Chapter 95
Out of respect and because he genuinely needed Hansen's help, he stood up, straightened his T-shirt (which wasn't particularly neat), and spoke in a deep, magnetic voice.
Hansen had heard of Vera before.
Saburo Arasaka's biggest driving force behind regaining his youth, the Chief director of the "Solaris Staircase Project" that Arasaka has touted as miraculous, predicted by various assessment and media organizations to be the future leader of the North American Arasaka, and a candidate for "national-level director"...
A polite handshake.
Hansen couldn't help but scrutinize the dignified and imposing woman before him.
Wearing a sharp, dark Arasaka -style suit with a silver chrysanthemum brooch featuring a circular clover logo on the collar, she appeared quite aloof and imposing. Indeed, he felt an inexplicable pressure emanating from this woman, along with a murderous aura. This woman, like himself, had also fought her way through a hail of bullets.
"Congratulations, Mr. Hansen, you have broken free from the shackles of the past."
Ignoring the gazes that had gathered around, Vera first congratulated Hansen on destroying the Six Street Gang, as Hansen subtly scrutinized Wiling.
"I wouldn't presume to say that; it was merely an accidental conflict that arose by chance. Fortunately, the Six Street Gang and their supporters are not as powerful as they portray to the outside world. Their relationship is also not as unbreakable as they claim."
"Luck can sometimes be a form of strength."
"Is it luck? Is it innate, or acquired?"
Hansen emphasized the words "the day after tomorrow" in his tone.
Vera just smiled.
"That depends on how Mr. Hansen interprets it."
"Director Russell, you've come to see me in person, not just to discuss philosophy with a roughneck like me, are you?"
"Mr. Hansen, it's not unreasonable for you to think that way. You and your Dogtown are worthy of my attention and conversation. And when it comes to making friends, what's the difference what we talk about?"
With a faint smile, Vera took out a black and red gradient business card from the chest pocket of her suit jacket and handed it over.
Hansen's eyes sharpened as he looked at Vera's face, which wore a faint smile.
"You'll need it, Kurt."
Vera looked at Hansen with her deep, beautiful eyes and said, using a form of address that showed more sincerity and friendship.
After a pause, Hansen finally accepted the business card handed to him. "Perhaps... Your friendship is truly an honor."
He certainly didn't want to get involved in company politics, and his judgment was enough to guess the role Arasaka played in the Santo Domingo conflict.
The large amount of Militech and supplies found in the Six Street Gang's stronghold, the insult of Washington's refusal to comment, and the growing resentment of Dogtown members, who were originally veterans of the NUSA advance team that stormed Night City, towards the new America...
All of this fueled his resentment towards his former employer in Washington.
If this place doesn't want me, there are plenty of other places that will. If no place wants me, I'll just go to an Arasaka!
Why get hung up on one thing?
"Having more friends means having more options, doesn't it, Mr. Hansen?"
Vera laughed.
His smile was very gentle, and he seemed to have no ill intentions whatsoever.
"It was a pleasant conversation with you, Mr. Hansen. Best regards, and have a good time." She glanced at Hansen one last time.
Vera then turned and left.
Released from their grip by Arasaka's Cyber Ninja, the two plainclothes officers from the Barghest approached Hansen with a mixture of fear and shame, bowing their heads.
"Colonel, I'm sorry..."
"That's a ninja-style cyber lone wolf raised by the Arasaka Family ..." Hansen didn't scold them. He waved to his confidants to go about their business, then sat down again with a somewhat heavy expression.
Without a doubt, the Arasaka Family Estate is one of the safest places in the world. The cyber lone wolves who emerge from the Arasaka compound are also among the deadliest killing machines in the world.
"'Lone Wolf Hundred'"
It is said that even the servants who attend to Saburo's daily life, the servants who clean the courtyard, and the gardeners who trim the flowerbeds within the Arasaka Family Estate are all powerful Cyber Ninja.
It is no exaggeration to say that any seemingly insignificant eunuch picked from the Arasaka Family Estate, such as the gardener watering the flower beds, would be strong enough to single-handedly break through the full security of most bars or nightclubs in Night City.
"I never expected Vera Adelheid to have bodyguards of the Arasaka Family level... Her relationship with Michiko Arasaka is definitely not that of a superior and subordinate in a company. Could it be that Saburo is really grooming her as a junior?"
After a moment of contemplation, Hansen held up the business card in his hand and began to examine it.
The entire piece features a black and red gradient, a slightly cool and silky feel, and a quality far superior to the Platinum Membership Card of the Trauma Team. It's clearly very expensive.
As he moved, the surface of the business card began to change; the dark red pattern turned grayish-white, rotating, intertwining, and changing until the exquisite Arasaka Clover logo appeared.
Finally, a name appears: Vera Adelheid Russell.
Squinting, Hansen activated his prosthetic eye to scan, identifying a highly encrypted video channel and a data storage unit. A hidden door—at least he hadn't found it yet...
Huh? Impossible!
Subconsciously, he opened the data unit, and instantly, as if Hansen had been electrocuted, his whole body stiffened.
[Appendix]
[Subpage]
——Chimera——
—Neural Matrix—
——NUSA NUSA Joint Intelligence Bureau Agent - Clues——
At that moment, Hansen felt a chilling breath travel through his body from these words, leaving him feeling empty and numb in his hands and feet.
Every sentence here states a simple fact: I am watching you.
Hansen was not surprised that Arasaka knew about the Chimera.
This thing was developed under the leadership of Dr. Filippo Andrus, the chief engineer of Militech armor, and was used in the Metal War. But how did Arasaka know about the 'Neural Matrix' that he is currently carefully excavating underground in Dogtown, and the Federal Intelligence Agency infiltrating Dogtown that even he is unaware of?!
Especially the 'Neural Matrix', which originated from the Little Dipper Project in the top-secret bunker established by the New America and Militech. It was a top-level secret, and he kept it tightly under wraps. Soshikah Company, which had been supporting them and providing military relief supplies, should not have known a thing about it!
Finally, Vera casually pointed out clues about the NUSA Joint Intelligence Bureau agents, and how many of Arasaka's spies were lurking in Dogtown.
Of my trusted confidants, how many are truly trustworthy? How many of the veterans he brought out from Operation Midnight Storm have been bribed by Arasaka?
Actually, not many people were bribed.
However, they had secretly planted and bribed a dozen or so spies to fish in Dogtown.
There were no direct espionage operations, but Vera had been arranging her actions as an online troll and opinion leader, spreading hate speech against NUSA and Militech in Dogtown for years, deeply betraying her Remembrance, even before she went to study at the Tokyo University.
Many of the Arasaka Agent assigned by Vera who were recruited as members of the Barghest were actually completely unaware of their actions.
After all, Arasaka's intelligence agents neither asked them for any information nor asked them to take him anywhere to broaden his horizons. They just accompanied him like good buddies, chatting and venting. Over time, they only knew that what you said was right, very right!
It was those damned Washington and their Militech that betrayed us, and now they've even started a new "mistress" right next to us, preparing to use her against us in the future. We have to take them down!
As for the Barghest tinkering and repairing in Dogtown, the Chimera trying to restore their manufacturing capabilities, what they are digging down to build, and the old rival NUSA Joint Intelligence Bureau, Arasaka's intelligence department knows, but only superficially. Some key information is fragmented and cannot form a complete logical structure.
Hansen is indeed very good at hiding.
But that didn't stop Vera from speaking out.
The goal was to give Hansen a strong and memorable impression.
I know, which is the same as Arasaka knowing.
If you're so capable, let Hansen go and verify with Arasaka's intelligence department.
However, Vera was also careful not to reveal the full name of the Militech Little Dipper Project, the "Neural Matrix," which she claimed to represent. She only revealed half of many things, or even less than half, and deliberately inserted some incorrect information, leaving Hansen to guess.
Compared to some Night City legends who are like madmen, obsessed with taking others down with them, Hansen is as steady as a conservative 'honest man'.
He wasn't barefoot; he was a propertied person...
Where there is property, there are constraints.
Soon, after engaging in elegant yet warm conversations with some social luminaries who were also present, such as Arif Iqbal of WNS News, Stanley, an 'old friend' from the radio station, and especially with Night City Deputy Mayor Wilton Horton, Vera returned to the center of the banquet and sat down next to Michiko Arasaka, who was sitting with her legs crossed.
Unlike the private banquet held in Arasaka to welcome Vera, Michiko, who is also the founder and CEO of Dangerous Girl, has a much wider network of connections Vera.
Her style is quite American, so the guests invited to this banquet were a diverse group, including media, business people, independent investors, NCPD members, and city government officials...
What did you talk about with Hansen?
"It's nothing. Just make friends. Let him become Arasaka's friend."
"Is he qualified? What are you up to now?"
"If that's enough. Kurt Hansen was able to establish Dogtown and build the prestige of the Barghest in the chaotic Pacifica, and in a short time, he was able to cultivate a Black Market with international influence in that empty, unfinished building. He is barely qualified to be a half-player."
Vera shrugged.
Then he snapped his fingers at the waiter standing to the side.
Upon receiving the instruction, a well-trained and friendly waiter wearing a gold mask respectfully presented Vera with a tray of champagne.
Vera handed Michiko a stemmed glass filled with champagne and followed her gaze: on the stage in the center of the banquet, a group of dancers were gracefully dancing to the rhythm of the music.
"Let's not talk about him. Anyway, Tokyo Headquarters has high hopes for you when it comes to military matters..."
Taking the champagne, Michiko pointed with interest to the center of the stage, "Your hobby is indeed quite old-fashioned. Young people shouldn't be so stiff and old-fashioned."
The official team at the Konpeki Plaza understands Vera's preferences very well. The musical style and performance style she plays are also classical. In Night City in 2076, this is not old-fashioned, but rather Anteiku.
She's the kind of person that a certain Rock Kid would want to rant about, jump up, and explode at.
"I like listening to instrumental music."
Vera did not deny it.
"Then would you like to hear what's mine?"
As Michiko finished speaking, bang!
"Next, please welcome Ms. Lizzie Weisz to the stage to sing for us."
Lizzy Weisz?
Since Vera has no connection to the entertainment industry, she gave a slightly questioning look.
Seeing this, Michiko was also somewhat surprised. "Did you really grow up in Night City? You don't even know Lizzie Weiss..." She shook her head, "Now I understand why Saburo admires you..."
"Oh, you mean that singer who died once on stage?"
After thinking for a moment, Vera remembered.
In 2071, an actress committed suicide during a stage performance. She immediately received surgery and remained 'dead' for about an hour during the procedure. She was then revived. Later, she performed as a Cyborg.
It has been hailed by countless media outlets as one of the greatest performance art pieces of all time.
The performer thus became a world-renowned superstar.
At that time, Vera was still an intern at the academy, preoccupied with making progress. She only remembered that this incident happened; she had glanced at it in the news. She didn't remember the name, but she had heard about the distinctive chrome skin and the detachable prosthetic chin in subsequent follow-up reports.
Then Lizzy Weisz's performance began.
In the song, the holographic projection on the stage moved in sync with her movements, blooming in an instant, like thousands of pear trees in bloom, with light and shadow changing and shimmering. To be honest, the visual effect was indeed magnificent.
Well... looking at Lizzie Weisz's chrome-plated face and her detachable limbs, Vera can only say that this kind of art is still too advanced for her.
Fortunately, Lizzie Weisz was the grand finale of the banquet. Amid applause, Vera followed Michiko by half a step and walked onto the platform almost side by side.
After Michiko, as the Chief of Arasaka North America, delivered a formulaic thank-you speech, Deputy Mayor Wilton Horton took the stage in place of Mayor Lucius Rhyne, who was unable to attend due to illness, holding the land purchase agreement for the joint development of the Johoku area with Arasaka, which had just been approved by the city council.
The background in the lobby changes in a timely manner to the flag of the Night City, the flag of the Free State of Northern California, and the Arasaka logo.
The land purchase agreement was placed on a signing platform that rose in the center of the stage.
After Michiko and Vera signed the agreement, the land purchase agreement took effect immediately.
With a stern expression and relaxed demeanor, Vera picked up the land purchase agreement, with Michiko on the left, Wilton Horton on the right, and the three of them showing the agreement to the socialites present.
Snap snap snap—
A round of enthusiastic applause immediately erupted in the audience.
Chapter 099 The New Landscape of Night City