Infinity, progressing from Arasaka

At this moment, the other agents in black who were hiding in the corner stepped forward.

"She's copying and familiarizing herself with our combat methods. Skills are one aspect, but her physical strength reminds me of Adam Hammer... However, compared to Hammer, who's a lumpy iron body with hardly any flesh on it, Director Russell's implant should theoretically not have such a high output threshold."

The man raised his heavy, thickened training katana, its surface riddled with countless nicks and chips. The web of his hand, composed of dense bone, flexible joints, and the arm of a gorilla, seemed to tremble slightly, a burning sensation transmitted through the nerve synapses…

"Her compatibility with the prosthetic body is unheard of... I really don't know what she'll be like when she goes all out, even risking her life..."

"That's not our concern. Disperse. All groups, be on high alert... Ever since Director Russell's status as a Night City board member was officially announced, there have been more spies infiltrating Tokyo. At least eight espionage cases have been solved this month. Our mission is to ensure that no external forces disturb Director Russell's thoughts."

...

The house was warm and cozy, and the home's AI sensed the biosignal of the 'temporary homeowner,' causing the flames in the gas fireplace to blaze even brighter.

The orange-red firelight cast a faint red glow on the room, tap-tap-tap.

After getting off work and completing her routine warm-up to show that she hadn't forgotten her security duties, Vera returned to her bedroom with a cup of red tea in one hand and a soft briefcase in the other, and sat down at her desk.

"It's definitely enough for me to digest for a while."

As if muttering to herself, she pulled out a paper document.

[University of Tokyo Faculty of Law Class of 2075 Law Graduate School Professional Examination] In the cyberpunk world, the older and more prestigious the colleges like the University of Tokyo, the more nostalgic they are.

2075/12/25

Vera glanced up at the digital clock.

She has been in the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo for almost a year since she enrolled in the spring semester.

During the spring, summer, and autumn semesters, through skipping grades and her photographic memory, she had almost earned enough credits, and according to the established procedure, she would officially graduate in early 76.

After all, she was admitted through an internal recommendation from Arasaka Corporation, making her an unconventional student. She was a "Master of Gu" from Social Darwin Corporation, possessing outstanding abilities and precious time.

In this regard, the University of Tokyo will not make things difficult for Kavira's graduation progress. As long as you can study, pass the assessments, and comply with the procedures, you will have a smooth path.

If it weren't for that trip to South Africa, which brought Vera into Saburo Arasaka's sights and made her the person in charge of the "Stairway to the Sun Project," diverting a lot of his attention, she could have skipped grades much faster and might have graduated around September of this year.

It's safe to say that Vera has a lot to do in Tokyo right now.

She needs to micromanage and remotely control Night City's security department, personally instructing her elite special assault team, while also overseeing her law major and virology minor at Tokyo University, and managing the progress of the [Stairway to the Sun Project], constantly innovating and showcasing results...

Very tedious.

Comparing the three matters, the University of Tokyo's academic studies undoubtedly seem to be a slight priority, but Vera is not prepared to use her current political resources to push for a delay, or even to use privileges to cheat.

Open all three lines at once!

She came to Tokyo for only three things: progress, progress, and what He cherishes most is progress!

How to improve?

Naturally, it's about showcasing personal abilities to win the favor of that old man, Saburo Arasaka.

In Vera's eyes, Saburo is a workaholic who really likes the wolf-like culture.

While catering to his preferences and showcasing your undeniable personal talents and abilities, it is also necessary to appropriately demonstrate compatibility in personality and values.

That is a responsible attitude and dedication to one's work.

It must be admitted that before his health deteriorated and he was confined to a wheelchair, this old man was indeed a super workaholic.

Whether it was just her imagination or not, as Vera withstood the pressure and steadily achieved results in the [Stairway to the Sun] project, ensuring that Night City did not experience any major chaos, and at the same time diligently completing her studies at Tokyo University, based on Vera's observations of Saburo over the past few days, he seemed to be increasingly satisfied with her.

Lin is still evaluating her...

This is how Vera feels.

Okay, if you dare to investigate, I dare to act.

"Heaven-sent", add 'WeChat'!

The power of the Five Elements!

Putting everything else aside, her boundless energy means she fears nothing more than multitasking and stress.

"However, Quinque technology... ghoul viruses, kagune, kagune capsules, quinque steel, shape memory metal... let's use it to pave the way for now..."

Silently reciting the words to herself, Vera picked up the steaming black tea, took a sip, and snapped her fingers, activating the video recorder on her desk.

With a flick of her fingertips, Vera sketched out the manufacturing methods and processes of quinque steel, a special-grade memory metal supplied by the CCG, in the form of random scribbles inspired by sudden inspiration.

Leaving aside the Kagune material, CCG's shape memory metals are indeed quite intriguing.

From being able to fit into a standard briefcase to instantly transforming into various shapes and sizes of weapons ranging from one meter to over ten meters, the characteristics of kagune certainly play a role. However, shape memory alloys that achieve this level of technology should have a significant technological supplementing effect on both Arasaka's light and heavy industries, and the benefits are considerable.

Furthermore, Vera wanted to try using the technology for making quinques to add the progenitor virus, or a mixture of kagune and the progenitor virus, to see what kind of mutations would occur.

Until, ring ring—

phone.

Vera's eyes began to gleam with an orange-red light. "I am Vera Adelheid."

"I am Shintaro Takayama."

"Commander Shintaro?"

"Vera, there's a closing ceremony that needs your attention." Shintaro Takayama's tone was calm, carrying obvious goodwill and optimism. "This is a reward and honor you deserve."

"award?"

With a soft murmur, Vera's gaze first sharpened slightly, then a hint of joy flashed across her face.

Phew, is the 'year-end bonus' finally here?

------

P.S.: Something came up, so I can't stay up late. Consider this a half-day off. I'll be back to normal tomorrow.

Chapter 086 'Year-End Bonus'

Six days later.

Tokyo Arasaka Tower.

2075/12/31

"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Vera Adelheid Russell, Director of the North American Abandoned Tower Management Council and Executive Director of the Night City Security Bureau, to deliver her year-end address."

Backstage, Vera observed the already packed auditorium through a closed-circuit television.

The luxurious yet understated minimalist gray row of seats was filled with Arasaka employees dressed in well-made, dark-colored company uniforms; there were no foreign media or reporters present.

These were elite employees from the middle and lower levels of Arasaka Corporation who were stationed at the Tokyo headquarters for overseas study, training, and other purposes, representing other branches of Arasaka Corporation around the world.

The lowest-ranking employees are small managers within their respective regional branches, overseeing anywhere from a few to a dozen junior management staff.

In the very last row, Vera even saw students from Tokyo Arakawa Gakuin.

There were people of all races; they were clearly the kind of outstanding students recommended by the local Arasaka Academy and sent to the Tokyo headquarters for observation and further study.

Looking at their upright posture, Vera suddenly had a very strange feeling.

Suddenly a world away.

I was eighteen that year, standing below the stage like a lackey.

She was once one of those clapping and applauding in the audience.

Now, it's her turn to go on stage.

"Director Russell." As Vera, surrounded by bodyguards and agents, walked down the steps from the audience seats, the mid-level official from Arasaka, who had just finished speaking, immediately bowed.

"Ah."

Nodding, Vera cleared her mind of all distractions and calmly strode onto the center of the stage, her steps light and airy on the silky red carpet.

She's very skilled at giving speeches and presentations.

They are all about empty rhetoric and grandstanding, making a loud noise and claiming lofty ideals. They simply talk to people in a certain way and to ghosts in a different way.

At this moment, the stage lights in the auditorium automatically dimmed, leaving only the lights in the center of the platform.

When Vera, dressed in an exquisitely tailored and expensive custom-made uniform, stepped onto the center of the stage—

Swish!

There was no thunderous applause, nor any military-style cheers, whistles, or screams. Inside the auditorium, everyone sat upright, looking at the important figure, Arasaka, who had taken the stage. He was tall and dignified, never smiling, yet his demeanor was elegant and graceful, exuding a heroic spirit.

This is Arasaka's corporate style.

Neo-militarism: understated elegance, an orderly and domineering aesthetic.

Good evening, everyone.

Vera's prosthetic eye prosthesis glowed slightly red. The data connection was switched, and without the need for a microphone, her voice instantly resounded throughout the auditorium through the panoramic surround sound system built into the walls and ceiling.

"I am Vera Adelhead, from the Night City Security Department in North America, and also the person in charge of the 2075 Tokyo Arasaka Tower year-end training personnel summary meeting. I hope we get along well—that shouldn't be difficult, after all, you are tested, excellent, and loyal, aren't you?"

As she spoke, Vera scanned the newly promoted elites of Arakawa below the stage with her powerful gaze.

Undoubtedly, no one dared to meet her gaze.

Even if they were to collide suddenly, they would dodge in an instant.

This includes mid-to-high-ranking officials who have already reached the second or third position in a department of the Arasaka District Branch.

This is the advantage of the system, the beauty of progress, the sweetness of power...

Vera wouldn't be so arrogant as to think this was due to her authority and prestige.

If she were an employee from Night City in North America, she might actually have a lot of prestige; that was the foundation upon which she rose through the ranks.

As for the other company dogs who were used to acting like 'local emperors' or 'local tyrants' in their respective local branches, what they respected and submitted to was Vera's current position—one of the members of the Arasaka Regional National-Level Management Council and the Managing Director in charge of the Security Bureau.

Based on the most prominent and important core spirit of Arasaka Company, the hierarchy of superiors and inferiors.

In other words, subordinates must strictly obey or execute their superiors' orders 100% under all circumstances. Even employees from the Japanese domestic system must bow deeply when communicating with their superiors to show respect.

While the situation isn't as extreme as at the Japanese headquarters, as seen in North American Night City Tower factions like Vera's, and in other regions such as the Paris Tower faction in Europe, South Africa, and Australia, superficial respect for superiors is still essential.