Infinity, Progressing from Arasaka

A formation of armored airborne vehicles on barren land.

At the center of the formation was a red and black intertwined aerospace-type hovercraft, made of extremely luxurious materials. Its streamlined body, adorned with silver clover-shaped patterns, resembled a triumphant phoenix, hovering against the gray city skyline, surrounded by an entire formation of heavily armed flying armor.

Ring ring.

Vera projected the video call signal onto the car's in-car camera, exited the deep dive, removed the scalding hot headband repeater, and sat up straight, feeling refreshed, from the comfortable seat woven from Remembrance foam and smart fibers.

Caller: Kurt Hansen

Connected.

"I hope I haven't disturbed you, Director Russell."

It's the same old outfit he always wears: a T-shirt, combat trousers, a belt with a dagger sheath, a dog tag, and a buzz cut.

Hansen glanced at Vera, who looked as if she had just woken up, her hair slightly messy, and was still tidying her clothes, and said.

"It's alright." Vera picked up a steaming cup of black tea from the car's beverage bar, took a sip, leaned slightly forward, crossed her legs, and raised the corners of her mouth, exuding a very lazy aura. "It's Mr. Hansen who contacted me specifically, so he must have something important to discuss."

"Is the parent project of 'Neural Matrix,' 'Little Dipper Project,' enough of a priority?"

Without any hesitation, Hansen threw out his trump card.

"Huh? That's certainly important enough."

Vera's pupils narrowed slightly, a hint of surprised curiosity appearing on her face. "Did you get your hands on the access code for the key?"

"As expected. You really do know everything."

On the projection screen, Hansen showed an expression of "I knew it," followed by a slightly stiff smile. "It seems that the so-called 'Little Dipper Project' doesn't require my explanation."

Vera smiled.

"You can never have too much intelligence."

Upon hearing this, Hansen replied, "Okay." He didn't mince words, and sent a notification: a new email with attached data files.

Vera glanced at it a few times.

The "Little Dipper Project" is one of the top secrets of the New America and its Militech level.

In its early 21st-century development, its purpose was to use captured AI in Cyberspace (the Old Net) to enhance the weapons of military technology companies and assist hackers in order to combat the Soul Killer of the Arasaka Corporation.

However, prior to the Data Collapse in 2017, it was abandoned by military technology for unknown reasons. The research results included the 'Neural Matrix' hidden inside the mainframe and the 'hellhound' maintenance robots that roamed the Little Beidou bunker facility.

Currently, Hansen has already excavated most of it.

What do you want?

Hansen was so straightforward, Vera naturally didn't bother with any of the pretense and asked directly.

"A guarantee," Hansen said, arms crossed. "Or rather, I want a friendship. A true friendship with you. I invite you to the Sapphire Blue Feast I'm hosting in Dogtown."

He had naturally heard about the Badlands.

NUSA Joint Intelligence Bureau and Militech received a severe blow from the board.

It's said that new equipment has appeared on the desolate plate, and Adam Hammer praised it after using it. Meanwhile, Hansen noticed the drastic changes in the Six Street Gang's structure and realized that some companies were starting to cut corners. He desperately needed the support of a powerful force of equal stature.

"Great! I've been wanting to experience Dogtown's culture and customs for a long time. But—"

Changing the subject, Vera suddenly gave a cryptic smile, "I also have a condition."

"Tomorrow, I will inspect the construction progress of the new Watson North Wasteland Research Center. The Badlands still harbor 'bandits and criminals,' and the Nomads are not to be trusted. As for the cleanup work, I will hand over the employment contract on behalf of Vice Mayor Holt, and the Ghost Dog will be in charge. What do you say?"

Vera smiled faintly and raised her glass, saying, "Since we've decided to change the old policy of 'closing ourselves off from the world,' let's make the change thorough."

That's right. Just as Hansen wanted her to completely stand by the Ghosthound on behalf of the Wasteland, Vera also wanted to completely eliminate any possibility of Dogtown returning to NUSA.

Cough cough cough, I overslept and almost missed my time. My apologies, my apologies.

The prevailing view on the Black Wall is that it is an artificially created AI created in collaboration with giant corporations for Network Surveillance. Its main function is to deal with viruses and Rogue AI in the Old Net, and all existing human local area networks are under the protection of the Black Wall.

In Shadows of the Past, there are only two possibilities for V's use of the Black Wall to attack. One is that he actually controlled the Black Wall to attack, but I think that's impossible because if he could really control the Black Wall, then the Lark would be invincible. I am more inclined to the second possibility, that he found a vulnerability in the Black Wall, partially stole and called the Black Wall's own defense and counterattack mechanism, and then all sorts of messy Black Wall data rushed over.

Chapter 106 Vera's Barghest Mercenary Group

A sunny morning in northern Watson.

"Threats are being investigated."

"Sector 25D-30, clear".

On the desolate Badlands of the city, soldiers in Militech camouflage combat uniforms, adorned with fluorescent yellow-green graffiti, skull faceplates, and hound-headed badges, thronged with their engines roaring, passing through spiked fences, impoverished suburban communities, and wastelands with Joshua trees, heading north.

February 27, 2076, morning.

A fully armed force of the Barghest Gang marched out of Dogtown in a grand procession, under the watchful eyes of numerous media outlets including WNS News, News Channel 54, and Night City Inquirer.

Leaving Pacifica, head north along the Santo Domingo Valley Avenue, pass through the Outer Ring Road under the watchful eyes of many, cross Westbrook, pass through Japantown, and arrive at the North Badlands of Watson.

The NCPD and the Arasaka City Sheriff accompanied and escorted them.

It was almost like traversing the Night City.

Undoubtedly, this was a public political statement.

Not long ago, at the city hall, Vice Mayor Holt publicly stated to the citizens that, thanks to Arasaka's friendly consultations, the normalization of Dogtown had made encouraging progress. The Ghost Dogs announced the lifting of the 'closed-off town' policy and, as residents and citizens of the Pacifica community, received an administrative order from the Night City government with a 'funding' component.

To contribute to the new phase of urban infrastructure development in Night City.

A second safety inspection was conducted on the undeveloped land in the northern Badlands area, namely the oilfield area and minefield outside the city.

Incidentally, this also serves as a warning to the Nomads in the Aldecaldo Tribe and the Nightwraiths of the Badlands: just focus on your work and don't get distracted. And some 'little secret jobs' that are best left unsaid.

The elite special operations team that Kurt Hansen specifically assigned arrived even earlier.

Bang bang bang—

The chaotic, intermittent gunshots echoed through the garbage camp beneath rusty wind turbines, in the ruins of collapsed old buildings, on the hills of the Badlands wasteland, and in the mass graves...

The hound dug deep into the Badlands, slaughtering people according to the information and requests provided wholeheartedly by a certain insider.

The mixed bodily fluids spilled into the desert, briefly staining the withered yellow sand with a layer of crimson.

The bleeding corpse tumbled heavily with its kinetic energy, and was almost half buried by the sand in an instant.

There were unlucky Nightwraiths who ran into the line of fire, Militech and Federal Intelligence Agency agents who were still stuck in a corner of the minefield due to Arasaka's continued blockade and sweep, and unregistered personnel whose affiliation was unknown. Some were handed over by Arasaka, and some were caught by the Ghost Dogs themselves...

After the minefield was cleared, the members of the Ghost Hound executed more than a dozen detainees in front of WNS News and Night City Inquirer reporters who were following them offline.

Sparks flew from the muzzle of the gun, and as fire and pieces of flesh silently scattered in the air, the captured men, kneeling on the sand dunes, leaned forward, their heads buried in the sand, their bodies convulsing.

These detainees were dressed in various styles, but they all shared one characteristic: obvious signs of cybernetic modification. They were all injured, with many missing limbs, broken skulls, and kneeling motionless on the ground, some with bloody gashes behind their ears where the network access modules were located. Clearly, their brain nerves and access modules were damaged during the violent data extraction process.

The Ghost Hound soldiers calmly finished off the remaining enemies, firing two shots into the chest and one into the head.

This blood-stained scene was captured steadily by the camera.

The author may have done it unintentionally, but the viewer may have taken it to heart.

This is a pre-arranged script, a reality show called "Forced to Join the Liangshan Rebels," with the Ghost Dog as the main actor.

Hansen knew without even guessing.

These were handed over by Arasaka, who explicitly designated them to be executed: criminals with strong physiques and powerful Combat Cybernetics. They were the results of Arasaka's recent sweep of the Badlands, and were either agents of Shinmi or intelligence personnel for Militech.

He overheard Vera's scheme in Arasaka Tower in Dogtown.

But--

"Congratulations, Colonel Hansen... Ah, I'm being too formal. NUSA is a thing of the past. I should address you as Director Hansen."

It's Wilton Holt.

The bald, slightly overweight deputy mayor, wearing retro half-rimmed glasses, spoke to Hansen had finally changed out of his unchanging battle attire.

At the same time that gunfire continued in the Badlands, the part of the Old Industrial Zone in northern Watson that had been incorporated into the Arasaka Research and Development Zone had been demolished and razed. On the construction site, where building materials, construction machinery, and crowds of people were bustling, Hansen, dressed in a suit and exuding the air of a successful man, stood in the crowd and under the spotlight, full of confidence.

"Thank you, Mayor Hult."

Hansen deliberately removed the word "vice," saying, "I look forward to your landslide victory in next year's mayoral election. Dogtown and Ghosthound will always be your strongholds."

Despite his burly physique and frequent appearance in a T-shirt and military trousers, looking like a brute who only knows how to brandish weapons, Hansen's political acumen is quite sophisticated. He's adept at handling this kind of feedback.

Ta-da~

The sound of high heels clicking on the smooth ground drew the attention of Holt and Hansen, who were exchanging compliments.

After concluding her conversations with key figures such as the head of the new district project, project managers, site security officials, and the NCPD's Watson branch chief, Vera, surrounded by the Arasaka Cyber Ninja, held a paper map of the new district in one hand and waved to them with the other.

"Mayor Holt, Chief Hansen, would you mind walking with me?"

Vera greeted them first, her voice still calm and gentle, but naturally exuding an undeniable sense of pressure.

She naturally positioned herself in the center, and neither Holt nor Hansen felt anything was amiss.

Michiko Arasaka has returned to Los Angeles.

Compared to the cold, violent Night City, Michiko clearly preferred the enchanting and ambiguous City of Angels, home to Hollywood.

After signaling the Arasaka ninjas and bodyguards around her to disperse and be on guard, she, along with Hott and Hansen, walked along the compacted and leveled ground towards the end of the building materials pile extending into the Badlands.

"Of course. Ms. Vera, thank you for saving Night City once again. Last time it was the city's security, and this time it's the city's infrastructure and the suburbs. Oh, poor lambs, they live in a city that is far from welcoming."

With Wilton Holt around—a man of flexibility, witty speech, and quick wit—there's no need to worry about awkward silences.

In this respect, Hansen still cannot be compared with career politicians.

"But all of this is because of you. Mr. Mayor, you have a keen eye for the times and a heart that seeks change and development."

Vera smiled.

To be honest, she was very comfortable working with this flexible old politician.

He was very sensible; he knew which connections in the city could be used and which should be reserved for the company.

"Haha... you flatter me." Holt said with a smile.

He was also very satisfied with the partnership with Vera. It was true that the company benefited the most from several policies, as they did boost employment. The improvement in security in the Lijiang scenic area alone had a remarkable effect on his political reputation.

This is why he handled everything so quickly after receiving Vera's request to legalize Dogtown and the Barghest Gang Arasaka. Although it was very obsequious, Holt firmly believed that this was the way Night City operated.

Moreover, he also reaped considerable benefits himself.

Vera looked at Hansen.

"I told you, you won't be disappointed, Director Hansen."

This bureau chief is not considered an NCPD deputy.

His full title is Chief of the Police Precinct of the Autonomous Region Police Station of Pacifica Dogtown, Night City. The prefix "Pacifica Dogtown" refers to the territory of the Ghost Dogs, but it's just a favor. A precinct chief and a headquarters chief are not the same thing.

Vera smiled and said, "Mr. Hansen, welcome to the Night City family."

Hansen said, "Your methods are always so impressive, Vera."

Vera did not deny it.

"But you still chose to eat it," she said.

"Yes."

Hansen nodded in agreement.

"The price is that the Ghost Hound and I are completely bound to Arasaka, or rather, to Director Vera's chariot. Is this what you call an 'employment contract'? I'm truly amazed."

He stared intently into Vera's eyes.

"Let the Ghost Hounds, who are carrying out the mission, swagger around the city. Then, your people will take the NUSA Joint Intelligence Bureau, who have been extracted from the intelligence and beaten half to death, and hand them over to my people for execution. They will also deliberately surround the city without attacking, leaving a few inhabited strongholds for my people to break into. I think the news of the Ghost Hounds' 'anti-gang and anti-violence' operation in Badlands has already been put on the White House's desk with the help of WNS News."

WNS News, like News Channel 54, is a media industry giant. However, WNS supports Arasaka, while News Channel 54 primarily supports Militech.

"If you want revenge, you must pay the price. This is the will of the Netherhound. I am just helping you to go with the flow."