Infinite Progression, Starting with Arasaka

Heh, after all, I have to fully demonstrate my rigor and reliability. If researching viruses turns into a biohazard incident, how embarrassing would that be?

Next.

With the slight hum of the small elevator, a brand-new, brightly polished experimental pod delivered another white mouse into it.

In the world of Cyberpunk, mice are probably one of the few animals that remain abundant everywhere, with their numbers barely decreasing compared to before the environmental degradation. This is because they live in specialized breeding facilities within research institutions, making them very cheap as lab subjects.

After all, their genes are highly similar to human genes, around 90%, making them natural biological experiment materials.

"Squeak squeak."

A pair of clear, large eyes blinked at the tall, blonde beauty outside the experimental pod, holding a data tablet.

[18th dose experiment, adjusting, continue to increase injection volume...]

Vera operated the thick, long needle. Here it comes!

"Screech—"

[Stability, Tolerance, Adaptability]

After heavily annotating these three key elements, Vera put down the data tablet again and looked at the experimental pod. A mutated zombie mouse was frantically attacking and gnawing on another white mouse.

[Body fluids and droplets exchanged from bites and scratches by infected individuals have a very high probability of causing transmission... This virus should not be airborne; further experimental verification and observation are needed.]

This was the preliminary conclusion drawn from observing two white mice placed in the same cage, where only one was infected and then separated, and collecting and identifying the air composition within the pod using micro-observation equipment.

Vera knew this, of course, but she needed to appear as if she had discovered it through experimental verification.

She checked the time.

22/49

Well, it's not early anymore. Time to clock out, clock out.

No! This is her summer vacation, why is she acting like she's still at work...

Pressing the button, she sterilized the experimental pod once more. Vera straightened up and stretched lazily.

Next, after writing down new ideas for stability experiments on the data tablet at the control console, she cast one last glance at the protective window not far away.

Through cybernetic technology, a cutting-edge biotechnology instrument was stabilizing the fusion of leech DNA with the Progenitor Virus sample.

"It's truly foolproof operation," she murmured.

She could now somewhat understand the mindset of those virology fanatics. Completing a Super Virus that could promote human evolution with her own hands, guiding it from uncontrollably to gradually controllable, the process of taming it indeed held a peculiar thrill.

Although Vera didn't feel it deeply, as she was imitating.

Question William, understand William, become...

Ugh, Vera had no interest in injecting herself with an uncontrollable virus.

She would never become him!

She would use him as a lesson, a warning.

Pushing the distracting thoughts aside, she rubbed her temples and left the laboratory.

After a set of safety procedures including spray disinfection and UV sterilization, Vera, having changed out of her protective suit, walked out of the Arasaka Bio-Laboratory in Johannesburg, South Africa.

"Hoo?" Still not giving up, staring for several days straight...

The moment she stepped out of the industrial park, Vera could feel several gazes following her.

Fewer than when she went to Central Africa.

Is it Saburo's, or Sano's?

After exiting the main gate and instructing the Arasaka guards and lab security of the industrial park to maintain strict vigilance, she unhurriedly walked towards the helipad, heading back to the hotel to sleep.

You father and son can fight; what does it have to do with this 'loyal' Arasaka like her? All her actions comply with procedures, and she reports everything immediately.

Fight away. I've put everything here. Whatever ruthless tactics you can come up with is your capability. I'm the victim anyway.

Ding dong.

Boarding the hovercar and disabling the information shielding, three messages quickly flashed on the virtual grid of Vera's cybernetic eye implant.

One from Dangerous Girl, a simple request for her to quickly present new improvements to the convalescent care services.

Another from Tokyo University, subtly reminding her that since her study trip was over, she could return to Tokyo. Tokyo's laboratories were better, and curiosity and research enthusiasm were good things. After seeing Vera's recent log reports, they were also very interested in the so-called Sun Stairflower and hoped Vera would return to Tokyo after preliminary research.

The third was from Arasaka Night City North American Headquarters, from Jimmy, Vera's adjutant, reporting on work. Since she had gone on a study trip to South Africa, work reports had been interrupted for a period.

Without overthinking, Vera replied to each one.

She specifically replied to Tokyo University that she would begin her return journey the day after tomorrow.

In a dilapidated building a kilometer away from the industrial park, in a dimly lit room, the pupils of a tall, dark silhouette holding a military-grade high-precision telescope instantly flashed orange-red.

"B2 reporting, target has left the industrial park. Over."

Saying this, he scanned the room. Crates of military-grade weaponry were stacked in the corner. On the worn-out sofa, drinking, smoking, and taking drugs were the elite agents who had arrived in Johannesburg in batches and infiltrated the area over the past few days.

They lay and sat around haphazardly, their cybernetic eyes also flashing orange-red, clearly connected to the same communication channel.

"Latest intelligence update: Vera Adelheid Russell will be returning to Tokyo from Johannesburg the day after tomorrow."

"You all should know what she acquired in Central Africa by now after reviewing the data. The Sun Stairflower. According to information from our informant at Tokyo University, it's an extinct 'flower of longevity,' possibly the only one in the world, with extremely high value for medical research."

"It's been basically confirmed that this is the medicine keeping Saburo Arasaka alive, and it's also one of the main products the Arasaka Medical Department plans to launch in the future. Whether we aim to cripple Arasaka's financial strength or shatter Saburo's dream of immortality, this operation is crucial."

"We can't be sure if Vera Adelheid will return to the hotel tomorrow or stay overnight in the lab. Her combat capabilities were tested with the blood of our colleagues in Night City. She's not much easier to deal with than Adam Smasher. Tonight is our best opportunity."

"Higher command has contacted the warlords in Central Africa. They've long been dissatisfied with Arasaka's continuous exploitation and encroachment. Tonight, they will deploy troops to cause trouble and pressure the South African border outposts to help divert our attention."

"After blowing up the power hub supplying Arasaka Industrial Park in C3, higher command wants us to infiltrate Vera Adelheid's laboratory immediately."

"Remember, time is of the essence. You have fifteen minutes at most. If infiltration fails, we go in by force. If we can't get the Sun Stairflower, it's worthless. Let's make sure that flower goes extinct from Earth."

"Prepare yourselves!"

"Yes!" xN

Chapter 054: Once Supervisor Vera Arrives.jpg

Outside Tokyo, Arasaka Family Compound.

Drip...

Stepping on the waxed, softly glowing wooden floor, Shintaro Takayama, the compound's Head of Security, moved quietly around the corner of the long corridor to a viewing platform overlooking a natural mountain pond. Behind a solitary figure, he respectfully bowed.

It was Saburo Arasaka.

Under the eaves, wind chimes swayed in the breeze, emitting a crisp sound.

Saburo reclined in his high-tech, advanced wellness wheelchair, facing the rising sun as if bathing in its morning rays. In the light, the withered temples on his furrowed brow seemed even sparser.

Medical personnel carefully adjusted the various basic prosthetics and artificial neural circuits on his body using a central connector, performing daily routine health checks and micro-injections of the 'longevity drug,' to which his tolerance had already reached its limit.

He was too old.

Physiologically, he was infinitely close to the concept of 'natural death.' His body could not withstand further cybernetic prosthetics or biological organ replacements. Even the injection of the 'longevity drug' required strict dosage control, for fear that a slightly stronger effect might cause new damage.

After a long while, when the day's physical examination and maintenance concluded, the frail and aged Saburo Arasaka finally spoke in a hoarse voice, "I've truly grown old, Shintaro... A me like this is truly incomparably fragile and ugly."

"You must never give up, Lord Saburo. Lord Sano, Miss Wako, Miss Michiko—none of them can yet bear the heavy responsibility of leading Arasaka!"

Without hesitation, kneeling in the manner of a loyal retainer, Shintaro Takayama declared with absolute conviction, "Arasaka still needs your wise leadership!"

"Sigh..."

With a sigh, Saburo Arasaka did not dwell on the topic.

"Family misfortune," he muttered coldly, then continued, "So, what has my unfilial son been up to recently? Why suddenly retrieve Vera Adelheid Russell's data? His subordinates have no contact or vested interest with Russell, so why recommend her? Stirring up discussion and criticism from the sidelines, judging by his actions, he wants to transfer her back to Night City to continue her duties in the Security Department?"

"His intelligence is truly sharp. He's so eager for me to die..."

"..."

Shintaro Takayama naturally knew what Saburo was referring to.

It seemed that the excellent junior from Night City whom he valued was truly going ahead with the 'Sun Stairflower Project.' This naturally attracted the attention of Sano, who was eager to succeed his father after his death. As it involved Arasaka family matters, he found it difficult to interject.

Even though he strongly disliked Sano Arasaka's past dissolute behavior and disdained his actions of first leaving Arasaka only to crawl back shamefully, believing him to be inferior to the eldest son, Kei Arasaka, in every way, a retainer is a retainer and cannot overstep. After all, he was Lord Saburo's son.

His only son, currently.

"Shintaro, what are your thoughts on Vera Adelheid's 'Sun Stairflower Project' and the Progenitor Virus's evolution of human DNA?" Saburo Arasaka asked, as if having vented his criticism and dissatisfaction with his unfilial son.

Shintaro Takayama carefully considered his words.

"From what we see now, she has already gained some insight. She truly found the 'sacred flower' used by ancient African tribal chiefs for healing and extending life in the underground ruins of the ancient Tuban tribe in Central Africa, and fortunately managed to extract the necessary substances. I believe her submitted experimental reports and speculations are not baseless..."

To be honest, Shintaro Takayama was astonished.

While both he and Saburo Arasaka had noticed Vera, their focus differed.

He had initially selected Vera based on the need for a new generation of core personnel in the Security Department and Arasaka's North American strategy, considering her personal combat performance, achievements, company reputation, and background.

Lord Saburo, however, was likely motivated more by personal needs...

Ever since Vera 'retrieved' the so-called Sun Stairflower from Central Africa, Lord Saburo had noticeably mentioned and paid more attention to her.

"According to Vera Adelheid's preliminary experimental report from Johannesburg, South Africa, she has completed the extraction and cultivation of the well-preserved Sun Stairflower. The problem of the flower's degradation after being removed from its soil has been temporarily addressed... She will return to Tokyo by June 9th at the latest."

As Shintaro Takayama explained, the projector under the eaves emitted a faint "shashasha" sound. Various graphical information transmitted from Johannesburg was projected into the air. The enlarged content allowed Saburo to see clearly.

The successfully transferred and cultivated Sun Stairflower in the laboratory, the discovery and extraction of the Progenitor Virus, multiple dosage injection experiments on white mice, the enhanced vitality of the virus-infected mice, and Vera's directed cultivation experiments to stabilize the Progenitor Virus... all were listed chronologically on the screen.

"Excellent."

Saburo Arasaka suddenly opened his previously dozing eyes, a flicker of sharp light flashing in his once cloudy gaze.

His hunched body leaned slightly forward, and he stared intently at the holographic image. Under the operation of the pale blonde woman in a protective suit, the image moved and zoomed in. The changes occurring in the white mice within the glass laboratory cage were visible.

From the shedding of fur and ulceration of the entire body to bleeding, after dozens of experiments that should have been fatal, astonishingly, this white mouse was still alive, though its movements had become slightly sluggish.

Saburo Arasaka stared intently at everything, afraid of missing even the slightest detail.

Only after the pale blonde woman in the image completed blood collection from the white mouse and injected a larger dose of the virus, causing its complete death and subsequent disposal, did he reluctantly avert his gaze.

He took a shallow breath and excitedly shifted his gaze to Shintaro Takayama, who stood beside him. The look in his eyes was like that of a drowning man seeing a lifeline.

"Shintaro," Saburo Arasaka commanded with unquestionable authority, "raise her security level. Deploy new special security forces from Tokyo to protect her and her research projects. Arrange for a private jet for her transport. Absolutely no mistakes can be made!"

"As for my unfilial son's petty schemes, I know he wants to muddy the waters. Perhaps he's never given up on his naive and childish ideas. Warn his subordinates that seeking accolades for support must be timely. Know what should be done and what shouldn't. I am not dead yet, and Arasaka is not his to command."

"What I give him is his. If I don't give it, he cannot take it."

Saburo Arasaka spoke with extreme coldness and arrogance.

"Tell Sano that I can give him life, and likewise, I can take it away. I can let him have everything, and I can make him lose everything."

"Yes, Lord Saburo!" Shintaro Takayama bowed his head humbly and took his leave.

Tick...

As the footsteps gradually faded, Saburo Arasaka leaned back in his wheelchair. His sharp, hawk-like gaze slowly receded, becoming cloudy again.

He slowly brought up a panoramic overview of Johannesburg. Arasaka buildings, brightly lit everywhere, and Arasaka armed personnel were clearly visible. It was early morning in South Africa, and Vera Adelheid had already returned to her quarters to rest.

"Relic... I hope it won't be needed... Vera Adelheid has no suspicion of colluding with the enemy, and her background is loyal. Then she shall be entrusted with a great responsibility... She has ambition... Then I shall give her a platform for her ambition."

He murmured to himself.

Enjoying the rare good mood of a morning sunbath, just as Saburo Arasaka anticipated Vera's return to Tokyo the day after tomorrow with the Sun Stairflower and Progenitor Virus samples, zzzzzt...

"!!!"

Saburo Arasaka's eyes snapped open, which had been slowly closing. What greeted his sight was a stretch of dark red.