Infinity, progressing from Arasaka

Because Saburo is worth it.

Respect is not the same as loyalty.

Despite the criticism, this old geezer, arrogant and conceited streetlight adornment, Showa remnant, and capitalist who attempted seppuku before achieving enlightenment, the local tyrant who brought Arasaka to his current position, is indeed a ruthless and capable man with means, talent, shrewdness, decisiveness, and a willingness to fight. He is far superior to the blockheads of his Showa era contemporaries.

Vera's greatest respect for him was to seize the Arasaka Company, to which he had devoted his life's work, by any means necessary.

"A slippery young man."

Saburo Arasaka spoke with his aged vocal cords, and he only spoke in Japanese.

He looked at Vera, his brows, which had been like a dried-up riverbed, relaxed slightly, and a sharp glint appeared in his deep-set eyes and cold gray irises.

"The 'Stairway to the Sun Project' is supposedly prepared for Michiko's make-believe business, but it's more like you want to showcase your talent. Young man, you're very smart. Since arriving in Tokyo, you've been strategic and have discovered my biggest pain point. At the same time, you're lucky; you've attracted me with your discoveries and achievements. Tell me, what do you want from me?"

"Lord Saburo is wise."

Vera looked at Saburo with a calm yet slightly excited expression.

"As expected, nothing can be hidden from you. I just dream of meeting you."

"Oh, to meet me?" Saburo's interest was piqued, and he said, "Continue."

“In Arasaka, not just anyone is qualified to meet you, and those who are fortunate enough to meet you are all important figures whom I once had to look up to…” That was her answer.

What I most want to see is you and Lai Hsuan alone in a room.

Vera added in her mind.

Of course, not yet. She needs time to develop and needs to leverage Sanlang's influence...

"That was then. Now, you've become the big shot you're talking about."

Seemingly satisfied with Vera's answer, with a creak, Saburo Arasaka refused Goro Takemura's help, grabbed the armrest, and shakily stood up from his wheelchair. "Come closer, Vera Adelhead."

Vera had no objection, but she wanted to see what Sanlang was up to, and was just about to step forward.

"But, Lord Saburo, this...she..."

Goro Takemura hesitated, thinking of the loyal bodyguard.

"She is the backbone of our Arasaka Corporation's future. Her parents died heroically for the revival of Arasaka. She has long fought against our old rivals in military technology at the forefront of Night City in North America. Her loyalty needs no questioning from you, Goro."

Saburo simply spoke in a calm tone.

"Yes!" Goro Takemura paused for a moment, then bowed deeply to Vera without hesitation, solemnly apologizing, "Director Russell, I apologize for my words." Then, he stepped back.

Vera took everything in.

Using both kindness and severity is an old trick, but it works.

So, are you going to play the bad cop?

She walked over, stood at the foot of the pavilion steps, raised her head, and looked up at Saburo Arasaka, who was standing close by with his hands behind his back.

With her keen sense of perception and mysterious sense of smell, she seemed to detect a strange, unsettling odor.

Saburo Arasaka's body was like a piece of old meat that was infinitely close to the edge of decay, which was extended and preserved by various cutting-edge and high-cost precision preservation technologies, struggling to bear that decaying soul full of ambition.

At this distance, if she really wanted to kill Sanlang...

"Lord Sanlang." Vera bowed slightly.

Unaware of Vera's thoughts at that moment, Saburo was sizing up the elite junior from Arasaka.

This is something that cannot be felt from video footage alone.

She was beautiful, tall and shapely, with a head of brilliant golden and silver hair that cascaded freely down her back. In particular, the abundant vitality and life force emanating from her amazed and even made Sanlang jealous.

His aging...

The rising sun and the setting sun.

The stark contrast caused Saburo to unconsciously clench his fists behind his back.

The old strategy was abandoned, and a new idea gradually took shape in Sanlang's mind.

He wasn't afraid of Vera's ambition; aside from the only position, in Arasaka, the capable rose and the poor fell.

Putting aside the importance of Vera Adelheid's "Stairway to the Sun" project to him, as Shintaro said, she was truly a genius, a polymath. Considering her background and her experiences, she was undoubtedly a rough gem bestowed upon Arasaka by Amaterasu.

Saburo suddenly sighed, "Talented people emerge in every generation..."

Vera, who was trying her best to appear harmless and was counting the wrinkles on Sanlang's forehead, was taken aback by the half-Chinese, half-Japanese fancy words.

Ok?

I came here to offer you empty promises, but you're the one offering empty promises to me first?

"Excuse my intrusion, Lord Saburo, but may I ask what that ancient phrase you just heard was...?"

Vera asked politely; whether she didn't understand or not didn't matter, but it did get the conversation flowing.

“If you can’t keep your composure, even the finest rough gem will need polishing.” Saburo Arasaka wasn’t annoyed. “Shintaro admires you and has recommended you to me many times.”

Corporate employees are very perceptive when it comes to scheming and plotting, but as the saying goes, too much of a good thing can be bad. Sanlang went straight to the point, not drawing pictures, but directly throwing out his pie-in-the-sky promise: "Can you shoulder the heavy responsibility of facing the pressure of military technology?"

“Yes.” Vera answered directly: “Night City and the West Coast belong to Arahaka. The Americas are not solely for military technology!”

I'll tell you if you ask.

In Arasaka, pursuing military science is considered somewhat politically correct.

Anyone with eyes can see that if Arasaka wants to reach new heights and if military technology wants to represent NUSA (Shinmi) back to the top of the world, a war between the two sides is inevitable sooner or later.

“Very good. That’s the spirit that young people should have.” Saburo Arasaka nodded, seemingly quite satisfied. “Vera Adelheid, come forward now.”

Dengdeng.

Vera walked up the wooden steps and, under the extremely wary gaze of Takemura Goro, whose eyes were gleaming red, came to within three steps of Arasaka Saburo.

"Walk with me, young man."

Saburo is in the center, Shintaro Takayama is on the left (in Japan, the left is considered more respectful), and Vera is on the right, with her trailing the former two by three and two steps respectively.

Strolling through the cherry blossom grove, perhaps the atmosphere had finally set in, Saburo Arasaka commented on Vera's plans for her study trip to Africa and the subsequent attack.

"Your deduction is accurate. Military technology, huh, by sheer accident. They've given it extra attention because of your past deeds, thinking that we, Arasaka, have some major project underway. In reality, it's just your personal project... If you can't have it, destroy it. These barbarians have never changed. They're still crude and ugly... Fifty-two years ago, the nuclear explosion in Night City, one day we'll settle the score with her."

"And for that, I need time, Vera. How confident are you about your 'Stairway to the Sun Project'?" Saburo Arasaka asked in a very affectionate tone.

finally come!

You've painted a rosy picture for me, now it's my turn to paint one for you!

Vera's eyes lit up.

"Lord Saburo, based on my preliminary experiments, the characteristics of the Sun Ladder Flower and the progenitor virus are beyond doubt. It does indeed have the effect of greatly improving the physical functions of the subjects and renewing old cells, giving them strong vitality."

She recounted, "In the process of documenting the Johannesburg June 6.7th terrorist attacks, I collected data from two unexpected experimental subjects..."

The only way to gain true power is to make yourself indispensable.

Vera knew very well that she had to make her promise bigger!

She wants to use Arasaka's desire to live and his unwillingness to die to find the right solution!

Perhaps a single injection could reverse aging and grant you an extra hundred years of life, but some byproducts of T-virus research could instantly reduce wrinkles and age spots, giving you a beautifying effect. Extending your lifespan and boosting your spirits in a gradual, toothpaste-like manner is not difficult.

A key sign of leadership is exaggerating one's own power.

At this moment, Vera unleashed her persuasive skills.

...

After one hour.

Under a pavilion in a cherry blossom grove, next to a giant holographic screen.

"Cough cough..."

The orange-red light that had been projecting onto the pavilion's camera faded from Vera's eyes, and she coughed a few times. "Thank you." She took the straight-sided teacup from Takemura Goro and drank it down, feeling a little better.

Vera swore she had never talked so much as she had today; she was practically choking on her words.

Fortunately—

“See, Shintaro.” Saburo’s voice trembled slightly with excessive excitement.

The holographic screen in front of him was playing a video of a soldier who was attacked by military intelligence agents, suffered dozens of injuries, but then came back to life and started biting the enemy technician.

"Yes, such extraordinary vitality! It's exactly what I need."

Vera said at the right moment, "It was completely dismantled and destroyed by the agents of the Military Science, but fortunately, one of their agents was infected, and I have captured him and transferred him to Tokyo."

“Very good. Vera, I expect you to begin your research immediately. The ‘Solar Stairway Project’ is hereby removed from the University of Tokyo’s academic programs and locked to the highest level. Vera, don’t let me down.”

"Your will, Lord Saburo."

Vera touched her chest, lowered her eyes, and looked on with a thoughtful expression.

Going all out or dragging things out are not the best solutions. So, we should start by feeding the 'piece of the pie'.

------

P.S.: Waaah, I'm guilty, I'll never make empty promises again.

I'll save some drafts, so I can surprise you all someday.

Chapter 062 The Beginning: Vera and Arasaka

It was a day later when Vera walked out of the Arasaka family compound.

February 10, 2075, morning.

clack.