Infinity, progressing from Arasaka

Night City, Aragaka Tower.

Counterintelligence Department.

"Hey V, our reconnaissance personnel around the Arasaka factory in Watson District are in position. A complete silence order has been issued for our undercover agents and intelligence providers. Emergency assessments indicate that there is already a risk of exposure. Our people in Zeta and Contau, as you instructed, have also been given the order to evacuate."

"Okay. Tell our people to withdraw slowly, without alerting the enemy. Otherwise, they'll be discovered. Once the new instructions are issued, temporarily suspend all contact."

Having just finished a meeting with their superior, Arthur Jenkins, V and Harry walked back to their office down the corridor, passing nearby staff hurrying by.

The public news video wall in the corridor is showing a replay of a press conference from the Tokyo Arasaka Tower headquarters.

"...My decision, in the final analysis, is for the happiness of those around me, for my family, and for my employees. Therefore, I am making an important decision to double the number of the company's security forces stationed in Night City."

"Perhaps President Myers sees my actions as a violation of the Alvin Accords, a dangerous provocation, and a target of the new America and military technology. Then, I ask you, what about the terrorist attacks in South Africa a year ago?"

“My junior, one of Arasaka’s best employees, was attacked in a premeditated manner during her school trip, and we all know why.”

"And she will return to Night City as a senior manager of Arasaka and an outstanding scientist. With her here, the Arasaka Tower in Night City will become Arasaka's vital economic lifeline and research center for new products. This demonstrates our respect for and responsibility towards that land that was lost for half a century..."

"Increasing military and security forces is based solely on the principle of reciprocity. Arasaka will never allow the tragedy and persecution of half a century ago to repeat itself. Our actions are not directed against any individual or group..."

The person present at the press conference was none other than Saburo Arasaka, who had recovered to the physiological state of a seventy or eighty-year-old.

When faced with questions from global media giants including NC Night City News, News54, WNS News, EU News, CNN, The Washington Post, and The New York Observer about whether Arasaka's troop increase in Night City violated the spirit of the Alvin Peace Accords, Saburo answered them one by one with ease and composure.

For Arasaka employees, such polite words should be taken with a grain of salt and treated as mere trash talk.

Will we go to war with military technology?

Harry looked at V thoughtfully and lowered his voice.

“It’s only a matter of time.”

V appeared very calm.

It's common knowledge that Military Technology and Arasaka are at odds, and any employee who joins Arasaka and tries to climb the ranks needs to be mentally prepared to clash with Military Technology. Just like employees who voluntarily join Military Technology, they are inevitably prepared to confront Arasaka.

"The exact time when it will break out could be a few years from now, or it could be more than a decade from now. It depends on what the bigwigs in Tokyo are thinking."

“Oh, and there’s also Director Vera Adelheid. We’ll know once she gets back, just look at her actions.” V waved, walked across the cubicle office, and headed to the Watson District to check on the mission progress.

Ding.

Upon entering the elevator, V pressed the switch to go down to the next floor, then frowned slightly.

Private communications.

It's Jack.

What happened?

drop.

[V: Jack, what's up?]

[Jack: Yes and no. Girl, do you remember when you contacted me and asked me to help you figure out a suitable 'next life' mercenary to exit the game?]

V naturally remembers.

Thanks to the increased deterrent effect of the Arasaka Security Department's efficient riot control, she helped her good friend Jack successfully infiltrate the 'Afterlife' nightclub.

'The Next Life'. A legend in Night City's underworld, teeming with reckless cyber mercenaries. Thinking it might come in handy later for dirty work, V instructed Jack to develop his network and connections. Since there was no immediate need, she didn't inquire much about this after giving the order.

[V: Do you have a suitable candidate? Give me a straight answer.]

[Jack: Look how anxious you are. Well, there's a pretty established group. They have two skilled cyber hackers. They seem really short on cash. And because of your warning, my deal with them fell through. They're about to take on a Faraday Future project.]

[V: So?]

[Jack: That Faraday guy, according to my information, is probably a middleman working for military technology. Most likely. You Arasaka guys always like to be at odds with military technology, don't you...]

"Are you sure?" V's gaze sharpened instantly, and he said in a very serious tone, "People in military technology?"

[Jack: Confirmed. Would I lie to you? Almost certainly. Anyway, for you, the commission they need is easily fed to them by just a little bit of money slipping through your fingers. Give me an answer, or do you want to confirm it in person?]

V fell into thought.

Just then, *ding*. The elevator doors opened.

It is one of the floors belonging to the security department.

"Heywood, the Valentino gang should quiet down for a while."

"The Mox Gang is a bunch of bitches, just warn them. As for the Tiger Claw Gang, talk to their leader. Cease all criminal activity for now. There's a direct order from above: the crime rate in Night City must be brought down when Director Russell gives his inaugural speech."

"The key is still the Sixth Street Gang and the Whirlpool Gang."

"Then let's sweep through again. Commander Jimmy's idea is to focus on the Sixth Street gang; their reach is too far..."

Several Arasaka administrators belonging to the security department were talking in hushed tones.

V's brow furrowed slightly, then quickly relaxed.

The security department...

As news of Vera's meteoric rise in Tokyo reached Night City, the status and influence of the Security Department, especially the Security Headquarters, in Night City became increasingly prominent.

Thanks to their early friendship, Jimmy from the Special Assault Team, Brian and Laurie from the Security Team, and even Tanaka from the R&D Department are among the people who can talk to the new Director of the Night City Management Council and the Security Director in the eyes of many corporate employees. They are all riding high these days.

She's really climbed the social ladder.

Other company employees were filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment.

I am not afraid of my brothers suffering, I am just afraid of them driving a Land Rover.

V recalled the counter-espionage mission in South Africa.

She was sent to Johannesburg and Cape Town to arrest many spies. One of the rapid reaction team members was interrogated and was suspected of being a military technology recruit, so she was promoted directly.

Undoubtedly, the South African terrorist attack was the work of military technology, and given Vera Adelhaid's personality, she would definitely seek revenge.

A conspiracy to sabotage military technology...

A flash of orange-red data appeared in V's eyes.

[V: Jack. Agree to his request and keep him calm. If your information is correct and this matter is handled properly, I might be able to connect you with a big shot. I'll discuss the details with him personally.]

[Jack: OK. Girl, see you at the Secret Astrology and Psychic House in Little Chinatown, Bradbury Street...]

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PS: ε(┬┬﹏┬┬)3

Chapter 092 A Gathering of Fortune, You, Me, and Him (4.6K)

"That's roughly what the terms are."

"Thank you so much for your support, Jack."

After gesturing for his girlfriend Dorio to take Rebecca out of the room, Mann expressed his heartfelt gratitude.

“Hermanos (brother), may you and your companions be well.” Jack, sitting across from the broken coffee table, patted the sofa cheerfully. “Of course, don’t rush to thank me. I’m not in a position to judge my good sister. She will come to talk to you herself.”

"what?"

Mann was slightly taken aback.

"Your sister, the office worker at Arasaka? She's coming to see me? When?"

"Now."

Shaking the beautiful liquid slowly swaying in the glass beer bottle, Jack curled the corners of his mouth and stood up.

"It's been so long since I've had a real get-together with my sisters. I need to find my treasures... Heywood's homemade wine, hmm, there's a noodle place in the Kabuki district that's absolutely amazing. And Tom's restaurant, a long-established Heywood, their fried eggs and bacon, roasted ribs, spare ribs... they're all top-notch street food. I need to pay extra to make sure the owner uses some good meat, not some cheap synthetic meat. I bet V will love it."

As Jack rummaged through the stacks of boxes behind him, his eyes gleaming with the orange glow of food orders placed over the phone, "...I wonder if she missed these flavors during her time in the Arasaka Snake Den."

Muttering to himself, he pulled a metal box from under the clutter, dusted it off, and looked at Mann.

"Friendly reminder, Mann Brothers, don't say anything detrimental to the company in front of my good friend... Also, you know the rules of the game. Watch your mouth and your team's mouths."

Mann nodded at Jack's reminder.

He is no longer in a position to be picky.

He needs money; his team needs a lot of money.

Since Saburo Arasaka miraculously regained his youth and made a comeback in Tokyo in mid-autumn of 2075, Arasaka has reached a series of cooperation agreements with allied companies such as European banks and biotechnology companies.

A series of "rejuvenation surgeries" targeting the upper class and dignitaries were opened up, while new types of soft stimulants and implantable neutralizing inhibitors were launched in markets with high spending power, such as Night City.

The so-called 'rejuvenation surgery' is a simplified, diluted version of the R-618 regeneration agent.

Saburo was unwilling and unable to open up his most cutting-edge technology to forces other than Arasaka, but in order to gain allies and buy some leeway for Arasaka, he had to grit his teeth and cooperate with forces that he could barely accept, and bring out the new results from the interim results of the [Stairway to the Sun Project] that Vera mentioned, which were more inclined towards 'beauty and skin care, health care and basic medical care'.

These technologies might be utterly useless to cyber mercenaries who live on the edge, mere pretentious effeminate products they have no need for. But for the upper class, the elite find them invaluable.

As for prosthetic bodies, the higher the quality, the more closely they fit the human body.

Bio-components are a technology that uses biological modification to replace cyber implant components. They are a product of the same period as third-generation cyber-component technology.

By consumer market standards, biotechnology and nanotechnology are still quite novel. But in Europe, bio-components are developing rapidly, and the region is the cradle of advanced bioengineering technologies.

This is also why Saburo chose to cooperate with European banks. The "Solar Staircase Project" aligns well with the technological research and development directions in Europe.

As for biotechnology, just look at the company's name; its expertise and business focus are self-evident.

For cyber mercenaries like Mann, 'rejuvenation surgery' is a distant prospect, but soft stimulants and implanted neutralizing inhibitors are very close.

It was a lifesaver, but also something that imprisoned him and emptied his wallet. To sustain his body, which had reached its limits, he had to desperately prolong his mercenary career with stimulants and inhibitors in order to earn more money.

As the team leader, he had to keep his promise—for Dorio, for Pira and Rebecca, for Kivi, and for Lucy's dream of going to the moon…

It's not that I can't take jobs from the company; it's just a matter of saying nice things and acting like a pushover. It won't cost me anything. It's just that the reputation of being a company dog ​​is really terrible in the old-school 'legend' of the underground mercenary world!

Just as Mann was caught in his final dilemma—

drip.

A voice communication that blocks video.

[Gloria: Mann.]