Unlimited, Progressing from Arasaka

"A21-7 area".

"C14-6 zone".

"Huh?"

Upon hearing this, the people waiting to check the status looked envious, "They're lucky."

"You were lucky."

This is a slender, olive-skinned, short-haired Latina female hacker. She commented with a mix of excitement and apprehension. "This is a matter of luck. Hopefully, I won't run into a powerful, insane AI."

Zone C14-6, formerly managed by the Internal Cybersecurity Division affiliated with the Security Department, is rumored to be a deep-dive route pioneered by Director Vera. It is considered one of the safer areas in the Old Net data space that Arasaka has currently grasped and explored.

However, it is important to understand that fortune and misfortune are intertwined, and opportunities are always accompanied by risks.

It's true that the Rogue AI in this area have been targeted and eliminated multiple times by someone's sting operations. However, this is Old Net outside the Black Wall, a cyber Badlands completely different from the Order and secure network inside the firewall, a world dominated by the Puppet Virus and wild AIs.

Just like the monsters outside the safe zone in Sega Dali's (the game company behind the 2077 universe) RPG games, the Rogue AI may respawn at any time, and there is a chance that a 'wilderness BOSS' will spawn.

This leads to a situation where, even though they were all assigned to Zone C14-6, some lucky individuals navigated the area with ease, successfully reaping a significant amount of valuable data that boosted their quarterly performance reviews, resulting in promotions and raises. Meanwhile, some unlucky ones were caught in a dark cloud, running straight into a powerful, abhorrent AI that "sensed that its comrades had gone offline and was coming to hunt them down"...

Those protected by a safety repeater are lucky enough to survive; those without, well, here comes the ding-dong: your medium-rare, upright, naked ape-shaped roasted pig brain—crispy on the outside and tender on the inside!

After several mining teams were wiped out, the "C14-6 area gold rush" in the Old Net repair department only lasted for a very short time.

Ultimately, it's all about fate. No matter how well you know or how powerful you are, those AIs won't recognize it.

The entry threshold for Zone C14-6 has been lowered, and the system has changed from a system where people scramble to get in through connections to a system of regular random allocation. If someone has connections, the zone will be assigned to that person.

As a long-term fishing spot that someone meticulously cultivated before becoming wealthy and then only intermittently appeared afterward, it still has its advantages, depending on the demand.

No one pulled any strings for this deep-sea diving operation.

She was lucky enough to be selected.

I just don't know if I'll be lucky or turn into a jinx with a single click.

Before long, the online travelers greeted each other and then went their separate ways.

"Call..."

Composing herself, the woman cautiously made her way towards area C14-6.

Just as rumored, the route was very 'clean'.

Aside from the remaining fragments of Intrusion Countermeasure Unit (ICE), virus-infected data nodes, and useless code that has lost its salvage value, compared to the chaos in other unexplored areas—spreading highly aggressive intrusion programs, insidiously toxic useless code, and out-of-control AI blocking passages—it's really much more convenient.

That's another story if we encounter a highly intelligent AI that hates it.

The Latina female hacker navigated the labyrinthine ruins of the internet with utmost caution, leaving no detail overlooked.

After a long while, having set up enough ICEs and confirmed that the surrounding environment was temporarily safe and free of Rogue AI, the woman stopped and focused her gaze on an important data node that had been infected by the virus and turned a strange dark red.

She is nearing the edge of the exploration zone.

Looking up, my gaze passed through layers of coded mazes, and beyond that, crimson, polluted data turbulently intertwined, sticking and tangling together, like a distorted wasteland after a digital nuclear war.

That area ahead is beyond her control.

"Call!"

Taking a deep breath, the female hacker raised her hand, the firewall was set up, and a digital lightning bolt composed of 0s and 1s struck the data node. The colorful data gibberish hidden beneath the node seemed to come alive, and began to writhe violently and contract continuously.

Data from available Old Net further away was also dragged and flickered.

Buzzing, the broken subnet on the old Internet of Things began a partial reboot.

"Stay calm!" The female hacker's gaze was grave.

Access... Scan... Filter... Pre-download...

[#□*Unmanned#□*Aircraft...]

Was this a drone research project by a company before the Old Net crashed?

The female hacker couldn't help but smile with delight.

Stay calm. As long as this data helps advance Arasaka's new drone project, a promotion and raise are within reach!

If the value is greater, and the performance targets in the "Hacker Training Contract" signed with Arasaka are met ahead of schedule, she will be freed from the arduous task of Old Net data retrieval and will be transferred to the cybersecurity department, where she will no longer be forced to undertake deep-sea operations!

Of course, once one's hacking skills have improved, it's still possible to emulate the legendary hackers of yesteryear and proactively apply to participate in deep-sea exploration.

Just as she entered an unprecedented state of mental tension, focusing on the excavation at hand and the early warning situation of the ICE units inside and outside the boundary of C14-6 area, she did not notice that behind her, strands of black and red data, like winding snakes, silently extended over.

That's a data stream belonging to the "Black Wall" protocol.

Sizzle sizzle—!

"Aaaaaahh..."

The female hacker, engrossed in digging into the data, suddenly found that all the visible interfaces in front of her were black and red, and her vision was filled with 0 and 1 codes of varying lengths.

Damn it!

Rogue AI? No, it's impossible for ICE to remain completely unresponsive.

A super AI deep within the Old Net? Impossible. If it were that level of abhorrent intelligence, she should have been blown to smithereens by now. The security relay would have reacted to save her subconscious body and instantly returned her to reality. How could she be frozen in place?

So, "The internet censors?"

The female hacker, manipulating a mimicry of flashing mosaic data, struggles to turn around. These quietly appearing, orderly streams of black and red data—are they the "Black Wall" protocol?!

"I'm sorry, you guessed wrong. Unfortunately, there's no reward or punishment."

As if in response, a magnetic, husky female voice rang out. "Anyway, calm yourself down first, Miss Pauline."

Subsequently, the visual and auditory senses of Arasaka Latina female hacker named Pauline were invaded.

Amidst the flickering light of the screen, an Asian woman appeared with a rose-red, center-parted hairstyle, a tall figure, wearing a black cardigan with red stripes underneath, and a tin badge pinned to her chest.

"Who are you?"

The female hacker, whose name was revealed, was all bark and no bite.

She wasn't stupid; in an instant, she realized the difference between friend and foe—the other side's hacking skills were far superior to hers!

"You can call me a lark."

Song Zhaomei appeared in her newly created, more 'fleshy' younger form and said in a deep voice, "As for my identity, didn't you already guess? Let's just say I work at the White House as a Federal Intelligence Agency."

"The lark!"

The female hacker, Arasaka, was filled with resentment. "What, trying to persuade me to change my mind? I had no idea I had such power that I could attract such big shots in the White House."

"Yes, you are not qualified. And I am not some big shot, just a caged bird that does the dirty and hard work."

Song Zhaomei is very honest.

"Don't waste your energy. Don't think about suicide or getting the security repeater to respond. I contacted you using the [Black Wall] protocol, disguising the frequency band you use to cross the [Black Wall]."

"Unless your computing power surpasses mine and you can break through my defenses. Now, are you calm? Can you listen to me properly?"

"..."

She remained silent.

Song Zhaomei glanced at her and said to herself, "To make a long story short, I don't have much time left. According to the original plan, I should be meeting with that Vera Russell. I've been keeping an eye on things for quite some time now, from drilling a hole in the [Black Wall] to sneaking here from the outer wall."

"Unfortunately, she has been busy with political affairs and her research projects lately, and has had far fewer opportunities to go into deep-sea diving. I haven't had a chance to meet with her. With the window of opportunity to meet with the Voodoo Boys approaching, after much thought, I can only choose you. At least, I am quite certain that you are not an informant for the Federal Intelligence Agency. As a graduate of the Arasaka Academy, you are considered to be one of her factions."

What exactly do you want to do?

The female hacker finally spoke, "Assassinate Director Vera?"

"I don't have that ability. My goal is to surrender."

Song Zhaomei spoke in a calm tone, as if she were talking about something trivial.

"Wot?!"

The female hacker gave him a look that said, "Are you kidding me?"

Believe it or not, it's up to you.

Song Zhaomei remained calm.

"I'm offering you a chance to make a fortune; it's up to you whether you can seize it. So, do your best to tell your superiors, whether you report it directly to them or anonymously, to get the message up as safely as possible, the higher the level, the better."

"Just say that the lark has surrendered."

Chapter 242 Operation Code Name: Break the Cage.

"On the battlefield, who is your most reliable partner?"

At the No. 2 outpost in the Arasaka New District, on the northern border of Night City, the newly expanded SAT (Special Rapid Response Unit) of the Security Department General Security Bureau is being inspected: on a field training ground with robust, well-equipped, and well-supported facilities, new recruits are undergoing inspection.

A veteran, dressed in a neat uniform, stood with his hands behind his back.

He stood on the small bleachers at the very front of the line, his expression serious, his sharp gaze sweeping across the entire arena, and he asked a question in a deep, powerful voice.

As part of the "Elite Selection" following the implementation of the "Security Department SAT March Expansion Plan," David Martinez, who was selected and ranked among the top in the assessment, was assigned to SAT-6 and stood at the head of the soldier formation.

His massive, cybernetically enhanced body stood as firm as a rock.

Just as a veteran examines the quality of a new recruit, David is also scrutinizing the old man who has returned to service.

Hessman Ram...

He was over 1.8 meters tall, of medium to taller build, very muscular, with broad shoulders and a wide back, and his sparse, receding hair was simply shaved off.

Although his rough face bore the obvious marks of time, he looked healthy and energetic. The implants and cyber components covering his jaw, neck, forehead, and the exposed skin of his hands spoke volumes about his dangerous nature.

David recalled the information he had received about Ram from Katsuo Tanaka.

Before retiring, he had served in front-line combat units for well over 20 years.

His security career started as a first-generation Corporate Dog with no connections, and he rose through the ranks to become the SAT supervisor, riding the wave of Arasaka's return to North America.

Having experienced the secret war of emerging from the shadow of defeat in the Fourth Corporate War in Arasaka, from the gradually recovering complex security commissions to the mercenary agreement of the Metal War, and then to the fierce battle of returning to Night City to rebuild Arasaka Tower, he has fought more battles than many recruits have shot down planes.

A truly hardcore and ruthless person.

However, what is the price?

The meat content kept increasing and decreasing, eventually leading to neurasthenia, mental and personality disorders, and the inability to withstand high-intensity combat.

After experiencing a relapse and self-destructive tendencies, and nearly causing a major disaster during a field mission, she was fortunately saved by Vera, who was then the captain of SAT-6 squad, during her spare time when she discovered the results of the Old Net out of her 'hobby'—a prototype improved inhibitor. Afterwards, her combat prosthetic body was forcibly removed to 'reduce the burden' and she was scheduled to retire.

Before retiring, he recommended Vera to succeed him.

It is said that it was because of that incident that Vera's ambition was further ignited. In addition to taking over her parents' job in the Security Department, she became more determined to pursue her personal interests in the field of biotechnology research.

Vera remembered Ram's recommendation.

Even though the treatment costs might still be high after the technology was relatively mature, Vera still personally performed the Rejuvenation Surgery on the veteran and safely implanted the corresponding Combat Cybernetics as soon as possible. After the adjustment and observation period, her application for reinstatement was approved and she was promoted and appointed.

In terms of high emotional intelligence, this is called being loyal and righteous; in terms of low emotional intelligence, it's called engaging in secret dealings.

While there was certainly suspicion of nepotism involved, David and many others considered it trivial and insignificant.

In this turbulent world where everyone is trying to outdo each other in terms of how bad things are, you're lucky if you encounter a boss who doesn't discard you after you've served your purpose. Don't overthink it.

It's a very simple principle: between someone who is loyal and righteous and someone who is ungrateful and heartless, who would you choose to follow?

Putting aside other factors, David chose the former.

That's just how reality is.

Even relatively speaking.

While Ram was pacing to the side, David glanced at Katsuo, who maintained a serious expression, out of the corner of his eye, and secretly felt relieved.

His luck wasn't too bad.

Because of being bullied, she was fortunate enough to leave an impression on Vera, the superintendent who came to inspect the academy. She was then favored by the academy leaders who flattered them, and subsequently met Katsuo, Suneo, Fat Tiger. She successfully integrated into the new circle, graduated smoothly, and joined Arasaka Tower. She moved to a new house and began to carefully climb the tower step by step in a 'tower-climbing game' called promotion and salary increase...

That's great.

David stood tall and proud.

In the simple values of a small town—a mix of test-takers, cadets, and warriors—such a hopeful and promising life couldn't be better.

As for dying on the battlefield? Since they've taken this job in the Security Department, they should be prepared for such an outcome.

As the morning sun rose, Ram's stern admonitions continued: