Infinite, Progressing from Arasaka

He was loyal to Arasaka. His support for Vera was merely a straightforward judgment made from a sense of public duty: after evaluating her, he believed she could make Arasaka better. In terms of priority, however, she yielded to Saburo.

"Shintaro... it seemed you truly admired her."

Rising from his cushion, a sharp glint flashed in Saburo Arasaka's eyes as he slowly straightened his back.

Though doctors had told him as early as 2020, when he was 101 years old, that his movement had to be confined to a wheelchair, the support of cybernetic components still allowed him to walk at a basic level.

Rustle! At the sound, a bodyguard with her hair in a bun stepped forward and carefully helped Saburo Arasaka onward.

"Yes, I admired her greatly. She was a genius, but clearly not easy to control. She had a strong personal style and a powerful sense of purpose in everything she did, which conflicted considerably with our culture..."

Shintaro Takayama immediately rose as well and followed at Saburo's side.

"Differences are not worth mentioning..."

Amid the Zen-like serenity of a clear spring beside an artificial rockery and the gentle tapping of bamboo water fountains, Saburo Arasaka slowly made his way beneath the tea room's eaves. "I reviewed her file. An impressive résumé... She had plenty of little schemes, but they were inconsequential."

"As long as she could bring benefits to Arasaka, I could give her everything she wanted. Her parents' position would not be her final destination... Shintaro, add her to the candidate list."

"Inheriting her parents' aspirations... Hmph. If Norinobu had even a tenth of her ability, Arasaka, Kei, our father-son relationship, the two brothers... would not have come to this."

Judge actions, not intentions. Saburo examined Vera's rise and her achievements, then thought of his own unfilial son and snorted coldly. Though his words complained about his son, his tone was utterly indifferent.

Or rather, when Norinobu rebelled against him and vanished, their father-son bond had already faded.

The only reason he had kept Norinobu around was because he truly had only one son left. The other... was needed for a technology that was nearing maturity...

Standing beneath the eaves of the corridor leading to the main house, Saburo looked at the pines, cypresses, and cherry blossoms planted along the winding garden path. "Her Solaris Staircase Project—did you think it was a perfunctory scheme to swindle funding, or did she truly have an idea? What were the chances of success?"

"This... Lord Saburo, you know I did not understand scientific research, but according to the analysis, it should not have been a superficial response."

Shintaro Takayama paused.

"Miss Michiko's Dangerous Girl may have been urgent, but it was ultimately only on paper. They could not truly make Vera Adelheid focus on a side business; the Security Department was her job. Based on her record of improving recuperation products, she either did not respond at all or had already found something. After submitting the project, the odds of success were fifty-fifty."

"Her supporting materials could no longer be traced. Half a century ago, there were too many companies engaged in mining and transport in Africa, most of them European. The collapse of the Old Net caused by Rachie Bartmoss bankrupted and shuttered countless companies. CEOs of many listed conglomerates committed suicide, while enormous quantities of data were melted down or lost, or swallowed and dragged away by out-of-control AIs."

As he spoke, Shintaro Takayama tapped his data pad. The embedded projector in the corridor activated, displaying row after row of detailed records. There was also evidence that Vera had crossed the "Black Wall" under the protection of Arasaka cybersecurity experts to train her mental capacity and processing power.

The only question was which day she had defeated a Rogue AI and analyzed it.

No matter how he looked at it, Shintaro Takayama did not think Vera was a spy. She did not resemble one at all; there was neither motive nor logic. Even when traces of "collusion with enemies" emerged, the final investigation either found the evidence unreliable or revealed it to be a smear campaign by rival companies trying to bring her down.

"A genius?"

After pondering for a long time, Saburo Arasaka finally put aside his suspicions. "An accidental collaboration with Michiko, from developing beauty and health products to recuperation medicine, and she discovered something like this midway through."

Geniuses were the most unreasonable kind of people in the world.

Like Rachie Bartmoss. Like Alt Cunningham, inventor of Soulkiller.

After investigating for so long, Saburo's analysts were certain that Vera's research and improvements were all new formulas and combinations unavailable on the market.

No matter how one thought about it, Biotechnology would never subsidize Arasaka like this while leaving new drugs unmonopolized. As for military research, that was even less likely. Medical technology was their weak point.

Vera's project greatly interested Saburo.

"For now, let us see what she discovered after going to Africa. Takemura, order the security forces to secretly monitor Vera Adelheid and watch for unusual behavior. Dispatch a security team to protect her at all times as well."

"Yes!"

With his hands clasped behind his back, Saburo Arasaka pulled up a half-length image of Vera Adelheid and stared at her. "..." After a long while, he shifted his gaze and looked toward the faintly visible Tokyo Metropolis skyline.

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

The black phantom of the tower stood over six hundred meters tall, rising above the rest and able to overlook every man-made structure in Tokyo.

But it was not enough. He wanted it higher.

He needed time to accomplish it.

Immortality.

A longer lifespan.

Saburo Arasaka craved it desperately.

No matter how much the outside world feared him, no matter how overwhelming his power was, once everything external was stripped away, he was now merely an old antique whose body was already declining.

He would not let any chance to extend his life pass by.

"I cannot die yet. Michiko has compromised, Wako is conservative, and Norinobu lacks the qualities to lead Arasaka. He cannot lead Japan back to its former glory—as I see it... Before I complete my mission, I cannot fall..."

2075/5/25, 10:15 a.m.

At Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, a massive holographic screen displayed the time. Vera stepped out of the car with a suitcase in hand and glanced at the business flight departing from Arasaka's private terminal for Cape Town, South Africa.

Having changed out of Todai's black-and-red uniform, she looked relaxed, as if she were truly going on a school trip.

Wearing brown smart aviator sunglasses, a black shirt with a silver Arasaka Clover pin at the collar, a buttonless red jacket, fitted black pants, and black mid-heeled high-top boots, Vera walked up the boarding stairs in an outfit that was already as casual as possible.

A school trip ought to look like a school trip. Nowhere else was as obsessed with uniforms as Japan, and Vera was not traveling in an official capacity. There was no need to dress so rigidly, even if her outfit would have counted as quite formal in other worlds.

It was just that...

From the corner of her eye, Vera glanced at the boarding passengers and the crowd in the terminal. The feeling of being watched was intense.

Perhaps because of the fusion of souls, her senses had been extremely sharp ever since childhood.

And after activating Heaven's Gift, it was as if she had gathered the power of her counterparts across time and space. The more she interacted with them, the sharper her senses became, beginning to develop toward a "mind's eye" and "sixth sense." During combat on field assignments, she was rarely caught by close-range sneak attacks anymore.

The scrutiny emanating from these people had begun increasing sharply only after Vera submitted the Solaris Staircase Project in early May. Though she did not know the details, she guessed she might have drawn the attention of some undying old man and his dutiful son.

She was not certain. It might also have been the initiative of their subordinates.

The fish had taken the bait.

It was faster than Vera had expected, but it did not matter. After all, she knew nothing.

For the following half month, she carried on beneath their watchful eyes.

She attended classes as usual, met with her plastic friends, went to Tokyo theaters to cultivate her artistic sensibilities, haunted libraries and laboratories, and ordered leeches. After the first law examination ended, Vera passed with an A grade, and summer break began.

Following the already-filed travel plan step by step, Vera booked her flight to Cape Town, South Africa.

Then those people really followed her over. It seemed they were going to Africa too?

Were they Saburo Arasaka's people?

Or Sano Arasaka's people?

I won't get caught in the crossfire, will I?

Better safe than sorry. She had no idea what orders that old bastard and the younger bastard had given.

She had to ensure her own safety first. Once she reached Cape Town, she would borrow several Arasaka response teams using her rank.

After calming her somewhat restless emotions, Vera looked at the military-grade sealed suitcase in her hand, which had an internal self-destruct program. Inside was the leech DNA she had prepared.

As for the Progenitor Virus samples, the Sun Stairflower, including flower plants that had lost the Progenitor Virus's traits, and the fresh Sun Stairflowers still growing in the flower bed at the ruins of the Dubaiya Tribe in West Africa from Resident Evil—

Escorted by a flight attendant into the first-class cabin, Vera adjusted her seat and sat down. Turning her head toward the window, she saw her own reflection faintly visible in the transparent glass. In a momentary flicker, Vera saw "herself" inside Umbrella's African Research Center.

Everything was ready.

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

Bantu was a branch of the Atlantic-Congo family within Africa's Niger-Congo language family and was widespread throughout central and southern Africa. There were far too many tribal ruins. Vera had more than enough places to "search slowly" and operate at her leisure. She was not some pure researcher; she possessed their kind of power.

"Who would this 'knock on the door' reach first?"

Vera was wary—and expectant.

Vera Arrives in Africa

Africa, a magical and ancient land.

Whenever people mentioned it, nobody knew since when, but images of primitiveness, chaos, war, hunger, refugees, beautiful scenery, abundant wildlife, and economic backwardness would instantly surface in their minds.

But today—thud, thud—

In the early hours of 2075/5/26, Cape Town, South Africa time (UTC+2), Vera stepped off the boarding stairs with her suitcase and looked up.

"Good evening, Cape Town."

Seeing it in person was better than hearing about it. Today, even the last remnants of her stereotypes were thoroughly shattered. She saw no vibrant land teeming with life. All she saw was a forest of steel, glass, and concrete beneath cold neon lights and enormous advertising screens.

It was quite prosperous.

Though it was not prosperity that belonged to the locals.

Looking into the distance, there was little green across the wilderness.

In the Cyberpunk world, even Africa, where natural scenery had been best preserved, seemed to have little nature left.

The moment she stepped off the boarding stairs, Vera saw a small team of low-level Arasaka security personnel apparently waiting for someone beyond the barrier, as well as a standard Holy Sword hovercar parked farther away on standby.

Soon, apparently noticing Vera, the security team commander holding a PDA stepped forward and bowed as he asked, "Excuse me, are you Supervisor Russell?"

"I am Vera Adelheid."

"It is required by protocol. Please verify your SID chip."

Vera had no objection.

Beep! Scan complete. Identity verification passed.

Welcomed by the security personnel of Arasaka's Cape Town branch, Vera smoothly boarded the hovercar.

In-car AI: Welcome to Cape Town, Ms. Russell. We wish you a pleasant school trip.

Since Vera had used Todai and Arasaka's official channel, even before she formally boarded her flight to South Africa, the Cape Town branch had already prepared lodging appropriate to her visitor rank, transportation, a security team, and travel materials such as maps, information on South African products and scenery, local precautions, and more.

Inside the hovercar, Vera set down the dedicated internal data pad prepared by the Cape Town branch, along with a storage case containing the Separate Chip.

"They really were thorough."

When she lifted the lid of the chip storage case, she even saw a Trauma Team beacon chip. One for Trauma Team's African region.

Trauma Team, fully known as Trauma Team International, provided regional services.

Even for Platinum members, prices differed by region.

After all, one could not demand that they charge the same prices in lawless, chaotic zones as in peaceful, orderly areas. They were a private company devoted to maximizing profits; they would not leave such a loophole for others to exploit.

Trauma Team: Ms. Russell, thank you once again for placing your trust in Trauma Team. We operate fifty-three medical service centers across South Africa and Central Africa. Based on your current coordinates, Cape Town International Airport, should you require assistance, the nearest rapid-response rescue team will reach you in approximately two minutes and twenty-six seconds. We will continue to serve you with utmost dedication...

As the beacon was recognized, Vera also lifted the block on the implanted biochip inside her body, transferring her Trauma Team Platinum service subscription from Tokyo Metropolis to Central and Southern Africa.

She was a high-ranking security commander for Arasaka. Even though Trauma Team's credibility was indisputably number one among all corporations, she could not allow Trauma Team's biochip to monitor her coordinates at all times.

Under normal circumstances, Corporate Dogs blocked the beacon. Only when they came under attack or their biological health readings became abnormal would the block automatically be removed according to protocol. It could also be manually removed.

Covert corporate missions were another matter and came with specific requirements.

And because Vera's subscription area had always been Night City, North America—a garbage dump ranked among the worst places in the world for public safety—she did not need to pay extra.

Cape Town's security situation was far better than Night City's.

Hum... hum...

Removing her smart sunglasses, Vera propped her chin on one hand and observed the unfamiliar city through the hovercar's adjustable glass.

Everywhere she looked was filled with crisscrossing skyscrapers.

In terms of overall urban planning, it might not compare to Tokyo, but it was far more orderly than Night City.

The City Center was a little small, and the quality, density, and height of its buildings were merely passable, unable to completely cover the city's sky. Still, it looked quite pleasing.

That was the benefit of having fewer corporate giants stationed here.

In a place like Night City, nearly every corporate giant in the world had a dedicated branch there, or even its own office tower.

Investment from Major Corporations certainly made the finances and cityscape prosperous, filling it with high-rises and new infrastructure. But the tangled interests and resulting mix of every sort of character made Night City's public security seem utterly beyond hope.

If Night City was a chaotic breeding ground where competing powers congregated, and Tokyo was a place where one corporation held absolute dominance while Japanese companies submitted tribute, then Cape Town was one dominant power with several lesser ones.

Arasaka held the leading position, but other corporations could still eat meat and drink soup.

And because fewer rival corporate giants had established themselves here—or because the local powers were too weak and had no choice but to abide by the shared rules set by Arasaka—Vera felt a long-lost atmosphere of normal competition in this city. There were far fewer damn gang wars, too.