Progressing from Arasaka

"Forward! The Stars and Stripes will fly again!"

This wasn't the first time they'd clashed. It started with shouting and a heated exchange of opinions, then quickly escalated into insults and shoving, and finally turned into a physical fight.

Tear gas, pepper spray grenades, and lit bottles of alcohol were thrown from time to time. Since this was the Corporate Plaza, and NCPD, Arasaka, Militech, and Kang Tao agents, security soldiers, and heavy vehicles were all lined up with their guns loaded and watching intently, no one was using guns here for the time being.

Night City Arasaka Tower, 97th floor.

The nameplate reads "Russell's Office of Director of Operations".

Vera looked out through the adjustable polarized glass.

A vibrant scene of life, where everything thrives, a chaotic daily life in Night City.

With a faint smile, Vera turned her executive chair around and stretched out her index finger to gently tap on her large, luxurious desk.

"One hundred sets."

"B-level and A-level Quinque are indeed more suitable for the security force." She paused for a moment before looking at the two subordinates standing respectfully in front of her desk and said, "Assign your people accordingly. I need combat data."

Brian and Laurie, her black and white duo.

Among Vera's former group of bodyguards and security personnel, those who survived the competition are considered to be quite capable.

As her status rose, they were also promoted.

"Go down," Vera gently, waving her hand.

"Yes!" ×2

As the person directly involved in the highly publicized attack on the US-Mexico border, Vera, while handling her official duties in North America, also had to work on a report amidst her busy schedule.

[Individual Project "Quinque" - Phase-one Weaponization Achievements]

Report back more often.

With her cheek resting on two fingers and her fingers gently stroking the tabletop, Vera gazed thoughtfully at the summary editing interface on the holographic screen.

This is a preliminary result of the new shape Memory Metal project 'Quinque Steel' that she was going to report to Saburo Arasaka.

At least in the Cyberpunk world, it is in the initial stage of weaponization research and development.

According to the definition of the Ghoul Countermeasures Bureau (CCG), Quinque is a product created by killing Ghoul or by taking out Ghoul's Kakuhou and weaponizing it.

In addition to the necessary Kakuhou provided by the Ghoul and the high concentration of Rc cells contained within their bodies.

In Vera's view, the technology for manufacturing Quinque, especially the Memory Metal 'Quinque Steel' itself, including its special combination with other materials and related processes, is more worthy of further research and consideration.

While in Tokyo, Vera revealed, to varying degrees, the Memory Metal -related technologies that another "she" had learned from CCG and Dr. Hishikori Kouichi Kōbō (CCG's Chief researcher) to her colleagues in the Manufacturing Sector at the Tokyo Arasaka headquarters, in various forms such as "sudden flashes of genius," "drafts," and "notes on multiple model deductions."

What is perhaps revealed is only the forging process of the low-grade Quinque Steel used by Dr. Hishikori Kouichi and Dr. Yi to process B-grade Kakuhou and mass-produce B-grade Quinque.

There was no Ghoul Kakuhou added.

It falls far short of the CCG White Dove Investigator's ability to instantly transform a standard briefcase into various oddly shaped, A-grade or higher Quinque ranging from one meter to over ten meters in length.

However, in Arasaka, the malleable properties of the Memory Metal that Vera named 'Quinque Steel' still instantly caught the attention of Arasaka's technical engineers.

While the high level of Vera's influence certainly plays a role, which they must take seriously, a comparative experiment reveals that this world-leading shape Remembrance effect, superelasticity, and ductility...

It smells so good, really smells so good!

'Quinque Steel' has a significant supplementary effect on the process and technology reserve of the Memory Metal technology currently used by the Arasaka manufacturing department.

While it may not be considered a "timely help," it goes beyond the scope of "adding flowers to brocade," and its comprehensive contribution to the continued development of Arasaka Industries is undeniable.

It is important to know that shape Memory Metal is a special metal material with a very wide range of applications, covering multiple fields such as light and heavy industry, military industry, medicine, and high technology.

With all this groundwork laid, Saburo knew that in addition to working on the "Solaris Staircase Project," he also had various brilliant ideas that were being developed. With this expectation, Vera was able to gradually promote Quinque in Night City.

She looked at the editing interface on the holographic screen again, lightly tapping the touchscreen keyboard with her fingers—

Just like Bio-Components, although the first generation of biological weapons [Quinque] had significant performance flaws, as consumable equipment, they were perfectly compatible with the needs of multiple missions, could resist electromagnetic pulse attacks, and could not be detected by conventional scanners...

Instead of focusing on the main issues, Vera emphasized the promising future of the Quinque research and development in an experimental tone.

She did not elaborate on the manufacturing process and techniques.

It only provided an estimated parameter and outlined the plan. If the actual results are satisfactory, large-scale mass production will have to wait until the first phase of the Arasaka Research and Development Zone factory is completed.

Saburo is the Chief Arasaka, not a researcher.

Vera knew exactly what she needed to report.

She has a precise grasp of the appropriate measure for her position.

Letting your boss know your plans and intentions doesn't mean you have to be completely transparent with them. Having a few secrets can be beneficial.

Saburo only needed to confirm Vera's personal safety, or Vera's loyalty to Arasaka, her hostility towards Militech and the New America. He had already witnessed Vera's many "outlandish ideas" many times.

Moreover, isn't Vera's behavior exactly putting Saburo's instructions into practice?

Unleash your wildest ideas in Night City, in North America.

The 'accidental' discovery of Quinque Steel technology, Vera promptly handed over, benefited the entire Arasaka manufacturing industry. However, weaponized Quinque, like Cybernetic Kong and Cybernetic Tyrant, were still in the experimental stage. Strictly speaking, such a 'small toy project' did not need to be disclosed to Saburo, and Saburo still trusted his subordinates in this respect.

After all, Vera was no longer the insignificant figure she was before she set foot in Tokyo.

Having officially made her debut and 'recognized' Michiko Arasaka, she began to systematically inherit the legacy of former Crown Prince Kei Arasaka, and had become an indispensable high-ranking figure for Arasaka in North America.

And as time goes by, including but not limited to:

The Night City land purchase agreement, the establishment of the new Arasaka Research Center, the alignment and integration of North American factions, the Austin Conference, the reorganization of the Barghest Gang into a mercenary group and their march eastward, gunfire in New Mexico and Arizona, the turbulent western Free State, the undercurrents in Washington and Oregon... a series of events unfold.

Vera is now an Arasaka's latest strategy in North America.

Her importance is second only to Michiko Arasaka, and she is almost comparable to those senior national directors in the Americas.

At this level, it's normal to have a few secrets and ulterior motives.

Even Saburo's most valued and most like-minded eldest son, Kei Arasaka, never fully opened up to Old Deng. He secretly dated in America and had a daughter with New America citizenship. It wasn't until his eldest son passed away that Old Deng learned he had gained such a granddaughter.

[Sent]

"Call..."

Vera stretched her wrists, leaned back in her executive chair, and reflected in her bright indigo eyes the large amount of text, images, and video information on the holographic screen of the ceiling-mounted imaging system.

The Director of Special Operations and the Counter-Intelligence Department reported that the Misdirection Operation Night City's intelligence network regarding Militech had already begun.

Kurt Hansen is not lacking in ability or personal charisma.

Tempted by the promise of becoming the next Lazarus, he's now even more eager Vera.

To advance his career, he wore his signature outfit of a T-shirt and military pants, a holster and a dog tag, and went around recruiting like an actor, enthusiastically promoting the service through personal testimonials. As a result, the expansion of the Barghest Mercenary Group and the recruitment of new soldiers were very successful.

At least in the Western States, on the land of former independent states, a large number of rednecks and cowboys who have a grudge against the new America, and avengers who grew up in the war years, are ready to have another showdown with Washington.

Even if there are spies mixed in, it doesn't matter. You're just a frontline mercenary. What intelligence do you want to steal? We'll send you to the front lines to fight after your training.

Faced with a losing public opinion and widespread unrest, Washington's current actions can be summarized as follows: huddling against a wall to prevent Vera from catching them, while secretly amassing a large force of Lazarus mercenaries in New Mexico and Arizona.

"The tactics of a pig, huh?"

Vera stroked her chin, and her smile became much more meaningful.

Then she'll use a strategy of keeping the eagle at bay.

The background information about Lucy and the Edgerunner mentioned in the text refers to an expansion pack update for the official Cyberpunk board game.

Chapter 116 Vera: Winning with the Orthodox and the Unorthodox (4.6K)

"How is the mission going?"

A wisp of smoke rose slowly from the slender cigarette in Vera's hand.

A burly man with a buzz cut and a shaved head stood in the center of the empty and quiet office, bathed in light.

The flickering light from the imaging device coiled and bent, stained, corrected, and outlined his holographic three-dimensional replica image— Kurt Hansen.

"... I suppose so. Thanks to you. A lone attack by a mid-level agent who failed to take command has left Miles in a real mess."

Although Hansen didn't know what Arasaka, or Vera, had done, or what other covert actions she might have taken, he wasn't one to be trifled with. His six years of playing both sides in Dogtown, his frustrating experience of being betrayed by Miles, and his subsequent independent growth had given him a clear understanding of many things.

Especially since he had met Vera and her collaborators, he had a vague intuition—no evidence, no logic, and he didn't need to figure out the details—but he just felt that Vera was involved in this matter.

"Good things come from nowhere."

Vera's voice was calm.

"There are still more good people in the world." She smiled gently. "Having many friends has its advantages, and having many enemies has its own wonders. At the right time and in the right place, enemies can sometimes be more useful than friends."

"So, that poor 'enemy' was someone Ms. Vera specifically targeted..."

"No." She denied it. She stubbed out her half-smoked cigarette in the ashtray, leaned her arm on the table, rested her chin on two fingers, Vera glanced at him sideways.

"Do you remember how many shots you've fired so far?"

Hansen was speechless, and paused for a moment.

"Alright. Stop rambling."

Vera waved her hand slightly, then said seriously, "Although you've garnered countless supporters and recruits for the Barghest in the Western Free State by demonstrating your abilities firsthand, you'll also become a thorn in the side for some. As your people continue to clash with them in New Mexico and Arizona, the assassinations that follow won't be just a few petty thieves with 'firewood sticks'—"

At this point, Vera paused, blinked, and looked at Hansen with a calm expression.

"It seems the Federal Intelligence Agency's activities in California are picking up again. Your old friends don't seem to be letting you off the hook..."

Hansen knew what Vera was referring to.

Those Federal Intelligence Agency who contacted him, hoping to recruit him.

Whether through coercion or persuasion, Washington's latest offer has been a promise that if he abandons the darkness and embraces the light, he will be immediately reinstated to the NUSA Military, awarded the rank of three-star lieutenant general, and placed in the Pentagon. The entire Barghest can be reorganized into a NUSA heavy infantry regiment.

Furthermore, there are the material rewards for retiring from military service, such as being immediately assigned to Militech, a manor villa, a special fund, stocks, medals, and so on.

"After spending so much time together, some feelings developed, so it's normal for things to go back and forth. Washington offered very good terms, but having been cheated once, one should learn their lesson." Hansen gave a contemptuous smile when Washington was mentioned.

"Miles's mouth is a lying devil; that old bitch's bottom line is incredibly flexible..."

Hansen was well aware of where his value came from.

Without Barghest, without Dogtown, if Barghest doesn't have the potential to grow into a force comparable to the Lazarus Mercenary Group, and if he loses his role as a symbol of the untrustworthiness of Washington and Militech, he is nothing.

Based on the three silver stars on his epaulets, once the storm has passed, Miles can dismiss him with a single word, leaving him to rot in a stinking ditch as a homeless double-plug.

Similarly, the same applies to Arasaka.

However, his ally Vera was still climbing the ladder, and he used the example of Vera persuading him to draw parallels between her relationship with Donald Lundy (former CEO of Military Science) and Emil Lazarus (founder of Lazarus).

If we're comparing who's worse, Miles is worse.

"That Washington flag was burned like a rag, the ashes are probably buried under some curb somewhere, and now they're telling me they have to dig up the ashes and reshape it into the Stars and Stripes? Ha..."

Hansen sneered and said, "They're afraid of me, afraid that I'll expose their distorted ideology, because I'm the staunchest fighter for that damned, nonexistent ideology, the one they abandoned and destroyed with their own hands."

Snap, snap, snap.

Vera nodded. She clapped softly.

"Many people are afraid of Cyberpsychosis because they are afraid of guns, madness, fists, and prosthetics... but the power comes from within. Those who have experienced betrayal and are waiting for revenge are the most dangerous."

"So, you have to live."

She said it with a very sincere expression.

"Do you know how many assassination attempts Arasaka's Lone Wolves thwarted during your speeches to the cowboy avengers deep in the Western States? Twelve times. That's a number your trusted guards didn't discover."

"Are you trying to persuade me to hide in my office and manipulate things from behind the scenes?" Hansen shook his head. "No. I'm not you. And Barghest doesn't have the same resources as Arasaka." He grinned, his voice deep and magnetic. "Besides, if I did that, how would I become the second Lazarus? You'd probably be disappointed in me, Director Vera."

No, this board will still increase investment.

But Vera did not choose to speak out.

Leaning back in her executive chair, she picked up her teacup and took a sip.

According to her rough summary, this Hansen had a strong sense of loyalty and righteousness, was willing to share weal and woe with his soldiers, liked to do things personally, and as the head of Dogtown, he liked to personally handle things like running errands for his subordinates or dealing with groups of kidney harvesters. He also frequently sparred with new recruits.

Add a touch of gambling and adventure.