Infinite Progress, Starting with Arasaka

Chapter 042: Vera and the Juniors

"An excellence award... Does something like that exist?"

David was stunned by the question.

He'd been at Arasaka Academy for over half a year. Weren't the school's principles all about taking and never giving?

"Your student ID."

Too lazy to explain, the agent from the Arasaka Security Department held out his hand.

"Oh, oh, wait, please wait a moment..." David said, then ran into the room. He rummaged through the drawers of the computer desk not far from the door. While he was doing that, the two agents surveyed the Martinez family's rental apartment.

Just like in Santo Domingo, it was dilapidated and old.

The room wasn't large; it was completely visible. There was no porch, and the living room served as the bedroom. There were two small spaces on either side. To the left, the larger one was the bathroom. To the right, the smaller one was likely used as a storage room. The sofa area in the sunken section was piled with idle tools and furniture with damaged exteriors.

Despite its shabbiness, it was quite clean compared to the surrounding residences.

A red-haired woman, looking exceptionally tired, was reclining on the sofa, wearing a yellow jacket and watching them with a hint of daze in her expression.

The two agents habitually scanned the room, their eyes flashing orange-red as they pulled up the woman's identity information.

It was David's single mother, Gloria, who worked at a Night City medical center.

"This kid lives in a place like this? Looks like he never had a chance at preschool education."

"But his grades aren't bad, and he's lucky to have caught the eye of someone important... Maybe he'll end up like us."

As the two low-level Arasaka field agents were conversing, "Found it, found it! Sorry, sorry..." the punk-haired teenager said, waving his student ID hand-in-hand in a flustered manner.

[Target Confirmed. Collection Initiated.]

The agent's eyes glowed red as he picked up David's student ID and scanned it briefly. "Keep it safe." He handed the student ID and the briefcase to David, who numbly accepted them.

They left just like that.

"David?"

Gloria first breathed a sigh of relief, then her face showed confusion.

"It's an excellence award from the academy's practical activities..."

David closed the door, blocking out the prying eyes of the neighbors. He placed the briefcase, emblazoned with the large Arasaka Clover logo, in front of his mother. He tilted his head up, his voice slightly nasal, and said, "I'll work hard. You don't have to be so tired."

"Didn't that important Arasaka figure say at the opening ceremony? Family, responsibility, duty. I don't want you to collapse after I finally climb to Arasaka Tower..."

It was the nature of a young boy, wanting to show off his achievements to his mother.

"David." Gloria, who suddenly broke into a gentle smile, stood up and hugged David. "I'm proud of you."

"Okay, Mom... Let's see what's inside first."

Click.

David opened the briefcase. What greeted his eyes was:

A commemorative card with the Night City Arasaka Security Department and Arasaka Academy's 2074 student practical activity certification information, a finely crafted shield-shaped metal commemorative badge, three separate chips, a long card, and a simple handgun.

The receiver was dark, the slide was bright, and the grip base was red.

"Kenshin."

"The Security Department..." A complex expression flashed in Gloria's eyes. The JKE-X2 Kenshin, one of the submachine pistols produced and sold by Arasaka.

Although it seemed strange at first glance to give a student a handgun as a practical excellence award, this was Night City, the place with the most relaxed military-grade firearm control in the world. The department that interfaced with Arasaka Academy for this practical activity was the Security Department, so it was perfectly normal for security personnel to be issued handguns.

What was pleasing was that David seemed to have gained the appreciation of Arasaka's largest department, the Security Department. What was worrying was also that David had gained the appreciation of Arasaka's Security Department; the Security Department was one of the departments with the highest field deployment and casualty rates.

Would David become an Arasaka Security soldier or agent...

A mother's nature meant Gloria's joy didn't last long.

"Wow, Mom! We're rich!"

At this moment, David's shout brought Gloria back to her senses. She saw him take out a separate chip and connect it to the chip slot behind his ear. His eyes flashed orange-red, and his face was filled with excitement.

Personal Account: [Received 5000 EUR]

Payer: Night City Arasaka Security Department

"5000 Euros, there's a 5000 Euro scholarship."

The money was little, perhaps not even enough for someone like Vera's daily indulgences in food, drink, and tobacco, but for the Martinez family, it was a lot. It could solve an urgent problem, even save a life.

With these five thousand Euros, Gloria wouldn't have to be so rushed and stressed. At least she could catch her breath, and they wouldn't have to worry about running out of funds for half a year, greatly increasing their ability to bear risks.

"Here."

After the transfer program in the chip's memory was activated, the separate chip was no longer useful. David pulled the chip from the slot behind his ear and, without any hesitation, handed it to his mother. Then, he pulled out the second chip. This one, "Uh..." David showed a look of disinterest.

He set it aside and continued to pull out the third chip. Gloria picked it up, inserted it, and began to view its contents. It was a commemorative speech, an assessment of David's performance, and formulaic encouragement.

"Mom, I think you should see this one." David, with a thoughtful expression, pulled out the third chip and handed it over. Gloria took it, inserted it, and her eyes displayed: [Arasaka Academy Low-Interest Student Loan]

"Student loan..." Gloria fell into thought.

David picked up the last long card and read the letters under the clover logo. "Borrowing card? Library borrowing card..." He showed an interested expression.

Being out of step with others at school didn't mean he didn't crave knowledge. It was just that David lacked the money, qualifications, and connections. The paid library at Arasaka Academy, filled with all sorts of knowledge chips, was off-limits to him.

David felt a flicker of interest.

"I heard that the intelligent control libraries at these big academies are open 24/7, as long as you have the qualifications," Gloria leaned in, smiling. "If you want to go, change into your uniform and head to Arasaka Academy. I want to order you another set of uniforms to change into."

"Then I'll head out."

David was a person of action. After a quick tidy-up and changing into his academy uniform, he excitedly left the house, Arasaka borrowing card in hand.

During his holidays, he mostly stayed home watching TV, or accompanied that perverted cybernetics doctor watching Black Dreams, or played basketball at a nearby park with a basketball chip he'd found.

Any further than that, unless it was towards the City Center, Gloria wouldn't allow him to wander. After all, this was Night City, a place with a 'simple folk' reputation.

"David Kid, what are those two Arasaka corporate dogs doing at your doorstep? Did you get into trouble at the academy?"

A familiar, disheveled uncle leaning on the corridor railing called out to him.

It wasn't a secret that Mrs. Martinez supported her only son's attendance at Arasaka Academy. David wore his Arasaka uniform to school every day; the neighbors weren't blind. Many of them even watched with amusement.

"It's fine."

Explaining it to them was pointless. David merely gave a perfunctory reply and quickly descended the stairs, then ran up the slope, passing through the towering buildings, heading towards Arasaka Academy in the City Center.

"Welcome, student David." The scanner at the school gate recognized his voice.

David recalled the location of the comprehensive academy's library.

"Yo, isn't this David Martinez? You poor bum, don't you know your place? Is this a place you can come to?"

David thought of the dialogue from a minor villain in an ancient anime from the turn of the century that he'd found from the perverted cybernetics doctor.

With his hands in his pockets, he looked disdainfully at his classmates emerging from the library doors.

A skinny blond with a mocking expression, acting incredibly arrogant.

He'd forgotten his name... He was the descendant of some minor head in the corporate administrative department, a typical spoiled brat. Since he hadn't gotten a practical training spot in the Security Department last time, he'd been eyeing the list, looking for the easiest target. David, who'd stumbled into good luck and been chosen, had apparently displemented him.

For a period before David finished his practical training and went on holiday, the blond had repeatedly mocked him. While it hadn't escalated to physical conflict, it seemed the friction between them was growing more apparent due to David's perfunctory attitude.

"Sorry, I have a borrowing card..."

David maintained his disinterested expression, leaning to the side, pursing his lips. He pulled out his brand-new borrowing card from his pocket and waved it. "Excuse me, excuse me, I still need to study..."

The blond shoved David hard with his shoulder, his face darkening. "You know what? I hate that attitude of yours the most. You're just a poor bum with no money, shamelessly trying to blend in with us, yet you always act so nonchalant."

Staggering back, David winced, clutching his shoulder which stung fiercely.

The blond continued to look down at him. "With your family's income level, how could you possibly get a borrowing card? You have a single mother, right? Don't tell me she works that kind of job and was rewarded by a sugar daddy..."

Veins pulsed, his eyes turning red without him realizing it. David felt a string snap within him. The trembling of his tiptoes grew faster. "Agh—!" With a sudden burst, David powerfully punched the blond in the face.

"Poor bums are just poor bums. Free, trashy combat chips, a natural arm, not a single decent cybernetic..."

Blocking David's punch with one hand effortlessly, the blond grinned, his cyberarm's palm lines glowing red. "Let me show you what combat is!"

With a dull thud, David lost his balance. His face scraped the ground from the forceful blow, blood trickling down his cheek and dripping onto the floor. Yet, he still struggled to get up, his reddened eyes fixed on the blond.

"The street fighter's punch chip really packs a punch... It's always like this, I really can't stand your face." Stepping forward, the blond's malice intensified. He anchored his left foot, swinging his right leg back.

You annoying brat, watch this—

"Don't you feel ashamed?"

A gust of wind swept past. A scream reached David's ears, followed by the dull thud of a heavy object hitting the ground. The blond lost his balance and slammed onto the ground.

"Tanaka, you bastard..."

"Shut up, idiot."

A third voice interrupted, making David look up. He saw a person with a blue-black mushroom haircut standing in front of him, one hand in his pocket.

Katsuo Tanaka.

David remembered his classmate's name. He had participated in the Security Department's practical training with him this year.

He'd heard other classmates mention that his father was one of the academy's directors. Through this connection, he had even met a prominent figure in the Security Department up close and seemed to have already been pre-selected as a Security Department operative. His father, who was extremely strict and had set assessment requirements for that prominent figure, had caused him to change significantly over the past year.

"Tanaka!" The blond shakily got up, pointing at David with a wavering voice. "I'm going to tell the dean..."

"Still haven't learned your lesson."

Katsuo Tanaka moved.

He darted in front of the blond, using his body to pin the blond's arm, preventing him from retracting it. Then, he delivered a straight punch. Although the blond blocked it with his other hand, he couldn't stop it. After being punched in the abdomen, he immediately curled up like a shrimp, spitting out stomach acid.

Katsuo Tanaka said, "Still using these flashy, impractical things."

His previous 400-series cyberarm and Kung Fu chip had been replaced. The reason given was that they were too showy and exaggerated, with too many extra performance moves and low practical combat value. What was required for the Security Department was simple, direct, and lethal.

"Hey, can you stand up on your own?"

Katsuo Tanaka turned to David, who was holding his face and trying to stand.

"You, why did you help me?"

"I'm not helping you. I'm defending our identity—yours and mine."

Katsuo Tanaka picked up the borrowing card David had dropped. "A bunch of fools who have lost their way."

He looked at the blond-haired guy being helped up by his lackey. "Don't you know the practical results have been announced yet? His library card was given by Arasaka. Is your attitude insulting the Security Department's examiners? I'm truly ashamed to be associated with you."

After the other person left dejectedly, Katsuo Tanaka returned the library card to David.

"As a fellow recipient of the Outstanding Practical Performance Award, you're too weak and bring too much shame to us participants of the 2074 practical session. It's not your fault you were born into a poor family, but I hope you can show your own abilities. I read the Security Department's evaluation report; they said your physical potential is high, and your family has held you back."

"With your usual grades, as long as you maintain them, you have a chance to join the Security Department with me, under the supervision of Director Vera Adelheid. I need a team, and you are one of the candidates."

After saying a string of unfathomable words, Katsuo Tanaka strode into the library. David wiped the blood from his nose, then looked at the library card in his hand. Since he was already here, he definitely had to go in and take a look.

AI: "Special approval from the Night City Arasaka Security Department. Restricted subject scope: Security and Protection Department, Counter-Terrorism Policing Department, Criminology, Guard Studies, Criminal Investigation..."

The library card was recognized.

"Already in the Security Department... If I'm in, I'm in!"

Shaking his head to cast aside all sorts of stray thoughts, David stuffed tissues into his nose and followed the teaching AI's guidance into the knowledge chip storage and borrowing area for security and protection majors, his first destination.

The Combat Chip section.