Infinity, progress from Arasaka

【send】

The meaning is very clear. I, Vera, want to do research, need sponsorship, and need money!

After connecting with the business department of Dangerous Girl, Vera did not stop and moved the data pad touch screen, [University of Tokyo, summer study trip]

Destination: [Cape Town, South Africa]

Study tour topic: Complete or investigate the feasibility of the [Sonnentreppe Project] between myself and Dangerous Girl Company, investigate the remains of ancient Bantu tribes, and explore undiscovered plants and animals in ancient Africa.

Apply for the first batch to start summer study tours in advance.

beep.

【send】

After finishing everything in her hands, Vera packed her handbag and started the automatic cleaning and sterilization function of the DNA analysis instrument. Then she pushed the door and went out. It was time to eat as she had law classes in the afternoon.

She was not in a hurry at all. Her identity in Arasaka was clean and could withstand investigation. She could just proceed step by step.

"After the first term of the law exam this week, I will book a flight to South Africa."

Da da da……

...

In the dim room, a huge amount of data cables were connected to a dark bathtub-shaped network data cabin with a circular trefoil logo in the center. A dim light flashed on the split screen playing the surveillance footage. Suddenly, two data segments popped up on the information interception screen at the edge.

The hacker's goggles flashed in response as he wore a special hacker stealth and heat dissipation jumpsuit.

"The target information has been monitored and read. There is no abnormality, Master Takayama Shintaro... However, there is an unexpected discovery. Master Arasaka Yorinobu... seems to be paying attention to the target as well."

------

Chapter 049: Vera's Pie, Arasaka Saburo's Desire (5K)

The outskirts of Tokyo.

A huge manor covering an area of ​​more than 20 acres of land stands quietly on the green horizon. Heavy-duty drones and hovercrafts are constantly coming in and out, cruising in every corner of the manor without blind spots.

The gate of the manor is hidden in the lush green bamboo forest. In Japan, where land resources are extremely scarce and incredibly expensive, and green plants have become a luxury, owning such a small haven in Tokyo, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, is undoubtedly the best interpretation of power and wealth.

Arasaka family compound.

That's its name.

It has existed since the last century. It was purchased during the era of Arasaka Sansai (also known as Queui, Saburo's father), before Arasaka Saburo came to power completely. It has witnessed the rise and fall of old Japan, as well as the resurgence of new Japan and Arasaka.

The most important heart of Arasaka Corporation. Barely any other.

Because Saburo Arasaka lives in it!

In the center of the manor, in the main house with delicate cloud patterns and cherry blossoms carved on the door, the temperature is as constant as spring, and wisps of smoke waft out of the ancient incense burner with a pleasant smell.

A series of split-screen images are being broadcast on the huge projection screen, which seems to be incompatible with ancient Japanese elements such as wooden floors, paper-pasted window frames and tatami mats, but is perfectly integrated with them.

One of the scenes.

A standard 'Holy Sword' hovercraft slowly hovered and landed at the company community's large and spacious helipad marked with neon crosshairs. After being warmly received by a group of helipad attendants, a beautiful and majestic light-blonde woman stepped out of the car, gently stroked her handbag, and after a simple yet polite conversation with the attendant, she immediately walked towards the mansion with a proper and elegant pace.

"Do you think she can be trusted?"

a slow, dry voice asked.

"Vera Adelheid Russell... the only daughter of Fred Russell and Mia Russell, executives of the North American security department. She joined the Night City Arasaka Security Department at her father's will. Lord Saburo, she was trained by our Arasaka internal system."

Vera had met him several times before. That old stubborn man who always looked down on others, Shintaro Takayama, now lowered his arrogant head.

"Although I have ambitions, my foolish opinions can be trusted."

With an extremely humble tone, he respectfully expressed his opinions to the old man kneeling on the futon, the man he swore his lifelong loyalty to - Saburo Arasaka.

"..."

Saburo Arasaka did not express his opinion immediately, nor did he turn around. Instead, he slowly swiped the touch screen with his old and shriveled fingers.

On the screen, there are Vera's current activities in Tokyo, her record of further study as the top graduate of Class 2073 at Arasaka Academy in Tokyo, her business cooperation with the 'Dangerous Girl', the real-time battle situation of eliminating the terrorist organization in Rio de Janeiro, the vague shadow of her personally slaughtering the Vortex Gang at the beginning of her tenure in Night City, and the speech at the freshman entrance ceremony of Arasaka Academy in Night City...

Observe actions as you observe people.

The image of Vera Adelheid had gradually taken shape in his mind.

"go on."

After a long time, the slightly unclear and old voice of Saburo Arasaka was heard.

Takayama Shintaro nodded and considered his words.

"Vera Adelheid's talent and future are beyond doubt. After more than a decade of experience and polishing, as long as she can continue this momentum and we don't suppress her, she will surely become an important person in charge of our Arasaka's interests in North America according to normal promotion rules."

"Over the years, the situation in North America has been turbulent. Although we officially declared our return to North America in 2069, with the support of the Free States and the cooperation of the main separatist forces, we have gained a firm foothold and regained the interests that originally belonged to us on the West Coast. We have also seized a considerable share in Latin America and South America. However, as long as the military technology is still there, everything is just a mirage."

"Once the revived Militech attacks again, we will have a hard time expanding in North America after losing Night City. Night City is the key to our American plans. As long as Night City is there, other fence-sitters will not turn to Militech, and we will have time to consolidate other footholds and even continue to compete with Militech."

“So, Night City is the anchor.”

"Although the 'dove faction' led by Miss Michiko was established with your acquiescence and encouragement, and did help Arasaka preserve its vitality during the period after Master Jing's death, as we made a comeback, over the past half century, some of the 'doves', who were pro-American, have over-evolved into the 'surrender faction'."

"Arasaka and military technology coexist peacefully? Unless one side admits defeat, our war with them will never end. It's dangerous for Night City to continue like this. We must replace them with local powerful forces who are strong enough to withstand pressure and have good appeasement skills to counter those voices."

"So..." Arasaka Saburo turned around slowly, "This young man, have you chosen?"

He was wearing a black and gray kimono with wide sleeves and a haori with the Arasaka family crest on it.

He was 156 years old, and the years had left deep marks on his face. His once majestic face was now covered with wrinkles and age spots, and his skin was dull and lusterless. Only his eyes under the legless round glasses were still as clear as ever.

His eyes are like those of an eagle, sparkling with brilliance, giving people an unusual sense of vigor.

"Yes, Lord Saburo."

Kneeling on the tatami, Takayama Shintaro placed his hands on his thighs, leaned forward and said in a deep voice: "She is the Arasaka junior who is most likely to take on the responsibility that I have found after my investigation. Arasaka has never lacked ambitious people, and the incompetent are eliminated. As long as you are here, her ambition is not worth mentioning."

“It can be trusted, but it needs to be regulated.”

This is his summary.

Of course, Vera is not the only candidate.

Night City's Special Operations Director Abernathy is also on Shintaro Takayama's inspection list, but in comparison, the local powerful faction, the North American faction, is undoubtedly more worthy of support because she has direct control over the military, has grassroots experience, can withstand pressure, is good at attacking tough targets, and can do tiring security work, and has more field experience.

Abernathy had spent too much energy cleaning up Intelligence, Counterintelligence, and Internal Security.

These jobs have a bad reputation and are easy to offend people. To put it bluntly, she is like a mad dog or a rag that does dirty work. She is powerful and impressive, but no one is willing to offend her unless it is necessary. However, once something goes wrong, she will be dragged out as a sacrifice.

No one feels sorry for a rag.

Night City is directly facing military technology and the new US. In terms of administration and diplomacy, it has Michiko Arasaka as the first executive officer. So the second supplement needs to be someone who can really do practical things, can sign contracts to make money, dares to confront military science, has experience in commanding composite arms, can hold press conferences and do public relations, and is good at the military field.

Out of public interest, Vera is the best solution.

Abernathy, Takayama Shintaro knew that she could take the position of Night City Special Operations Director because of the will of Master Saburo, but she was not able to withstand pressure! She had never proved herself under such great pressure.

Even if she has the ability to be the first person in charge of the local branch, she can never be the North American headquarters of Night City.

Of course, if Lord Saburo vetoes, or if there are other candidates, Shintaro Takayama will definitely support him.

He is loyal to Arasaka, and his support for Vera is just based on his own public spirit. After observing the other party, he believes that the other party can make Arasaka better, and he gives in to Saburo in terms of priority.

"Shintaro...it seems like you really admire her."

Standing up from the futon, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes, and Saburo Arasaka straightened his back unsteadily.

Although as early as 2020, when he was 101 years old, he was told by his doctor that his movements must be limited to a wheelchair, the support of the cyber components still allows him to walk basically.

A bodyguard with a bun-like hairstyle stepped forward and carefully helped Saburo Arasaka to walk forward.

"Yes, I admire her very much. She is a genius, but she is obviously not easy to control. She has a strong personal style and is very purposeful in doing things, which is in great conflict with our culture..."

Shintaro Takayama also stood up immediately and followed Saburo.

"The difference is insignificant..."

In the Zen atmosphere of the clear spring and bamboo water tapping on the rockery, Saburo Arasaka slowly walked to the corridor of the tea room and said, "I have read her information. She has a good resume... She has a lot of little tricks, but they are insignificant."

"As long as she can bring benefits to Arasaka, I can give her everything she wants. Her parents' position will not be her end... Shintaro, include her in the list of candidates."

"Inheriting the will of our parents... Humph, if Rai Xuan had even one tenth of her, Arasaka, Jing, we are father and son, they are brothers, and it has come to this."

Judging by deeds rather than intentions, Sanlang looked at Vera's deeds and achievements when she came to power, and then thought of the unfilial son in his own family and snorted coldly. Although his words were a complaint about his son's affairs, his tone was extremely cold.

In other words, when Lai Xuan rebelled against him and disappeared, his father-son relationship with Lai Xuan became distant.

The reason why he kept him was because he really only had this one son, and the other one would be useful for a technology that was about to mature...

Standing under the eaves of the corridor of the main house, Saburo looked at the pines, cypresses and cherry blossoms planted on both sides of the winding path in the courtyard and said, "Do you think her Stairway to the Sun project is just a formality to defraud funds, or is it a good idea? What is the possibility of success?"

"This... Lord Saburo, you know, I don't know much about scientific research, but based on my analysis, it shouldn't be a formality."

Shintaro Takayama paused.

"Ms. Michiko's 'Dangerous Girl' is urgent, but it is only on paper. It is impossible for Vera Adelheid to focus on her sideline. The security department is her job. And she, based on her record of improving the recuperation products, either does not respond or has a clue. The success rate of the plan after submission is 50-50."

"Her evidence is no longer available. Half a century ago, there were too many companies engaged in mining and transportation in Africa, and most of them were European companies. The collapse of the old network caused by Lachie Batmos caused too many companies to go bankrupt, and many CEOs of listed companies committed suicide. Massive amounts of data were either melted down and lost, or swallowed up by out-of-control AI."

As he spoke, Takayama Shintaro tapped the data pad, and the built-in imager in the corridor started up, with rows of detailed records. Vera's experience of passing through the "black wall" to exercise her brain power and computing power under the protection of Arasaka network security experts was also well documented.

I just don't know the exact day she figured it out after defeating the roaming AI.

No matter how he looked at it, Takayama Shintaro didn't think Vera was a spy. It didn't look like that at all. There was no motive and no logic. Even if there were traces of "collusion with the enemy", in the end it would be found that either the evidence was false or it was simply a frame-up by other "friendly companies" who wanted to get rid of her.

"Genius?"

After thinking for a long time, Saburo Arasaka finally put aside his doubts. "The unexpected cooperation with Michiko, from developing beauty and health products to rehabilitation and convalescent drugs, unexpectedly led to such a discovery in the middle of the process."

Geniuses are the most unreasonable people in the world.

Like Lucky Bartmos, like Ott Cunningham who invented the 'Soul Killer'.

After checking for a long time, Saburo's analysts were very sure that Vera's research and improvements were new prescriptions and new combinations that were not available on the market.

No matter how you think about it, it is impossible for biotechnology to give up its monopoly on new drugs and fund Arasaka. As for military science, it is even more impossible, as medical technology is their weak point.

Saburo was very interested in Vera's plan.

"Let's wait and see what she finds after arriving in Africa. Takemura, order the security forces to secretly monitor and pay attention to Vera Adelheid's abnormal behavior. Send out a security team, and protect her safety at all times."

"Yes!"

Standing with his hands behind his back, Saburo Arasaka called up the half-body image of Vera Adelheid. He stared at her, "..." for a while, then he looked away and gazed at the vaguely visible Tokyo skyline.

Saburo's memory has not declined with age, and he clearly remembers the location of Arasaka Tower in Tokyo.

The black shadow of the tower, with a height of over 600 meters, makes it stand out from the crowd, high enough to overlook any man-made building in Tokyo.

But it wasn't enough, he wanted it to be higher.

He needs time to achieve it.

longevity.

Longer lifespan.

Saburo Arasaka longed for it so much.

No matter how much the outside world respects him or how exaggerated his power is, stripping away all the external factors, he is now just an old antique and is physically old.

He would not miss any opportunity to prolong his life.

"I can't die yet. Michiko compromises, Hanako is conservative, and Yoshinobu doesn't have the qualities to lead Arasaka. He can't lead Japan to regain (what Saburo believes) its former glory... I can't fall down before I complete my mission..."

......

2075/5/25，上午10点15。

At Tokyo's Haneda International Airport, a huge projection screen broadcast the time. Vera got out of the car with her suitcase and glanced at the business flight from Arasaka Private Air Terminal to Cape Town, South Africa.

After changing out of the black and red uniform of the University of Tokyo, she looked very relaxed, as if she was really going on a school trip.

Vera, who was dressed as casually as possible, walked up the gangway wearing brown informational frog sunglasses, a black shirt with a silver Arasaka clover pin on the collar, a buttonless red jacket, black slim trousers, and black mid-heeled high-top boots.