Infinite Progress, Starting From Arasaka

"Jimmy, are there any outstanding Night City field missions that need handling? As for support requests from other departments, you can handle them as you see fit. If they're not too excessive, accept them."

"Uh... Commander, you really didn't have to come in person."

As soon as he got into the armored hovercar and saw his fully armed direct superior, Jimmy got a headache.

The custom high-strength polycarbonate form-fitting combat uniform, the nano-fiber shell armor on the outside, the external electronic muscle enhancement armbands, and the structurally reinforced long single-molecule finger sheaths...

"Is there a problem?"

Vera, who was carefully maintaining her Nekomata Electromagnetic Sniper Rifle, looked up and glanced at him.

"No problem."

Jimmy sat up straight, directly opposite Vera, and replied.

As Vera's trusted subordinate, he had been discovered and promoted by her from the front lines.

He was part of her inner circle, meaning if she rose higher, he would rise with her, but if she fell, he would be marginalized and purged.

Jimmy knew Vera's capabilities very well.

No one could tell the destructive power contained within the exquisite body of his cold and elegant superior, which required millions of Euros in maintenance annually. Although Vera spent most of her time in the command center, that was due to her position and the fact that it was unnecessary for her to engage directly. Once she did, however...

Calling it cyberpsychosis would be an understatement.

Coupled with Vera's self-funded, custom-built, laboratory-grade exclusive equipment, even the MaxTac would seem less terrifying in comparison. In the words of Arasaka's top enforcer, Adam Smasher, Vera was also a 'meat grinder.'

Jimmy believed that if his superior Vera's [Body], [Intelligence], [Reaction], and [Composure] stats could be digitized, they would undoubtedly be legendary.

Having served as Vera's sparring partner for months, he and the other Team 6 soldiers firmly believed this.

"Supervisor, the Intelligence Department wants our Security Department to provide support. Several shipments to our informants were intercepted by fanatically augmented Vortex Gang members in the northern industrial district,"

Team 6's security expert reported while operating the information processing terminal.

"Accept it."

Vera picked up her finely crafted Thermal Katana and her well-maintained Nekomata Electromagnetic Sniper Rifle, then stood up.

"Jimmy, you'll be responsible for handing over tasks with the Counter-Intelligence Department here with a portion of Team 6. Order Team 2 to proceed immediately to the northern industrial district."

Whether it was an illusion or not, Jimmy thought he saw Vera smile at that moment.

It was a bloodthirsty curve, a smile as if she were about to unleash something.

With that, Vera jumped out of the armored hovercar and boarded another one.

Vroom... Vroom...

The armored hovercar sped towards the northern part of Night City.

"..."

"Hiss, boss, is Supervisor Vera on her period or something? She seems really hot-tempered... Ouch!" After a swift punch to the mouthy veteran machine-gunner, Jimmy scanned his surroundings. "Don't ask what you shouldn't."

"From now on, consider yourselves deaf and mute. Supervisor Vera is simply being hands-on and responsible after taking on her new role. Understand?"

"Yes!" ×N

Unaware of what her subordinates were thinking, and not wanting to know, Vera only knew that she was currently very angry.

Extremely angry.

The kind that needed an outlet.

'A bunch of insects! How can I develop the economy and make America 'great' again by being with you?!'

Chapter 014: Vera Wants to Vent for 'Vera'

Irritated.

Her vision and perception seemed to transcend space and time. Vera could clearly feel another 'her,' or rather, this was her current emotion.

It was an outright rage, a violent temper that arose from deep within.

This was brought about by her 'Heaven's Gift.'

It wasn't an influence, but it was an influence.

And while feeling restless—

Crack!

Inside the armored hovercar, Vera opened her five fingers and then closed them. Her bones and joints under the sealed tactical gloves made slight cracking sounds. Vera could clearly feel the subtle changes in her bones, flesh, and even her cybernetic implants.

That feeling of fullness and amplification, the pleasure.

'Heaven's Gift.'

The more Vera's connection with other 'selves' increased, the more significant the enhancement became.

"Am I some kind of monkey-version Multiversal Lifeform?"

The multi-layered resonance of her soul and thoughts reminded her of the moment she 'awakened.'

At that time, Vera's parents had recently passed away, and having just joined Arasaka Tower Academy, she hadn't fully figured out what was happening to her.

To be precise, since her birth into this world, for many years, she had never heard any phantom system sounds, nor had any materialized companion objects appeared in her hands.

From childhood to adulthood, as her body developed and her brain matured, Vera initially just noticed that her memory far surpassed her previous life.

Her brain processed information at incredible speed, her nerve reactions were swift, her memory was near-photographic, and her recollections were clear and perfect. Before her biological parents' accident, she had grown up healthy, without illness or physical defects.

This led her adoptive parents to sigh with emotion during their leisure time, thinking how easy and worry-free raising a child could be.

Vera had even jokingly speculated if it was the result of two souls merging and integrating, with a subsequent process of soul development and enrichment bringing her enhancements.

This was her transmigration benefit. The so-called golden finger.

Vera was content.

Coupled with her early intelligence and that awareness, it brought her unparalleled learning ability. Vera learned almost everything quickly.

From childhood to adulthood, it didn't matter that her parents were busy and she rarely saw them, sometimes not even once a year; she was happy to be free.

And she hoped her father would become a dragon.

Even knowing she had revived in a world like Cyberpunk, with its high technology and low quality of life, it didn't matter because she had the protection of her parents.

Upon learning that her city was called Night City, a dump filled with gang violence, rampant illegal drugs, military-grade cybernetics everywhere, and a gambling industry fueled by dead lottery winners, the life-preserving Vera smoothly conceded and abandoned the idea of venturing out into the unknown world.

Her life was paramount!

She didn't dare gamble with the sanity of cyberpsychos.

What if the identity of a little girl made them even more excited?

Her life was her own. It was most likely a single life, and she had to cherish this rare and fortunate reincarnation.

Without a system by her side that would execute hosts if they didn't complete tasks, nor any task guidance or rewards for completion, she herself was just a slightly smarter girl. She didn't possess any extraordinary power that encompassed all might, so she would proceed step by step.

In a word, she felt no urgency.

Whatever her parents wanted Vera to learn, she learned; whatever they wanted her to do, she did. If she had any curiosity, she would state it first to seek permission and always performed excellently, becoming the 'child of other people.'

At that time, the suffocation of the Cyberpunk world, the coldness of Night City, and the struggles of the underclass had not truly manifested before Vera.

She experienced more of the convenience and entertainment brought by the technological iterations of the Cyberpunk world.

With the leisure to grow according to her parents' expectations, becoming the obedient child they spoke of, she walked the smooth path paved by her parents and was ready to take over. Vera had no rebellious phase.

Although not born in 'Rome,' she was on the generous avenue leading to 'Rome.'

Until Vera lost her shelter and protection.

There was no more leisure...

Passively, she had to become urgent and face the true side of the Cyberpunk world.

During that period, some people wanted to 'legitimately' seize the assets she inherited, some wanted to trick and swindle her out of everything, and some even wanted to marry her to gain her parents' 'political legacy,' and incidentally, pin her down and ravage her.

Vera naturally refused to comply and chose to resist.

She was lazy and cherished her life, but that didn't mean she was truly cowardly.

After that, she abandoned her obedient girl persona, handled her parents' funeral, properly managed the 'inheritance,' and then threw herself into Arasaka Tower Academy, pushing herself into frantic study.

Perhaps her body and brain had truly matured then, or perhaps her soul and body had completely merged, or maybe it was a shift in her mindset.

Vera began to have very strange dreams.

As the dreams deepened, the 'dreams' made her feel relaxed, peaceful, and incredibly serene. Gradually, she saw the world within the 'dreams.'

It was as if she were in another world, living another life, an extremely real one. All five senses were present, she could truly control it, and act according to Vera's thoughts and desires.

As time passed, Vera found that she had not forgotten anything she saw or learned in the 'dreams.' While still at Arasaka Tower Academy, she showed no outward changes, but the power surging through her limbs and the increasingly clear thoughts were so real.

That was not a dream.

To this day, Vera has become accustomed to another perspective, the existence of another 'self.'

Although there were two consciousnesses, two viewpoints, and two sets of thoughts based on their respective realities, they blended together perfectly. It felt as if it had always been this way, and Vera experienced no discomfort. It did not affect her at all; whatever she thought, the 'her' who worked at Umbrella would do.

To use an inappropriate analogy, Vera was like playing a game, controlling another self in a role-playing game.

A role-playing game where she could perfectly experience the joys and sorrows, learn the knowledge, skills, and insights from within, and even integrate everything from that world into herself.

The power of two Veras.

Vera jokingly called her strength this.

Even though both Veras were ordinary biological humans, their combined strength was enough for Vera to surpass the limits of human physical capabilities. Moreover, there were many ways to enhance it.

Where was the third Vera?

Vera anticipated this.

But the most important thing at the moment was:

Release!

"Supervisor Russell, we have arrived."

At 4:09 PM, the Arasaka Armored Hovercar carrying Vera drove into the old district of Night City's northern industrial zone.

The Armored Hovercar of Team 2, a special rapid response unit dispatched from the Arasaka military barracks in Night City under Vera's command, had arrived, hovering mid-air at the street corner.

Clang——

The turret rotated downwards. The Arasaka Armored Hovercar, suspended near the intersection, activated its searchlights. Crimson lasers projected onto the road, marking a large landing zone. Pterosaur Attack Drones and Octant Heavy Combat Drones buzzed around the area.

The cabin door hissed open.

Thump thump thump——

Inside, the fully packed Arasaka Heavy Soldiers leaped out, crashing to the ground with a solid thud, landing steadily.

"Holy crap, something big is about to go down!" "Quick, get out of here!" "It's Arasaka Heavy Soldiers!"

The air crackled with impending doom. Pedestrians, sensing that major trouble was brewing, immediately scattered. Waiting for the traffic light? Forget it, survival was the priority!

Zing——