Corporate Plaza, Arasaka Tower.
Vera had no idea that her guidance and interference had already brought many strange changes to those who came after her.
After today's routine General Security Bureau meeting ended, she was studying on the floor occupied by the biotechnology R&D department.
Studying how to make the emergence of the T-Virus reasonable—how it could logically come into being and be discovered by her.
At the start of Company V, when taking the opening suicide mission, you could see Abernathy's assets, which were probably upwards of 700 WEUR.
In the game, there was a boxing quest where 2 WEUR could let the boxer's wife buy a car after getting pregnant, and they would not lack money to raise the child afterward. Ridiculous.
The most ridiculous part was still the DLC. Saving President Miles only paid 3 WEUR.
Fine, the game and its setting were different things.
Sake was not a full-time writer. Taking it easy today; tomorrow, more updates would continue to repay the treasure chests. Four silvers still meant at least another 20,000 to 40,000 words of extra chapters were needed.
Ah...
Vera Decides to Go to Africa to "Search For" the T-Virus
"Supervisor Russell."
In the Biotechnology Research Department, the receptionist in the records room smiled and bowed to Vera. "The relevant R&D archives from the Africa branch are stored in Area A-06."
Vera nodded to show she understood, then leisurely walked into the records room with a disposable paper coffee cup in hand. Wearing office loafers, she wound through the room, passed several built-in scanners, and found the corridor beside the door marked "Africa—06."
The decor was understatedly luxurious, dark and cool gray with a strong metallic technological feel. Beyond it lay a long, high-ceilinged room.
The layout resembled the book depositories popular in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The only difference was that it held not books, but towering, massive database racks. At the center stood an elegantly decorated oval table equipped with a projector, personal connection ports, and Separate Chip slots for downloading and storing information. Several fixed sofas surrounded it, making the place look like a salon.
After casually choosing a seat, Vera heard a beep in front of her. The projector activated, displaying an illusory blue-light AI image with a bald head and a female humanoid form.
"Index: South Africa, from 2016 to the present. Geographic survey reports from the Manufacturing Sector and R&D department following the 'Metal Vein Incident.'"
AI: "Please wait."
With the data cable routed through the terminal, Vera tapped her fingers against the armrest. Her eyes narrowed slightly, orange-red light flickering within them as data characters from several projected screens filled the projector's display.
In 2016, Arasaka discovered a large quantity of rare metal veins beneath its training facility in South Africa.
As a result, the Cape Town, South Africa branch became an important part of Arasaka's global footprint.
Although local warlords all claimed ownership of those rare metals, Arasaka withstood the pressure, drove off and disciplined the surrounding warlords, then repelled and suppressed Militech and the warlords it supported when they entered the fray afterward.
Arasaka's Manufacturing Sector, along with its affiliated and friendly partner companies, built a large number of factories in South Africa. The original training facility there was also expanded, and considerable armed forces were stationed there.
Even during the Fourth Corporate War, when Arasaka was stabbed in the back by Militech, its North American Headquarters was struck by a nuclear bomb, company CEO Kei Arasaka was assassinated, and the company was defeated, badly weakened, and forced out of North America, a considerable portion of its interests in South Africa still remained under Arasaka's control.
Vera indexed a document.
It was a small archaeological file, recorded incidentally while Arasaka's Manufacturing Sector conducted underground prospecting. It was filled with images and text concerning animal bones and geological strata.
There were also experimental collection records from the R&D department concerning local flora and fauna, flowers, and grasses.
"Africa..."
Thinking of something, Vera's lips curved into a faint smile. "What a vast and resource-rich place."
In Resident Evil, it seemed that the key prerequisite for the T-Virus—the Progenitor Virus—had been extracted by Umbrella's three founders from a flower called Solaris Staircase that grew among the ruins of the Dubaiya Tribe in West Africa.
Could she make a discovery in Africa in Cyberpunk as well?
There were no powerful nations or corporations in Africa. It had not only been torn apart by all kinds of dictators, but also had to face land grabs and "intensive cultivation" by the colonial powers of the new era's corporations.
It was miserable, certainly, but it had nothing to do with Vera. The chaos would also make it easier for her to take advantage of a chaotic situation.
Unfortunately, West Africa fell within the traditional sphere of influence of old Europe. France and France's Major Corporations were not that "federal state where Little Britain could not unite without Northern Ireland and no longer had a king."
As Africa's supreme ruler, the European Economic Community held absolute dominance in North Africa and West Africa. Arasaka had regional office buildings there and was a participant, but not the dominant player. Otherwise, Vera would have replicated it no matter what.
As for finding the ruins of an African tribe somewhere within Arasaka's sphere of influence in South Africa and operating there...
That was not feasible.
Why could she extract it when Tokyo Headquarters could not? Once Vera made a discovery, Arasaka would definitely dig up the surrounding area from top to bottom. Explaining herself would be far too troublesome...
"Central Africa."
Drawing up a projected map of the African continent, Vera fixed her gaze on its central region.
At the border between Arasaka's influence in Cape Town, South Africa and the EEC's influence in West Africa, deep inland, with warlords backed and planted by companies such as Militech, weapons were everywhere. Sporadic clashes and fierce battles between warlords and tribes never ceased. It was undoubtedly one of the most chaotic lawless regions in the world.
"There are quite a few underground ruins left by ancient tribes from extinct branches of Bantu, one of Africa's major indigenous language groups."
Murmuring soundlessly, Vera pulled up the Cape Town branch's survey reports on local tribal warlords.
She browsed through them from top to bottom, then frowned.
There was very little information. It was brief and superficial, carrying the particular condescending, overlooking attitude of Corporate Dogs. In their eyes, delving into such matters was undoubtedly a waste of time.
By comparison, Umbrella's materials on Africa were undoubtedly far more detailed, comprehensive, and accurate than Arasaka's.
But it made sense. In the Cyberpunk world, there were no rights organizations, charities, environmental protection groups, or archaeological associations pushing such matters forward. Corporations simply plundered through violence; protests were suppressed, and resistance was met with iron fists. After the global internet collapsed, people elsewhere in the world still viewed Africa through the lens of the last century's era of "co-rule by tyrants."
After pondering for a moment, Vera rose to her feet, inserted a Separate Chip into the slot, and copied and downloaded the Cape Town branch's reports on surrounding tribes, along with documents concerning local customs and geography.
She roughly had an idea. All that remained was to refine it.
Swish.
After taking a sip of her now-cold coffee and checking the time, Vera removed the Separate Chip and naturally left her seat.
Passing the front desk administrator, who bowed respectfully, Vera estimated the time and prepared to leave the floor occupied by the R&D department.
In front of the express elevator.
"Supervisor Russell."
Hearing the familiar voice behind her, Vera turned her head. "Tanaka?"
A solidly built figure appeared.
With a hazelnut haircut and side-swept bangs, wearing cool sunglasses, he was not particularly burly, but he had broad shoulders and a thick waist. It was Shinichi Tanaka, the man Vera had encountered at Arasaka Academy, and Katsuo Tanaka's father.
A mid-level manager in Night City Arasaka's R&D department, he was responsible for a specialized unit testing new cyberware, exoskeletons, and mechs. He seemed to have a project codenamed "Kongou" under his command, and Vera was rather interested in it.
Well, she had actually run into him.
Vera thought silently.
This man really was a Corporate Dog who treated the company as his home. He was absolutely loyal to Arasaka, conscientious and diligent, and followed a rigid routine. His activity hours in Arasaka Tower were extremely fixed.
"I didn't expect to run into Supervisor Russell here."
Tanaka stepped forward. He first bowed slightly in greeting, then raised his head and glanced somewhat emotionally in the direction Vera had come from—the Biotechnology R&D Department's office area.
"As expected of the most famous genius in our Night City Arasaka Tower. I trust Supervisor Russell has come up with a new idea again? Congratulations."
"You flatter me. I have a few ideas and hope I'm on the right track. Let's walk together." As she spoke, Vera turned slightly, orange-red light flickering in her eyes.
"Has the Kongou project made any progress?"
Given Vera's position in Night City Arasaka Tower, she was aware of the Kongou project.
After all, aside from Adam Smasher, if the Kongou project succeeded and reduced the burden of mental erosion, then as one of the senior leaders of Arasaka's Night City military forces, she would certainly need to secure equipment slots for her subordinates.
Walking two steps behind Vera, orange-red light also flickered in Tanaka's pupils. "Not yet. Even the mercenary test subjects with the finest physical bodies go insane after being equipped with it. Forced activation burns out the nervous system and completely destroys their personalities. I'm afraid only someone like Adam Smasher can withstand it, but that would depart from the original purpose of the Kongou project."
"Take it slowly. There's no rush."
"I'm ashamed. Tanaka has failed to live up to the company's expectations."
After ending their brief business discussion, Vera smoothly changed the subject. "I looked over Katsuo Tanaka's practical assessment and regular grades. They're quite good. Like father, like son."
"Arigatou." Hearing the answer he had hoped for, Tanaka bowed once again in thanks.
"This is what he deserves."
The indicator beside the express elevator lit up.
Tanaka proactively pressed the elevator door switch for Vera. "Supervisor Russell, are you returning to the Security Department...?"
"No, I'm going to the landing pad. I need to visit one of my teachers at the School of Military Administration and Law in Arasaka Academy." Entering the elevator, Vera looked at the Tanaka who had paused and knowingly asked, "Is there a problem?"
"Nothing. My son Katsuo is studying at Arasaka Academy, Supervisor Russell. I was just preparing to pick him up."
"What a coincidence. It's on the way. Come with me."
"Ah... this would be an imposition."
After hesitating, Tanaka gritted his teeth and bowed again, then followed her with neither servility nor arrogance.
They took the express elevator up and entered Arasaka Tower's internal landing pad.
Vera's personal bodyguards, the Black and White Phantoms, were already waiting again. They boarded the vehicle.
Once seated, Vera picked up the PAD tablet from the seatback and seemed to immerse herself in her own world.
After entering the hovercar, which had clearly received more custom modifications and had been enlarged in both length and width, Tanaka was somewhat restrained. To his left and right sat the heavily Combat Cybernetic Modified Black Phantom Brian and White Phantom Laurie, both as strong as bears.
"Preparing for exams."
Perhaps noticing Tanaka's hesitation, Vera said, "Tokyo University's entrance examination subjects have many established concepts and answer approaches that differ from Night City's. I asked one of my teachers at the School of Military Administration and Law to help organize the points I should pay attention to."
Tokyo University?!
Tanaka was filled with reverence.
So that was it. He had heard that Supervisor Vera Adelheid would continue her studies, but he had not expected it to be Tokyo University. Many members of the Arasaka Family graduated from that university. Lord Sano Arasaka, Arasaka's next heir, had graduated from Tokyo University!
His son had finally managed to cling to Vera's line. If he seized it, he would soar to success...
He had to seize it!
He decided that once he returned home, he would enroll Katsuo in several more tutoring classes and military study courses.
David: I Want to Be Officer Vera's—
That day, David Martinez opened the door to a new world.
"So strong..." Pulling the connection cable from the crystal slot behind his ear, David rolled out of the ergonomic reclining chair and stood up, clenching his fist with an excited expression.
As expected of Arasaka Academy's paid library. Even though it was only a first-year general academy before specialization, the Combat Chips stored here were far superior to the free or cheap Combat Chips David could normally access. They were clear and precise, their crucial movements accurately presented in his mind.
Fuck!
That blond-haired bastard dared insult his mother. If he ran into him again, David would definitely beat him senseless... Uh, apparently he could not.
David looked at his original flesh-and-blood arms and quickly fell from his excitement.
He had some muscle, but how could he possibly contend with the cybernetic arms equipped by that blond-haired guy? The chips David was reading now were surely something that guy had accessed long ago.
David was only a beginner. Chips could only help him get started quickly. To become proficient and fully master and use fighting techniques, he still needed training to build memory and neural firing patterns. Or he needed cyberware, so his strength, stamina, flexibility, and ability to take a hit could meet the standard.
The force of an impact went both ways.
If he hit someone, he would hurt too.
In the end, it still came down to money. The only modifications he had were the most basic crystal slots and a Data Panel Connector implant.
Crystal slots and Data Panel Connectors were the most basic implants in this world, and for many people, they were also the most cost-effective.
Crystal slots generally had two ports: one commonly used but mandatory Comms Chip port, and one left empty for inserting a Separate Chip.
Data Panel Connectors were complicated to explain in detail. Simply put, they allowed people to read the contents of Separate Chips and convert them into projections visible to the eyes, including video calls during communications and text conversion.
They were the most basic cyberware of 2075.
Before you continue