could exploit its weaknesses in a future fight with Adam Smasher. A roadblock brought him together with Orionna, now an NCPD officer, who revealed how much the department respected him.

• An Aldecaldos driver explained that ordinary contraband could pass inspections, but transporting the ACPA risked a major political incident.
• Carl decided to keep the ACPA and study its weak points, hoping to prepare for another fight with Adam Smasher.
• The truck encountered an NCPD roadblock in Heywood, where Carl recognized Orionna, a former mercenary who had joined the police.
• Orionna explained that she joined the NCPD after Kormac and Kile died and her uncle remained a threat to her family.
• Orionna cleared the road for Carl and invited him to visit the station, while her colleagues showed their respect as his truck drove away.

Carl watched a Braindance recording of Mayor Lucius Rhyne at a press conference and heard him announce that Pacifica’s crime data would be excluded from Night City’s overall statistics. The revelation left Carl wondering whether the City Council was abandoning Pacifica.

• Carl and V continued examining the ACPA at home when Oliver returned with a Braindance he thought Carl would find interesting.
• Carl started the recording and recognized its perspective as belonging to Mayor Lucius Rhyne, with Vice Mayor Wilton Holt present.
• Oliver explained that the Braindance was a recording of a public political appearance obtained on the black market.
• Carl resumed playback and watched Lucius Rhyne address a press conference about Pacifica’s crime rate.
• Lucius Rhyne announced that Pacifica’s crime data would no longer count toward Night City’s overall crime statistics, and Carl paused the recording in shock.

Carl learned that Mayor Lucius Rhyne had announced Pacifica would no longer fall under Night City’s management or crime statistics, and recognized the move as a timely boost to Rhyne’s reelection prospects. He also suspected the policy could help New America and Militech establish a hidden presence in Pacifica, leaving him questioning whether Rhyne had shifted his allegiance away from Arasaka.

• Carl recalled that the former NCPD commissioner had proposed removing Pacifica and the Badlands from Night City’s jurisdiction before he was killed.
• Oliver welcomed the decision, saying he and his associates could use Pacifica to stash goods and avoid City Council scrutiny.
• Carl realized that many Night City residents would support abandoning Pacifica and that Lucius Rhyne had announced the policy near the mayoral election against Jefferson Peralez.
• Carl considered whether Rhyne’s disrespect toward Arakawa Sesen and his decision to abandon Pacifica pointed to a new alliance.
• Carl suspected New America could use ungoverned Pacifica to conceal agents and forces, with Militech behind it.

Kenichi Shiro asked Carl to meet Vice Mayor Weldon Holt in Night City, and Carl deduced that Arasaka wanted to remove Mayor Lucius Rhyne. Kenichi Shiro told Carl to coordinate the meeting through Kenichi Kazuya, leaving Carl wondering about his payment.

• Kenichi Shiro called Carl and offered to arrange whatever he needed before asking him to meet Weldon Holt within two months.
• Carl guessed the job involved the City Council's planned Pacifica clearance operation, but Kenichi Shiro said it was neither about maintaining order nor sabotaging the plan.
• Carl inferred that Arasaka suspected Mayor Lucius Rhyne was turning toward Militech and wanted to arrange his removal with the Vice Mayor's help.
• Kenichi Shiro told Carl to think through how to handle the matter and contact Kenichi Kazuya to arrange the meeting.
• After Kenichi Shiro hung up, Carl realized he had not mentioned payment.

Carl met Vice Mayor Weldon Holt to discuss killing Mayor Lucius, rejected a plan to attack him on the road, and warned Holt not to treat the KK Squad as disposable pawns. Holt then proposed arranging an accident at one of Lucius's private destinations, where his reputation would discourage a thorough investigation.

• Weldon Holt told Carl that Lucius would travel to the City Council and offered to provide his vehicle route.
• Carl rejected an attack on the road because it would make the KK Squad's escape and concealment too difficult.
• Carl threatened to kill Weldon Holt alongside the mayor if Holt tried to use the KK Squad as sacrificial pawns.
• Weldon Holt said he had another person suited to carry out the mission and needed Carl's assistance.
• Weldon Holt proposed causing an accident at one of Lucius's private destinations, where his reputation would limit the investigation.

Carl's team agreed to plant a virus-laden braindance for Lucius Rhyne at the invitation-only Red Queen's Race, with Weldon Holt responsible for staging a failed assassination attempt and the team responsible once Rhyne entered the club. They left the restaurant after a pair of thieves accidentally opened a way in, and Carl received a new message from Haruko the next morning.

• Oliver summarized Weldon Holt's plan to stage a Cyberpsychosis assassination attempt and frame it as a failure, then have Lucius Rhyne seek comfort at Red Queen's Race.
• Carl, V, Jack, and Oliver agreed that Holt would handle the press conference and club visit, while their team would plant the virus-laden braindance and bear responsibility for what happened inside the club.
• Carl's team noticed two street thieves entering the restaurant and used the opportunity to leave without drawing attention.
• The thieves began stealing tableware after Carl and his team departed.
• Carl received a new message from Haruko the next morning.

Carl chatted with Haruko while making breakfast, and their conversation turned to Christmas cake. Haruko proposed spending Christmas together, leaving Carl to invite her to the Afterlife bar so she could still attend Mrs. Welles's Christmas dinner.

• Carl made breakfast and asked Oliver to help serve it and wake V and Jack.
• Oliver, V, Jack, and Carl ate breakfast while leaving T-BUG to sleep after her late night.
• Carl asked V to make her a breakfast sandwich while she continued chatting with Haruko.
• Haruko offered to make Carl a Christmas cake, and Carl agreed to taste it.
• Haruko suggested they spend Christmas together, so Carl invited her to celebrate at the Afterlife bar.

Carl and her friends planned a Christmas party, inviting Arasaka Haruko and a growing list of friends and family. They settled on Carl's house as the venue, and Blanca agreed to come.

• Carl told the team she planned to invite Arasaka Haruko, and they casually discussed preparing enough food and utensils for the guests.
• The group considered inviting Kenichi Shiro, Mr. Johnson, Andy, Oliver's family, Jade, Old Vic, Misty, Brown, Maine's crew, and Kerry, then chose Carl's house as the party venue.
• Carl messaged Kenichi Shiro, who declined because he was busy.
• Maki invited Carl to a Christmas cake gathering at Haruko's place, and Carl invited Maki to her own party instead.
• Blanca asked where the party would be, and after Carl said it was at her house, Blanca agreed to come.

Oliver, Jack, V, and Carl watched the crowd gather for Lucius Rhyne’s press conference and discussed the Night City Police Department’s improved equipment and growing influence. Carl approached Andy inside the cordon, leaving him to wonder whether Lucius Rhyne was the target of her mission.

• Oliver and his companions arrived disguised at the crowded press conference venue and decided to wait for a chance to follow Weldon Holt’s plan to the club.
• Jack, Carl, and V discussed how the Night City Police Department’s upgraded equipment had helped it restrain street gangs and improve order.
• Carl spotted Andy among the officers, went to speak with him, and agreed to tell him about Christmas.
• Andy recognized Carl by her modified phone and let her through the cordon.
• Andy glanced toward Lucius Rhyne onstage and wondered whether he was Carl’s mission target.

Carl went undercover as an NCPD officer at Lucius Rhyne’s press conference, where he expected a cyberpsycho to attack the mayor. He joined Andy and another sergeant on security duty, and the NCPD officers quietly kept him protected as the event began.

• Andy helped Carl change into an NCPD uniform and gave him an Ajax Rifle before the press conference.
• Carl invited Andy to celebrate Christmas with him, and Andy said she would come if her schedule allowed.
• Carl reunited with Mr. Johnson’s niece, now an NCPD sergeant, and offered to connect her with people who could help edit and sell her braindances.
• The niece told Andy that security was in place, and Carl warned them that a cyberpsycho might try to kill the mayor.
• Carl, Andy, and the other sergeant entered Corporate Plaza, where NCPD officers subtly formed a protective circle around Carl.

Carl identified Peter Horvath as he approached Lucius Rhyne’s speech, then watched him launch a cyberpsycho attack on the mayor. As Peter leaped past Carl and reached Lucius, NCPD chief Andy rushed toward the danger.

• Carl recognized Peter Horvath in the crowd and identified his extensive cyberware as he moved toward Lucius Rhyne.
• Carl warned the NCPD over their shared network, and officers opened a path while keeping the crowd back.
• Peter Horvath extended his Mantis Blades and sprinted toward Lucius Rhyne, ignoring an NCPD officer who blocked his route.
• Peter sensed that attacking Carl would get him killed, so he used his Charge Jump to leap past her toward the mayor.
• Lucius Rhyne panicked as Peter flew toward him, but he saw NCPD chief Andy rushing to intervene.

Andy subdued Peter Horvath after Peter attacked Mayor Lucius Rhyne during a City Council press conference. The incident was broadcast live, leaving the public impressed by Andy and the Night City Police Department.

• Peter Horvath lunged at Lucius Rhyne, and Andy stepped in to protect the mayor.
• Andy dodged Peter Horvath's Mantis Blades, struck him with an elbow, and knocked him unconscious with a controlled electric shock from his baton.
• Night City Police Department officers secured the scene as reporters announced that Lucius Rhyne was safe and the attacker had been subdued.
• The crowd saw Peter Horvath lying before Andy and learned that an officer had stopped the cyberpsycho in less than half a minute.
• Reporters praised Andy's actions, and the public gained a stronger impression of the Night City Police Department.

After a Cyberpsychosis attack disrupted Lucius Rhyne’s press conference, he ordered Weldon Holt to take the blame and went to the Red Queen’s Race Club to plan his response. Holt secretly plotted against him while four mercenaries in a Rayfield Hera began following their vehicle.

• Lucius Rhyne ordered his staff to investigate who was backing Peter Horvath and to find them.
• Lucius Rhyne blamed Weldon Holt for the attack and told him to accept responsibility in the official statement.
• Lucius Rhyne promised Weldon Holt continued influence and a chance at the mayor’s seat after his term.
• Weldon Holt drove Lucius Rhyne toward the Red Queen’s Race Club while secretly planning to remove him.
• Four mercenaries in a Rayfield Hera began tailing Lucius Rhyne and Weldon Holt’s vehicle.

Weldon Holt delivered Lucius Rhyne to the Red Queen's Race, then left to establish an alibi while the KK Squad infiltrated the club. Carl, V, and Jack entered through a concealed route as Lucius called his backer, Mr. Harford.

• Weldon Holt dropped Lucius Rhyne at the club and told him he would return, then departed to secure his alibi.
• Oliver stayed outside in the Rayfield Hera while Carl, V, and Jack approached the club under cover of darkness.
• Jack asked T-BUG how they could bypass the club's protected entrance, and she identified a route through an emergency exit and storage area.
• Carl followed T-BUG's directions into an abandoned building and found the hidden entrance behind collapsed shelves.
• Lucius Rhyne called Mr. Harford from inside the club to discuss the trouble at the press conference.

Lucius Rhyne accepted Militech CEO Lucas Harford’s support and planned to surrender the Badlands from Night City’s jurisdiction in return. Carl and Jack then ambushed Rhyne in a private room and prepared to force him to use the virus-loaded braindance chip.

• Lucius Rhyne spoke with Lucas Harford, who promised political funding in exchange for Rhyne’s support.
• Rhyne decided to carve the Badlands out of Night City’s jurisdiction, completing Militech’s encirclement of the city.
• Oliver worried that Rhyne was not using the virus-loaded braindance, which the mission required to make his death appear accidental.
• Carl dropped through the ceiling, and Jack restrained Rhyne when he tried to reach an emergency call button.
• Carl revealed his identity, picked up the braindance chip, and prepared to force it into Rhyne.

Carl prepared a Christmas party at his apartment while Kerry Eurodyne waited for the guests and complained about the old news on the television. Maine’s Crew arrived, and David and Lucy joined them as Carl began cooking with help from Maine and Dorio; the party was still waiting for the rest of the guests.

• Kerry complained to Carl about the television and asked when V and the others would arrive.
• Brown praised Carl as Night City’s best mercenary while Kerry recalled Brown protecting him from an obsessed fan.
• Rebecca and the others from Maine’s Crew arrived and recognized Kerry Eurodyne.
• Maine and Dorio offered to help Carl prepare the food, and Carl mentioned that the meat had been sponsored.
• David and Lucy arrived, and David greeted Kerry after recognizing the rock superstar.

Carl hosted a crowded holiday gathering as visitors from across Night City arrived, including officers, gang leaders, mercenaries, and friends. Just as Carl finished counting the guests, Blanca arrived at the duplex.

• Viktor, Old Vic, Mrs. Welles, and Misty arrived, and Misty told Carl that his Tarot card was the Lovers.
• Andy and the Night City Police Department's Deputy Director arrived after handling a street riot with Mr. Johnson.
• Old Man Oliver and Nottingham Whelio arrived, followed by Panam and V, and T-BUG came downstairs in casual clothes.
• Jade arrived and helped Carl prepare food as the guests filled the duplex.
• Carl counted the visitors and then saw Blanca step out of the elevator.