"During the long period when I did not appear before the public, many heartbreaking changes occurred within Arasaka Corporation. Quite a few wrong decisions were made, raising public doubts and damaging the company's image and reputation."
"I promise that this will soon become a thing of the past. Under my command, Arasaka Corporation will return to the glory of its golden age. It will once again become a powerful Arasaka, an Arasaka that will never be shaken..."
The tone was pure old Tokyo—Rising Sun flags and chrysanthemum crests.
After reporting the latest news that Saburo had extended his life once again and appeared in public, some foreign journalists and independent media workers gradually calmed down from their excitement and began searching for other stories worth digging into.
When they turned their attention to the Arasaka executives standing behind Saburo's podium before the logo wall, many sharp-eyed observers noticed a pale golden-haired woman standing to one side with a data pad in hand, discussing something with Shintaro Takayama, an Arasaka elder and the director of the Security Department.
Especially her position.
She ranked only below Hanako Arasaka, Shintaro Takayama, and several senior executives from confidential departments at Tokyo Arasaka Tower. Even several cyber-assassin leaders wearing Arasaka Family Estate lapel pins stood behind her, subtly protecting her... and taking her orders?!
"Three minutes. I want every piece of public information on this woman!"
"Vera Adelheid!"
An exquisite crystal glass was hurled into the wall and shattered, crystal fragments spraying everywhere.
In the suite, Sano Arasaka's body lay limply collapsed before the wall-sized television.
On the screen was Saburo Arasaka, restored to youth, delivering his speech. Some new biotechnology product, the Solaris Staircase Project's R-618 "Rebirth" serum—Norinobu knew perfectly well that it was the result of Vera Adelheid's trip to Africa!
"I