The sprawling neon-lit streets of Night City continue to offer mercenary opportunities for V, particularly in the Phantom Liberty DLC expansion. Among the various assignments scattered throughout Dogtown, "The Man Who Killed Jason Foreman" stands out as a morally complex gig that forces players to confront difficult choices about justice, revenge, and survival. This mission becomes available after players wrap up the "Get it Together" story quest and ventures into the gritty Longshore Stacks district.

Starting the Investigation 🔍

The gig kicks off in the southwest portion of Dogtown at the Longshore Stacks area. However, timing matters significantly for this particular assignment. Players need to advance the in-game clock to nighttime hours—specifically between 10pm and 6am—using the Skip Time function accessible through the game's main menu. This mechanic has become second nature to seasoned Night City operatives, but newcomers might overlook this crucial detail.

Once the appropriate time window arrives, approach the marked vigil location where Briana awaits. She's easy to spot among the grieving crowd, and initiating dialogue with her reveals the tragic backstory behind this assignment. The conversation provides essential context about Leon Rinder, the target in question, and what allegedly transpired with Jason Foreman.

Decrypting the Evidence 💾

Briana hands over a critical piece of intel in the form of an encrypted shard titled "Archived Conversation: Jason Foreman and Slava Makarov." As any self-respecting netrunner knows, encrypted data doesn't crack itself. Players need to navigate to the Shard menu and locate the file under the Encrypted tab before initiating the decryption process.

The contents of this shard paint a complicated picture and set the stage for the moral dilemma that awaits. The archived conversation provides clues about Rinder's whereabouts and motivations, though players shouldn't take everything at face value—after all, this is Night City, where truth is often stranger than fiction.

Infiltrating the Abandoned Motel 🏚️

The mission waypoint leads to a decrepit motel situated just outside Dogtown's imposing entrance gates. This location is crawling with hostiles, presenting players with the classic Cyberpunk 2077 dichotomy: go in guns blazing or slip through the shadows like a ghost. Both approaches have merit, and the game's flexible design accommodates various playstyles.

Stealth enthusiasts can leverage cyberware like optical camo and silenced weapons to navigate the building undetected. Meanwhile, combat-focused builds can showcase their arsenal of smart weapons, tech rifles, or good old-fashioned lead-spitters. Regardless of approach, the objective remains constant—reach the third floor of this rundown establishment.

Confronting Yasha Ivanov ⚔️

The bathroom in the northeast corner of the third floor serves as the gateway to your target. However, standing between V and Leon Rinder is Yasha Ivanov, a bodyguard who isn't about to let anyone pass without a fight. This combat encounter proves fairly straightforward for properly equipped characters in 2026's balanced version of the game.

After neutralizing Ivanov, the metal door opens to reveal Rinder's hideout. What follows is arguably the most engaging aspect of this gig—a conversation that tests the player's ethical compass and roleplaying commitment.

The Critical Choice: Judge, Jury, and Executioner? ⚖️

Face to face with Leon Rinder, players encounter an unarmed man whose version of events might differ significantly from what they've been told. The game presents two primary paths forward, each with distinct consequences and rewards.

Option 1: Execute the Contract 💀

Pulling the trigger fulfills the gig's original parameters. Rinder poses no threat, making this a straightforward execution. Looting his dog tags and returning them to Briana in Longshore Stacks completes the mission and secures the 8,000 eddies payment. It's clean, efficient, and exactly what the client ordered.

This path appeals to players who:

• Prioritize mission completion above all else

• View V as a professional merc who doesn't question contracts

• Want a quick resolution without additional objectives

Option 2: Negotiate and Survive 🤝

Choosing to hear Rinder out opens alternative possibilities. The condemned man proposes a deal—his dog tags and coordinates to a hidden weapons cache in exchange for his life. Accepting this arrangement triggers a bonus mission called "Addicted to Chaos" and ultimately leads to acquiring the Dezerter, an Iconic Power Double-Barrel Shotgun.

This path suits players who:

• Enjoy collecting unique weapons and gear

• Prefer giving targets a chance to plead their case

• Want to explore additional content and side objectives

Claiming the Dezerter Shotgun 🔫

Should players opt for the non-lethal resolution, they'll receive access codes to a garage in Dogtown. The location houses a container holding the Dezerter Iconic weapon—a powerful double-barrel shotgun that packs serious punch in close-quarters combat scenarios.

Iconic weapons in Cyberpunk 2077 maintain special significance for collectors and min-maxers alike. These unique firearms often feature superior base stats and distinctive visual designs that set them apart from standard equipment. The Dezerter exemplifies this philosophy, offering both aesthetic appeal and practical utility for shotgun-focused builds.

Which Path Should You Choose? 🤔

The "correct" decision ultimately depends on individual priorities and roleplaying preferences. From a pure loot perspective, sparing Rinder provides tangible benefits in the form of an Iconic weapon. However, players deeply invested in their character's moral framework shouldn't feel pressured to spare him simply for gear.

Consider these factors:

Factor	Shoot Rinder	Spare Rinder
Mission Completion	Immediate	Requires additional quest
Reward	8,000 eddies	8,000 eddies + Iconic weapon
Roleplay Alignment	Professional/Ruthless	Pragmatic/Merciful
Time Investment	Minimal	Extended

The beauty of Cyberpunk 2077's design philosophy lies in respecting player agency. Neither option feels inherently "wrong"—they simply reflect different facets of V's personality and priorities. Some players view their V as a stone-cold professional who completes contracts without emotional involvement. Others prefer a more nuanced approach where context matters and second chances exist.

Final Thoughts 💭

The Man Who Killed Jason Foreman exemplifies Phantom Liberty's commitment to meaningful player choice within compact mission frameworks. Rather than presenting binary good-versus-evil scenarios, the DLC explores moral gray areas where right and wrong blur into uncomfortable ambiguity. Leon Rinder might be guilty, innocent, or something in between—the game trusts players to make their own judgments.

For completionists pursuing every Iconic weapon in 2026's definitive edition, sparing Rinder becomes the obvious choice. For roleplayers prioritizing narrative consistency over material rewards, the decision requires more careful consideration. Either way, the gig concludes with Briana receiving the dog tags and V collecting their payment, though the psychological weight of that choice might linger longer than the eddies in your account.

As Night City's perpetual twilight casts long shadows across Dogtown's streets, remember that in this metropolis of chrome and broken dreams, justice rarely arrives in black and white. Sometimes the hardest choice isn't between right and wrong—it's deciding who gets to make that call in the first place. 🌃