Infinity, progressing from Arasaka

Just as David, unable to contain his curiosity, was about to ask for details, a harsh male voice said, "Knowing that, why did you still go?"

The girl with the straight bangs and blue bob is none other than Katsuo Tanaka.

Tall and strong, with a round, ball-like body like a sumo wrestler, Fat Tiger followed behind him.

"Here you go." With steady steps, Sheng Nan walked over with one hand in her pocket and tossed the toss over.

David instinctively caught them, and upon closer inspection, he saw that they were two separate chips. "What are these?" he asked Shengnan.

"The basic training chip for the Arasaka Security Department. You can use it if you want to practice."

Sheng Nan casually offered an explanation.

"If you train well, you'll be able to pass the graduation exam. For students like you who are purely physically strong, the assessment standards will be much more lenient than ours."

"Thanks." David took the chip box out of his bag, carefully packed away the two training chips, and said gratefully, "Shengnan, I'll pay you back after I join the company..."

"unnecessary."

Sheng Nan simply refused.

"It's just a small amount. Didn't I tell you? I trust the security department's assessment specialist's judgment; consider it an investment in you. If we're assigned to the same team, don't hold me back. I'm leaving now; I can't chat with you any longer. I still have a few extracurricular tutoring classes and private military training sessions to attend..."

Today's quiz is over. Students who have completed the training can now move around freely after returning their equipment. Whether you choose to leave the school or go to the library for self-study is up to you.

locker room.

After changing out of their light combat uniforms and into the academy's black and red uniforms with the Arasaka logo, David, with a backpack slung across his shoulder, followed behind Kasuo and Gian as they walked out of their Security Department's standalone teaching building.

"Fat Tiger, I heard you're going to join the security department's guard unit?"

"Yeah. I'll go wherever Boss Shengnan goes, but my family says my physique is more suited to police or security work..."

"David, you still don't have a decent prosthetic body. Although you're number one among the pure physical trainees, the security department's work is very risky..."

"Sigh... I can't help it, my family is poor. Scholarships and low-interest loans have already covered tuition and fees, there's simply no money left to buy a prosthetic body. I plan to get a discounted loan to buy a military-grade prosthetic body after I get a job..."

The group chatted as they walked toward the school gate.

Just as Shengnan turned her head to speak, ring—

[Contact Person: Father]

Sheng Nan's eyes began to glow with an orange-red light. "Dad?"

Then, as if the person on the other end of the communication had said something extraordinary, he was stunned for a moment, his breathing suddenly became heavy, he clenched his fists tightly, and nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, um... okay, I understand."

As soon as the call ended, he turned around and ran quickly toward the school gate.

"Ah, Shengnan."

Suneo and Gian exclaimed in surprise and quickly followed. David also belatedly started running.

At the school gate, a Villeroy & Boch Curtiss V5000 Arasaka-type was already waiting. It was Tanaka's car.

Click.

Opening the car door, Sheng Nan, with an urgent look on her face, seemed to have thought of something and turned around, saying, "Martinez. If you need money, do you want me to lend you some?"

"Huh? Well, never mind." David jogged over, paused for a moment, then shook his head. "You've already helped me enough. By the way, what happened? Why are you in such a hurry..."

"Watch the news, you'll find out soon enough. David, it's best to stay home at night and avoid those shady black market cyborg doctors. The situation in Night City might be tense for a while..."

Before she could finish speaking, Shengnan got into the car.

"News? What news?"

Watching the car's rear end start its engine and speed away, David muttered to himself, parted ways with Suneo and Gian, and walked alone towards Santo Domingo's house.

He walks with his head held high and chest out, and thanks to that person's encouragement, his slouching, forward-leaning, and relaxed gait has been corrected.

Although he didn't have a prosthetic body, David never slacked off in his physical training.

Even the best prosthetic body requires a good body to function. This is especially true for trainees like David who don't have the funds right now and can only wait until they graduate and join the workforce to take out a loan to purchase a military prosthetic body.

The LED video wall on the street is playing advertisements for Arasaka, biotechnology, and high-tech military industry.

NC Night City News reports local news.

Another robbery targeting a military technology transport convoy has occurred in the badlands of Southern California; gang warfare erupts again in the streets of Night City, Haywood, between the Valentino Gang and the Sixth Street Gang; and the Terrorist SWAT team is once again deployed to eliminate unwanted individuals…

Night City has a really bad security situation!

Even without Sheng Nan's reminder, David wouldn't go out for random walks at night.

I remember that time in early 2075, he got beaten up and went to the infirmary to steal medicine, so he came back late. Then he was pickpocketed on the subway and his communication chip was stolen. He spent fifty euros to buy a new one, which broke his heart.

Sigh, I wonder what it's like in other parts of the world.

The place where the esteemed Arasaka who encouraged him, the place where Commander Vera Adelheid went for further studies, Tokyo—I wonder how it differs from Night City.

"Welcome to News Channel 54. We're bringing you international news."

The screen then switched to another channel.

"Just now, on January 23rd, Tokyo time, our reporter received news that Ms. Vera Adelheid Russell will conclude her one-year advanced studies at the University of Tokyo and return to Night City to fulfill her responsibilities."

"It is said that Saburo Arasaka, who has regained his 'youth,' personally promoted Ms. Vera Adelhead and praised her as the most dazzling gem in Night City and the unpolished jade of Arasaka."

"We believe that Ms. Vera Adelhead's return to Night City after a year's absence will inject new vitality into the city's citizens' confidence and will mark the beginning of a new level of cooperation between NCPD officers and Arasaka's sheriffs..."

David's eyes widened immediately.

Is Commander Vera Adelheid coming back?!

He immediately recalled Sheng Nan's words.

Watching the news...

No wonder Sheng Nan, that son of an official, was in such a hurry.

No! He needs to hurry too! Not just Shengnan, he's graduating soon too... No way! David Martinez, you can't be so lazy!

He always remembered those words of encouragement and admonition: 'Don't fall into depravity,' and 'I hope to see your name on the list of new hires at Arasaka Tower.' Even though she had already forgotten about him, this insignificant, lowly trainee.

Clearing his mind of distractions, David's eyes hardened instantly, and he sped up in a flash.

JK (Jimmy Kurosaki) can no longer watch Mewtwo, he has to abandon the old Japanese anime he carefully selected, and he can no longer chat and joke with that shady cyborg doctor. Until the time before his graduation exam, he puts himself into the Arasaka training chip that Katsuo gave him.

Train, train like crazy!

......

Company Plaza, Arasaka Tower.

The floor where the counterintelligence department is located.

“Holy crap, V, did you see that? Those bastards in the security department have gone completely mad. They’re attacking from all sides. The Valentino gang and the Sixth Street gang were fighting, and just because someone said it was an eyesore, they flew over and executed a hundred people.”

Harry, a black man with a kind face, entered the information booth with a coffee in his hand and handed it to his colleague behind the workstation—oh, now his superior, a red-haired woman with a single-sided shovel.

V sat behind her desk, reached for the corrugated cup, took a sip of coffee, and shrugged. "Isn't this normal? Director Vera Adelheid is coming back soon."

When she mentioned the title of 'director', her tone was somewhat complicated.

Depend on!

Everyone says that Vera feels right at home when she joins Night City's security department, so why does she feel like she's coming home even after studying abroad in Tokyo and arriving at Arasaka's global headquarters...?

It's the "Stairway to the Sun" project again, and it's also thanks to Saburo Arasaka himself. He hasn't even graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo yet, but his rank is already skyrocketing. If he goes back to Night City and works there for a few more years, will he become a national-level director?

*Beep beep*. It was a phone notification sound. V glanced at it.

[Correspondent: Arthur Jenkins]

connected.

[Jenkins: V. Continue reconnaissance around the Arasaka factory in Watson District. As for everything else—military technology, Pedro Petrochemical—keep your undercover agents and informants silent for a while. Director Russell is returning; this time, the commotion won't be small.]

V: "Complete shutdown?"

Jenkins: Yes. Inside information suggests that Tokyo headquarters has decided to reinforce Night City. Just watch, we'll wage a diplomatic and information war on military technology... Execute orders.

"Yes." V nodded repeatedly, knowing the seriousness of the matter.

After Jenkins hung up, V was silent for a moment, her eyes glowing red, and then she beeped.

"Jack, can you hear me?"

[Jack: Ah, hey girl, how's it going? Are you having a good time in that snake pit? What brings you here to see me?]

"It's alright, I guess. I'm getting paid, and at least I got promoted. But now's not the time for banter. Hey Jack, listen to me, I've got you covered. Right now, drop everything you're doing and go with your mom."

[Jack: Hey, Hermana (Spanish for girl). Relax, what's wrong? Why are you so anxious? Relax, you need to learn to release stress.]

“I’m in a real hurry. Jack, there’s a confidentiality period for this, so I can’t say anything. But I can reveal one thing: Vera Adelhead is going back to Night City, you know? Knowing her personality, I don’t want her first big trouble to fall on you. Got it?”

[Jack: It's that woman... I heard she's a ruthless character as powerful as a hammer. Okay, I understand. I'll heed my sister's warning, of course. Thanks.]

"Jack, remember, don't be impulsive. I'm hanging up now. Let's get together again next time."

Jack: "Buena suerte (Good luck)."

beep.

...

Meanwhile, in Little Chinatown, at an intersection of Bradbury Street and Bran Street.

A shop filled with various statues, small toys, incense sticks, tarot cards, and yarrow stalks, exuding a mysterious astrology and psychic shop.

“Lo siento (sorry), it seems our cooperation is not going to work out. A very good and hardworking friend of mine told me that it's best not to get involved in this matter for the time being.”

Jack took his hands off the old sofa and looked at the men and women opposite him. They were of different heights and styles, and compared to cyberpunk, they had a more like a large, wandering family of mercenaries.

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