Chapter 83
"Please take a seat. You're just a young man, after all, indulging in your appetite."
He stood with his hands behind his back and shook his head.
The conversation then turned to the main theme of the dinner.
As the order to take their seats and begin the banquet was given, Hanako Arasaka rose respectfully from her prayer mat, like a puppet completely subservient to Saburo's imposing presence. Shintaro Takayama, who had been hiding behind the screen, also emerged.
Saburo is in the center, to the left are Wako and Shintaro Takayama, and to the right are empty seats, empty seats, and Vera.
Takemura and Oda were not eligible to attend.
Not long after, seemingly noticing Vera's puzzled expression, Saburo pointed to the empty seat on his right and said in a rather self-deprecating tone, "Occasionally, I hear other people talking in the shadows, Norinobu... It's a misfortune for the family. My unfilial son Norinobu hasn't attended the family gatherings that gave birth to him for decades."
"Michiko frequents outside, and her unhappy childhood of losing her father makes her always suspicious of such activities. As Michiko's friend, you should be able to empathize with her, having lost your parents in the Metal War."
Vera has lost her touch.
Her eyes seemed to dim instantly, and after a long while, she sighed and spoke with a low voice, "Yes, Lord Saburo. I often think about how to take revenge, how to repay my father and mother's expectations of me... I'm sorry, Lord Saburo, I don't want to talk about this topic anymore."
"I should be the one apologizing; no one wants to recall this topic."
Saburo's voice seemed to grow weary in an instant. He looked at the memorial tablet on the altar behind him, his body slightly hunched, and sighed, "Michiko is perhaps fortunate not to have seen the Arasaka family today, otherwise she would have been heartbroken by disappointment..."
His words were genuine; Vera couldn't detect any trace of rehearsal in them. When Saburo mentioned his beloved wife, Michiko, he did smile, though only for a fleeting moment.
"Family, responsibility, honor..."
This was the main point of Vera's speech at the Arasaka Academy in Night City.
Saburo looked again at the blond, blue-eyed, exceptionally beautiful, and elegant young junior with a refined and aloof demeanor.
Undoubtedly, everything about her is excellent: outstanding abilities, a clean background, contributions to Arasaka, hostility towards Militech, and high scores in his multiple assessments over the course of a year... Apart from being a little too arrogant and having an unpredictable level of ambition, she is practically a successor Heaven's Gift Arasaka by heaven.
Norinobu was rebellious, Wako lacked ability, and Michiko lacked prestige.
Even though Saburo is a guardian of traditional Japanese family values, culturally xenophobic, and looks down on the Western values of freedom and democracy from the bottom of his heart, he simply cannot ignore Vera, a genius junior who emerged from within his company.
He must make good use of her!
We must bind her completely to Arasaka's chariot.
"You have passed my test. Vera, you are a smart woman, you know when to stop, and that too much of anything is bad. 'The feeling of being betrayed by your own people on the eve of victory is unforgettable, enough to destroy any loyal heart.' I would add that it is also enough to destroy any trust."
Saburo said.
"Now, go, Michiko." He pointed to the altar. "Fred, Mia." He said Vera's parents' names. "They are like my Rei, and Arasaka will be their, your, eternal home."
Remind Vera to be like her parents.
This Michiko is not that Michiko. Vera didn't say anything, but simply stood up and walked to the altar.
Michiko Arasaka's father, Kei Arasaka Crown Prince.
That's fine.
After lighting three incense sticks, Vera, guided by the priest of the family shrine within the Arasaka Family Estate, respectfully and impartially offered three incense sticks to the sacrificial incense burner.
I worship you, for I will carry on your legacy, defeat Militech where you once failed, and then inherit everything you have.
She murmured this to herself.
Chapter 088 The Crown Prince died young, Norinobu is often ill; you should encourage him. (4.5K)
The Arasaka Family Estate, guest room and residence area.
Thump thump thump—
"Ms. Vera, it's time to get up and have breakfast."
In a bedroom with an unusually luxurious decor that clashes completely with the simple Japanese-Western style of the exterior, Vera is awakened by the knocking of a group of female servants.
"Aha... Whew."
Yawning, Vera, who had slept soundly through the night without any worries or tossing and turning, groggily got out of bed.
"Feeling refreshed."
Stretching her muscles, she walked to the window and opened it.
Vera's Vera pupils cleared instantly and focused. She looked out the window at the beautiful garden scenery that seemed to be covered by a layer of light snow. The shrine, eaves, corridors, and rockeries were all covered in silver and shimmered with a cool light in the sunlight.
Recalling the Arasaka family's New Year's Eve dinner party that Saburo had invited her to last night, Vera couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.
Offering unsolicited favors is either a sign of malice or theft.
It can be either bottom to top or top to bottom.
Vera Adelheid Arasaka Russell...
Although Saburo didn't explicitly say that she was being granted a surname, the fact that she was being invited to such a private family banquet and to offer incense and prayers to Kei Arasaka's memorial tablet, along with various hints and directives, made it very clear that she had gained access to the power center of the Arasaka Empire.
The designated person to be offered incense and prayers is Kei Arasaka, which means that she will inherit the mantle of the 'former Crown Prince '.
This was undoubtedly another encouragement and empty promise from Saburo to Vera.
To use an inappropriate analogy: The Crown Prince is often ill; you should encourage him.
After all, qualifications are just qualifications. In an exchange of equivalent value, Vera would need to make unparalleled sacrifices and contributions if she wanted to turn those elusive qualifications into real benefits.
What was the thing that former Kei Arasaka Crown Prince Takashi Arasaka spent the most time and energy on during his lifetime?
The Fourth Corporate War;
Who directly destroyed Kei Arasaka's grand vision and took his life?
New America and Militech, as well as some insignificant cyber lone wolf mercenaries;
As the heir to the mantle, and even the right of legal succession, Vera inevitably needs to avenge her 'father'.
This "father" includes both her biological parents who died in the Metal War, and the "father in legal and legitimacy" who may be publicly identified in the future.
Kei Arasaka is indeed Saburo's eldest son, but he is also a loser in the Corporate War.
Defeat is a disgrace.
The legal heirs of the losers must avenge their defeat in order to successfully reclaim their power and inheritance rights.
What would constitute revenge? Restoring Arasaka to its peak in 2020, expanding into the Eastern Pacific, retaking the West Coast, splitting Shin-American territory, and suppressing Militech...
In this respect, Saburo truly lives up to his reputation as a shrewd and insightful super-capitalist.
Based on maximizing his own interests, he did not have Hanako Arasaka take her in as his goddaughter, nor did he do it himself. Instead, he asked his eldest son, who had died young, to recognize his daughter on his behalf more than half a century later.
This aligns Vera's personal desire, or rather her outward expression, to avenge her parents with the interests of the company and the Arasaka Family.
Furthermore, it is well known that Sano Arasaka and his older brother Kei Arasaka had a bad relationship.
During his lifetime, Kei Arasaka would immediately fly into a rage whenever his rebellious younger brother was mentioned. He even publicly declared that sooner or later, Norinobu would pay the price for betraying the Arasaka Family, and later he actually sent people to assassinate and execute many of Norinobu's trusted members of the gang 'Steel Dragon'.
It's easy to imagine Norinobu's reaction when he learned for certain that Vera had offered incense to his good brother.
In Norinobu's eyes, his good brother's niece was probably worse than the adopted daughter that Sanlang had personally taken in, and he had an extra adopted sister who was more than half a century younger than him.
Oh, and there's also Michiko Arasaka, who, while sitting at home, has a sister fall from the sky.
The Night City subordinates and business partners who were nominally subordinate to each other have suddenly become sisters?!
Vera could already foresee that her future days would be quite eventful.
Saburo will not only not stop it, but will most likely be happy to see Vera and Norinobu compete.
It doesn't matter who is whose whetstone; what matters is that it can sharpen the knife.
These are likely another challenge for Sanlang's planning and setup. Handling them well will be a plus.
Of course, all of the above are Vera's speculations, without any basis. Let's just say it's a kind of 'telepathic understanding' between her and Saburo, a tacit understanding manifested in their mutual recognition of each other's ability to suppress mischief.
She never hesitated to speculate about this old bastard with the utmost malice.
Even so, she wouldn't be overly angry or hysterically furious.
Those who enjoy the benefits of inheriting Kei Arasaka's legacy must also bear the trials and corresponding harms. If you only want the benefits and don't want the bad or the sacrifices, how can everything in this world be perfect?
The premise is that Arasaka belongs to her...
Vera added quietly.
"Please come in."
Squeak—
With permission granted, six well-dressed, unpretentious, and unpretentious Arasaka maids filed in, pushing handcarts and carrying cosmetic boxes and various grooming tools. They naturally helped Vera walk to the dressing table and sit down.
The dressing table was soon filled with all kinds of cosmetics, and the jewelry box was casually opened, revealing the jewels inside that shimmered with different kinds of brilliance.
Vera was taken aback when the maid took out a pure white, elaborately decorated gown with a long skirt, adorned with Jade- colored silk and lace.
"What is this?" Where is my company uniform?
"Vera, these are your cleaned clothes."
A maid showed a genuine leather briefcase that had been opened; Vera's uniform, which she had changed into the night before, had been soaked, washed, dried, and ironed.
"This is what Miss Wako instructed. On the morning of January 1st, New Year's Day, Lord Saburo will hold an informal board meeting with the presidents of all branches around the world to discuss the new development strategy for Arasaka in 2076. As a member of the Night City Director of Operations and a rising star recognized by Lord Saburo, you must attend in formal attire."
Quite surprised, Vera gasped softly.
Informal boardroom conversation between the presidents of the Arasaka regional branch?
Should we let her participate as well?
Vera's eyes flickered.
Saburo's determination was greater than she had predicted.
The position of president, who oversees the Arasaka regional branch, is arguably the highest rank an ordinary person outside the Arasaka Family can attain. It truly represents a position of immense power and influence.
They are jokingly referred to as 'national-level directors'.
Not only are they qualified to meet at the same table as members of the Arasaka Family, but they also wield considerable influence in their respective regions, with political power even surpassing that of the Head of State.
Vera's Night City Council Member level is several levels lower than theirs.
Even though Night City is one of the 'Three Towers', the employee level in Arasaka's workplace is half a level higher than in other regions. To be comparable to the president of a regional branch, one would need to at least reach the level of vice president of the board.
Is Saburo Lao Deng going to bring her out for a public appearance?
This is even more exaggerated than the speech at the "2075 Tokyo Arasaka Tower Year-End Training Staff Summary Meeting".
It was almost as if he was saying to the local powerful figures in Arasaka, "Look, this is one of my newly chosen future successors. Everyone come and take a look."
This was a significant step ahead of what Vera had anticipated—that she would need to work on Militech in Night City before being promoted.
Compared to the latter she envisioned, the cards that Sanlang played in advance, while not offering any direct or substantial benefits, were less utilitarian and more indicative of his paternal love.
Oh no, I'm actually feeling a tiny bit touched.
Beware of Arasaka Arasaka's sugar-coated bullets!
Wash hands, cleanse face, rinse mouth, comb hair, condition hair...
Passive, like a doll, Vera was surrounded by a group of Arasaka maids.
She changed into a long evening gown, wore white roses and pearl hair accessories, an emerald brooch, a diamond necklace, white gloves, sapphire earrings, and even her dominant hand, which she used to wear white gloves, was adorned with a gemstone ring that served no practical purpose...
When everything was over, Vera walked to the dressing mirror with a blank expression, looking at herself in the mirror, her sharp features slightly softened, making her look like a delicate porcelain doll.
Is this still her?
Damn it.
Well, at least it's not a traditional Japanese kimono that's worn without a vacuum.
In this respect, Saburo Arasaka was not as traditional as he thought. He belonged to the Westernized Japanese style after the Meiji Restoration.
"Ms. Vera, please."
Well, surrounded by Arasaka's maids, Vera stood up, lifted her skirt, and walked out of the room, her high heels making a soft sound as they stepped on the carpet.
She's going to continue her laning phase with Arasaka.