Infinity, progress from Arasaka

"Yes."

Jimmy nodded, accepted the order, and quickly left this floor which he should not be able to set foot on with his current rank.

Snapped.

Vera raised her hand, snapped her fingers and made an upward gesture.

Buzz! The AI ​​in the living room intelligent control recognized the meaning, and the holographic screen in the center of the living room was enlarged, and the audio that had just been muted because someone was reporting work was restored.

While gently caressing the lush green potted plants in the room, Vera looked at the surveillance footage transmitted back from the monitoring center equipment of the Arasaka factories in the valley area:

The dilapidated streets were blackened by gun smoke and fire. The walls, which were already covered with graffiti and lime peeling, were full of bullet holes. Bullet shells, scrapped vehicles and mutilated bodies were scattered in the middle of the street. The scene was a gang stronghold with a large number of unfinished buildings collapsed, and the gaps in the walls looked like they had been gnawed by dogs...

Thinking about the fierce battle in Santo Domingo in the early morning, when she was probably in the Azure Building attending the welcome party hosted by the Night City Arasaka department, Vera couldn't help but shake her head and sigh.

It's really a varied world.

By the time she had eaten and drunk her fill, chatted with the company dogs and had a good sleep until dawn, the gang war between the Nether Dog Gang and the Sixth Street Gang had ended.

The result is beyond doubt, the warlord organization beat up the militia gang.

Overnight, several large gang strongholds of the Six Street Gang in the River Valley area were wiped out.

Vera knew very well that Arasaka had not yet reached the point of stuffing all of the Six Street Gang's troop deployments into the mouth of the Hellhound. Obviously, the Hellhound itself had specifically investigated the Six Street Gang's background.

The NCPD and the Night City government did not react significantly but only issued strong condemnations.

In other words, the Hellhounds were very sensible and did not take out the large number of "super-limit" heavy war weapons that they had kept in their bottom drawers.

[Analysis report: Based on the information we have so far, it is estimated that after this conflict, the number of members of the Six Street Gang will be reduced by 630-750.] Vera glanced at the document sent by the Information Department.

The Sixth Street Gang is finished.

According to the survey information, the total number of members of the Six Street Gang in 2076 is estimated to be around 2300.

Not long ago, in the armed fight with the Valentino Gang in Heywood, Vera signaled Jimmy to take advantage of the situation and kill dozens of elite thugs. Now he was attacked by the Hellhounds and lost the River Valley area overnight. Many members lost their lives as soon as they got there due to the confused distress signals and chaotic situation.

The gang was badly damaged, with only the Haywood Li scenic area and the Coronado Farm in Santo Domingo left in its sphere of influence, and was cut off from the river valley area occupied by the Phantom Hounds.

But she did not intend to leave the Lijing area to the Six Street Gang.

"I'm Vera Adelheid." The artificial eye in Vera's eye flashed with data streams. "I need a report on the power of the Valentino Gang and the Mox Gang in the Li Scenic Area... plus the Tiger Claw Gang. As soon as possible."

She was calculating the feasibility of supporting other gangs to occupy the Lijing area.

Anyway, don't get involved with military technology, just be friendly with Arasaka. The streets have their own rules and regulations. At present, let alone Arasaka, European banks have no suitable way to eliminate the gangs on the streets of Paris.

Or, if the gang is really not suitable, how about leaving it to the NCPD... Using the security contract signed between Arasaka and the Night City City Council as an anchor, jointly govern the Lijing District and create a model security district...

Speaking of policing services.

It’s an old skill, Arasaka’s greatest and most famous specialty.

Thinking of this, Vera dialed the inter-departmental communication within Arasaka again.

[Security Service Docking Business Department, our sheriffs will conduct street patrols in the near future. You should seize the opportunity of this turbulent situation to sell a sense of security and focus the recent security service promotion on the Lijing District and the River Valley District. You can appropriately launch a group purchase discount package for families, communities, and neighbors with reduced security levels.]

[Yes, yes, including the River Valley... I have sent people to talk to the Nether Dog. After beating up Washington's mistress, if they want to quickly gain a foothold in the River Valley, they will not refuse the olive branch we offer.]

[Intelligence Department, I need all the information about Kurt Hansen before and after he defected to the NUSA military, as well as a detailed report on the events at the corresponding time and a personality analysis.]

Regardless of who owns the Lijing area, we must not forget to expand our business, make money, and engage in military technology.

One of her current positions is as a member of the North American Management Board.

As for the word "management", in addition to security and military powers as the basic base, she can already openly win over and command people from other departments.

dong dong.

"Come in."

Click——

The door was pushed open, revealing the cyber ninja from the Arasaka family compound.

"The director is James Thomas, the first deputy director."

"Please."

Soon, a middle-aged man wearing a black Arasaka-style suit with red stripes and with gray hair and beard walked in.

Standing up, Vera immediately went to greet him.

"Uncle Thomas."

"It seems that a year of academic life with books in Tokyo has not left you unlucky." James Thomas forced a smile on his face. "My little princess, Fred and Mia will be proud of you."

Hearing this compliment, Vera seemed to jump for joy, and with brisk steps she placed a cup of freshly brewed coffee in front of Thomas.

"It's just Master Saburo's appreciation and Uncle Thomas's help in the early years." But soon, she calmed down in the face of Thomas's satisfied expression and asked softly, "Is Master Michiko going to Night City?"

"You're still so sharp."

Thomas nodded, considering his words for a moment.

"Master Arasaka Kei's legacy is not so easy to inherit, Vera. Although you have the support of us old guys from the North American Security Department, Master Arasaka Michiko also has..."

In response, Vera smiled, changed her posture, leaned back, crossed her legs, crossed her hands on her lower abdomen, and tapped the back of her left hand with her right index finger.

James Thomas is the first deputy director of the Security Department. He has more seniority and a higher security rank than Vera. He is also a member of the board of directors.

The reason why Vera was on a higher floor in Arasaka Tower than him was because of the special treatment given to her by Saburo Arasaka. In the Arasaka family compound, Vera appeared in front of the "national director" of Arasaka Global.

“Gifts are never given for nothing. Only those who try their best to grasp them are qualified to receive them.”

Vera looked towards a certain direction in the room.

Thomas followed his gaze.

Then, there was a shock.

Behind the drawn curtain of the compartment, there was a portrait of Arasaka Kei.

Without directly answering Thomas, Vera explained her mission in returning to Night City this time, and mentioned the interesting things in Tokyo and the process of meeting Saburo, Takayama Shintaro, and Hanako.

Then, she looked at Thomas with a frank smile.

"I will avenge Master Arasaka."

That was enough for Thomas to understand.

Revenge means to avenge the humiliation, and if the humiliation is avenged, you will be the heir.

"It's not easy, Vera..."

"But this is something Arasaka will definitely have to face in the future."

Vera quietly put her legs back on the carpet and sat up straight. "The view from the top of Arasaka Tower is beautiful. We can go and see it. Why not?"

"As for Lady Michiko, to be honest, Uncle Thomas, after returning to Night City and sorting out the current situation, the second step will be to go see Michiko..."

Before she finished her words, a highest priority communication request flashed across the virtual screen grid of Vera's built-in artificial eye plug-in, and it directly cut in line with higher authority, casting a fashionable and trendy shadow on the virtual screen grid.

A woman with almost no trace of implants on her body.

...

At the same time, in Watson District, a block near the Next Life nightclub.

A Chevrolet Emperor 620 Ragnar was driving normally on the street, occasionally avoiding homeless people in the corners, circling, and finally driving quickly into a closed underground parking lot.

Until several cyber mercenaries wearing jackets and sunglasses appeared, and the muscular black guy in the middle made gestures.

Bang. The lights come on.

On the body of the 620 Ragnar, the 'Militech' logo lights up.

In the shadow of the load-bearing wall not far away, a man in a red suit slowly walked out.

He is tall and thin, with short white hair. His right eye is very unique. The original position of his right eye has been hollowed out and replaced with three horizontally arranged artificial eyes, which flash red at the same frequency.

If there were any mercenaries in Saint-Domingo here, they would definitely be able to recognize this four-eyed man - Faraday, the most powerful middleman in Saint-Domingo.

chapped.

There was a slight sound of brakes, and the military-tech car stopped next to Faraday.

"Faraday, you'd better give me an explanation. The repeated delays make us doubt your ability."

A man's gloomy voice came from the half-lowered car window.

Faraday put one hand in his pocket and retorted coldly: "That's because Arasaka is heavily guarded. All the people I sent out were killed. This is enough to prove how important Cybernetic is to Arasaka. Don't you know?"

"It is precisely because of this that I invested so much. Hurry up and produce results, otherwise there will be no additional money and the balance will not be paid."

"Are you kidding me?"

Faraday's tone was quite unfriendly. "What should I do with the results now..."

"Because you are at a disadvantage in the competition with Arasaka. The Night City government has signed a city sheriff agreement with Arasaka. Even the thugs you kept in Saint Domingo have been defeated. The ones who did it are the thugs you abandoned in the past. Martial law is in place everywhere. My people and assets in Saint Domingo have suffered heavy losses."

Lies don't hurt, truth is the knife.

The military technology liaison fell silent for a moment.

After a while, he continued, "Okay. I'll give you half of the balance first. The additional payment agreement is still valid, but you can't refuse the additional commission. Did you know that Vera Adelheid is returning to Night City?"

Faraday: "Of course. Last night, the Purple Stone Banquet Hall in the Blue Jade Building was reserved by Arasaka. What? You don't want me to hit on her, do you? Excuse me, I don't want to get killed. Let's talk about other things after you have the advantage in military technology."

"Humph, I have the upper hand, but I still need you? Don't worry, I'm not asking you to die, but I'm targeting her project."

The contact sneered.

"You should know about the [Stairway to the Sun Project], which is about rejuvenating the old man Saburo Arasaka. Vera Adelheid is the project director. According to reliable information, Arasaka intends to build a new research facility for her in Night City. The additional troops sent by Arasaka are not yet in place. Seize this opportunity. If there are goods sent from mainland Japan to the ports and transport convoys, you can find a way to steal or rob them. Search for even a single injection of undiluted R-618 regeneration potion solution for one million Euros."

Hearing this, Farah's fourth eye narrowed slightly.

"Arasaka is pressing you step by step. You've been so badly hit in the global stock market recently. The Six Street Gang is almost wiped out. The situation in Saint Domingo is so bad that even I need to reorganize and manage it. As a result, instead of fully responding to the threats and provocations from Dog Town, you actually have the energy to go against the current and take on new commissions?"

"It's called the darkest place under the lamp." The contact person said, "Whether it's the cyborg, the laboratory-level products of the [Stairway to the Sun Project], or the new results that Vera Adelheid is currently researching, if you get any of them, we will give you immunity."

"As for the rest, Faraday, you are a wise man, so leave it alone. That's all I have to say."

hum.

The 620 Ragnar started its engine and drove out of the underground parking lot.

"whispering sound!"

Faraday clenched his fist and turned his head away, wiping the non-existent dust off his sleeves with an unhappy look on his face.

"A fawning corporate dog will eventually... Hum, let's go to the next life... Okay?"

He paused, and his four prosthetic eyes focused at the same time.

drip.

【Caller: Mann】

A brown-skinned, muscular man wearing sunglasses appeared on Faraday's video call.

connected.

【Mann: Hello, it's me, Faraday. What can I do for you?】

【Faraday: Mann, haven't you already received the commission? 】

[Mann: Because of those stupid corporate dogs, several financiers have withdrawn their investment. Damn, it was a wasted trip...]

Faraday's eyes moved.

This Mann is considered a member of the cyber mercenary team with whom he has worked many times.

It just so happens that he needs cannon fodder.

【Faraday: There is a job.】

------

PS: The money that corporate dog V gave to Mann's team, and the money that Militech gave to Faraday, are all references to the numbers used by Arasaka counterintelligence personnel when issuing commissions in the Edgewalker anime.