Infinite Progress, Starting with Arasaka

It wasn't about adopting pets with perverse aesthetics.

Speaking of which, since she could see the plants and animals from the perspective of another self at all times, Vera didn't have that feeling yet. She hadn't developed the habit of rich people in this world buying strange animals to show off.

"Let's extract the leech DNA first."

Looking at the internal view displayed on the screen after the lid was closed, Vera acted immediately. She lifted the metal box and headed towards the small laboratory in her temporary residence.

Although small, it had all the necessary internal organs.

This was a special request from Vera, and the Tokyo Arasaka Tower naturally accommodated it based on her rank.

It wasn't excessive either; anyone who inquired slightly would know that Vera's personal interest and hobby in biology had been long-standing.

Vera grabbed a leech from the metal box and placed it into a sealed glass container. She then put it into the laboratory's sealed glass cabinet, precisely inserting it into the card slot. The instrument was activated, and the gene reader and extractor began to work.

Beside the cabinet, Vera leaned against it, her pupils flashing with orange-red light. Her cybernetic eye plugin was connected to the instrument's data panel, and various indices and parameters flowed across the grid of the virtual screen built into her cybernetic eye.

The key takeaway: it was a foolproof operation, convenient!

In fact, biotechnology and gene programming technology in the Cyberpunk world were not weak at all.

There was gene programming that was compatible with cybernetics, allowing the human body to overcome rejection; biosynthetic technology that created various new drugs and foods; nanomedicine technology that treated many diseases; and 'Rejuvenation' drugs that extended human lifespan...

There was even advanced cybernetic bio-modification technology like cyborg technology that could create entirely new life forms, such as androids. Furthermore, sixty years ago in 2014, the Japan Seimei Craft Union Company team had successfully completed the fourth stage of human cloning with neural development and activity...

What they lacked were super viruses like the Progenitor Virus and the T-Virus, which could cause the infected person's tissues and cells to proliferate out of thin air, defying the law of conservation of mass, as if drawing mass from subspace to modify and grow.

Vera's cooperation with the 'Dangerous Girl' company's rehabilitation and convalescence business was mostly based on improvements derived from Umbrella's experience in researching the byproducts of super viruses.

And this was even after the Cyberpunk world had experienced a major technological regression.

In terms of the normal technological tree, Umbrella could not compare to the Cyberpunk world at all. They were just lucky to have discovered and possessed the Progenitor Virus and its subsequent derivative super viruses, which were 'treasure troves' that disregarded conventional rules.

By taking a different path and overtaking on a curve, they managed to achieve technical parity or even surpass the Cyberpunk world in certain fields.

Beep beep.

After complex procedures and reactions, the purified leech DNA was injected into a specialized container. Pfft! Taking out the container, Vera examined the semi-transparent white liquid inside for a while before placing it in the refrigerator.

According to her memory of Dr. James Marcus and Dr. William Birkin's T-Virus cultivation process at Umbrella, based on stability, they should have first injected the Progenitor Virus into leeches with strong environmental tolerance and adaptability, and then extracted the T-Virus after cultivation.

But Vera considered the technological reserves of the Cyberpunk world.

Why don't I try synthesizing leech DNA with the Progenitor Virus first?

Hmm, the home laboratory feels insufficient. I'll borrow a laboratory when I get to Africa. After all, she was also a part-time biotechnology researcher for Arasaka.

She would extract a few more purified leech DNA reagents.

After her law classes tomorrow, she still had to go to the medical department of the University of Tokyo to borrow a laboratory to compare in detail the differences between these leech DNA and the specialized leech DNA cultivated by Umbrella...

"Lord Sano..."

"Didn't I say, don't bother me?"

In Tokyo, Chiyoda Ward, within a luxurious estate near the Imperial Palace, whose grounds were no less extensive than the Imperial Palace itself, appearing quite presumptuous.

Knock knock.

A retainer wearing the exclusive emblem of the Arasaka family arrived at a Japanese sliding door. He knelt on the luxurious yet understated dark yellow tatami mat and bowed his head to report.

After an impatient middle-aged voice came from inside the door, he buried his head even lower.

"Lord Sano... we have confirmed that it was the Night City Security high-ranking official summoned by Madam Wako after she left the family's main compound last time. Our people intercepted the surveillance reports from Shintaro Takayama's subordinates. Madam Wako seems to attach great importance to her..."

Swish—

"Who?"

The door was pushed open, and a middle-aged man in a blue pinstripe shirt and black jacket, with a haggard and sickly appearance due to overwork, looking to be in his late forties or fifties, asked with his arms crossed, looking down.

Sano Arasaka.

The heir to the vast Arasaka Group, he was the youngest and only surviving son of the group's leader, Saburo Arasaka. In the eyes of most people, he was the crown prince who would inevitably inherit Arasaka after Saburo's death.

"Vera Adelheid Russell, Night City Security Department General Security Bureau..."

"Send me the data." Sano Arasaka interrupted the retainer's tedious explanation. "At this time, I don't want anyone to disturb me. You, understand?" Turning around, he looked back at the other person.

"Yes!"

Swish.

The door closed again. Walking on the polished wooden floor that reflected a soft glow, Sano Arasaka, with a gloomy expression, went to the table where the data tablet and phone were placed. He picked up the data tablet and began to examine this rising star of Night City, the Arasaka North American headquarters.

That old man, Shintaro Takayama, attributed his life to Saburo, an old dog of absolute loyalty. He must have had a reason for monitoring Vera.

Was he personally vetting and selecting Arasaka juniors who could be entrusted with important responsibilities? To check if they had the loyalty qualifications to meet and be received by Saburo?

Sano Arasaka didn't think so.

That old man was too arrogant.

Sano Arasaka swiped the touchscreen.

He completely ignored the merits of riot control and public order. His gaze immediately fell on Vera's repeated collaborations with Michiko Arasaka, the daughter of his so-called elder brother, his niece, in the rehabilitation and convalescence business.

Self-study?

Personal hobby?

[Regenerate]... rejuvenates the user by activating dead cells through some kind of technology... it's healthy, relaxes muscles, heals strain, and invigorates the spirit...

Sano Arasaka saw this.

He cursed, "You old fossil, do you really want to live forever?!"

A son knows his father best; he instantly understood Saburo's intentions.

His old man, in order to survive and extend his lifespan, had treated virtually every 'rejuvenation drug' and 'elixir' from companies worldwide as a side dish, his drug resistance already maxed out.

Saburo Arasaka never hesitated to reward anyone who could activate cells, or anyone with the talent and inventions in this area, if they could be brought under his control.

As for his sister, Wako, she was conservative, caring, and valued family.

Saburo, that old geezer, used Wako to specifically have dinner with Vera. The 'Pheasant Faction,' meaning the conservative faction, was ultimately Saburo's idea. Otherwise, Wako might have met her, but she certainly wouldn't have initiated such a long conversation with her.

Vera, she's attending the Arasaka Faculty of Law, University of Tokyo, right?

Arasaka had opened all doors for her, allowing her to major in law while minoring in biology and virology.

When she graduated and returned to Night City, her rank would certainly be immediately promoted by one level. Then, with seniority, as long as she didn't make any mistakes, she would be fully qualified to compete for the position of Second Assistant Executive Officer of Arasaka North America Headquarters in Night City in the future. The First Executive Officer was Michiko Arasaka.

This is troublesome. People at this rank, under Saburo's nose, it's difficult for him to act directly. Manipulating the 'Hawk Faction' from behind to suppress her... that's also difficult. Vera belongs to the Night City North American faction, and Michiko Arasaka would assume he was targeting her and would definitely retaliate.

Internal struggles of this level couldn't destroy Arasaka; on the contrary, it would cut down his own influence...

He still needed to endure.

His expression was clouded with uncertainty. After a moment of contemplation, Sano Arasaka narrowed his eyes and began to carefully review Vera's achievements in security and safety. "A combat-oriented individual, her operational style is 'Hawkish.' Inheriting the will of her deceased parents to join the Security Department..."

"You want to inherit your father's position, don't you? Then go accumulate work experience and achievements, go on field assignments... keep her busy with work, in South and North America, the South Pacific, riot control missions, bodyguard assignments, and public security maintenance contracts. Keep her moving so she doesn't have time for her hobbies, and drag it out until that old man dies!"

Even if other major corporations had sky-high priced new drugs, they would never want Saburo to continue living.

Saburo, he doesn't have many years left!

"Her experiments..."

Rehabilitation and recovery...

A new 'elixir' on the market, one without drug resistance, and it's right under his nose. He absolutely would not allow it to exist! Even if it could be invented and marketed, it would have to wait until after Saburo died!

Sano Arasaka looked at the Arasaka Clover logo carved into the black marble slab inside. Determination flashed across his face. "Regardless of whether there's a chance of success, find an opportunity to leak it to rival corporations..."

Look, Father, I will definitely save the world from the fear you brought! I will destroy Arasaka! Destroy this dark world ruled by capital!

Wako, wait for me. I swear, one day I will save you from this cage!

Chapter 048: New PPT: Project Sun Ladder

As the first rays of Tokyo's morning sun shone through the adjustable one-way transparent glass onto the tatami floor of the detached house.

After cleaning up, in front of the full-length mirror, Vera, who had slept soundly and was unaware that she had officially been drawn into the Arasaka family's internal struggle, was calmly getting ready.

Smoothing out the last wrinkle on her collar, Vera nodded slightly as she looked at her reflection in the mirror, her attire neat and proper.

This wasn't vanity.

It was a practical necessity.

"Meeting commencing."

Only the lowest ranks of the company were allowed to wear clothing with sexually suggestive undertones, and only to a certain extent. Company executives, regardless of gender or location, should always wear attire befitting their position.

Behind Vera, an automatic partition in the room slid open, revealing a large projection screen—

"Supervisor Vera, this is Jimmy."

On the dedicated line, against a background of the circular Arasaka Clover logo, was a muscular white man in heavy combat gear, without a helmet, with a buzz cut.

Jimmy, Captain of Special Assault Unit 6, Vera's deputy assistant in Night City.

California time is UTC-7, and Tokyo time is UTC+9. Japan is 16 hours ahead of California. It was 8 AM in Tokyo when Vera was there, and around 4 PM the previous day in Night City.

This was the daily work report time for the Arasaka Security Department's Special Assault Unit in Night City, set by Vera after she went to Tokyo for further studies.

She had not been dismissed, only temporarily suspended from duty. Deputy Director Thomas was managing in her stead. In reality, Thomas had not touched Vera's core operations at all, retaining significant autonomy for her to remotely control things. Jimmy was the temporary executor.

Vera reciprocated and did not micromanage.

While giving Jimmy a certain degree of autonomy in decision-making, she also instructed him to report more frequently to her Uncle Thomas for his decisions. During her period of further study, her role would be more akin to a third-party supervisor and listener.

It was simply a way to maintain her presence in front of her subordinates, prove that she was still around, and prevent her influence from waning.

"As of early this morning, our department completed three tactical support requests from the counter-intelligence department, covertly assisting in the extraction of an intelligence team from the Militech Night City branch. Two teams were hit by Militech counter-intelligence units, resulting in three dead and one injured. One team was completely wiped out. For another team, we cooperated with counter-intelligence agents to rescue the injured during a staged firefight disguised as a gang conflict."

After Jimmy finished his report, swish!

The screen shifted, and the split-screen display moved to the lower right, where the mobile team captain stationed at the West Wind Manor outpost camp in southern Night City began his report.

"This is Mobile Unit 8. In response to repeated attacks on company vehicles by the Animals Gang on the City Center elevated highway and cross-sea bridges, in cooperation with and fulfilling the NCPD's public security maintenance contract, our unit has issued warnings and organized operations to strike. All confirmed participants in the City Center attacks have been eliminated."

"This is Special Assault Unit 3. We have completed the external security and defense operations in Argentina and returned to the Night City barracks for rest..."

"Dogtown in Pacific State is once again unstable. There have been clashes and casualties involving the NCPD, Voodoo Boys, and Animals Gang. It's said that another batch of supplies has arrived, a massive amount of heavy weaponry, Soshikah's cargo."

The report on the officially registered mission procedures concluded, and Jimmy stayed behind to continue briefing Vera on the major news happening in Night City.

After the global internet collapse, the only way to understand global affairs was through media giants like News 54.

But media, by nature, always lagged behind, either with false information or by concealing key details. Therefore, to get accurate information from thousands of miles away, you needed your own people, your own channels, someone who could actually go to the front lines of the incident.

"Should we get involved?"

"It's not time yet. Soshikah, the new CCCP, and Militech, the new USA... old rivals from the Cold War. Let them fight if they want to fight."

Leaning back in the high-backed armchair with red velvet upholstery, Vera smiled faintly, her eyes narrowed as she thought of something pleasant. She propped her face on her right hand, her left hand's fingers rapidly tapping on the armrest.

"That group of NUSA rebels holed up in Dogtown... tsk, they're a perfect nail. The signing of the Arvin Accord made them hate Militech and the new USA. When this bomb goes off, it'll be a surprise for them."

The Arvin Accord, officially the Arvin Accord, was a peace treaty signed between the former CEO of Militech and current President of the New America, Rosalind Miles, and Arasaka.

In 2069, she led the Unification War, aiming to make America great again. However, under the strong intervention of Arasaka and the overt and covert interference of major corporations like Soshikah, her ambitions failed.

The New America forces withdrew from California, shattering their ambition to reunify the East and West Coasts and expand their territory. Night City and Northern California continued to exist as a Free State.

The gang holed up in Dogtown, known as Barghest, was actually the elite vanguard of the NUSA forces that broke into Night City at the end of the 2069 Unification War. The signing of the Arvin Accord made them feel abandoned and betrayed, so they rebelled and declared independence. They essentially held a grudge against Rosalind Miles and Militech.