Infinity, progressing from Arasaka

The Arasaka Dedicated Terminal at Tokyo Haneda International Airport.

Da da--

Carrying her suitcase, Vera stood on the gangway, squinting as she gazed at the Tokyo skyline, which was much denser, higher, and wider than Night City. A cold wind blew against her face, ruffling her hair.

Looking down at the standard 'Holy Sword' model hovercraft parked not far away, Agent Arasaka, dressed in a black suit and wearing sunglasses, with a cool expression, had been waiting for a long time.

Her airship is only for short-range missions and doesn't support trans-Pacific travel. If she were to be transported by a luxurious airship like the one owned by the new US president, capable of reaching near-Earth orbit, she wouldn't need to change vehicles. Unfortunately, that kind of thing is still a long way off for her.

"Director Russell."

Having identified Vera's biometric information and company ID, the Arasaka agent from the Tokyo headquarters approached her.

Vera tightened the collar of her coat, stepped down the gangway, nodded, and said, "Excuse me."

"please."

She boarded the vehicle, which immediately started moving. Vera placed her suitcase beside her and gazed at the Tokyo skyline that was getting closer and closer. The only one in the center, with no other building able to stand alongside it, was the dark tower that seemed to be surrounded by the city. That was her destination.

Arakawa Global Headquarters.

Vera probably won't be able to meet Saburo Arasaka, but Yoriyuki Arasaka...

Let's begin our exploration of the Arasaka family with Arasaka Yorinobu.

Anyway, you want to destroy your dad's Arasaka, don't you?

Let me add fuel to the fire.

I wonder what your expression will be, you filial son who has been longing for your father's death, after I 'accidentally discovered' the Progenitor Virus, a special virus that can greatly extend human lifespan, during my research at the University of Tokyo, out of personal interest.

Vera was now full of energy and couldn't wait.

------

Chapter 046 Vera in Tokyo

Things don't always go as smoothly as planned.

Jingle Bell--

Bunkyo-ku Honjo, Faculty of Law, University of Tokyo.

get out of class has ended.

Wow.

Wearing her school uniform for the first time in a long time, Vera, in the cyberpunk world of 2075, calmly pulled out her personal connector from the information cable interface board and removed the real-time recording discrete chip from the desktop chip slot.

Only after the law professor with the receding hairline walked out of the classroom did I pack my briefcase and leave the quaint, elegant classroom, which was filled with the aesthetic style of the last century yet had the most advanced and top-notch equipment.

Through the adjustable polarized glass of the corridor, one can see the Tokyo skyline gradually darkening and brightening.

The complicated and abnormal relationships within the Arasaka family are truly troublesome.

Looking out at Tokyo's Arasaka Tower, Vera muttered in a voice locked deep within her heart, "Forget it, don't force it. If I can't see it, so be it. When the results come out, I'll see it eventually."

let it go.

Since Vera officially enrolled in the spring semester in mid-February, two and a half months have passed since she arrived in Tokyo. During this time, she has not seen Yoriyuki Arasaka visit the University of Tokyo.

Instead, they met Shintaro Takayama, the nominal head of the global security department of Arasaka Corporation, the director of the security department of Arasaka's Tokyo headquarters, the person in charge of security for the Arasaka family compound, and a private martial arts instructor.

And then there's the so-called most mysterious, reclusive, family-oriented, and only leaving the family compound a few times a month—Arasaka Hanako.

Vera had met Shintaro Takayama a few times.

While she was studying at Tokyo Arasaka Tower Academy as an outstanding trainee in the Arasaka executive training program, this old man constantly used manipulative tactics against her every time he appeared in public.

They instilled in her ideas such as 'be loyal to Saburo Arasaka,' 'Arasaka is a trustworthy home you should dedicate your life to,' and 'Arasaka will eventually return to glory,' etc.

This time, Vera received an internal recommendation from Arasaka and joined the University of Tokyo.

He summoned Vera again, with an expression that suggested she should feel honored and kneel in gratitude, spouting words of 'gratitude,' 'loyalty,' 'passing the test,' 'you have gained trust,' 'everything you have is a gift from Arasaka,' 'don't disappoint Arasaka and Lord Saburo,' 'work hard,' and making empty promises. His tone was stiff and harsh, and at the end of the conversation, he gave a final warning with a threatening tone.

The stern face sings first, then the rosy face sings.

Then, Hanako Arakawa appeared.

Oda Santayu, with his flowing hair and single-sided shaved head.

A large number of Arasaka employees, including Vera, who were on assignment at Arasaka's Tokyo headquarters for training, intensive study, further education, and other overseas assignments, were gathered in an indoor lecture hall inside an Arasaka Tower.

As one of the highest-ranking staff members from the regional departments who arrived at the Tokyo headquarters this spring, Vera naturally sat in the front row.

After her 'blah blah blah' speech, Hanako Arakawa spoke with her personally, offering words of comfort and encouragement.

Perhaps because they were both women, and because she was so young and already held such a high position, Hanako Arakawa even invited Vera to dine with her at the banquet that day.

At the banquet, setting aside everything else, she only showed her gentleness and family-oriented nature to Vera.

The topics raised further demonstrate that the grandmother had done her homework, was very familiar with Vera's identity and her experience of losing her mother and father when she was young, and even knew Vera's image as a well-behaved girl in her childhood.

Vera chuckled inwardly, but still reluctantly and appropriately played along with her act until the very end.

The guests and hosts enjoy themselves.

Vera couldn't be sure whether the other party wanted to pull her into her 'chicken faction' camp.

After all, the image she projected within Arakawa was quite complex.

It belongs to Night City, North America, and is a typical local powerhouse.

A multi-talented individual, she has economic ties with Michiko Arasaka, the leader of the Arasaka 'Dove' faction, through her personal company, Dangerous Girl.

In terms of personal action philosophy, he is a quintessential hardline 'hawk,' which aligns with the tough and radical style of Arasaka Yorinobu after returning to the family. He is a militant, specializing in field operations, security and riot control, maintaining public order and stability, and military contracting for national defense. He is also exceptionally skilled in combat, and military technology has suffered losses in his hands on numerous occasions.

Damn it, the Arasaka family is a real pain. That old codger dreaming of immortality is pulling the strings behind the scenes, and the three surviving direct descendants of Arasaka are: Yoriyuki (the 'hawk'), Michiko (the 'dove'), and Hanako (the 'pheasant')...

They're keeping it as a breeding ground for venomous insects.

"Greetings, beautiful Miss Vera Adelhead."

Vera was brought back to her senses by a greeting.

tsk...

Come again.

A handsome young man of average build, with hair gel on his scalp, straightened his uniform with a self-assured air, and grinned like a peacock spreading its tail feathers.

How could Vera not smell the scent emanating from this guy, inside and out?

Ah, spring has arrived.

Sigh, coming to Japan means you have to experience... the campus romances of Japanese high school students, uh, no, university students...

This is not the first time.

These guys seem to be getting used to Japanese food and want a change of pace?

Vera wanted to shoot him, but she couldn't. In the cyberpunk world, anyone who could get into a top university, regardless of their abilities or whether they were spoiled or not, was either very rich or had powerful parents.

"Stop, stop talking. I know, but I refuse. You're a good person. Goodbye."

Having no interest in this back and forth, Vera simply walked past him after giving him the "friend zone" treatment.

Perhaps maximizing profits means getting entangled with this group of people in an endless cycle, but the influence of her past life makes her disgusted by such things!

Impossible, absolutely impossible!

Using her newfound, superficial best friend of the past two and a half months as a shield, Vera strode out of the law school building.

After class in the evening, it's the time when well-dressed predatory beasts are released from their cages.

"Gui'an."

"Gui'an."

The young masters and ladies greeted each other with either frivolousness, unconventionality, or impeccable manners. Their affected demeanor would probably make Johnny, the 'rock kid' who blew up the deserted tower of the night city, furious and unrestrained, unleash a torrent of filth without repeating himself.

A completely different landscape from Night City.

People in Night City, even those from Arasaka School, other top-tier public schools, will inevitably be assimilated by the city's garbage dump. They'll greet each other with "Fuck" and constantly talk about hunting down other people's parents and family trees.

"Vera, your course progress... is incredibly efficient."

“I didn’t get into school through the normal exams like you. I was admitted through the internal admissions program of Arasaka for rapid advanced studies. Efficiency is my top priority. I still have subordinates and departments in Night City. At the latest, after completing my advanced studies in a year, I will return to Night City to continue my duties.”

"No wonder you didn't want to play house with them. Is this what a true genius is?"

"Hey Vera, is Night City really as dangerous and eerie as the rumors say? You can run into gang fights just by walking down the street, and the TV station treats the daily accidental death toll like a lottery?"

"Pretty much. Gang violence day and night. That place is full of military-grade contraband. As for the Dead Man's Lottery, I won it once."

"what?!"

Walking along the cobblestone path, through the neat and historically rich campus, Vera chatted casually with her "plastic best friends." Whether they were acting, genuine, or had ulterior motives for approaching her, fine, I'll play along.

Upon arriving at the school gate, it was time to part ways.

"Vera, your elective is biotechnology... uh, virology? For your summer study trip, are you planning to apply to go to Africa? What's there to do and see there?"

"I'm not going there just for fun. I've got some ideas in mind."

...

respectively.

Vera waved goodbye to her classmates and then boarded the standard 'Holy Sword' airship parked on the tarmac. It was assigned to her by the Tokyo headquarters.

hum...bum...

The hovercar headed towards Arasaka City Plaza, where Arasaka Tower was located.