Chapter Summaries

Akechi led a team and the Ninja Hundred in an assault on the villa where Hanako Arasaka was imprisoned. After the guards were defeated, he reached Hanako and Oda Sandayu in the holding room.

• A guard tried to report Carl's arrival while secretly recording the interception for an intelligence contact, but David shot him before he could finish.
• V activated his Sandevistan and cut through the guards near the vehicles as the villa's security forces and drones prepared to attack.
• Oliver and David destroyed the attacking drones, Jack battered the guards, and the Ninja Hundred silently eliminated the perimeter guards.
• Carl watched the fighting while the team and ninjas overwhelmed the villa's disorganized defenders.
• Akechi entered the villa's main hall, and the Ninja Hundred secured key positions throughout the building.
• Akechi reached Hanako Arasaka and Oda Sandayu in their holding room, where both recognized his arrival.

After Mingzhi rescued Hanako Arasaka from the villa, he briefed her on their forces and the threat of pursuit. Hanako ordered him to locate Takemura Goro and formally reaffirmed his authority as commander-in-chief while she handled other matters.

• Mingzhi urged Hanako Arasaka and Oda Sandayu to leave quickly before Arakawa Sesen discovered the rescue and sent troops after them.
• Mingzhi reported that the Ninja Hundred and his loyal squad controlled the villa, while reinforcements built a perimeter and could hold out until Arakawa Sesen finished his public meeting.
• Hanako dismissed Adam Smasher as a manageable threat and demanded information about Takemura Goro, whom she considered the greater danger.
• As gunfire sounded in the distance, Hanako ordered Mingzhi to find Takemura Goro regardless of the cost, and Mingzhi promised to protect her.
• Hanako formally granted Mingzhi the highest command authority, allowing him to command everyone and take any necessary action while she dealt with other matters.

With Hanako Arasaka’s absolute authority behind him, Mingzhi took control of the Pheasant Faction’s command and ordered a casualty-heavy defense. Carl used the orders to send the faction’s commanders to their deaths, leaving them unable to resist.

• Hanako Arasaka’s appointment gave Mingzhi unquestioned authority over the Pheasant Faction commanders.
• Mingzhi ordered the withdrawal of the layered interception formations and shifted the first line onto high ground, accepting heavy casualties.
• The commanders obeyed despite realizing the new positions could become their graves.
• Carl knew the deployment would not buy meaningful time and regarded it as an execution of the commanders.
• Carl decided their deaths were worth celebrating because he believed they would never learn to value other people’s lives.

After Hanako Arasaka asked Akira about biological experiments and the mercenary KK, he suspected she was preparing to reveal a major secret. She directed the vehicle to a new route so he could see it for himself.

• Hanako Arasaka asked Akira how much he knew about biological experiments, making him fear his Biotechnica job had been exposed.
• Akira gauged Hanako’s reactions and concluded she was satisfied with his loyalty and was raising an important matter, not accusing him.
• Hanako asked whether Akira had heard of KK, and he identified KK as the legendary mercenary.
• Hanako confirmed KK was the person she meant and told Akira to follow the route she uploaded so he could see important secrets.

Akira learned that the Pheasant Faction had hidden an Arasaka laboratory conducting experiments on KK. Hanako Arasaka revealed that the experiments aimed to use KK’s uniquely compatible body and Relic to achieve perfect rebirth and immortality.

• Oda Sandayu led Akira and Hanako Arasaka to a concealed underground Arasaka laboratory in the badlands.
• Akira saw that the laboratory housed a large, secret team of Pheasant Faction personnel who had not taken part in Hanako’s rescue.
• Hanako told Akira that the team was conducting cloning experiments on KK.
• Akira questioned the value of cloning a legendary mercenary, and Hanako explained that KK’s body—not his combat abilities—was what made him special.
• Hanako revealed that a Rogue AI had told Arasaka Saburo KK’s body could carry anything and was nearly perfect for Relic.
• Hanako explained that Relic could use KK’s body to give anyone a flawless second life, revealing the experiment’s goal of immortality.

Hanako Arasaka revealed her immortality experiment and drew Mingzhi toward the Hybrid Carrier Plan, while Oda Sandayu envisioned Arasaka using immortality to control the world. In the burning North Oak District, Takemura Goro identified the Ninja Hundred’s attackers and set out to capture them and bring Hanako back.

• Hanako Arasaka explained that her team had cloned embryos from KK’s samples, but the bodies deteriorated because consciousness transfer appeared incompatible with them.
• Hanako Arasaka introduced the Hybrid Carrier Plan, which would combine KK’s traits with a recipient’s DNA, and Mingzhi showed interest in its potential.
• Oda Sandayu concluded that loyal Arasaka subordinates could test the technology and imagined immortality making Arasaka the world’s ruling power.
• In North Oak District, Takemura Goro recognized a scorched metal fragment as a Ninja Hundred weapon and understood why Arakawa Sesen had sent him.
• Takemura Goro vanished into the smoke, determined to capture the Ninja Hundred and Pheasant Faction members and bring Hanako Arasaka back.

Hanako Arasaka refused Akechi’s plan to flee North America, choosing instead to rally Arasaka executives against Yorinobu with the revelation that Saburo’s consciousness had survived. Akechi concealed that he was secretly working against the Pheasant Faction, and the chapter ended with his side preparing to trap Hanako and Saburo.

• Akechi advised Hanako Arasaka to escape North America and return to the mainland until the immortality experiment was complete.
• Hanako refused to leave because Arasaka’s senior executives were gathering in Night City, where she intended to persuade them to oppose Yorinobu.
• Hanako told Akechi that Saburo had survived as a consciousness and would reveal himself to reclaim control of Arasaka.
• Hanako said Saburo’s consciousness was waiting below and that Akechi had earned the honor of meeting him.
• Akechi hid his satisfaction, confirming to himself that Saburo was still alive and that his plan to lure the Pheasant Faction into a trap was proceeding as intended.

Hanako Arasaka brought Akechi Goro to an underground facility where she revived Arasaka Saburo as a hologram and discussed her plan to reclaim Arasaka Tower. Akechi realized Saburo’s digital consciousness did not know how much Yorinobu had changed, leaving him with an unexpected advantage.

• Hanako Arasaka led Akechi Goro and Oda Sandayu to the underground facility where Arasaka Saburo’s digital consciousness had been preserved.
• Arasaka Saburo recognized Akechi Goro, praised his talent, and criticized Arasaka Yorinobu for betraying him.
• Hanako Arasaka told Arasaka Saburo she would return to Arasaka Tower and use his highest-level access key to reveal his survival to the Board of Directors.
• Akechi Goro realized Arasaka Saburo’s memories ended at his death and that he still believed Yorinobu had never truly escaped his control.

As the Pheasant Faction prepared to confront Arakawa Sesen at the Board meeting, Akechi gathered and protected dozens of members whom Arasaka had deemed expendable. His rescued supporters rallied around him, while Oliver wondered whether Carl’s concern for them could spark a new faction.

• Hanako Arasaka promised Akechi that he could abandon the Pheasant Faction members to protect himself and would become president of an Arasaka Tower if the faction regained control.
• Akechi met his squad outside the Badlands and confirmed that everyone was present.
• Akechi’s supporters remembered how he had secretly rescued them from surveillance and likely execution, and renewed their loyalty to him.
• Oliver, disguised among the gathered members, teased Carl about winning people over.
• Carl explained that he had saved the others because they did not deserve to die in Arasaka’s power struggle.

After Akechi successfully distracted Arakawa Sesen for two days and returned to Hanako Arasaka, she entrusted him with command of the forces entering Arasaka Tower and promised him executive authority at the Board of Directors meeting. Akechi led his gathered personnel toward the tower, declaring it their target.

• Akechi returned to Hanako Arasaka after drawing Arakawa Sesen's forces away for two days, though his elite squad had been wiped out.
• Hanako praised Akechi, promised to let him rebuild his squad, and placed all operational personnel under his command for the operation at Arasaka Tower.
• Hanako told Akechi to purge Sesen's forces and take control of Arasaka Tower after the Board of Directors meeting.
• Hanako promised to grant Akechi executive authority publicly at the meeting, and Akechi pledged loyalty to her and Lord Saburo.
• Akechi pointed his followers toward Arasaka Tower and declared, "The enemy is—at Arasaka Tower!"

Hanako Arasaka led Aketchi to a hidden floor in Arasaka Tower and retrieved a weapon for her final gamble against the rebels. She revealed that Aketchi would be responsible for activating the Micro Nuclear Weapon if she failed to persuade them.

• Hanako Arasaka ordered her loyal warriors to prepare on their designated floors, then took Aketchi through a concealed passage to a secret elevator.
• Aketchi noticed Hanako Arasaka's golden prosthetic fingers and wondered why she had not used genetic engineering to treat her condition.
• The elevator stopped at an unfamiliar, unnumbered hidden floor that Aketchi had never visited.
• At Hanako Arasaka's order, Oda Sandayu entered the cramped space and retrieved a metal case.
• Hanako Arasaka told Aketchi to carry the case and activate its Micro Nuclear Weapon if she could not persuade the rebels.

Akechi accepted a Micro Nuclear Weapon from Hanako Arasaka and realized it was meant to destroy Arasaka Tower’s upper floors if the situation collapsed. She suspected Arasaka Saburo had left digital backups behind and resolved to stop him, while worrying about everyone who might be caught in the blast.

• Akechi recalled the nuclear weapons Arasaka had hidden in the past and judged that the Micro Nuclear Weapon could devastate the tower’s upper floors without destroying Night City.
• Hanako Arasaka gave Akechi the briefcase containing the weapon, and Akechi noticed the item carrying Arasaka Saburo’s digital imprint.
• Akechi concluded that Arasaka Saburo had ordered Hanako to use the bomb to eliminate his rebellious son and disloyal executives if his plans failed.
• As they rode the elevator to the designated floor, Akechi grew disgusted with Arasaka Saburo and vowed to hunt down any remaining backups.
• Akechi considered whether she could save everyone if the bomb detonated and committed herself to protecting the people around her.

Hanako Arasaka and Goro prepared to join the negotiations, while Oda Sandayu sensed something unusual about Goro’s hired squad but dismissed his suspicions. Disguised among the mercenaries, V, David, Johnny, and Arakawa Sesen prepared to confront the nuclear threat and bring Arasaka Saburo to his end.

• Goro told Hanako Arasaka that his hired professionals had replaced the Ninja Hundred as the escort, and Hanako accepted his arrangements.
• Oda Sandayu felt danger from the hired squad, scrutinized its members, then dismissed his concern and followed Hanako Arasaka and Goro.
• Oliver, Jack, V, and David discussed Oda Sandayu’s intimidating presence after he had left.
• Johnny emerged as a bionic dog and asked Arakawa Sesen if he was ready to confront the nuclear bomb and Arasaka Saburo.
• Arakawa Sesen said he would personally deliver Arasaka Saburo’s final end, and Oliver called it a filial gift.

Hanako Arasaka took control of the Arasaka board meeting and called for Yorinobu’s removal, claiming she was returning Arasaka to its true owner. She named her father, Arasaka Saburo, as that owner, and a holographic image began to appear.

• Hanako Arasaka arrived at the conference room and learned that Yorinobu had told the executives to begin without him.
• Hanako proposed removing Yorinobu as CEO and took the main seat, openly asserting control over the meeting.
• Hanako ordered Akihito to take a seat beside Arasaka Haruko, and he obeyed after the woman there yielded it.
• Hanako accused Yorinobu of failing to hold Militech accountable for Arasaka Saburo’s murder and instead reconciling with New America.
• Hanako rejected the claim that she wanted power for herself and declared that Arasaka should return to its true owner, Arasaka Saburo.
• Hanako’s device lit up and began projecting a holographic image before the stunned executives.

Arasaka Saburo’s digital projection appeared before the Board of Directors and confirmed that he had returned to oppose Yorinobu’s rule. As Saburo declared his intention to remove Yorinobu as CEO, Yorinobu stepped forward to defend his actions.

• Arasaka Saburo’s hologram rebuked the executives and exposed one executive’s loyalty to Yorinobu, ordering him to resign after Yorinobu’s matter was settled.
• The chastened executive begged Saburo to spare his family, and the other executives accepted the hologram as Saburo’s digital self.
• Arakawa Michiko asked whether Saburo intended to condemn Yorinobu and change his position.
• Saburo confirmed that he had come to end Yorinobu’s conduct and remove him as CEO.
• Arasaka Yorinobu stepped forward and said he did not consider his actions absurd.

Arasaka Yorinobu arrived at the meeting with the KK Squad, unsettling the executives and making Saburo suspect that his son had a plan. Arakawa Sesen then projected Johnny Silverhand’s hologram across from Saburo, where Johnny greeted him with an insult and a raised middle finger.

• Arasaka Yorinobu entered the meeting in unruly street clothes, and Arakawa Michiko recognized that the plan to deliver the final blow to Arasaka Saburo was proceeding smoothly.
• Arasaka Saburo rebuked Yorinobu’s appearance, but Yorinobu ignored his hologram and walked forward without looking at him.
• The executives recognized Vincent, Oliver, Jack, and David as members of the KK Squad and feared that Yorinobu had hired them.
• Hanako Arasaka spotted the black suitcase Akira carried and kept the Micro Nuclear Warhead as her last resort.
• Arakawa Sesen snapped his fingers, and a cybernetic dog projected Johnny Silverhand’s hologram across from Saburo, where Johnny raised his middle finger and insulted him.

Arakawa Yorinobu used Johnny Silverhand’s digital projection to undermine the executives’ loyalty to Digital Saburo and assert that Arakawa Sesen was Arasaka’s living leader. As Digital Saburo prepared a final destructive move, Hanako Arasaka faced Yorinobu and was overwhelmed by fear at the collapse of her father’s authority.

• Johnny Silverhand appeared as a digital projection beside Yorinobu, shocking the executives and provoking Digital Saburo.
• Yorinobu contrasted Johnny’s reconstructed data with Digital Saburo’s, arguing that neither phantom could rule Arasaka and that the company’s future belonged to the living.
• The executives reconsidered their submission to Digital Saburo and chose to support Arakawa Sesen rather than risk serving mutable data.
• Digital Saburo, seeing that he had lost control of the executives and Sesen, decided to take everyone down with him.
• Hanako recoiled as Yorinobu advanced, fearing that her digital imprint could not preserve her real self and that freedom without her father’s authority left her with nothing.

Yorinobu exposed Digital Saburo as a flawed copy and demanded that Hanako accept her father’s death and recognize him as Arasaka’s living leader. Hanako chose not to resist, asking Oda to stand down and allowing her brother to arrest her.

• Yorinobu confronted Hanako and challenged her to choose between Digital Saburo’s control and facing reality.
• Johnny Silverhand mocked Digital Saburo as a counterfeit, and Yorinobu denounced the projection as a ghost unable to accept its own death.
• Yorinobu offered Hanako a place beside him if she acknowledged that Saburo was dead and Yorinobu led Arasaka.
• Hanako clutched the encrypted chip Yorinobu had given her but could not bring herself to answer him directly.
• Hanako thanked Oda, told him to stand down, and asked Yorinobu to come arrest her himself.

Digital Saburo ordered Akira to activate the Jade Fragment Protocol and detonate a micro nuclear warhead, but Akira moved faster than Oda Sandayu and revealed his true identity. The chapter ended with the room recognizing the face behind Akira's disguise as KK.

• Hanako told Digital Saburo to come arrest her himself, choosing to end the rebellion in the real world.
• Digital Saburo erupted in rage and ordered Akira to execute the Jade Fragment Protocol.
• Akira asked whether the protocol meant detonating the micro nuclear warhead, and Digital Saburo confirmed the order.
• Oda Sandayu activated his Sandevistan to stop Akira, but Akira moved faster within the distorted flow of time.
• Akira's disguise vanished, revealing the familiar face and smile of KK.

Carl revealed that he had impersonated Akechi, while the real Akechi had helped him, and confronted Digital Saburo over his attempt to control Arasaka. After Digital Saburo vanished, Arakawa Sesen took the CEO’s seat as Carl opened talks about setting new rules.

• Carl revealed his identity as KK and admitted that he had played Akechi, with the real Akechi helping him behind the scenes.
• Digital Saburo accused Carl of betraying him, but Carl denied owing Saburo loyalty and mocked his authority.
• Arakawa Sesen condemned Digital Saburo’s attempts to manipulate the living and dismissed the Jade Fragment Protocol as a relic of the past.
• Carl thanked Oda Sandayu for recognizing his supposed talent and told Hanako Arasaka that the real Akechi was still processing paperwork.
• Carl gave Digital Saburo the Jade Fragment Protocol password, causing the projection to shriek and disappear.
• Arakawa Sesen took the CEO’s seat, and Carl invited the executives to discuss how the new rules should be set.