Infinity, progress from Arasaka

"Manager Russell." Tanaka stepped forward.

"As for the bullying issue, it would be better if your council took care of it a little bit."

After saying that, Vera turned around and walked towards the interior of the academy.

"call..."

Only after Vera walked away did Tanaka wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.

As an old company dog ​​who keeps his eyes and ears open, he has a good ability to read people's expressions.

Just now, he saw clearly that when Vera heard that this boy was on the excellent list but was bullied, her eyes suddenly became much colder.

This year, the Security Department and the college are working together. Perhaps it’s because the group of dandies and idiots in the college don’t know about it, but from the other side’s perspective, isn’t this a slap in the face of the Security Department?

"Who is it?" Someone messed with him? !

With a dark face, Tanaka asked in a deep voice almost from his throat.

This matter must be dealt with!

Commander Russell couldn't just order him to be arrested right now, but once she came back from her studies at Tokyo University, if she dragged him down...

"Don't worry, student. The academy will not mistreat any outstanding student who aspires to join Arasaka. I will take care of your situation. Katsuo, take this student to check on the wound and bandage it first."

After Tanaka finished speaking to David and then to his son, he headed towards the college's office building in a menacing manner.

A herd of red deer!

It’s fine if it’s just cold violence, but how could they allow students to take action on campus? After they took action, they didn’t hide it or suppress it, and they were seen by their superiors who suddenly visited!

"Martinez, follow me."

David was still a little at a loss, so Katsuo Tanaka patted him on the shoulder and motioned for him to go to the college medical room for a simple bandage and some medicine for bruises and injuries.

"okay."

Following behind Katsuo Tanaka, David's mind was full of Vera's encouragement. Although it was very ordinary and formulaic, since entering this crappy school, except for his mother, other classmates and even the neighbors around him, haha, it was good that they did not ridicule or turn a blind eye.

And it was the first time that Chief Adelheid, such a senior executive, actually encouraged him.

A gentleman will die for his friend... David didn't know this saying, but it didn't stop him from having such thoughts.

David made up his mind.

He must join Arasaka and serve under Commander Vera Adelheid!

------

Chapter 045: Leaving Night City and Taking Office in Tokyo (4.8K)

After parting with the Tanaka father and son and the young David, Vera followed the path of her past studies in the Military and Political Management and Law School and met her old but shrewd mentor.

A short, academic old man.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, she changed the subject and took the initiative to invite the other party to have a meal at the Ganbi Hotel one day and go fishing at the Beixiang District artificial lake. Everything went smoothly and she received the other party's carefully organized assessment notes and annotations in a friendly manner.

There is nothing much to say, we still need to show respect for teachers.

Even if I were to say something like "A real man was born between heaven and earth, how can he be depressed and inferior to others for long?", it would not be the right thing to say to him at this time.

This instructor is also very dedicated. His surname is Nodo, and he is from Sendai. He is a rare professor in Night City Arasaka Academy who is qualified to teach in person. The subject he is in charge of is the law subject with the least number of students in Arasaka Academy.

In this society, the more inconvenient, time-consuming, labor-intensive and costly a method is, the more it is favored by the rich.

After saying goodbye to her mentor, Vera slowly walked back to the helipad.

The Tanaka father and son, David, and the students who had gathered here before have dispersed.

The seeds have been planted.

The fruits that take root, sprout and bear must be hers.

Vera, who was used to eating two birds with one stone and doing multiple things at once, did not think of adding extra twists and turns to this "chance encounter". By the way, she strengthened her relationship with the Tanaka father and son, and also got the annotations she needed...

She looked up at the sky and snapped her fingers. "Destination: my home."

In-car AI: [Received, planning to go to Westbrook...]

"Gulu..."

After boarding the plane and taking her seat, Vera opened the refrigerator next to her, picked up the crystal bottle, poured herself a large glass of champagne-style cider, and drank the light golden liquid in one gulp.

After pouring the second glass, she raised the bottle and handed it to Brian and Laurie, her two bodyguards, asking, "I can see the hesitation in your eyes... How come you are also interested in those two guys?"

"Uh...Captain Russell, you seem to have taken a fancy to that boy named David."

The white bodyguard Lowry took the bottle and said hesitantly but honestly.

"maybe."

Vera did not deny it.

These two people are bodyguards responsible for protecting the company's senior executives.

He was also selected from several batches of personnel after Vera joined the company and obtained the qualification of being an assigned bodyguard.

Some of those who were not selected have died, and some were eliminated because they did not meet the requirements.

Their combat prostheses are in accordance with the company standards, and Vera paid extra for them out of her own pocket. They are all her confidants who have blocked bullets for her during field missions and daily travel, and have checked for various hidden threats.

At least when Vera was climbing up the ladder, there was no possibility of betrayal.

Arasaka has a strong sense of personal dependence, with subordinates relying on their superiors. Once they spend a long time with Vera, they will be regarded as Vera's people by others.

For example, Vera's Uncle Thomas. In the eyes of outsiders, she is the man of James Thomas, the first deputy director of the Night City Security Department.

If James Thomas fell and was fired from the company (unusual retirement or unexpected death), Vera would never feel good.

Brian and Laurie looked at each other, and remembering their duty, they did not ask any more questions, and did not dare to gossip about it in private.

For a company dog ​​who can read people's expressions instinctively, Vera stopped, recognized David and started talking to him. It was obvious that their boss had an impression of this lucky boy. Considering his achievements, he was a civilian genius and as long as he didn't have any problems along the way, he should be able to get into the company.

"..."

Without dwelling on this topic for too long, Vera automatically skipped over it and said, "Let Jimmy (Captain of Special Assault Team 6, Vera's assistant adjutant) prepare a press conference. The news of my temporary resignation can be announced."

"Yes!"×2

Vera raised the glass again and drank it all, letting the melting feeling flow through her throat, then looked out the car window.

Tonight, we will bring over the Progenitor virus sample and the 'Stairway to the Sun' flower that lost its corresponding characteristics after being brought back to America.

As for the 'Stairs of the Sun' flowers with original properties growing in the underground ruins of the Dubai tribe... there will be a chance. Isn't the other 'me' going to take over and reorganize Umbrella?

The African Studies Center in Diya, West Africa, must not be missed.

......

Night falls in the city of night where light and darkness meet.

beep...

With his face bandaged with white gauze and carrying a small bag of medicine for injuries and supplements, David Martinez walked briskly and hummed a little tune as he entered the tram. He couldn't wait to go home and tell his mother the news that he had spoken to the big shot of Arasaka and received encouragement.

He looked down at the small bag he was carrying.

Haha, this is his first time, oh, it’s his second time. In addition to the excellent scholarship delivered to his door this morning, this is the second time he has received something from Arasaka Academy for free.

Thinking of this, David couldn't help but stand on tiptoe and shake his legs.

Normally, he could only see these supplements on billboards, TV, and shopping platforms, and the prices, which made him feel suffocated, were simply out of his reach.

"I should be able to sell it on a second-hand website for some money. It's a tonic, and it can also help my mother replenish her body and make her feel better..." David thought.

He didn't intend to use it himself.

If being beaten could bring such benefits, he would not even be against being beaten... No, David, that yellow-haired guy insulted your mother, you have to have more ambition!

Papa, patting his face, using the slight pain to wake himself up, David raised his head and looked at the screen. There was still some distance to go, so he listened to some music first. Just as he was about to take out his headphones, "Hmm?"

David narrowed his eyes and looked at the window of the tram. Hiss... Just now, a glowing white shadow seemed to flash by.

He looked left and right, but didn't see it.

This tram is still so dirty and messy, and in the corner, there are people doing piston movements...

Well, I should first think about how to explain the scrapes and bruises on my face to my mom.

...

"Arasaka."

At the other corner of the tram connection, a white-haired woman wearing eye shadow, a white off-shoulder jacket, and a black waist-baring tights underneath looked down at the communication chip in her hand.

"Tsk, he's still a reserve company dog."

She spat lightly, revealing an expression of disgust.

The punk-haired boy with a Mohawk wearing the black and red uniform of Arasaka Academy and a smug look on his face...

She glanced at him as he was getting off the train at Santo Domingo Station. It seemed that he had just gotten off the train and was about to make a phone call, but then he discovered that the communication chip was missing. He was searching for it in the slot behind his ear with a horrified expression.

"You little self-important little company dog ​​from Arasaka, this is lesson number one."

wow——

The tram continued to move, leaving the young man on the platform covering his head and wailing.

"Ahhh, damn it, why am I so unlucky, my communication chip was stolen by a pickpocket!!"

The white-haired woman continued to wander around on the train, looking for an Arasaka company dog ​​that met her target.

Until, ding-dong.

beep.

The woman's lavender pupils flashed orange-red data light.

"Hi, I'm Lucy."

[“Lucy, are you doing this kind of unskilled thing on the train again? And you’re only targeting Arasaka. Be careful that you might run into a tough guy one day and be targeted by Arasaka’s counterintelligence department.”]

"Arasaka's strict hierarchy is well-known even among large companies. How can an elite with status and strong strength take the train?"

The fringe punk woman named Lucy stopped what she was doing, "Qiwei, what's the matter?" She did not respond to the other party's question, and her attitude was obvious. After listening to me, I will be cautious, but I will not change!

[“Hmph, it’s good that you know your limits. You did a good job as the middleman last time. Mann wants to see you. Let’s have a party.”]

"Huh? Another bonfire party. This is the nth time this month."

[“You need to get used to it, Lucy. People like us, to put it nicely, are free, to put it bluntly, we have no food to eat. If one day you get your head blown up during a mission or your brains burned by hackers, and die on the street, it won’t be surprising at all. As Arasaka and Kantō say... ‘Drink while you can’, live in the present, we’ll wait for you at the old place.”]

beep.

The other party hung up the call.

"..." Silence. The woman named Lucy clenched her fists. Through the window glass, the tram just moved to the gap between the skyscrapers. In the sky, the silvery and bright full moon was clearly visible.

"So, I will escape from here." She seemed to be talking to the moon, talking to herself.

After more than twenty minutes, the tram arrived at the station.

Lucy walked down the old, dusty and dirty steps in black knee-high boots, turned around, and walked through the mean streets to an outdoor bar that was converted from an abandoned parking lot and motel.

Bonfires, barbecues, beer, sex dolls, poker, rock and heavy metal music, street singers, striptease with cheap imaging devices, topless marginal walkers, vulgar and violent mercenaries...

A very different real world than Civic Center, Corporate Square, Westbrook’s corporate neighborhoods, the wealthy suburbs.

Smelling the strange smell of alcohol and roasted synthetic meat in the air, Lucy walked into the venue and quickly locked onto her companion, with whom she had been working for more than half a year.

Mann is a muscular hunk with brown skin, blonde hair and sunglasses; Dolio is a burly blonde female who sits and bites the hunk; Pila is slim and has exaggeratedly long arms and big hands; Rebecca is a loli with twin ponytails and red tattoos all over her body.

Also, there was a tall woman wearing a red robe with DNA pattern and a red iron mask, who was communicating with the driver Uncle Falco. There was a cigarette stuck in the ventilation hole of the iron mask. When she saw Lucy, she waved her hand.