Infinite Progress, Starting with Arasaka

He was loyal to Arasaka, and his support for Vera was merely his own shallow opinion, formed after observing her and believing she could make Arasaka better. This opinion took a backseat to Saburo's own priorities.

"Shintaro... it seems you really admire her."

Rising from the futon, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. Saburo Arasaka straightened his back with a sway.

Although doctors had told him back in 2020, at the age of 101, that his mobility should be restricted to a wheelchair, the support of his cybernetic components still allowed him to walk.

Swish! In response, a bodyguard with a topknot stepped forward, carefully helping Saburo Arasaka walk.

"Yes, I admire her greatly. She's a genius, but she's clearly not easy to control. She has a strong personal style and is very goal-oriented, which creates a significant conflict with our culture..."

Shintaro Takayama also stood up, following Saburo.

"Differences are insignificant..."

Amidst the zen-like atmosphere of a clear spring in a rock garden and the gentle tapping of bamboo water features, Saburo Arasaka slowly approached the corridor of the tea room. He said, "I've seen her file. A beautiful resume... she's got a lot of little tricks, but they're all irrelevant."

"As long as she can bring benefits to Arasaka, I will give her anything she desires. Her parents' positions will not be her endpoint... Shintaro, add her to the candidate list."

"To fulfill her parents' dying wish... Hmph, if Sano had even a tenth of her capability, Arasaka, and we father and son, and those two brothers, wouldn't have ended up like this."

Judging by actions rather than intent, Saburo looked at Vera's rise and achievements, then thought of his own unfilial son, letting out a cold snort. Although his words were a complaint about his son's actions, his tone was extremely indifferent.

Or rather, his father-son relationship with Sano had faded when Sano rebelled against him and disappeared.

The only reason he kept Sano around was that he truly only had one son left. The other was for a technology that was about to mature...

Standing under the eaves of the main house's corridor, Saburo looked at the pine and cherry trees planted along the winding paths in the courtyard. He said, "Her Sun Stairflower project, do you think it's a way to scam funds, or does it have real merit? What are its chances of success?"

"This... Lord Saburo, as you know, I don't understand scientific research. But based on the analysis, it shouldn't be a mere formality."

Shintaro Takayama paused.

"Miss Michiko's 'Dangerous Girl' project, though rushed, is ultimately on paper. It's impossible to truly have Vera Adelheid focus on a side project; the Security Department is her job. As for her, based on her records improving therapeutic products, she either doesn't respond, or she's made progress. The success rate of submitted proposals is fifty-fifty."

"Her supporting documentation is no longer traceable. Half a century ago, there were too many companies involved in mining and transportation in Africa, mostly European enterprises. The Old Net collapse caused by Lachy Barmoth led to the bankruptcy of too many companies, the suicide of numerous listed group CEOs, and the destruction and loss of massive amounts of data, or it was absorbed and manipulated by rogue AIs."

As he spoke, Shintaro Takayama tapped his data pad. The embedded projector in the long corridor activated, displaying rows of detailed records. Vera's efforts to train her brain and computing power by traversing the "Black Wall" with the protection of Arasaka's cybersecurity experts were also verifiable.

It was just unknown exactly which day she had deciphered it after defeating a rogue AI.

No matter how he looked at it, Shintaro Takayama didn't believe Vera was a spy. She didn't seem like one at all, lacking motive or logic. Even if there were traces of "collusion," the final investigation would either find the evidence false or conclude it was a setup by other "rival companies" trying to bring her down.

"A genius?"

After much deliberation, Saburo Arasaka finally dismissed his suspicions. "An unexpected collaboration with Michiko, from developing beauty and health products to rehabilitation medicine, led to such a discovery."

Geniuses were the most unfathomable people in the world.

Like Lachy Barmoth, or Otter Cunningham, the inventor of "Soul Killer."

After a lengthy investigation, Saburo's analysts were certain that Vera's research and improvements were based on new formulas and combinations not found on the market.

Biotechnology would never fund Arasaka like this if they could monopolize new drugs. As for military science, it was even less likely; medical technology was their weak point.

Vera's project greatly interested Saburo.

"Let's see what she discovers once she gets to Africa. Takemura, order the security forces to secretly monitor Vera Adelheid and watch for any abnormal behavior. Dispatch a security team to protect her at all times."

"Yes!"

With his hands behind his back, Saburo Arasaka brought up a portrait of Vera Adelheid. He gazed at her for a moment before shifting his gaze to the Tokyo cityscape, faintly visible in the distance.

Saburo's memory had not deteriorated with age. He clearly remembered the location of Arasaka Tower in Tokyo.

The black tower's silhouette, over 600 meters in height, made it stand out, allowing it to overlook any man-made structure in Tokyo.

But it wasn't enough. He wanted it to be taller.

He needed time to achieve it.

Longevity.

A longer lifespan.

Saburo Arasaka craved it so much.

No matter how much awe the outside world held for him, no matter how exaggerated his power was, stripped of all external factors, he was now an old relic, physiologically nearing his end.

He would not let go of any opportunity to extend his life.

"I cannot die yet. Michiko is compromising, Wakako is playing it safe, and Sano lacks the leadership qualities for Arasaka. He cannot lead Japan to regain its former glory (as Saburo perceived it)... I cannot fall before I fulfill my mission..."

May 25, 2075, 10:15 AM.

At Tokyo Haneda International Airport, a massive projection screen displayed the time. Vera arrived by car, carrying a briefcase, and glanced at the Arasaka private aviation terminal's business class flight to Cape Town, South Africa.

Having changed out of her black and red Tokyo University uniform, she appeared relaxed, as if she were truly going on a school trip.

With tea-colored cybernetic mirrored sunglasses, a black shirt with an Arasaka Clover silver pin on the collar, an open-fronted red jacket, slim-fitting black trousers, and black mid-high boots, Vera, dressed as casually as possible, walked up the boarding stairs.

A school trip should look like a school trip. Not everywhere is as obsessed with uniforms as Japan, and Vera wasn't traveling in an official capacity. She shouldn't be so formal, although her attire would be considered quite formal in other worlds.

It's just...

Vera glanced with her peripheral vision at the boarding crowd and the people in the terminal. The feeling of being watched was intense.

Perhaps due to the soul fusion, her senses had been exceptionally sharp since childhood.

And with the activation of "Heaven's Gift," it was as if the power of spacetime confluences had gathered. The more she interacted, the more sensitive she became, evolving towards 'mind's eye' and 'sixth sense.' In combat during external missions, she rarely got ambushed at close range anymore.

The sense of being watched by this group began to significantly increase after Vera submitted the "Sun Stairflower Project" in early May. Although she didn't know the specifics, she guessed it might have attracted the attention of some old fossil and his unfilial son.

She wasn't sure; it was also possible it was the unauthorized actions of their subordinates.

The bait had been taken.

Although it was faster than Vera had anticipated, it didn't matter, as she knew nothing.

For the next half month, she operated under their scrutiny.

She attended classes as usual, met with her superficial girl friends, went to the Tokyo Theater for cultural enrichment, spent time in libraries and laboratories, ordered leeches, and waited until the end of the first law exam. Vera passed with an A, and summer break began.

As planned, following her pre-arranged itinerary, Vera booked a flight to Cape Town, South Africa.

Then, those guys actually followed. It looked like they were going to Africa too?

Were they Saburo Arasaka's people?

Or Sano Arasaka's people?

Would she become collateral damage?

It was better to be cautious; she had no idea what ghost orders that old man and young man had issued.

She had to ensure her own safety. Upon arriving in Cape Town, she would use her rank to borrow a few Arasaka response teams.

Calming her slightly agitated emotions, Vera looked at the military-grade, hermetically sealed briefcase in her hand, which contained a self-destruct program. Inside was the leech DNA she had prepared.

As for the Progenitor Virus samples, the Sun Stairflower, including the plant that had lost its Progenitor Virus characteristics, and the fresh Sun Stairflower blooming in the flowerbed of the West African Dibaya tribal ruins in "Resident Evil"—

Under the reception of the flight attendants, Vera entered the first-class cabin of the flight. She adjusted her seat, sat down, and turned her head to look out the window. The transparent glass faintly reflected Vera's image. In a fleeting shimmer, Vera saw herself in the Arasaka African Research Center.

Everything was ready.

"Central Africa, the ruins of an ancient tribe of the extinct Bantu linguistic group..."

The Bantu linguistic group is a branch of the Niger-Congo language family in Africa, within the Atlantic-Congo branch, and it is widespread throughout Central and Southern Africa. There are too many ruins of these tribes, enough for Vera to 'find slowly' and operate slowly. She wasn't a pure scientific researcher; she possessed the kind of power they had.

"'A stepping stone.' Whose door will it knock on first?"

Vera was vigilant yet expectant.

Chapter 050: Vera Arrives in Africa

Africa, a magical and ancient land.

Mentioning it, for some reason, the impression that instantly surfaces in people's minds always includes primitive, chaotic, war, hunger, many refugees, good scenery, many animals, and backward economies.

But today, ding ding—

May 26, 2075, Cape Town, South Africa (UTC+2 time zone), early morning. Carrying the briefcase, Vera stepped off the gangway and looked up.

"Good evening, Cape Town."

Seeing is believing. Today, her last bit of stereotype was thoroughly shattered. She didn't see a land of vibrant life and flourishing growth; she only saw a forest constructed of steel, glass, and concrete under cold neon lights and giant advertising screens.

It's quite prosperous, isn't it?

Though not the prosperity of the locals.

Gazing into the distance, there wasn't much green in the wilderness.

In this Cyberpunk world, even Africa, which had the best-preserved natural scenery, seemed to have little nature left.

After descending the gangway, Vera saw a small team of Arasaka low-level security personnel outside the fence, seemingly waiting for something, and further in the distance, a standard "Sacred Sword" type hovercar was parked and waiting.

A moment later, as if noticing Vera, the security team leader holding a PDA tablet stepped forward and bowed to Vera, asking, "Excuse me, are you Supervisor Russell?"

"I am Vera Adelheid."

"As per duty, and following procedure, please verify your SID chip."

Vera readily agreed.

Beep! Scan, identity verification passed.

Under the welcome of the Arasaka Cape Town branch security personnel, Vera smoothly boarded the hovercar.

Onboard AI: [Welcome to Cape Town, Ms. Russell. We wish you a pleasant study trip.]

Because Vera used the official channels of Tokyo University and Arasaka, before she officially boarded her flight to South Africa, the Cape Town branch had already prepared accommodation, transportation, security teams, and travel materials such as maps, South African products and customs, and local precautions suitable for her visitor level.

Inside the hovercar, Vera put down the dedicated internal datapad prepared by the Cape Town branch, along with a storage box containing the separated chips.

"They're really thoughtful."

Lifting the lid of the chip storage box, she even saw a Trauma Team beacon chip. The Trauma Team's African sector.

Trauma Team, full name Trauma Team International, their services are divided by region.

Even for Platinum members, the prices differ depending on the region.

After all, you can't expect them to equate the prices of chaotic no-man's-lands with those of peaceful, orderly zones. They are a private enterprise, aiming for maximum profit, and wouldn't leave such loopholes for others to exploit.

Trauma Team: [Ms. Russell, thank you again for your trust in our Trauma Team. We have established 53 medical service centers in the South and Central African regions. According to your current coordinates, Cape Town International Airport, if needed, the nearest rapid response team will arrive within approximately 2 minutes and 26 seconds. We will continue to serve you wholeheartedly...]

As Vera identified the beacon, she also deactivated the shielding on her internal bio-chip, switching her subscribed Trauma Team Platinum service from Tokyo to Central-Southern Africa.

She was a high-ranking Arasaka Security commander. Even though Trauma Team's credibility was undeniably No.1 among all corporations, it was impossible for them to have their bio-chip constantly monitoring her coordinates.

Normally, corporate dogs would shield their beacons, only automatically deactivating the shielding when attacked and their biological health readings became abnormal. They could also deactivate it manually.

If there were any covert corporate missions that couldn't see the light of day, that would be a different story, as there would be special requirements.

And since Vera's usual subscription zone, Night City in North America, was already a garbage heap with the lowest public safety rating in the world, she didn't need to pay extra.

The public safety situation in Cape Town was much better than in Night City.

Hum... hum...

Taking off her information-display sunglasses, Vera rested her chin on her hand, observing the unfamiliar city through the variable-tint glass of the hovercar.

Everywhere she looked, there were crisscrossing skyscrapers.

In terms of overall urban planning, while it couldn't compare to Tokyo, it was much more orderly than Night City.

The City Center was a bit small, and the quality, density, and height of the buildings were just passable, unable to completely obscure the city's sky. However, it looked quite pleasing to the eye.

This was the benefit of having fewer corporate giants setting up shop.

In Night City, almost all the corporate giants in the world had established special branches or even built office towers there.

While the investment from major corporations made the finance and cityscape prosperous, with skyscrapers everywhere and new facilities springing up, the mixed crowd resulting from the overlapping powers also meant that Night City's public safety had no hope of improvement.

If Night City was a gathering of warlords raising gu, chaotic and disorderly; Tokyo was a single entity completely dominating, with all Japanese companies submitting tribute; then Cape Town was one superpower with a few strong players.

Although Arasaka held the dominant position, other corporations could also get a piece of the pie.

And because fewer competing major corporations had set up shop, or the local powers were not strong enough, they had to abide by the joint rules set by Arasaka. From this city, Vera felt a sense of normal competitive atmosphere that she hadn't felt in a long time, and there weren't so many damn gang wars.