Chapter Summaries

V learned that Songbird was Reid’s former trainee and had once been ordered to betray him, yet Reid still planned to save her. Reid deciphered her coded message, which gave V and Reid a location for the way to rescue her.

• V questioned the risks of saving Songbird and worried about New America regaining control of her.
• Reid explained that Songbird was his former trainee and that she had sent him into a mission where he was presumed dead.
• Reid told V that Songbird had passed on his intel under orders to protect other agents, and that he understood she had no choice.
• Reid finished deciphering Songbird’s message: she was going to die and asked him to save her.
• Songbird’s message directed them to look beneath the empty sofa beside the Tiger Claws’ seats.

Reid and V learned that Song Zhaomei had betrayed Rosalind Myles to obtain the Neural Matrix, which could remove the Blackwall’s influence from her. They planned to steal the activation codes from two hackers at Hansen’s banquet, while V urged Reid to leave his dangerous work behind.

• Reid explained that Song Zhaomei had arranged the Air Force One crash and played both Myles and Hansen because she needed a way to survive the Blackwall’s effects.
• Reid told V that the Neural Matrix could cleanse Song Zhaomei and that it was at the stadium, but they first needed to retrieve its activation codes.
• Reid identified two redheaded twin hackers at the banquet as the people carrying the codes and asked V to get them.
• V criticized Song Zhaomei for making others do the dirty work and urged Reid to join his crew instead.
• Reid declined to discuss leaving his work and said they would talk about it later.

V received covert trackers and 100,000 eurodollars from Reid so he could approach the hacker siblings Aymeric-Cassel and Aurore-Cassel at the roulette table. After exchanging 150,000 eurodollars for chips, V recognized Carl beside him at the counter.

• Reid gave V two miniature trackers and explained where to place them on Aymeric-Cassel and Aurore-Cassel.
• Reid provided V with 100,000 eurodollars and warned him to approach the siblings before they checked their implants again.
• V pocketed the trackers and went to exchange money for gambling chips.
• V exchanged 150,000 eurodollars and noticed a black-haired young man exchanging 400,000 eurodollars.
• The young man winked, and V recognized him as Carl.

V joined Aymeric Cassel and Aurore Cassel at a roulette table, where he bet on red and Aurore wagered on black. Carl, who did not know the game, followed V by betting two hundred thousand euros on red, leaving the table waiting for the result.

• V took the seat opposite Aymeric Cassel and Aurore Cassel and agreed to play roulette.
• Aurore asked V what he would bet, and he chose red while she bet on black.
• V noticed Carl was unfamiliar with roulette but could not warn her while others watched.
• Carl followed V's bet and placed two hundred thousand euros on red, drawing the guests' attention.

At the roulette table, Carl, V, and the Casel siblings placed increasingly bold bets while Aurore and V quietly tested and watched one another. After red won twice, Aymeric bet his remaining chips on black, convinced the next spin had to break the streak.

• Carl ordered True Water, while V introduced himself to Aurore and Aymeric as Ramon and offered to buy them drinks.
• Aymeric predicted the roulette ball would land on red 19, and V and Carl collected winnings from their bets.
• Aurore discussed the odds of consecutive red results with V, then bet fifty thousand euros on black while V and Carl bet on red.
• The wheel landed on red again, winning V and Carl's bets and astonishing the guests, Aurore, and Aymeric.
• Aymeric ignored Aurore's warning signal and pushed his remaining one hundred thousand euros in chips onto black.

Carl, V, and Aymeric made increasingly risky roulette bets as the game approached its end. Carl wagered five hundred thousand on red and four hundred thousand on the red number 1, leaving the outcome—and the winner—undecided.

• Aymeric went all in with one hundred thousand on black, and V risked all two hundred and ten thousand of his chips on red.
• Aurore bet on black, while Aymeric claimed probability favored black; Carl ignored his provocation and considered her winnings expendable.
• Carl set aside four hundred thousand as operating capital and decided to win money to share with the Akechi Squad and their companions.
• Carl bet five hundred thousand on red, then placed her remaining four hundred thousand on the red number 1.
• The guests and V watched Carl's daring bets, but the roulette outcome had not yet been revealed.

Carl won 14.5 million Eurodollars at roulette, drawing the casino’s attention, while V used the commotion to place trackers on Aurore and Aymeric. V told Reid only that someone had won big, leaving Carl’s windfall to be shared with Johnny and the others later.

• Carl bet 400,000 Eurodollars on a number and 500,000 on red, drawing attention from casino guests and security.
• Hansen watched the table briefly before returning his attention to his discussion with NCPD Commissioner Johnson about a security agreement.
• The roulette ball landed on red 1, and Carl won 14.5 million Eurodollars, raising her total to 15.6 million.
• Aurore grew agitated after losing the money she and Aymeric had won, and V used the distraction to attach trackers to both of them.
• Reid asked V whether he had caused the commotion, and V replied that someone had won big.

Carl left the roulette table after winning enough money, then approached Kurt Hansen as Akechi to begin business negotiations on Arasaka’s behalf. Hansen suspected Akechi represented Hanako Arasaka and saw an opportunity to deal with a faction other than Arakawa Sesen’s.

• Carl ignored the gamblers urging him to keep playing and left after winning, replying to Aymeric’s insult in Chinese.
• Carl informed his subordinates that New America’s personnel were in position and that negotiations with Hansen could begin.
• Akechi met Kurt Hansen at the banquet and joined him near Songbird, where Barghest soldiers guarded them.
• Akechi suggested that Arakawa Sesen would use force to obtain leverage, prompting Hansen to consider negotiating with another Arasaka faction.
• Hansen guessed that Akechi represented Hanako Arasaka after seeing his reaction to her name.

Akechi negotiated with Hansen to secure Songbird for Hanako, offering Dogtown five years of corporate noninterference and exclusive technical support. Hansen was tempted but delayed cooperation until after tomorrow, leaving Akechi to wish him luck negotiating with New America, Militech, and Biotechnica.

• After confirming their identities, Hansen led Akechi to a guarded private area to discuss Songbird.
• Akechi offered Hansen five years of corporate noninterference in Dogtown and exclusive Arasaka technical support in exchange for cooperation with Hanako.
• Akechi challenged Hansen to trust President Rosalind Myles, pointing out that his failed operation had cost him Washington's support and left him with limited leverage.
• Hansen considered the offer but said he would set a cooperation date after tomorrow.
• Akechi wished Hansen luck negotiating with New America, Militech, and Biotechnica.

Akechi assessed Rosalind Myles’s options for rescuing Songbird and the danger of a confrontation with Hansen, then decided his work was finished and he could leave Dogtown. The chapter ended with Xizi welcoming him as he strode toward her in a good mood.

• Akechi watched Hansen take Songbird toward the banquet hall where V had been and considered what Myles might offer.
• Akechi judged that Myles could deploy only limited forces without provoking the corporations, while Hansen’s Barghest might resist them.
• Akechi realized the negotiations and intelligence gathering were done and focused on returning to Arasaka Tower to rest.
• Xizi greeted Akechi and felt glad that he seemed pleased despite the negotiations not ending in an immediate agreement.

After the Dogtown operation, Akechi arranged to rest his squad while preparing for a new security assignment and dealt with the deaths of three subordinates. The surviving members pledged themselves to him, but he only said he would consider it, uncertain what would happen when they learned the truth about him.

• Oda Sandayu told Akechi to reorganize his squad and prepare to guard Miss Hanako the next day before taking proper rest.
• Akechi confirmed the squad had recovered the three fallen members and said they would receive a proper burial, though he knew their bodies would be dismantled by Arasaka.
• The four surviving combat personnel asked to become Akechi's subordinates, and the other five squad members joined them in pledging their loyalty.
• Akechi hesitated because he wondered whether the squad would feel the same after learning his true identity and whether joining V's Second Operations Squad would disadvantage them.
• Akechi told the squad he would consider their request without noticing the light in their eyes.

After Kenichi Shiro praised Carl for her successful infiltration and negotiations, he warned her that the talks would be dangerous and that the Akechi Squad was already caught up in the political conflict. Carl accepted that the work ahead would be exhausting, but was willing to keep helping her friends and appreciated the people in her squad.

• Kenichi Shiro praised Carl's work infiltrating the Pheasant Faction, earning Oda Sandayu's trust, and negotiating with Hansen on Hanako Arasaka's behalf.
• Kenichi Shiro told Carl to keep the talks secure and warned that they might not go smoothly, then ended the call.
• Carl understood that Arakawa Sesen and Rosalind Myles were cooperating only temporarily while each pursued plans that would eventually make them enemies again.
• Carl realized that the failed assassination of Rosalind Myles had made the talks more dangerous and that the Akechi Squad was investigating opposition to Arakawa Sesen.
• Carl dreaded the overtime ahead but accepted it because she was helping her friends, and she admired the people in her squad.

Hanako Arasaka reviewed Aketchi’s operation briefing and granted him temporary department-head authority, with a formal appointment contingent on his performance the next day. Carl heard the news from Takemura Maki and wondered if becoming one of the “Cloudtop People” meant he would become a sex idol.

• Oda Sandayu presented Hanako Arasaka with the sealed briefing on Aketchi’s operation and its three casualties.
• Hanako reviewed the combat footage and judged that Aketchi’s written report had understated his performance.
• Hanako ordered Oda to leave most of the next day’s security arrangements to Aketchi and give him temporary department-head authority.
• Hanako said Aketchi could receive a formal appointment if he performed well the next day.
• Takemura Maki told Carl about his new authority, and Carl wondered whether “Cloudtop People” meant sex idols.

Carl discussed her new Arasaka department head authority with Maki and considered how to get some safe rest before the next day’s operation. Maki invited her to Haruko’s office, but Carl realized the invitation was really an attempt to recruit her to eat Haruko’s excess pastries.

• Carl told Maki that she planned to work through the night and nap in her office rather than risk exposing herself by using temporary lodging.
• Maki suggested Carl use her department head authority to come secretly to Haruko’s office, offering to erase her access records and forge lodging records.
• Carl recognized that Haruko’s restricted floor would let her rest without being noticed and considered accepting Maki’s offer.
• Carl realized Maki could have directed her to an empty department head rest area but insisted she come to Haruko’s office instead.
• Carl suspected that Haruko had made too many test pastries and accused Maki of wanting her to eat the leftovers; Maki admitted she needed help maintaining her figure.

Carl visited Haruko’s private floor at Arasaka Tower and helped her, Maki, and Chiyome review security documents ahead of the next day’s proceedings. Meanwhile, Arakawa Sesen read Haruko’s report on Dogtown and began considering a new idea involving Carl and Haruko.

• Carl arrived at Haruko’s private office floor and greeted Haruko, Chiyome, and Maki.
• Haruko explained that she and Maki were carefully reviewing documents for the next day, including a Maelstrom threat assessment.
• Carl volunteered to help with the paperwork, and Chiyome brought him coffee.
• Arakawa Sesen read Haruko’s report about the Dogtown incident and thought about Carl’s assumed identity as Akira.
• Arakawa Sesen considered Haruko and Carl, and a different idea began to form in his mind.

Carl woke to a breakfast Haruko had prepared for her, then learned that Chiyome was inspecting security ahead of the operation. Oda Sandayu ordered Carl to reorganize the squad and lead a final route inspection, and she left to prepare.

• Haruko served Carl a full English breakfast she had learned to make, and Carl teased her about the effort.
• Maki told Carl she had altered surveillance, elevator, and coffee machine records to conceal where Carl had slept.
• Haruko explained that Chiyome had gone ahead to conduct a final security inspection because she distrusted Adam Smasher's security.
• Oda Sandayu messaged Carl to reorganize the squad within an hour and lead the guards on a final route inspection.
• Carl got ready to leave, and Haruko urged her to prioritize her safety even if her identity was exposed.

Akechi inspected three new members joining his squad and reflected on whether they would follow orders better than the veterans who had gone rogue in Dogtown. After approving the newcomers, he prepared to escort his team to a meeting between Rosalind Myles and Arasaka Yorinobu, noting the reversal of Arasaka’s former position toward the United States.

• Akechi gathered his nine veterans and three newly transferred members at Arasaka Tower before dawn.
• Akechi worried that the new recruits might disrupt the squad after the veterans’ disobedience during the Dogtown operation.
• The three newcomers hoped to impress Akechi, knowing he had protected the failed Dogtown team and could reject them at will.
• Akechi inspected the newcomers, judged them capable, and told them, “Not bad.”
• Akechi prepared to head to the meeting where Rosalind Myles would visit Arasaka Yorinobu, comparing the reversal to past treaty signings.

Akechi Squad inspected the seventy-sixth floor of Arasaka Tower ahead of talks between Arasaka CEO Yorinobu and New American President Rosalind Myles. Akechi recognized a young operative whose official identity concealed his true one, and the two silently acknowledged each other before taking positions.

• Akechi Squad arrived at the jungle-themed conference floor, where Arasaka had added a twelfth chair for Rosalind Myles opposite Yorinobu.
• Akechi considered whether the New American Intelligence Bureau agents were truly loyal to Myles, then ordered his squad to inspect the venue and observed the advance security personnel.
• A young Arasaka combat operative arrived, officially listed as a basic security guard despite his specialized gear and modifications.
• Akechi recognized the young operative, and they exchanged a brief, knowing glance before looking away and moving into positions with a clear view of the area.

Mingzhi watched an unidentified man arrive alone at Arasaka Tower for negotiations with New America and suspected he was one of Rosalind Myles’s trusted representatives. He considered how a deal between New America and Arasaka could threaten Hansen’s hold on Dogtown.

• At seven in the morning, security completed its first screening and maintained a heightened watch around the conference area.
• An unfamiliar man in a dark gray suit arrived alone, sat at the conference table, and showed no concern about the security personnel.
• Mingzhi found no record of the man in Arasaka’s personnel files and suspected he represented Rosalind Myles.
• Mingzhi reasoned that a successful agreement between Rosalind and Arasaka could let New America move against Hansen and reshape Dogtown’s power structure.
• Mingzhi tapped his gun while contemplating the political stakes of the meeting.

Mingzhi assessed the expected attendees for the negotiations as Arasaka and New America’s representatives arrived. The chapter ended with Blanca recognizing or scrutinizing him, leaving Mingzhi uncertain whether she had discovered his identity.

• Mingzhi calculated that Sanada would take the final North American Arasaka seat and recalled how the old man had orchestrated the former vice president’s downfall.
• Sanada arrived, took his seat across from the New American representatives, and appeared pleased with his place in the seating order.
• Mingzhi considered who might fill New America’s remaining seats and reflected that Reid—and perhaps Mingzhi himself—would not ordinarily qualify for the negotiating table.
• Four New American representatives arrived, and Blanca immediately fixed her attention on Mingzhi.
• Mingzhi wondered whether Blanca had recognized his true identity, then tried to convince himself that she had not.