Cyberpunk: 2075.

Chapter 660, Section 74: Joining Arasaka?

"Welcome, Mr. KK."

Listening to the polite greetings from the Arasaka staff at the entrance of Arasaka Tower, and watching their bowing manner that Karl didn't like at all, Karl glanced at them and entered the lobby on the first floor of Arasaka Tower through the entrance. Although he had been here many times, the oppressive luxury still made him uncomfortable every time he entered.

The hall is 15 meters high and so spacious that it is almost empty. It has been carefully designed as an indoor ecological park. There is a large botanical garden on each side, planted with neatly trimmed dwarf trees and rare flowers. Some of the varieties are even worth as much as an average person's annual salary.

In the center is a goldfish pond, with an artificial waterfall cascading down from a rockery, the water gurgling softly. There is also a miniature island in the center of the pond. During the day, sunlight shines through the roof's light pump system, illuminating the entire space in a bright yet artificial way. At night, the pinpoint lights on the ceiling simulate a dazzling starry sky, and you can even see projections of several artificial constellations.

The main entrance is located on the south side, while the emergency exit is on the north side. Both are equipped with standard security checkpoints. In front of the main entrance are two reception lounges and a security service desk, while the staircase leading to the underground level is hidden behind the lounges. In the north area of ​​the lobby, behind the security checkpoint, stand two elevators and an emergency staircase.

The entire hall was under close surveillance by countless cameras, automated turrets, and fully armed guards, as if even the air itself was permeated with the Arasaka Group's desire for control.

Scanning the first floor of Arasaka Tower, which wasn't crowded since it was already working hours, Karl felt the gazes of the Arasaka employees and security guards coming and going, and headed towards the Arasaka Tower's elevator.

No one reacted to KK's arrival with anything other than surprise and slight fear. In their view, KK had probably been commissioned by some upper management of the company, most likely by the vice president, Mr. Kenichi Shiro. The story of KK crushing the former vice president's head with one hand during a company meeting was still circulating in the company. No one dared to have any objections to the arrival of this favorite of the vice president.

Besides the vice president's 'special' favor towards Karl, there are rumors within Arasaka that this mercenary, now known to everyone in Night City, has an ambiguous relationship with members of the 'Arasaka' family. It is said that even the current head of Arasaka, Lord Arasaka Seigen, once hired them to protect him.

People of this caliber could come to Arasaka Tower for a stroll and few would dare to stop them. Who knows what their arrival might involve? If their inspection delayed the higher-ups' plans, they might not even be able to afford the consequences with their lives.

While some of the more observant employees were secretly speculating about Karl's intentions, Karl was recalling floor information.

I remember that new employees were onboarded on the 19th floor, which I think was the rest area for lower-level employees and the highest point they could reach. However, employees shouldn't be onboarded in such a place, since the HR department has a high status and their offices should be located in a higher place. Besides, this is a direct recruitment of outstanding students from Arasaka Academy.
Karl glanced at his phone but didn't reply. He probably hadn't had a chance to send a message since entering the Aragaka Tower.

I forgot to ask beforehand.

Currently, outstanding college students are undergoing biometric identification and information entry, as well as necessary counter-espionage checks, so that's for them.
Karl glanced at his contacts, his gaze first sweeping over Kenichi Shiro, and finally settling on Kenichi Kazuya, who was with Kenichi Shiro because of the alphabetical order of their surnames.

When Karl saw him, he remembered something.

'Honestly, you can access Arasaka's database yourself, why are you still asking others? Why don't you just look it up?'

Carl quickly located the target's position.

Thirty-six floors.

The daily tasks for the mid-level personnel department of Arasaka Tower scrolled across the phone screen:
[Application for employment by a former employee of Kangtao]

[Mandatory Registration for Military Technology Engineers]

[Direct Recruitment of Outstanding Graduates from Arakawa Academy]

The cursor is on the last column.

Among the densely packed list, two names suddenly caught my eye:

Maki Takemura, David Martinez

Last night, David finally confronted his mother. When she heard that her son had not only met the legendary KK team, but had also become a member of Mann's team, after her initial incomprehension and disbelief, the anger and scolding she should have felt turned into a sigh. She knew her son's stubbornness too well. The condition for compromise was that David had to see for himself the abandoned path, and behind the glass curtain wall of the Arasaka Tower, there was another possible David Martinez.

Thirty-six floors, not high.

Is it because this is only a mid-level HR department?

The moment the automatic doors slid open to the sides, the lemon-scented air purifier that had been wafting through the elevator suddenly froze. Two employees carrying holographic projection panels were about to step out, but the instant they saw who it was, they turned into two stiff statues.

The man in the gray suit suddenly had a spasm in his fingers, and the projection board slammed onto his shiny leather shoes with a 'thud';

The woman next to her, wearing coral lipstick, almost collapsed to the ground with her legs giving way. After leaning against the elevator wall and accepting some of the facts, she reacted faster than her colleague who was completely stunned.

"Good morning, Mr. KK!"

As the female employee bowed, the scent of air purifier wafting from the elevator mingled with the artificial jasmine shampoo in her hair, creating a strangely sweet fragrance in the elevator.

Good morning, Mr. KK!

The male employee was equally quick-witted. He hurriedly picked up the somewhat damaged projection board from the ground, which he estimated would cost him a certain amount of his salary to compensate, then stood up straight and gave Karl a proper bow.

Carl was reluctant to respond, just as he was reluctant to respond to a greeting at the door, but seeing them standing in the elevator, seemingly unwilling to come out, he could only step inside and nod slightly: "Good morning, you two."

He hesitated for a moment, and under the almost breathless gaze of the two employees, he thought for a second: "The weather is nice today, isn't it?"

Carl himself wasn't quite sure how he should talk to the strangers he'd casually greeted in the elevator, while the two people who heard Carl's words were already stunned.

They were just employees on the 64th floor, and now they could actually hear KK responding to their greetings. It was like a dream.

This time, the male employee reacted much faster.

"Are you going to the upper floor? Please let me press the button for you," he said, moving his hand to the elevator screen under the frustrated gaze of his colleague.

"Thirty-six floors will do, thank you."

Thank you
His pupils widened even further.

However, amidst their shock, both the male and female employees instantly realized something.

The 36th floor, remember that HR floor? KK went there.
Does this mean KK is going to join Arasaka?!

(End of this chapter)