Infinity, progressing from Arasaka

A true man can bend and stretch. Umbrella is not Ara-saka, and America here has not collapsed; it remains the world's superpower.

The other party is the U.S. National Security Advisor, a powerful figure in Washington with a vast family influence that extends to both the legal and illegal worlds. I am merely a senior executive of a legitimate pharmaceutical company, not even the chairman of the board, so I shouldn't put on airs.

Washington, D.C., White House, Office of the President's National Security Advisor.

Good afternoon, Dr. Russell.

At the prime of his life, behind his large solid wood desk, Drake C. Simmons, who was reviewing official documents, adjusted himself into a comfortable sitting position and said seriously, "Is there anything I can do for you?"

They are all thousand-year-old foxes, so they are not playing funny games.

Simmons didn't believe that Vera, who had just been promoted by the Umbrella board to be the top director of the newly established 'Black Umbrella' department, was here to chat and talk nonsense.

"You're too kind."

Vera smiled and said softly, "Umbrella's growth is inseparable from the United States. As the new director of the Black Umbrella division, I hope to contribute my share to protecting the values ​​of the free world and maintaining social stability..."

Based on the information she had collected and mastered, Vera automatically conjured up an image in her mind of an American elite in his thirties, dressed formally in a suit and tie, with meticulously styled dark brown slicked-back hair, and the look of a mature, middle-aged man.

Treat people differently based on their status.

Simmons is a radical pacifist in American politics, and his personal political inclination, which he has repeatedly demonstrated to the public, is to protect social stability at all costs.

Whether it's a fabricated story or the real one, Vera used this as the basis for her discussion.

'Defend the values ​​of the free world', 'Do your part'

After reviewing Vera's fragmented and ornate words, Simmons quickly grasped the key points and gave a faint smile.

"As a leader in the fields of pharmaceuticals and medical hardware for many years, Umbrella has been making continuous moves in recent years. Having successfully developed emerging industries such as bionic prosthetics, drones, electronics, and semiconductors, is it not satisfied and preparing to officially enter the military industry?"

“Umbrella has the responsibility, the obligation, and the capability.”

Since Simmons had already pointed it out, Vera naturally didn't hold back either.

"Is that so? Is it Umbrella that has this capability... or is it you, Dr. Vera Adelheid Russell, an authority in the cutting-edge research field of modern bionic engineering and intelligent control technology, who has this capability?" Simmons said meaningfully.

He's been keeping an eye on Umbrella for a while now.

Despite losing its two founders, becoming increasingly pedantic, and showing signs of resting on its laurels, Umbrella has strangely rejuvenated in recent years, like an old tree blossoming in spring.

Those unusual actions were probably mostly the work of the woman on the other end of the phone.

Vera simply smiled and did not answer the question.

“Mr. Simmons, this question seems irrelevant... Let’s get back to the main topic and talk about the important matter of building a factory in Umbrella on the West Coast.” After obtaining permission to fax, Vera relayed the information she had prepared for Spencer to Simmons again.

It was an abridged version, but Vera believed that Simmons, as a seasoned politician, would certainly be able to discern the subtle hints about profit sharing within it.

Silence fell, broken only by the hiss of the fax machine and the rustling of papers being turned. "Why not go through the state government? Or the GOP..." Simmons asked, seemingly casually.

"I chose you." Vera said sincerely.

Simmons suddenly paused.

"Why?" he asked.

“I personally agree with Mr. Simmons’ views on peace, order, and stability,” Vera complimented. Her words were sincere, as if she were truly a supporter of Simmons’ political platform.

She can't exactly say, "I know your flaws and Achilles' heel as a bed-bed simp," can she?

"If Mr. Simmons aspires to run for state election or in the future presidential election, Umbrella will always be your most loyal supporter."

“…” Simmons was silent for a moment. He knew that this Umbrella referred to Vera’s Black Umbrella division.

“Let’s meet, Ms. Vera Adelhead.” Using a more intimate form of address, Simmons unfolded the still-warm paper before him.

Tamahyou, WWA bullpup assault weapon, WXA computer-aided aiming kit...

As the National Security Advisor, the president's chief advisor on national security issues, the administrator of the national security decision-making process, and the collector and coordinator of various intelligence information, Simmons naturally had a thorough understanding of the military's standard equipment, equipment iterations, and pre-developed weapon parameters.

If these weapon parameters are correct, they will completely defeat the equipment currently being developed by the military in the bidding process... provided Vera isn't lying to herself.

On this issue, Simmons believed that Umbrella wouldn't dare to deceive Washington.

“It’s my pleasure to chat with you, Mr. Simmons.”

“It is my honor, Ms. Vera.”

...

Doodle.

At the Umbrella Building in San Francisco, Vera hung up the phone, shook her head and chuckled. "It really is the world of capital," she thought. "All that preamble, empty flattery, and empty promises is less effective than demonstrating value and offering money. Oh, not offering money, but political donations."

That's right, Vera bribed them with a lot of money!

For example, Vera plans to give half of the shares in the production workshop of the Yuxiang pistol to the Simmons family. Profits from other weapons production should also be distributed. Only in this way can she be considered to have truly entered the military industry.

Drones, semiconductors, integrated circuits, electronic devices... these can be used for both civilian and military purposes. Even though several big deals have been negotiated with the Pentagon under Vera's leadership, they can only be considered sensitive technology industries, half of the military industry.

Only by truly entering the military industry can one be considered to have the full industry access qualification certificate.

In a while, there will be a charity auction for the Simmons family, and she expects to go to Washington to have a face-to-face discussion with Simmons.

Oh, I also have to get deeply involved in charity auctions. I have to spend a fortune several times to complete the process, whether it's the work of an artist I've never heard of or the graffiti of a kid who popped up out of nowhere.

There was also a master-crafted art firearms auction hosted by the National Rifle Association; a press conference by the California state government regarding Umbrella's factory construction in San Francisco; and a charity gala by the Veterans Association for Umbrella's prosthetic limb project...

Vera is very busy.

This is both a pursuit of self-improvement and a way to distance oneself from the mess left by the old Umbrella BOW project.

Buy your 'get off the train' ticket in advance.

Umbrella may sink, but it cannot capsize!

"Uh huh huh~"

As Vera unfolded the documents her secretary had placed on her desk, several official letters that dashed her spirits appeared before her eyes. She was happily planning her grand plan to decouple from Umbrella and figuring out the most reasonable way to do it.

In the opened document:

[Protest letter from environmental and animal protection organizations against Umbrella's massive factory expansion and its environmental damage]

[Anti-discrimination and affirmative action organizations lodge a protest and recommendation that Umbrella's new hires are unreasonable]

...

"..."

After a long silence, Vera finally managed to utter a curse, "Fuck!"

If it weren't for the fact that it was so early in history, would diverse groups have come along too?

The unique American-style clothing is a must-try.

'It's still more fun to lord it over everyone in Arasaka.'

------

Chapter 013 Vera needed to vent because—

Bang! A gunshot rang out.

A beautiful, alluring figure collapsed onto the dirty ground.

A large-caliber heavy bullet pierced her meticulously sculpted, beautiful face, flying out from the back of her head. Metal fragments, accompanied by a spray of red and white blood, fell in a fan shape. With only her jaw remaining, her body was thrown backward by inertia and crashed heavily to the ground.

The corpse lay limp on the ground, its exposed, damaged prosthetic components sparking from the explosions, and its limbs twitching irregularly from time to time.

Crimson human blood and milky white nourishing fluid flowed from the wound on the head, staining the ground and slowly spreading in the indigo eyes.

blah blah...

Vera, dressed in a black combat uniform with red patterns, emerged from the shadows.

Vera put down the RT-46 Storm Electromagnetic Revolver in her hand, glanced sideways at the man who was paralyzed with fear on the ground, mouth agape, frozen in place, his mind blank and unable to even scream. Her indifferent face showed that she was not in a good mood.

“Ahhhhh——!”

Only then, with his face covered in blood, chunks of flesh, and brain matter, did the man belatedly let out a terrified howl.

Then, *smack!* *Smack smack!*

The heavily armed soldiers behind Vera stepped forward and slapped her several times, silencing her.

Bang Bang Bang!

Around them, following Vera's gunshot signal, a series of gunshots rang out simultaneously, along with the resistance of those resisting arrest and the screams of pedestrians. After a short while, the noise subsided, and several plainclothes Arasaka agents and the heavily armed Arasaka soldiers holding the target landed steadily from the rooftop.

"Sir, what should we do with this guy?"

Vera's trusted subordinate, Jimmy, the acting captain of Special Assault Team 6, stepped forward and handed over the target, whose limbs were twisted, face swollen, ICE combat unit forcibly torn off, and whose prosthetic body was paralyzed by the Puppet Virus, to the plainclothes agent before speaking.

A "puppet" is essentially a virus, something uploaded during a hacker intrusion protocol. It integrates scripted instructions, allowing hackers to influence users within the network, quickly crack their systems, or malfunction their prosthetic bodies and even destroy their brains—it all depends on how it's used.

ICE stands for Special Defense Programs specifically designed to counter Puppet Attacks.

"Business matters."

With that, Vera turned and left.

"Yes...."

Jimmy nodded and looked at the man who seemed to realize the problem and was even more terrified, then shrugged.

"Idiot, you don't even know you're being targeted by industrial spies. Do you think a pretty girl with such a high-end sex chip would be interested in you? Don't you even take a piss and see how much you're worth? The rich guys you can just pick up in the Cloud Peak are worth more than your monthly salary."

After wiping the blood off his face, the man in the suit looked quite respectable, and the smell of the company dog ​​was nothing compared to what he was used to.

Oh, he was originally a corporate employee, but he won't be for long.

The case cracked by the counterintelligence department had a simple cause and effect: a newly hired administrative clerk in the security department was being watched. Someone was taking advantage of his frequenting places where sex workers met, planning to use an encounter with a sex worker as a breakthrough, then develop an ambiguous relationship, and slowly leave a mole in the background.

It's unclear when Arasaka will be activated; perhaps it will be after he levels up a few more times. However, Arasaka noticed this in advance and dealt with him.