Infinity, progress from Arasaka

She leaned lazily and elegantly against the railing of the waiting area behind the ceremony platform. The slim-fitting high-end Arasaka women's uniform perfectly showed off her tall and graceful figure.

Her soft, light-blond hair was tied into a fluffy high ponytail with a crimson ribbon, which spread out behind her brilliantly and wantonly.

From the side, under the natural light from the deflected and guided design of the indoor venue, the fair skin seems to shine with a delicate luster like pearls, and two slender fingers hold a cigarette, with wisps of green smoke curling around.

Light and fog, like a dream.

At this moment, she seemed to be glowing, emitting a brilliant and fascinating charm from head to toe.

“It’s so beautiful…”

David's eyes froze involuntarily, and his mouth opened and closed slightly unconsciously.

Simply emphasizing appearance was too vulgar, and David, who did not have much literary knowledge, racked his brains and could only utter such a murmur.

"David...David?"

"Nothing." David quickly withdrew his gaze, somewhat evasively, and lowered his head.

Even if children from poor families do not become independent early, they still understand some things. David could vaguely but accurately feel that he did not fit in here and was too far away from his position on the ceremonial stage.

"..."

Gloria naturally noticed her son's gaze. She turned around and followed David's gaze.

A beautiful being, no doubt, but also deadly and dangerous.

In Night City, staying bright and beautiful without being targeted by the lousy and despicable trash here often proves a truth: the more beautiful something is, the more deadly it is. Stare!

"Ah...!!" Gloria subconsciously took a step back.

Because in front of her, there suddenly walked an Arasaka agent whose eye sockets and nose bridge were completely embedded with combat prostheses, and the electronic eyes flashing dark red light were staring at her coldly.

"..."

Soon, it seemed that the threat had been confirmed to have been eliminated. The identities of Gloria, David and her son as freshmen and guardians of Arasaka Academy were confirmed and the danger was too low. The figure of the Arasaka agent quickly disappeared.

"Huh...huh..."

Gloria put her hands on her chest as if she had survived a disaster, gestured to the cross, which very few people believe in in today's society, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Unlike David, who knows a little but has a look of pure stupidity in his eyes, Gloria, who works as an emergency medical worker at the Night City Medical Center, knows a lot about the hierarchy and rules of big companies in Night City.

That woman is definitely a high-ranking official in Arasaka.

David, is it this age now?

Young man Mu Ai ah.

David is at the age when he is just beginning to fall in love, so it is normal for him to have feelings of yearning and liking for beautiful and elegant women.

Gloria thought silently.

but--

Gloria looked again at the VIP rest and waiting area behind the stage.

The bodyguard, who was as strong as a black bear and had a highly modified combat prosthesis, was holding a crystal ashtray taken from the rest area, while the female executive of Arasaka was extinguishing her cigarette butt and then slowly returned to her seat in the rest area. The receptionist of Arasaka Academy was holding a drink and bowing respectfully...

It's really not suitable.

David, you'd better give up on this love as soon as possible.

......

"Yes, I understand." After receiving the report from the agent who maintained order and security at the venue, Vera's white bodyguard Lowry said, "Sir, it's a new student. The safety hazard has been eliminated."

Vera nodded, unaware of the impression she had left on certain people, and glanced toward the conference room.

She was not worried about being assassinated here or being attacked by terrorists at Arasaka Academy in the city center.

After the Fourth Company War, when those powerful "legends" died, in the past fifty years or so, no "legend" has survived after overestimating his own abilities and running wild in the company square or the municipal center in Night City.

But the red-haired woman wearing the yellow jacket from Night City Medical Center...

Huh?

The boy with a double-sided Mohawk hairstyle has a clear and silly look in his eyes.

Is this the year for the future youngest legend of Night City to enroll?

Swish.

[Scanner Start]

Scan Results:

Gloria Martinez

Civilian, works at Night City Medical Center, not a member of the trauma team, prosthetic modification level: low, can be hacked

Cyber ​​transformation: basic CPU, chip socket

No weapons

David Martinez...

...

The document scan results that appeared in front of her eyes reminded Vera that she had made a good harvest today.

"Give me a list of external admissions to the college this year and their entrance examination results." With an orange light flashing in her eyes, Vera, who habitually prepared for a rainy day and wanted to add reasonable persuasiveness to her future actions, asked the school for another copy.

As for Vera going to meet this future little legend now?

That was harming him.

Besides, what’s the use of a sixteen-year-old kid who doesn’t know anything, hasn’t learned any knowledge, has no foundation, no experience, and whose body hasn’t even fully grown?

Vera is not going there to be a nanny. What she wants is a direct subordinate who can protect her and carry out her orders.

He was allowed to settle down for a year, to understand the human nature of Night City and the hardships his mother had gone through in raising him. Then Vera appeared by chance and came to his aid in the name of appreciation from a 'kind' senior.

In this way, a "legendary" thug who would be recognized by Adam Hammer in the future and a loyal younger subordinate was obtained.

Don’t be a marginal walker anymore, just be a corporate dog.

Oh, I am such a bad person.

Vera felt that she did have some talent, especially when it came to spoiling things.

Although she had never thought about how to deal with this young legend before, as soon as they met, she didn't need any advice. She had a lot of thoughts in her mind and figured out how to conquer and use him.

Well, it’s all Arasaka’s fault!

It was Arasaka who made me a bad person.

"So, first struggle to survive in Arasaka Academy, accept the torture, and work hard to improve yourself."

The slender fingers lightly raised the glass filled with ice water. After Vera took a sip, she leaned on the sofa and looked through the glass window at the growing number of freshmen formations. Although the formation was chaotic, it was quiet and orderly.

Soon, the freshman entrance ceremony began. Vera, as the former chief, outstanding alumnus, and senior Arasaka executive, was invited to the central podium and listened slowly to the speech of the short and fat principal.

In a while, she will also go on stage to give a speech. According to the rehearsal process, she should also have to deal with some questions from her juniors.

piece of cake.

There's nothing much to say. As the director of Umbrella, Vera is used to giving speeches and participating in ceremonies of this kind.

In America, when dealing with all kinds of reporters, messy rights organizations, charitable organizations, etc., Vera has mastered the skills of telling lies with open eyes, making up stories, not answering, avoiding the main issue, changing the subject, changing the concept, making invalid assumptions, and putting the blame on others... etc.

"Now, please welcome the 2070th class of Arasaka Tower Academy, Director Vera Adelheid Russell, to give everyone her best wishes for admission!"

------

Chapter 019 The Evil Man's Friend

"Good morning."

Vera was calm and composed, with a formal smile on her face, but at the same time she did not lose her heroic spirit.

"I am Vera Adelheid Russell."

"As your senior, I am honored to be invited to participate in this year's Night City Arasaka Tower Academy freshman entrance ceremony."

"To quote what Arasaka Saburo often said, 'It is difficult for fallen flowers to return to the branches'. No matter who you are, from the moment you are born, there will always be a time when you leave the cradle of your parents' care and face the wind and rain alone."

"Now that you have come here, it is your first step towards independence."

"The road is tortuous, but the future is bright. New things will inevitably replace old things. Similarly, the growth of Arasaka requires the injection of fresh blood, and that is you."

……

"Thank you for listening."

It's mediocre and average.

With a formulaic sincere smile and a calm tone, Vera didn't do anything fancy and gave a speech about family, responsibility, obligation, the transition from the old to the new, and how the future belongs to you, and she smoothly finished the role she needed to play today.

These are all statements that are in line with the tone of Arasaka Corporation.

Da da.

After stepping down from the stage, Vera did not return to her seat in the VIP box. Instead, she walked to a corner on the upper level at the edge of the venue and observed the various people in the venue with great interest.

With no other connections and relying on their parents to provide tuition fees, the more innocent children showed excited expressions.

He made a solemn promise to his parents, and seemed to be looking forward to the day of graduation, when he would join Arasaka as "fresh blood", and then use his salary to give back to his parents and fulfill the "family" obligations that Vera mentioned.

The boy knew something, but what he knew was limited. He knew that it was not easy to get into Arasaka, and after listening to the personal experience of his senior Vera, he was more or less inspired.

I was prepared to work hard to get into Arasaka and stand out, so I studied hard as soon as school started and never gave up.

Oh, there are also people who don’t catch a cold at all.

Children whose parents are employees of the company are often very arrogant and look up to the sky. They continue to applaud even when their parents remind them, and they more or less know what Vera's position level means. They applaud passionately when a leader comes on stage.

Their future has already been planned.

David Martinez is a freshman who falls into the second category.

Of course he recognized Vera, but he was not stupid and would not scream or chatter in such an occasion.

He listened to Vera's speech very carefully, but unfortunately the question-and-answer session for freshmen was scheduled during the rehearsal, so he didn't have the opportunity to stand up and ask questions.

He vaguely knew that this place was not suitable for him, but Vera's words made him tend to believe it.

His mother always said that he was very smart, and this was his chance to climb into the Arasaka Tower. Moreover, he had performed well in the entrance examination, better than many of the unruly corporate kids.

Under his mother's hopeful and tearful gaze, David silently clenched his fists.

Just as Vera said in her speech, 'family, obligations, responsibilities', he doesn't understand much else, but his single mother raised him with great difficulty in a shabby place like Night City, and spent all her money to send him to Arasaka Academy, he... should be grateful!

clap clap-

Soon, the ceremony ended successfully.

Many people in the company who knew each other began to gather in a circle, and then brought their children to introduce and recommend each other politely.

Vera was not interested in spending too much time here. After simply expressing encouragement and blessings to the children of several employees belonging to the security department system, she said goodbye on the grounds of being busy with official business.

It's not really an excuse. Arasaka doesn't give you that much vacation time. The company employees present probably won't be able to chat for long after the ceremony and will have to go back to work.

With the chubby and sturdy principal's "affectionate" farewell, Vera led her bodyguards out of the venue, walked through the green campus plant landscape area, and walked towards her own hovercraft.

Then, Vera saw a middle-aged man with a serious look and a burly figure, wearing the standard black and red uniform of Arasaka, leading a boy with a mushroom head and a somewhat eccentric and exaggerated face standing next to her hovercraft.

"Hello, Director Russell. I am Shinichi Tanaka. I am sorry to see you at Arasaka Academy. I am waiting for you here." The middle-aged man stepped forward and bowed. (PS: The original book only has a surname but no given name. I made up the name)

In response, the scanning program that captured Shinichi Tanaka's facial information and employee serial number automatically indexed the relevant information about Shinichi Tanaka in Vera's eyes.

Shinichi Tanaka, a middle-level manager in the R&D department of Night City Arasaka.

An academic-oriented cadre, he works for Night City's R&D department, a subdivision responsible for testing new prosthetics, exoskeletons, and mechas.