In order to receive the Protect and Serve trophy in Cyberpunk 2077, you’ll need to complete the storyline for River Ward, which unlocks after completing Act 1.
River Ward Storyline
I Fought the Law
Obtained: During Act 2, Elizabeth will call you.
Objective: Meet with Elizabeth Peralez
Head to the objective northwest of the Reconciliation Park fast travel point in City Center – Corpo Plaza then enter the vehicle. Speak with the couple then agree to take the shard. Watch the braindance and scan for clues. After you’ve found everything, exit the braindance. Get out of the vehicle then speak with Jefferson. Agree that they might be on to something then continue the conversation.
Afterwards, call Detective Ward and arrange a meeting with him. Head towards the objective at Chubby Buffalo’s Bar-B-Q on the east side of Heywood just north of the Hanford Overpass fast travel point. In the restaurant, approach the booth to begin speaking with the pair. When the detective leaves, sit in his place to continue speaking with River Ward. To continue your conversation further, follow River to his vehicle and hop in. You’ll need to make a choice to see his boss or the CI first.
When you head off to see the CI, exit the vehicle then head inside Max-imum Pleasure. Approach the counter and speak with the CI. When you tell him that Igor sent you, he’ll run away. To open the door he runs through, you’ll need a Body Value of 6. Chase after him to the alley outside to interrogate the CI with River. Afterwards, speak with River again.
When you see the boss, exit the vehicle and follow River into the Cherry Blossom Market. He’ll then have you ask the vendors about Christine Markov. Ask around then River will text you saying that he found her. Follow the objective to meet with River at a vendor’s stall and speak with her. Afterwards, talk to River again as you head back to his vehicle. When you arrive at the vehicle, you’ll see 2 Tyger Claw. You can either let River deal with them or get a few words in as well. When the encounter finishes, speak with River.
Now that your off to the club, exit the vehicle and speak with River. Head to the warehouse and enter the area via a downed fence in the back. Once your in, head through another broken part of the fence directly in front of you. Turn right and jump over the fence. Climb up on the containers against the building to reach a ladder and take that up to the top. Once at the top turn left to find another ladder. Climb up this ladder to reach the roof then proceed through an opening in the roof immediately on your left. After you drop down, take a right and follow the stairs down. Head straight towards the predominate lights underneath a shipping container that says “Caution Wear Protective Equipment”. Take out the enemy that walks around this area then open the doors under these lights to find the entrance to the club.
Call the elevator then take it down to the club. There is an optional objective to take out the Animal boss so go ahead and proceed without caution in this area if you’d like. Make your way up to the second level then head into the second door underneath the lips on the left to find a headset that you can connect to. Do so then continue your search for the office, which can be found in the next room on the left. Check the computer’s files in this room to watch a recording. Afterwards, speak with River and agree to leave with him.
Once you arrive at the new location, speak with the detective then River. You can either advise him to go ahead or not to do it. Your choice does not matter, since nothing will stop him from reopening the case. Next, call Elizabeth Peralez then head on over to her apartment at the Luxury Apartments fast travel point in Westbrook – Charter Hill. Use the intercom next to the entrance to gain access to the building then take the elevator to the penthouse. It’s your choice whether or not to tell them the information. It doesn’t seem to matter either way. Once your done speaking with them, leave the building to complete the job.
The Hunt
Obtained: After completing I Fought the Law side job, River Ward will eventually text you.
Objective: Meet with River Ward in the evening
Follow the objective east of Metro: Glen North fast travel point to Heywood – The Glen then sit and wait for River on the planter. After some time passes, hop in River’s vehicle and speak with him. Once your conversation has ended, exit the vehicle and follow River until he stops in front of the lab. To get inside the lab, you can open the back door if you have a Technical Ability of 12. Alternatively, keep heading along the back of the building until you spot a long green container with mattresses inside and a plastic sheet hanging down. Jump on top of this container then use the tire stack to reach the roof. Drop down into the area below then look to the right to find a garage door with a ladder next to it. Climb up this ladder then open the second shutter to reveal a way in. Hop inside then follow River as he explores the rooms. Alternatively, you can just run to the cabinet yourself. From the window you jumped through, take the first available left and head down the hall. Swing left around the large room and enter it via the door. Turn immediately right to find a smaller room with evidence that a child was in it. Scan the cabinets to call River over. Once he starts rifling through one, head to the left of him to help. A lady will bust in surprising the both of you. Speak with her then follow her to the next room as she continues to talk. Once you are through, exit the building via the front door and listen to Johnny outside the entrance. You’ll then need to head across the street and enter River’s vehicle.
As you drive to the next location, speak with River. When you arrive at your destination, exit the vehicle and follow River into a house. Once inside, speak with Joss (we told her the truth…that Randy has been taken). She was upset that River threw a blanket over the truth but River didn’t mention anything negatively towards us. She agrees to allow us to look through Randy’s things and asks River to call the kids in for dinner. Follow River outside to a nearby trailer. Inside you’ll need to search for clues. Head to Randy’s bedroom and search the end table to find that it’s locked and needs a key. Randy’s Antique Key can be found in the kitchen on a shelf next to some bottles. Also scan the computer underneath Randy’s bed. River will take the computer and ask you about the password. You can either hack it if your Intelligence Value is 9 or tell him that you don’t know how. If you don’t know how, you’ll need to guess the password. Head into the hallway and play the record player then return to River and tell him to punch the track title. This will open up the computer. Have a seat then search the net on the computer to find the Drugs are Bad page. Click the image on the page to be brought to Tony’s Shelter page. Select the files tab to find an error file. Next, check under the computer files to find the ATT_CART_VIDEO. If you have an Intelligence Value of 12, you’ll be able to get Harris’s IP address. If not, just exit the computer. Now that you’ve got the info you were looking for, follow River back to the main house and sit down at the table to speak with Joss. When your done, select that it’s time for bed.
River will wake you and have you watch the recording. Scan the teacher, the bulletin boards and the trophy when prompted as the braindance progresses. To move to the next scene, press O. Scan the cow, console, person, injection system and dietary supplements. Press O to begin the next braindance with the cartoon. Scan the solar panel, clock, electrical parts and fuel barrels. Next, you’ll need to switch to audio and listen where the green circles are then scan the person lying down in the first bed on the left. Head up a little then scan the next person in bed and the infusion pump. Continue a short distance then scan the computer, FDNC Certificate and person on bed. Proceed with the braindance and scan the number next to the door, the escaping victim and the Towers of Light outside. Exit the braindance then listen to River. Once he’s through, follow him to the vehicle and hop in.
When you arrive at the Edgewood Farm, exit the vehicle. You don’t have to worry about being sneaky in this whole area as no one is here but there are turrets and a lot of mines. You’ll have the optional objective to find the farm’s security control system. If you wish to do this, head towards the house and swing around to the left of the front door. Enter through the blue door then proceed up the stairs on your left. Enter the bedroom and scan the wall to the right of the computer desk. Follow the cords underneath the computer desk to find a button. Crouch down and turn it off to reveal the hidden room where the wall was on the right. Head into the hidden room then use the computer to access the Local Network. Turn off the generator.
Next, proceed to the barn. When facing the barn’s main entrance, take a left to head up a ladder on the side of the barn giving you access to the roof. You’ll be able to drop down through a window in the roof onto a walkway. River will rush ahead to located Randy so follow behind him. To find a way to turn off the braindance machine, head through the nearby doorway and open the first door on the right. Head to the back wall to turn off the computer. Return to the room with River then remove the tubes on the 3 others. Afterwards, return to River and help him release the restraint.
After some time passes, you’ll speak to River. You can convince him not to kill Anthony Harris. Alternatively, you can tell him that you’ll help him kill Harris, but River says he wants to do it him himself. You’ll be able to tell him that he can always count on you. Either way, the job will complete. If you wait 24 hours in game, he’ll text you the same dialog for either option you chose.
Following the River
Obtained: After completing The Hunt side job, River Ward will eventually text you.
Objective: Head over to River
Head to the objective at the Trailer Park fast travel point in The Badlands. Approach River then agree to stir the pot while you talk to him. Keep stirring so it doesn’t burn. Once River takes over, head into the house and go to the kitchen to find the rice. Return to River and dump the rice in the pot. Sit on the front porch with River and talk to him. After your chat, follow River to the table and take the AR game gear. Play the game with River and the kids. Be a sport and let the kids win by allowing them to kill more enemies. When the game is interrupted by Joss, speak with River then join the family at the table. Follow River to the water tower and allow him to help you over the fence. Once on the other side, open the gate for River. Climb up the tower after River and sit down to speak with him. If your V is a girl, this is your chance to romance him if you’d like! When you awake, head to the kitchen and speak with River to complete the gig.