Cyberpunk: 2075.

Chapter 786, Question 200: Ruling Arasaka?

"I have never enjoyed going to work for a single day."

Carl forced the words out through clenched teeth, his knuckles tapping unconsciously on the table. His voice sounded like it had been sanded, carrying an indescribable weariness.

This heartfelt declaration only earned him an even brighter smile from the other party.

“Don’t say that, Karl.” Arakasaki Seigen tilted his head, the light reflecting off his glasses in tiny specks of light. “You’ve won my sister’s trust quite a bit now.” He deliberately emphasized the word “quite a bit,” his slender fingers twirling the ceramic teacup on the table in front of him. “This job really can only be done by you—” The teacup was slowly picked up. “No one else can do it.”

Arakasaka Sei's entire face was filled with smiles, and even the wrinkles in his suit seemed to smooth out.

He stared at Carl's taut jawline and suddenly realized that his usually cheerful friend was now frowning, which made him smile genuinely.

You're still laughing.

"What are you saying? I'm just sincerely congratulating you."

“Your laughter never stopped,” Karl picked up his teacup as well. “What are you congratulating me on?” He looked directly into the other’s eyes. “You pretended not to care and gave your sister the last bit of access to the outside world. I don’t know what you were thinking.”

Carl sighed deeply, his voice tinged with weariness: "If it hadn't been me, and something had happened, you would have been in real trouble."

Arakasaka Seiyuki took a sip of tea and said slowly, "Completely severing contact will bring back a backlash from those old fogies in the company." His voice suddenly became lighter. "We have to take action slowly after they get used to it—" He paused for a moment and then suddenly laughed. "Besides, even if something really happens, we still have you guys."

He stood up, straightening the non-existent wrinkles on his suit sleeves, his eyes unusually bright: "With you all here, I never worry about anything happening to me."

"Sigh," Karl rubbed his temples with his long, slender fingers, leaving faint red marks on his skin. He looked at the smiling man in front of him, his voice a classic mix of helplessness and exhaustion: "You're being a little too radiant these days, Sei-nobu."

After saying that, he picked up the white porcelain teacup and took a sip. The amber tea soup swirled between his lips and teeth. Suddenly, he opened his eyes slightly, and his eyelashes cast dappled shadows under the lamplight.

“This tea is quite good,” Karl said, swirling the liquid in his cup. “Where did you get it from?”

Arakasase Nobuo crossed his legs, the fabric of his suit trousers making a soft rustling sound: "I really wanted to tell you that this is a famous tea like Longjing, Tieguanyin, or Yangyan Gouqing,"

He tilted his head: "But you might be disappointed—this is just tea grown in the Arasaka Tower cultivation layer using environmental simulation technology."

“Cultivate tea leaves?” Karl raised an eyebrow, but did not seem surprised.

He took another sip, his Adam's apple bobbing gently as he swallowed: "The current cultivation technology can actually reach this level?" The aroma of the tea spread in his mouth, with a surprisingly mellow and sweet aftertaste, and the finish was still surrounded by a refreshing mountain mist.

As the third sip of tea slid down his throat, Karl looked up at the person opposite him. At that moment, Arakasaki Seigen was like a dancing flame in his eyes, radiating an undeniable heat and light.

“So,” Carl swirled his teacup, the glaze smooth and cool under his fingertips, “this counts as long-term work?” He pursed his lips. “Honestly, while I don’t mind helping you out, I’m really not suited for office work; just sitting in those places would kill me.”

Arakasaka Nobuyuki chuckled upon hearing this, tapping his fingertips rhythmically on the armrest: "As far as I know, you basically slack off in the office, right?"

“It’s tiring even if you don’t work.” Carl tilted his head back and drank the rest of his tea in one gulp. He rested his head on the back of the sofa and stared at the ceiling with eyes full of despair.

"I didn't see you looking particularly tired while you were running around the streets, so why are you uncomfortable sitting down?" "Let me ask you the same question: Do you prefer running around the streets, or do you prefer being a decoration in the company all day?"

"Of course I enjoy the life on the streets, but I've also spent a lot of time on the sidelines."

When Sei-nobu was talking to Karl, his words always unconsciously veered towards the tone of someone on the street. He said with a smile, "But some things, as long as you think about it, someone has to do them. Just stay up all night and it'll be over. It's just a decoration. I've been doing it for almost half a century."

"You're not just for show; you must have done a lot of work behind the scenes. I don't think I could be as diligent and hardworking as you. I'm just lazy by nature, and I definitely wouldn't do it."

"No, Karl."

While listening to Karl say this, Sei Xuan shook his head. He looked at Karl and said very firmly and seriously, "You will do it. I can see that."

"."

Karl paused for a moment, then waved his hand: "Maybe it really is as you said, Sei-nobu, that he will do it. But the work we're doing now doesn't count. Anyway, if I stay in Arasaka Tower any longer, I feel like I'll go crazy sooner or later."

“I will have Mingzhi take over your daily work.”

"That's good, at least someone came. But when Mingzhi comes later, remember to let me meet him. I've been using his identity for so long, I'm quite curious about what he's like in person."

Halfway through his sentence, Carl suddenly remembered something: "Speaking of which, I remember I took this job from Mr. Kenichi Shiro. It seems that your control over the company is indeed stronger than before. I thought you wouldn't recognize me during the previous meeting."

Hearing Karl's words, a hint of helplessness and amusement flashed across Sei Xuan's face: "No matter what I do," his voice was deep and steady, "I'm not so bad that I can't even recognize my own friends."

Not to mention your refined demeanor.

Anyone who has seen you in person and knows you would absolutely recognize you.

"I just found that your internal coordination is beyond my imagination. Now it seems that you are also doing well in North America and are indeed the actual controller."

"I guess this is all thanks to you."

"Benefited from me?"

Karl looked at Sei-nobu with a puzzled expression, wondering what he was talking about. Why was he thanking me for things that were going on inside Arasaka's business?

Just as Karl was wondering about this, Sei-nobu suddenly said something that surprised Karl.

"By the way, Carl."

Sei-nobu uttered a statement that, as if it were a casual topic of conversation among friends, would shock the world if it were to get out.

"Are you interested in ruling Arasaka?"

(End of this chapter)