Infinity, progressing from Arasaka

This is a pre-arranged script, a reality show called "Forced to Join the Liangshan Rebels," with the Ghost Dog as the main actor.

Hansen knew without even guessing.

These were handed over by Arasaka, who explicitly designated them to be executed: criminals with strong physiques and powerful combat cybernetic bodies. They were the results of Arasaka's recent sweep of the evil land, and were either agents of Shinmi or intelligence personnel for military technology.

He overheard Vera's scheme in Aragaki Tower in Dogtown.

but--

“Congratulations, Colonel Kurt Hansen... Ah, I’m being too formal. NUSA is a thing of the past. I should address you as Director Hansen.”

It's Wilton Holt.

The bald, slightly overweight deputy mayor, wearing retro half-rimmed glasses, spoke to Hansen, who had finally changed out of his unchanging battle attire.

At the same time that gunfire continued in the Badlands, the part of the old industrial area in northern Watson that had been incorporated into the Arasaka Research and Development Zone had been demolished and razed. On the construction site, where building materials, construction machinery, and crowds of people were bustling, Hansen, dressed in a suit and exuding the air of a successful man, stood in the crowd and under the spotlight, full of confidence.

"Thank you, Mayor Holt."

Hansen deliberately removed the word "vice," saying, "I look forward to your landslide victory in next year's mayoral election. Dogtown and Ghosthound will always be your strongholds."

Despite his burly physique and frequent appearance in a T-shirt and military trousers, looking like a brute who only knows how to brandish weapons, Hansen's political acumen is quite sophisticated. He's adept at handling this kind of feedback.

Ta da~

The sound of high heels clicking on the smooth ground drew the attention of Holt and Hansen, who were exchanging compliments.

After concluding her conversations with key figures such as the head of the new district project, project managers, site security officials, and the NCPD's Watson branch chief, Vera, surrounded by the cyber ninjas from Arasaka, held a paper map of the new district in one hand and waved to them with the other.

"Mayor Holt, Chief Hansen, would you mind walking with me?"

Vera greeted them first, her voice still calm and gentle, but naturally exuding an undeniable sense of pressure.

She naturally positioned herself in the center, and neither Holt nor Hansen felt anything was amiss.

Michiko Arakawa has returned to Los Angeles.

Compared to the cold, violent Night City, Michiko clearly preferred the enchanting and ambiguous City of Angels, home to Hollywood.

After signaling the Arasaka ninjas and bodyguards around her to disperse and be on guard, she, along with Hott and Hansen, walked along the compacted and leveled ground towards the end of the building materials pile extending into the badlands.

“Of course. Ms. Vera, thank you for saving Night City once again. Last time it was the city's security, and this time it's the city's infrastructure and the suburbs. Oh, poor lambs, they live in a city that is far from welcoming.”

With Wilton Holt around—a man of flexibility, witty speech, and quick wit—there's no need to worry about awkward silences.

In this respect, Hansen still cannot be compared with career politicians.

"But all of this is because of you. Mr. Mayor, you have a keen eye for the times and a heart that seeks change and development."

Vera smiled.

To be honest, she was very comfortable working with this flexible old politician.

He was very sensible; he knew which connections in the city could be used and which should be reserved for the company.

"Haha...you flatter me." Holt said with a smile.

He was also very satisfied with the partnership with Vera. It was true that the company benefited the most from several policies, as they did boost employment. The improvement in security in the Lijiang scenic area alone had a remarkable effect on his political reputation.

This is why he handled everything so quickly after receiving Vera's request to legalize Dogtown and the Ghosthound Gang. Although it was very obsequious, Holt firmly believed that this was the way Night City operated.

Moreover, he also reaped considerable benefits himself.

Vera looked at Hansen.

“I told you, you won’t be disappointed, Director Hansen.”

This bureau chief, being an NCPD deputy, doesn't count.

His full title is Chief of the Police Precinct of the Autonomous Region Police Station of Taipingzhou Dogtown, Night City. The prefix "Taipingzhou Dogtown" refers to the territory of the Ghost Dogs, but it's just a favor. A precinct chief and a headquarters chief are not the same thing.

Vera smiled and said, "Mr. Hansen, welcome to the Night City family."

Hansen said, "Your methods are always so impressive, Director Vera."

Vera did not deny it.

“But you still chose to eat it,” she said.

"Yes."

Hansen nodded in agreement.

"The price is that the Ghost Hound and I are completely bound to Arasaka, or rather, to Director Vera's chariot. Is this what you call an 'employment contract'? I'm truly amazed."

He stared intently into Vera's eyes.

"Let the Ghost Hounds, who are carrying out the mission, swagger around the city. Then, your people will take the NUSA agents, who have been extracted from the intelligence and beaten half to death, and hand them over to my people for execution. They will also deliberately surround the city without attacking, leaving a few inhabited strongholds for my people to break into. I think the news of the Ghost Hounds' 'anti-gang and anti-violence' operation in Badlands has already been put on the White House's desk with the help of WNS News."

WNS News, like News 54, is a media industry giant. However, WNS supports Arasaka, while News 54 primarily supports military technology.

"If you want revenge, you have to pay the price. This is the will of the Netherhound. I'm just helping you go with the flow."

Vera stopped and held up the new district planning map, handing it to him: "Looking back and forth isn't like you, my friend. Does President Miles want you to change your surname back?"

"Yes. But I refused."

Stepping forward, Hansen took the new district planning map and said, "Actually, Miles contacted me three months ago when you were still in Tokyo. She said she wanted me to clean up a mess, as it would be too much trouble for her to do it herself, and we needed to be mindful of international perception."

“Some people don’t want to get their hands dirty, so they send me money to handle things. But then on the evening news, those same people condemn my ‘horrific acts.’ To be honest, I’ve had enough of this for a long time.”

"Like a lotus root that's been severed but still connected." Vera smiled gently. "It's not easy to have a clear understanding of oneself. Generally speaking, those who can't are the ones who live happier lives."

Being a leader is different from being a common soldier; you should avoid things that completely ruin relationships, even if both sides dislike each other.

She pointed to the rolled-up blueprints of the new district and said, "Take a look."

"What is this?" Hansen was taken aback when he unfolded the blueprints and saw what they were.

"Planning for high-rise buildings in the new district."

At the end of the paved road, on a bare, wind-eroded, flat-topped hill, Vera looked around at the construction machinery bustling with activity on the horizon below. Pointing to it, she said, "Choose one."

“Gangs are ultimately not respectable. Have you considered reorganizing the Ghosthound Gang into a company? We’ll make sure your main business is what you’re best at: smuggling, the black market, and mercenaries.” He looked at Hansen.

dong dong.

Hansen's heart seemed to suddenly race, and his breathing became heavy.

Vera chuckled to herself.

Once people have needs and concerns, they also have something to be manipulated. Yes, she's the same.

"As everyone knows, Emil Lazarus was just a retired NUSA colonel when he founded the Lazarus Mercenary Group. Interested, Colonel Hansen?"

Lazarus Mercenaries Group is one of the world's most well-known heavy labor dispatch companies.

If bestowing the title of honorary director was Hansen's final pursuit of honor in his military identity, the real gift was the semi-legalization of the Ghost Dogs.

As long as it complies with the 'excessive firepower' restriction law and has the support of a large company, Hansen has the ability to smooth things over and could reorganize the Ghosthound Gang into the Ghosthound Mercenary Group.

As for large corporations, they are even more detached from worldly affairs.

What Vera didn't explicitly say was that Lazarus succeeded because he gained the appreciation and personal friendship of Donald Lundy, the then CEO of Military Technology.

Hansen was well aware of the success stories of these celebrities. He looked at Vera with a complex and thoughtful expression. "If you support me, I won't be any worse than Emil Lazarus." He saw a mixture of cautious pride and overbearing ambition in Vera's ivory-like face.

Vera is comparing herself to former military technology CEO Donald Lunddy.

"So, are the 'silk' strands still connected when the lotus root is broken?"

With a gentle, warm smile, Vera simply asked.

Hansen frowned.

The pledge of allegiance has already been made.

The new America and its military technology are something that can never be returned to.

While he may seem glamorous straddling the fence, he has actually been working hard for the past six years to balance the various forces in Dogtown, struggling to survive between giants like Arasaka and Military Technology, and utilizing almost every external condition at his disposal.

I'm so tired... really...

Now that things have come to this, it's time to choose sides completely! He's been pushed to the brink by Vera, and he can't even utter a word against her. This kind of overt, manipulative scheme is the hardest to defend against.

Taking a deep breath, Hansen's eyes instantly hardened.

"No more connections. Director Vera."

He is a director, not a management director. This director is not Arasaka's director, but a director of the yet-to-be-established Ghosthound mercenary group.

popping.

Hansen's answer prompted Vera to applaud softly.

Under the midday sun, she pointed to the plot of land slated for commercial development at her feet. "Choose a site for the Future Group's headquarters. I'll provide you with policy, public opinion, and diplomatic support; the rest is up to you." Vera patted Hansen on the shoulder and left with Deputy Mayor Holt.

Hansen was left standing alone on the flat-topped hill for a long time. He stared blankly at the blueprints in his hand, and then at the vast expanse of land on the distant horizon that needed to be leveled and solidified... After a long while, he chuckled.

"What a terrible woman."

Hansen smiled bitterly, and couldn't help but tap his forehead with a scroll made of the new district's planning drawings.

"I was completely led by the nose... I felt like a raw recruit being punished by being made to stand with my pants down in front of her... She's not even twenty-five years old yet... Was she taught by that old geezer Saburo?"

"Fine... that's Miles's problem to worry about..."

------

P.S.: Busy June is finally over. It felt like all sorts of trivial things piled up this month, keeping me constantly on the go. Sigh, you know how it is.

Chapter 107: Lingering Charm (4.5K)

Night falls.

Vera returned to her home in Westbrook after concluding her inspection of the progress of the new construction project at the Arasaka Research Center.