Cyberpunk 2077: Should You Accept or Turn Down Maiko's Deal?
Particularly with regard to relationships with non-player characters (NPCs), side missions in Cyberpunk 2077 can occasionally have results that would restrict options down the road. One side job in the game "Pisces," has just such a conclusion: players will have to make careful decisions if they want romance blossom between V and Judy. As they always seem to be in the gritty world of Night City, lives are on the line; V has several choices about how to proceed, especially in one very significant dialogue exchange with Maiko, a Tyger Claws associate and unofficial manager of the club Clouds.
Maiko's Deal Affects V's Relationship With Judy
One of the romance choices in Cyberpunk 2077, Judy has several missions that influence her sentiments about V; the "Pisces" side job involving Maiko and the Tyger Claws can quickly put any prospect of a future involving her off-course. This search determines all at once Cloud's fate, the Tyger Claws' destiny, and V's connection with Judy. Given so much at stake, there is plenty of justification for exercising care here. Maiko hopes to be able to take over Clouds' management and Hiromi Sato's employment, thus she will put players in a rather dangerous position with the Tyger Claw leaders. There are three main paths of action V can follow in the course of this not-so-simple side job.
When You Accept Maiko's Deal?
"Pisces" starts with a text message from Judy explaining that she and some of her colleagues are ready to start their takeover of Clouds. She has set up a meeting to go over the prospect with the Tyger Claws. One of V's choices at the meeting with the two Tyger Claws is to follow Maiko's fresh plan and persuade the superiors to assign Hiromi's job to Maiko.
Under these circumstances, the superiors will be readily happy and eliminate Hiromi personally with the katana on the table. The superiors will tell Maiko that they will present at a future conference for her to oversee the Clouds operation and that they will make it seem as though this was their entire strategy all along. The Tyger Claws are therefore happy, and this also results in the bosses offering V employment down the road as a working relationship with the Tyger Claws develops forms. Before billing V for the service, Maiko will be quite content and ask V to follow her into the hall.
Judy will get enraged right away following this exchange, yet she still ask the player to meet her outside of some food vendors. Judy will air her annoyance with V for allowing Maiko to use them to take control of Clouds, since her job was to release them. Judy will get even more enraged and refuse to be interested in courting V afterward if the player takes Maiko's eddies when presented. Only make this decision if it makes sense for V in a roleplaying capacity or if the player just enjoys getting under Judy's skin.
You could hand clouds over Maiko, though, and still refuse her payment for it. Should the player reject the eddies, the result stays a peaceful one and a romance with Judy is still under possibility. Of course Judy will still be enraged, and they might have to make up the affinity gain with her later. She will come to terms with Maiko's leadership, though, finally realizing that the Tyger Claws will provide Clouds' staff better protection than she could ever have. Having said that, should V return to the club to probe later, they will discover that working conditions under Maiko are not much better.
Still, this is the only side employment choice available here that does not involve violence. Though it doesn't significantly change the situation at Clouds, it makes Judy happy and doesn't result in anyone's death. Therefore, if the player's main focus is not romancing Judy, siding with Maiko but declining her money is most likely the best choice.
What Happens After Maiko's Death?
Alternatively, V can take the matter under control and cut the chatter by direct combat when she meets the two Tyger Claws superiors. Clearly unhappy with this change of course, Maiko will get quite agitated trying to inform the player that the other Tyger Claws will be back to exact retribution from Clouds. V can then turn equally hostile, implying that their differences could be resolved by violence. Maiko reminds the player in this context that she also has a doll chip and will thus go straight to fight V for Cloud's advantage.
Judy will ask V to meet her on ground level close to the street food vendors after she has effectively killed Maiko. Judy will get quite offended learning about V killing Maiko. Although she will appreciate it if the player apologizes to Judy, she will still be upset and need time to collect her ideas before talking to V on the matter. She will ultimately leave V here uneasily to sort through all that just happened.
Should the athlete be interested in courting Judy, this result is a semi-neutral, semi-negative one to toss to her. It leaves the door open for romance, but it might complicate the path there. Later on in the narrative, V will also discover that other Tyger Claws members did in fact respond for the violent attack, killing Tom, forcing Roxanne into hiding, and seizing control of the club.
What Happens Should You Denish Maiko's Deal?
In the meeting with the two Tyger Claws and Maiko superiors, V has three choices: he can actively decide to work against Maiko without killing her. In this case, the authorities will not treat Maiko seriously, thus V finally has to kill the two in the deal together with Hiromi Sato. Maiko will get quite enraged over this, but she will not fight V. Maiko will say that the Tyger Claws will finally visit Clouds, but V and Judy believe they would sooner cut their losses and let go of Clouds.
Maiko and Judy will both agree that V should leave right away following this action and head to the street food vendors outside the apartment. This will release the Tyger Claws' grip over the company and give the Moxies their freedom back-off. Judy, a Mox member, will be rather pleased with V's decision here. She will be annoyed that Maiko misled her and V. had to follow the path the circumstances forced. V will thank her once she reminds her of the actual objective and head off. Right now, this is the best option for anyone wishing to romance Judy and the most favorable ending players can get out of the "Pisces" side job.
However, should V carry on this plot, they will discover that the Tyger Claws returned to Clouds and exacted retribution, same as if they had killed Maiko. Thus, even if the immediate result is far more favorable, the long-term result could be regarded as net negative.
Advice on Selecting the Best Side Job Option from the "Pisces" Side
The best immersion in the game comes when players role-play such scenarios as how they believe their particular V would behave within the constraints of choices the game offers. Hopefully V will naturally want to free the Moxies and assist Judy if V really has her heart set on Judy; but occasionally the heat of the moment can lead to some surprising consequences or outcomes. That can be a component of the enjoyment of games like Cyberpunk 2077.
