This time, the amount was a little too much. She was not only sleepy, but her limbs felt weak and her head throbbed as if it were splitting apart.
Ring, ring.
A communication request appeared before Vera's eyes and immediately connected to her communications implant.
Attending Physician
"Supervisor Russell, pardon the interruption. Quantified Enlightenment just received a notification stating that your biological readings have fluctuated significantly and something may be wrong. It is my duty to confirm your physical condition."
Quantified Enlightenment was a rehabilitation center partnered with Arasaka.
Before Vera could respond—
Ring, ring.
Another communication request came through. It was Trauma Team.
"Dear Ms. Vera Adelheid Russell [Platinum Member], we have detected that your body has—"
"Stop. I'm fine. I'm just a little tired after working intensely for too long. I've found a new lead in my personal research project and got a little excited. Order me some medicine for calming the mind and soothing the nerves."
Vera called off Trauma Team's emergency response, then assured her Arasaka attending physician that she was fine.
"Whew..." After hanging up, Vera rubbed her groggy head and stood. She glanced at the metal case, sealed it away in storage, then shut the laboratory door and headed for the bedroom on the second floor.
In any case, she would sleep first.
A Stepping Stone and a Senior's Attention
Russell Apartment, Unit 414.
"Zzzz..."
Vera opened her eyes.
Gently rubbing her heavy temples, Vera licked her dry lips. Every time she retrieved something from another version of herself, a "Multiversal Lifeform," she would become utterly exhausted that day and fall into a deep sleep. It really was a great way to maintain high-quality sleep.
"Whew, I'm really tired, but this feels... amazing."
As she went from drowsy to alert, it felt as though an electric current passed through her temples. The numb, tingling sensation made her whole body tremble slightly.
Compared to the time she had taken that "paper," as well as the subsequent tests where she exchanged little trinkets, the amount she had retrieved this time was much greater. At the time, Vera had felt as though her body had been completely drained.
Fortunately, her recovery ability was exceptionally strong. After a night of rest, the mental fatigue and drain on her soul had not dulled her thoughts. Instead, her mind felt unusually clear.
It was not far from her estimate. One standard suitcase was still within her limits. There was no serious problem, aside from her vitality and spirits being low for a few days.
The sea of her soul still needed time to recover and fill up again.
Practice made perfect. She needed to train more.
Grrr~
"I'm hungry."
Hunger struck.
She rubbed her flat stomach clockwise, tilted her head, and orange-red light flickered in her eyes. Signal connected. Command sent: Housekeeping Unit One, prepare breakfast. Change the menu. Make it three times the usual lunch portion.
Rolling out of bed, Vera padded barefoot across the floor toward the washroom. After taking a quick shower, brushing her teeth, and rinsing her mouth, she put on the Arasaka uniform undershirt and slippers handed over by the smart-controlled service arm, then headed down to the biological research laboratory in the basement.
The automatic sensor door opened after recognizing Vera's biological signal. After entering the storage room password, Vera took the metal case containing the T-Virus and its vaccine from the powered refrigerated safe, set it down properly, and opened it.
With her bare hand, she pulled out a green spiral-shaped container and examined the faintly green, slightly viscous liquid inside.
"I need to find a chance to test it."
Now was not the time to bring it out.
Vera had never intended to use it as a weapon. This was the world of Cyberpunk, and it was already 2075. Cybernetic enhancement of the human body was commonplace.
Even if someone was not a modification fanatic, it was perfectly normal to have outdated synthetic stomachs, synthetic lungs, or synthetic esophagi installed. Even if they were not mercenaries, avoiding death from eating or drinking something dirty—and spending even more on medical bills—was a survival skill.
Vera even suspected that some modification fanatics could drink the T-Virus like water and be completely fine, because there was barely any real flesh left on them. How was the T-Virus supposed to infect them?
It was an RNA virus. Was it supposed to infect synthetic flesh made from metal elements and chemical plastics?
If the T-Virus were poured into rivers severely polluted by Cyberpunk wars, where the environment had deteriorated to the point that life could no longer exist, how long could it maintain its activity?
Taking a step back, if someone got infected with the T-Virus, turned into a zombie, and went out to bite people... uh... could they even bite through those metal lumps?
Besides, in the world of Cyberpunk, not everyone played as wildly as Night City, but it was still true that everyone carried guns and there were more guns than people. Most people's aggression was also nothing like that of people in the Resident Evil World.
If the locals here saw some staggering, blood-faced freak lunging at them with ill intent, they would probably not scream and freeze in terror. They would grab something and put a few rounds into it first.
The T-Virus's value in this regard lay in creating B.O.W.s with extremely powerful bodies, like Tyrants and The Pursuer.
Then, with specialized cybernetic implants, weapon modules, and Cyberbrain control systems, they could be made into smart-controlled cyborg weapons that feared no pain, had no emotions, had no cybernetic tolerance limits, or possessed Cybernetic Tolerance far beyond that of ordinary people.
The real greatest value lay in uncovering the byproducts of T-Virus research.
By researching it, Umbrella had developed a large number of high-quality medical products, from highly effective beauty and health care products to everyday anti-inflammatory, cough-relief, and pain-relief medicine, then highly specialized treatments for healing and repairing open wounds, and even "longevity drugs" that slowed the aging of human cells and tissues...
The former was worth trying. Arasaka might be interested, but they probably would not have high expectations.
Exoskeletons, individual Power Armor, and larger mechs were the fields the Arasaka Manufacturing Sector had its eye on, and they had already achieved results and deployed them for many years.
The Power Armor troops at Arasaka's Tokyo military camp, together with heavy vehicle legions, the air force, navy, and the aerospace force that would receive massive future investment, were the true trump cards of the corporate military.
They were directly controlled by members of the Arasaka Family—or rather, by Saburo Arasaka himself and the trusted confidants he had personally approved.
The same was true for Militech and European Bank.
The Security Department where Vera currently worked possessed a clear military advantage over most countries, gangs, and small to mid-sized companies. They could slaughter gangs and mercenary groups at will. To them, Vera's mobile unit was a heavily armed force.
But once a Corporate War began, Vera's mobile unit would become light infantry. They would not be cannon fodder, but calling them line-fillers would not be an exaggeration.
Vera was going to Tokyo University to polish her credentials because she wanted to see whether she could make another leap, become the kind of true "confidant" at that level, and command a portion of Arasaka's genuine military strength—even if it was only one Power Armor squad.
It would be difficult, but people had to have dreams.
The latter, the byproducts of T-Virus research, were the stepping stone Vera had prepared.
"How to bring it out logically will take some arrangement. I need to have it ready before enrollment officially begins in spring..."
Lost in thought, Vera put the T-Virus vaccine back into the metal case. Click. She sealed it shut, returned it to the safe, and left the laboratory.
Ding-dong.
Having timed it precisely, the housekeeping robot had prepared a cartload of high-carb, high-calorie food according to Vera's requirements and placed the dishes on the dining table in the living room one by one.
Ramen with rice, miso soup, steak and fried chicken, tempura—a mix of Japanese and Western food. It was the standard Arasaka Corporate Dog menu, an explosion of carbs.
Soon, Vera filled her empty stomach. While drinking ice water, she comfortably rubbed her belly. The physical emptiness caused by mental exhaustion was satisfied. After resting for a while, she got up, draped on her coat, adjusted herself, and left for the landing pad.
She boarded the hovercar. It was a little late, but it was not a problem.
During this period, Vera had mostly remained on standby in Night City. It was her preparation period before she headed to Tokyo University's law school for further study as a specially admitted Arasaka student.
With no field assignments, going to Arasaka Tower for work was little more than clocking in and out. Her workload was not heavy. What mattered was showing her face in front of her subordinates and colleagues.
Picking up the PAD tablet from the seat, Vera reviewed the documents compiled by her subordinates.
Arasaka Tower Academy 2074 Year-End Practical Experience Activity Evaluation Report—Security Department
Shuta Furuta.
Terry Wolfe.
Katsuo Tanaka.
David Martinez.
She opened it.
Her gaze naturally stopped on the bust portrait of the teenager with the mohawk, whose eyes still radiated a pure, foolish innocence.
Security Department tester evaluation: Although he is unsociable, comes from a poor family, and has no cybernetic enhancements beyond basic implants, this student has shown excellent academic performance, a high degree of personal initiative, and considerable physical potential. A more detailed assessment will require further physical examination and observation...
Vera thoughtfully lit a cigarette. Her fingers tapped against the armrest, while an uncontrollable curve rose at the corner of her lips.
"Let's see... his grades are good, he has a foundation, and he's learned some things. 2075... this should be around the time, right?"
While she was in Tokyo polishing her credentials, she could not let such a good gunshield of a hired hand get poached. Especially not by that pale silver-white little thief cat wandering around the subway.
Hmm, she would create a chance encounter between senior and junior...
"Poor, huh? Then I'll give you a slot for a low-interest student loan."
She added David Martinez's name to the list of outstanding students receiving the Security Department's practical activity reward.
Confirm → Send
"Little guy, how are you going to repay me?"
Through the car window, Vera looked toward City Center and the black tower drawing closer.
Santo Domingo, Arroyo.
The old H4 Apartment high-rise.
Its damaged security grilles and peeling paint were stained with yellowing rust. Though the building was filled with homeless people and surrounded by piled-up trash, the old Apartment building remained intact.
Inside an ordinary, cramped rental unit.
"Mom, you slept on the couch again. You're going to ruin your health like this..."
"Ah, David, sorry... I was too tired. And, huh? Why are you still home at this hour?"
"Don't change the subject, Mom. School's out this weekend. I took part in the academy's practical experience activity a while ago. You were obviously thrilled. How could you have forgotten?"
Dressed in casual clothes, David stood before Gloria, who was sleeping on the couch, his expression angry yet helpless.
"...Ah, you caught me."
Gloria laughed awkwardly and tried to change the subject.
Her face held both relief and deep helplessness. She was relieved by her son's excellence and concern for her, but helpless because she was useless, because even gathering enough money for tuition and upgraded educational software was so difficult.
"Mom, if we really don't have the money, I can stop—"
"David."
Gloria's stern gaze silenced David. "That isn't something you should be worrying about. Stop studying? Do you know how rare it is to be selected for Arasaka Academy's practical experience activity? I..."
Just as mother and son were about to erupt into another argument over money—
"Fuck! Corporate Dogs!"
"Get out of the way."
"Move, move..."
A burst of noisy commotion rose outside the door.
Then came a clear knock. Knock, knock...
Gloria raised her head, her face nearly white with fright. "Could it be... we've been exposed..." As uncertainty clouded her face, click, David opened the door.
"What is it... uh, huh?!" Before he could finish speaking, David looked as though he had been struck by lightning, his eyes staring straight ahead.
Two corporate security agents wearing black Arasaka uniforms marked with red patterns stood outside. One of them carried a suitcase.
"David Martinez, participant in the border practical experience activity, student of the Arasaka Academy Class of 2074, correct?"
One of them asked coldly.
"I... I am."
"You're one lucky kid. This is your outstanding practical activity award."
Before you continue