Chapter 211

Michiko clicked her tongue. She really wanted to find out how Vera's parents raised her. In Night City, a place that could be called the freest, trendiest, and most punk place in the world, they actually raised an old-fashioned Anteiku with such obsessive-compulsive tendencies.

The same rice feeds a hundred different kinds of people; the ancients were right.

"Thanks to you, our shareholders, the annual financial report for the medical aesthetics and rehabilitation business is very good."

Michiko replied.

"The R-618 'Rebirth' cosmetic and health supplement, a byproduct of the 'Solaris Staircase Project' development and further diluted with reduced costs, has the highest sales volume. As a result, the number of times the warehouse has been robbed has increased exponentially."

"Something I foresaw before the release. It's nothing more than a minor ailment."

Vera shrugged.

"Two possibilities. Either they can't afford the R-618 'Rejuvenation' potion rejuvenation package, or they have unrealistic expectations of the potion's original solution."

Who wouldn't want to rejuvenate and prolong life?

Even a lone wolf mercenary, given a chance to maintain their cybernetic body and relax their neuronal processes, would they take it? The same goes for other political and business figures, celebrities, and industry rivals. Especially the last one; even with a signed friendly cooperation agreement, they are not trustworthy.

"The thugs you've been supporting, Kurt Hansen's Barghest, have been fiercely clashing with Lazarus lately. [Cybernetic Tyrant], [Quinque], [EXO-1 Exoskeleton]... even new Flex Stimulant and inhibitors, Hydroxide Cluster Bomb, new vehicles and new weapons, you're sending them all to Barghest. Are you really using them as a weapons testing ground?"

"Is it not possible? In the city, due to the excessive firepower restrictions, there are too many rules and regulations for testing. If the covert strangulation warfare of the special operations front is exposed without any concealment, it will be too detrimental to international appearances. Moreover, real combat is the best test. Whether a new product is good or not, it needs to be put to the test. The localized mercenary conflict between the Barghest and Lazarus is just the right intensity."

"Alright. You can handle military matters, as long as you're confident. By the way, your Adelheid, didn't it have five successful Sea Trials, carrier-based aircraft already on board, and escort formation complete? Why did it suddenly return to the shipyard for major overhaul?"

"We've made some technological breakthroughs recently. And since I happen to know a little bit about technology, I naturally need to add a bit of my personal tactical style to my flagship."

"Another new weapon?"

"You guess."

"Guess what? Next! What's that resort and health park you were tinkering with in the new Arasaka Research Center of Night City the other day? And you're building an amphibious animal park on the beach? You don't mean to open a zoo to provide some entertainment and spiritual activities for the Night City residents who only know how to fuck, kill, skate, do drugs, and masturbate... That fat Wilton Holt (Night City Deputy Mayor) should really kneel down and kiss your toes."

"No need. You're also a signatory to the land purchase and construction agreement for the new district. Let Hott kiss you; he'll definitely be happy. As for the park, who said I'd open it to everyone without any restrictions? That's a perk for Arasaka's hardworking employees and supporters. Animals? Hmph, do you think I'd travel the world collecting jackals, tigers, and leopards? No, no, no, Arasaka's zoo naturally has to be classy. I've prepared a unique name and exhibits for it."

"I would like to hear the details."

"Jurassic Park".

"Ha?"

Just as the two of the only 'third generation members of Arasaka's were chatting leisurely, under the gate with its green tiles, white walls, and white lanterns, the Cyber Ninja with the strange accent, Goro Takemura, had been waiting for a long time with Sandayu Oda.

"Miss Vera, Miss Michiko."

The use of first name instead of surname and title suggests a closer relationship and a change in status compared to the Great New Year in 2076.

"Takemura -kun, Oda."

Vera nodded and spoke.

Takemura, Vera, and Michiko bowed and said, "Lord Saburo has prepared a banquet, and Lord Norinobu has arrived."

Vera and Michiko exchanged a subtle glance.

Vera understood the meaning in the other person's eyes. It was roughly: It's really rare for Norinobu, who hasn't attended a family dinner in decades, to be willing to spend New Year's Eve with his own father, whom he regards as an enemy. It seems that you've brought a lot of competitive pressure to our uncle.

The main residence of the compound.

A delicate fragrance rose gently into the air.

On the low table where meals are served individually, teacups steamed.

Just like Vera saw in 2076, the banquet was small in scale, the layout remained the same, Saburo Arasaka sat in the center, to his left were Sano Arasaka and Shintaro Takayama, to his right was Hanako Arasaka, and then there were empty seats.

The room was silent. Apart from Saburo leisurely sipping his tea, everyone else seemed to be lost in their own thoughts. Wako was praying for blessings, Shintaro was dozing off, Norinobu was silently staring at the offering table against the wall in the inner hall.

"Lord Saburo, Miss Vera and Miss Michiko have arrived."

As the waiter reported this, and the sound of the entrance door opening and closing followed, Shintaro Takayama opened his eyes.

Before long, after a quick wash, cleansing, and washing their clothes to remove the dust and grime from their journey, Vera and Michiko were led indoors by a waiter.

"Sit."

Saburo stopped Vera from bowing and pointed to the two remaining empty prayer mats.

Vera has no objection.

After giving up the seat closest to Wako Michiko, he calmly took his seat at the end of the table.

Compared to the absence of New Year's Eve in 2075-2076, the end of the year in 2076-2077 was undoubtedly perfect. A reunion where the faces were respectable but the hearts were not.

For the first time, all current members of the Arasaka family gathered together.

With an invisible, Crystal Blue Halo flickering in her eyes, Vera could clearly sense the brief emotional fluctuations of Sanlang, Wako, and Norinobu's family.

It's very complicated...

205

Chapter 205 Family Banquet: The Intrigue of Everyone with Their Own Hidden agendas.

The Arasaka Family mansion, New Year's Eve banquet.

After greeting each of the families seated to his left and right, the youngest member of the non-family, the Third Arasaka, took his seat at the end of the table, observing the seemingly harmonious but actually estranged family before him without making a sound.

Sitting quietly and modestly behind the low table, like the silent flower of the Arasaka, the pheasant that cannot fly for long, and the well-behaved Hanako, sincerely Wako for the unity of her family and their future.

Looking down at the steaming teacup on the low altar, the Steel Dragon, and the crouching eagle, Norinobu knelt in his seat without saying a word, his eyes slightly tired, suppressing the anger and disgust surging from the depths of his heart—a mixture of forbearance, torment, pain, hatred, and sadness.

Unaccustomed to kneeling, she felt little real attachment to the so-called family New Year's Eve banquet, believing that formality outweighed her intentions. She felt a slight fear of her immortal grandfather, and was distant yet close to her uncle and aunt. The daughter of the former Crown Prince, holding dual US and Japanese citizenship, was fickle and flawed, using a white dove as a facade, only siding with the winner, silently watching Michiko on the ancestral altar in the house.

With his mottled white hair carefully combed back, he was clearly well-trained despite his advanced age. The sharp and capable aura he exuded made people unconsciously straighten their backs. Shintaro Takayama was the head of the Arasaka Cyber Ninja, a senior retainer, a loyal servant, and an elder of Saburo's former residence. He was pleased with the prosperity of Arasaka, the health of his lord, and the achievements of his juniors.

As well as.

Saburo had wrinkles that matched his age appearing at the corners of his eyes, and a slight smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.

Relief, joy, heartache, indifference... a very complex mix of emotions.

Vera couldn't quite figure out what Saburo was thinking at that moment, but one thing was certain: Saburo's last remaining attachment to family ties was indeed conveyed with joy at the sight of the family reunion, even if only for a moment.

Was it because of his rebellious youngest son's submission? The return of his eldest granddaughter, born and raised in an enemy country? To console his beloved third wife? Or was he satisfied with the current healthy, albeit ultimately conflicting, competition between Arasaka and the prospect of a successor? Or perhaps it was because the most suitable host in the world had been delivered to his doorstep, and his plan for Eternal Life was within reach...

Vera thinks it's a combination of both.

Outside, the cold winter wind howled, and snowflakes drifted down.

After Vera and Michiko, the two 'third-generation descendants of the Ara clan,' were seated, the waiter served tea and some pastries.

Vera didn't mince words. Having visited so many times, they were bound to run into each other again; excessive politeness would only create distance. To put it bluntly, she had stayed and dined at the Arasaka Family Estate more times than Michiko, whose surname was Arasaka.

I sipped some hot tea, ate some snacks, and watched the news; it was quite pleasant.

I am indeed a bit hungry.

After the pre-appointment meeting, Saburo Arasaka flew directly back to the family compound. She, on Saburo's behalf, still needed to sign the meeting minutes and then see off the directors, faction representatives, and senior managers who were attending the performance review meeting at Arasaka Tower in Tokyo. They exchanged pleasantries, built relationships, and appropriately showcased their talents, personal charm, and leadership.

Michiko could have returned to the mansion with Saburo earlier.

But sisterly affection... cough, okay, actually, compared to being with Saburo, Norinobu, Wako, Michiko prefers to be with Vera, who is at least of the same generation, conservative but not extreme, and has a more open-minded outlook.

"Vera."

Vera's reverie was interrupted by Saburo's deep voice.

She looked up.

Sanlang pointed to the offering table, his eyes filled with sorrow, his voice desolate, and said, "It's time. 53 years ago, on August 20, 2023, I lost Jing. Now, go, comfort Jing's spirit in heaven, tell Jing what you have accomplished this year, and we will soon avenge him!"

Tokyo time: 2076-12-318/20.

Vera nodded solemnly and stood up. As she walked toward the altar against the wall in the Japanese-style room, Saburo's voice rang out, "Michiko, you should go too."

"Okay, Grandpa."

Michiko got up as well.

Behind the shoji gate, the chief priest of the Arasaka Family shrine, who performs rituals to pray for good fortune, deliver the souls of the deceased, and absolve sins, respectfully presents a tray with incense sticks. Vera skillfully lights three incense sticks and offers them to the incense burner with perfect precision.

Vera nodded almost imperceptibly.

After six or seven years of hard work, have I finally obtained Arasaka's legal right of inheritance?

Following closely behind was Michiko.

She took the incense sticks and gazed at the three-tiered memorial tablets on the rectangular offering table.

The only person she truly had feelings for was Rei, her father. Michiko, her grandmother and step-grandmother, could barely be considered one. Her name came from her grandmother. She could simply ignore everyone else.

"..."

Norinobu watched as Saburo spoke, and Vera and Michiko, his nominal nieces, offered incense and made offerings. He closed his eyes with some anxiety.

When he opened his eyes again, he stared blankly at the wisps of steam rising from the teacup.

This wisp of tea fragrance is just like his barely conscious, precarious right to inherit the throne.

Nothing.

He felt tired, utterly exhausted.

Because I can't win, I really can't win...

"Elder brother..."

You must be very tired.

Hanako Arasaka looked at her twin brother with a mixture of relief and heartache.

Thankfully, my brother has turned over a new leaf.

He rallied, returned to his family, ended his father's cold war, and devoted himself to running the Arasaka Group according to his father's wishes. After the defeat in the Fourth Corporate War, Arasaka had never been as united as it had been in the past year.

Even though Wako knew that Norinobu was not sincere, but was forced by external factors—he was no longer the only candidate.

But she was willing to believe it.

Supporting the family, ensuring stability and continuity, and being tolerant of each other are the paramount principles.

What's heartbreaking is Norinobu's inexplicable competitiveness and refusal to give up.

Faced with the sudden rise of his elder brother's stepdaughter Vera, Norinobu had no choice but to devote 200% of his energy to the company's daily management in order to prove himself.

I no longer listen to music, I no longer engage in sexual activity, and I no longer go to the brothels.

He has had neurotransmitters implanted to enhance his learning abilities, and he works tirelessly through the night, traveling constantly for work, attending meetings and seminars, pushing himself to the limit in every aspect of his life. He takes stimulants with every meal and treats tranquilizers and sleeping pills almost like desserts, competing with Vera in every way.

Unfortunately, Norinobu was still at a disadvantage.

Even the most old-fashioned dove-like bigwig around Wako couldn't help but secretly reveal with some emotion:

Young Master Norinobu is quite good, no less than Lord Jing. His relentless, hard-working spirit is admirable. However, he is simply not good enough. There is a visible difference in his energy. In terms of overall ability, it is obvious that Miss Vera is more well-rounded, better, and younger. She is quite healthy, and when Lord Saburo decides to abdicate, she Spring and Autumn Annals and vigorous enough to lead Arasaka for more than a century.

Indeed, Wako even considered persuading Norinobu to give up.

If this continues, all our efforts will be in vain, and Norinobu's physical health and mental state will suffer serious problems.

Unfortunately, this was Father's wish.

Saburo is happy to see such competition, where everyone learns from each other and makes progress together.

Whetstone...

Who's wearing whom down? Who'll break off first?

Wako could only remain silent and obediently carry out his father's orders.

With her father on one side, her most important older brother on the other, and a rising junior on the other, she, who values family, can only carefully suppress her worries and delicately maintain the balance within Arasaka.

Vera sat down again, and the waiter reacted smoothly, brewing more hot tea and adding more small snacks.

It's no secret in the Arasaka compound that someone has a big appetite.

While waiting for Sanlang to finish his tea, Vera didn't cause any more trouble, but instead leisurely ate some snacks.

Finally, as Michiko Arasaka returned to her seat, Norinobu rose again to respectfully offer incense to his mother Michiko's memorial tablet, and then put down his teacup after finishing the warm tea in it.

As if by signal, the waiters, whose skills in reading people were maxed out, notified the head chef that the famous dishes that had been prepared in advance were quickly brought to the table and served to each person by the waiters.