Chapter 215
Cyberpunk
It's already past midnight on New Year's Day.
After the festival conversation ended, Vera spent an hour praying at the family shrine and then played shogi with Saburo for the afternoon. Lost in thought, Vera went out of the Arasaka Main Residence for some fresh air, her mind filled with images of the Staples Center Arena.
"The Lakers are the brainchild of Old Bass, so I won't steal them away. Perhaps I should acquire the Oakland Warriors in the Bay Area..."
As for the virus as a gift.
"TG-Progenitor-Veronica- Ghoul Fusion Virus".
Vera looked through the shoji gate and saw Norinobu kneeling on a cushion, chatting with Wako.
209
Chapter 209 The banquet ends, and everyone departs.
Norinobu, who was chatting with Wako, noticed Vera's undisguised gaze, looked up, and smiled rather kindly.
He then continued his Tokyo holiday—at least outwardly he seemed relaxed: with one hand holding a wine glass, he reminisced with his younger sister about their childhood, while with the other hand he swiped the touchscreen on the low table, and the visual sensor of the 3D imaging device flashed, forming a visual holographic image in front of him.
It plays a 2077 version of the 'Japanese New Year's Eve Gala' from NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, as well as some global anecdotes and current affairs.
When talking about interesting things, Norinobu seemed relaxed, happy, and natural, but Vera could sense his anxiety and unease.
On the surface, they appear calm and collected, but inside they're panicking like crazy—that's the gist of it.
As expected, Norinobu had infiltrated the biological experiment center in Tokyo to a considerable extent, and his emotions immediately became visibly volatile when the topic of transferring personnel came up.
Vera made this judgment in her heart.
It was worth it that she managed to slip in the mention of the Solaris Staircase Project during her casual chat with Sanlang while playing chess.
She specifically mentioned her upcoming trip to the Arasaka Biological Experiment Center in Tokyo while Norinobu was observing the game, mentioning new ideas and experimental data from her work in Night City. Incidentally, she might also request some manpower transfers...
"Norinobu, it's your turn."
With a sharp gaze and a relaxed smile, Vera walked straight over. "Michiko has never been interested in shogi. Judging by the time, she should be defeated soon."
"Um."
Norinobu nodded upon hearing this, then said something to Wako before standing up and walking into the house.
In the instant their figures crossed, Norinobu wondered if it was just his imagination, but out of the corner of his eye, he seemed to see a glimmer of crystalline blue light in Vera's left eye. Was it an email about the North American Arasaka security matters that needed to be processed?
Norinobu didn't think much about this matter.
As a candidate for the board of directors in the North American Region, Vera, wielding immense power, has countless documents waiting for her to review every day.
However, she needed to go to the biological research center in Tokyo to check on the development progress and update logs, and also mentioned requesting that manpower be transferred to Night City to support the construction of the Arasaka Tech Center New District...
This is a difficult situation!
The need to redeploy manpower was a minor matter, and Norinobu didn't care much about it. However, at this crucial moment of preparation for a showdown, the culminating results of the "Solaris Staircase Project" were key cards in his future plans.
Norinobu was afraid that Vera would transfer his people—the undercover agents he had painstakingly recruited and developed, especially key personnel at the senior researcher level—to Night City.
This project is unlike any other. Even though he is Saburo's son, the Second Crown Prince of Arasaka, it concerns Saburo's dream of longevity and immortality. It's not quite as bad as guarding against a thief.
He had gone to great lengths to pave the way to the laboratory prototype library, making all sorts of schemes and promises, but in the end, all his efforts were in vain, which Norinobu found unacceptable.
But unfortunately, he couldn't make any move at that moment.
An uncertain sense of fear... Beneath the wide sleeves of his hunting robe, Norinobu clenched his fists.
Since things have come to this, let's do our best and hope that Vera's transfer was random.
With no expression of joy or sorrow, Norinobu strode confidently into the room.
"Elder brother..."
Wako, having straightened his clothes and composed himself, knelt upright behind the desk, gazing at his elder brother's retreating figure with a complex expression.
Norinobu's absent-mindedness was something that the intelligent and perceptive woman naturally noticed.
The competition within the imperial family... even the once unrestrained and carefree older brother couldn't escape it?
Wako looked at Vera.
The Blonde Beauty adorned with jewelry is like a noble rose; though dangerous and deadly, her beauty is undeniable, a fact acknowledged by all who know her.
"Please sit down."
Wako spoke.
Elegant fingers, adorned with flowing metal and platinum thread, caressed the teaware as they poured Vera a cup of hot tea.
Vera, who was about to leave and was taking a walk in the courtyard, paused upon hearing this.
"Sorry to bother you."
After greeting him, she knelt down on the cushion opposite Wako.
It was very quiet; the only sounds under the eaves were the servants moving around on the folded mats and the cool breeze that gently swept through the colonnade.
Finally, after Vera picked up her teacup and took a sip, Wako said softly in a slightly bitter tone, "Vera, I have a question."
"You say that Brother Norinobu clearly gave up the power that was within his grasp, and when he was the 'Steel Dragon,' he even swore to expose and destroy Arasaka. So why is he now unable to let go of the things he used to despise?"
"Wow."
Vera's captivating indigo eyes narrowed, and her previously leisurely demeanor turned serious. She gently stroked the teacup in her hand, her gaze following the moonlight as if she were carefully considering her words.
After a moment's thought, under the dim light, Vera smiled gently, "If we don't compete, how will the world know that I, Sano Arasaka, am exceptionally talented, and not inferior to Kei Arasaka?"
Wako understood.
"Because of respect for my elder brother."
All she could do was sigh helplessly.
The conflict between Jing and Norinobu destined them to be like strangers, hostile, no, it should be said that they were antagonistic and would never speak to each other again.
Brother Norinobu, is he fighting for that pride...?
Vera silently sipped her tea, watching Hanako Arasaka, who seemed to be still trying to repair her relationship with Norinobu.
She couldn't very well say outright that her brother's sole lifelong ambition was to save the world from the fear instilled by their father, and that his return to Arasaka was merely a pretext to bide his time, then seize the opportunity to bring down the Arasaka Corporation, eliminate Major Corporations, and destroy corporate colonialism.
"I think I heard you talking about my father?"
Just then, Michiko's voice came from beside her. Wako turned around and invited Michiko to sit down, which she did without any hesitation.
"We did talk about it, but it's all ancient history, the love-hate relationship between Lord Jing and Norinobu."
Vera sipped her tea with a sigh.
"Alright, let's not talk about things that could affect unity. Let's leave the grudges of the older generation behind."
Wako nodded in agreement.
If there's one thing she least wants to see right now, it's that Norinobu and Vera will completely break off their relationship because they've gotten into a real fight.
"I should be flying back to Night City tomorrow morning."
Vera said.
"Vera, won't you stay a few more days?"
Wako asked.
"No, I'm too busy. The 'Frankfurt Incident' and the massacre carried out by the Counter-Intelligence Department at the European Space Council (ESA) have been suppressed for two months. Due to our Arasaka's recent assertiveness, the attitudes of our 'allies' and the international atmosphere are all very delicate... In short, there's a lot of troublesome stuff going on."
Vera then looked to the other side. "Michiko, what about you?"
"I?"
Michiko picked up her teacup, took a sip, and said, "I should stay with you. You're not planning to spend the night in the compound tonight, are you?"
"Yes. It's about the [Solaris Staircase Project. I have a dedicated office at the experimental center. It'll be too much trouble to travel back and forth after I've finished. I'll be waiting for you at Haneda International Airport tomorrow morning."
"Good."
The three of them chatted back and forth, and before long, the topic turned to the most sensational political events of the second half of 2076.
These three women, an aunt and two nieces, are no ordinary people. One is 78, the other 69, and the youngest is less than 25 years old (by Chinese reckoning). Vera, however, is not very interested in family matters. Oh, Michiko, on the other hand, has a lot to say about things like parties full of hormones and DNA. But Wako is also a conservative person. After talking about their families, the three of them can only talk about current affairs.
"'The Frankfurt Incident,' tsk, trying to get away with it, the Counter-Intelligence Department is so sloppy. To clean up their mess, we had to engage in fierce verbal battles, and I don't know how many benefits we had to give up, both openly and secretly. And then there's the 'Jurassic Park Project,' just thinking about the subsequent wrangling with Biotechnology gives me a headache."
"They help whoever is weak. Miles's strategy of feigning weakness is still somewhat effective. In order to prevent us from crushing Militech and the New America and becoming the only dominant player in the Pacific Rim, the support from companies other than Soshikah has begun to weaken to varying degrees."
After a moment's thought, Michiko suggested, "Realistically speaking, Vera, you should postpone the implementation of the Jurassic Park Project. It's one thing for pharmacy and Biotechnology to compete, but biological cloning technology is their long-standing field. If we enter the market in a big way, we may very well push Biotechnology to Miles' side."
"We'll have to face each other sooner or later. No, it's already begun."
Vera was very calm.
"Ever since we spearheaded the re-establishment of the North American Free State Alliance, Biotechnology have been making demands and interfering with various new drugs derived from the phased products of the Solaris Staircase Project. They are confident that we dare not abandon them."
"At times like these, we must not let them trap us."
With her eyes flashing with orange-red data streams, Vera moved incredibly fast across the holographic control keys on the low table. North American situation map, mercenary war situation, charts showing changes in support from competitors and friendly companies... she extracted and refined various data concisely and neatly from the massive information database of Arasaka.
At this moment, Vera's superhuman hacking and analytical abilities are on full display.
"This is about conquering the world. Once we show signs of being able to defeat the United States in Militech, they will definitely try every means to hinder us. So, in the end, it all comes down to hard power."
"Arasaka cannot afford to take any chances; he must become stronger, more profound, and more evil."
Perhaps it was Vera's voice that was too forceful and full of the spirit of war that made Takemura and Oda, who were standing in the shadows, turn their heads to look at her.
Michiko shrugged. "As expected of your strategy."
Wako still has doubts about this.
But before she could speak, the waiter respectfully called out, and the three of them exchanged a silent glance. It was time; the annual family banquet was coming to an end.
Soon, the three returned to the house.
After another round of clinking glasses and a hearty meal, the Arasaka family's New Year's Eve banquet came to an end, and everyone dispersed.
After bidding farewell to Sanlang amidst the flickering candlelight, Vera returned to her private courtyard.
After taking her personal belongings, she left the Arasaka Family Estate.
After a trip to the Arasaka Biological Experiment Center in Tokyo, ostensibly for work, to inspect and make arrangements, and then rest for the night, she should return to Night City.
Buzz... Buzz...
Inside the luxurious airship bound for Tokyo Metropolis, Vera nestled into the leather back of the aircraft chair. Orange-red data flashed in her eyes—scanning, intrusion. Even with her current status, Saburo could no longer monitor her like that. This type of airship was known for its internal privacy, but caution was never a bad thing.
After scanning multiple times to confirm everything was correct, she placed a silver-white biosafety transport box on her lap, entered the password after biometric identification, clicked, reached into the filling, and popped!
It seemed plausible, but it didn't exist; however, Vera could hear the faint sound of bubbles bursting.
A fleeting glimpse into the Staples Center Arena, reminiscent of a scene from Resident Evil: fans cheering for free food and drinks, NBA Commissioner David Stern's ingratiating presence, Lakers owner Old Bass's fawning, the Lakers F4" displaying unusual teamwork, a boastful halftime shot from the midcourt line, and a sudden, unilateral reward from the Lakers F4" after the game: if they win the 2003 NBA championship, the military science institute will gift each Lakers starter a new military helicopter. Leaving the arena...
Upon returning to the basement of the Military Science Park I headquarters building in San Francisco, 'she' simultaneously operated a robotic arm to retrieve a tube of bright red virus sample reagent from the cold storage room, placed it in a sealed container, passed safety testing, sealed, sterilized, and finally transferred for retrieval.
Sizzle—
Feeling the weight in her hand, Vera removed her palm from the stuffing.
She lifted a small, cylindrical, sealed container with a '?' biohazard symbol and held it horizontally in front of her.
210
Chapter 210 The virus takes its place, but Night City remains unchanged.
Tokyo Metropolis.
Arasaka High-Tech Industrial Park, [Solaris Staircase Project] Biological Experiment Center.
Tap, tap...
Laboratory virus sample prototype library.
The hard-soled heels struck the ground with a crisp sound, which sounded particularly jarring in this highly confidential, heavily guarded, and silent facility.