Infinity, progress from Arasaka

Lai Xuan, since this is what your father expects, then our battle for the throne has begun.

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Chapter 089 The Butterfly Effect (4.5K)

In the drizzle of the Night City, the company buildings stood still in the misty white fog formed by the rain and fog, like towering giants reaching into the sky.

Drop by drop. The raindrops hit the soundproof glass, making a very slight and crisp sound.

David Martinez, 18 years old and a 2076 graduate of the Security Department of Arasaka Academy, is in the indoor CQB training ground. In his hand is the Nobunaga assault rifle issued by the academy for training.

With its sharp chamfers and undecorated steel, this classic rifle made by Arasaka in the early 21st century has been eliminated by the company's armed combat forces, but it is more than enough as a free training firearm.

"Begin!" the instructor gave the order, and David, wearing sound-pickup and noise-cancelling tactical headphones, responded.

He first threw a training stun grenade behind the obstacle wall, then kicked the door. He held the gun with both hands, aimed at the human-shaped target behind the obstacle, and fired. With a dull 'bang', feeling the real recoil feedback on his shoulder that the training chip and the Mewtwo course could not bring, David hit the target's head with a medium-caliber full-charge bullet.

Then he advanced rapidly with searching and scanning movements.

Under the two-way recorder on the tactical goggles equipped with infrared thermal imaging sensor plug-ins, your eye sight must correspond to all aspects of the room, allowing the AI ​​scanner to determine whether you have fulfilled the combat search criteria.

Then, there were stun bombs and smoke bombs. While changing the bullets, he flashed to the door of the second room constructed by obstacles and isolation walls. There were ten targets inside. He could only fire three shots at each target. Then he left, changed the bullets, and went to the third room.

Squatting down, David quickly controlled the tactical terminal display on his wrist, and the puppet virus plug-in [Target Positioning] was activated. Several intrusion protocol codes flashed quickly on the tablet, and the target was exactly the simulated prosthesis signal in the room.

[Target Positioning] is a very practical puppet.

It can help intruders understand the distribution of enemies and equipment in the invaded area.

By 2076, it has become the most popular and basic puppet plug-in, and a skill that any formal and mainstream cyberpunk must master and learn.

The Arasaka Academy training puppets have pre-programmed mass-produced chips and are easy to operate. David only needs to find the target and start the release.

Soon, through the wall, as if through perspective, several human-shaped targets made up of flashing red 01 garbled numbers appeared in David's field of vision through the data panel connector. Without hesitation, David picked up his gun and pulled the trigger, firing through the wall.

Reload, and then the fourth room...

It took a total of 1 minute and 47 seconds until David walked out of the training ground exit.

"Student David Martinez, target zone one, head, ten rings, search completion rate 100%, time taken 7 seconds, target zone two..."

"Slow down, David, Shengnan is much faster."

When David unloaded the gun, checked the magazine and safety, and returned the gun, tactical terminal, belt, and tactical waist bag, a man of medium build with curly yellow hair who looked like a delinquent suddenly came up to him.

"How can I compare with Shengnan?"

David shook his head. "But you, Suneo, you have a prosthetic body, right? Your grades aren't much better than a poor 'pure flesh' guy like me... Hehe, judging from your unsteady steps, you must have gone out to indulge yourself."

David took out his goggles, tactical headphones and other items he bought and stuffed them into his backpack. He turned his head and lowered his voice, winking at the yellow-haired man and said, "You're not really going to the streets..."

"Don't talk nonsense, I'm not, I didn't, I just watched a few Mewtwo movies for my friends!"

Xiaofu's voice became weaker and weaker, "Ahem... If my dad knew that I went to Twisting Street... he would definitely break my legs..."

Twisting Street is located in Japan Street, Night City’s top entertainment and leisure area.

It is a famous hot and erotic place to experience sex dolls, Mewtwo, and Black Mewtwo transactions.

David couldn't help but complain: "You are such a sex-hungry ghost."

Apparently, he had a pretty good relationship with this classmate Xiaofu.

In other words, ever since the news that he had won the Practice Excellence Award from the Security Department was made public in early 2075, and a class bully was severely punished and forced to drop out of school for bullying him, his classmates at Arasaka Academy seemed to have suddenly become friendlier to him.

He was even accepted by some small groups among the students because of his identity as a participant in the 2074 Arasaka Academy's year-end security practice activities. His extremely depressing and deformed college life suddenly became colorful.

Although the days were far from the school-themed plots described in the 99% mint-new, lousy-quality antique Japanese anime chips from the last century that he had bought from the pirated Mewtwo market, at least he had a sense of going to school normally.

It's much better than when David was studying at Santo Domingo Community College and was treated with contempt and cold violence when he first entered Arasaka Academy.

After a year of normal interaction, they became much more familiar with each other.

Just when David was about to ask for details out of curiosity, "Why did you go anyway even though you knew about it?" a stiff male voice came.

The girl with the blue bob and bangs is none other than Katsuo Tanaka.

Fat Tiger, who was tall and strong, with a body as round as a ball like a sumo wrestler, followed behind him.

"Go ahead." Shengnan walked over with steady steps, one hand in his pocket, and threw something.

David took it subconsciously and took a closer look. They were two separate chips. "What is this?" He looked at Shengnan.

"Arasaka Security Department's basic training chip. If you want to practice, just use it."

Shengnan explained casually.

"If you've trained well, you'll be able to handle the graduation assessment. For a purely physical student like you, the assessment standards will be much more relaxed than ours."

"Thank you." David took out the chip box from his bag, put away the two training chips solemnly, and thanked: "Shengnan, I will pay you back after I start working..."

"unnecessary."

Shengnan simply refused.

"It's just a small amount of money. Didn't I say that? I believe in the vision of the security department's assessment specialist. Just consider it my investment in you. If you are assigned to a team, don't hold me back. I'm leaving now. I won't chat with you anymore. I still have a few extracurricular tutoring classes and military private training to attend..."

Today's classroom test is over. After returning the equipment, the students who passed the training ground can move freely. You can go out of school or study in the library. It's up to you.

locker room.

After changing out of his lightweight combat uniform and putting on the academy's black and red uniform with the Arasaka logo, David, with a backpack slung over his shoulder, followed Katsuo out of the single-family teaching building of their Security Department with Suneo and Takeshi.

"Fat Tiger, I heard that you want to join the security force of the Ministry of Security?"

"Yeah. Wherever Boss Shengnan goes, I go, but my family says that my body is more suitable for police work..."

"David, until now, you still don't even have a decent prosthetic body. Although you rank first among the pure physical students, the work of the security department is very risky..."

"Alas... I can't help it. My family is poor. I have used up all my scholarships and low-interest loans to pay for my tuition and fees. I can't even afford to buy a prosthesis. I plan to use my status as a company employee to get a discount loan to buy a military prosthesis after I join the company..."

A few people walked towards the school gate while chatting.

Just as Shengnan turned her head and was about to speak, ding-dong-dong-

【Correspondent: Father】

Shengnan's eyes began to glow orange, "Dad?"

Then, as if the other end of the communication had said some incredible news, he was stunned for a moment, his breathing suddenly became heavy, he clenched his fists tightly, and nodded continuously, "Yes, yes, um... OK, I understand."

When the call ended, he ran towards the school gate without looking back.

"Ah, Katsuo."

Xiaofu and Fat Tiger exclaimed and hurriedly followed. David also started running after realizing it belatedly.

At the school gate, a Villefort Curtis V5000 Arasaka model was already waiting there. It was Tanaka's car.

Click.

After opening the car door, Shengnan, with an anxious look on his face, seemed to have thought of something, turned around and said, "Martinez. If you need money, do you want me to lend it to you?"

"Ah? Let's forget about this." David came over and was startled at first, then shook his head, "You've helped me enough. By the way, what happened? Why are you so anxious..."

"Go watch the news and you'll find out soon. During this period, David, it's best not to go out at night and don't patronize those irregular black market prosthetic doctors. The situation in Night City may be tense for a while..."

Before he finished speaking, Shengnan got into the car.

"News, what news?"

Watching the car start up and quickly drive away, David muttered, said goodbye to Suneo and Fat Tiger, and walked alone towards Santo Domingo's house.

He walked with his head held high and his chest puffed out. Thanks to that man's encouragement, he had changed his walking posture, which used to be shaking legs, leaning neck forward, and slouching.

Although he doesn't have a prosthetic body, David has never relaxed his physical exercise.

A good prosthesis also needs a good body to drive it. Especially for students like David who have no money at the moment and can only wait for graduation and employment to take out a loan to purchase a military prosthesis.

Advertisements for Arasaka, biotechnology and high-tech military industry were playing on the LED LCD splicing video screens on the street.

NC Night City Inquirer reports local news.

In the Badlands of Southern California, a malicious robbery targeting a military technology transport convoy has occurred again; a gang fight has broken out on the streets of Night City Heywood, between the Valentino Gang and the Six Street Gang; and the Terrorist Squad has been dispatched to eliminate unwelcome people...

The security situation in Night City is really bad!

In fact, David would not go out for a stroll at night without Shengnan's reminder.

I remember that time in early 2075. He was beaten up and went to the infirmary to get medicine, so he came back late. Then he encountered a pickpocket in the subway and his communication chip was stolen. He spent fifty euros to buy a new one, which made him feel so sad.

Alas, I don’t know what it’s like in other parts of the world.

The place where the Arasaka big shot who encouraged him, Commander Vera Adelheid, went for further studies, Tokyo, is not sure how it is different from Night City.

"Welcome to News 54, bringing you international news."

The screen changes to a channel.

"Just now, on January 1rd, Tokyo time, our reporter received news that Ms. Vera Adelheid Russell will return to Night City to fulfill her duties after completing her one-year postgraduate study at the University of Tokyo."

"It is reported that the 'rejuvenated' Arasaka Saburo personally promoted Ms. Vera Adelheid and praised her as the most dazzling gem in Night City and the unpolished gem of Arasaka."

"We believe that Ms. Vera Adelheid's arrival in Night City after a year will inject a new source of strength into the confidence of the citizens of Night City. It is the beginning of a new level of cooperation between the NCPD officers and the Arasaka sheriffs..."

David's eyes widened immediately.

Commander Vera Adelheid is coming back?!

He immediately recalled Shengnan's words.

Watch the news...

No wonder Shengnan, the son of an official, was so anxious all of a sudden.

No! He has to be anxious too! Not only Shengnan, he is also about to graduate... No! David Martinez, you can't be so lazy!

He always remembered the words of encouragement and admonition: "Don't fall", "I hope to see your recruitment list in Arasaka Tower". Even though she had forgotten about him, a small and insignificant student.

Throwing aside the distracting thoughts in his mind, David's eyes suddenly became firm, and he sped up.

He could no longer watch JK's (Jimmy Kurosaki) Mewtwo, and had to put aside the antique Japanese animations he had carefully selected. He could no longer continue to brag and chat with that profiteer cyborg doctor. Until before the graduation exam, he immersed himself in the Arasaka training chip given by Katsuo.

Train, train to death!

......

Company Plaza, Arasaka Tower.

The floor where the Counterintelligence Department is located.

"Fuck, V, did you see that? Those beasts in the security department went crazy, attacking from all sides. In the fight between the Valentino Gang and the Six Street Gang, they flew over and executed a hundred people just because someone said it was unsightly."

Harry, a simple-looking black man, walked into the information cubicle with a cup of coffee in his hand and handed it to his colleague behind the workstation, oh, now his superior, the red-haired woman with a shovel.

V sat behind her desk and reached out to take the corrugated cup. After taking a sip of coffee, she shrugged and said, "Isn't this normal? Director Vera Adelheid is coming back soon."

When she mentioned the position of 'director', her tone was somewhat complicated.

Depend on!

They say that Vera's joining Night City Security is like going home, so why is it that her studying abroad in Tokyo and going to Arasaka Global Headquarters are also like going home...

It's the [Stairway to the Sun Project] and it's also favored by Lord Saburo Arasaka himself. He hasn't even graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo, but his rank has been rising rapidly. If he returns to Night City and works for a few more years, will he become a national-level director?

Ding ding. It was the phone notification sound, and V took a look.

[Correspondent: Arthur Jenkins]

connected.

[Jenkins: V, in addition to continuing the reconnaissance work around the Arasaka factory in Watson District, for the rest of the military technology and Petrochemical, let your undercover agents and informants be silent for a while. Director Russell is coming back, and this time the movement will not be small.]

V: "Total stop?"