Chapter 90
Buzzing...
The sound of the large airship's Vector Engine echoed across the Arasaka Corporation's dedicated helipad.
On the wide helipad, there was a whole row of 'Holy Sword' type hovercars, and on the flat ground next to them, there were now well-dressed Arasaka Employee in suits.
Around them, Security Department personnel dressed in heavy black combat suits and equipped with a full set of Arasaka individual weapons were constantly moving about.
Inside the luxuriously furnished floating vehicle, Vera adjusted her posture and gazed out the window. The sleek skyscrapers of the city's municipal center created a savage, fortress-like skyline.
I'm home.
Her Night City.
Although it's not yet...
[Jimmy: Sir, welcome back to Night City. I've spotted your private jet. Good news, Phase Two is largely complete. I've successfully activated several spies within the Barghest and the Six Street Gang, instigating and provoking armed conflict between the two gangs. Currently, the Barghest's army has entered the Valley District, and the Six Street Gang are suffering heavy losses. I predict they will lose half of Santo Domingo's control before dawn...]
Vera: Okay, just monitor in real time. No need to worry about what happens next. Pay attention to the movements of Militech.
Vera hung up the video call, her eyes flashing with an orange-red light.
It was easier than she had expected, but she wasn't surprised at all by the expansion of the Barghest.
Such is human nature, especially for the Barghest who have been manipulated and incited by Vera for years. The suppressed hatred of the lower-ranking soldiers is not something Hansen can suppress.
It's a very simple principle: it takes only a mouth to spread rumors, but it takes a lot of legwork to refute them.
After coming to a complete stop, the doors of the airship opened.
Under the protection of the Cyber Ninja bodyguards dispatched by Saburo to the Arasaka compound, Vera stepped down the gangway.
Ignoring the dense crowd of reporters and media personnel in the distance, Vera walked through the line of employees from the Arasaka management team, including Jimmy, Brian, Laurie, and even Jenkins and Tanaka. She found her good seniors with smiles on her face, who were also the key positions she would be taking over later.
"Long time no see, Uncle Thomas."
While scheming about Militech, she will not forget her other important task upon returning: to inherit the 'former Crown Prince's legacy' and to quickly and truly integrate a faction that belongs to her.
Chapter 094 Who Else But Me? (4.5K)
Corporate Plaza, Arasaka Tower.
2076/1/24|11/18
Floor 108, one of the floors reserved for high-ranking leaders of Arasaka, Vera sat quietly by the window in the grand living room that occupied the entire south side of the floor, looking at the sparse dark clouds outside the built-in mortise and tenon structure window, as well as the magnificent city skyline with its various styles.
A strong wind, predicted by the weather forecast, dispersed the smog brought by several days of light rain in the city. As the temperature inversion smog and acid rain dissipated, the Night City, a beautiful but always disheveled girl, presented a rare and brief moment of cleanliness and clarity.
One must climb to the summit to survey all the lesser peaks below.
That's all there is to it.
Besides, the Militech building that's just a stone's throw away...
"It's in the way," Vera said coldly.
A fortress-like Militech building stands directly south of Arasaka Tower. Just as Militech hinders the development of Arasaka's business, its location obstructs Arasaka Tower's view of Heywood, Santo Domingo, and Pacifica.
This also hindered Vera's desire to see the entire southern part of Night City.
The Night City Arasaka Tower has 130 floors and is 660 meters tall, making it the tallest building in Night City. However, it is still not tall enough. At least from the 108th floor, Vera cannot stand on the foot of the Militech Heywood and have a panoramic view of the gang wars in the River Valley.
"Jimmy, do you think I can step on it?"
Vera lowered her gaze slightly, staring at the 'Militech' logo on the building across the street.
"Uh..." Jimmy looked embarrassed.
How do I answer this question?
The acting commander of the Special Rapid Response Unit looked out the window with a bitter expression, his mind racing, trying to figure out how to answer in a way that wouldn't seem too obsequious, while also not offending his superior. He also had to consider the boomerang effect—what if he said something too absolute and then couldn't save face later?
"I..."
"Alright." Vera interrupted Jimmy's slightly stammering words with a gentle smile, "I won't make things difficult for you."
"I am aware of the details of the battle in the River Valley. Go. Send the city sheriff, along with the NCPD, to conduct another sweep of the Heywood area. Also, notify the marketing and engineering departments to contact the Barghest through official channels, and bring in Soshikah and Petrochem. We need to secure a share of the River Valley reconstruction orders..."
"Yes."
Jimmy nodded, accepted the order, and quickly left the floor that should have been inaccessible to someone of his current rank.
Vera then snapped her fingers and made an upward gesture.
Buzz! The smart AI in the living room recognized the message, and the holographic screen in the center of the reception room magnified, restoring the audio that had been muted because someone was giving a work report.
While gently stroking the lush, green potted plants in the room, Vera gazed at the surveillance footage transmitted from the monitoring centers of the various Arasaka factories in the River Valley District:
The dilapidated streets and alleys were blackened by smoke and fire. The walls, already covered in graffiti and with peeling plaster, were riddled with bullet holes. Scattered bullet casings, wrecked vehicles, and mutilated corpses were piled up here and there in the middle of the street. The scene was a gang stronghold with a large number of unfinished buildings collapsed, and the gaps in the walls looked like they had been chewed by dogs...
Thinking back to the fierce battle in Santo Domingo in the early hours of the morning, when she was probably attending a welcome banquet hosted by the Night City Arasaka Department at the Konpeki Plaza, Vera couldn't help but shake her head and sigh.
What a diverse world it is.
By the time she had eaten and drunk her fill, chatted with the Corporate Dog, and slept soundly until dawn, the gang war Barghest Gang and the Six Street Gang had ended.
The result was unsurprising: the warlords' organization brutally defeated the militia gangs.
Overnight, the Six Street Gang wiped out several of its major gang strongholds in the River Valley area.
Vera knew very well that Arasaka hadn't helped enough to stuff the Six Street Gang's troop deployments into the mouth of the Barghest. Clearly, the Barghest itself had specifically investigated the Six Street Gang's background.
The NCPD and the Night City government did not react much, but issued strong condemnations.
In other words, the Barghest were very sensible and did not pull out their trump card of a large number of 'excessive' heavy war weapons.
[Analysis Report: Based on current information, it is estimated that the Six Street Gang will suffer a reduction of 630-750 members after this conflict.] Vera glanced at the document sent by the Information Department.
The Six Street Gang is finished.
According to preliminary information, the Six Street Gang is expected to have around 2,300 members in 2076.
Not long ago, in a brawl with the Valentino Gang in Heywood, Vera instructed Jimmy to use the opportunity to kill dozens of elite thugs. Now, they were attacked by the Barghest and lost the Valley overnight. Many members lost their lives in the confusion of the distress signals and the chaotic situation.
The gang was severely weakened, and its territory was reduced to only the Heywood Scenic Area and Coronado Farms in Santo Domingo, which was also cut off by the River Valley occupied by the Barghest.
She did not intend to leave the Lijing Scenic Area to the Six Street Gang.
"I am Vera Adelheid." Vera's prosthetic eye flashed with data streams. "I need an analysis report on the influence of the Valentino Gang and the Moxes Gang in the Lisboa area... plus the Tyger Claws's. As soon as possible."
She was assessing the feasibility of supporting other gangs to occupy the Lijiang scenic area.
In any case, avoid anything related to Militech, and just maintain good relations with Arasaka. The streets have their own rules and regulations; currently, let alone Arasaka, even European Bank don't have a suitable way to eradicate the gangs on the streets of Paris.
Alternatively, if gangs are truly unsuitable, how about handing it over to the NCPD...? Using the security agreement signed between Arasaka and the Night City Council as a benchmark, jointly govern the Rei area and create a model security district...
Speaking of public security services.
It's an old-fashioned skill, Arasaka's biggest and most famous specialty.
With that in mind, Vera dialed the interdepartmental communication line within Arasaka again.
[To the Security Services Liaison Department: Our security officers will be conducting community patrols soon. You should seize this opportunity presented by the current unrest to promote a sense of security. Focus your security service promotion efforts on the Lijiang Scenic Area and the River Valley area. Consider offering discounted group packages for families, communities, and neighborhoods with reduced security levels.]
Yes, yes, including the River Valley... I've already sent people to talk to the Barghest. Having dealt with Washington's mistress, if they want to quickly establish a foothold in the River Valley, they won't refuse the olive branch we've extended.
[Intelligence Department, I need all information on Kurt Hansen before and after his defection to the NUSA Military, as well as a detailed report on the events that occurred during that time period and a personality analysis.]
Regardless of the ownership of the Lijiang scenic area, the pursuit of business expansion, profit generation, and involvement in Militech should not be forgotten.
One of her current roles North American Operations Council Director.
The word "operation" extends beyond her basic security and military authority; she can now openly and legitimately win over and command people in other departments.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
Click—
The door was pushed open, revealing the Cyber Ninja of the Arasaka Family Estate.
"The board member is James Thomas, the first deputy director."
"Please come in quickly."
Soon, a middle-aged man wearing a black suit with red stripes in the Arasaka style, whose sideburns and beard were already turning gray, walked in.
Vera stood up and immediately went to greet her.
"Uncle Thomas."
"It seems that a year of academic life in Tokyo with books around hasn't made you rusty." James Thomas forced a smile. "My little princess, Fred and Mia will be so proud of you."
Upon hearing this praise, Vera seemed to leap with joy, and with light steps, she placed a cup of coffee that she had just brewed herself in front of Thomas.
"It's nothing more than Lord Saburo's appreciation and Uncle Thomas's help from years ago." But she quickly calmed down at Thomas's satisfied expression and gently asked, "Is Lady Michiko coming to Night City?"
"You're still so perceptive."
Thomas nodded, carefully considering his words.
"Kei Arasaka's legacy isn't so easy to inherit, Vera. Although you have the support of us old guys from the North American Security Department, Michiko Arasaka also has..."
Vera smiled at this, changed her posture, leaned back, crossed her legs, crossed her hands over her lower abdomen, and tapped the back of her left hand with her right index finger.
James Thomas is the First Deputy Director of the Security Department, a senior security officer with a higher rank than Vera, and he is also a member of the council.
The reason Vera was on a higher floor than him in the Arasaka Tower was because of the special treatment given to her by Saburo Arasaka. In the Arasaka Family Estate, Vera had made an appearance in front of the 'national-level directors' of Arasaka Global.
"Gifts are never given out of thin air. Only those who strive with all their might are worthy of receiving them."
Vera looked in a certain direction inside the room.
Thomas followed his gaze.
Then came a shock.
Behind the drawn curtain of the cubicle, there was a portrait of Kei Arasaka.
Instead of giving Thomas a direct answer, Vera explained her mission upon returning to Night City, mentioning her amusing experiences in Tokyo and her encounters with Saburo, Shintaro Takayama, and Wako.
Then, she smiled calmly at Thomas—
"I will avenge Lord Kei Arasaka."
That was enough, Thomas understood.
Revenge means wiping away shame; once the humiliation is avenged, you will be the heir.
"This isn't easy, Vera..."
"But this is Arasaka will inevitably have to face in the future."
Vera quietly placed her crossed legs back on the carpet and straightened her posture. "The view from the top of Arasaka Tower is beautiful; we should go see it. Why not?"
"As for Lady Michiko, to be honest, Uncle Thomas, after returning to Night City and clarifying the current situation, my second step will be to go see Michiko..."
Before she could finish speaking, a high-priority communication request flashed across the virtual screen grid of Vera's built-in prosthetic eye plugin, and she cut in line with higher privileges, leaving a stylish and trendy silhouette on the virtual screen grid.
A woman whose body shows almost no signs of implants.
At the same time, in Watson District, in a neighborhood near the Afterlife club.
A Chevrolet Emperor 620 Laguna was driving normally on the street, occasionally dodging homeless people in the corners, circling around, and finally quickly drove into a closed underground parking lot.
Until several cyber mercenaries wearing jackets and sunglasses appeared, the muscular black guy in the middle making hand gestures.
Bang! The car lights came on.
On the body of the 620 Lagna, the 'Militech' logo lit up.
A man in a red suit slowly walked out from the shadow of a load-bearing wall not far away.