Arasaka Saburo Is Still Alive

After following Hanako Arasaka through the laboratory inspection, Akechi, now aware of the Pheasant Faction's most closely guarded secret, offered her a suggestion.

"Miss Hanako," Akechi began, "the experiment is not yet complete. Can we not use this to win the support of others who crave immortality? Should we avoid the limelight and conceal our whereabouts until the experiment succeeds? Once we hold a winning hand, it will not be too late to deal with Arasaka Yorinobu.

"Considering that he will surely send people searching everywhere once he learns you have escaped, we should return to the mainland immediately to ensure both your safety and the laboratory's secrecy."

Akechi's proposal was flawless.

North America had long since become the domain of Arasaka Yorinobu and Arakawa Michiko. With Pheasant Faction members suffering constant suppression, remaining in enemy territory would be no different from courting death.

The laboratory itself might remain hidden for the time being under the principle that the most dangerous place was the safest, but if Hanako Arasaka stayed here as well, the situation would be entirely different. Once Yorinobu realized she had not returned to the mainland, he would surely launch a carpet search across North America.

With his cooperative relationship with New America's newly elected president, Rosalind Myles, finding Hanako's trail would likely take no effort at all.

Akechi continued, "Arasaka Yorinobu has likely sensed something already, but in the short term, he will surely focus all his efforts on sealing off the coastline and may not deploy much force along the land routes.

"I suggest we leave the Night City area by land first, disguised as a nomad clan, then find a way to escape the North American continent by submarine. Once you return to the mainland, Miss Hanako, that will be when we formally confront