Cyberpunk: 2075.

Chapter 695, 109. A great deal of trouble?

This military technology infiltrator had actually only completed his 'substitution ritual' less than seventy-two hours ago.

He perfectly replicated the original owner's biological characteristics, memory modules, and even behavioral patterns—a mid-level manager at Arasaka's North American branch—so much so that even his closest colleagues failed to notice anything amiss.

But behind this flawless disguise lies a long-term, meticulously planned scheme by military technology spies.

Taking advantage of the chaotic period of power vacuum following Saburo Arasaka's death, they chipped cracks inch by inch into Arasaka's firewall, like termites gnawing at rotten wood.

First, they bribed dispatched maintenance technicians to implant backdoors in the biometric system, then they turned three night shift operators in the data center against their cause, and finally they even sacrificed two infiltration teams to divert the attention of the counterintelligence department—all of these costs were in exchange for a substitute identity with a security level just enough to access the core area.

He still has a partially healed quantum-encrypted neural interface on his neck, left over from the final surgery he underwent in Washington two days ago.

At this moment, the million-euro modified organ was slightly warm, transmitting encrypted commands from the 'White Noisy Eagle' to him.

'Shadows' like him have no interest in stealing ordinary trade secrets. Their existence has only one purpose: to cooperate with external assault teams to carry out special operations when the Arasaka leadership is most relaxed.

Whether it's beheading, kidnapping, or eliminating threats to intensify the power struggle within Arasaka, as long as it's achieved, the value it creates will greatly increase the influence of those behind them in military technology. The glory and fact of defeating Arasaka will allow those behind them to win in the internal struggle within military technology.

The lights on the floors were broken down into data streams in his mechanical eyes as he scanned for weak points in the defenses of all the exits.

For his infiltration, military technology had already caused six top agents to disappear forever in the deep waters of Coronado Bay. The appearance and exposure of Oda Santao was an unexpected variable, which rendered his infiltration and the sacrifice of the people behind him ineffective. In order to make amends, he had to do something in the last moments of his life.

The military technology spy knew very well that from the moment his identity was exposed, his chances of escape were zero.

Inside the steel behemoth that is Arasaka Tower, every inch of air is permeated with Arasaka's will, and beneath every floor tile lies a deadly defense system.

Even though he boasted that his strength was enough to rival Arasaka's hundred-man ninja squad in a direct confrontation, this was not a battlefield for fair fighting—this was the enemy's lair, an abyss that devoured all who resisted.

Although Oda Santao's surprise attack was fierce, the spies keenly grasped a crucial piece of information: this top combatant of Arasaka was not in his best condition.

Compared to the top-tier bodyguard in the intelligence files, whose blade flashed like lightning and whose every move was deadly, the Oda before him was noticeably slower, and the trajectory of his mantis blade was no longer as ruthless and precise as before.

Even so, the nearly successful, tricky slash still sent a chilling pain down the back of the spy's neck—that was the oppressive feeling of Arasaka's top combat power, even if it was a discounted version.

The spies quickly assessed the situation.

Even if Oda is not in good condition, he is not entirely confident that he can win. Even if he risks his life and gambles all his cards, he will only have a 10% chance of winning at most.

Moreover, this battle will be extremely fierce. Even if he wins by chance, he will definitely pay a heavy price. At that time, any security guard from Arakawa could easily end his life.

Needless to say, there are many more skilled individuals like Oda in this tower that symbolizes Arasaka's absolute power.

Although Oda Santao was a direct subordinate of Arasaka Hanako, the Arasaka Tower where they were located at this moment was the core of the entire Arasaka Empire.

If the battle goes against him, Oda can call for reinforcements at any time—and the reinforcements that arrive will most likely include that guy:

Adam Hammer! That monster, that madman, that war machine born for slaughter!
The spy's database contained countless terrifying legends about that man: single-handedly wiping out an entire special forces unit, tearing through armored vehicle plates with his bare hands, and brutally dismantling ACPA amidst a hail of bullets.
He knows his own limitations all too well.

Even if his entire squad were present, no, even if the entire stealth operations department were mobilized, it probably wouldn't be enough for Adam to warm up with his hammer.

After all, not every team can be like the legendary KK team, able to get that demon to test their skills. Ordinary people would be torn to shreds the moment they met. Only those who could withstand several blows could make that monster say a few more words out of surprise.

The spy knew very well that he didn't have that ability, so he was now trying to make a final attempt to compensate.

Abandon the original mission and instead kill Oda Santayu.

This assessment is different from the previous one, which assessed the possibility of escape after defeating Oda Santao. This time, I am prepared to gamble my life on the possibility of victory.

If I can use this exposure to create a possible path for my colleagues to reach Hanako Arasaka, then my desperate efforts will be worthwhile until a new bodyguard comes to fill the gap around Hanako Arasaka!

Krenzikov's heightened reflexes allowed the spy to think ahead in the instant he blocked the attack, and then he acted for the only possible best outcome now that he had been exposed.

Unfortunately, he made one mistake.

That is, the possibility that he initially thought he could defeat Oda Sandayu by fighting desperately simply did not exist, and the layer of victory he assessed in his mind did not exist in this battle from the very beginning.

fighting?

Or rather, it wasn't even a battle.

This is just an extremely simple 'processing'.

He thought he could see the whole picture with one blow, that the force and angle of one blow could determine his skill level, and that Oda Santao, who was currently in poor condition, was someone he could defeat.

To think, perhaps—is wishful thinking!
If even dealing with a guy at the level of an ordinary group of 100 ninjas requires a lot of effort, then even if Oda Santayu is in a slump, there is absolutely no way he could become one of only two perfect graduates in the Hokkaido training camp in a hundred years, let alone become Arasaka Hanako's personal bodyguard.

Even the then-naive Chiyome, relying solely on the hastily borrowed equipment from the Night City's Arasaka, managed to easily defeat the members of the Hundred-Man Clan when she rushed to Night City in poor condition. How much more so would Oda Santayu, who had served as a guard for many years and whose skills had continuously improved.

The battle lasted only for the blink of an eye.

The spy, confident in his military technology skills, fell to Oda Santao's mantis knife.

Before he could even display any more skills, his head was cleanly and decisively severed with a single slash.

The first cut was just a test.

As a bodyguard, Oda Santao had a habit of probing the opponent's level to assess their strength and determine the threat level.

(End of this chapter)